An Affair with a Notorious Heiress audiobook

While I appreciated the strenght of the heroine, I found it a little bit unbelievable for the time. I loved her unconditional love of her sister and her unweavering support of her! I loved how protective she was and how she tried to avoid her sister making the same her mistake in marriage.Also the hero, while portrait as an intelligent man, was too stupid to believe that marrying a respectable woman somehow that respectability will make him even more respecatble in the eyes of the ton! Still I liked him even if he refused to recognize that he could have the same love his parents had and stubbornly resisted his love for the heroine.Obviously, this being a romance, the HEA is a sure thing! :)

Definitely my favorite in the series 🥺

I love how all these books from different series end up being tied together!

Ok, this one felt a lot like I was reading the latest Bridgerton series. As I haven't read the Viscount who Loved me, I can't say if I found it similar, but it was kinda similar to the series. And it worked for me!Outcast from society, Tillie wants nothing more than to find her beloved sister a husband. When the charming son of a Duke, Rexton begins to court his sister, she is determined to be her chaperone to make sure she does not suffer the same fate that she did in society by being marred by scandal. However, the more time she spends with the man, the more she begins to realise that her is not the sibling he is most suited for.I really liked this one. It was sweet and cute and steamy in parts. The banter between the characters was fun and I enjoy how respectful the characters are with each other. I loved some of the side characters and the story was just a lot of fun. Such an entertaining way to lose yourself for a few hours. I really enjoy Heath's writing.

Originally posted here on Smitten by Books Reviews4.5 Stars ~ Top PickAfter sobbing through the end of Ms. Heath’s novella When the Marquess Falls, I was more that ready to throw myself into Rexton and Tillie’s romance in An Affair With a Notorious Heiress.Rexton is my favorite kind of hero: uptight, disapproving, brooding but possessing passions and a sensuality that runs deep. Oh and the part where he’s also handsome and wealthy doesn’t hurt. Well he makes a deal with Tillie’s uncle to be seen courting his niece (Tillie’s younger sister) to encourage interest in her by the young bucks of the peerage. In exchange he’ll get to mate one of his horses with Hammersley’s prized stallion. Or so he believes the stallion belongs to the uncle. Alistair agrees. I mean how hard can this be?Divorced, Tillie is a pariah in London society. Worse yet, her husband divorced her when she was caught quite brazenly kissing her footman. Yes, that’s how terrible her marriage was that she would stoop to such means to obtain a divorce. Tillie’s goal is to get her sister married before she returns to America and away from the exile in which she lives in Britain. However, Alistair, the Marquess of Rexton may not be the one. She’s not convinced he’s coming to court her sister Gina with his heart in hand. Actually, she herself is a little too aware of him and he seems equally aware of her. Not good.Yes good! That’s what makes for an excellent romance. Their attraction to each other is instant and only grows more intense over the course of their acquaintance. The below passage is from the first outing Tillie, Rexton and Gina took together and gives you a lay of the land. He hold out his arms as though surrendering. “When it comes to the ladies, I have no reason to pretend. I have always found honesty in relationships to serve me well.”“Then you should have no fear of being found lacking while courting Gina.”He chuckled low, provocatively. “Being found lacking has never been a fear.”Before she could stop it, her gaze dipped to his lap, lower. She jerked her attention back to the passing scenery but not before she saw the satisfied smirk. No, he wouldn’t do at all for Gina. Tillie would always see innuendo in his eyes, read it in his face, hear it in his voice. I started the book thinking Gina was ridiculously young and naïve. I’m happy to say she’s only one of those things. She may be young but she’s not blind to what’s going on around her. I loved discovering she’s rather mischievous and can hold her cards close to the chest.But getting Tillie and Rexton together is far from an easy feat. As it should be. I love a difficult conflict-ridden romance. He wants a bride who is scandal free. Despite his parents’ happy marriage, life for him growing up as the product of a mother not fully accepted by Society was hard. He doesn’t want that for his children.Tillie is the farthest thing from scandal free, a fact she’s well aware of. She has Rexton’s peers and her ex-husband to remind her of that every day she sticks her neck out. It’s only for the sake of her sister (so she tells herself in the beginning) that she’s putting herself out there. That Rexton is very much a part of her sojourn back out into Society is immaterial. But of course it’s not immaterial at all and she suffers the guilt of lusting after the man courting her sister.Inevitably, Tillie and Rexton get to know each other and their passions flare. Truly good stuff. There’s nothing better than for their building attraction to each other to payoff wonderfully. Ms. Heath does pen sizzling-hot love scenes. So much more than the entangling of body parts. So much emotion and feeling. And that’s when I truly fell in love with Rexton. Such a beautiful man inside and out. What he’s willing to sacrifice to be with Tillie made my heart clench. And boy did my heart ache for Tillie because her sacrifice is just as noble.All in all, another home run for Ms. Heath and I’m eagerly looking forward to whatever she puts out next.~ Beverley

