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The Hidden Heart
416 pages
A snowbound castle, a brooding duke, and a spirited governess collide in a cozy, suspenseful historical romance.
What it feels like
Reading this historical romance feels like curling up by a roaring fire while a snowstorm rages outside. It perfectly balances the atmospheric tension of a locked-room country house mystery with the deeply satisfying emotional arc of a classic romance. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, driven by sharp banter between a brooding, grief-stricken duke and a fiercely protective, fiercely independent governess. The mood is shadowy yet ultimately cozy, steeped in the gothic trappings of an isolated castle but warmed by the undeniable spark of connection between the leads. It is a delightful escape for readers who crave a blend of suspense, forced proximity, and the tender thawing of a frozen heart, all delivered in accessible, spirited prose.
- Mood
- snowbound
- atmospheric
- cozy yet tense
- shadowy
- Tone
- romantic
- suspenseful
- earnest
- witty
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- healing from grief · forced proximity · uncovering secrets · thawing a frozen heart
- The writing
- Accessible and engaging, balancing atmospheric gothic descriptions with sharp, spirited dialogue.
- The arc
- Moves from isolated grief and suspicion to passionate trust and shared triumph.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love a classic historical romance blended with a locked-room country house mystery.
Content notes
- grief
- murder
- peril
About the book
FATE, IT SEEMED, HAD DONE ITS WORSTWith his life in ruins, Richard, Duke of Cleybourne, returned to his country estate to deal with the tragic loss he had suffered four years earlier. His plans, however, were interrupted by the arrival of Miss Jessica Maitland. The feisty, flame-haired governess had come to present her charge, Gabriella, as his new ward.UNTIL LOVE EXPOSED MUCH MORE TO THE STORYAs if their unwelcome presence weren't bad enough, Jessica also revealed that Gabriella was in danger. Someone was after the girl's fortune—perhaps someone the duke knew only too well. Now fate and a raging snowstorm have brought together an odd assortment of guests at Cleybourne Castle. And when murder strikes, Richard and Jessica must catch a killer and unravel a dark mystery, even as they are plunged into the most passionate mystery of all—the secrets of the hidden heart.
Description from Open Library.
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