A spy on a mission… Until he meets this heiress! Part of The King’s Elite: Miss Theodora Cranford’s learned to keep her impetuous nature locked away. She won’t be deceived by another man who can’t see past her fortune. She wants an honorable, sensible sort–not a self-assured scoundrel like her new neighbor, Lord Gray. Although she’s sure there’s more to him than meets the eye… But after … eye… But after that first captivating kiss, she’s certainly left wanting more!
The King’s Elite miniseries
Book 1 — The Mysterious Lord Millcroft
Book 2 — The Uncompromising Lord Flint
Book 3 — The Disgraceful Lord Gray
Book 4 — The Determined Lord Hadleigh — coming soon!
“The Mysterious Lord Millcroft is a tender, sensual romance wrapped around an intriguing plot”
— All About Romance on The Mysterious Lord Millcroft
“If you like Historical Romances and books with love, humor and action, plus a spy and a lady, go for it and go grab a copy of this book”
— Jess Bookish Life on The Mysterious Lord Millcroft
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I was privileged to receive an ARC of this book from the author. The ARC was given without obligation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As I’ve been sick and on my deathbed *drama queen alert!*, I was lucky enough to have a terrific book to keep me company. Virginia Heath has written an intriguing story of love and, my favorite, spying. The Disgraceful Lord Gray is book #3 in The King’s Elite series, of which I now have to buy #1 and #2 and preorder #4. I adore a beguiling series.
The best part, for me, of this story is the hero’s sidekick, a Labrador Retriever, I have one. I learned that the Lab was originally called a St John’s. His name is Trefor, a tribute to Ms. Heaths own dog, internet sensation Trevor (sigh). Check him out on Facebook, he’s wonderful. Before I get too carried away, I should get on to the story.
Ms Theadore Cranford is a heiress in search of love, not just a husband. The fortune hunters have worn her out and at this point she’d rather be alone *you go girl*. Thea has the loveliest head of thick red hair and our hero quickly becomes a fan of redheads. Thea’s parents have died and she happily lives with her beloved uncle and his icky second wife. She sees herself as two people, Restrained Thea, who never causes trouble and is very boring, and Impetuous Thea, who makes trouble by the bucketful and is interesting.
Our hero is Lord Gray, formally known as Lord Graham Chadwick. After hitting a rough patch in his young life, Gray was disowned by his family He became a sailor and that led to him becoming a *yeah* spy. I love a good spy story. The first meeting between our two leads is priceless, I laughed out loud. Gray has lovely blue-green eyes that Thea noticed after observing his naked butt *yeah again*.
In the secondary character spots we have Lady Harriet Crudington and Lord Cedric Fennimore. Second chance at love stories can be so sweet. I hope book #4 finishes their tale, I loved them.
You’re going to find much hot flirting, steamy glances and a plethra of sparks. And it’s not all from our main characters. I’m suprised the book wasn’t smoking. A final thought, I was impressed by the ‘grand gesture’. It proves without a doubt that there’s true love and not just lust. Happy reading.
#thedisgracefullordgray #theking’selite @harlequinhistorical @virginiaheathauthor
Lord Graham Chadwick, Gray, on assignment with Lord Cedric Fennimore, brought his dog, Trefor, with him on this mission. Trefor is in trouble for stealing Cedric’s slippers but what’s done is done and Gray decides to join his dog in the stream. He’s enjoying the cool water when Miss Thea Cranford and Lady Harriet Crudgington discover him.
Gray needs to make a good impression on Lord Cedric to get a promotion. Viscount Gislingham may be involved with the smuggling ring the King’s Elite are trying to stop and his niece, Thea, may know something. He’s also attracted to her. Thea usually avoids men as she thinks they’re after her money, but something about Gray intrigues her and something about her calls to him, but he is not a fortune hunter.
Cedric and Gray are invited to Lady Caroline Gislingham’s tea party, where they will meet their neighbors and observe them. Lady Caroline is quite flirtatious which makes him suspicious. Gray continues to run into Thea as he needs info that she might unknowingly have. He is also attracted to her.
There is more than one romance going on in this book and I won’t spoil it or how they discover the leader of the smuggling ring. At first, I found Thea somewhat annoying, but liked her more as the story unfolded. It’s a good read!
