The Disgraceful Lord Gray (King's Elite, #3)

by Virginia Heath

[Lynn]

I've been looking forward to getting to know Lord Graham 'Gray' Chadwick since his appearance in an earlier instalment in King's Elite series. Like the other books, this is a standalone novel.

After spending ten years in the merchant navy, Gray is back and working as one of the King's Elite under the supervision of Lord Fennimore. Currently working in trying to capture The Boss, the head of a smuggling ring, the pair find themselves in Suffolk where their likely suspect, Viscount Gislingham lives along with his wife and niece. Only, the red-headed beauty proves to be a distraction in more ways than one.

Hearing a dog's distressing bark, the last thing Lady Theodora 'Thea' Cranford expected to see as she rushed to investigate the noise is the sight of a naked man's buttocks in her uncle's stream...a very pleasant view indeed. The good-looking gentleman is the new neighbour and a man of intrigue. He's far more fascinating than the suitors currently interested in her, so can she trust there's more to him than a potential gold-digger?

Gray and Thea are a perfect match for each other. Wary that her actions have tragic consequences, Thea is living a quiet life trying to avoid getting involved with suitors looking for a rich wife. In contrast, Gray is relishing the responsibility to prove himself honourable after disgracing himself shortly after coming of age. Years spent away has made him pragmatic and his more worldly knowledge helps to coax Thea out of her self imposed shell so she can again act and behave as she sees fit. Of course, this is to Grey advantage because even though he may be a reformed scoundrel, he's more than keen to get to know the real woman beneath the riotous red curls.

The author injects light humour into her writing creating a fun, vibrant narrative, littered with witty dialogue.

"Why couldn't he stop gazing at her when he knew he needed to focus on being a better spy?"

I'm not a fan of pets and children as secondary characters, however, Trefor definitely deserves an honourable mention. I heartily enjoyed the part he played in Gray and Thea's tentative courtship and how the humans didn't realise the impact he would have in differing situations.

To sum up, The Disgraceful Lord Gray is my second Virginia Heath novel and she has won a place on my favourite historical romance writers list.

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Mills & Boon Historical***