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Virginia Heath
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Redeeming the Reclusive Earl: A Regency Historical Romance (Harlequin Historical) Kindle Edition

by Virginia Heath (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 287 ratings
His heart is a fortress.

And she’s trespassing!

After losing all he holds dear in a horrific fire, Max Aldersley, Earl of Rivenhall, shuns the world—until he catches Effie Nithercott digging holes on his estate! He banishes the intrepid archaeologist and the unsettled feelings she rouses within him. But she returns even more determined and infuriatingly desirable than before! He wonders just how deep she’s prepared to dig—so far she’ll reach the man beneath his scars?

“Just when I thought that Virginia Heath had reached her pinnacle with sexy and swoon-worthy heroes she pulls a stunner… I have said it before, but I am going to say it again; that Ms Heath really does have a gift with writing.”
— Chicks, Rogues and Scandals on The Disgraceful Lord Gray

“Virginia Heath’s books get better and better. She is an automatic buy for me. If you haven’t read her books, I highly recommend them.”
— Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog on The Uncompromising Lord Flint
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  1. Print length
    369 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harlequin Historical
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2020
  5. File size
    1.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Harlequin historical romance period sweeping bodice regency victorian scottish viking past history

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Easily one of the best historical romances I've read in a while." - All About Romance

"A beautiful masterpiece." - Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

“5 Stars! Virginia Heath has outdone herself with this warm, emotional, yet entertaining story.” Roses are Blue, Book Blog

"Virginia Heath always writes her stories with a wonderful humour. I loved everything about this book." - Rae Reads Book Blog

“Ms. Heath is known for her fabulous characters and witty banter and this story didn’t disappoint, it was a joy to read!” – Rose is Reading, Book Blog

"Entertaining and heartwarming" - Lu Reviews Books

"Impossible to put the book down." - Flippin' Pages, Book Blog

"A refreshing change… another winner for me." - Rosie Amber, Book Blog

"Do yourself a favor and jump on board the fandom train behind this author's work" - Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers, Book Blog


"5 Stars! I was swept up in this story." - Carla Loves to Read, Book Blog

"A fun story." - KS Marsden, Author

"A charming, warm and sweet romance. Highly recommended." - Cathie Dunn, Author



"5 Stars! I absolutely loved this and would highly recommend." - Caitlyn Lynch, Author


"A charming often humorous tale." - Jane Hunt, Book Blog

About the Author

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it look her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Over thirty books and three Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07YX5296S
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harlequin Historical (April 1, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 369 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 287 ratings

About the author

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Virginia Heath

Virginia Heath

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When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happily ever after. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Thirty Regency Romcom books, two publishers and four Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
287 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical romance brilliantly written with carefully arranged misunderstandings and plenty of humor. The book features a believable romance with a slow burn development, and customers appreciate the well-developed characters and wonderful HEA ending. The pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how the physical descriptions help bring the characters to life.

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8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers praise the story's brilliance and intelligence, with one customer noting the carefully arranged reasons for the misunderstandings.

"...Eleanor, Max’s sister, and Smithson, the butler are perfect compliments to the story! I couldn’t put it down, and hated to see it end!" Read more

"...characters such as the sister are nicely drawn and add to the overall story line." Read more

"Another fantastic tale by Virginia Heath! I just loved this brilliantly written story with two very captivating characters...." Read more

"...She gives good, carefully arranged reasons for the misunderstandings and lets the characters grow, compromise and resolve their problems...." Read more

7 customers mention "Humor"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, particularly its witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments.

"...Heath has written this beautiful story with intelligence, wit and humor! I love Max’s nicknames for Effie!..." Read more

"...But, in spite of that, this is a fun, upbeat, humorous and romantic story. No time is spent wallowing in angst...." Read more

"...Did I mention the humor? At some points it is laugh out loud, which endeared the book even more...." Read more

"...I just reveled in their witty banter and laugh out loud moments. Their chemistry and resulting passion was palpable...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them very captivating, with one customer noting how the heroine is beautiful and another mentioning how the characters grow throughout the story.

"...always enjoyed Heath’s talent in writing wonderful stories and interesting characters...." Read more

"Virginia Heath writes incredible characters. However, Max and Effie are above par, by that I mean they are above normal...." Read more

"...I just loved this brilliantly written story with two very captivating characters. It’s not too often that I love both main characters so well...." Read more

"...carefully arranged reasons for the misunderstandings and lets the characters grow, compromise and resolve their problems...." Read more

6 customers mention "Romance"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, describing it as believable and slow-burning, with one customer noting it's an endearing couple's story.

"...But, in spite of that, this is a fun, upbeat, humorous and romantic story. No time is spent wallowing in angst...." Read more

"...At some points it is laugh out loud, which endeared the book even more...." Read more

"...Very endearing couple." Read more

"...The romance was slow burn with a satisfying happily ever after." Read more

5 customers mention "Enjoyment"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and appreciate its wonderful happy ending (HEA).

