Jack of Hearts

by Marjorie Farrell

The daughter of a wealthy mill owner, Anne Heriot takes her fortune to London to find the perfect aristocratic husband, but her marital schemes are undermined by an encounter with notorious womanizer and povertystricken rogue Jack Belden. Original.

Genres: Historical Romance, Regency, Historical

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

Reviews

[Gerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[H2bourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well-developed story by this author. This is more light-hearted than "Red, Red Rose" but still had some heft to the characters and plot. The main character is Miss Anne Heriot, the wealthy daughter of a mill owner, so while she is rich as Croesus she is still looked down upon by society as she is not a "real" lady. She is looking to marry a titled gentleman and draws up a short list of three men, one of whom is Captain Jack Belden, now a Viscount, Lord Aldborough. He is introduced in "Red, Red Rose" as a minor character but now takes centre stage in this novel. We are also reintroduced to other characters from "Red, Red Rose" such as Valerie and Elspeth Aston, and Lord Charles Faringdon, Val's father. The story takes place in both London and Yorkshire. There is also a running subplot involving Anne's companion, Sarah Wheeler, who is a granddaughter of a Viscount, and Sergeant Patrick Gillen, who is rescued from the streets by Anne after he rescues her from a runaway carriage. The author does a nice job of really fleshing out the characters and plot line so that the reader can really connect with the story. There is a scene of intimacy with Anne and Jack after their betrothal but the author does not dwell on it for too long and it's told in a way that's not smutty. There is a kidnapping, and of course, a subsequent rescue, but the author does a fine job in maintaing suspense throughout. By the end of the novel including the epilogue the reader will be well-satisfied by a story well-told. This is a solid 4-1/2 stars.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un buon 'regency' scritto con competenza storica e un leggero tocco di umorismo. Nel complesso una gradevole lettura, coinvolgente e moderatamente avvincente
E, non essendo di madrelingua inglese, non sono stata troppo irritata da qualche 'americanismo' di troppo.

[Frances Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

I love Ms Farrells books. The stories are good. Occasionally the 'accents' grate but I know she is trying for realism.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read the blurb, one would think this is another run of the mill Regency romance, and it does have all the usual elements, and very well done at that. What earns it the fourth star is the subsidiary story of working conditions in the early Industrial Revolution. Yes we all know it was a horrendous tie to be a worker, but Farrell also show the enlightenment of a mill owner without being preachy or sappy. She also makes the stock characters( one-eyed army vet, lonely aristocrat, poor relatives, daughter of a rich Cit) come alive in a delightful way.

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-educated mill owner's daughter honors her late father's wish that she find a husband from the ranks of the nobility. Her solicitor suggests three impoverished, honorable peers, and Anne meets them during the autumn Season in London. The following spring, she returns to London for the Season to make her choice. Despite her practical approach, she falls in love with the candidate she initially ranks last.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Heriot is now the owner of a wealthy mill since her father passed away. She decides she needs a husband and will go to London to search for the right one as her father had wanted. The last one on her list of prospective husband is Jack Belden. As she eliminates each of her prospective mates, she is left with just one, Jack. I enjoyed this historical romance story.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but writing not engaging.