The Heir (Windham, #1)

by Grace Burrowes

[Amanda]

Man, I dig the Windham family and Grace Burrowes. I dig them so much I even, apparently, forgave Gayle for sleeping with his mistress who was not the heroine during the book. In a way, that scene (while, blargh) was necessary for the plot because it a) sets the stage for the Duke's obsession, b) shows Gayle's fastidiousness and commitment not to get a child on just anyone and c) makes his "time" with Anna more poignant, in a way. (Are those vague enough terms for you?)

Gayle doesn't come in his mistress, although at the last moment, she tries to get him to because she's carrying another man's baby and the Duke had a hand in convincing her that Gayle would marry her if he thought it was his. Which means when Anna and Gayle finally (FINALLY!) get it on, his coming in her means something. Not the least of which is pregnancy. It's funny how a man's actions in that moment can say a lot about his feelings toward a woman.

This is another series I've read all out of order, which means book 1 is the final book left for me in this series. Since I've read all the other books, which feature Gayle and Anna, I was particularly pleased to read THEIR story, and even managed not to get upset that we didn't learn about Anna's secrets until much later in the book.

(I must have been in a forgiving mood when I read this, or it's been so long since I've read anything that I was desperate for a book fix. When you're an addict, you need the hit.)

One characteristic I've seen in Grace Burrowes's books is that the heroine and/or hero cling to this belief that they can't be together and sometimes it's very frustrating and such. That is true here, but I adored Gayle and his romance/seduction of Anna too much to get too upset. As for Anna, well... well... Anna. Really?

Issues aside, I keep coming back to Grace Burrowes. Her stories and characters kind of burrow (heh, unintentional pun) into you.