David: Lord of Honor (The Lonely Lords)

Who would have thought a vicar's daughter(Letty-h) would be compromised by another man of cloth twice her age that would totally turn her world upside down. That whole turn of events causes her to run from her fathers house to London where she managed to earn money to and home for what we don't realize at first. Her protector's death causes her to meet David(viscount-H), the protectors step brother. He is concerned about her health, which he would notice since he is a trained Doctor. He offers her a position as a madam at a house of ill repute that he has inherited. As a result of their professional relationship, a personal relationship evolves. So you want an HEA for them, but how is she-a former vicars daughter, courtesan and madam to marry a titled nobleman without causing both her family and his good standing serious difficulty? This and the answer to this problem is what drives the book to its good conclusion. Burrowes is an excellent author! I don't really have to read reviews of others. All I need to know is if I have it, and if I don't, I get it! She is adept at choosing convoluted issues and dealing with them and presenting results most would not think of!

I have read many of Grace Burrowes' novels, but still only a fraction of what she has produced. The setting was a bit different than the works I have read before, but the characters themselves were typical of Burrowes. Burrowes is very forgiving of her heroines, but not with the heroes. The heroes are almost a modern feminist's ideal (if any male is capable of such a thing). They have few flaws. The heroines are flawed, but still written with affection. Many of the heroines are condescending and bitter, but we're encouraged to see them as strong, but lovable. The heroines, and most of the heroes, are outsiders or wallflowers. The ton is presented as a herd of stupid bullies that Burrowes' characters endure or look down upon even as they mill about with them. In this book we are spared that snobbery until the very end.I enjoy Burrowes books to a point. They tend to go on longer than would best fit the story, like she is trying to make a specific word count rather than finding a natural end. Then, as noted, Burrowes does not give her male characters the latitude she does her female characters, and she imbues them with an inhuman sensitivity. She also injects little sermons throughout her works. Views on hunting, caging birds, feminism, religion and politics are unnecessarily injected into her books. I am not getting any of my information or opinions from romance novels. I can do better. That said, her books are dependable. They are very similar and quick reads. I know I will not be madly in love like I am with some works by Chase or Kleypas, but I won't regret money and time spent on the novels, either.

Regency era romances, most romances in fact, follow a formula which goes something like this: handsome hero meets beautiful heroine, attraction occurs, but one or both of them is haunted by events in their past. Problems, exacerbated by often dubious misunderstandings, drive a wedge between them, one or the other of them is hurt/endangered, the H/h comes to the rescue, problems are solved, declarations are made and all's well that ends well for a final, romantic HEA. Those elements, with the exception of the aforementioned dubious misunderstandings, are present in 'David: Lord of Honor.'So, what sets 'David' apart and earns it five stars from me?The short answer is the quality of the writing. The longer answer is the complexity of characterization. The writing is very good in that it flows smoothly, balances engaging character dialog with the characters' internal musings that actually move the story along without being a rehash of what's already been said out loud. The language used feels correct to the period and the plot, while not complex, is engaging. For at least 60% of the novel, the reader is left to wonder if the H/h will actually be able to work out their problems.As to characterization, the reader comes to know Letty and David at a fairly deep level. Both are believably human, both have experienced believable sorrow and regret in their past lives that has shaped who they are when they meet and both struggle believably, with their relationship. Do you notice a theme here?Ms. Burrowes has done what so many authors can't or are unwilling to take the time to do: she has made the manners, mores and social strictures of the Regency Era an important CHARACTER in this story, but has done it in a very unusual way by putting the characters in a setting that is the antithesis of Regency Era propriety. As a result, the social/moral conflict in this story feels real to the era and because of that the angst it produces also feels real and made this reader's heart hurt more than just a little throughout.Given her circumstances, Letty is understandably hard, but not calculating. Given his upbringing and past experiences, David is understandably weary and heart sore, but not weak. The secondary characters rise above window dressing to serve real purpose in enhancing reader knowledge of the main characters and help move the story along.Because I came to care deeply about these characters, I found the sex scenes to be some of the best I've read in this genre. The first are achingly tender and beautifully described without being anatomically graphic. As later intimate scenes occur, they become infused with a sense of near desperation as the obstacles between these two, especially those on Letty's side, rise to the near insurmountable. The sex scenes do as much as the dialog to set feeling of growing despair and inevitable separation between these two.Is this novel perfect? No. David comes off just a shade too understanding and Letty just a bit too self-sacrificing but neither excess is so great that it will get in the way of rooting for them to be together. Also, I would have also preferred that the 'villain' of this piece have been more present through dialogue than being mostly just talked about. Finally, the act of violence that threatened Letty felt a bit contrived. These are things I noticed as I read, but they didn't interfere greatly with my pleasure in the reading.Bottom line: There is a fair amount of angst in this story, but I found it believable and very, very satisfying. I'll be reading more of Ms. Burrowes' writing.

I have read all the books in this series and they are well worth a read if you like historical romances and the stories of a family. Grace Burrowes is a marvellous author bringing the books to life.

Well written. A little risqué in parts but written in a tasteful way. Thank goodness we have the freedom to marry who we choose. It makes me think how lucky we are as women today.

Predictable and boring. Nearly didn't finish the book. Would not recommend this book. The plot plodded on. If you need to get to sleep, I would recommend this book.

Grace Burrows great author. Set of Lonely Lords books. great set of books read every one loved them all .highly recommended.

I have read all this books by this author and the Lonely Lords series is particularly good and well written.