Kaitlin O’Riley continues her charming series set in Victorian London, where the Hamilton sisters’ bookshops are the perfect setting for romance to unfold . . . The latest American sensation to grace London’s ballrooms, Meredith Rose Remington has beauty, wit—and a shocking secret. At her aunt’s insistence, Meredith is posing as an oil heiress, but she is utterly destitute. In truth, Meredith … destitute. In truth, Meredith would rather spend her time writing than trying to snag a wealthy husband. Yet the stranger who flirts so outrageously with her in Hamilton’s Book Shoppe surpasses even the heroes of her vivid imagination . . .
Phillip Sinclair, the Earl of Waverly, has seen ambitious heiresses come and go. Only the enchanting Meredith could make him curb his reckless ways and settle down. But jealous rivals and meddling gossips are far from the only obstacles that must be overcome if love is to secure a happy ending . . .
Praise for The Heiress He’s Been Waiting For
“This charming romance is a strong start, and readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment!”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The same mix of engaging characters and an emotionally compelling love story found in O’Riley’s Hamilton Sisters books provides a solid foundation for the launch of her series.”
—Booklist
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New York City – 1895
Meredith Rose Remington, 20, lives with her widowed aunt Delilah and the woman’s two children. Meredith loves to write and has even had a short story published. She wants nothing more than to write books, but her aunt tells her it is a waste of time and she must find a husband. When her mother passed away 10 years ago, it was Delilah who promised to raise her. Her father and Lavinia’s husband died 3 weeks ago in an explosion on an oil rig in which the men had invested their savings. The ladies are now penniless. Delilah has decided to take them all to London to live with her sister, Lavinia, Lady Eastwood.
London – 1895
Phillip Sinclair, the Earl of Waverly, 24, has staggered in from yet another night of drinking, gambling and women. Hoping to get to his room and his bed quickly, he is foiled when his father, Lucien Sinclair, the Marquis of Stancliff, stops him. Phillip is his heir and his father demands that he never come home hungover from a night of drinking and carousing or he will cut off his funds.
Phillip’s mother, Collette and her four sisters own Hamilton’s Book Shoppe that their parents had run. They had lived above the store. The sisters still run this store plus others. When Meredith discovers the bookstore, she is delighted with its coziness. Collette welcomes her and when she learns that she is a budding author, invites her to use the upstairs rooms for quiet and privacy for her writing. They soon become friends.
Phillip and Meredith see more of one another and are definitely attracted to one another. However, as much as Phillip likes her, he is just not ready to commit himself to marriage. People think that Meredith is a truly eligible young woman as they think she is an oil heiress. She knows she is penniless and doesn’t know what people will think when they learn otherwise. Is there a future for Phillip and Meredith or will she remain a spinster, yet hopefully an author?
This is a lovely story that I enjoyed very much. The Hamilton sisters are all warm, friendly, and welcoming. I loved Meredith because she is a strong heroine who knows what she wants from life. Phillip is a nice guy but he is hesitant to grow up. it is nice to see him finally mature. Great book! Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Miss Meredith Rose Remington, her father, and her uncle owned Remington Oil until the day that there was an awful explosion and they were killed. Then they were told by the lawyers that they had nothing to live on. Her Aunt Delilah also had two children to worry about. Her aunt booked passage on a boat to go to England where she had relatives. They sold their brownstone and off they went. Aunt Delilah’s sister, Lavinia welcomed them into her home.
Lord Phillip Sinclair, the Earl of Waverly and heir to the Marquis, Was coming into his parent’s house well after sun up. Since he had finished with college he had been spending a lot of time gambling,
drinking, and time with the ladies. At twenty-five, he did not want to settle down just yet. He had been seeing Lady Katherine Vickers. She was not a proper lady.
A very interesting story. It lives because of a lie. There are some surprises just to keep it interesting. It
is also entertaining. The characters are marvelous. Even though Lord Waverly acts a bit juvenile from time to time. I am so glad to be given a chance to read this ARC. The author did a wonderful job. I highly recommend this insightful book.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Left destitute by the death of her father and uncle, Meredith, her aunt and small cousins must leave New York and travel to London to live with her aunt’s sister. Her aunt has a plan. In 1895, many rich young ladies leave America to find husbands in England, only her aunt wants the ton to believe they are still rich. Meredith doesn’t want to live a lie, but she promised her aunt to go along with her plan. She didn’t know she would fall in love with a man who encouraged her passion for writing.
What will happen when he finds out about the lie? Love this story. It had me on pins and needles, with a few tears. A romance book well worth reading. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this.
