After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged … grandmother.
Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt’s Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men–Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother’s tragic death.
However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems…and everything she never knew she wanted. But can she ever really trust an Everstone man?
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The lies. The proposals. The nightmares. Can Amaryllis find the truth, and happiness?
Amaryllis Brigham has been through a lot. She had a happy childhood, but after her mother’s untimely death and funeral, she was taken away to boarding schools, then a music conservatory. She was provided for, and became an accomplished pianist, but she was lonely. She lived in fear because of the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death. After being unfairly expelled from music school, and moving in with her elderly aunt in Boston, she discovers that she is an heiress to a fortune if she will marry within a year. She has no interest in joining Boston’s social scene or marrying.
Amaryllis meets the charming, handsome, wealthy, and eligible Nathan Everstone as he returns to Boston with her cousin Lawry. The mention of Nathan’s father strikes fear in her heart, because of past events, and Amaryllis does not take seriously anything Nathan says to her. She believes he is toying with her.
She is reintroduced to friends and distant relatives from her childhood, and it was fun to meet those characters. Amaryllis’ memories and dreams cloud her perceptions of those relationships. She had a lot of growing to do, quickly, as she was forced into society without warning. Amaryllis’ trust issues made the romance between her and Nathan develop VERY slowly.
Set in the 1890s, The Hesitant Heiress was an enjoyable story, with plenty of plot twists, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of The Everstone Chronicles. Readers who enjoy historical fiction of this time period will want to read this book.
I won an e-copy of this book from the author. This review is my opinion.
When I received an advance copy of this book I immediately took notice of the beautiful cover and couldn’t wait to see what adventure awaited me within it’s pages,and then I had a moment of uncertainty. Reading the first page I found that I would be reading from the point of view of the main character Amaryllis Brigham. I usually have trouble getting into a book when it takes the first person approach with one of it’s characters but please remember that I said a MOMENT of uncertainty. Within the flip of only a page or two I had quickly become immersed in Amaryllis Brigham’s world and didn’t look back! I was hooked and actually liked the difference of perspective in characters. Dawn Crandall deserves an extra star just for the fact she got me passed that challenge with such ease! Back to the book I loved following Amaryllis through her journey that not only has success but also brings challenges in taking part in high society in which included her forming new friendships and also encountering the possibility of romance. I found myself not wanting to put this book down because I just wanted to know what was going to happen and I found that every time that I thought I figured it out there would be a twist or turn that would just pull me in more and cause me to want the best to make it’s way to this hesitant heiress. This book was a good read and has left me anxiously awaiting the next release in The Everstone Chronicles!
* I was given an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Hesitant Heiress is Dawn Crandall’s debut novel, however you’d never guess this is her first book. From the first chapter Dawn weaves the tapestry of the story and made it impossible for me to put the book down. The story begins with Amaryllis a young woman who has had her share of heartache and her trust of others is tentative at best. She is unceremoniously expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music; and left with little options she decides to turn to her great-aunt and is thrust into society and so the excitement & mystery begins. The story is written in first person, and you are given an intimate view of exactly what Amaryllis is thinking. Amaryllis is reserved and determined to remain single even though her aunt wishes to make a match. Nathan at first glance is everything Amaryllis has tried to avoid, however his patience and desire to build a relationship with Amaryllis captures Amaryllis’s heart. I completely enjoyed reading the story of Amaryllis and Nathan and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Dawn Crandall.
The Hesitant Heiress is not typically the type of book I would normally read. It was slow starting for me and I struggled to keep all the characters and their relationships straight. But once I really got into the book, I couldn’t quit reading. I just had to know what was going to happen next, who the villains were vs the good guys, and might I add I guessed wrong a time or two! The ending will really blow you away! This is a wonderful first book by Dawn Crandall. I was given this ARC copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given. I only hope they’ll consider me again when book 2 and 3 comes out.
For me, this book started a little slow, but then I was not in the mindset to read at the time and it lasted a few days. However, once I cleared by head of the cobwebs, I found this book a very good read. I liked the characters, but was a little frustrated with the heroine. She blames herself for the death of her mother and is determined not to let love in. She feels unworthy of love.
Enter the hero and sparks fly. He is determined to break down her defensive wall. While this is a clean romance, the kissing scenes are pretty steamy and make your blood pump. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone that likes clean historical romance.
I received this book free for my honest opinion.
Can’t believe it took me so long to discover author, Dawn Crandall. I very much enjoyed this first offering, The Hesitant Heiress, in The Everstone Chronicles and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Oh, and I would like to know what Nathan looks like. He was such a swoony hero! I can’t believe Amaryllis resisted; but then there wouldn’t have been a story if she hadn’t! Now if I can only find it in audio format.