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Readers` Reviews
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
mary miller
And I can handle dark. But not when *horrendous* treatment of the h is related to me within the last few pages! That ended up overshadowing the whole story and left me horrified at the end, rather than enjoying their HEA with a smile on my face which is what I like at the end of a romance.
I loved Luke's getups - so very Georgian. If you can't stand the thought of a nobleman wearing high heels, rouge and carrying a fan, you may want to move past any descriptions of his formal attire. It *was* the fashion during the era. His dress, by no means, meant Luke was effeminate ~ far from it. He was an expert swordsman, pistol shot and he could use his fives, if necessary.
His "heartless" sobriquet was entirely understandable. At the age of 20, Luke, a sweet, vulnerable young man, was betrayed and cast out of his family, penniless. During the following 10 years, with no help, Luke became successful and wealthy ~ a tribute to his character and gumption. He also became completely invulnerable emotionally, hence the "heartless" moniker. Now, he's back in London, the Duke of Harndon, and the duke must find a duchess.
Enter beautiful Anna who had endured torment for the past three years...and it's still secretly going on. Anna and Luke marry after a whirlwind courtship. A marriage of convenience. Plus, Luke felt incapable of love and Anna had her terrifying secrets. Yes, Lucas, as Duke of Harndon, could have solved her problems in a trice. But I could well understand her reluctance to confide in him, particularly after their unpleasant conversation following their wedding night.
So, much of the story is consumed by Anna's difficulties and fear of the villain who is stalking her and who she thinks also has a hold over her. And, of course, we're agonizing throughout with Luke and his fear of again being vulnerable. Their romance almost got lost in the shuffle. It didn't but gah, we spent so much time worrying about Anna and the villains....by now, there are two. It just went on and on.
In my opinion, this is far from Balogh at her best and I have all her novels that are on Kindle. I could have lived without the huge emphasis on the villains in favor of just enjoying Luke and Anna finding their love for each other. Maybe that would've been bland but I would have liked it better. Instead, I was worried, nervous and fearful all the time. I felt kinda sick by the time I finally finished the story.
This is a rare Balogh I'll never reread. It's easier and quicker to go to the dentist. Actually, I'm being unfair to my dentist. I don't suffer in his office.
I loved Luke's getups - so very Georgian. If you can't stand the thought of a nobleman wearing high heels, rouge and carrying a fan, you may want to move past any descriptions of his formal attire. It *was* the fashion during the era. His dress, by no means, meant Luke was effeminate ~ far from it. He was an expert swordsman, pistol shot and he could use his fives, if necessary.
His "heartless" sobriquet was entirely understandable. At the age of 20, Luke, a sweet, vulnerable young man, was betrayed and cast out of his family, penniless. During the following 10 years, with no help, Luke became successful and wealthy ~ a tribute to his character and gumption. He also became completely invulnerable emotionally, hence the "heartless" moniker. Now, he's back in London, the Duke of Harndon, and the duke must find a duchess.
Enter beautiful Anna who had endured torment for the past three years...and it's still secretly going on. Anna and Luke marry after a whirlwind courtship. A marriage of convenience. Plus, Luke felt incapable of love and Anna had her terrifying secrets. Yes, Lucas, as Duke of Harndon, could have solved her problems in a trice. But I could well understand her reluctance to confide in him, particularly after their unpleasant conversation following their wedding night.
So, much of the story is consumed by Anna's difficulties and fear of the villain who is stalking her and who she thinks also has a hold over her. And, of course, we're agonizing throughout with Luke and his fear of again being vulnerable. Their romance almost got lost in the shuffle. It didn't but gah, we spent so much time worrying about Anna and the villains....by now, there are two. It just went on and on.
In my opinion, this is far from Balogh at her best and I have all her novels that are on Kindle. I could have lived without the huge emphasis on the villains in favor of just enjoying Luke and Anna finding their love for each other. Maybe that would've been bland but I would have liked it better. Instead, I was worried, nervous and fearful all the time. I felt kinda sick by the time I finally finished the story.
This is a rare Balogh I'll never reread. It's easier and quicker to go to the dentist. Actually, I'm being unfair to my dentist. I don't suffer in his office.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
clover
This started out so promising with a damaged, overly urbane hero and a strong heroine with a spine. 4 star rakish hero who has good reason to be bitter and “heartless” but still grows into a living and honorable man in spite of himself. He reminds me of an Elizabeth Hoyt hero. Anyone remember the hero who wore red heels? Unfortunately, I also ended up saddled with what I thought was a strong and likable heroine who revealed herself to be one of the more stupid heroines I’ve encountered.
Set in Georgian England, Luke (is that a nobleman’s name) has reluctantly returned to England from France. Luke left under a cloud of shame when he challenged his brother to a duel and shot him in the shoulder. He was actually aiming for a tree but was such an atrocious shot he hit his brother’s shoulder. Once idealistic, he is now a Frenchified Georgian dandy down to his powdered and rouged face as well as his fan that he uses effectively as a means of seduction. In a genre with towering and hairy alpha males, Duke Luke is an oddity.
His loving but interfering uncle encourages him to jump back into the fray which means leaving France, confronting what is left of his family (his mother, brother and little sister), getting married and making little Dukes. The H meets the Anna the h and end ups in a MOC pretty quickly.
There’s some siblings including Anna’s sweet fey deaf/mute little sister who has a crush on the H’s little brother and has her own story later. An evil SIL,Henrietta, the ex fiancee who seems to forget that a man may not marry his brother’s wife yet slithers and manipulates with a heavy hand as well as a suspense backstory.
Where it drops is the Anna’s deep dark secret.
