Heartless (A Georgian Romance)

As a lover of gothic romance, I was surprised to find this gem hiding in the historical romance genre. It is one of Balogh's earlier works reprinted for us readers who love to go back and read everything by a specific author. I would like to review this book on several points.1) often when I have a favorite author and go back a couple of decades to their first few books, I find the first few to be juvenile at best, a far cry from their recent publications. Not so with Balogh. This book epitomizes the richness of her writing style. While her writing has certainly grown over the years, I would be hard pressed to read this without knowing the original publication date and say, "oh yes, this must be an old publication." Her style is exquisite from beginning to end, the most skilled writer of the genre that I've encountered.2) She bases the hero-heroine conflict around the commonly used "big secret" where lack of communication drives the plot, but (and I feel the need to bold and capitalize BUT) she does this more convincingly than I've ever before read. Most of the books with this trope have the heroine hiding a secret for no discernible or rational reason, causing the whole conflict for nothing. This story has a realistic reason for keeping the secret, which lives up to the book's name. When the hero is heartless and accusatory, disbelieving everything the heroine tries to tell him, then what's the point of saying anything more? What's the point of villainizing oneself to a man who isn't interested in the truth and remains prejudice and uncaring? The story is crafted in such a way that if the heroine had revealed the big secret, it would have done more harm than good at the time. Her hands are tied, and she feels for good reason that she can't share the secret, even though she wants to. This is something we don't see in other books with this conflict. Usually It is simply the heroine's stupidity not to share vital information. In this story, the hero makes it so the heroine can't share the secret without dire consequences. The keeping of the big secret is tied directly to the hero's internal conflict. Exquisite use of a common trope in a unique and enthralling way.3) Readers who prefer light hearted and shallow romances need beware before reading this because it is indeed a gothic romance. Dark themes, a hero true to the title of the book--heartless, and a loveless romance more fitting to a marriage of convenience until the end. If you like dark, this is a wonderful gothic romance. If you don't like dark, why are you reading Balogh to begin with since she often challenges convention?4) The time of Georgian era instead of Regency is refreshing. Set in 1755/56, the snapshot of the time is magnificent. Balogh leads the genre with her thorough historical research. I tire of opening romance books set in 1810-1830. It seems writers are afraid to depart from Regency--maybe they fear doing real research when it's easier to mimic what the other authors are writing? Balogh breaks the mold with a Georgian book. It was love at first sight for me when I realized she was writing about fops and macaronis. Wonderful!5) There are a few parts in the book that I'd criticize, but they didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the piece or recommendation for those who enjoy gothic romance to read this. She overused the words ruefully and wistfully as descriptors. Great adverbs, but not necessary every few pages. The "I'm coming for you, oh wait, not yet, I'll wait a little longer" felt a tad overdone towards the last stretch of the book, as though time were being stretched just for the sake of stretching out time. The passage of time was pivotal to the hero resolving his internal conflict and to the addition of a new little character, but I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more action from the villain during those stretches to show his presence and threat. The long stretches of, a month letter she receives a letter delaying his threat, and yet another two months later she receives another letter delaying his threat grew tiring. The final critique is unfair to say, but I'll say it. The hero is almost TOO heartless to garner sympathy, especially in how he reacts to the heroine midway through the book when she swears she's lain with no man. His actions are nigh unforgivable. Even by being heartless, the reader should still sympathize with the hero in some way. That said, he fits beautifully even in those actions with the gothic antihero. As an antihero, is actions are forgivable. As the hero of a historical romance, however, his actions cross a barrier that maybe shouldn't be crossed. I hesitate in writing that because his actions fit his character superbly, but for the genre, it is too much. A hero can only do so much wrong before the reader doesn't want to see the two together in the end. Making a villain out of the hero is dangerous ground. I think Balogh pulled it off, and especially for a gothic romance. Brilliant. I applaud. I'm in love. But it is pushing serious boundaries for a traditional historical romance, boundaries many readers may not want to see crossed. She's known as a writer who toes the line, though, so I suppose if you don't like seeing that boundary crossed, you shouldn't be reading Balogh!All in all, I recommend for the lovers of dark heroes and gothic themes. You won't be disappointed and will be even more in love with Balogh than ever before.