Lord Graham Chadwick, known to his friends as Gray, wants this promotion so much he can almost taste it. Capturing The Boss, the mastermind behind a huge smuggling operation on British soil, guarantees that Lord Fennimore, his superior, will make Gray head the Invisibles, the King’s Elite best of the best. In all appearances, that traitor is Viscount Gislingham, Gray’s and Fennimore’s temporary neighbor in Suffolk. Miss Theodora -Thea – Cranford had accompanied her friend Harriet, who fancies herself a painter, when they hear a dog’s frantic barks. When Thea finally sees the dog, she also gets an eyeful of his master: Gray’s bare bottom! Gray is enchanted by the redhead in front of him. Who knew the treacherous viscount had such a fetching niece! It will make befriending the viscount a much more pleasant task, but Fennimore has forbidden any flirting unless it is essential to the mission’s success.
THE DISGRACEFUL LORD GRAY is oh so seductive! The agent, the man, and the master of the untrainable Trefor is positively scrumptious! Trefor, Gray’s dog, does play an active role in the romance; he is not merely a source of merriment, although he is as entertaining as I hoped he would be. The canine is modeled after the author’s own Trevor with a few ingenious adjustments to comply with historical accuracy, and it provides Gray with some interesting details for his backstory. Gray’s reluctance to fall in love again is steeped in heartbreak, and it has colored how he has lived for ten long years. The sparks fly immediately between Thea and Gray, but neither wants to act on it. Gray has a job to do, and Thea doesn’t trust her judgment when it comes to men; besides it’s always her money they’re after, riches which don’t seem to concern Gray. She is also desperately trying to curb her impetuous nature, which is as stubborn as her unruly hair. I loved how Thea and Gray try unsuccessfully not to flirt, they fight their inescapable chemistry, and doing so, they become good friends.
The secondary characters are all fabulous, and I hope we see more of the unexpected romance that started to develop. I loved that the lust-filled atmosphere did not overshadow the plot or the character development. Ms. Heath’s wonderfully descriptive voice is at its strongest as we traipse in the Suffolk countryside, and witness Thea’s and Gray’s growing attraction. It is quite an experience to watch Thea battle her true nature, which also forces Gray to take a good look at his loveless life. Their impulsiveness has caused them problems in the past, and how Thea and Gray try to behave is the source of some of the most brilliant dialogues the author has ever penned; witty, flirtatious, and often quite profound. I even found Gray’s cockiness cute, that shows how well he’s written! While there is a solid dose of excitement and startling revelations towards the end of the book, THE DISGRACEFUL LORD GRAY focuses on the romance, and what a splendid romance it is!
The first thing I said when I finished The Disgraceful Lord Gray was,”This book made me so happy!”
The Disgraceful Lord Gray could have been titled It All Started With a Wet Dog.
Thea and Gray meet and sparks fly. Thea is a lovely character with all my favorite vices. She loves to read, loves animals and creative friends. Thea is sometimes impulsive and says what she is actually thinking and is afraid that this impulsiveness is a bad thing. She blames her impulsiveness for several tragedies that have happened in her past. She also dislikes fortune hunters and is very suspicious of peoples motivations in courting her.
Enter the ever so suspicious Gray and his love-able dog Trefor. Gray is a charming, handsome, loyal and funny. Trefor is charming, handsome, loyal and funny. How can Thea resist this pair?
I just loved this book. Many surprises, wonderful side characters and an interesting mystery woven into the story. The Disgraceful Lord Gray is an excellent addition to Virginia Heath’s series The Kings Elite.
I highly recommend this whole series, as each book is a real treat. All the books standalone but are even better together. Bring on Lord Hadleigh’s book.
The Disgraceful Lord Gray is the third book in “The King’s Elite” series by author Virginia Heath and one I’ve been happily anticipating. This series has been extremely entertaining and I’m enjoying getting to know each one of the King’s Elite. Just when I think I’ve picked a favorite to love, Virginia brings a new hero for me to drool over… hello to Gray my new favorite!
If you’ve already read the first two books in this series then you’ve already met Lord Graham Chadwick or Gray as he likes to be called. Gray has been a character in the previous books that had caught my eye and I was looking forward to his story. Gray is a disgraced aristocrat who’s turned spy. He’s in Suffolk with his mischievous dog Trefor and Lord Fennimore on a mission to unmask “The Boss” an elusive mastermind behind a highly organized and extremely dangerous smuggling ring linked to Napoleon. The King’s Elite have been after “The Boss” since we were first introduced to them in the fourth and final book of “The Wild Warriners” series.
