Customer Reviews

To Marry an Heiress (Avon Romantic Treasure)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

London, 1878

Devon Sheridan, the Earl of Huntingdon needs an heiress -- yesterday. When he hears about an American heiress visiting England with her father, he makes a point of meeting Georgina Pierce. Sheridan also meets with Mr. Pierce, who promises his fortune to the earl as soon as he and Georgina wed. So sets the tone for a convenient marriage that neither party finds very convenient.

Georgina has already concluded that England is filled with fortune hunters and she wants to marry for love. When she hears that the Earl of Huntingdon has asked for her hand in marriage, and after only one meeting, she is naturally suspicious. But the earl seems sincere and Georgina also wants her father to be happy, so she agrees to the arrangement -- a union she quickly discovers isn't due to the earl falling head over heels in love with her.

Lorraine Heath travels from Fortune, Texas to London, England with some of the characters from her beloved "Texas" series and does so seamlessly and skillfully. Georgina is a forward-thinking woman aware of the fact that most men are attracted only to her money. Lord Huntington is presented as a devil-may-care rake until he finds out the true story about Georgina's fortune. Although he would like to claim indifference to his new bride, her fortitude and perseverance toward changing him back into some semblance of a human being, and her voluntary help on his estate, soon start to wear down his anger at what he thought was a betrayal. Her loving and caring nature toward his two young children also raises her in his esteem; his late wife never seemed to care for them as much as Georgina does.

TO MARRY AN HEIRESS is a tender, warm-hearted romance that progresses naturally from beginning to end. Georgina is a strong, willful woman unwilling to accept defeat in her quest for true love. Lord Huntingdon never stands a chance.

I highly recommend this as a fast-paced tale with many poignant and eye-opening moments for both parties. TO MARRY AN HEIRESS is another treasure to add to your Lorraine Heath keeper shelf.

I won't go into the plot since others have but this is a beautiful book. Very very romantic. This one you won't read for the sex even though it is also sensual. The children are adorable and so is our heroine. But the hero is the one whom you feel so much for because he is a man caught up (as are a lot of men) in trying to do the right thing. But also not to let anyone know how much he feels and how deeply. He has been hurt but heals and is unhappy but becomes happy. Read it you can't miss. I have read several of Ms. Heath's other books and they are all beautifully written and moving. These English men are sure sexy.

Devon, Lord Huntingdon can see no other way to escape poverty and disgrace than to marry an heiress. A rich American heiress would bring enough money into the marriage to let him pay off his debts, restore his estate to its traditional elegance, and most importantly, to keep up appearances. To Devon, the social norms are all-important, aristocracy is real and must set an example, and hard work is to be avoided or, if not, at least hidden. Georgina Pierce grew up in Texas during the hard years of the American Civil War and reconstruction. She knows and values work--and men who know how to work. Still, Devon seems a good sort and Georgina desperately wants children to call her own. Her father's money can buy her a husband so why should that be so terrible?

Devon is soon surprised to find how much he enjoys spending time with Georgina. She is unlike any other woman he knows--and certainly unlike his deceased wife, who had lived for frivolity and spending money that Devon could not provide her. Still, when the marriage 'deal' turns sour on him, Devon feels betrayed and used. Only by truly examining the beliefs that form the basis of his whole life--and that were drilled into him by the example of his first wife, can Devon achieve true happiness and love. Yet, when a relationship is based on mercenary goals, can love and happiness really be expected?

Author Lorraine Heath creates two wonderful characters in Devon and Georgina. Georgina represents the best of Texas--brash, unconcerned with tradition, unafraid to work, and compassionate with anyone in need. Devon is a straight-laced Englishman on the surface, yet Georgina holds the key to unlock the emotions that lie, locked by tradition and culture, beneath his proper exterior. With its powerful writing and compelling emotional character growth, TO MARRY AN HEIRESS is an wonderful read.

Devon & Georgina (Gina) are a remarkable couple. She may have a slight tendency to be a doormat, but all women tend to (at least during some stage of their lives) put everyone else before themselves. Yet Gina typically does that only for those she loves, those who love her unconditionally. Devon is an exception. Hubris is the classic flaw that may yet deny him what he most needs--a woman who will love and accept him just as he is, poverty and all.

Their struggle to escape the hurts of the past and to work through their doubts and fears enables this book to be a remarkable romance that champions the power of love. Devon is the character who really changes in this novel, and his emotional battles are the usually the most compelling. But Gina holds her own and is the perfect mate for him. Their back and forth romance is fraught with both tension and delight, and is thoroughly satisfying.

Despite a couple of minor question marks (like not signing the marriage agreement before the wedding), this is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

By 1878 the Huntington estate is rapidly deteriorating. The Earl Devon Sheridan needs cash fast and decides visiting Texan Georgina Pierce, daughter of a wealthy former Civil War blockade runner, fits the bill or at least her money does. His friend Montgomery, based on first hand knowledge, warns him that marriage to a Fortune, Texas woman is different, as these ladies are independent. Ignoring the caution, Devon pursues Georgina.

To meet her dad's expectations, Georgina agrees to marry Devon though he is a widower with two children. They share a passionate first night, but her father dies just afterward and they learn she inherits nothing. Devon feels he has been conned by the Americans though he reluctantly admits to himself she brings love and joy into his home. Georgina wants a real marriage with her Earl that includes mothering his two children as well as future kids, but the latter requires a cooperation from an irate aristocrat.

Though similar in characterizations especially the lead couple with the previous tales in this series, TO MARRY AN HEIRESS is an irresistible Victorian romance. The novel enthralls the reader as the outspoken Texan is determined to make her connubiality work while helping raise his children. Meanwhile her immovable spouse tries to resist the irresistible force of love she emits so well written sub-genre fans will feel fortunate to have read the latest entry.

