The Nursemaid and the Heir: A Historical Romance Novel (BERRINGTONS Book 3)
Whatever hope she had nursed in secret, it withered the moment she saw the ring on another woman’s finger…
Christopher Berrington never expected to return home to a dying father, a crumbling sense of duty, and the quiet unraveling of the life he once knew. As the weight of inheritance threatens to crush him, solace arrives in the most unlikely form: Gracie Brook, the quiet, sharp-eyed nursemaid who has risked everything to protect a child not her own.
She’s meant to be invisible. He’s meant to be untouchable. But in the hushed corridors of Berrington House, between sleepless nights, stolen glances, and the soft footsteps of a child, their lives begin to entwine.
Gracie has every reason to keep her distance. Christopher has every expectation to marry elsewhere. And yet, neither can ignore the pull between them, a connection as forbidden as it is undeniable.
In a world of whispered secrets and dazzling ballrooms, the Berringtons navigate love, duty, and unexpected passion. When a bold heroine crosses paths with a gentleman bound by honor, their fates become entwined in a story of longing, intrigue, and undeniable chemistry. A romantic Regency tale, full of heart and charm.
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Customer Reviews
M**B
Clean sweet story
This was a clean sweet love story. Can different classes pf people find happiness and what will it cost them if they do? Does it even matter if it brings them happiness ??July 13, 2025
K***y
Christopher’s story!
This is Christopher’s story, book 3 in the Barrington’s series. Each book can be read as a stand alone. This is a sweet, clean regency romance. Sally Forbes has done a great job telling Christopher’s story and also continuing to blend in the family as well. I look forward to the next in this series.July 10, 2025
M**V
A Family/A Tragedy/A Love…
Lord Christopher has a great responsibility to his family- a father with an illness & two younger sisters. Then Gracie arrives with their young nephew as his family is ill. As time mingles on Lord Christopher’s feelings change for Gracie & she feels she must disappear. As he searches for her he Finds he loves her more, & nothing will stop him.July 7, 2025
R*********e
Extremely sad book
This is not the book to read if you are grieving the loss of someone (particularly a parent) and are looking for an escape from those feelings. The death or illness of family members are often written about in regency romances but they usually do not take up so much of the book and to such a degree. I have read 70% of this book and have tried to finish it but at this point, I can’t. It portrays the final illness and death of Christopher’s father while the family is also dealing with worry over the serious illness of Viola and her husband. The romance between Christopher and Gracie is much too overpowered by the deep sadness throughout the book. This book is just much too close to reality and too painful for me, personally.July 6, 2025
K**********n
Good story !
Good story just not as good as others she has written , I was a little disappointed by how the book seemed to drag some , still very good clean story !July 6, 2025
A**.
Perfect
I loved this book. Christopher and Gracie share a sweet undeniable chemistry. I have loved each of the Berrington books.July 4, 2025
G**********y
Enjoyed reading this story
Really enjoyed the story and characters in it. A great portrayal of the struggles to cross the expected class lines. Great dtoryJuly 4, 2025
r*b
Insurmountable differences?
In this novel, the Berringtons go through a great deal. And through it all, Christopher has a great deal of adjustments. Gracie is a quiet comfort. However, he is the heir to an earldom, she is a nursemaid. Their stations are worlds apart, and combining the two would make for very serious problems. However, the Berringtons are an unusual family. Can these differences be worked out without harming either one of them? Great story!July 4, 2025
L*********d
Great read!
