Winning the Gentleman

 

In Kristi Ann Hunter's 2nd installment of her Hearts on the Heath series, Winning the Gentleman, readers experience the sweet love story of Sophia Fitzroy and Aaron Whitworth.  Aaron, the illegitimate son of an earl, has always had to work hard to maintain his reputation as a gentleman, businessman, and horseman.  When he mistakenly hires Sophia as a temporary jockey, however, his well-ordered life and painstakingly crafted image begin to crumble.  Sophia regrets the trouble she has caused, but still can't see another way to save her brother and herself from the itinerant life they've led since their father's death.  Will Sophia and Aaron hold tight to old dreams and vulnerabilities or take a chance on each other?  

While this wasn't my favorite of Hunter's novels, I did enjoy Sophia and Aaron's story.  The story took a while to get moving; from the back cover the reader knows that Aaron will hire Sophia, so the several chapters prior to her arrival at the Heath seemed to drag.  The ending, however, was as sweetly romantic as I could have hoped.  Even though I've read all of Hunter's books, I found myself confused by the cast of characters from time to time.  Aaron himself, for example, featured in two other of Hunter's novels.  This flaw, however, didn't hinder my ability to follow the primary plotline, and I absolutely loved getting to see Trent and Adelaide from An Uncommon Courtship again!  All in all, Winning the Gentleman and its prequel, Vying for the Viscount, are worth reading, but I haven't loved them as much as her Hathorne House series.  

I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.