Anna's stupidity…
SPOILER
Anna has been blackmailed and manipulated by a secret man from her past. She marries a Duke for heaven’s sake and never asks for help with her deep dark secret. In terms of power back then, a Duke was second to the royal family and may have had more clout. At some point this nitwit could have, should have asked for help with her big bad secret. It was so frustrating it ruined a huge element of the story because she is NOT an idiot. She was smarter than that and her hero/husband had proved himself worthy of trust by then. (End spoiler)]
Luke’s stupidity…
SPOILER
He finally wakes up to Henrietta’s viperous ways. While engaged to Luke the spare, she seduces George the heir then cries rape. Luke challenges his beloved older brother to a duel and both brothers try to do the honorable thing, but it backfires. Sooo, now knowing this viper seduced his brother, has been gaslighting Anna, made recent goo goo eyes at Luke, he confronts her and wants her off the estate. Luke then leaves to track down another evil-doer leaving his ex at home with wife and child. Aaargghh. Don't leave, you fool. Or take Anna and the baby!!!! (hide spoiler)]
Worthy of reading despite their idiocy. Definitely interested in Emily and Ashley’s story and ever hopeful that the hateful Henrietta rears her treacherous head and gets her comeuppance.
Set in Georgian England, Luke (is that a nobleman’s name) has reluctantly returned to England from France. Luke left under a cloud of shame when he challenged his brother to a duel and shot him in the shoulder. He was actually aiming for a tree but was such an atrocious shot he hit his brother’s shoulder. Once idealistic, he is now a Frenchified Georgian dandy down to his powdered and rouged face as well as his fan that he uses effectively as a means of seduction. In a genre with towering and hairy alpha males, Duke Luke is an oddity.
His loving but interfering uncle encourages him to jump back into the fray which means leaving France, confronting what is left of his family (his mother, brother and little sister), getting married and making little Dukes. The H meets the Anna the h and end ups in a MOC pretty quickly.
There’s some siblings including Anna’s sweet fey deaf/mute little sister who has a crush on the H’s little brother and has her own story later. An evil SIL,Henrietta, the ex fiancee who seems to forget that a man may not marry his brother’s wife yet slithers and manipulates with a heavy hand as well as a suspense backstory.
Where it drops is the Anna’s deep dark secret.
Anna's stupidity…
SPOILER
Anna has been blackmailed and manipulated by a secret man from her past. She marries a Duke for heaven’s sake and never asks for help with her deep dark secret. In terms of power back then, a Duke was second to the royal family and may have had more clout. At some point this nitwit could have, should have asked for help with her big bad secret. It was so frustrating it ruined a huge element of the story because she is NOT an idiot. She was smarter than that and her hero/husband had proved himself worthy of trust by then. (End spoiler)]
Luke’s stupidity…
SPOILER
He finally wakes up to Henrietta’s viperous ways. While engaged to Luke the spare, she seduces George the heir then cries rape. Luke challenges his beloved older brother to a duel and both brothers try to do the honorable thing, but it backfires. Sooo, now knowing this viper seduced his brother, has been gaslighting Anna, made recent goo goo eyes at Luke, he confronts her and wants her off the estate. Luke then leaves to track down another evil-doer leaving his ex at home with wife and child. Aaargghh. Don't leave, you fool. Or take Anna and the baby!!!! (hide spoiler)]
Worthy of reading despite their idiocy. Definitely interested in Emily and Ashley’s story and ever hopeful that the hateful Henrietta rears her treacherous head and gets her comeuppance.
She Got It Bad for a Heartless Gangsta :: Heartless (Pretty Little Liars, Book 7) :: Heartless (An Enemies To Lovers Novel Book 1) :: A Heartless Design (Secrets of the Zodiac Book 1) :: Double Dare
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
starmist
Warning: This review is FULL OF SPOILERS. Angry spoilers, too.
I loved this book until not long after the H & h got married. The character development and story telling was great. And then the heroine, who was definitely the weakest part of the book, developed a horrific case of TSTL. I was so angry my husband finally told me to put down the book and read something else. So I did.
But of course I couldn't stay away. I LOVED Luke. So I came back to it a few days. Instead of getting better, the story just got worse. Anna was buffleheaded to the point of idiocy. Even after Luke, the man for whom the book is named, declares his love for her, she thinks, "Errrr, I don't think I'll tell him I love him back, even though I'd give my soul for him. No, I can't tell him I love him because I've been KEEPING THIS IDIOTIC SECRET FROM HIM FOR OVER A DAMN YEAR!
*sigh*
I think the reason I'm so angry is that the book had so much potential. There is nothing more frustrating than a character who acts like a fool.
I loved this book until not long after the H & h got married. The character development and story telling was great. And then the heroine, who was definitely the weakest part of the book, developed a horrific case of TSTL. I was so angry my husband finally told me to put down the book and read something else. So I did.
But of course I couldn't stay away. I LOVED Luke. So I came back to it a few days. Instead of getting better, the story just got worse. Anna was buffleheaded to the point of idiocy. Even after Luke, the man for whom the book is named, declares his love for her, she thinks, "Errrr, I don't think I'll tell him I love him back, even though I'd give my soul for him. No, I can't tell him I love him because I've been KEEPING THIS IDIOTIC SECRET FROM HIM FOR OVER A DAMN YEAR!
*sigh*
I think the reason I'm so angry is that the book had so much potential. There is nothing more frustrating than a character who acts like a fool.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
mengki norman
Anna and Luke are two people who have pasts which are less than joyful.
Anna is the daughter of a mother who died after a long illness and a father who fell to his death while drinking. She has left mourning behind and is about to see her sister presented to society in the London season. Her god-mother is financing the presentation of both Agnes and Anna. There will be parties and balls and a look at the fun in life.
Luke has inherited the title of Duke of Harndon. He was a younger son and had been banished from the family 10 years ago. During his time away from home, he lived in France and became a man of fashion. He had no contact with his family and he had no regrets about that. At least that is what he says to everyone including himself.
Both of these people have not had happiness, but they have been blessed with good looks and the ability to be charming. They each wear masks to present to the world. When they meet for the first time, there is an immediate attraction.
