Hadrian Lord of Hope (Lonely Lords) Paperback – June 10, 2014

We kind of left Avis hanging in Ethan’s book, so it was nice to bring her some closure and a happy ending. This takes place at the same time as the other book, so the events at the end of that book come into this one too. This was a difficult but really sweet and hopeful story.

I have mixed feelings about Grace Burrowes' books in general and I agree that some of her stories are very similar - Lonely, Hopeful, Honorable - whatever - many of these lords wind up on a country estate in close proximity to a woman they are attracted to although most do not immediately name or recognize their feelings as "love." Hadrian, at least had known Avis 12 years previously, when he was only 18 years old and before he became a Vicar. Called home by his Viscount brother, Harold, to stand in Harold's place while Harold travels to other lands where his relationship with his gentleman friend, Finch, might be more understood - Hadrian, at first is a little resentful of the fact his brother is leaving, isn't sure of how he feels about his wayward relationship with Finch but loves Harold enough to wish him well and takes up residence at the family seat.Of course, there's the longtime friend, Avis, who Hadrian has a past with and in fact, in his youth wanted to marry her but things went awry, he eventually married another woman, Rue, who passed away during the years he served as a vicar. He has left the ministry to come and tend to the home properties, he is lonely, he needs love and he wants something from Avis he has never had from any other woman - he wants her love and he wants her as his own.The romance in this book was sweet from Hadrian toward his gal. Avis, understandably has some major issues but one of her biggest issues is that she takes a long time to accept help from the right people. Having read her brothers' books, I find it difficult to believe they left her alone so much. I know it is somewhat explained in their books but still, it seems quite strange since they were both so responsible - in particular, Benjamin Hazlit.I would have given this book 5 stars easily because I really enjoy the casual, slow, drawn out descriptions of the simple pleasures of life during the typical days in her characters' lives that Ms. Burrowes has such a flair for when she writes her stories. The specific descriptions of food, the banter between men that occasionally seems almost "girlie" but is actually presented as characteristics in men who are comfortable in their own skin - not afraid to show affection, hugs and friendship. The reason I'm giving 4 stars as opposed to 5 stars is that I'm not particularly fond of the storyline about the woman who desperately needs her man, is willing to have him physically and engage his heart, then continues to resist making a long term commitment, telling herself it's for his own good - somewhat overdone in this book.

In LoH Ms. Burrowes shines with her English language skills. This is not your run-of-the-mill Regency story in the sense that the dialogue is very mature and well-developed. (For example, instead of writing Avis did not have brotherly feelings towards someone, Ms. Burrowes writes she has "neither brotherly nor avuncular" feelings.I do enjoy a story with "fifty-cent words" to challenge my own language, skills; however, the writing in LoH was both a blessing and a curse: everything is so c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y and s-l-o-w-l-y plodded out to the reader. (See above. The fact that Avis did not have "avuncular feelings" was irrelevant, just one of quite a few examples of "padded" writing in LoH.) Although it is clear from the beginning of the story that Hadrian and Avis have a past, the story is well over a third done before Ms. Burrowes fully explains that history. This sort of a delayed explanation can work for certain plots but for LoH. Before the disclosure, I was left wondering time and again why Avis would have such strong feelings for Hadrian.Additionally, it didn't ring true that someone who was as closely watched as Avis (by the ever-stern Lily/companion, neighbors, churchgoers, etc.) and who was hyper-sensitive about her reputation to boot would repeatedly wander off with Hadrian in plain view of others. To return home on his arm, disheveled and in some cases wet-haired, made no sense when the author repeatedly (I cannot emphasize "repeatedly" enough) described Avis as someone who wanted to "disappear" due to her past.This story really could have been a novella (a very good novella at that) with tighter editing. Yes, we need a history of what led Hadrian and Avis to that point in time, but key points don't have to be re-written literally dozens of times. This was a wonderful tale of redemptive love; I don't need pirates, explosions or kidnapping to enjoy a story but a country setting with protagonists working through 12 years of events had me skipping ahead quite a bit (and I really didn't miss anything).

Truly one of my favorites. And this is why her books are SO much fun -- Hadrian loves Lady Avis -- but her sister Alex found love (and resolution) with Ethan ... SO of course I had to go back and re-read Ethan because the stories (and the bad guy Hart Collins) are so intertwined. Grace Buttowes has a truly unique gift for understanding pain. Often the pain/injury (sometimes to the body, sometimes to the heart, sometimes to the mind, sometimes all 3!!) creates the issues that cloud the relationships. One of the reasons why I love her books is because people TALK to each other. You really grow to understand a character and you root for them to become whole and healthy and able to accept love and the good things coming their way. At the end you almost feel like you've helped "root them on" to wholeness. She puts her finger on what are sometimes very very UGLY things -- like rape, or false accusation, the failure to prevent some disaster, and on and on -- and she doesn't just 'point' -- that finger PRESSES on hard hard things. .... Now .. I really have to get back to this b/c now after Hadrian and a re-read of Ethan ... now I have to go read Gareth b/c Heathgate (Garret) is so prominent in Hadrian ... *smile* tough times for a romance reader when you almost can't decide which to read (or re-read) next!

Another delightful romantic tale with a twist of two. Explores small town gossip on others misfortunes and jealousy, along with planned isolation of a victim. The sexual freedom is possibly a little to free for the time frame but it's a story and these scenes are well written.

Not quite as marvellous as the other Lonely Lords and related novels, but Grace Burrowes' superbly written novels, filled with period detail and expertise, are enthralling, and working out all the complicated networking interrelatedness family dysfunctions period prejudices etc take you into another world. I have been re reading all her early 19th century novels and finding them even richer. Yes if read all one after another they are a little formulaic, but the characters are so well differentiated. Hadrian was just a little harder to warm to than the others, and it was slightly predictable, but then - heretical although it may be to say it - even Jane Austen is variable!

I read this over three days, and found myself totally absorbed in it. It is a love story with a bit of a 'whodunnit' and, since I like both genres, I was hooked. The story progresses at a leisurely pace, but the writing is good and the characterisation well done.Now that I have reached the end, I feel quite bereft! But, although it doesn't have an Epilogue, there is just enough at the end to indicate the way forward. I would certainly recommend this book. Howevert devotees of Georgette Heyer (which I am, too) should know that the romantic scenes often lead to fairly explicit material, although I certainly felt it grew out of the story.

Character you already know and so it is interesting to find out what 'happens next'.It is also brave to explain the need for Hadrian to take on the responsibility for the family estates in order to free his elder brother to follow his own heart. We have waited for some time to find out what happened to Avis Potmaine, sister of Vim (Sophie Windham's husband) and Alexandra Hazlet (Ethan Gray's wife)... Characters in other Grace Borrows novels.Good read, as usual.

I wasn't able to finish this one. Gave up at half way, after several attempts to plough through. By this point I had already enjoyed two other books thinking that the break would get me back into it, but I was wrong. Just a bit too slow moving for my liking.