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"Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the Duke of Moreland. To escape his father's inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper... Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper. As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each show more other, Anna's secrets threaten to bring the earl's orderly life crashing down--and he doesn't know how he's going to protect her from the fallout. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
At nearly 12.5 hours, the main flaw with this novel is that it is too long - as much as I enjoyed the story and the characters, it went on and on. At times it many have been the ponderous voice of narrator James Langton which seemed to slow it down and add a little tedium.
As brilliant as he is, I didn't particularly like James Langton's reading, particularly his voice for Anna. Yet it was a pleasant variation to have an historical romance read by a man.
Gayle Windham is not the usual alpha male romantic hero. He might be the most amazingly mature leading man that I've met in a romantic novel! No hot headedness, except in his inability to resist Anna!
Grace Burrowes has been on my horizon and now I see she brings something special to the show more Regency romance.
...Once again, I read the reviews below after I have written my own comments above, and it's so fascinating to read that others found this book repetitive and long-winded! I think it is a problem that afflicts the audiobook version more than the written one as, if I read that, I would have skimmed over repetitive pages!
So do that rather than miss out on what otherwise is a gem of an escapist heartwarming novel. I am also intrigued that someone mentions that there is something that doesn't feel right about some of the sensibilities and circumstances being appropriate to the Regency period – I felt that too! And agreed! the intimacy scenes are riveting. show less
As brilliant as he is, I didn't particularly like James Langton's reading, particularly his voice for Anna. Yet it was a pleasant variation to have an historical romance read by a man.
Gayle Windham is not the usual alpha male romantic hero. He might be the most amazingly mature leading man that I've met in a romantic novel! No hot headedness, except in his inability to resist Anna!
Grace Burrowes has been on my horizon and now I see she brings something special to the show more Regency romance.
...Once again, I read the reviews below after I have written my own comments above, and it's so fascinating to read that others found this book repetitive and long-winded! I think it is a problem that afflicts the audiobook version more than the written one as, if I read that, I would have skimmed over repetitive pages!
So do that rather than miss out on what otherwise is a gem of an escapist heartwarming novel. I am also intrigued that someone mentions that there is something that doesn't feel right about some of the sensibilities and circumstances being appropriate to the Regency period – I felt that too! And agreed! the intimacy scenes are riveting. show less
4-1/2 stars
Totally enjoyed it. It had a feel to it that I would label 'earthy'. The people used chamber pots and used curse words beyond just saying 'the devil you say!' occasionally. We know that f*** and s*** are old words. They would have used them.
The actions were mostly believable and realistic. This was one time where I felt that the actions of the hero and heroine were portrayed realistically as to the seduction and the heroine giving up her virginity out of the bounds of marriage to him. These two people were in close constant proximity to each other and things got progressively more out of hand.
Both the hero and the heroine were well rounded characters. I really enjoyed how she doted on him as his housekeeper and did show more everything she could to make his life easy and pleasant. I especially liked the hero. I liked how he tried his best to court her and kept putting himself out there for her. But he still seemed like an ordinary falliable man.
The only thing I can really fault is that it took her so long to trust him with her story. She didn't really have that much of a reason to distrust any man other than the two who were 'after' her. I believe this is the only place that it really deviated from what would be realistic for the time. She trusted him enough to sleep with him. I believe she would/should have trusted him to help her with her problems earlier. Plus she would have been hardwired to look to a man for help. Especially one who had the power and monetary wherewithal to help and who had specifically asked to help.
Enjoyed the secondary characters. Especially the brothers and the Duke.
The ending was just a bit too 'been there, read that already.' Lack of communication as a reason for a split. Where have I read that before? It was a minor issue though that didn't really interrupt my enjoyment of this regency at all.
Happily looking forward to Dev's story.
One final note though. This is touted as a first time author's debut. On the back " A Dazzling Debut..." Quote from the Acknowledgements "It takes a village to transform a first time author's aspirations into the lovely book you're reading now."
Then on the next page on the About the Author page it says "Grace Burrowes is the pen name for a prolific and award winning author of historical romances."
So what is it? Debut? or Not? Maybe just the first published one? show less
Totally enjoyed it. It had a feel to it that I would label 'earthy'. The people used chamber pots and used curse words beyond just saying 'the devil you say!' occasionally. We know that f*** and s*** are old words. They would have used them.
The actions were mostly believable and realistic. This was one time where I felt that the actions of the hero and heroine were portrayed realistically as to the seduction and the heroine giving up her virginity out of the bounds of marriage to him. These two people were in close constant proximity to each other and things got progressively more out of hand.