Being an heiress Miss Theodora “Thea” Cranford tends to be overly suspicious of men who may be after her inheritance. Two momentous occasions in her past has made her vow to be sensible and suppress the impetuous nature that gets her into trouble. Since then, her world has been calmer, although a bit repetitive and somewhat dull. Then a certain Lord and his dog appear making her question her dull, unfulfilled life.
Virginia Heath has a delightful sense of humor and the addition of Trefor the dog who played a major role in this story was genius! Thea and Gray were a perfect match. I loved their interactions and the sparks between them were evident from their very first eye opening meeting. Thea was such a fun heroine and I adored her and her struggle of trying to keep Impetuous Thea under control. With wonderful secondary characters, a crime boss to catch, witty dialogue and a few surprises along the way this was another fantastic read and perfect story to add to this series. Highly recommend and can’t wait for The Determined Lord Hadleigh, the fourth book in “The King’s Elite” series coming soon! Will Lord Hadleigh surpass Lord Gray in my esteem? I guess we’ll both have to wait and see….
This is the third book in the series The King’s Elite. Even though this continues the search for The Boss, there is not much adventure or spying done. In saying that, the development of the relationship between Thea and Gray was beautifully done and kept me reading. The secondary characters helped to bring humor which had me laughing out loud at times. And who could not love Trefor, Grays wonderful dog. Ms Heath has a wonderful imagination to bring such indepth feeling and conversations to life. I enjoy all her books and look forward to reading more. There was a sex scenethat this reviewer skipped as usual but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book. A beautiful love story that shows it is possible to be friends before you become lovers. I received this book as an ARC and was very happy to do an honest review.
The Disgraceful Lord Gray by Virginia Heath starts off at a slower pace, but if you stick with it you won’t regret it! It is cleverly written and easy to follow. It was a little predictable but I loved how it flowed and all came together. The story is romantic, funny, and charged full of emotion. It was so easy to connect with the characters. Gray and Thea are completely charming, they are witty, forthright, honest characters who are perfect for each other. I loved how they first met! It had me grinning from ear to ear. Trefor (Gray’s dog) pretty much completes this story! I loved him, and he’s probably my favourite 4 legged character that I’ve found in a book. Virginia Heath has a way with words too, this story is jam-packed with some really great quotes. 4.5 stars!
Wow, such a delightful read it was, it was a distillation of happiness, laughers and romantic scenes plus some actions by the end.
I do adore Virginia Heath’s work, it asks me a little more time to read because she uses so many different words than the usuals, so I need always to slow down my reading to fully enjoy the story in all its details and its beauty.
Everything began with Thea coming face to backside, with a very bare arse when she first meets Gray, who was gallivanting in his birthday suit in a pond after a run following his silly and sweet mutt Trefor.
Just this opening scene was hilarious, from Harriet, Thea’s widowed friend to them and of course Trefor and his antics.
Between their funny banters, their witty stormy discussions, their heated glances, it was so refreshing and full of life, plus if you add all the different protagonists in the mix, you have a very cheerful and full of spirit read.
Of course, it is more than a compilation of words, it was also a mystery to solve and the healing of two wounded souls.
Lord Graham Chadwick’s life was shaped by a betrayal a decade ago, he went from a young buck in love only wanting to breed horse for a living to a spy having seen the world with its worst and its best. Also since, he has closed his heart, hardening it to avoid another crashing. But Miss Theodora Cranford stirs something in him he thought long dead for years. Despite his mission, he is drawn to her, she is a beacon to him and his undoing.
Thea learned an harsh lesson some years ago, first to avoid men at all cost, they are more interested in her dowry than in her, then each time she loses her temper, something bad arrives. So much, she now refuses to follow her heart, persuaded she has bad tastes regarding men, and then to avoid more heartaches, she has bottled her fiery temper and refuses to let it out. But around Gray, Impetuous Thea seems to have a mind of her own and can’t stand to stay any more in its box.
It was cute to see Thea battling with the two sides of her personality, the emotional one against the Sensible Thea, the one who tries to be reasonable.
With Gray’s help, she will accept who she really is and reconciles herself with her true self. While she will open his eyes and makes him see what he is missing by keeping his heart closed.
