Unfortunately, this novel fell short for me. I never really felt the connection between the hero and heroine as the story progressed. The writing was a little flat, and I wish there had been more danger or excitement.

This reminded me of all the regency romances I read over a decade ago, in a good way of course. We have Penelope, who inherits a home by surprise, Rose Cottage, on a viscount's property. Then we have Daniel, the new viscount, whose lands the cottage are on and whose parents have suddenly died. Put these two together along with some mystery, some danger, a little scandal, and a healthy dose of adversity to overcome and this story is a textbook example of a regency romance. It follows the plan perfectly. I really enjoyed reading this one!

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to read and review your titles. I have chosen to DNF this title...actually, I did a while ago but wanted to wait (although I didn't intend to wait this long) to post this so it didn't impact review decision for other reviewers.

I look forward to the next title from your authors/company.

Thanks,
Laura

I absolutely adored reading A Lord Apart! This is the second book in the series and I loved it just as much as the first book! Jane Ashford certainly knows how to ensnare a reader into a whirlwind romance! I highly recommend this book to all readers of the romance genre!

There's nothing explicitly wrong with this book, but there's really nothing to recommend it, either.

The copy editing is fine, it's not full of typos and verb tense errors. The dialogue isn't horribly stilted. There aren't plot inconsistencies. The romance is chaste.

But.

Like the first book in the series ([book:Brave New Earl|36505485]), the romance isn't believable. There's no significant chemistry, there are few long interactions of enough depth to reveal traits on which to base even a believable infatuation. Both books, but especially this one, feel like the characters decide to pair up because, well, they're all pretty socially isolated and it's just easiest to marry the first available potential partner to come along. A lot less work than the alternative, for sure.

Cannot recommend in good conscience. Best for readers who zip through books and prefer chaste romances.

After his parents' sudden death, Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, is struggling to unravel a web of chaotic family records. He is astonished to learn his father's will contains a mysterious legacy: a house left to a complete stranger. He knows nothing about the beautiful Penelope Pendleton and he's not sure he wants to...until she turns out to be a whiz at all those nasty tasks involved in estate administration…
This was a good book. It was more than just a regular romance as there was a bit of mystery involved that unraveled throughout the book. I liked both main characters. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

The book is a charming addition to Ashford's latest series. I found Penelope an interesting change of character since the circumstances that led to her current situation are unusual. What I found the most relatable about this book is the way in which Penelope and Daniel, as adults, come to know their parents as complete individuals through learning their histories. I think that this is something any reader will be able to relate to. Overall, A Lord Apart is a light but still engaging read.

Daniel Frith is the new Viscount Whitfield after his parent's sudden death. He has discovered that his father has left a house to a complete stranger.

Penelope Pendelton is relieved to discover that she has inherited Rose Cottage. She is almost destitute after her brother's reckless actions disgraced her family. Penelope wants to stay out of the way of Viscount Whitfield, yet they are drawn together as they discover how entwined their families are.

I enjoyed reading this novel. Penelope had to be a strong woman due to losing her house after her brother's disgrace. Daniel is just lost. His parents have died and he is realizing that he never knew his absent parents. I liked how the story flowed with added humor due to dogs and goats.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!

Jane Ashford has given us a regency romantic puzzle in A Lord Apart. Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, inherited his father's estates except a cottage which is left to Penelope Pendleton; neither of them know why or what connection Daniel's parents had with the Pendletons. Romance and mystery intertwine with spies and countryside matters. Enjoy.

I was not able to finish The Lord Apart. I cannot pinpoint why exactly. I didn't really like either of the main characters and felt like their interactions were not realistic enough.

Jane Ashford continues to build on this series that I've come to love! There is an attachment to the characters that you won't want to end!

Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, is completely tied in knots since his parents' death, as he is struggling to decipher rather confusing family records. As he begins to research, he discovers that his father's will contained a mysterious legacy, which included leaving a house to someone he never heard of. Well, Daniel meets her, and her name is Penelope Pendleton. He is not sure at first that he wants to deal with her, but then when he discovers her amazing talent at deciphering the confusing codes, and when she helps him sort out estate business, he changes his mind.

