The Inheritance: A Novel

by Joan Johnston

DAISY KNEW THAT SOMEDAY, SOMEHOW, SHE WOULD PAY FOR WANTING WHAT NO PROPER WOMAN WANTED ...

The ravishing Duchess Daisy vowed to save Severn Manor by marrying Nicholas Calloway, a Texas bounty hunter come to claim his family's ancestral lands. But the moment they met, the slate-eyed barbarian took Daisy's breath away. She proposed a marriage of convenience. But she hadn't reckoned on flash-fire passion with the savage new duke ...

Nicholas Calloway came to England to discover the truth about his bastard birth, then sell his inherited estate --- with Duchess Daisy's help. Her price was marriage. He agreed, determined to have her on his own terms --- only to find himself hostage to the fiery redhead he couldn't leave behind ...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Regency

405 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Joan Johnston (born Little Rock, Arkansas) is a best-selling American author of over forty contemporary and historical romance novels.

Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.

Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.

Awards

* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story and another good one from JJ. I definitely enjoy her western trilogy more, but for a stand-alone novel this was a good one.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicolas’s determination to discover the truth about his birthright could have easily been solved if he’d simply asked the right person for information...of course, that would have wrapped the storyline fairly quick. I found Nicholas and Daisy’s marriage of convenience was entertaining to say the least. This was a cute, likable read.

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

#93 - 2025
Genre: Historical Romance

[Cindy Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Western meets Regency

My two favorite historical romance genres combined- cowboy turned Duke. This was a feel good story full of family and love with just enough dysfunction to keep it interesting. (Not to mention a few steamy scenes!). I enjoyed the characters and appreciated the epilogue completing the story. If you are in the mood for a romance, then give this one a try.

[Elgyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Daisy mě nebavila. Temperamentní Angličanka? To ani náhodou. Vdova, která kvůli nájemcům (ve skutečnosti kvůli sobě, protože kdyby jí hrdina prodal vdovský dům, neměla by kde bydlet) se rozhodne provdat za hrdinu. Když už ji teda políbil. A navíc je celkem pohledný, takže to nebude taková oběť. To teda byla romantika.
Styl je dobrý, ale příběh je chatrný.

s. 53,54 „A pokud je tady tak nevítaným hostem, nebudu překračovat váš práh ani já.“
A je tam hned druhý den ráno.

s. 173 Protloukali jsme se tak čtyři roky. Pak ale v dalším roce bylo jasné, že je matka nemocná. Trvalo další tři roky, než ji nemoc úplně zdolala.
Při odjezdu do Ameriky mu bylo 8, v době matčiny smrti 13. 13-8 je stěží 8.

s. 59 Milosti,“ Phipps vyměnil
s. 231 „Opravdu,“ Nicholas skryl
s. 299 a nepřesiluje se ?

ji/jí - s. 165, 167, 185, 186, 200, 306, 309, 316

[JackEllena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great historical-western romance!

An American bounty hunter lose in England is a good start. How he became a Duke is the question. Falling in love makes for good romantic story. A strong intelligent woman makes the story work. Two lives blending in love makes it god reading. Thank you, Jack.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, engaging, sexy, witty, and very entertaining.
One of the best books I have read this year. Characters are very well developed, have a sense of themselves and are not whiny.
Great storylines developing within the main characters and around them.
Just a all around enjoyable read.

[Cindy Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I loved the intrigue, the brass and pompous of the story and how she made a Texan end up being an English man. In the end the truth prevailed to make a happy ending for all concerned.

[Ellyn (Mrs. Darcy in my Dreams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the mixing of western and English societies.

[sandy forguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book 👍👍

[Debroah Vernier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good storyline, fast-moving

[Jerry Jares · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise is very interesting: A Texas bounty hunter (Nicholas) finds that he is now a duke in England. There's a mystery: Why did his father, throw his wife and Nicholas out of the manor when the son was 8? Was Nicholas really some other man's child, as his father avowed? Why didn't the duke (the father) divorce his mother and remove Nicholas from the line of succession?

Nicholas comes to England to sell the manor and lands, and go back to America. However, the one person keeping the property afloat is a beautiful widow of his cousin (of course).

The lands are not very profitable and Nicholas decides to improve things so he can sell at a higher price. Because of his abrupt manner (the English consider him a barbarian), he decides to wed the widow to help him persuade the tenants to grow a different crop (the wheat market is depressed). They marry a week after he arrives (?).

It all goes downhill from there. Nicholas realizes that his aunt would know the true circumstances of his birth, but he does not talk to her! He wanders around asking other people.

I have tossed maybe 5 books away without finishing them during my 60+ years. This is one of them! I hate to "give" this story one star. Gosh awful!

[Nancy]

I read this book years ago and forgot, so I recently re-read it. I still like it! I like how torn Nicholas was about going back to Texas vs staying in England. I liked the relationship between him and his son, and how his son was growing up. I also liked the secondary couples with Priss and Charles, and Colin and Roanna. I did find it odd that Daisy and Nicholas could live together in relative harmony with the decision (Texas or England) hanging over them for months! I just don't think I could hold out that long without knowing or telling someone that I loved him.

Overall, good plot and easy to read.

[Yakhdoor (Daios’s Version༄) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️ I just know that Nicholas is a Capricorn.

[Kshydog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed his description of being a bounty hunter and actually proud of it. Only played a small part for rest of story. Overall predictable. Surprised at first at Daisy's decision to marry but later on it made more sense. Admired her attitude for the tenants and the resulting way that Nicholas and his son continued it. Liked the barbarian behaviors and yet he was so gentle. Took guts to leave her honeymoon to get her point across. Knew that Lady Celeste was going to be part of the answer.

[Karen Boruff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intersting storyline, well written, and kept my interest. I would recommend it and will look for more of her books. She makes the story real and it flows without jerks and stops. I hate poor writing and bad wordage, so I delight when I find someone, who's writing doesn't constantly pull me out of the story.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually would have given the book 4 stars if I hadn't read the epilogue. Really? All three women just happen to be pregnant and happy at the end? Gag me. Other than that, I found the story engaging and I liked the way Nicholas (main character) discovered the truth of his parentage.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicholas Calloway, bounty hunter from Texas goes to England to claim his family's ancestral lands and meets Duchess Daisy. Pub 1994.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

02/01/13

[Drew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not get far, not keen

[Alice]

I give a book 50 pages to grab me. this one didn't.

[S Miller]

Used - Good (Some spine creases; Back cover corners creased)

[Debbie Dodd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading.

[Susan Laine]

have

[Melinda J · Rating 3 out of 5]

More realistic view of the abandoned wife and the struggles of the son.