Harriet Klausner

This was not a horrible book, however there was never a true relationship established between the hero and the heroine. I liked Gina but her constant "there is a silver lining" attitude became tiresome for me. When I think of a good romance I think of books by Judith McNaught, Madeline Hunter, and Stephanie Laurens (although she can be repetitive). The characters in those books develop relationships that are truly founded on for better or worse. In order for the reader to feel the connection between the hero and the heroine it needs to be experienced with them and not told in pages upon pages of internal reflections. Dialog is very important in developing the characters, it provides interaction and sets a tone for the book. There was not a lot of dialog in this book. A few lines here and there but a good portion of the book was internal thoughts.

This is one of the best romance stories I've ever read. I related to Gina completely, and loved how determined she was to make Devon realize the routine life he was living was weighing him down. Devon was so interesting to read about, and to watch the change in him was heart-warming. You'll love this Heath book!

To Marry an Heiress is a decent read, but the real star of it is the heroine, Georgina (or "Gina"). The first half of this book was great and if it had continued in that vein, I would undoubtedly be giving the book a higher rating. Gina is an honest, straight-forward American, without artifice, vanity, or basically a single mean or selfish bone in her body. She's not placid though and can definitely be a spitfire.

What made the book go downhill for me was the hero, Devon. At the beginning I thought I was going to love him - as I usually do with HR heroes. He was staid, serious, and kind of uptight, which provides many laughable and enjoyable encounters between him and Gina, since they are so different. However around halfway through the book, he started doing/thinking/saying things that really got on my nerves. I found it extremely annoying to always hear about his first wife, Margaret - especially since she seems to have been an extremely selfish woman, who was snobbish, arrogant, and basically all-around unpleasant. I found it disconcerting that even after she shows her true colors when they're in such financial straits, he continues to love her.

Worse than that, though, was Devon's whole view on the situation - his father has squandered their fortune so once he inherits, there's basically nothing to support the estates and the tenants living there. Disaster, of course, so while Margaret elegantly withers away in her despair of not being able to buy more ballgowns, he goes out to work in the field - causing her to disdain him and him to feel shame. I was so sick of him going on and on about how the aristocracy should be doing X and they shouldn't be doing Y and ____ is appropriate of our station while ____ is not. Okay, we got it already! I know the whole "beauty" of the ending is he realizes he shouldn't be ashamed of having to work alongside the tenants and not being able to afford the lifestyle of a nobleman, but it was just waaaaaaaay too long in coming. For the second half of the book I basically wanted to slap him out of his pity party and shake some sense into him - both common sense and a sense of equality, so he would stop going on about his rank and what was or was not appropriate.

Oh, and the ending (not the epilogue, but the declaration-of-love scene) was so corny I could hardly handle it; it was kind of sickly sweet and had me rolling my eyes and wanting to skim over. So basically, I loved his kids and I loved Gina - I just wish Devon in the second half of the book could be improved on.

P.S. Plus, what is up with Devon not even telling Gina before they get married that he already has two children?? In this case it's not a bad thing because Gina loves kids, but, ummmm, I don't know ... offspring might be one of those things that you mention to your betrothed *before* you say your vows. Just a thought.

The one thing I liked about this book was that the characters were very deep, and seem very real while you are reading. The relationship between Georgina and Devon has a life of its own, and Heath does a wonderful job of conveying the isolation that both hero and heroine feel even when married to each other. Devon Sheridan's straight-laced approach to life provides comical clashes with Georgina's down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach to things. You'll laugh out loud (such as when they argue over whether the Boston Tea Party was committed by "heroes" or "traitors") and maybe even cry a little as this love story develops over the pages.

For a synopsis:

Devon Sheridan is a handsome, 36 year-old widower with two small children. He's a nobleman, but he's bankrupt, thanks to his father's unscrupulous financial dealings. His first marriage was an utter travesty, with his wife blaming him for their financial duress and eventually shutting him out completely until her death. Devon was humiliated both privately by his first wife, and publicly by his destitution. His pride in his traditions and title is the only thing he has left.

Georgina is a practical, sweet American heiress. She's been poor before in her life, and she isn't impressed by snooty titles and balls. However, at 26, Georgina accepts that she is not a great beauty, and would do well by herself to get married and have children - the one thing she wants most in this world.

When Georgina's father arranges a marriage between his spunky daughter and the darkly beautiful Devon Sheridan, Earl of Huntington, she is intrigued. At first, Gina is not amenable to the idea, but because of her practical assessment of her own situation, she feels she should give the marriage a chance.

Within the first week of their marriage (and only the second week of knowing each other at all), both Devon and Georgina are pleasantly surprised at how well they fit together. That is, until Georgina' father dies unexpectedly and they realize he has left them with nothing but more mounds of debt. Both Devon and Georgina are humiliated by the circumstances, and the majority of the book goes on to show how love can really surprise even the most cynical and wounded of people.

This book was great fun, and watching the character development and romance build between these two characters is a joy.

This was an engaging story between a Southern American in British society. It was a touching and delightful story. I enjoyed it very much. It took me a while to warm up to the hero because he thought the heroine was wealthy (which was why he married her) and so did she. But her father was just trying to find her a good husband and lied about her wealth. Once the hero got over the shock that his bride wasn't rich and he wouldn't inherit anything, she proved she was very worthy of him,showed him how to work hard and make your own way in the world, then he grew to love her for who she was. I adored the heroine and came to feel the same way about the hero. She made a bad situation into something very good for everyone. It was a delightful story that I'll treasure. Give it a chance. It deserves one.