A great story! Delilah Hart meets Fraser MacGregor by hitting him with an urn of ashes, and thus sparks begin to fly. Emily Royal has written so much more than a love story! Fraser and Delilah are both stubborn and proud, yet they begin to question their beliefs, goals and feelings toward each oher.
Society at that time frowns on strong, intelligent women. Delilah writes under a male pseudonum so her writing will be published. Delilah learns how strong her voice is, even though there is heartache along the way.
Fraser has inherited a cash poor Dukedom, so travels to London hoping to sell his whiskey. Delilah is the sister of the richest banker in London. Makes for some great conflict.

This was not the book for me... I was expecting something different, but It took me a couple months to finish it...
I'm not saying it was bad exactly, only really that the way feminism was portraid and judged annoyed me a little. I understand that this might not be a problem for everyone, and I do hope other people enjoy this and give it a chance :)
This is an honest review in exchange for the ARC from Netgalley. I thank all the people involved in granting me this copy :) have a great day and read great books.

I found this story to be enjoyable and engaging. There was a lot of chemistry between Lilah and Fraser. I will definitely read the next book in this series.

ARC received for review

I'm yet again in the minority. I can't get into it. I've tried multiple times, but I don't care for the hero or heroine.

I have a weakness for Scottish Dukes and this one is just added to my list. TheI like strong hero/and heroines and we have that with both here. Fraser is like the perfect man he has literally everything going for him and to top it off he is just hot. Then we meet Delilah who is no slouch she is a woman we can respect and in that era that was not easy to do, or to be accepted luckily for her she meets Fraser and these two will melt your kindle or nooks or whatever you are fortunate to read on .enjoy!.

What the heart wants by Emily Royal

“There’s my wee terrier.”

I love historical romance with witty heroines and this was one of them. Here we have Fraser, who is Scottish and I love them! He loves his homeland and visits his inherited estate. There he meets Lilah, inteligent young lady, a writter who uses male pseudomim. She doesn't like him because of his ancestors, but soon she realizes that she likes his company and is slowly falling in love with him.
Story was good, I loved their witty conversations and learning about passion (in life and in love). Ending is fast paced but it's perfect.
Looking forward to read about other sister and brother.

A sexy Scot (don't tell anyone he's actually kind of sweet and sensitive) and a headstrong and feisty Lady combust on the page at the beginning, but fizzle somewhat by the end.

I loved the quick witted banter, especially at the beginning when Fraser MacGregor and Delilah Hart first meet. Fraser is a dirty talking Scot, so be prepared for lots of sexual innuendoes and overtones inserted into many of his conversations. This was fun for a bit, but became somewhat tedious. Delilah is a feminist and wants to fight for equality, but hasn't really gotten into the trenches yet to make a difference. I thought she had more bark than bite. The steamy scenes were open door, but I thought there was a bit of chemistry missing between Fraser and Delilah. Suspend your disbelief, if you're a stickler for following the conventional society rules of the time, your skin may crawl (things like an unmarried young woman going to Scotland just to visit a man just seemed like a big no-no).

What the Hart Wants is the first book in the Headstrong Harts series. I love family series! This book kept me entertained enough to want to definitely check out other books by this author. I was especially interested in Delilah's brother, the Duke.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Fraser MacGregor inherits a title with a lot of debt. His only hope is to establish his whiskey business in London. Miss Delilah Hart's family doesn't have a title, but her brother is the biggest banker in London. She writes poetry and wants to be published, but the articles she writes on social injustice are the only ones getting published. Passionate encounters between Fraser and Delilah become lessons in pleasure, until Delilah's secret as the writer of the articles abruptly sees Fraser walk away and return to Scotland. But there's unfinished business between them. Friends to lovers to enemies, an interesting twist to a romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I tried my best with this book, but it just wasn't for me. Both of the main characters were too aggressive for my liking and the plot just did not grab my interest. I tried repeatedly to get into the book and it just fell flat for me and I could not finish it.

Just a short back story… I read mostly historical proper or Christian romance. In most of my books the characters hardly ever kiss. But I need to widen my author and publisher list so I thought I would try something a little different but still historical romance. That is how I came to read What the Hart Wants by Emily Royal. Once I started reading the first few chapters I was thinking, well this is not Christian or proper but I am going to read this and see how I like it.
This book was very exciting and couple of times I found myself blushing!! I was able to relate to Lilah not wanting to be married like every other society girl and wanting to have a career first. But just takes meeting the right man to turn your world upside down.
I find myself excited about the next two books in the series as I believe they will be about Thea and possibly the other sister that they only mentioned a couple of times. I also found myself looking for other books by Emily Royal. I am so very happy I decided to try something a little outside of my typical reading. I would really recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romance that shows the racy side of the early 1800s then you will really love this well written novel.

