The Prizefighter’s Heart (Headstrong Harts)

Thirty-year old spinster, Dorothea Hart, secretly lusts after prizefighter, Griffin Oake. Known in the ring as the “Mighty Oak”, Griffin is a widower with a teenage daughter. Considered unmarriageable, Dorothea is relegated to the position of spinster aunt and cautioned to not besmirch the family name, so in order to get her fill of the man she desires, she sneaks out to watch his fights on her own. When a chance meeting puts them in a compromising position, Griffin agrees to a marriage in name only. Will Dorothea’s patience, with both Griffin and his daughter, bring them all a happy ending? Or will secrets from their pasts come back to haunt them?

“The Prizefighter’s Heart” should probably come with a trigger warning due to the verbal mistreatment by Dorothea’s brother as this may be a problem for some readers. The book is an exceptional tale of overcoming stereotypes and personal growth. Instead of the standard Regency or Victorian era Duke, the hero is an everyday, hardworking man, a fact that makes him even more appealing to both Dorothea, and the throngs of women throwing themselves at his feet. Dorothea’s growth from someone who always thought of herself as plain to a desirable woman is very well done, if not a little slow to start. The on-screen love scenes were well done and not over the top or offensive in any way. If you’re a fan of Tudor-era romance, you’re in for a treat with this book, the fourth book in the Headstrong Harts series.

N.E. Kelley