Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Lost Heirs #3
Publication Date: 1/16/20 (re-release) July 24th, 2007 by Harlequin (first published 2001)
Number of Pages: 384

This author has been re-releasing some of her older titles – and gosh – I’m so glad she is. How else would I manage to find such gems that I had missed the first time around? This has been a delightful series – well written, well-plotted and the characters are fully developed and interesting. The overarching tale behind the individual stories is: During the French Revolution an English earl and his family were in France and were caught up in the mayhem and were murdered. The family was told that his three children were murdered as well – but that isn’t the case. A family friend rescued the children – two girls and a boy – and returned them to England. Except, they were maliciously intercepted so someone else could inherit the title that should have gone to the boy. The first two books showed the discovery of the two girls – A Stolen Heart and Promise Me Tomorrow. Now, we finally get to learn the fate of the young boy (Jack/Gil/John).

“The Gentleman” is the name given to a highwayman who preys on the local area – well – generally he preys on the assets of only one man – the Earl of Exmoor. The Gentleman detests the Earl and wants to bring him to ruination. Exmoor is a cold and ruthless man – even more cruel than most know – but The Gentleman (Jack Moore) knows.

Ten years ago Nicola Falcourt loved a stable boy – Gil Martin – with all her heart and soul. Yes, it was a huge mismatch between a Lady and a stable hand, but Nicola didn’t care. She had every intention of marrying him – until the Earl of Exmoor caused Gil’s death. The Earl wanted to marry Nicola himself. Now, she hates him with a passion and hasn’t stepped foot onto Exmoor’s land in ten years. She’s only returning now because her sister married Exmoor and she’s begged Nicola to come to stay with her through her pregnancy.

The carriage in which Nicola is riding is held up by a highwayman known as The Gentleman. When he kisses her, she responds – her whole body responds. How can that be? She’s had no interest in any man since Gil died – she still loves him and has remained faithful to his memory. How can this stranger awaken that part of her again?

Nicola and Jack end up spending time together when she helps to heal one of his men and they make discoveries – reawaken feelings – and find prejudices and obstacles that just cannot be overcome.

It is a lovely story of two people who find they have a second chance at love. I enjoyed seeing how they dealt with the unfolding events and managed to reclaim what they’d lost. I hope you’ll love it as much as I did.

One thing that puzzled me is the fact that ‘The Gentleman’ was called that because of his gentlemanly manners and speech. Yet – he was raised by a tavern wench and spoke like a common villager rather than the refined speech of a gentleman. I think we are supposed to understand that his friend Perry taught him manners and to speak properly, but it was never really spelled out. Maybe it was left on the cutting floor if the book was revamped/rewritten as part of the re-release process.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.