From the blurb, I thought I'd love this book, but even though the beginning was interesting, the middle just dragged and dragged. I actually stopped reading at about 60% because nothing was really happening between the two main characters, and I just didn't care anymore. They kind of dance around each other, but I didn't feel any chemistry between them. Not one of my favorite Anne Gracie's novels.

Cute historical romance! This is my first book by the author Anne Gracie and I will definitely be reading more. Her characters were interesting and the romance was well written. Race was a perfect romantic lead. He was clever, kind and adored Clarissa. Clarissa was very bull headed and frustrating at times due to the mental abuse she suffered in her childhood. While I understood where this was coming from it would have been nice to have some more flashback moments to really understand why she had such a hard time believing the kind things people said about her. There were also many allusions to how she forced her father to allow Izzy to live with them but we never got to see exactly how that happened. It is possible it is included in Izzy’s story, but since I haven’t read it yet I do not know. Either way it should have been included in this story since it was discussed a couple of times. I look forward to reading more in this series and I really hope Zoe gets a book as well.

Everything about this book sounds wonderful from the description. The first quarter had me hooked in , but the story just got more ridiculous as it went along. dNF. Its heroine is lovely. The hero is heroic. It just doesn’t work for me. Melodramatic.

The Heiress's Daughter by Anne Gracie follows the story of a dashing rake who must prove that he has changed his scandalous ways in order to win the heart of his one true love, who is currently in the arms of another. Gracie expertly crafts superbly nuanced characters, infuses the story with a subtle sense of wit, and delivers richly emotional writing that makes for a truly delightful read.

Alas! This book rather fell flat on its face. If this were a traditional Regency story written in the 1980s, it might've worked. However, Regency Historical Romance has moved far away from those beginnings. The story is trite and the characters are trite. Characterwork is cursory and the plot hews to those old guidelines--there is no new twist or angle to the book. Overall, it lacks that freshness and brightness that captivates modern readers and makes the book memorable. This is absolutely not what I would've expected of Gracie. Then again, I remember Gracie's older books, which I used to quite enjoy. I haven't read her books lately, and I never shall after this one.

Heiress Clarissa, scarred by her father’s treatment, has vowed to avoid rakes and fortune-hunters. However, she’s captivated by Lord Randall, who sees her unique beauty. As a wounded war hero also pursues her, Clarissa must decide if she can trust Randall. Can she move past her traumas and embrace a reformed rake who truly loves her?

This novel has a light-hearted and flirtatious feel. I particularly enjoyed the “found family” aspect of the book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

"A dashing rake must prove he has changed his scandalous ways to win his one true love from the arms of another, in a witty new Regency romance from the national bestselling author of The Rake's Daughter.

Heiress Clarissa Studley yearns to be loved for more than her fortune. Warmhearted, but plain and shy, she wishes to marry, but has two firm rules: no rakes and no fortune-hunters - her father was both, and she'll never forget the misery he caused.

So, when Race, Lord Randall, starts to pay Clarissa attention, she knows she must keep him at a distance. Attractive and charming he might be, Race's reputation precedes him and she's observed first hand his flirtatious ways with London society beauties. But Race sees a beauty in Clarissa that others cannot, and for the first time in his life, he is truly in love. And when a rival for Clarissa's affections appears - a handsome, wounded war hero, heir to his great-aunt's fortune - Race becomes desperate as Clarissa seems tempted to make a safer, tamer choice.

Can Race convince Clarissa that his love is true and that she can trust him with her heart? And can Clarissa put aside her unhappy past, and follow her heart, despite the risk of loving a rake?"

Come on, rakes are the most fun to romance!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Romance, Romance
Spice Level: Slow burn, Sex on page

I loved so much about this book. The setting, the characters, the character arcs, and the tropes. About 90% of the book feels historically accurate. And for a modern audience some of the ancient attitudes have to be changed—such as how people felt about servants and how women are seen by the male love interest.

My personal preference is to have historical books without sex on the page because it was such a taboo for a woman. To be fair, there was a solid warning when a married woman tells the main character that she'd slept with her husband before marrying.

So, I think most readers will love this historical novel.

Happy reading!

I haven’t read the others in the series but got caught up quickly enough. There were historical inaccuracies, but if the story was faster paced or higher stakes I wouldn’t have minded. I never understood why Race liked Clarissa. It was established in another book so I never got invested because I never saw him fall for her. That and the introspection and misunderstandings and interrupted conversations dragged it out what could have been an entertaining he falls first.

A drama filled regency romance.

I read this premise and thought this would be filled to the brim with drama, and it was! We have the rake trying to prove himself to the heroine, the heroine possibly dating/marrying another, plus a possible long lost sister. For a short book, that’s a lot.