TL;DR:
- 3 stars
- Content warnings: allusion to "horrible event" between Delilah and previous Duke, ruination
- Quick read, not super engaging or interest-keeping for me. Worth reading if you're into sexy historicals and a little verbal tussle between the leads.

Loved:
- Delilah starts off as a character passionate about her independence and women's rights, which is awesome. I don't read a ton of historical romance, but I love a fiery lead!
- Love the idea of a lead who knows what she wants (in love and sex), in a time period that technically this would not be okay.
- Fraser is pretty cool. He's compassionate, a "good man," cares about his mother deeply. He's a bit crass, generally, and definitely butts up against Delilah, but I actually came out liking him a bit more than her (😬).

Less into:
- Delilah loses her independence and bullheadedness literally exactly when she meets Fraser. Which is fine, like, it's happened before and will happen again! But she's SO adamant that she's not like other women, etc. etc., and then she literally is. She does whatever Fraser asks (under the guise of some sexual liberation), she doesn't fight back against her editor, she allows a clearly horrible man's advances, etc.
- A lot of detail I felt was lacking, like I could've stood to know more about Delilah's parents or the incident that occurred, or how her brother made his money. Felt like I was missing critical details the whole time.
- The time-period accurate sexual nature of the men in this book was off-putting. I am not averse to sex in books, it's just that it felt like every chapter we were reminded that it is ABSOLUTELY kosher for men to sleep around, while women cannot, or fear ruination. And then it would describe or otherwise introduce the various mistresses. Just like, odd? Maybe I don't read enough of this genre, lol. But why waste time on that information when there is a plot to be had?

Overall alright. Quick with a nice little happy ending.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Highlander meets Un-society lady

What the Hart Wants is the first book in the Headstrong Harts series by Emily Royal. This is a story of a man who is pushed in into a role that changes his life and a woman who is stifled by her older brother who believes she must follow society’s rules to raise their family’s standing.

Fraser MacGregor is a man who didn’t choose to become the thirteenth Duke of Molineux, but he will use that good fortune in order further his Scottish whiskey business. On the day he arrives in London, he happens across a young woman, Delilah Hart, a strong person who greets Fraser by smashing a vase over his head.

Each has something the other wants. She wants to learn about seduction and he wants to find the author behind the inflammatory and ruinous articles about the Molineux family. Fraser agrees to give Delilah five lessons in the art of pleasure and he listens to her desire of changing lives through her poems. But when life happens and plans change, what the Hart wants becomes more about what the “heart” wants.

This book was well-written, if a little slow. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it was well thought out and the characters engaging. Though it was quite classic as far as the plot line went, I still enjoyed this novel immensely. I did wish there’d been some dastardly plot of murder or the like to follow as well, but the social challenges were intriguing as well as the relationships. I will definitely look forward to reading another book by this talented author,

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased, honest review,

A delightful read.
Chemistry between the leads off charts.
Never read a more interesting first meeting between the two leads.
Fraser and Delilah are well matched.
While it takes a while for Fraser to come to his senses, all's well that ends well.
There are interesting secondary characters who would I think get their own book.
Looking forward to read the next book in this series

Delilah Hart is a strong-willed young woman. She wants to be independent, able to take care of herself. She believes aggressively in equality. She is a frustrated poet who is earning money while she waits to publish her poetry by writing inflammatory essays about the aristocracy in general and the Molineux line in particular. Fraser MacGregor is handsome, owns a Scottish castle, and runs his own business. He didn’t expect, nor did he particularly want to be the thirteenth Duke Molineux, but that’s what he is. Fraser believes that his new status will help him maintain and expand his whisky distillery and allow him to distribute his product in England. When he comes to London, he finds Delilah inside the library of his townhouse, and sparks fly, not the romantic kind at first. Before long, it is the romantic kind, and the chemistry is hot. She accuses him of not caring about those less fortunate than he, and he tells her she needs to learn about the pleasure life offers. The Duke makes a deal with her. He will learn about her charity work, and he will teach her five lessons in pleasure. Sounds interesting. How will it work out?