Even if it is only underlined, there is a second romance going on between Lord Fennimore and Harriet, which was so much fun to follow. There are also the other protagonists like Thea’s uncle or her aunt, each character is perfectly worked and presented with enough background to make it alive and with depth.
So a big fat 5 stars for this very entertaining and enjoyable read.
Some of my favorite quotes :
« Such pursuits do wonders for a gentleman’s buttocks. In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than a pert pair of cheeks encased in tight buckskin.’ Her incorrigible older friend had a wicked glint in her eye. ‘Did I ever tell you I seduced him first?’ »
« ‘I take back everything I said about buckskin, Thea. It is vastly overrated.’ Shamelessly, her friend barged past—no doubt to get a closer look. »
« ‘I’d have paid good money to see my niece mute for once. I had thought such a miracle impossible. I’d shamelessly imitate you and stroll about buck naked, too, if I thought it would get me any peace, but the sight would likely send all the servants running for the hills before it silenced her and then who would carry me downstairs?’ ‘I was hardly mute, Uncle.’ ‘Harriet said your jaw dropped to the floor and you were stuttering and spluttering while glowing crimson like a beetroot.’ »
« ‘You’ve haunted my dreams, Thea. Have since the first day I met you. I am severely sleep deprived.’ ‘Me, too.’ He loved her earthy giggle. Loved everything about her. Loved that the mere thought of loving her didn’t make him want to run. ‘But we are young and can sleep when we’re dead.’ »
Lord Graham Chadwick better known as Gray, is a member of the King’s Elite and currently hot on the trail of the elusive “Boss”, the criminal mastermind who is not only smuggling goods, but is also responsible for the death of several agents and the murder of the Elite’s best leads. Gray along with Lord Fennimore, have settled into a house neighboring their best suspect – Viscount Gislingham.
Theodora “Thea” Crawford is the niece of Lord Gislingham and a considerable heiress, but past experiences have left her a mere shadow of her former self – she is all that is proper and ladylike, and more than a bit jaded and cynical about men. So when she and her friend Harriet, Lady Crudington come across a very naked Gray taking a dip in the river, she of course averted her view (mostly) and immediately decided that he was a no-good scoundrel and most likely a fortune hunter.
Gray realizing the important opportunity being laid at his feet, immediately tries to rectify the situation, but thanks to his dog Trefor and his immediately love for Thea, things go from bad to worse. Desperate to get into her good graces, Gray tries to turn her sweet and fails miserably.
Eventually, Thea has to admit that she likes Gray and for his part, Gray finds that he likes Thea, more than he would like. But he has a job to do and no matter how delicious her kisses or how enticing her personality, he will not fail. Besides, he has been in love before and it ended badly, so he will not risk making the same mistake twice – or will he?
Can love bloom where secrets and lies abound? Will the truth ease the sting of betrayal? Will gray catch “The Boss” and earn his promotion? You will just have to read this delightful tale yourself to find out!
This story has a lot of humor, but it is tempered by deeper emotion and kept interesting with several revelations and twists. This is the third book in The King’s Elite series, and in my opinion, the best of the bunch – the writing is impeccable, the story absorbing, the mystery is good, the love scenes warmish and the characters are likable and relatable. I am happy to recommend this book and believe that it can absolutely be read as a stand alone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to me.*
Miss Theodora Cranford’s learned to keep her impetuous nature locked away. She won’t be deceived by another man who can’t see past her large fortune. She wants an honourable, sensible sort not a self-assured scoundrel like her new neighbour, Lord Gray. Although she’s sure there’s more to him than meets the eye But after that first captivating kiss, she’s certainly left wanting more!
Of course Trefor steals the book from page 1 & his antics leads to a memorable first meeting between Gray & Thea, a meeting that had me laughing out loud. This is the third book in the series, whilst it could be read on its own to fully appreciate it, I’d recommend reading this brilliant series in order. It’s another captivating, page turning read, the characters are well portrayed & have depth. There’s instant attraction between Gray & Thea but the road to their HEA isn’t easy & of course his job in tracking The Boss hinders their growing closeness. I loved the secondary romance & found it very satisfying. I love the way the author intermingles light hearted moments along with the mystery & intrigue, put them all together & she delivers a highly enjoyable, entertaining read.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Oh, my goodness me! What a book, with romance, mystery, crime, secret agents, a-way-too-sexy-to-be-real; stud of a hero, a wonderful heroine and a naughty dog, all entwined with a page-turning exciting plot this is the makings of a classic.