Luke must get down to the business of taking care of his estates and his family. He knows he will need to have a wife who will be able to help him dealing with both the estates and his family. He has no desire to have a wife, but if he must Anna will do as well as anyone.
Anna believes because of a threat from her past, she will never be able to marry. But, when Luke proposes, she cannot resist. She has a vision of what her future might become.
Neither of them are completely open and honest with one another. The attraction between the two will have to shore the marriage up for at least a time.
The characters of both Anna and Luke are interesting. Their family backgrounds have created the people they have become. Anna learned to sacrifice her all for her family. Luke learned that if he never gives his entire heart to anyone, it cannot be broken. If he holds himself distant from everyone he is perfectly fine.
The plot of this story is a complicated one. But, as things progress, we see each thread woven into the whole. And each step forward opens up a new part of the story.
The character development is wonderful. I would have expected nothing less from Mary Balgoh. Anna and Luke are complicated but each one appears to be very human. The secondary characters add a great deal to the story. The family members are very important parts of the story. The reader is introduced to each one and as time passes we see their true nature.
The plot shows family and friends who are trying very hard to do the right thing. The family members illustrate how Anna and Luke became who they are. Some of the relationships are very fragile. Some relationships are toxic. There is also an effort by some to help Anna and Luke find happiness.
Mary Balogh is a wonderful author. She creates wonderful stories populated by characters who are well rounded people who would make good friends with whom to spend time.
Anna is the daughter of a mother who died after a long illness and a father who fell to his death while drinking. She has left mourning behind and is about to see her sister presented to society in the London season. Her god-mother is financing the presentation of both Agnes and Anna. There will be parties and balls and a look at the fun in life.
Luke has inherited the title of Duke of Harndon. He was a younger son and had been banished from the family 10 years ago. During his time away from home, he lived in France and became a man of fashion. He had no contact with his family and he had no regrets about that. At least that is what he says to everyone including himself.
Both of these people have not had happiness, but they have been blessed with good looks and the ability to be charming. They each wear masks to present to the world. When they meet for the first time, there is an immediate attraction.
Luke must get down to the business of taking care of his estates and his family. He knows he will need to have a wife who will be able to help him dealing with both the estates and his family. He has no desire to have a wife, but if he must Anna will do as well as anyone.
Anna believes because of a threat from her past, she will never be able to marry. But, when Luke proposes, she cannot resist. She has a vision of what her future might become.
Neither of them are completely open and honest with one another. The attraction between the two will have to shore the marriage up for at least a time.
The characters of both Anna and Luke are interesting. Their family backgrounds have created the people they have become. Anna learned to sacrifice her all for her family. Luke learned that if he never gives his entire heart to anyone, it cannot be broken. If he holds himself distant from everyone he is perfectly fine.
The plot of this story is a complicated one. But, as things progress, we see each thread woven into the whole. And each step forward opens up a new part of the story.
The character development is wonderful. I would have expected nothing less from Mary Balgoh. Anna and Luke are complicated but each one appears to be very human. The secondary characters add a great deal to the story. The family members are very important parts of the story. The reader is introduced to each one and as time passes we see their true nature.
The plot shows family and friends who are trying very hard to do the right thing. The family members illustrate how Anna and Luke became who they are. Some of the relationships are very fragile. Some relationships are toxic. There is also an effort by some to help Anna and Luke find happiness.
Mary Balogh is a wonderful author. She creates wonderful stories populated by characters who are well rounded people who would make good friends with whom to spend time.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kay singers
I like everything Mary Balogh writes because she writes so well. I love that Luke is masculine and not afraid to taunt high society with that affected fashion style and that fan! I love the story line about his brother even though it is a true tragedy. I wanted Anna to tell Luke the truth about her past at about 3/4 of the way through though so that she could stop worrying about that drama and they could come together completely. I would have liked a little more drama involving Henrietta and Anna and Luke. I think that would have made a better ending but altogether the story is a wonderful read. (I got it cheaper than this kindle price of $9.99 somewhere else so it gets 4 stars.)
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jessi davis
I enjoyed Heartless by Mary Balogh. Anna and Luke were likable. The story line captured my interest. The only negatives for me was I had a difficult time picturing Luke as the hero. The many descriptions and the words he used, made him seem quite feminine. Also, given the trauma Anna had gone through, some of her actions/reactions did not seem believable to me. I wish the story would have had more dialogue between Anna and Luke and not them giving their point of view. With more dialogue, I think the story would have been more touching. The evolving of Luke and his feelings of love were wonderful to read. It was annoying to accept Anna not opening up to him after he vows his love to her. I still liked this book and became invested in the characters. I will probably read Emily and Ashely's story next, Silent Melody.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
derya
Can Mary Balogh do no wrong? This is another GREAT book by this talented author. I'll give you a quick synopsis, and then tell you all the reasons why I think it's great!
Heartless tells the story of Lucas Kendrick, the Duke of Harndon and Anna Marlowe. Both are very wounded from their pasts and believe love is not in the cards for them. Anna believes that she is tainted and unworthy, Lucas has been burned once and has vowed never to be vulnerable again....fortunately for him, this is a romance novel! They marry "for duty and pleasure, but agree that both entered the marriage for convenience..(yah right!) Long story short, this book is about their marriage and how they mature not only in their marriage, but as individuals. It is remarkable. Spoilers ahead********
Here's some of the great parts of the book:
1. I love that Lucas verbalizes love first.
2. I love how Lucas defends Anna against his mother.
3. I love how devoted and loving Lucas is as a father to Joy.
4. I loved the love scenes between these two and how Lucas makes Anna feel beautiful.
5. I love how Balogh allows Lucas to work through the feelings he has for Henrietta and doesn't just assume his devotion and love for Anna are enough to quench all the feelings of his past,and yet he stays completely faithful to her.
6. I love that Balogh isn't afraid to make her men into atypical hero's. This book is based in the Georgian Period when some men, including Lucas, wore makeup, heels, and powder in their hair! Don't worry, this really is a masculine man!