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book when I started it. I was on the fence about the premise, but I have read some books by Lorraine Heath that I absolutely adored, so I decided to forge through. I’m glad that I did, because I ended up enjoying this story.Our hero is the Marquess of Rexton. Though he is obviously of the nobility, he grew up a little bit of a black sheep among his peers because his mother was a bookkeeper before she married his father. Rex loves his mother and would not trade her for anything. However, his childhood was difficult. And he resolved that he would never put his own children through the same thing. He planned to marry a woman of impeccable reputation, one that would never be a cause for ridicule or ostracism for his own kids. But you know what they say about the best laid plans.As the story begins, Rex is made an offer by a wealthy American who is trying to see his niece settled. Gina is a sweet girl, young and proper and very rich. Unfortunately, she is not attracting any suitors because of her notorious sister, Tillie. You see, Tillie divorced amid a scandal where she was caught kissing a footman. She is still technically a lady, but she has been shunned by society. Gina’s uncle hopes that by associating with Rex, Gina will become more desirable to other men of quality. And if Rex agrees to pretend to court her, he can borrow the uncle’s champion racehorse to stud.Stop me if you know where this is going.Of course, Rex ends up falling for Tillie. The first part of the book was a predictable because of that. Those chapters were devoted to his internal struggle realizing that the woman he really wanted was the kind he had always vowed to stay away from. Still, I enjoyed watching him fall.Tillie is made of some stern stuff. I appreciated how she really took control of her life and got out of a marriage which made her unhappy. She put her sister first in all things after that, even when it made her own life very difficult. That was the extra dash of angst in the beginning. She had no idea that Rex was only pretending. And while she positively burned for him, she did not want to betray her sister by ever acting on it.It would’ve been easy for Heath to paint Rex as a totally uptight jerk, bent on propriety, but she didn’t do that. I could understand where he was coming from. And he did not wait so long in recognizing his feelings that he alienated me. I liked him. I liked her. And I liked them together. There was really good sexual tension here and the pay off satisfied.What really surprised me was that I ended up liking Gina. I thought she was going to be a vapid child, but there was more to her than meets the eye. She has her own novella coming up and I am curious to see how her own love story plays out.This did not bring me on the same kind of emotional roller coaster as some other heaths books. I did not end up sobbing on my couch, but I did enjoy it. This author rarely disappoints.Rating: B*ARC provided by Avon

Our heroine Tillie, Lady Landsdowne, is an independent, wealthy American heiress in her own right, and a divorcee who managed to keep her title and his family’s London manor from her ex.Alistair Mabry, the Marquess of Rexton, is our rakish hero, although marriage shy, when he does marry it will be with someone with a spotless reputation. He was bullied in school because of his mother being in a lower class and working. He doesn’t want the same to happen to his children. Rexton enters a deal with Tillie’s uncle to fake date Tillie’s younger sister, unbeknownst to either, to attract suitors. If he can secure marriage for the girl, her uncle will allow the breeding of each other’s prized race horses, with Rexton receiving two colts. Tillie has a tarnished reputation, so Rexton can’t understand why this woman he’s just met has gotten under his skin. He can’t stop thinking about her. Tillie isn’t what the ton makes her out to be, as Rexton figures out. He wants to be with her, but she refuses him thinking he’s hiding things as her first husband did. And that her bad reputation will hurt his. This was a fun, quick read, show casing a strong heroine. Strong independent females are what makes this series work. I read and really enjoyed all the books in this series.

Actual Rating 4.5 StarsWell damn! It appears those irrepressible Americans have struck again. This time in the form of one indomitable, and equally irresistible young divorcee, Mathilda Paget, Countess of Landsdowne.While her notoriety and the reasoning for it may be a blame laid completely at the feet of her less than faithful husband of three years. It seems that the scandal, and the widespread societal snubbing that has resulted are all hers to bear.Well, not quite. You see, there is the matter of her very eligible and very innocent young sister. One Miss Virginia Hammersley.Enter one Alistair Mabry, Marquess of Rexton. The most eligible bachelor of the ton to date, and the paragon of propriety. As fate would have it, the marriage-shy Lord Rexton also happens to be young Miss Hammerslely's ticket to marriageability. Or so are the hopes of her wagering uncle. Who is willing to go so far as to offer up the studding services of his prized stallion to Alistair. In exchange for a little courtship for his young niece.What the enterprising elder Hammersley or Lord Rexston have no way of knowing is, that their bargain will have gains of the heart that no one involved would ever dare to dream.As both Alistair and Tillie learn that things and people have the tendency of both being and meaning so much more than what is superficially evident.This fourth offering in the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series, introduces readers to a woman who is marked by the curse of "if only.And...A man who is willing to break that curse. All in the name of "just because".His whole reason for indulging young Miss Hammersley's cause does hinge upon his desire to breed a horse after all.Though this reasoning proves a little lack luster for the spawning of a love affair the likes of which this story promises. It does however serve to get things moving. Albeit in a very roundabout direction. All things considered. Before the story reaches the point where leading man and leading lady throw caution to the wind, and set their sights on each other. Not fully, of course. But just enough that clothes come off and wild coupling ensues.Once things do heat up between Alistair and Tillie, they remain joyously aflame until the end of the tale. Although the same cannot be said for the beautiful Miss Hammersley. Whose romantic fate is left to languish until the next book.The afore mentioned issues aside. This is another example of Historical Romance made for the contemporary woman. With a strong female lead, who is more than willing to stand her ground, protect her family, and love with her whole heart.And...A leading man who can understand and foster that independence with love and respect.Reviewer's Note: This is the fourth novel in a companion series. As such, it may be read as part of its intended series. Or, enjoyed as a stand alone.