Just when I thought that Virginia Heath had reached her pinnacle with sexy and swoon-worthy heroes she pulls a stunner like Graham Chadwick out of her head and makes me melt all over again but this time with pure lust. My goodness, what a book! What a man, what a story and what an adorable side-kick….really I wonder where the idea for him came from I have been so loving this series, each one is as devastatingly romantic and thrilling as the next.
So, for those who have been living in a bubble for the past year and don’t know what The King’s Elite series is all about, let me fill you in a wee bit. The King’s Elite is actually what it says on the tin, it is a super secret spy section of the government headed up by the gloriously growly Lord Fennimore – who doesn’t love a hard-shelled, growling old lion as a spy? He is fabulous and to be honest I would love a story with him taking centre stage. The King’s Elite from the start have been hunting for the notorious ‘The Boss’ the leader of one of the most ruthless smuggling gangs and off course as these are romances each of our spies tend to fall in love a long the way, usually when our men least expect it.
Lord Gray a disgraced aristocrat who has found he has a gift for the spy life, his latest mission is to try to finally unmask and bring to justice the elusive and notorious smuggling leader ‘The Boss’ he must infiltrate himself into the circle of his suspect to find the truth, along with the help of his superior agent; Lord Fennimore and Grays faithful dog Trefor. But, as we all know plans never go to plan especially when one morning while trying to retrieve Lord Fennimore’s slipper from mischievous Trefor – who thinks it hilarious to go running around with said chewed slipper in his mouth – he unexpectedly meets the one thing that could ruin his well laid out plan.
Theadora (Thea) Cranford the niece of the very man Gray has been sent to investigate is a weary of all men, being a hugely wealthy heiress she knows that most who pay an interest are only after her wealth. She has learned to hide her impetuous side from other’s, and to guard her heart. She has resigned herself to this quiet, calm and rather dull life where she can’t get herself into to trouble. That is until she meets a naked man in a stream – a man might I say who has a pert and delectable rear end and soon her life turns upside down.
With the stunning fiery-haired and entirely too evocative heiress constantly on his mind, his dog getting into some of the most hilarious scrapes causing way too much trouble then a dog of a spy should and his mission to catch ‘The Boss’ weighing him down as the days goes by poor Gray has a lot to contend with. Can he finish his mission and get the girl?
My goodness, Gray!! I have such huge heart eyes for this man – didn’t I say the same about the previous two agents? He is delectable! Handsome as hell, sexy, proud, intelligent, he has a real soft centre, he really is such a charming sweetheart. But in all honestly I really admire Gray, he hasn’t had the best of times with various scandals within his past but he has battled and worked hard to get to his position in The Kings Elite. He is also very determined and has his sights set on great things, one in particular is to become the commander of the Invisibles.
This is a fabulously engrossing and a utterly romantic story that will have you laughing out loud, falling head over heels in love with the character’s and sitting at the edge of your seat with it’s thrilling twists. I have said it before, but I am going to say it again; that Ms Heath really does have a gift with writing. She has the best sense of humour which really comes through her writing with the witty dialogue, but I think that Ms Heath has really out done herself with this – especially with the likes of Harriet, my goodness she is a real hoot!
The story is fun, romantic and exciting. But the thing for me that really makes this going from a five-star to a ten is the relationship between all the character’s, there is a real buzz between Gray and Thea, the atmosphere crackles with mutual attraction and lust and the addition of Trefor the dog is a stroke of genius.
Overall, an exceptionally gorgeous love story with an amazing twisty plot.
Another great King’s Elite story in the search for THE BOSS. I started laughing in the first chapter and kept going. Thea is stifling her inner sass and fun (although you see it peaking through) and Lord Gray is trying to overcome his past for a promotion. Throw in a fun loving pup Trefor and it is hard for them both to remain stony faced. Great story and sweet romance. Can’t wait for the next in the series.