Both the hero and the heroine were well rounded characters. I really enjoyed how she doted on him as his housekeeper and did show more everything she could to make his life easy and pleasant. I especially liked the hero. I liked how he tried his best to court her and kept putting himself out there for her. But he still seemed like an ordinary falliable man.
The only thing I can really fault is that it took her so long to trust him with her story. She didn't really have that much of a reason to distrust any man other than the two who were 'after' her. I believe this is the only place that it really deviated from what would be realistic for the time. She trusted him enough to sleep with him. I believe she would/should have trusted him to help her with her problems earlier. Plus she would have been hardwired to look to a man for help. Especially one who had the power and monetary wherewithal to help and who had specifically asked to help.
Enjoyed the secondary characters. Especially the brothers and the Duke.
The ending was just a bit too 'been there, read that already.' Lack of communication as a reason for a split. Where have I read that before? It was a minor issue though that didn't really interrupt my enjoyment of this regency at all.
Happily looking forward to Dev's story.
One final note though. This is touted as a first time author's debut. On the back " A Dazzling Debut..." Quote from the Acknowledgements "It takes a village to transform a first time author's aspirations into the lovely book you're reading now."
Then on the next page on the About the Author page it says "Grace Burrowes is the pen name for a prolific and award winning author of historical romances."
So what is it? Debut? or Not? Maybe just the first published one? show less
I’m not going to go into the plot, as the blurb already accomplished that task for me. What I want to do is announce: Here comes Grace Burrowes!
Lately I’ve read a number of début authors that I have wondered where the hell have they been hiding. Their talent is astounding!
But I digress, so let me start at the beginning. After reading all the high praise (and a handful of low), I’ve broken down and bought this “highly” recommended read. Well, what can I say? It was worth EVERY penny! I have to warn you, though. This is neither a ‘bodice ripper’ nor your average ‘cookie cutter’ romance. This romance novel is very much character driven and ‘courts’ the reader as much as our hero courts his lady-love. In Westhaven she show more gave us a hero that’s no ‘rake’ or a ‘scoundrel’ but a loving and patient man, and in Anna an affectionate, well-meaning, strong heroine.
Westhaven is one of those heroes that we want to, as Anna did, constantly hug and let be hugged back. I enjoyed the relationship between Westhaven and Anna because of its natural progression from employer to employee, from friendship to love. These two people had to work hard in accepting each other, seeing each other only as Anna and Gayle. Their friendship and love took awhile to blossom, and I found that I enjoyed their slow courting. I was treated to a natural and easy flow of this intriguing duo. Our hero displayed patience with our Heroine, and he controlled his lusts admiringly! The author took a huge gamble in deliberately developing true affection between the two main characters, and never allowing the lust to take over the story, and it paid off big time.
It’s not enough to say that this is well written book. This is a very cleverly written book full of period detail, intelligent and witty characters, believable mystery plot and very sweet, passionate love story.
Secondary characters, Morgan, The Duke and his Duchess, Dev and Val and especially Douglas and Gwen are given just enough time and space to hook us and ask for more.
I’m very impressed with Ms. Burrowes’ style of writing and truly looking forward to her next book in the series, and Dev’s story “The Soldier”. I am hereby officially requesting of the author to eventually give us a prequel to “The Heir”. We need to find out Gwen and Douglas’ love story. All those teasers hooked me real good!
If you’re not taken in with the romance part of this book, you’ll defiantly love the mystery part. The author should be congratulated on keeping us on pins and needles almost to the bitter end as to Anna’s real identity.
So, here I go, joining the throng of all of those that ‘highly’ recommend this book. Truly, don’t hesitate to take a journey with Anna and Gayle. This Earl and his Housekeeper will steal your heart, burrow deep inside and make you feel warm and fuzzy allover. Definite Keeper shelf material.
Melanie show less
Lately I’ve read a number of début authors that I have wondered where the hell have they been hiding. Their talent is astounding!
But I digress, so let me start at the beginning. After reading all the high praise (and a handful of low), I’ve broken down and bought this “highly” recommended read. Well, what can I say? It was worth EVERY penny! I have to warn you, though. This is neither a ‘bodice ripper’ nor your average ‘cookie cutter’ romance. This romance novel is very much character driven and ‘courts’ the reader as much as our hero courts his lady-love. In Westhaven she show more gave us a hero that’s no ‘rake’ or a ‘scoundrel’ but a loving and patient man, and in Anna an affectionate, well-meaning, strong heroine.
