REVIEW: His Cinderella Heiress by Marion Lennox

His Cinderella Heiress by Marion Lennox: Jo never imagined that her years of moving from one foster family to another would end with her in Ireland, and having inherited of all things, a castle! Though it turns out she’s not alone in this endeavour either, as the handsome landowner who pulled her out of a bog earlier that day turns out to be a co-heir to the same inheritance as her. They share a common ancestor 4 generations back, and are named together in the will. For Jo, it’s more than she ever dreamed of, but being suddenly wealthy doesn’t change the fact that she’s lived without love for so long in her life.

As she and Finn connect over their new fortune, their friendship gradually turns into more. But after a lifetime of never belonging, will she find her heart and her home with Finn?

This was a really lovely, gentle and sweet romance. It felt very old fashioned, though with some modern twists, like Jo’s love of motorbikes and her unconventional looks and upbringing. It reminded me a bit of a Rosamunde Pilcher novel (she was a British romance author) with the flow of the story and the descriptions of life on a country estate in Ireland. There is a rather fractious (at first) housekeeper who isn’t keen on Jo at all, as a consequence of her poor relationship with Jo’s mother. She was a drug addicted party girl who gave Jo up early on in America, yet never allowed her to be adopted by any of her foster families. It’s Jo’s grandfather that has bequeathed the house to her. Finn is a country farmer, a poor relation of the family, but the closest living relative to Jo’s grandfather, hence his claim to the estate as well. They come from such different backgrounds, yet find they have common interests. Though at first they plan to sell the house, the discovery of so much of their heritage including old family portraits and tapestries makes Jo realize that she could have belonged somewhere after all. It’s a painful realization for her, yet Finn helps her to deal with those feelings. I liked the two of them together and the way they connected.

The locals have a vested interest in what will happen to the estate as well, and this factors into their decisions. Of course they have some conflict, in particular with their difficulty in owning up to their real feelings for each other but eventually they get things sorted out and we get our happy ending.

Since this is part of the Harlequin Romance line, there is no on page sex, just some kissing scenes. There is not a lot of drama or action, but it’s got likable characters and was quite an enjoyable read for me.

Book Info:

Publication: July 1 2016 | Harlequin Romance |

A castle to call home…

After years in foster care, Jo Conaill has never settled anywhere. Traveling to Ireland to claim a surprise inheritance—a castle!—is a chance to reconnect with her past. And when she’s rescued by handsome landowner Finn, their sizzling chemistry is undeniable…

Except Finn turns out to be Lord of Glenconaill, whom she must share her inheritance with! Jo has no plans to stay, but living in the castle with gorgeous Finn is an unexpected temptation. Has she found the home she’s always craved in Finn’s arms…?