"...From antagonism to friendship to love. Nicely done. There's great and smart dialogue. It's a story written with humor, wit and intelligence...." Read more

"...I loved this book, the HEA was wonderful." Read more

"...She gives good, carefully arranged reasons for the misunderstandings and lets the characters grow, compromise and resolve their problems...." Read more

"This was an enjoyable and well written romance. I was thoroughly engaged with Max and Effie and their banter was on point...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one customer noting how the physical descriptions helped them visualize the characters completely.

"...From antagonism to friendship to love. Nicely done. There's great and smart dialogue. It's a story written with humor, wit and intelligence...." Read more

"...Loved all the details of their physical appearance that helped me picture them completely...." Read more

"Nicely done!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • LeCoop13
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Absolute Best!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve read many a book, but none of them has made me smile more than Virginia Heath’s Redeeming the Reclusive Earl. I have always enjoyed Heath’s talent in writing wonderful stories and interesting characters. Maximillian Aldersley, the Earl of Rivenhall, and his neighbor Euphemia Nithercott are my absolute favorites. They are both complex characters, each with their own fears and insecurities that come from past experiences and trauma.

    Yet together, from their antagonistic first meeting, friendship blossoms, and on their journey to HEA, the learn to let go of the past, trust, and to love themselves and one another. The chemistry between Max and Effie is off the charts! Heath has written this beautiful story with intelligence, wit and humor! I love Max’s nicknames for Effie! And as usual, the secondary characters, Eleanor, Max’s sister, and Smithson, the butler are perfect compliments to the story! I couldn’t put it down, and hated to see it end!
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  • OLT
    4.0 out of 5 stars New-to-me Harlequin author that's really good.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I used to be a Harlequin snob, but in the past year or so I've found some really good Harlequin historical romances while at the same time my favorite non-Harlequin authors have consistently been letting me down. So a big welcome to Virginia Heath as an addition to my historical romance author list.

    This, her most recent HR, does not have an unusual plot, with the exception of what the heroine spends her time doing. The hero is one of those formerly handsome and dashing upper-class men who is disfigured in an accident and gives up on life and happiness. Max Aldersley, Earl of Rivenhall, a former ship captain, was burned in a terrible fire at sea, almost dies, is left badly scarred, depressed, and despondent after his beautiful fair-weather fiancee dumps him. He is now in self exile at the estate which he inherited from his late uncle, wanting to see no one nor to be seen by anyone. He's grumpy, grouchy, a completely-empty-glass kind of guy and doesn't even want visits from his loving sister who had nursed him back to health.

    When Max is out riding one day he comes upon what seems to be a very young man digging around on his land. Turns out it's Effie Nithercott, his next-door neighbor and avocational archaeologist, who had had permission from his uncle to do a dig on the land. She has made a surprising discovery of what seems to be a pre-Roman site.

    Well, of course, grumpy Max says no more digging. Go away. Leave me and my land alone. And Effie doesn't quite know how to take no for an answer. Archaeology and academics and learning are all she has. After the death of her father she is alone in the world. And she doesn't expect ever to marry and have a family of her own. It seems that her excessively big brain turns men away after their first initial interest in her beauty. Not only that but her feminine gender prevents her from being accepted in the academic world.

    So we have two lonely, somewhat lost souls. But, in spite of that, this is a fun, upbeat, humorous and romantic story. No time is spent wallowing in angst. The time is spent getting Max to stop feeling sorry for himself and embrace life again and to think about someone other than himself.

    The relationship between the two is delightful. From antagonism to friendship to love. Nicely done. There's great and smart dialogue. It's a story written with humor, wit and intelligence. The romance develops rather slowly, the way I like. When the H and h finally do become involved sexually, it works because their interactions up to that point have led to it organically rather than having the author throw sex scenes in just because. In addition, the secondary characters such as the sister are nicely drawn and add to the overall story line.
    24 people found this helpful
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  • Poetess
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful HEA
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Virginia Heath writes incredible characters. However, Max and Effie are above par, by that I mean they are above normal. They are so different from other characters in Ms. Heath's books.
    Separately, Max is a curmudgeon with scars above and below the surface, and Effie is a nonstop talker with a photographic memory, Together their insecurities begin to cancel each other out with a little help from Max's sister Eleanor. I should say with a lot of help from Eleanor.