"He had learned neither to expect nor to give love."THE STORY: Lucas Kendrick is the Duke of Harndon after the deaths of both his father and older brother. Ten years ago, Lucan left England after having been betrayed, rejected, banished and shunned by his family and fiancee. He has closed himself off from love because of it. When he returns to England to accept his duty to his title, he realizes that he must marry. When he meets Lady Anna Marlowe, Lucas knows that this woman would make an appropriate wife. Anna knows that she will never marry. Her painful past gives her little hope of having a happy future. Despite all her resolve, she agrees to marry Lucas but knows that the two of them will have to keep their personal secrets.OPINION: This book was uneven for me. I loved the progression of Lucas as he changes from a man who has cut himself off from everyone to a man who can open himself up to love again. I didn't think that Anna's character was as successful. After a year, it becomes more difficult to accept Anna' silence about her secrets.I really liked how the secrets were revealed in this novel. Even as I was annoyed by Anna's continued silence, I appreciated the pacing of how things were slowly reveal and resolved in the story. The past is very dangerous to both of these characters.I give this book high ratings primarily because of Lucas. His journey was compelling and I found the moment that he recognizes that he cannot hide from love to be one of the most beautiful I have read. It is a testimony to the power of others to change us.WORTH MENTIONING: Anna's deaf mute sister plays an important role here and is the heroine of the sequel SILENT MELODY.FINAL DECISION: A good story with the highlight being the hero's journey from a heartless man to one who can open himself up to love.CONNECTED BOOKS: HEARTLESS is connected with the subsequent book SILENT MELODY.STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

For real, what is WITH these old school romance authors/books and explicit sexual assault? The writing is pretty good, but not a fan of the explicit depictions of a woman being restrained & raped by an object and also by her “loving husband.” Regret that I bought this one - I was tired of regency romance and generally like Mary Balogh but this one, while it had its moments, just really grossed me out.

This was a very different MB novel and a different period too - Georgian from what I can tell as it's not actually stated. The theme is quite dark as so many other reviewers have said. The way the H treats the h at the beginning of their marriage is tough to read about, as is the h's abuse at the hand of the villain. What was good to read about, was how the H slowly changed from being heartless to having a heart, which was clearly the point. Lovers of MB will probably read this no matter what the reviews say.Updated review: June 2018I started listening to this book on Audible because I didn't remember it. I got a third of the way through when I switched to reading it because I was so enthralled. I think I didn't appreciate it that much 3 years ago because I was expecting more romance. I honestly appreciated it a whole lot more this time around and I've upped this to being 4 stars not 3 as I gave it before. I love a good tortured H but for some reason I didn't recognise him as such before. It's a tale of a seriously hurt man putting up very thick walls to prevent himself being hurt again. The h was lovely and although I just wished she'd let the H in on her secrets, I did understand why she couldn't. It's such a great redemption story even if the romance is lacking at times.

I was not sure about this book and my be i should have read some reviews first as i did not know it was in the Regency time and i don,t like that time frame,After watching Versailles on telly i can imagine The Duke wearing the stunning costumes that are describe in the book ,but o those,s hoops.I learnt quite a lot of history from this story and it was a good story but not enough of Luke and Anna or a Epilogue to say if they had any more children or when they arrived home.

Old school romance. I really would have appreciated a trigger warning for rape. Didn't finish book because of it

Set in the 18th century, this book brings to life the colour and glorious fashions of the time both for men and women. How wonderful the men look! There is also a mystery which gradually comes to light throughout the book, with some twists in the plot. Anna and the Duke change during the book. A cynic might ask why she did not tell her secret straightaway as there is perhaps not enough detail about the Duke at first to make the reader fully understand but this is nevertheless an excellent and gripping story.

Mary Balogh is my favourite authoress = the Simply series is wonderful as is her latest Survivors club and also One Night of Love and the follow up of a Summer to Remember, both an absolute delight. But oh dear I have got half way through Heartless and just given up - the characters and story are completely 'heartless'.

Fantastic! Gripping! Fun read!