7. I love that I really don't have anything negative to say about this book except that it's out of print...if you can't find it at your local library, this one just might be worth the the store marketplace price.
Heartless tells the story of Lucas Kendrick, the Duke of Harndon and Anna Marlowe. Both are very wounded from their pasts and believe love is not in the cards for them. Anna believes that she is tainted and unworthy, Lucas has been burned once and has vowed never to be vulnerable again....fortunately for him, this is a romance novel! They marry "for duty and pleasure, but agree that both entered the marriage for convenience..(yah right!) Long story short, this book is about their marriage and how they mature not only in their marriage, but as individuals. It is remarkable. Spoilers ahead********
Here's some of the great parts of the book:
1. I love that Lucas verbalizes love first.
2. I love how Lucas defends Anna against his mother.
3. I love how devoted and loving Lucas is as a father to Joy.
4. I loved the love scenes between these two and how Lucas makes Anna feel beautiful.
5. I love how Balogh allows Lucas to work through the feelings he has for Henrietta and doesn't just assume his devotion and love for Anna are enough to quench all the feelings of his past,and yet he stays completely faithful to her.
6. I love that Balogh isn't afraid to make her men into atypical hero's. This book is based in the Georgian Period when some men, including Lucas, wore makeup, heels, and powder in their hair! Don't worry, this really is a masculine man!
7. I love that I really don't have anything negative to say about this book except that it's out of print...if you can't find it at your local library, this one just might be worth the the store marketplace price.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
addie ungaretti
Mary Balogh does it again with a very readable novel. One of the main characters has had some very dark moments in her past that are eventually revealed. There is conflict between the two main characters that for a time seems insurmountable. Characters' emotions are well described and are logical within the context of this period novel. (Some novels have both characters making ridiculous choices, but not here.) A good read. I try to read everything Mary Balogh writes now as her novel are consistently high quality.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
avihai
This is my favorite author for romance. I was highly disappointed in the dark side to this book. I prefer suspense as "will this couple ever get together" v "the constant terror of abuse". This is the first book of Mary Balogh's I could not finish.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
henly
Lucas Kendrick reluctantly comes back to England after ten years of exile in France; now Duke of Harndon since his brother's death, he recoils at the idea of becoming reacquainted with a family that rejected him, and marrying is simply out of the question, even though bringing back his Duchess to Bowden Abbey is part of his duty. Bitter and cynical, he has stopped believing in love since his older brother destroyed his happiness, and yet his wedding to Anna Marlowe, barely one week after their first encounter, could easily turn into a love-match.
Anna Marlowe thought she would remain a spinster for the rest of her life. Years of self-sacrifice to take care of her family brought her to the age of twenty-five without the chance to find a husband; besides, it becomes quickly clear that a man of her past made sure in a most dreadful way that she could never marry. But her attraction to the handsome Duke of Harndon leads her to marriage before she could weigh the consequences.
On their wedding night, Luke discovers that his new wife, for whom he was afraid of feeling more than a simple attraction, isn't a virgin. A feeling of intense betrayal pushes him to confront her about it the next morning, and the cold conversation leads them to deny any feeling they might harbour for each other: their marriage is one of duty, and eventually meaningless pleasure. Love never entered the equation. But can their true feelings be hidden forever?
I'm so glad I didn't let myself be put off by the beginning of the book! At first, Luke appeared like such a heartless hero that I wasn't sure I could ever come to like him. I even wondered why he immediately jumped to conclusions when he discovered that Anna wasn't a virgin on their wedding night: given his past history, he could have considered other options than a past lover. But his cynicism explains his reaction, I believe.
But I shouldn't have underestimated Mary Balogh's talent. Her character development is extremely well-done: Luke isn't the heartless man he appears to be, but the face he shows to the world is the only thing that reaches through to the reader at first. This technique allows us to understand why Anna can't and won't confide in him about what terrifies her, but the downside is that it takes some time to see things from Luke's point of view and realise that he's not as cold-hearted as he seems.
As the novel progresses indeed, we discover a man who's hiding under the tough carapace of a rough exterior, who wants to let everyone (and himself) believe that he turned his back on love ten years before, that love is an emotion that only brings deceit and pain. He hardens himself whenever he feels in danger of showing weaknesses or vulnerability. But the influence of his new wife and the demons haunting her too much to confide in him pushes him to open his heart and progressively reveal his true self.
All the characters are masterfully drawn so as to give to the reader the very same feeling as the heroes experiencing the situation. For example, the man terrorising Anna is wrapped in mystery, making his involvement in the story even more frightening. The tension of a relationship that yet appears very easy-going between Anna and Luke is palpable. And last but not least, the secondary characters are very attaching, particularly Anna's deaf-mute sister Emily, whose story I'm looking forward to reading in Silent Melody.
Heartless is an unpredictable story, full of suspense and emotion, and with a steady evolution of the heroes. Yet another fabulous book by Mary Balogh!
Anna Marlowe thought she would remain a spinster for the rest of her life. Years of self-sacrifice to take care of her family brought her to the age of twenty-five without the chance to find a husband; besides, it becomes quickly clear that a man of her past made sure in a most dreadful way that she could never marry. But her attraction to the handsome Duke of Harndon leads her to marriage before she could weigh the consequences.
On their wedding night, Luke discovers that his new wife, for whom he was afraid of feeling more than a simple attraction, isn't a virgin. A feeling of intense betrayal pushes him to confront her about it the next morning, and the cold conversation leads them to deny any feeling they might harbour for each other: their marriage is one of duty, and eventually meaningless pleasure. Love never entered the equation. But can their true feelings be hidden forever?
I'm so glad I didn't let myself be put off by the beginning of the book! At first, Luke appeared like such a heartless hero that I wasn't sure I could ever come to like him. I even wondered why he immediately jumped to conclusions when he discovered that Anna wasn't a virgin on their wedding night: given his past history, he could have considered other options than a past lover. But his cynicism explains his reaction, I believe.