Penelope is hesitant to help Daniel, as she has no idea why the house was willed to her. As it turns out, due to her brother's poor behavior, her family was disgraced and she would have been without a home. So Penelope does her best to assist Daniel, and in so doing, realizes that she is rather drawn to him. It doesn't take Penelope and Daniel long to discover that there was indeed a connection between their families and they both become very excited while working together.

Along with the intrigue facing them, there is a slight element of danger, but readers are treated with a bit of humor, and of course, romance, thus balancing this excellent story by Jane Ashford. I look forward to the next third book in the series, To Cross a Marquess, which will be released in August.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

A quick read with a great romance! I would have preferred the love scenes to be more passionate . Even though I loved the story and the romance I felt that the romance wasn't as intense as I wanted this to be!

Truly enjoyed this book. entertaining plot, characters I actually liked, and a satisfying ending. looking forward to reading any future books in this series.

This book was ok but not fantastic. I had a hard time getting involved with the characters and the storyline.
I received this book free from Netgalley and am voluntarily giving a review.

I tried very hard to enjoy this book but I found it dull, depressing and boring. I did not read the first book in the series so I didn't know that the plot centers around dealing with grief, I probably would not have read it if I had know. The story was very slow and I didn't feel much for the two main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is the second instalment in The Way to a Lord’s Heart series by Ashford. I was not aware of this when reading this book, and I could feel the connection to a series intertwined in the tale.

A Lord Apart begins interestingly enough with an impromptu grief counselling session care of the Earl of Macklin. He has gathered a group of grieving bachelors together for dinner and in the end strikes up a friendship with each of them. This appears to be the connection that will tie the series together…

Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield has lost his estranged parents and now while trying to pick up the pieces and repair the family holdings he discovers that his parents have severed the dowager house and willed it to an unknown woman. Will she have more answers about his mysterious and distant parents or will she only be another problem left to him to resolve?

Penelope Pendleton has lost her father and now her brother. Unexpectedly she receives word that she has inherited Rose Cottage, the answer to all her troubles. Will the nosey Viscount next door unravel her past and take away this much needed fresh start?

I enjoyed Ashford’s characters and the mystery that they work together to save in this story. I would have preferred the love scenes to be more passionate due the the build-up and feelings expressed between the characters before they come together. This was a nice read but lacked the passion that it foreshadows.

I will not be posting a review for this book as I found it lacking. The character development was not to my liking and I found they lacked chemistry. The story was quite slow and the plot seemed to build up and then die at the end.

Though this is the second in a series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone, since there’s only one character really in common with the first book. There’s some intriguing themes explored here about the different types of abuse a person can suffer; Daniel, while never physically abused and always receiving food and shelter, was completely ignored and unloved by his only relatives, his parents. Now they’re gone and he’s inherited a viscountcy he’s utterly unprepared to manage. Stranger still, part of his legacy has been left to a complete stranger, and neither he nor Penelope Pendleton have any idea why she’s been willed Rose Cottage.

For Penelope, the inheritance is a lifeline. Running afoul of the government because of her brother’s seditious activities and left penniless after his death, she’s grateful just to have a home. She and Daniel become wary friends first before the relationship gradually becomes more.

There were some really poignant moments as Daniel in particular had to unpack his feelings about his parents, and some revelations uncovered which changed some of the things he felt about his parents but ultimately didn’t negate the way he was actually treated, a point which was emphasized and really struck a chord with me - you might feel you have good reasons for doing something, but your reasons don’t really matter all that much to the person who got hurt by your actions. And in the end, we don’t always get closure. Sometimes, all we can do it move forward, vowing to be better than those who came before and learn from their mistakes, and that’s the path Penelope and Daniel ultimately have to take.

This is no fairy tale, despite the requisite happy ending. It’s a story of two people with difficult pasts finding in each other both comfort and a path forward. All of this leads to a story which feels very real and honest, despite the historical setting, and I have no hesitation at all in giving it five stars and recommending it as a thoroughly engrossing read.

A very enjoyable series. This was a nice addition to it. While reading, I had some flat moments where the story felt like it needed more energy and life. Later it felt like I read it too quickly so I reread it again. All in all I must say I am intrigued by the series and the books I have read so far. It has suspense, some passion, a little silliness and sometimes mystery. With this many levels in the book it engages me as the reader. I had to give it four stars because of the lack of energy at times but all in all I will be looking to continue reading this series. It is a good read. I was given a ARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own. Regards, Anna