The Determined Lord Hadleigh

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is the fourth and final story in author Virginia Heath’s series, The King's Elite. When Ms. Heath announces she has a new series coming out, readers who follow her rejoice! When those series unfortunately come to their inevitable ending, it is with a heavy heart that we face saying goodbye to some of our favorite and loved characters.  As I picked up this book knowing we were at the end, I was very interested to get to finally learn more about Lord Hadleigh and see what Ms. Heath had in store for him… Lord Tristan Hadleigh has been in all the previous books of this series. He is a barrister and the Crown Prosecutor that has been working hand in hand with The King’s Elite to help capture and prosecute a highly organized and extremely dangerous smuggling ring. We actually first met Lady Penelope “Penny” Penhurst in the first book of this series, The Mysterious Lord Millcroft. She was a close friend to the heroine of that story. Married to a Viscount who physically and mentally abused her, she had no option but to stay and endure for her young son. As we first start this book, Penny is testifying in her husband’s trial for his part in the smuggling ring. Seeing her every day at trial has Tristan finding himself drawn to this brave woman. When her husband is found guilty of treason, sentenced to death and stripped of his lands and titles, Penny has no other choice but to stand on her own two feet to make a life for her and her young son. I tend to say this frequently where Ms. Heath is concerned, but I loved this couple! I truly wanted to see Penny gain her independence and get her confidence back after all she had endured. She’s such a wonderful heroine, brave, determined and yet there is still a vulnerability to her.  She’s struggling to survive, barely making ends meet when Tristan who’s been keeping tabs on her steps in to help. As for Tristan, oh my! Ms. Heath definitely knows how to write swoon-worthy heroes!  Tristan was present in each of the previous stories, but in starting this book, I didn’t really feel I knew him too well. I have to say, I fell for him pretty quickly in this book! He’s brilliant, handsome, loyal, caring, a man of integrity and an absolutely perfect hero for a woman like Penny. I absolutely adored watching these two gradually become friends, help each other to heal from their pasts, and eventually fall in love. With all our favorite characters from the previous books making an appearance, along with a perfect epilogue, Ms. Heath has done it again! She’s created an absolutely perfect ending to a beloved series! Although I’m sad to say goodbye, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with The King’s Elite, and can’t wait to see what Ms. Heath has in store for us in the future! I highly recommend this entire series!

The guilty man had been apprehended, tried, and justice served. But the traitor's innocent widow would suffer the consequences. Lady Penny Penhurst, after testifying against her husband stood alone and almost penniless. Her testimony had strengthened Lord Hadleigh's case; he had to help her, without her ever knowing. Penny's only crime had been her naivety, her helplessness the consequence of the actions of a violent man. Hadleigh knew how damaging it could be, but he didn't fully grasp that she never wanted to be obligated to anyone, for anything, ever again. Lord Hadleigh had impressed me from his very introduction with his calm demeanor, and his aura of mystery. Unlike the The King's Elite's other heroes, he is a lawyer, not a spy, and had been mostly on the periphery of the action in the previous instalments. But now is his turn to shine as the trial of the infamous Boss approaches. I now believe that Hadleigh is my favorite character of Virginia Heath's, he is one of the most complex heroes I have read in quite some time, and I must confess that I didn't want this book to end. The imperturbable barrister is a tortured soul, trying to make amends for crimes that are not his own. He is noble, honorable, dedicated to justice, confident in the courtroom, but hesitant in his personal life, and very guarded in his affections. THE DETERMINED LORD HADLEIGH is a phenomenal character study, as both Hadley and Penny lock horns. She has realised that she wants to start living again, she needs the independence that was denied to her during her frightful marriage, but most of all, find the girl she once was. And she is attracted to Hadley (I mean, who wouldn't!). She is also very perceptive and soon sees beneath Hadleighs veneer: his career is an unmitigated success, but his inner life is a mess. Both characters experience enormous growth, and while doing so, they slowly fall in love. The first kiss is extraordinary; tender, full of promise, but opening the door to many questions and doubts. The dialogues are spectacular, and the chemistry between Hadleigh and Penny is much more than sexual; it is that of two people finding themselves with the other's insight and understanding. Penny's one year-old son Freddie also plays an important part in the narrative. This book, besides being Hadleighs story, also wraps up the story arc of The King's Elite, reuniting all the players whose individual tales make up this brilliant series to see the trial come to a satisfactory conclusion. The book is magnificent, the epilogue utterly delightful; I could not have wished for a more perfect ending to this superb series.