But I shouldn't have underestimated Mary Balogh's talent. Her character development is extremely well-done: Luke isn't the heartless man he appears to be, but the face he shows to the world is the only thing that reaches through to the reader at first. This technique allows us to understand why Anna can't and won't confide in him about what terrifies her, but the downside is that it takes some time to see things from Luke's point of view and realise that he's not as cold-hearted as he seems.
As the novel progresses indeed, we discover a man who's hiding under the tough carapace of a rough exterior, who wants to let everyone (and himself) believe that he turned his back on love ten years before, that love is an emotion that only brings deceit and pain. He hardens himself whenever he feels in danger of showing weaknesses or vulnerability. But the influence of his new wife and the demons haunting her too much to confide in him pushes him to open his heart and progressively reveal his true self.
All the characters are masterfully drawn so as to give to the reader the very same feeling as the heroes experiencing the situation. For example, the man terrorising Anna is wrapped in mystery, making his involvement in the story even more frightening. The tension of a relationship that yet appears very easy-going between Anna and Luke is palpable. And last but not least, the secondary characters are very attaching, particularly Anna's deaf-mute sister Emily, whose story I'm looking forward to reading in Silent Melody.
Heartless is an unpredictable story, full of suspense and emotion, and with a steady evolution of the heroes. Yet another fabulous book by Mary Balogh!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
maria
"Heartless" is the first Mary Balogh book I have read that isn't set in the Regency period. I didn't initially realise that events were taking place in the 1750s rather than early 1800s but was clued into it by the different language used and the descriptions of clothing. And of the hero. Now I have to say that I wasn't 100% convinced by the hero initially - although he's dishy and has waist-length long dark hair (phwoar!) he wears cosmetics (a bit of rouge and powder) and carries a fan. These descriptions of him rather made me think of 1980s pop stars and didn't really work for me as a dashing man with whom the reader tumbles into love.
However, despite these unfortunate downsides, Lucas Kendrick, the Duke of Harndon, is a manly man. He has spent the last ten years in Paris after being banished by his family following a duel with his older brother, and in those ten years he's lived the traditional dissolute rake lifestyle. However his uncle Theo has finally persuaded him to return to England, now that his older brother has died, and take up his responsibilities as Duke. One of these responsibilities is to get married and have sons, and conveniently for Luke he bumps into Lady Anna Marlowe at a ball and finds himself interested in her.
Lady Anna seems bright, engaging and smiley - but as one of Mary Balogh's heroines we know there's more to it than that. She's on the shelf at 25 but has no expectation of marriage - she has a very deep dark secret that prevents it. However she finds herself in a whirlwind romance with Luke and then, lo and behold, they are married.
She and Luke return to Luke's family home, Bowden, and she meets the rest of his relatives whilst having her younger sisters come and live with them too. But things aren't going as swimmingly as one might hope - Luke her husband is heartless, appears to treat his brother and sister unlovingly, and Anna wonders if he can feel more for her than he does for his old flame Henrietta, widow of his elder brother. And then Anna's nemesis arrives in the area and she realises that her secret is still controlling her life and there is to be no happy ending.
As always with a Mary Balogh novel the strength of this book is in the characters - the way that they change and grow. How can a heartless rake learn to love again when love caused him so much pain ten years ago? How can Anna ever hope for happiness when her secret is so all-encompassing. There are a number of other characters through whom we see the story, including Anna's deaf-mute sister and Luke's restless younger brother (whose story continues in "Silent Melody"). "Heartless" is a delicate and yet heartening love story, particularly in the scenes with a newborn baby and the way in which the birth affects the parents. The fact that this book is set before the Regency doesn't really change its overall feel and if you can get over the fact the hero wears blusher (which I did manage to do - eventually - by pretending it didn't happen) you will probably very much enjoy this book.
However, despite these unfortunate downsides, Lucas Kendrick, the Duke of Harndon, is a manly man. He has spent the last ten years in Paris after being banished by his family following a duel with his older brother, and in those ten years he's lived the traditional dissolute rake lifestyle. However his uncle Theo has finally persuaded him to return to England, now that his older brother has died, and take up his responsibilities as Duke. One of these responsibilities is to get married and have sons, and conveniently for Luke he bumps into Lady Anna Marlowe at a ball and finds himself interested in her.
Lady Anna seems bright, engaging and smiley - but as one of Mary Balogh's heroines we know there's more to it than that. She's on the shelf at 25 but has no expectation of marriage - she has a very deep dark secret that prevents it. However she finds herself in a whirlwind romance with Luke and then, lo and behold, they are married.
She and Luke return to Luke's family home, Bowden, and she meets the rest of his relatives whilst having her younger sisters come and live with them too. But things aren't going as swimmingly as one might hope - Luke her husband is heartless, appears to treat his brother and sister unlovingly, and Anna wonders if he can feel more for her than he does for his old flame Henrietta, widow of his elder brother. And then Anna's nemesis arrives in the area and she realises that her secret is still controlling her life and there is to be no happy ending.
As always with a Mary Balogh novel the strength of this book is in the characters - the way that they change and grow. How can a heartless rake learn to love again when love caused him so much pain ten years ago? How can Anna ever hope for happiness when her secret is so all-encompassing. There are a number of other characters through whom we see the story, including Anna's deaf-mute sister and Luke's restless younger brother (whose story continues in "Silent Melody"). "Heartless" is a delicate and yet heartening love story, particularly in the scenes with a newborn baby and the way in which the birth affects the parents. The fact that this book is set before the Regency doesn't really change its overall feel and if you can get over the fact the hero wears blusher (which I did manage to do - eventually - by pretending it didn't happen) you will probably very much enjoy this book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
baroona
"Heartless" is the first Mary Balogh book I have read that isn't set in the Regency period. I didn't initially realise that events were taking place in the 1750s rather than early 1800s but was clued into it by the different language used and the descriptions of clothing. And of the hero. Now I have to say that I wasn't 100% convinced by the hero initially - although he's dishy and has waist-length long dark hair (phwoar!) he wears cosmetics (a bit of rouge and powder) and carries a fan. These descriptions of him rather made me think of 1980s pop stars and didn't really work for me as a dashing man with whom the reader tumbles into love.