I really need a Trefor/Trevor in my life! This author never ceases to amaze me with her stories and this one is no exception. This is the third book in the King’s Elite series and I swear, they just keep getting better and better, if that’s possible!! I love it that Trefor is based on the author’s real loveable pooch, Trevor and has such an important part in the story. His master is Lord Gray and oh, the trouble he gets him in…quite often I found myself laughing at loud at his antics! lol
Gray works undercover for the King’s Elite and along with his superior, they set up house next door to their suspect. There he meets Thea (whose uncle is the suspect) and sparks fly but he’s hardened his heart to love and she doesn’t trust any man, suspecting them of only wanting her money. You’ll love how they first meet…all thanks to Trefor! lol There are many twists and turns to the story as well and it keeps you on your toes!!
Some of the other characters in the story are also delightful, I especially loved Thea’s best friend, Harriet…what a hoot she is! All in all, a fantabulous story:)
I was given a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Good addition to the series. In the previous two books, the men of the King’s Elite worked to bring an end to the smuggling and spy ring that was funneling arms and money to France. They succeeded in stopping the gang’s operations, but have yet to capture the ringleader, known only as “The Boss.” Intelligence has narrowed it down to two people, one of whom is Viscount Gislingham. Gray and Lord Fennimore were sent to Suffolk to infiltrate Gislingham’s social circle and find out if he is, in fact, their quarry. The investigation gets off to a rocky start when Gislingham’s niece, Thea, happens on Gray swimming naked in a stream while playing with his dog, and the dog knocks her into the stream as well.
I really liked both Gray and Thea. Gray made appearances in the two previous books where he played significant roles. Now he is up for a significant promotion if he handles himself well during this operation. Gray is a charming and flirtatious, but also level-headed and compassionate. After a romantic disappointment and irresponsible reaction left him financially ruined a decade earlier, he spent the intervening years traveling the world on merchant ships. Older and wiser, he wishes he’d done things differently in the past but believes he’s changed for the better. Brooding over the past and things that can’t be changed isn’t his style. Thea is red-haired and feisty, but she tries to keep that side of herself locked up tight. She blames “Impetuous Thea” for some bad decisions in her past, ones that have left her feeling guilty. She is very cautious around men, thanks to those who have been more interested in her inheritance than in her.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Gray and Thea. The sparks flew from the moment they met, but both had reasons to resist. Thea, because of her distrust of charming scoundrels, and Gray, because of his reasons for being in Suffolk in the first place. He isn’t very happy about having to play up his disreputable reputation as he is quite smitten by Thea and that reputation works against him. Admitting to themselves and each other that romantic involvement is not a good idea, they commit to friendship instead. I loved seeing them get to know each other, sharing the disappointments of their pasts and inevitably growing closer. This is especially a problem for Gray, who finds Thea invading his mind at inopportune moments, making him question his worth as a spy. He also suspects that his deception will not go over well when the truth is revealed. Thea finds it increasingly difficult to keep “Impetuous Thea” locked up as she gets to know Gray, especially when he is so understanding of her past. I liked how Gray encouraged her to embrace her true self and how Thea helped Gray open his heart again. There are the expected complications when the truth comes out, but some timely advice helps cut through the problems to the heart of the matter. The ending was terrific and perfectly “Impetuous Thea” and “disgraceful” Lord Gray.
The continuation of the search for “The Boss” was a page-turner. Both Gray and Lord Fennimore are prepared to do whatever necessary to advance their investigation, and Gray’s time with Thea gives him the entry into the Viscount’s world that he needs. As their efforts bring them closer to the truth, Gray finds himself questioning some of the things he discovers. There are some surprising twists leading up to the unmasking of “The Boss,” one of which was a complete surprise and one I had begun to suspect. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, with the hero of the day turning out to be Trefor, the dog.
The secondary characters are terrific, especially Lady Harriet and Lord Cedric Fennimore. Harriet is a widow who is determined to live life to the fullest. She is incorrigible in her actions and delights in encouraging Thea to loosen up. in previous books, Lord Fennimore has been shown as a gruff, mission-oriented man who doesn’t put up with any shenanigans. It was fun to see Gray play up to their supposed “cousins” relationship whenever possible. It was especially enjoyable to see Cedric get caught in Harriet’s wiles, exposing a very different side to him.
The Disgraceful Lord Gray is the third book in The King’s Elite series but I’ve enjoed it even if I haven’t read the previous ones.
This story was nice,sweet and romantic with a hint of mistery that kept me glued to my reader from start to end.
I loved the main characters,Thea and Gray.They seem perfect for each other since their first encounter,her fiery hair that really match her personality and his unequivocal charme make the air that surrounds them really really hot.
