Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Not a Fine Gentleman by Donna Hatch

Not a Fine Gentleman, On Tour with Prism Book Tours

NOT A FINE GENTLEMAN
SERIES: Rogue Hearts #5
GENRE: Historical Romance (Clean)
PUBLISHER: Mirror Lake Press LLC
RELEASE DATE: June 18, 2020
PAGES: 448

Lady Margaret secretly yearns for love, but fate has exchanged wedded bliss for a lie. When she is caught hovering over her cheating husband’s dead body, she is instantly doomed to hang for his murder. Without hope for justice, Margaret flees into the night alone.

A cynical Bow Street Constable, Connor Jackson, vows to bring the fugitive Lady Margaret to face the law—but, he doesn’t expect sparks to fly between them. Could the strong yet tender lady truly be a killer?

As more suspects—and even more condemning evidence—surface, the less certain Connor is of his duty. He must choose between his growing feelings for Lady Margaret and the demands of justice. Will the truth tear them apart or set them free to find love?

Other Books In This Series

I really enjoyed the first 4 books in the Rogue Hearts series by Donna Hatch & I’ve been eager for the two sisters to have their own happily-ever-afters too. Not a Fine Gentleman was well worth the wait.

Amesbury sister Margaret Hennessey has the misfortune of being married to a vile man who winds up dead rather quickly into the story. Further misfortune ensues as she’s unfairly accused of killing him (a mostly stupid assumption, I thought, considering that no murder weapon was found on scene or on her person) and is turned over to the night watchman, another vile man from whom she escapes into the darkness & proceeds to flee for her life. Enter swoony Bow Street Runner Connor Jackson who’s asked to find her by her brother.

Sparks fly the moment they meet – as Margaret clearly demonstrates her ability to fend for herself when needed. I loved that she was a strong heroine even in the face of the unimaginable, but I also loved that when wounded the most deeply she still gave in to her pain. This kept her realistic and added an extra dose of humanity to her character. For his part, Connor had his own complex emotions to deal with, not the least of which involved his growing love for Margaret – a seemingly impossible match given the disparity in their social classes. Cue some tender touches, husky voiced sentiments, toe-curling kisses & barely restrained passion nonetheless.

One thing I most love about the Amesbury brothers is how they rally around each other without question – a trait that applies even more when their sisters are threatened. The scene with the magistrate is fondly comical in the face of all the protectiveness surging through the room – but mostly it’s just really sweet to see how these very manly men love so fiercely. Makes them all the swoonier, in my opinion 🙂

Bottom Line: A plucky heroine with more strength than she’s given credit for & a swoony hero with more class than he’s given credit for. Intrigue. Suspense. Romance. A well-constructed plot. Charming writing style. What more could you ask for? Even though it’s been a while since the previous Rogue Hearts book released, Hatch hasn’t lost her touch with this series or characters in the least. Her writing voice achieves a delightful balance of tender affection, dry wit, and intense feelings that proves ‘clean fiction’ doesn’t have to be boring or staid at all! Regency intrigue fans, don’t miss this series!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Prism Book Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 4 / keep those fans & fainting couches handy!

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Multi-award-winning author of more than twenty best-selling Regency Historical Romances, Donna Hatch is a hopeful romantic and an adventurer at heart. Each book she writes is filled with wit and heart and plenty of swoon-worthy romance. Donna sings, plays the harp, and loves to ballroom dance. Her family, including six children and two cats, recently left their native Arizona for the Pacific coast of the US. No matter where they live, she and her husband of over twenty years are proof that there truly is a happily ever after.

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Other Books by Donna Hatch

– One winner will receive ebooks of the first four books in the Rogue Hearts series, The Stranger She Married, The Guise of a Gentleman, A Perfect Secret and The Suspect’s Daughter
– Four winners will each receive an ebook of the first book in the Rogue Hearts series, The Stranger She Married
– Open internationally
– Ends July 1, 2020

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What about you? What makes you want to read Not a Fine Gentleman by Donna Hatch?