However, despite these unfortunate downsides, Lucas Kendrick, the Duke of Harndon, is a manly man. He has spent the last ten years in Paris after being banished by his family following a duel with his older brother, and in those ten years he's lived the traditional dissolute rake lifestyle. However his uncle Theo has finally persuaded him to return to England, now that his older brother has died, and take up his responsibilities as Duke. One of these responsibilities is to get married and have sons, and conveniently for Luke he bumps into Lady Anna Marlowe at a ball and finds himself interested in her.
Lady Anna seems bright, engaging and smiley - but as one of Mary Balogh's heroines we know there's more to it than that. She's on the shelf at 25 but has no expectation of marriage - she has a very deep dark secret that prevents it. However she finds herself in a whirlwind romance with Luke and then, lo and behold, they are married.
She and Luke return to Luke's family home, Bowden, and she meets the rest of his relatives whilst having her younger sisters come and live with them too. But things aren't going as swimmingly as one might hope - Luke her husband is heartless, appears to treat his brother and sister unlovingly, and Anna wonders if he can feel more for her than he does for his old flame Henrietta, widow of his elder brother. And then Anna's nemesis arrives in the area and she realises that her secret is still controlling her life and there is to be no happy ending.
As always with a Mary Balogh novel the strength of this book is in the characters - the way that they change and grow. How can a heartless rake learn to love again when love caused him so much pain ten years ago? How can Anna ever hope for happiness when her secret is so all-encompassing. There are a number of other characters through whom we see the story, including Anna's deaf-mute sister and Luke's restless younger brother (whose story continues in "Silent Melody"). "Heartless" is a delicate and yet heartening love story, particularly in the scenes with a newborn baby and the way in which the birth affects the parents. The fact that this book is set before the Regency doesn't really change its overall feel and if you can get over the fact the hero wears blusher (which I did manage to do - eventually - by pretending it didn't happen) you will probably very much enjoy this book.
However, despite these unfortunate downsides, Lucas Kendrick, the Duke of Harndon, is a manly man. He has spent the last ten years in Paris after being banished by his family following a duel with his older brother, and in those ten years he's lived the traditional dissolute rake lifestyle. However his uncle Theo has finally persuaded him to return to England, now that his older brother has died, and take up his responsibilities as Duke. One of these responsibilities is to get married and have sons, and conveniently for Luke he bumps into Lady Anna Marlowe at a ball and finds himself interested in her.
Lady Anna seems bright, engaging and smiley - but as one of Mary Balogh's heroines we know there's more to it than that. She's on the shelf at 25 but has no expectation of marriage - she has a very deep dark secret that prevents it. However she finds herself in a whirlwind romance with Luke and then, lo and behold, they are married.
She and Luke return to Luke's family home, Bowden, and she meets the rest of his relatives whilst having her younger sisters come and live with them too. But things aren't going as swimmingly as one might hope - Luke her husband is heartless, appears to treat his brother and sister unlovingly, and Anna wonders if he can feel more for her than he does for his old flame Henrietta, widow of his elder brother. And then Anna's nemesis arrives in the area and she realises that her secret is still controlling her life and there is to be no happy ending.
As always with a Mary Balogh novel the strength of this book is in the characters - the way that they change and grow. How can a heartless rake learn to love again when love caused him so much pain ten years ago? How can Anna ever hope for happiness when her secret is so all-encompassing. There are a number of other characters through whom we see the story, including Anna's deaf-mute sister and Luke's restless younger brother (whose story continues in "Silent Melody"). "Heartless" is a delicate and yet heartening love story, particularly in the scenes with a newborn baby and the way in which the birth affects the parents. The fact that this book is set before the Regency doesn't really change its overall feel and if you can get over the fact the hero wears blusher (which I did manage to do - eventually - by pretending it didn't happen) you will probably very much enjoy this book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
andy harrison
This is my favorite of all of Balogh's historicals. It is NOT a Regency, but a Georgian-era book.
Other reviews here describe the basic plots.
What captured me was the depth and detail of the characters, and not just the main ones. I have two copies of this marvelous book and have read it over and over.
Some things about the book are difficult to face, such as the truth of Anna's "secret" and the Duke's initial reaction after their wedding night.
When Anna's story's truth is uncovered, some readers may be puzzled and/or upset. If one keeps in mind her sheltered and yet upsetting upbringing, and the easiness with which a charming man can enthrall a young, vulbnerable woman, her feelings about the "secret", which she feels will kill her marriage, are all too beliveable to me.
The Duke's developing character is enchanting to me, and he has secrets of his own as well.
The story of the development and growth of the main characters, both first smitten with each other and then determined not to love each other, then (of course) finding themselves in love after all is marvelously drawn by Balogh.
It's not a perfect book, and repeated readings have alerted me to minor flaws but in the end the story is too powerful to resist!
A must have book for any Balogh fan!
For new readers of her books, while I don't recommend this one to start with, it is one to add to your reading list!
The first edition has a lovely cover, by the way.
Other reviews here describe the basic plots.
What captured me was the depth and detail of the characters, and not just the main ones. I have two copies of this marvelous book and have read it over and over.
Some things about the book are difficult to face, such as the truth of Anna's "secret" and the Duke's initial reaction after their wedding night.
When Anna's story's truth is uncovered, some readers may be puzzled and/or upset. If one keeps in mind her sheltered and yet upsetting upbringing, and the easiness with which a charming man can enthrall a young, vulbnerable woman, her feelings about the "secret", which she feels will kill her marriage, are all too beliveable to me.