    The discoveries they make on Max's land at first denied by Max, begins to bring them together thanks to Effie's dogged persistance. Did I mention the humor? At some points it is laugh out loud, which endeared the book even more. There is the prerequiste steaminess, which technically brought this to 4.5 stars, but I rounded up. I loved this book, the HEA was wonderful.
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  • Laurel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tortured hero meets intellectual heroine
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Another fantastic tale by Virginia Heath! I just loved this brilliantly written story with two very captivating characters. It’s not too often that I love both main characters so well. Effie, the big brained intellectual and Max, the scarred and tortured Earl and naval Captain were so incredibly perfect for each other. Their road to romance was fraught with emotional twists and turns, but oh how much fun it was getting there. I just reveled in their witty banter and laugh out loud moments. Their chemistry and resulting passion was palpable. Loved all the details of their physical appearance that helped me picture them completely. I was very emotionally involved in this novel from start to finish that I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. Virginia Heath has become one of my favorite authors!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Just ok
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I so wanted to love this book but it just fell flat. I admit I didn’t finish it. I tried. It just got too boring and redundant for me. Couldn’t hold my interest.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Love Reading
    5.0 out of 5 stars Miss...Never read such a lovely romance before!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    What a fabulous roller coaster of a book. Firstly the characters, ALL of them excellently written, practically jumping from the page they felt so real. Effie is a great heroine, smart, funny, endearing and loveable. Max, what can I say, a totally swoon worthy tortured hero. The story, original, funny, sad, but most of all heartfelt. This is beautiful love story of two lonely souls finding each other, who at first become friends, but as Effie starts to breakdown Max’s fears, Max starts to show Effie that she shouldn’t be resigned to her lot in life and they both start to find courage from each other and ultimately fall in love. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover…I would say this book is up there with the likes of Lisa Kleypas and Judith McNaught authors of this world. I would highly recommend. Defo a keeper to re-read in future.
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  • Andree Birch
    4.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed the story, particularly the badinage between Effie and Max.
    I really found it amusing and endearing how he teased her with her surname and literally laughed out loud at some of the variations he came up with!
    I enjoyed and admired the “feminist” aspect of the plot. It was focused and genuine, passionate and emotive. It was not vitriolic or offensive in any way.
    The love scene was very well written; not clinical but not pornographic either - just right!
    I loved the humour between them and the gentle sarcasm / irony.
    This is a very modern approach to relationships that fitted surprisingly well into the historical romance genre.
    I enjoyed the depth and truth of the relationship between Max and his sister, Eleanor. The way she supported him and spoke to him was very real and made me feel the love she had for him and how proud and protective she was of him. And he her, in turn.
    I particularly relished the challenging aspect of the sibling relationship as Eleanor made Max face his demons and accept his new life.
    The traditional “falling out” part of the story was also very well written. The cross purposes conversation between Max and Effie was actually hilarious! I wanted to step in and shake both of them, tell them to shut up and listen to one another!
    Several moments in the book actually made me feel genuine empathy for the character.
    The moment when Effie touches Max’s scars and kisses them gave me goosebumps.
    The moment when she “asked” him to kiss her also made me mist up!
    The description of Miranda made me want to find her and slap her!

    My only slightly negative feedback would be that the book seemed to end too quickly. From the love scene to the closing of the story seemed to flash past. Maybe this was because I was enjoying the story so much and simply did not wish it to end? Possibly.

    I found the book a comfortable, gripping and very pleasurable read and will most definitely be watching out for other titles from yourself.
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  • wood_beez48
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful love story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this story from the very first page. Effie and Max are such beautifully drawn characters, each with their own flaws and yet all the more endearing for them. I loved the setting and the way that Effie is fighting so hard to be recognised for her work, and the way that Max understands that about her. There was a moment towards the end of the story which brought me to tears, and the expected happy ever after was even more poignant as a result. Perfect!
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  • Laura Ward
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, smart and educational
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely love Virginia Heath's writing and this book was no exception.

    The hero and the heroine both drew me into their story. But the heroine, Effie, is a woman I can resonate with.
    Smart, funny and a little bit sassy, Effie had me cheering her on as I turned the pages eagerly soaking up their story.

    Max, our hero, is a little harder to love at first in a general sense but I always find I'm more drawn to dark, brooding and mysterious heroes so for me he is just the perfect hero.

    The way Max championed Effie's hopes and dreams, despite her being a woman in a man's world, absolutely melted my heart.

    I read this book cover to cover in one sitting as I always do.
    I can't wait to see what Virginia has to offer next.
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  • Tabbyangel
    4.0 out of 5 stars An unusual and refreshing historical romance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    An unusual and refreshing story, willing to go beyond the usual stereotypes of hero and heroine. Both main characters have reasons to hide from the world. Effie with her astonishing intelligence in an era when women were supposed to be seen, not heard, and certainly not educated. Max with scars that are more than skin deep. It took me a couple of chapters to understand the gist of their tale, but then I was engaged, wanting to learn about each of them, enjoying watching their relationship unfold in such extraordinary circumstances. Their particular twists and turns, fears and disappointments had me willing them on to a happy ending. I felt such satisfaction to read a romance where true love sees the person, not the scars.
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