Their journey was more exciting than the roller coaster and I don’t want to give you any spoiler and risking to ruin it for you so I recommend to start to read it as soon as possible.
This was the first time I’ve read a Virginia Heath novel and it was such a pleasure to follow Lord Gray,his dog Trefor, and Miss Cranford’s dynamics.
I’m definitely going to catch up her other works.
Romantic, rousing, and entertaining!
The Disgraceful Lord Gray is set in the Suffolk countryside during 1820 and features the feisty, willful Theodora Cranford who may unexpectedly find herself in need of a hero, as well as the dashing, yet jaded Lord Gray who may finally have found the right woman to give his heart to.
The prose is witty and authentic. The characters are warm, passionate, and mischievous, including the lovable, four-legged, incorrigible Trefor. And the plot is an amusing, mysterious mix of Regency lifestyle, scoundrel behaviour, family drama, attraction, humorous antics, espionage, mishaps, danger, and romance.
Overall, The Disgraceful Lord Gray is a lighthearted, engaging, delightful read that’s perfect for anyone who loves historical romance with a side of adventure. And even though it’s the third book in The King’s Elite series, it can certainly be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel.
In reading this book I fell in love with Trefor, the lovable playful pet of Lord Gray, the silliness of Trefor and his joy of being mischievous in the bargain with his owner brings lots of laughter, and enjoyment.
With Lord Gray, he is a spy with the King’s Elite a group of men that is fighting behind closed doors and lives to help their country that they love. Lord Gray is on assignment with Lord Cedrick to catch them a spy against the crown and in so doing Lord Gray meets Lady Thea Cranford, a lady that has a impetuous manner that she is trying hard to hold in because of what she feels is her vain in finding a husband, one that will love her for herself not her money.
Lady Thea is visiting with her friend in the country when she meets Lord Gray in an interesting manner, through the help of Trefor, whose love of going after sticks wherever they seem to land.
Lord Gray, is on a mission that he needs to make sure and to get proof that a certain Viscount Gislingham is in fact a traitor to that he will need to befriend him and be invited into the Viscount’s inner circle of friends. While doing his mission he starts to fall for Lady Thea and in keeping with his mission try not to hurt her.
This book brings together two people that have so much to fight and so much to win and in the meantime try to realize what really matters, love or being perfect but, they have help lovable Trefor is helping them.
Love this 2nd book of the King’s Elite and can’t wait to read the next
Oh there is SO MUCH TO LOVE with this one, there’s no wrong place to start…and that book love I mentioned? Yeah, it was BAD, but in a VERY GOOD way! I quite literally had to stop every few pages or so, and be like…no, you HAVE to listen to this, seriously…and then bend the person’s ear about the mishaps that were occurring, or the outlandish thing Mr. Hargreaves did now (REALLY wanted to throttle that man!), or how Lord Gray was frolicking in the brook again with Trefor (*giggle*), or how clever Trefor really is with that wonderfully powerful nose of his (such a sweetheart!), or how Thea had worked herself up into a tizzy over her non-like of Lord Gray (protest too much and one simply MUST wonder…), or how her best friend who’s up in years isn’t afraid of making that proverbial leap, or…well, I think you get the picture.
All in all, it was a delightful read from start to finish and a wonderful addition to what’s already been a fantastic series. From the MORE than meet cute (*fans self*) to the delightfully scintillating flirt sessions that are still most appropriate for their times, the determined nature they both adopt during their truce to the seemingly fated breaking of those same vows in a most spectacular fashion, all whilst in the middle of an investigation that cannot even be muttered accidentally in the heat of any moment for the threat to King and country! Oh, it’s much too delicious to not surrender a weekend or afternoon to…and while yes, it can be read as a standalone, do yourself the favor and READ THEM ALL. You’ll thank me…promise.
**ebook received for review; opinions are my own
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
For those of you that follow Virginia Heath on social media, you know that she has an adorable, yet somewhat mischievous dog, named Trevor. In this (awesome) book, we have a version of Trevor, Trefor! He is adorable, and helps us readers love our hero so much more.
Lord Gray is a spy, which means his relationship with Miss Theodora Cranford starts with lies. This might put some people off, but it worked very well for me.