Westhaven is one of those heroes that we want to, as Anna did, constantly hug and let be hugged back. I enjoyed the relationship between Westhaven and Anna because of its natural progression from employer to employee, from friendship to love. These two people had to work hard in accepting each other, seeing each other only as Anna and Gayle. Their friendship and love took awhile to blossom, and I found that I enjoyed their slow courting. I was treated to a natural and easy flow of this intriguing duo. Our hero displayed patience with our Heroine, and he controlled his lusts admiringly! The author took a huge gamble in deliberately developing true affection between the two main characters, and never allowing the lust to take over the story, and it paid off big time.
It’s not enough to say that this is well written book. This is a very cleverly written book full of period detail, intelligent and witty characters, believable mystery plot and very sweet, passionate love story.
Secondary characters, Morgan, The Duke and his Duchess, Dev and Val and especially Douglas and Gwen are given just enough time and space to hook us and ask for more.
I’m very impressed with Ms. Burrowes’ style of writing and truly looking forward to her next book in the series, and Dev’s story “The Soldier”. I am hereby officially requesting of the author to eventually give us a prequel to “The Heir”. We need to find out Gwen and Douglas’ love story. All those teasers hooked me real good!
If you’re not taken in with the romance part of this book, you’ll defiantly love the mystery part. The author should be congratulated on keeping us on pins and needles almost to the bitter end as to Anna’s real identity.
So, here I go, joining the throng of all of those that ‘highly’ recommend this book. Truly, don’t hesitate to take a journey with Anna and Gayle. This Earl and his Housekeeper will steal your heart, burrow deep inside and make you feel warm and fuzzy allover. Definite Keeper shelf material.
Melanie show less
Yeaaah, okay. This has a lot of shit I very much dislike -- hidden identities! poverty that isn't! -- and much more that I do like. The lovering is irrational; the lovers are humane; the impediments are significant.
More or less.
I admire Burrowes' attempts here. She included a disabled character. She includes a family dealing with severe grief and the fear of further loss. She deals with power struggles and ill-acceptance of responsibility and ....
Hmm, I feel like this review is harsh. It was a charming and sweet and sultry book; parts made me laugh aloud. I liked it. Not perfect, but more than good enough.
More or less.
I admire Burrowes' attempts here. She included a disabled character. She includes a family dealing with severe grief and the fear of further loss. She deals with power struggles and ill-acceptance of responsibility and ....
Hmm, I feel like this review is harsh. It was a charming and sweet and sultry book; parts made me laugh aloud. I liked it. Not perfect, but more than good enough.
Really probably 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up. This is weaker than most of the rest of the series, but still has some merits. There are some preposterous parts that made me want to roll my eyes, but I consciously chose to just set them aside and continue on. It's not a super satisfying ending (to me) as well, but it's not egregious. Everyone starts somewhere, and Burrowes has improved considerably since.
Anna Seaton is a great character, full of charm and wit. She's working as a housekeeper, with flowers in every room and marzipan for the Earl of Westhaven. The house hums along like a well-oiled machine. But she's too well-educated for a housekeeper.
Gayle Windham, the Earl of Westhaven and heir to the Duke of Moreland, finds his housekeeper attractive, very attractive but how to convince her to trust him with her secrets.
Burrowes wrote a great set of supporting characters, the Duke and Duchess, and Westhaven's siblings.
Best for character development, a slow sweet romance. The plot is adequate,with all the adventure at the end.
Gayle Windham, the Earl of Westhaven and heir to the Duke of Moreland, finds his housekeeper attractive, very attractive but how to convince her to trust him with her secrets.
Burrowes wrote a great set of supporting characters, the Duke and Duchess, and Westhaven's siblings.
Best for character development, a slow sweet romance. The plot is adequate,with all the adventure at the end.
The Heir
3.5 Stars
As the heir to the Duke of Moreland, Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is under pressure to marry and produce offspring. Determined to thwart his father’s matchmaking machinations, Westhaven sequesters himself in London and is put straight in the path of his young and lovely housekeeper, Anne Seaton, whose secretive past intrigues Westhaven almost as much as his attraction to her.
Not bad for a debut novel but it does suffer from several shortcomings. To begin with, the pacing is sluggish and the suspense plot lacks the tension and excitement necessary for a truly engrossing story. Nevertheless, the villains are exceptionally smarmy and get their just desserts.
Second, Anne’s character is problematic as she devolves show more from a smart, witty and endearing heroine into an indecisive, secretive and blubbering twit. The keeping secrets trope has never been a favorite and makes absolutely no sense here as the hero is well aware that all is not as it seems.
