A Most Noble Heir

A Most Noble Heir was full of twists and turns. It follows a rags to riches theme with a dose of love, betrayal, faith and a hint of mystery. This story reveals that all throughout time, people made mistakes that affected generations to come. Scandals are covered up, love sometimes brings about pain and the truth always comes out are just a few of the seeds that are planted and then developed in this tale.

I enjoy tales that transport me to English estates with gardens, formal dining rooms and parlors. It is not a book with intricate historical details, but you will be whisked back to a time of formality but also simplicity. The story takes place in 1884 with the setting at Stainsby Hall in Derbyshire, England. Because the writing has a more contemporary language style, it is a very easy read.

The characters were well rounded and developed throughout the story. Although Aunt Iris is a supporting character and not a main character, she became my favorite character to read about. She is not introduced until later in the story but becomes an integral part of tying up all of the loose ends. She is a woman who is eloquent in her words, soft when needing to be and direct when necessary. The main characters in the story, Hannah and Nolan, are discovering that their families choices as well as their own choices have consequences far greater than can be imagined. If you like Downtown Abbey, this will be right up your alley.

This story was lightly based on the author's discovery and research of her own ancestry. Her great-great-grandfather was a stable hand at an English estate called Stainsby Hall. He had married a kitchen maid, but their story had a very different ending. She used her research and her imagination to create a story that developed from this relationship.

I recommend this book for those who like historical romance fiction and an easy read.

*many thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. All opinions are my own.

This standalone story was a real joy to read. Nolan and Hannah are excellent characters and held my attention easily. The added interest of having it set in a real English manor home, based very loosely on an incident in the author's family tree, lent it an extra authenticity that I really liked. I also liked the whole upstairs/downstairs feel to the story, as Nolan and Hannah are somewhat caught between classes in a very class-driven society.

Nolan's not a perfect character, but he's one who is obviously trying to do the right thing, whether that means building a relationship with his father or not. He doesn't know how to love well at first; he does his best to be honest; he tries to do the right thing regardless of his feelings. Seeing Nolan's emotional growth as a character through the story was one of my favorite things.

Hannah could get on my nerves a few times. I didn't like how she tried to consider worldly advantages a few times and didn't fight for her man in quite the way I hoped she would. And yet I understood her as a character and why she didn't take the steps I wanted her to. But all that didn't keep me from rooting for her to get her family together and be honored as the heir's wife the way she ought to be.

Two characters really stood out to me. I LOVED Iris. She was such an unconventional breath of fresh air to the story and really added a lot of interest. And then Edward was a very complicated fellow himself...caught between being the bad guy and yet not content with it, either. I love it when side characters jump off the pages.

I'd recommend this for 16+ because there is some frank talk about marriage duties and honeymoons and birth. Nothing graphic, though.

Thanks to the publisher for a free review copy. A favorable review was not required.