Category: Barb’s Reviews

Capturing The Earl By A.S. Fenichel

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Capturing the Earl (The Wallflowers of West Lane, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Wallflowers of West Lane #3
Publication: 1/26/21
Number of Pages: 304
*** 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 ***

This series features four friends who first met at Miss Agatha Wormbattle’s School for Young Ladies in Lucerne, Switzerland. The young ladies, Aurora, Faith (Misleading A Duke), Poppy (The Earl Not Taken), and Mercy had trouble following the rules of society, so their parents sent them away to school to learn to behave properly. While the parents all viewed it as a punishment, the young ladies viewed it as the best thing to ever happen to them. After school, Aurora’s parents forced her to marry a vile, abusive, nasty man who mistreated her – almost killed her. After his early death (YAY!), the Wallflowers all came to live with Aurora and they all vowed that no man would ever, ever, ever be allowed to hurt one of them again. Any man wishing to court and/or marry one of them would be fully investigated by all of the others. They would investigate and they would thwart whatever plans he had if it was necessary.

After the ultra-exciting, action-packed story in the last book, I was really looking forward to this book being another rip-roaring tale. I didn’t get it. This book was much slower paced – almost dragging – and I had a real love-hate relationship with the male lead. I liked him when he was kind and considerate of Mercy – but detested him when he’d kiss her one minute and then pursue marriage with her best friend the next minute. I liked the female lead, but, she often annoyed me as well. She was SUCH a doormat. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the read, it just wasn’t stellar.

Wesley Renshaw, the Earl of Castlewick, has dedicated his adulthood to rebuilding his family estate and legacy after his profligate grandfather lost or sold most of it off to stay out of debtor’s prison. Wesley’s father did the best he could with the estate, but with no resources at hand, he only managed to keep what was left in-tact. On his death bed, Wesley’s father made him promise to continue rebuilding the estate until it was whole again. Wesley’s talent and skills as an investor and businessman have allowed him to rebuild all of the family’s fortune and lands except for one piece, Cheshire. That piece is owned by Lady Aurora Sherbourn, a widow who Wesley intends to court and marry in order to gain the land. I like that Wesley is upfront about why he wants to marry Aurora – but his arrogance is beyond the pale. Although Aurora and everyone who knows Aurora tells him she will not marry him or anyone else, he considers the marriage a done-deal – it will happen. Does he really think he is so irresistible? Apparently. He likes Aurora very well, but he doesn’t love her – he just wants the land.

Mercy Heath is the only Wallflower left living with Aurora. Mercy is sure she’ll never marry – she is a woman of no means, no title, and no influence. The only men who have pursued her are of absolutely no interest to her. She is a bit concerned about her future once her beloved aunt, Lady Phyllis Mattock, passes away – but she hopes that won’t be for a very long time. Mercy understands that not everyone can marry for love, but she’s not met one man who even remotely interests her. Mercy is a gifted musician who most hostesses’ request to play at every function she attends. Basically – she performs for her supper. When she dances with Wesley Renshaw at a ball, she is smitten. Nobody ever dances with her and she doesn’t understand why he does. He actually treats her as if he likes her and likes dancing with her. When, two months later, Aurora’s toad of a mother announces that the Earl of Castlewick will be paying calls on Aurora with the intention of courting and marrying her, Mercy is shocked – but mostly she’s outraged for her friend.

I liked seeing the arrogant Wesley come to terms with the promise he made to his father. Sometimes, you just have to let go and change your plans to something even better. I didn’t like cousin Malcolm in the least and couldn’t understand his role in the book. I know he was to cause conflict, but he was so ill-defined. I couldn’t decide if he was truly a friend and trying to do something for Wesley, albeit stupidly, or if he was, at heart, a villain. I also couldn’t understand the quick tolerance for him. I don’t know – that whole thread was just uncalled for and weird.