Gray is funny, and encouraging, and a hard worker. He doesn’t want to compromise his mission, but he also doesn’t want to lie to Thea. And he finds a way to tell her about himself, and makes it easy for her to fall in love with him, without manipulating her or lie – except when it comes to the reason he uses to justify his presence in the house next door.
Theodora Cranford, Thea to her friends and family, is a fiery redhead that has been trying to control her temper and her impulses for too long. She believes she has a good reason to do so, but with Gray’s help (and Trefor!) she begins to loosen up, and it helps her to enjoy life more.
Gray works with his stiff boss, Lord Fennimore, who has his little story in the background as well. It is quite entertaining to see a grumpy, older gentleman, change his way of living.
The book also has an element of mystery/crime, which keeps us wondering about a mysterious boss that is ordering hits, and that is the focus of Gray and Fennimore’s mission.
I loved the friendship that developed between our main characters, and how charming they both were. I was rooting for them from beginning to end.
Virginia Heath
I absolutely adored this delightfully witty, romantic, entertaining, and exciting story. The main characters are definitely a matched pair and fit together perfectly – even though they don’t think so at first. Then, you add in the real star of the show, Trefor, and you won’t be able to put the book down. Trefor is a large, rambunctious, high-spirited, untrainable, water-loving dog and you will absolutely love him and his antics.
“Two big, wet paws hit her squarely on her belly and she lost her balance. Arms waving like a windmill in a gale, she struggled to stay upright. Instinctively she threw one foot behind to steady herself, only to realize too late that she stood on an incline. Thea tumbled clumsily backward, her feet lifting from the bank as gravity took over. To her utter horror, she landed with a huge splash in the water mere inches from the irritating naked man’s groin.”
This is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. However, it is a wonderful series and I highly suggest reading all of the books – in order. This series is about a group of spies known as The King’s Elite who are pursuing a large group of smugglers and French spies. In this story, they are looking for ‘The Boss’ who is one of the most ruthless and bloodthirsty villains you will meet. All of the books are seat-of-the-pants exciting, even though this one is a bit steadier paced. Our poor hero – well – he keeps getting sidetracked by this gorgeous Titian-haired female.
Lord Graham (Gray) Chadwick is finally coming into his own after having a troubled past. He lost his great love, lost his entire fortune, created a scandal and was disowned by his family -all by age twenty-one. His salvation was joining the Merchant Navy and seeing the world. When his sense of honor prodded him into reporting something of which he had become aware, he came to the notice of Lord Fennimore who commanded the King’s Elite. Gray has worked with them for the last two years and has just discovered that he has an ambition – he wants to lead ‘the invisibles’ – the highly trained, most covert and most important branch of the Kings Elite. That means he has to successfully complete the mission to which he is currently assigned. He has to find and apprehend ‘The Boss’ and all leads have brought him to the doorstep of Viscount Gislingham.
Theodora (Thea) Cranford is beautiful, titian-haired, and the much-adored, very rich niece of Viscount Gislingham. Thea is bold, impetuous, outspoken, strong-willed – well, she was. Now she is convinced that she must keep ‘Impetuous Thea’ locked away – in a big iron box and throw away the key. Impetuous Thea is the one who has caused all the problems in her life – the death of her father and her uncle’s stroke. Thea is also very, very dismissive and distrustful of men – at least any who want to court her. It has always proven true that any of them who showed interest were only after her fortune. Imagine Impetuous Thea being locked away and the repressed, staid, dour ‘SensibleThea’ coming across a naked man swimming in her uncle’s stream. Sparks fly and troubles reign!
Gray had to make a good impression on Viscount Gislingham and work himself into the Viscount’s inner circle. He had rented the estate adjoining the Viscounts and fully intended to become the perfect neighbor. Yet, when he meets the Viscount and sees the inner workings of his household, it sure doesn’t seem like the home of a criminal mastermind. Gray is walking a tightrope by trying to successfully complete his mission and not mislead Thea. Thea leads him on a merry chase and he often finds himself forgetting his mission and then berating himself for not being a good spy.
I absolutely adored Gray. He was the sweetest, most caring and conflicted hero ever. Poor baby, he fought hard, but just couldn’t win. I also loved Thea and was so happy to see that she was intelligent and wasn’t to go and do any TSTL things – and then she did – and it nearly cost her all. Still, one moment’s aberration is forgivable.
I highly recommend this book and this series. You can’t go wrong and will be thoroughly entertained with giggles, sighs, and tension.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.