Hello, my lovely readers! Well, this was a hard review to write, I couldn’t find the words to fully express what I wanted to say, even after reading my review back I know that I babble a fair amount, so apologies for that. Another reason is that this will be the last time I get to write a Kings Elite review……sobs, uncontrollably for ten minutes….I can’t believe it! But, I have to say that this series goes out in smashing style 😉

He’s got iron control…

But she might be his undoing!

Part of The King’s Elite. Haunted by Penny Penhurst’s courage on the witness stand, meticulous barrister Lord Hadleigh offers her a housekeeper position at his estate. Despite trying to stay detached, Hadleigh is charmed by her small child and surprised by how much he yearns for this proud woman! Can this he break through his own – and Penny’s – barriers to prove he’s a man she can trust…and love?

Review

Well this was a sad day coming where I would be writing my review for the last Kings Elite book, I need tissues, I want to weep. Do I really need to write this review? Can’t I just skip it, bury my head in the sand so that I don’t have to face the fact that this is it for the glorious Kings Elite?

OK, well if I must break my heart, I will do it with aplomb – don’t you just love that word? By Jove, has this been an incredible series or what? From those first few pages of book one, I have been avidly turning the pages, becoming more and more absorbed into the Kings Elite world that they are now more known to me than family – Hmmm, Not sure if that is a good thing or not!

So this is book four in the sensational Kings Elite, we have come face to face – figuratively speaking – with the most charming, shy, courageous, loyal, lovable, passionate and gorgeous characters, they have taken us on a whirlwind journey across four books. A journey full of intrigue, smuggling, spies, danger, romance and adventure and now we are here at the finale…..someone hand me the tissues, please! As with each of the previous books; The Determined Lord Hadleigh, can be read as a stand-a-lone very easily, my personal recommendation would be that you do at least read the previous one first; The Disgraceful Lord Gray before this, if you haven’t read the others, there are particular moments in this one that will give away a few spoilers in regards to the sub plot that has been running throughout the series.

After testifying against her husband, a man linked with the Smuggling ring – that as been one of the best subplots that has ever come out of a Mills and Boon book – Penny is shocked to find that after his sentence she loses everything, she and her young son are left destitute. Poor Penny, she does the right thing, she stands up for the first time in her life against the man who has made hasn’t just made her life unbearable, but also who has scared the living daylights out of her and now she has nothing. The man who was prosecuting her vile husband, the honourable if a wee bit pompous Lord Hadleigh feels a sense of injustice over what happened to the young woman, so much so he tries to help her. She is a proud, determined woman who after being on the wrong side of a manipulative and controlling man she is very uncomfortable about the charming, golden eyed barristers help. She sees it as being no better off then where she was, she is an amazing woman she may be fragile but I got a sense of real inner strength, like a lioness when times get tough she will do anything in her power to protect her child and I completely admire her for that.

To say he is an educated man he really doesn’t have a clue when it comes to women, as he goes about things all wrong. He has good heart, he is noble and honourable and loyal, he does try to help her, even if at first he doesn’t go down the proper avenue. Bless him, he gets it all wrong – thank goodness that Seb ……swoon! Has word with the young barrister. I really, really like Hadleigh, he isn’t at all how I thought he would be from those previous appearances, you are first introduced to a calm, intelligent and caring man but you soon realise that there is more to this man then meets the eye. There is another man beneath the cavernous barristers cloak.

So, we finally have Hadleigh’s story, after much waiting and wondering he is here and he does not disappoint. I saw this very much as a second chances story, Tristan Hadleigh and Penny Penhurst, what a remarkable couple they are. Both have complexities, both have vulnerabilities and both learning to love and trust. It is beautiful to watch their blossoming romance throughout the story, the journey they go on as individuals is one of the greatest pieces of writing I have read. It is powerful and gorgeous, it makes you shiver with anticipation about what will happen next and make you sigh with pure elated joy when they get there.

This book is packed with deep emotion, which the reader can feel right within them which for me is a testament to how brilliant this author is. Her grasp of language is as ever astonishing, the way this book can take hold of the readers emotions with a few words is perfect writing.

This book is absolutely delightful, what a joy it is to read.

Before I finish, one last note….Love, Love, Love the epilogue! It’s gorgeous and fun, it is the perfect ending for all our heroes and heroines and Trefor 😉 brilliantly written, it brings all what you know and love about the Kings Elite together as a, shall we say; goodbye? Perfect, thank you Virginia for an astounding series, this is why we readers love you! X

This was an Arc from the author in exchange for an honest review, thank you Virginia!

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is to be released 27^th June and can be pre-ordered at Amazon and do go an pre-order it.