On a more positive note, Westhaven is a scrumptious hero and his chemistry with Anne is off-the-charts sizzling. Burrowes certainly knows how to write a smoking’ sex scene. The banter between the Windham brothers is another plus and I look forward to reading Dev’s and Val’s books. show less
3.5 Stars
As the heir to the Duke of Moreland, Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is under pressure to marry and produce offspring. Determined to thwart his father’s matchmaking machinations, Westhaven sequesters himself in London and is put straight in the path of his young and lovely housekeeper, Anne Seaton, whose secretive past intrigues Westhaven almost as much as his attraction to her.
Not bad for a debut novel but it does suffer from several shortcomings. To begin with, the pacing is sluggish and the suspense plot lacks the tension and excitement necessary for a truly engrossing story. Nevertheless, the villains are exceptionally smarmy and get their just desserts.
Second, Anne’s character is problematic as she devolves show more from a smart, witty and endearing heroine into an indecisive, secretive and blubbering twit. The keeping secrets trope has never been a favorite and makes absolutely no sense here as the hero is well aware that all is not as it seems.
On a more positive note, Westhaven is a scrumptious hero and his chemistry with Anne is off-the-charts sizzling. Burrowes certainly knows how to write a smoking’ sex scene. The banter between the Windham brothers is another plus and I look forward to reading Dev’s and Val’s books. show less
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Grace Burrowes spent a lot of time early in life reading romance novels. In college, while still voraciously reading romance, she supported herself by teaching piano and accompanying ballet classes. After graduation she became a technical writer and an editor. A demanding job that left enough time to read many, many romance novels - and grab a law show more degree through an evening program. Despite becoming a single mom and practicing law in a small town, through all of Grace's ups and downs, she'd was a relentless reader of romance authors like Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Judith Ivory, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Eloisa James and many others. Late one night, while preparing "some Motion or other" she recalled that in her briefcase was a book she'd been saving to read on a hard day. Grace promised to read just one chapter but another thought kept intruding as I read that one chapter, "I bet I could¿." So she wrote a romance novel. That book became Gareth: Lord of Rakes, and opened the door to the sheer bliss of writing historical romance. She wrote and wrote and wrote eventually becoming a published author. Grace Burrowes writes the Duke's Obsession, Windham Sisters, MacGregors, Lonely Lords, Captive Hearts, Sweetest Kisses, True Gentlemen, Jaded Gentlemen, and Windham Brides Series as well as being a contributing author in many collections. Grace co-wrote Highland Holidays Series with Patience Griffin and wrote The Cowboy Wore a Kilt in the Kindle Worlds: Blame it on Texas Series. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- The Heir
- Original title
- The Heir
- Alternate titles
- The Heir: A Duke's Heir, a Lady with a Secret, and a Riveting Regency Romance
- Original publication date
- 2010-12-01
- People/Characters
- Anna Seaton Windham, Countess of Westhaven; Lord Gayle Tristan Montmorency Windham, Earl of Westhaven; Lord Valentine Windham (Val); Devlin St. Just, Earl of Rosecroft; Hedley Arbuthnot, Baron Stull; Wilberforce Hammond James, Earl of Helmsley (show all 31); Douglas Allen, Viscount Amery; Benjamin Braithwaite Holloway Portmaine (Hazlit); Elise; Rose Allen; Nanny Fran; Marion Tolliver; Sue-Sue Tolliver; Lord Bartholomew Windham (deceased); John Footman; Andrew Alexander, Earl of Greymoor; Eustace Cheevers; Baron Renfrew; Gareth Alexander, Marquess of Heathgate; David Worthington, Viscount Fairly; Dr. Garner; Dr. Hamilton; Mr. Albertson; Esther Windham, Duchess of Moreland; Pugh; Mr. Glickmann; Morgan Elizabeth James; Guinevere Hollister Allen; Victor Windham; Percival Windham, Duke of Moreland; Whit
- Dedication
- Dedicated to the late Norman H. Lampman, the first person who honestly helped me with my writing, and to loving families everywhere, of any description, most especially to the family who loves me.
- First words
- Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven was enjoying a leisurely measure of those things that pleased him most: solitude, peace and quiet.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)As they sank into the fathomless bliss of intimate reunion , they were fine indeed, and then much, much, much better than fine.
- Blurbers
- Nash, Sophia
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.6
- Canonical LCC
- PS3602.U7768
- Disambiguation notice
- Please do not combine The Heir with any omnibus, anthology, or box set.
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- (3.60)
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- ISBNs
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- UPCs
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- ASINs
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