The Determined Lord Hadleigh (King's Elite, #4)

by Virginia Heath

He's got iron control...
But she might be his undoing!

Part of The King's Elite. Haunted by Penny Penhurst's courage on the witness stand, meticulous barrister Lord Hadleigh offers her a housekeeping position at his estate. Despite trying to stay detached, Hadleigh is charmed by her small child and surprised by how much he yearns for this proud woman! Can he break through his own barriers - and Penny's - to prove he's a man she can trust...and love?

• ISBN10: 0263081842
• ISBN13: 9780263081848
• Publish Date: 1 November 2019 (first published 18 June 2019)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 22 September 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Mills & Boon
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lynn]

I've enjoyed reading all the King's Elite novels and this one is my favourite.

Lord Tristan Hadleigh is a barrister for the Crown. When he sends Viscount Penhurst to the gallows, regrettably, it's his widow who testified against her husband who ends up losing her home after the Crown takes back the guilty man's title and assets. Feeling a sense of responsibility, he tries to aid the former Lady Penhurst, but his thoughtfulness backfires. Determined to get around the stubborn woman's reluctance for his assistance, he thinks up a perfect solution, not realising his idea triggers far more feelings than he ever envisaged.

Penny shed no tears when her abusive husband's murdered in prison before his planned execution. However, the freedom to pick up and rebuild her life with her young son is made more difficult when she loses her former home. Ever the resourceful woman, she has plans to improve her situation despite legitimate concerns from those close to her and especially Lord Hadleigh. When a temporary solution is proposed, she jumps at the offer to work as a housekeeper, but it awakens feelings she didn't know existed. Can she ignore them or should she follow her heart?

This is an achingly tortuous slow burn romance. The author manages to tease out every bit of combustible chemistry between Penny and Tristan- two people battling with mixed personal emotions as well as an attraction to each other. Like the other books in the series, the plot is intriguing although not quite the same fast action.

I especially like a hero's constant battle to do the right by Penny, even when it doesn't quite work as he intends. Lord Hadleigh is an intelligent, thoughtful gentleman but somehow still manages to underestimate situations after considerable contemplation. Penny is a proud woman who never plays the victim, but still harbours doubts about her unexpected attraction to a man when her memories of her marriage are negative.

To sum up, this is the fourth and last book in this King's Elite series. I heartily recommend them all.

***arc generously received courtesy of Harlequin Historical***