FINAL DECISION:  Lyrical and emotional story of a woman who is a scandal and the man who wants to avoid scandal and yet ends up not wanting to avoid her.  I loved the unexpected sweetness and romance of this story.THE STORY:  Alistair Mabry, Marquess of Rexton and future duke, has no plans to marry soon, but when he does he will choose a bride with a perfect reputation.  His own childhood showed him the consequences of being the child of a scandalous union.  While he loves his parents, he has no desire to repeat their story.  When he is asked to court a young sweet woman in order to help her marriage prospects, he agrees, but finds himself spending more time thinking about her older and scandalous sister, Tillie, Lady Lansdowne.  Divorced after her affair with a footman became known, the American heiress lives separate from society but is determined to see her sister happily married.  She doesn't think that Rexton is the man for her sister, but can't stop thinking about him herself.OPINION:  This book follows two books that are among my all time favorites.  The stories of Rexton's parents and that of his sister are so heartbreakingly beautiful.  As I began this book, I was honestly a bit disappointed because I thought Rexton's attitude toward his mother's past was not worthy of the oldest son of his parents.  As the book progressed, however, I fell in love with Rexton and understood his position (even if thought it misguided).Heath has a marvelous way of making the romance between Rexton and Tillie seem completely hopeless. There seems to be no future for these characters, but all that is needed is complete and utter surrender to love.  I am always done in by Heath's way of ripping into my emotions.  This romance is quieter and sweeter than I expected -- perhaps because their outward challenges are so large and overwhelming.I love watching these two fall in love.The man who thinks that he wants perfection, but discovers that all he really wants is love -- even if it is messy and imperfect -- and perhaps because it is. The woman who has been so thoroughly disappointed by love that she fears risking any part of herself again. And perhaps she has internalized her lack of worth because no one has ever put her first.The story slowly built until reaching a wonderful crescendo.  This book wasn't as gut wrenching as my other favorites in this world, but the intense sweetness was worth the journey.WORTH MENTIONING:  Fans of the series will be pleased to see quite a bit of Rexton's family.CONNECTED BOOKS:  AN AFFAIR WITH A NOTORIOUS HEIRESS is the fourth book in the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series.  The book can be read as standalone, but honestly is much better after reading both the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series and the connected series about the parents generation, the Scoundrels of St. James series.STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.NOTE:  I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss in order to provide a review.  I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review.  All opinions contained herein are my own.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com

(Aug) I really enjoyed this one. Lately I've found most of the HR books I've had time to read somewhat bland - not really memorable, kind of interchangeable. This one was just - I don't know - more fun, more interesting, even though nothing out of the ordinary happened. Tillie was so unhappy in her marriage that she kissed a footman in view of others in order to shock her titled husband into filing for divorce, a major no-no back in the late 1800s. Now, years later, she lives a lonely, outcast sort of life, just waiting for her younger sister Gina to find love before she scurries back to NY where she is from, hoping to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams once away from the cruelty of the English upper crust. Rexton, heir to a Dukedom, is convinced by their uncle to pretend to court Gina, thus hopefully encouraging other men to court her. In exchange, he'll allow Rex to use his prize stallion to mate Rex's prize mare. Rex meets Tillie before Gina, and is intrigued, finding her so much more than her pleasant but young and inexperienced sister. Tillie feels the same pull towards Rex, but she doesn't know the courtship is a secret and doesn't want to stand in her sister's way of love. The sparring between Rex and Tillie makes for good dialogue, and Gina turns out not to be as bland and insipid as I first suspected she would be. I enjoyed being back at The Twin Dragon for some gambling as well as spending time with many LH favorites whose stories are intertwined with Rex. What I really appreciated was there was no mystery - no one trying to kill the Queen or espionage or missing heirloom; just a significant and realistic barrier to this couple finding their HEA. LH also writes some of the sweetest epilogues - there was one that made me cry - and here we get a tiny glimpse into the future of Rex and Tillie and it sounds like their life together was perfect. The children of the original gang of Oliver Twist inspired characters are proving to be as enjoyable as their parents.

4.5!

I really enjoyed it! Great five stars.