The characters are interesting & fun to read about. I could understand Clarissa’s hesitation and loved seeing Race do everything in his power to win her affections. I liked the other man drama too. It was nice to see the heroine have options.

Regency lovers will enjoy this.

3.5 Stars Historical romances can be some of the most fun reads for escapism and The Heiress's Daughter by Anne Gracie pulled me right into the world of the Regency era ton.

Heiress Clarissa Studley has a list of requirements for what she wants from a husband, qualities that add up to the opposite of her rakish father who neglected her and broke her late mother's heart. Clarissa wants to marry for love, not someone who is a rake or wants her for only her fortune. Thus, she has been keeping Race, Lord Randall, at arm's length and is determined not to fall in love with him. Or at least not more than she already is. Though he is wealthy and not after Clarissa's fortune, Race's reputation as a rake has her convinced that he could never be a faithful husband. Race has adored Clarissa since they first met and is determined to prove her--and society--wrong about him. When another suitor vies for Clarissa's affection, Race becomes more desperate to prove to Clarissa that he truly loves her and she can trust him with her heart.

Clarissa and Race were fantastic main characters and it's easy to see why they fell for each other. Though she is insecure and doubts herself, Clarissa is brave, kindhearted, and willing to sacrifice anything for those she loves, especially her half-sisters. Race defies the rumors about him and his reputation; he's willing to fight for Clarissa, support her, and be vulnerable with her, while also respecting her and her boundaries. The side characters were especially fun, especially Zoë and Mrs. Price-Jones. I'm hoping that Zoë's story is next!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Berkeley & NetGalley for this ARC!

This was fine! That's really all I can say about it - didn't love it & didn't hate it. For me, this book majorly dragged until about 60% in... then we got to 70% in and it dragged again until the end. Maybe I would've been more invested had I read the first 2 books in the series! I just felt like the 2 MCs (Clarissa & Race) were almost NEVER together in any scenes, so I was really left wanting. Also I cannot stop thinking about this one scene that went, almost verbatim, like this (I don't even remember who said what at this point, but I was cracking up):

*Race & Clarissa see each other at a ball*
Clarissa: I need to speak with you... tomorrow.
Race: Ok let's speak tomorrow
*Scene ends - cut to the next day*

Like... why?

Anywho, not my favorite Anne Gracie book, but still very sweet.

Super cute regency romance that kept me entertained through the whole novel. Lord Randall is a supposed rake and Clarissa wants to find someone who wants her for more than her money. She has a list of requirements and one is he cannot be a rake like her father was. Can Clarissa ever trust anyone enough to agree to marriage?

Fun, easy read that will capture your heart. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Anne Gracie’s flawless writing is something every reader should experience. Clarissa and Randall’s love story captured my heart and this is easily one of the HR book I have ever read!!

In The Heiress's Daughter, Anne Gracie explores how abuse and neglect as a child continues to affect the person who suffered through it into adulthood. The heroine, Clarissa Studley, had a father who was abusive and neglectful by turns and who did this to both Clarissa and her mother. It leaves Clarissa, who wants a husband and children, with difficulties in making decisions about suitors. She sees herself as plain and plump, as her father pounded into her repeatedly, and believes the only thing men find appealing about her is her fortune. She does not want a husband like her father, but seems unable to distinguish which of her suitors would not be like that. When Race, Lord Randall proves attentive, she cannot trust his sincerity because of his reputation as a rake, until he rescues her from what she believed to be a good prospect. This book is part of the Brides of Bellaire Gardens series and some of the characters from the previous books make an appearance which was fun. Strongly recommended.

Gracie creates wonderfully complex characters in her Regency Romances. The Heiress’s Daughter has Clarissa and Lord Randall.
I loved Lord Randall. He was so accepting of Clarissa from the beginning as he saw her value was not in her dowry and her beauty was beyond what was on the surface. He is a much better hero than his best friend Leo from the previous book.

Clarissa was so beaten down by her father’s verbal abuse that it took a while for her to trust her own judgment and to believe that someone could love her, just her, and she could be enough.

The first book in this series continues to be my favorite. I like that Lady Tarrant and her charming step daughters are included in this book.

There was a bit too much waffling back and forth with oh he’s a rake but I so desire him but he’s a rake, etc.
Also not sure the side story of finding a possible long lost half sister was essential.

All in all, another good book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super cute story about Clarissa, an heiress who struggles to believe she deserves the love and attention of a man, and Race, a rake who finds himself falling in love with a truly amazing woman for the first time. Lots of twists and turns, including a forced betrothal. Overall a fun read.

3.5 stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.