When the Marquess Falls

A heartwarming novella that offers readers a glimpse into the undying love and devotion George, the Marquess of Marsden, had for a local baker's daughter named Linnie. The love they had for each other was eternal and everlasting. George meets Linnie when he is twelve, and she, eight, and he immediately falls for her and knows without a doubt that she is the one he will eventually marry. Unfortunately, reality and its expectations interfere with his plans once he reaches adulthood and he begins to realize his responsibilities. As a result of his more elevated status and her lowly one, George cannot seem to find a way to actually marry her without breaking centuries of tradition as a titled member of society, despite wanting her with a fierceness that threatens to consume his entire body and soul. Will love conquer all? Have tissues handy because this is an intense read that will make you cry your heart out upon its conclusion. I absolutely adored this short love story, and I recommend it highly to adult readers and romantics alike! This novella is a rare gem of heartbreaking honesty and a love so deep and melodious that its soft strains resonate with you long after you have turned the last page. A Definite Must-Read for All Adults!

This review contains a serious spoiler if you haven't read the other books in the series. FINAL DECISION: Know the secret of this book, grieve with every word, and read it anyway. THE STORY: George, the Marquess of Marsden has been friends with the baker's daughter, Linnie Connor, since they were children. Although he knows he loves her, George knows that there cannot be any future between them because of the difference in their stations. With their friendship on a deadline (Linnie plans to move to London to open her own shop and George knows he must marry) the two cannot stop the deep and forbidden passion that flares between them. OPINION: I have had this book for months and just couldn't bring myself to read it. This book has a horrible middle that readers of the series will know about -- the heroine dies young in childbirth. Yet, it is a beautiful romance even if it doesn't fit the standard confines of the genre. The story between George and Linnie is more beautiful knowing that it is both such a short story and a long romance. While this won't be a book that I will pick up again and again to read, I greatly admire Heath for writing this book. Most writers would have left readers with -- the romance is not a HEA and thus there is nothing more to write. Heath instead rises to the challenge and gives readers a book that has a happy ever even if it is not in this life. WORTH MENTIONING: I cried and cried and cried. CONNECTED BOOKS: WHEN THE MARQUESS FALLS is book 3.5 in the Hellions of Havisham series. In some ways it is both a prequel and a sequel for the series. I think this book is better read after the series. STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

“To the Marquess of Marsden and the privilege we had of knowing him better than most” - The Duke of Ashbury ( The Viscount and The Vixen ) The Hellions of Havisham is my favorite series by Lorraine Heath. Each of the men in these books were raised by The Marquess of Marsden and this lovely novella is the story of George ( the marquess ) and his Linnie. Throughout the Hellions novels you learn that Marsden is mad...made so by his grief following the untimely death of his lifelong friend and wife, Madeline Conner, who dies shortly after giving birth to their son, Killian, Viscount Locksley. The other boys are the sons of George’s friends, The Duke of Ashbury and the Earl of Greyling, who are orphaned after a tragic accident. The novels each show the impact of how the marquess and growing up in the haunted Havisham Hall had on their development but it’s this novella that goes back in time to show George & Linnie’s story that encloses the events of the series in a nice tidy circle. My favorite of the series was The Viscount & the Vixen which is Locke’s story and this gorgeous history of his parents’ story is a must for any fan of The Hellions of Havisham series!! Highly Recommend!!

This book had hanging over it the knowledge of the end, as I had read the next book. Still, it was a wonderfully crafted, tense book, with a young man finally standing on his own, and a young woman's dreams all coming true at once. The characters are wonderful. The meeting of the two youngsters, their subsequent friendship, are sketched as if in fine lined pen and ink. The picture is there, but without excess highlight, or shadows, more being outlines. The most colorful event- the ball - is painted in colors, here bold strokes that give us a general outline of colors as people enter the hall, as our heroine sees the inside of the mansion for the first time., there with a fine brush as a necklace is described, a gown's impact on a young lady's psyche is allowed to blossom off the pages. But the rest of the book is heartbreaking, with all of the gentle sorrow preshadowed in the subsequent book. It is a beautiful love story, ending on the marquess' fall....

I was looking forward to reading about Marsdon don't but this was not at all what I was hoping. I love Lorraine Heath. But this one just depressed me. I am sure others might love It because it was well written as always--but the story was simply not for me. I really missed her humor and amusing dialog. II hope her next release will be more for me. Deborah Clark

Very small print. Not standard text size.

This is a hard one to rate because I am torn between it's too sad to be good, and it's beautifully, hauntingly good because it's so sad. In the end I've decided that it will be sticking with me for a long, long time and is sad in a positive way -- even though I did almost rip the book in two at a certain point. The story of Marsden and Linnie is classic romance, the highest honor to love ever after, forever and ever. The ultimate of love and togetherness. On a side note, this novella is set during Christmas, and this is May. I guess either it wasn't ready for our Christmas just past in 2016, or an opportunity presented itself to get it out early in 2017. Whichever the case may be, it packs a mighty emotional wallop.

I couldn't put this one away. Oh how I ached for Linnie! To love one man so much throughout a lifetime! I had to keep reminding myself that of course, all would work out... This is a romance after all! Then I cried. The ending was bittersweet and perfect. Now I'll wipe my eyes and come back for this one again! Wonderful story, Virginia. Thank you!

This novella tells the beautiful but bittersweet love story of George, Marquess of Marsden and his beloved Linnie and, having read The Viscount and the Vixen, I knew it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster of a journey. George and Linnie are childhood friends who fell in love and, despite their very different social positions in life, it is obvious they are meant to be together. I admire how George respects and protects Linnie and I can see why he falls in love with her. She is such a lovely person – optimistic, courageous, caring, kind and just plain fun. It wasn’t hard to believe that, in time, she would have won over the Ton. Throughout the series, George has always been considered mad, but often his actions are far from those of a madman, especially in his relationships with his charges and his son. He has not only raised them but helped each one in various ways. Seeing the depth of his love for Linnie, and his intense feelings of grief and despair when he lost her, made me think that perhaps he wasn’t mad at all but suffering from bouts of depression. I like to believe that Linnie did watch over him through the years as she promised, and it was heart-warming to see a kinder, gentler, happier George in The Viscount and the Vixen. The story is so emotionally moving and, even now, thinking about certain scenes brings tears to my eyes. I think it is a testament to Ms. Heath’s writing that she can evoke such strong feelings. I love how she made me believe in an everlasting love that transcends even death and gave me a Happy Ever After which, although unconventional, left me with a tearful smile on my face. Note: I do recommend that you read The Viscount and the Vixen before reading his novella. MY VERDICT: Such a beautiful, emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings.

Um dos meus livros favoritos da Lorraine, Ver a história do Marquês e da Linnie foi emocionante. Senti o sofrimento dele quando a Linnie se foi e o reencontro... Simplesmente perfeito. -- One of my favorite Lorraine books, Seeing the story of the Marquess and Linnie was thrilling. I felt his suffering when Linnie left and the reunion ... Just perfect.

Excellent book!

Ha sido tan bonita (y triste) como esperaba, me ha gustado mucho ver esa historia de la que solo tenía pinceladas.

I enjoyed this beautiful love story. Even though it was sad it was still a page turner. I highly recommend.