The Duke's developing character is enchanting to me, and he has secrets of his own as well.
The story of the development and growth of the main characters, both first smitten with each other and then determined not to love each other, then (of course) finding themselves in love after all is marvelously drawn by Balogh.
It's not a perfect book, and repeated readings have alerted me to minor flaws but in the end the story is too powerful to resist!
A must have book for any Balogh fan!
For new readers of her books, while I don't recommend this one to start with, it is one to add to your reading list!
The first edition has a lovely cover, by the way.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
liz de coster
I like that her books describe the life and times of the Elite or noble families. Her descriptions of furniture landscapes are lovely. The story itself show loss love struggles and happiness and was quite the page turner.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kumar saurav
I enjoyed Heartless because I like stories about the era/country it took place in. It actually is part of a series which I didn't know. I had already read Silent Melody which contains one of the characters from Heartless. If you like stories from the 1800's and England, you'll like these books. Easy to read love stories with some mystery and lots of social cultures of that time.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
kerry lajeunesse
This must be the equivalent of a psychological thriller, but Georgian style. Anna has some serious secrets and a stalker who won't let her be happy in her new marriage. She's petrified of what will happen if she tells her new husband all, and so while there is happiness, there is also secret terror. NOT a way any person should live. I had to put the novel down several times because I couldn't stand waiting for the axe to fall. The writing was a bit different than other Balogh novels, more realistic in some ways, but more shallow in others. The cultural aspects of love and romance were also different, which was interesting. Overall, I give it 2 stars because I wouldn't willingly live through that emotional terror. It was surprising and not what I expected from Mary Balogh.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
celia
What a heartwarming and beautiful love story. I could actually write a book on how much I love this story. For Anna to have lived with such fear and then to find such a love, is why I love this particular story. Thank you Mary for such an erotic, breathtaking and exceptional love story. You go girl.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jeremy rathke
Since there are many very good summaries here, I won't bother with my own and instead get to the point. Heartless is a near perfect historical romance; a heart warming and poignant book thats well written and contains wonderful characters (who stay with you for weeks ,if not for years afterward) . A book thats firmly planted on my keeper shelf.
So why not five stars? Thats just my personal opinion and should not affect a romance readers decision on whether or not to read this book. The bottom line is that I like my hero's to be manly. And Lucas with his red high heeled shoes, frilly clothes and makeup (including rogue), which are repeatedly mentioned to my dismay, just doesn't do it for me. I know this book is set during a time (Georgian era) when this type of appearance was the norm but I still couldn't get past it. I didn't understand Balogh's purpose -describe it once and be done with it. Really it didn't matter to me if Lucas was a fashion leader. The man carried a FAN for goodness sakes!
So while its only a minor complaint, the hero's masculinity is crucial to me when reading a romance, I dropped my rating a half star. I highly recommend purchasing (even at the steep used prices) and reading this book. Despite the feminine features of the hero (which I will skip in re-reads) Heartless is well worth a romance historical readers time and money. I agree with all the other comments mentioned -this one is definitely a keeper.
So why not five stars? Thats just my personal opinion and should not affect a romance readers decision on whether or not to read this book. The bottom line is that I like my hero's to be manly. And Lucas with his red high heeled shoes, frilly clothes and makeup (including rogue), which are repeatedly mentioned to my dismay, just doesn't do it for me. I know this book is set during a time (Georgian era) when this type of appearance was the norm but I still couldn't get past it. I didn't understand Balogh's purpose -describe it once and be done with it. Really it didn't matter to me if Lucas was a fashion leader. The man carried a FAN for goodness sakes!
So while its only a minor complaint, the hero's masculinity is crucial to me when reading a romance, I dropped my rating a half star. I highly recommend purchasing (even at the steep used prices) and reading this book. Despite the feminine features of the hero (which I will skip in re-reads) Heartless is well worth a romance historical readers time and money. I agree with all the other comments mentioned -this one is definitely a keeper.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
tammy bouie
I found it very disturbing that Balogh would not let the heroine state or think with certainty that she was raped, and indeed the author almost blurs over the really horrendous way that Anna loses her virginity. ("It had not really been a rape, yet in a way it had been.") It is most certainly rape, and Anna remains preyed upon by the sick monster afterward -- which, to me, is not good reading. Something else I didn't understand: even if Anna thought that confessing what happened to her could permanently rend her marriage with Luke - why NOT confess it to him, the morning after their first night? These two people hadn't made a happy love match, it was a marriage made for other reasons, so why not get everything out in the open? (But then if she had, there wouldn't have been 200+ more pages to this story.)
In all other respects, this story is a fairly routine 'Balogh' romance. Luke's fancy clothing and rouge didn't bother me (although I admit it's strange for a romance hero to carry a fan, 1750 or not), but other things did. Such as, all the usual characteristics of Balogh's writing being present: the hero who's been emotionally rejected by his family and thus rejects them, but is reluctantly pulled back into the family circle by circumstances beyond his control; a "marriage of convenience" with well-concealed emotions but strong sexual feelings between the protagonists; romantic little scenes involving sibling subcharacters which are dropped in as setups for future books... Sometimes these things work beautifully in her short fiction, but personally I've never been "gripped" by any of Mary Balogh's longer work. There's nothing fresh here; nothing you haven't read in many of Mary Balogh's books before.
But it's mostly due to that disturbing twist regarding Anna's abuse, and the author's presentation of it, that I can't really recommend HEARTLESS, except to the die-hard Balogh fan.
In all other respects, this story is a fairly routine 'Balogh' romance. Luke's fancy clothing and rouge didn't bother me (although I admit it's strange for a romance hero to carry a fan, 1750 or not), but other things did. Such as, all the usual characteristics of Balogh's writing being present: the hero who's been emotionally rejected by his family and thus rejects them, but is reluctantly pulled back into the family circle by circumstances beyond his control; a "marriage of convenience" with well-concealed emotions but strong sexual feelings between the protagonists; romantic little scenes involving sibling subcharacters which are dropped in as setups for future books... Sometimes these things work beautifully in her short fiction, but personally I've never been "gripped" by any of Mary Balogh's longer work. There's nothing fresh here; nothing you haven't read in many of Mary Balogh's books before.
