Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Barnes & Noble.com The Heart of Romance Draft 2 Digital Category:  Historical Fiction Publisher: Independent Pages: 149 Copyright: December 12, 2016 It's not a case of who is out to destroy Deborah Stavely, but why? When her neighbours threaten her livelihood and her tenants lives she tries to deal with it herself. Her brother, Lord Worth calls upon his friend Julian Fanshaw for help. Will Deborah accept Julian's help or not, especially when his suggestion threatens everything she values most? Julian Fanshaw answers a call for help from his lifelong friend Lord Worth to help keep his friend’s widowed sister, Deborah, safe from her increasingly vindictive neighbours. It doesn’t take him or Freddie long to realise the Grangers aren’t using her as a long-promised act of revenge against them, but are playing a deeper and far more sinister game of their own. Deborah Stavely is determined to overcome the increasing harassment from her neighbour without calling on her brother for help. So she is not pleased when Freddie intervenes and involves his friend, Julian Fanshaw. Circumstances demand Julian and Deborah learn to work together and Julian dares to dream that he might gain the love of the only person he’s ever given his heart to. But will Deborah live long enough to discover that, by releasing everything she values, she will gain everything her heart desires? Excerpt “Ned Granger!” He’d never heard his wife raise her voice before, and her roar startled both him and his mount. “Get off my land and take your miserable bunch of cravens with you.” “I gave you fair warning,” Ned roared back. “Now you pay.” He stepped forward and grabbed a flaming torch from one of his followers. “You heard my wife, Granger.” Julian reined in beside Deb, his voice more deadly for its lack of volume. “You touch one straw of this land and you will live to regret it.” Ned Granger fell back a step, the blood draining from his face. Julian watched the man’s skin blotch and pale. Then Ned’s eyes filled with evil glee. “Do you take me for a fool?” Ned Granger stepped up to Julian’s horse and pushed the flaming torch into the animal’s face. “Married! She’s not married to any man; she’s a frigid bitch who couldn’t whelp for her own husband. This land belongs to us. No woman’s fit to run an estate, and since she’s got no brats to leave it to, it should come to us.” Before the command reached his brain, Julian’s whip hand slashed down at the man’s head and sent him reeling backwards. “Do not speak of my wife in those terms. Now get off our land and don’t come back.” He watched the cluster of men standing to one side and wondered whether they intended to fight for their master or turn tail and run. “And that goes for you, too.” He set his agitated horse in their direction. They turned and ran. “This is not the end of it,” Ned screeched. He lobbed the torch into the air and laughed when it landed on top of the Blacks’ roof, flames greedily ripping over the thatched surface. “You won’t stop me. And you can’t be everywhere.” He loped off as a scream came from within the house. Julian turned towards the sound in time to see his wife run into the burning building.

by Patricia Kiyono (GR) [1st edition]
Excellent regency-era romantic suspense. Deborah is a strong heroine, and Julian is equally strong - but he's smart enough to allow Deborah to work beside him, rather than behind him. The mystery behind the danger to Deborah's lands is clearly described, and it kept me reading to its exciting conclusion. This story is included in the Nine Ladies Dancing holiday anthology.

by Spunky & Sassy (GR) [1st edition]
This was a marvelous mystery with a flavor of love. Ms. Gloag did an excellent job portraying clues to the riddle of the Grangers hostility toward Deborah. It was easy to get swept up into the power struggles and to hang on with bated breath. Reminded me of a good Agatha Christie mystery. I particularly enjoyed it when Deborah would reason out her theories out loud. Even I could follow along. Naturally, I loved the interactions between Deborah and Julian. Each has loved the other since their teen years but doubt the other has any close feelings. Watching them grow closer and acknowledge their deep love was a victory of their hearts. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.

Charming, sweet regency romance
I read this story as part of an anthology. It's a sweet-romance regency filled with well-developed characters and plenty of action. I don't believe in reviews that contain spoilers or repeating what you can read in the blurb, but I recommend this story...enough that I intend to buy another of Ms. Gloag's books!