(Lonely Lords, #2)
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Cover Blurb
Nicholas Haddonfield has something to hide…
After a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing father he’ll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.
Leah Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough, and Leah can’t understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and will he ever allow her into his heart?
An extraordinary and passionate tale of courage tested and fears overcome. Once you enter the lush Regency world of award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes, you’ll never want to leave.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
This is the second book I have read in the Lonely Lords series and, once again, Grace Burrowes has written an engaging story full of heartfelt emotion and richly drawn characters.
“The Snowdrop is for hope.”
Nicholas is a big man with an even bigger heart…so devoted to his family and willing to allay all Leah’s fears and do whatever it takes to protect her from harm –
“I will see to your welfare, and without bringing you further misery. You are out of the habit of hoping and trusting, and you grow frantic at the thought of fate pressing upon you. Trust me, and I will win you free of it.”
I did want to bang his big, stubborn head against the nearest wall for keeping secrets from Leah for far too long and causing so much pain and heartache. But the scene where he finally gives up all his secrets was so moving, that I couldn’t help but want to throw my arms around that great big bear of a man and hug him tightly.
Hope, he thought with a flash of insight. Hoe that set teats seeping from his closed eyes, and joy sang through him in the very coursing of his life’s blood.
Other things endeared him to me; his charm and humour and when he sends flowers to Leah with a special meaning and the fact that he likes making birdhouses.
I had so much sympathy for Leah; her life marred by a youthful scandal and feeling alone and unloved.
She’d felt cast out, judged, unclean, and unforgivably stupid as a younger woman, and Society had done its cruel best to reinforce her opinion.
She is barely tolerated by a cruel, unfeeling father, who is only too happy to see her off his hands and married to an old lecher of a man. All she has ever wanted is to be accepted, loved and cherished. I love her courage, her honesty and her wit. Despite Nicholas’s insistence on a ‘White Marriage’, Leah’s love and loyalty remains steadfast. She is there to support him when he most needs her.
The story also introduces Nicholas’s older, illegitimate half-brother, Ethan Grey. He is still living with the legacy of his father’s betrayal when he was a boy. which also caused a rift between himself and Nicholas. It was heart-warming to see these two starting to rebuild the close relationship they once shared and I was also moved by the poignant scene between Ethan and his dying father.
Favourite romantic quotes
When Nick Haddonfield held her, she felt protected, cherished, understood, and…treasured. When he kissed her, she felt all that, and so much more.
Sitting on the stone bench in the moonlight, his backside going numb, his wife in his arms, Nicholas Haddonfield knew he was absolutely and unshakeably, unequivocally and eternally loved.
Nicholas: Lord of Secrets is another wonderful addition to this delightful series.
REVIEW RATING: 4.5 /5 Stars
SENSUALITY RATING: HOT
Read April 2014
The Lonely Lords series to date (click on cover for more details):
Rakes And Rascals 
I really enjoyed this read, Carol. Nicholas and Buttercup! How can you not like a man that has a horse named Buttercup!? 🙂 Great Review!
Thank you, Lindsey! I loved the fact that he made birdhouses. 🙂
I loved the first book, Darius. I haven’t gotten to the rest, but I will. The only issue I have with this is the cover model. I think Grace had an issue with him, too. I don’t know, maybe he isn’t manly enough or something! However, I like the story line. Thanks for the review!
Sharlene, I hate the cover too! I’m so glad I don’t judge a book by its cover, otherwise I would never have touched this one, That hair…yuk! Regardless of the cover is was well worth the read.
The hair & the mouth. LOL! Hope you had a great Easter, Carol!
You too, Sharlene!
You did like this better than I did. I did not like Nicholas, I know he redeemed himself in the end, but still it was not my favorite book in the series.
Dot, I did like Nicholas but, as I said in my review, I did get frustrated with him because he kept his secrets far too long. I thought he did redeem himself in the end. I probably would have given it 4 stars but I gave it an extra half a star because I love Grace’s writing style.
I have loved all the Lost Lord books!! Tweeted and shared on FB.
Thank you for sharing, Ella. I have so many books to catch up with in this series and Grace keeps publishing even more! 🙂
Great review Carol. Thanks for all the books you help me find!
Thank you, Violetta. My pleasure and I hope you enjoy all those books!