This book is more than a nursemaid and the future Duke falling for each other. It is also about the deep love of family and responsibility! Delightful characters!July 3, 2025
r**e
Sweet love
well written, full of drama, duty, society, secrets, intrigue and emotions. Gracie is a nursemaid taking care of Arthur when his parents get sick. They both are sent to live with his Grandfather and family hoping that all ends well. His Uncle Christopher meets both and sparks are felt between them. Christopher and Gracie are separated due to social rules and standards that are set. As they work around these issues, they are able to finally get their happily ever after. Would recommend this sweet romance to everyone. I received this book and leave this unbiased, honest review.July 3, 2025
G**.
highly unlikely
I admit I’m a stickler for HEAs so I enjoyed Christopher and Gracie’s story, knowing a marriage between members from different classes were highly unlikely in those times.July 2, 2025
c**********3
Romance
Well written. Love the characters.July 2, 2025
D******n
Never Know
An attraction that should never happen, Christopher couldn’t help himself when the nursemaid showed up at the doorstep with his nephew. Gracie never expected to be attracted to Christopher and knowing it wasn’t right she tried to keep the social barriers between them. As known Lords do not marry nursemaids. But as his dying father weighs upon him, he finds solace and comfort with Gracie, until one night he made a mistake, and she ran. Even unusual he knew that she was the one for him and he had to find her. ARC ReviewJuly 2, 2025
D**a
Clean Regency Romance with a HEA.
Sweet Regency romance which differs from the vast majority of them as it didn’t take place in ballrooms and high society, but rather dealt with family, grief, and love. Christopher is heir to his family’s earldom and is feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities he must assume at his father’s death. Gracie is a nursemaid that joins the household with Christopher’s little nephew when his sister and her husband come down with typhus. The story is written in dual perspective and shows the conflicts that each main character faces as their attraction to one another grows. The other family members are key in their own ways in helping them reach a HEA as they also witness the attraction.July 2, 2025
B***Y
Another good read from Sally Forbes
Good story line, interesting, and entertaining!June 30, 2025
M***i
Fighting the Odds
Christopher and Gracies’ story is one of a man who is willing to overlook class difference and a woman who fear that they will not be accepted. She is Christopher’s strength when he needs her and he just has to convince her that love is more important than class differences.June 30, 2025
S********7
Not usual plot of poor to riches
This was a great story. The heir to the kingdom is not ready, the nursemaid is a great listener but just doesn’t want to be a mistress but believes that is all that lies ahead for her but she so would like to be a part of that loving family. A very well developed plot that keeps you turning the pages . The beginning lures you in, the middle keeps you going and the end comes too soonJune 30, 2025
K*********.
Tender story
Tender, moving, full of rich family interactions, with hints of a classic Cinderella story.June 30, 2025
C**********k
Such a memorable book
This book felt different than other historical romances as the heroine is not a member of the aristocracy. When Gracie is sent to the Berrington home to take care of her employers child after they get sick, she is not comfortable there at all. She has only worked for one family so she is reserved and feels out of place. She soon feels better as the Berringtons welcome her even though she is a servant. I really loved this book! It flowed well and was easy to read. The characters are just as they should be and I got pulled into the story quickly. I would love to see a sequel to this one!June 30, 2025
S*************e
HEA
I really liked the storyJune 29, 2025
J**********e
Simply wonderful!
In this realistic novel, there are no evil nobleman or grasping ladies – no, the antagonist is something within us all: the universal internal war between our hearts and minds: can I?/can’t I?, should I?/shouldn’t I?, will I?/won’t I? From the first page to the Epilogue, Ms Forbes takes the reader on an emotional journey, from discovery to loss, from young life to the end of life, from the highs of new love to the depths of despair – simply wonderful!June 29, 2025
Jo
class differences
Book three of this series gives us Christopher who has returned from his Grand Tour is expected to take the reins, marry and become responsible. When typhus hits, it’s all that Gracie can do to bring Author to his uncle, Christopher. An intense story of class differences that must be overcome as well as possible tragedy in order to find themselves.June 29, 2025
J*d
Great book!
I thought this was going to be another Lord falling in love with a commoner plot, but it was so much more. It’s a story filled with emotion and passion. Christopher is doing everything he can to hold his family together. His father illness seems to be getting worse but his father keeps denying it and the physician won’t tell him the truth. If it wasn’t for Gracie he didn’t know what he would do. She brings a peace not only to him but to the whole household as well. The characters will draw you in. Definitely worth reading.June 29, 2025