This is an excellent beginning for a new series. There are five siblings, and future stories promise to be interesting. In this first story we have a feisty, impetuous, opinionated heroine with good intentions and a caring heart. The hero is just about everything a hero should be – handsome, smart, caring and generous, and he enjoys life’s pleasures. The story is engaging and the characters compelling (not all are likeable). There are some secrets that could make finding a happy ending difficult. I look forward to the other stories in this series. In this one, Fraser and Lilah enjoy five lessons in pleasure, an interesting incident involving a granite boulder, and one awesome lesson in love. This is a good one. I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

She wants substance, he wants fun, they both want truth.

Delilah Hart is an independent minded woman on a crusade to help downtrodden women who are at the dubious mercy of men and society. Writing essays under a male pseudonym, she attacks the family and lineage of the Molineux dukedom - the last one having been cruel to his wife, her best friend, and herself when they was young. She is on the offense when she meets Fraser, the new duke lately come from Scotland. But soon she's on the defense, trying to protect not only her identity but her heart when she discovers the honorable and progressive man he actually is.

Fraser MacGregor, Highlander and the new 13th Duke of Molineux, now that it was no longer illegal to make it, is in London to establish his whiskey business there, the only reason he appreciates this unexpected inheritance. Except it comes with little money, a country estate that's not making money and a trashed London townhouse. He is disgusted by his predecessors and determined to convince the Beau Monde that the is a man of integrity and restraint, and that his whiskey should be their drink of choice. He is immediately attracted to the woman he discovers in his dilapidated townhouse and sets out to seduce her, encouraging her to let down her guard and allow herself to experience pleasure. When he discovers her deception, he's angry, devastated with disappointment in her.

I really enjoyed the interplay between these two characters, the playfulness of their relationship against the backdrop of the strictures of society. Not likely realistic but enjoyable none the less.

The story of Fraser and Lilah is one not to be missed. I enjoyed their journey to their HEA. Fraser, who at first I wasn’t sure if I would like became very human throughout the story. Lilah was a good match to him. The story was angsty and I am glad they found their HEA in the end.

This is the first book that I have read from this author and I will make sure I read more from her.

Yowza! What the Hart Wants Indeed! The first time Lilah met him, she hit him with an urn filled with the ashes of one of his ancestors! When he opened his eyes "he senses were assaulted by the most striking blue she'd ever seen... she would have believed him a gift from the gods."

Of course Fraser MacGregor, now thirteenth Duke of Molineux, was a braw Scot and to say his and Lilah's first meeting was a little explosive, well.... needless inflammatory is more like it!

Lilah has a fierce disregard for the Aristocracy and dislikes the Molineux line most of all. But she and Fraser may just strike a bargain and who knows how it will come out!

Don't miss this first in a series tale that will have you enthralled!!

A Woman on a Mission

Delilah is a woman on a mission. She must bring the corruption of the aristocracy into the light, but she can only do it under an assumed name. No one took women seriously in those days. What happens when Delilah’s mission hurts the man she loves? Both Delilah and Fraser let pride be their undoing. Will they let go of their pride and welcome love into their hearts? After all, it is a much warmer bedfellow. This might be my favorite book by Emily Royal. If you like historical romance with strong women and braw Scots, you might enjoy this book.

What the Hart Wants by Emily Royal is a refreshingly different Highland romance. Delilah Hart grew up in a middle-class-to-poor home Thanks to her brother's efforts, they are now wealthy; he is a financial genius and astute businessman. None-the-less, the ton wants not part of them. The snobs are out in force. There are only a few who bank with him or will be seen socially with him. He wants a titled husband for Delilah; she could care less. She's not sure she wants a husband at all. She is a writer. She has a successful series of articles appearing in a newspaper under a pseudonym, as well as a book of poetry in the works. She is often to be found at Clayton House, a crumbling ruin that had been the home of the Molineux, a degenerate family of dukes, one after another, and bad to their cores. She came to look after the birds left unattended in the aviary. They had become her own. Fraser McGregor, the new duke, arrives at the house curious as to who is in it. She surprises him by hitting him in the head with an urn (containing the ashes of a much earlier duke). It was an inauspicious meeting for what would become a remarkable relationship.

This was a compelling book about two extremely interesting people, both stubborn and proud. Their circumstances were complicated by outside forces motivated by, what else, money. He taught her about pleasure; she taught him about independence. The setting was primarily London, but her introduced her to the Highlands, with which she fell immediately in love. Despite his anger, he shopped her poetry around until he found a buyer and she became a published poet. She had friends who care about her welfare; he didn't. He only had a protective mother and a woman who chased him for years. He did have a cadre of loyal employees; loyal because of hoe he treated them. They were an interesting and challenging couple whose story is full of twists and turns. It was a charming and enticing read, full of good humor and falling in love. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of What the Hart Wants by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #whatthehartwants