I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to Aurora’s book. I hope that one is as exciting as the second book in the series. I’d love to see the author and publisher add books for Mr. Geb Arafa (I love him), and for Mercy’s aunt Phyllis. That probably won’t happen, but I’d love it. I hope you will read this book and enjoy it too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Bargain of a Baroness by Linda Rae Sande

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Bargain of a Baroness (The Heirs of the Aristocracy, #4)
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Heirs of the Aristocracy #4
Publication: 1/19/21

Getting two romances in each story is one of the things I love about this author’s books. Usually, there is a primary romance and a secondary romance, but this time, because we have twins, we have a shared primary role. Normally, I believe that would leave me feeling that one or the other of the romances wasn’t fully formed, but that wasn’t the case. Henry’s romance felt a bit instant to me, but it also felt sincere – probably lust before love. If you have read books from this author’s several other ‘Aristocracy’ series, you’ll recognize friends from those books. I love that people and events are intertwined among the related series and we have followed and loved these families for multiple generations. While this is part of a series and the series is a part of several inter-related series, you can still totally read it as a stand-alone. It just amazes me that the author can keep everyone straight and not marry close relatives to each other. In this book, we enjoy Graham, the son of Emma Fitzsimmons and Thomas Wellingham (The Promise of a Gentleman), Laura, the eldest daughter of William Overby and Lily Harkins (The Desire of a Lady), along with Hannah and Henry, the twin siblings of Sophia Grandby and James Simpson. (The Pride of a Gentleman).

Romance One:

Graham Wellingham left England eighteen years ago to start a new branch of the family business in the United States. He didn’t leave because he wanted to – he left because his heart wouldn’t let him stay. Hannah, the woman he’d loved since they were in leading-strings was marrying another man. He has never gotten over Hannah – and when she is widowed – he heads back to England to hold her to a bargain she’d made with him.

Lady Hannah Simpson Harrington’s marriage wasn’t what she’d expected, but at least she’d produced a son-and-heir for her husband. She has never gotten over Graham, the love of her life and she wonders if he’ll return to England to hold her to their bargain. Her year of mourning is almost over and she hasn’t heard a word from him.

I loved the mix-ups and mishaps of them coming together. He would be at one place to find her – and she’d be at another. I love her son, Edward’s, involvement in the whole thing as well. What I didn’t get, however, is how instantly forgiving Graham was of the people who supposedly loved him, yet manipulated Hannah away from him. They caused Hannah and Graham to miss eighteen years of happiness together and, to me, that warranted a bit more than an instant acceptance of the offered apology.

Romance Two:

Henry Simpson is soon to become the Head Clerk at the Bank of England. That is quite a lofty accomplishment for a man of his age. Henry is only six and thirty, but everyone thinks he’s at least fifty because he’s a bit staid and stodgy. He has lived at home with his parents all of his life – mostly because his parents are aging and he wants to assure they are cared for and he’s there if they need him. Henry realizes it is time for him to marry – actually, far past time – but he’s never seen anyone who held his interest. Well, no one has ever caught and held his interest until he notices a beautiful young woman who enters the house across the street every Monday morning, and then she leaves every Saturday afternoon. She is lovely, poised, and … Who is she? Is she a maid? Her timing is odd – and she’s delivered by coach – but, she must be a maid. He is mesmerized and watches for her arrival and departures – and any sightings he can get of her through windows. How can he possibly be smitten by someone to whom he’s never spoken? Yet, he is.

Laura Overby comes from a large, but well-to-do, family. She expects she’ll never marry, but at least she has a way to support herself. Something other than going into service. She is a gifted portraitist and is much sought-after, so she can easily support herself with that income. Then, one day she notices the man across the street is watching her as she arrives at her client’s residence. The young, handsome man seems to always be watching her. Strangely, it isn’t disconcerting for him to be watching. She is very intrigued. She knows who he has to be because his mother comes over to tea quite often.

When Henry and Laura meet, sparks fly. Can they forge a HEA? Can Henry unbend and allow his wife to continue her work? If he can’t – can she still marry him?

I loved watching the staid Henry learn to bend and finally to reach for what he really wants in life.

I hope you will read and enjoy this book – with these two lovely romances – as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.