The Unexpected Heiress by Kaitlyn O Riley. Is about a sweet, smart, and independent young woman who lost her father and uncle in an accident that left her and her aunt destitute. Meredith’s aunt decides they need to leave America and go to London and find wealthy husbands. To do so they lie about being rich to attract men faster . Meredith hates lying and really all she wants to do is write. Not find a husband but then she meets Phillip and Phillips family. I loved this book it kept me engaged and I had a hard time putting it down. I love phillips family, his mom ,and his brother especially. They were both great side characters. I also loved Simons side love story. It was just a great read.
‘The Unexpected Heiress‘ is the third title in the ‘Hamilton Cousins‘ series (a spin-off from the ‘Hamilton Sisters‘ series). I’ll be frank upfront and say that I’m deeply torn on Phillip and Meredith’s story. It’s not often that the hero is so unlikable to me that I cannot find some growth, some redemption before the ending of the story. Unfortunately, that was not the case for me with Phillip. I didn’t like him. He had his moments then he’d go and do or say something totally arrogant being a jackass once again and he’d lose those points he’d just gained. He kept his mistress throughout most of this story, even going so far as to kiss her shortly after having kissed Merry. No. Just no. I really wish I could have found something good to see in Phillip, if only for Meredith’s or his parents’ sake but he was a spoiled brat from beginning to ending for me.
Meredith wasn’t totally without her faults, yet the lie about her wealth was started and for the benefit of her aunt – so she went along and tried to go do what she loved most which was to continue her writing, working towards a published novel. I don’t think she had any real idea of just how badly that lie would turn out for them each. Women of the time didn’t have a lot of options, but Meredith wanted to forge her own way. Again, unfortunately, that wasn’t a viable option. She had found a sanctuary of sorts in the Hamilton Book Shoppe, and it was there that friendships were formed… and she came in contact with Phillip.
‘The Unexpected Heiress‘ is one of those stories where I loved and enjoyed parts of it, and disliked others. Again being frank, I think this is a story that will truly change depending on each individual reader. What was hard ‘no’ for me might not have affected you in the least. One thing that I did greatly enjoy was the inclusion of an LGBT couple that was realistically portrayed for the times. That’s not something I often see in Historical Romance, and it was a delight to meet them and follow the second romance in this story. In all, it’s a good book just not one that I loved from start to finish – and I’m going to leave it at that.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
The Unexpected Heiress by Kaitlin O’Riley is book Three in the Hamilton Cousins Series. This is the story of Phillip Sinclair, the Earl of Waverly and Meredith Rose Remington. I have read the previous books in this series, but I do feel this can be a standalone book if you wish to do so. Meredith and her aunt learn that the oil company the family had is bankrupt. So working to start fresh they head to London from America where Meredith’s Aunt talks her into pretending to be a oil heiress to catch a husband. But Meredith has no desire to become married and instead would like to pursue a her writing. Of course she then meets Phillip and sparks fly. Enjoyed their story.
Review: Merry is a great heroine. She’s smart, intuitive, and empathetic. Her aunt is using her, basically, as bait to help them each catch a wealthy husband. The aunt is a pill. Phillip spends his time drinking and sowing wild oats. He also loves to be contrary to whatever his family thinks is good for him, so he resists the wholesome Merry on purpose. That’s ok, because she intially thinks he’s pompous. Rightly so. But they really do fall for each other from the get go, they just don’t realize it. Philip can be a hothead, at times. But he falls hard and gets hurt in the process. It’s your typical misunderstanding here. He doesn’t care that she’s peniless, just that she lied to him. I loved the Hamilton Bookshop scenes and love how he encourages her writing. Also enjoyed the side story of his brother Simon.
Series: Hamilton Cousins #3
Type: Victorian
Heat: 7/10
Tropes: Appearance vs Reality (Merry was an oil heiress, but has lost everything – she’s just not letting that get out yet), Love at First Sight.
Premise: Meredith “Merry” Remington, an oil heiress is now destitute and an orphan now that her father has died. Her aunt makes them travel from NYC to London to live with her sister and makes Merry keep the secret of being peniless while they both hunt for wealthy husbands. Only Merry isn’t too thrilled with lying. But she must, to help her aunt and young cousins. She bumps into Philip Sinclair, the Earl of Waverly in a bookshop. Sparks fly but she thinks he’s pompous and he likes teasing/flirting with her. Her not being receptive to his drop dead gorgeous looks and charm, entices him.
The Good: It was a really enjoyable read. Philip is a rake with a good heart. Merry is a budding writer. Philip’s family is wonderful and Merry falls in love with them, and they love her too.
The Bad: The beginning of the book has Phillip gaga over another woman. I’m not used to that. Also, not “bad” per se, just different but I’m also not used to getting third person insight into characters heads other than the hero and heroine. But here we had a few others, too. Another oddity, there were 2 instances that seemed out of order in the novel.
**Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in order to write this unbiased review.**
3.5 Stars!! This is the 3rd book in the ‘Hamilton Cousins’ series but it’s the first book I’ve read in the series! Can be read as a standalone and has a HEA ending. It’s a good book! I really did like it! I like the main characters, Meredith/Merry and Philip, most of the time! In a few instances I was annoyed with them. (This book shows how important it is to COMMUNICATE in a relationship!) He was just too immature and whiney most of the time! And who breaks up over something soooo stupid?! If you REALLY love someone, you need to LISTEN to why they did what they did and if you’re still mad, THAN you can break up! Merry forgave him WAAAAY too easily too! Make him WORK FOR IT!! This was a typical historical romance with the usual happenings and break ups and make ups! There was one or two little surprises that I didn’t see coming! Also, I LOVED Simon, Philips little brother! I’d love for Simon and Philips ex-mistress, Lady Katherine Vickers, to have their own HEA stories too! All in all, it’s a good book. *I received this book at no charge from the publisher and I voluntarily left a review.*
Meredith Rose Remington, 20, wants to be an author. Living in NY with her Aunt Delilah and children she has her life ahead of her, until the day her father and uncle were killed in the oil rigs of TX. This left Meredith and Delilah with nothing. They move to London where Delilah’s sister lives. Meredith is thrilled to find Hamilton’s Book Shoppe as a place she could read and write her own book.
Phillip Sinclair, Earl of Waverly, is enjoying life partying a little more than his parents would like. His father, Lucian, Marquis of Stancliff, would like. Phillip is not ready to settle down, but something about Meredith interests him.
I do not like to spoil anything, but I have read all the Hamilton books and they are wonderful! I will be honest and say this author does not write as quickly as others do but I love her books! I have most of the books she wrote before the Hamilton series.
Meredith is an independent woman who must marry. She falls in love with Phillip, a bachelor who is still enjoying his bachelor days. Phillip overcomes his snobbish vanity to fall in love with her. I did feel the story was a little over sappy at the end. I received this ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.
2.5 stars rounded up.
When her father and uncle die in a tragic accident, Meredith Remington and her Aunt Delilah are shocked to learn that the family oil company they thought was worth millions is in fact nearly bankrupt and they’re left with virtually nothing to live on. Left with few options, they take their small family and leave New York, shedding their mourning and beginning anew in London. At her aunt’s insistence, Meredith styles herself as an oil heiress, all the while she has no real interest in marriage, however necessary, and would rather be working on her novel. Even still, she can’t help being intrigued by the devastatingly handsome man who flirts shamelessly with her in her newly discovered favorite bookshop.
Lord Phillip Sinclair, Earl of Waverly, knows that as the heir to his father’s marquesate, he must settle down eventually, but he’s far from ready to do so. He spends his days recuperating from wild nights of debauchery with a fast crowd, much to his parents’ dismay. When he meets Meredith, he finds himself unexpectedly taken with her and dislikes the idea of her marrying another man, even as he offers to help her vet eligible suitors. When he decides he must make Meredith his wife, jealousy and gossip cause unexpected obstacles and they must overcome them together if their relationship is to survive.
Potential spoilers ahead. This story was enjoyable overall, however, it was not without some major issues for me. I found Phillip to be extremely unlikable as a hero. He was spoiled, selfish, arrogant, and immature, and he kept up interactions with his mistress for far too long, even kissing her after he’d kissed Meredith. This is a no-go for me. Meredith was likable enough, but very naive and rather flat. I never felt like I really got to know these characters, nor did they get to know each other. The relationship between Phillip and Meredith seemed to pop up and get serious more or less out of the blue; one minute they hated each other, the next they were having a lukewarm bedroom scene. Finally, yes, Meredith lied, which I hate, but Phillip gave her virtually no opportunity to explain her side of the story and that doesn’t jive for me if he supposedly loved her so much. It just rang false to me. It was also rather off-putting to have so much other woman and other man drama, right down to having whole chapters told from their points of view. This just threw me off a bit and I was not a fan. I also found some descriptions and dialogues were repeated nearly verbatim, which also made me wonder if I was rereading passages and was a bit jarring. Overall, this was a light and entertaining read, but not without issue.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The latest American sensation to grace London’s ballrooms, Meredith Rose Remington has beauty,
wit—and a shocking secret. At her Aunt Delilah’s insistance, Meredith is posing as an oil heiress, but she is utterly destitute. In truth, Meredith would rather spend her time writing than trying to snag a wealthy husband. Yet the stranger who flirts so outrageously with her in Hamilton’s Book Shoppe surpasses even the heroes of her vivid imagination. Phillip Sinclair, the Earl of Waverly, has seen ambitious heiresses come and go. Only the enchanting Meredith could make him curb his reckless ways and settle down.