But it's mostly due to that disturbing twist regarding Anna's abuse, and the author's presentation of it, that I can't really recommend HEARTLESS, except to the die-hard Balogh fan.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
kellie
Zounds! This book was slow going. I quit after 14 chapters, read through the rest at a glance. Egads!! I didn't miss a thing. Quite disappointing. I've also decided, deuce take it, that my personal preference is for characters who can speak decent English and for tall handsome heroes.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
shauna bishop
*SPOILER ALERT*
Okay, so that wasn't my only gripe. I just don't understand the five star reviews here. It's not a bad story, mind you, but I don't see the 5 stars in it. It's an average book with some really odd aspects, such as the male interest who came from France and adopted wearing powder and rouge on his cheeks and a fan...It may be historically accurate (I don't know), but that is definitely not something I find attractive in a man..I just couldn't get his picture out of my head. Other than that, I think the whole "thriller and suspense" in the book a little weak. Anna, the female protagonist, lives in terror because of a man who claims to be her father (you find out that later in the book) and blackmails her due to her late father who had a bunch of gambling debts. He stalks her and scares her...and also causes her to lose her virginity by having these women poke and prod her. Anna keeps him a secret from her husband way too long. I feel that the overall antagonist a little weak and almost ridiculous.
The main story is about the two lovers, of course, who have a marriage of convenience and later find out they love each other. They both have their secrets and in all honesty, I've read all this before in other historical romances and really don't find this one standing out.
Okay, so that wasn't my only gripe. I just don't understand the five star reviews here. It's not a bad story, mind you, but I don't see the 5 stars in it. It's an average book with some really odd aspects, such as the male interest who came from France and adopted wearing powder and rouge on his cheeks and a fan...It may be historically accurate (I don't know), but that is definitely not something I find attractive in a man..I just couldn't get his picture out of my head. Other than that, I think the whole "thriller and suspense" in the book a little weak. Anna, the female protagonist, lives in terror because of a man who claims to be her father (you find out that later in the book) and blackmails her due to her late father who had a bunch of gambling debts. He stalks her and scares her...and also causes her to lose her virginity by having these women poke and prod her. Anna keeps him a secret from her husband way too long. I feel that the overall antagonist a little weak and almost ridiculous.
The main story is about the two lovers, of course, who have a marriage of convenience and later find out they love each other. They both have their secrets and in all honesty, I've read all this before in other historical romances and really don't find this one standing out.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
sheri
*SPOILER ALERT*
Okay, so that wasn't my only gripe. I just don't understand the five star reviews here. It's not a bad story, mind you, but I don't see the 5 stars in it. It's an average book with some really odd aspects, such as the male interest who came from France and adopted wearing powder and rouge on his cheeks and a fan...It may be historically accurate (I don't know), but that is definitely not something I find attractive in a man..I just couldn't get his picture out of my head. Other than that, I think the whole "thriller and suspense" in the book a little weak. Anna, the female protagonist, lives in terror because of a man who claims to be her father (you find out that later in the book) and blackmails her due to her late father who had a bunch of gambling debts. He stalks her and scares her...and also causes her to lose her virginity by having these women poke and prod her. Anna keeps him a secret from her husband way too long. I feel that the overall antagonist a little weak and almost ridiculous.
The main story is about the two lovers, of course, who have a marriage of convenience and later find out they love each other. They both have their secrets and in all honesty, I've read all this before in other historical romances and really don't find this one standing out.
Okay, so that wasn't my only gripe. I just don't understand the five star reviews here. It's not a bad story, mind you, but I don't see the 5 stars in it. It's an average book with some really odd aspects, such as the male interest who came from France and adopted wearing powder and rouge on his cheeks and a fan...It may be historically accurate (I don't know), but that is definitely not something I find attractive in a man..I just couldn't get his picture out of my head. Other than that, I think the whole "thriller and suspense" in the book a little weak. Anna, the female protagonist, lives in terror because of a man who claims to be her father (you find out that later in the book) and blackmails her due to her late father who had a bunch of gambling debts. He stalks her and scares her...and also causes her to lose her virginity by having these women poke and prod her. Anna keeps him a secret from her husband way too long. I feel that the overall antagonist a little weak and almost ridiculous.
The main story is about the two lovers, of course, who have a marriage of convenience and later find out they love each other. They both have their secrets and in all honesty, I've read all this before in other historical romances and really don't find this one standing out.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
jcwolfkill
Reading this book was a battle between interesting and boring. It just went too slowly for me but it's a good book.
I like the dandy thing but sticking a fan in a guy's hand doesn't make him a dandy, it just makes it REALLY funny.
I like the dandy thing but sticking a fan in a guy's hand doesn't make him a dandy, it just makes it REALLY funny.
Please RateHeartless (A Georgian Romance)
Lady Anna is described as having freshness, charm, a sparkle about her. She''s smart, witty, people gravitate towards her. Lucas (a Duke) hides his emotions, except anger (at the start). He has a cold, non-caring mom, also 2 sibs who can't stay out of trouble. Luke's described as masculine. He wears wigs (time period appropriate), flashy clothes & cosmetics "in the French style." He lived in Paris 10 years. Sorry, a hero, with a dusting of powder & rouge on his face? Who carries a fan. Was difficult to see the man underneath this superficial behavior. He gradually becomes a hero, but takes too long to figure out the villains & their rationale.
Two secondary characters were the "baddies." Who, frankly, wore out their welcome.
The book started to repeat themes, the story could have been better with less time
devoted to baddies & 50-80 fewer pages.
There are many BETTER Balogh books,IMHO.