This is the third book in the series & is easily read on its own, however if like me you love series then I’d recommend starting with book one. I loved both Phillip & Meredith & how they were immediately drawn to one another, I also loved how their relationship developed as they truly seemed to be friends as well falling in love. However I couldn’t condone her lie nor how he handle learning the truth. I really felt she would have trusted him & he would have listened to her. I also thought the ending was a little too pat & rushed. I did love catching up with the rest of the Hamilton family & I adored Simon & would have loved for him to maybe have become an estate manager on one of his father’s properties where he could have happily lived out his life the way he wanted to. Overall a well written book which I thoroughly enjoyed
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The Unexpected Heiress
Hamilton Cousins Series #3
Kaitlin O’Riley
https://kaitlinoriley.com/
Release date 07/28/2020
Publisher Kensington
Blurb :
Kaitlin O’Riley continues her charming series set in Victorian London, where the Hamilton sisters’ bookshops are the perfect setting for romance to unfold . . .
The latest American sensation to grace London’s ballrooms, Meredith Rose Remington has beauty,
wit—and a shocking secret. At her aunt’s insistence, Meredith is posing as an oil heiress, but she is utterly destitute. In truth, Meredith would rather spend her time writing than trying to snag a wealthy husband. Yet the stranger who flirts so outrageously with her in Hamilton’s Book Shoppe surpasses even the heroes of her vivid imagination . . .
Phillip Sinclair, the Earl of Waverly, has seen ambitious heiresses come and go. Only the enchanting Meredith could make him curb his reckless ways and settle down. But jealous rivals and meddling gossips are far from the only obstacles that must be overcome if love is to secure a happy ending . . .
My review :
Will her deception come between her happiness and the man she loves …
What a light and easy read this book was.
I remember having loved the previous book in this series, my first read by this author.
Mrs O’Riley narrates easygoing and heartfelt romances, with a panel of unorthodox characters. Thus if one day I find the time, I would love to the read the mother’s series of this one.
The plot was convenient and I knew where it would lead, and what would occur when the second shoes would drop, my only question was when and how. But from there, I was a bit surprised by the various protagonists interactions and reactions.
Both main characters are quite lovable, I loved Meredith even if I did not agree with her aunt’s scheme but women at that times had few available option when left destitute. But I found it very mercenary, and whatever they told themselves, they were fortunes hunters because they dismissed the less wealthy. Sure it made sense as how a destitute woman could marry an impoverished man, whatever his title was. They would be back to starting square.
Still Meredith should have revealed the truth in time.
After Meredith is a nice young woman driven by her good heart and ignorance of what her deceit might cost her. She is driven by another pull, the one to complet her writing chalenge, finish her first book and be published.
When she meets Philip, she sees rapidly through him, a bored peer, unhappy with the way his life is going but not very willing to change its course.
Him is intrigued by this woman he feels is attracted to him but refuses to acknowledge him. She is honest and forthright. Making him rethink his choice of entertainment.
They are good together, as Phillip encourages her to follow her dreams and she makes him ponder his actions.
I did not see coming who would be the villain in this tale of deception, but there must be one, and while it was bad from the character, the illusion they carried was not fair.
As Mrs O’Riley offers a glimpse in her many characters mind, I felt sorry for Meredith’s turned-away suitor and Phillip’s paramour as both developed true feelings for their counterpart.
I was so sorry, I even had hope the duke would realize Meredith’s aunt was more suited for him than her much too younger niece.
In all, it is an entertaining and relaxing read, 4.25 stars.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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Ok so we have another supposed heiress which seems to be the theme in this book as in the previous book. We meet Meredith whom has lost her father and uncle. Meredith has grown up in wealth but now has to go live with her aunt and and they both come to find out that they are not rich as they were in fact they were broke. Her aunt would like Meredith to find someone that could take care of them and feels that if the truth of their dire situation come out it would be more detrimental. And that starts my issues i get it to a point when dealing with the ton you have to get a little creative. Meredith is not interested in lying or in getting a husband she writes novel and would prefer to do that. We end up meet Phillip who is bored with his life as he should be it is nothing he does is really all that important, he drinks in excess, gambles in excess and is a rake. He meets Meredith and falls in love fairly quickly, but a situation arises that Phillip over reacts, will he forgive or wake the heck up..?
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
The Unexpected Heiress by Kaitlin O’Riley is the third book in the Hamilton Cousins series. This is a nice, quick, and enjoyable historical romance.
I have to confess that I have not read the previous two books, however I was easily able to follow along with the overarching theme and with these specific characters.
I enjoyed the backgrounds and stories of the main two characters: Meredith Rose Remington and Phillip Sinclair. I enjoyed their interactions and felt that they played off of each other well. I felt their chemistry and enjoyed their ending together. I also really enjoyed the side characters. They really made the book memorable. It would be nice to see spin-offs including those, to be honest. I was more of a fan of Meredith then Phillip, as I felt he was more dramatic and moody, as she was more independent, like able, and realistic. However, I still enjoyed the book overall and I look forward to future books from this author.
4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.