When Tynan Brayden, the Earl of Westcliff, rescues Lady Abigail Croft from ruffians one dark night outside the Wicked Earls’ Club, he never expects his carefree life to be upended by this girl with big, brandy-colored eyes and a stubborn determination to save her reckless brother. He doesn’t know why he feels the possessive need to help her. Perhaps it is because she doesn’t ask for his help or … help or seem to want anything at all from him. But this Wicked Earl wants more from her… nothing less than her heart.
Lady Abigail Croft is at the end of her rope, trying to save her foolish brother. The Earl of Westcliff’s offer to help only complicates matters, for he is big as a gladiator and handsome as sin, and far too distracting. Her life is already in upheaval and she can’t risk falling in love with Westcliff when she knows he will only crush her heart. Or will he?
This title is also Book 2 in The Braydens’ Series. Book 1 in The Braydens, A Match Made in Duty, is available now.
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Twelve novellas by twelve different authors – what a great way to get an introduction to an author you may not have tried before, or to deepen your admiration for a tried and true author. I have read a few of Meara Platt’s books and found the heroines to be incredibly syrupy sweet and this novella followed that same pattern. It is also filled with the humor I have come to expect in Ms. Platt’s writing.
Tynan Brayden, Earl of Westcliff, is a rake. He loves the ladies and the ladies love him. He’s handsome and rich – what is not to love. However, he has been feeling a little empty lately. His amorous encounters just aren’t satisfying. He doesn’t know what is missing, but something is.
Abigail Croft is at her wit’s end. She is almost totally alone in the world. She’s lost everyone she’s ever loved and she has lead a very sheltered life – until. She was sent off to an abbey when she was young and hasn’t been living in the real world very long. She’s lost her parents and three of her four brothers. She lives with her only surviving brother, who is a baron. They aren’t poor, but they are far from rich, so she isn’t well dowered. Her brother is also hopelessly addicted to opium and is near death. What will happen to her if he dies? She’s unmarried, has no funds and no relatives. She also loves her brother with all her heart and will do anything within her power to save him – even endanger her own life.
Tynan is in his private room at the Wicked Earl’s Club – just beginning a tryst with a Viscountess – when he walks over and looks out the window. He spots a lady standing across the street and she is totally unaware of the three thugs who are slowly creeping up on her. Tynan tells his lady that the tryst will have to continue later and off he goes – shirtless – to rescue the damsel in distress.
Abigail has followed her brother to an opium den that is next to the Wicked Earl’s Club and she’s trying to figure out how to get him out of the house. She’s startled and frightened when a shirtless, tall, handsome man – with pistols drawn – starts toward her. When he demands that the brutes that she hadn’t even notice halt, she realizes that he’s there to save her. However, she isn’t sure which is the more dangerous.
Tynan sneaks Abigail up to his private room until he can get his carriage to come around and take her home. During the wait, he gets her story out of her and some humorous interactions take place between them (read it – you’ll enjoy it). After she finishes her tale, quite to his own shock and surprise, he volunteers to help her with her brother.
They spend time together over the next few days and get to know each other – and they (of course) fall in love. I enjoyed the story, but, I thought it all happened too fast. I know it was a novella, but the author could have stretched time periods out so that the love part was more believable. The HEA is lovely, the family is endearing, the Earl of Coventry is sneaky (in a nice way) and the wolf gets his rabbit.
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I read this book in the Wicked Earl’s Club boxed set. Absolutely loved it! Meara Platt is a favourite author of mine. Her stories are always unique and entertaining. They draw the reader in. I devoured this book in one sitting. The characters were wonderfully written. I loved Tynan immediately and my heart was reaching out to Abigail. I loved that some of her previous characters made an appearance. I also want to read more about Tynan’s brothers. As always, Meara did a fabulous job and I would recommend all of her books that I have read.
Though I haven’t read all the books available in the Wicked Earl’s Club, the Earl of Westcliff is one I greatly enjoyed. It helps to have a swoon-worthy cover model to think of when one reads the written work. Tynan Braden, Earl of Westcliff, rescues a young maiden from ruffians. Though he didn’t plan on getting involved, he ends up helping Abigail save her reckless brother from his opium addiction. A captivating romance I didn’t want to put down till it was finished. There is a mild sexual encounter but IMO, it enhanced the romance between the characters.
Tynan Brayden, Earl of Westcliff, spends his nights absorbed in the pleasures afforded him as a member of the Wicked Earls’ Club. Although lately he has become restless with his lifestyle and he’s not sure what to do about it. His answer comes in the form of a damsel in distress (but don’t tell her that); a damsel that is everything he is not. Tynan soon becomes beguiled by the headstrong, independent, loyal, and innocent damsel.
Lady Abigail Croft has one surviving family member and she’s determined to save him from himself – no matter the danger to herself. Used to relying on no one other than herself, she’s both thrilled and dismayed when help comes along in the form of a handsome, wicked earl. Can Abigail accept his help without losing her heart? Or is she doomed to lose both her remaining family and her heart?
WOW! I sat down to read Meara Platt’s Earl of Westcliff expecting to read it in my usual 2 – 3 day time frame. Well, 3 hours later I was reading “The End”. A heartwarming, gut wrenching story by the wonderful Ms. Platt. Tynan, the strong, handsome wicked Earl looking for more in his life; even though he’s not aware of it, and the strong, determined Abigail that gets under his skin and burrows her way into his heart….deep sigh.
A wicked Earl comes to the rescue of a young lady when he sees her in danger. Totally besotted, he offers his assistance and acquaintances to help care for her opium addicted brother. Only a knight in shining armor will do to protect his little rabbit. A sweetheart of a hero, this book moves at a nice pace and too quickly to the end.
I loved reading this story! I’ve enjoyed all your stories that I have read so far.
The Earl of Westcliff meets Abigail Croft. A rake meets a innocent and finds himself in a game of keeping her brother away from the place he keeps going to get his opium. He is near death. The earl find s himself drawn for some reason. Do things work out for the earl and Abby? The book is for eighteen and above. There is the talk of violence but it is vaguely mentioned. I enjoyed this book with its characters and time. The storyline is sad. I would recommend this book.
This is part of an all star author group “The Wicked Earl’s Club”…Meara again has written a fun, feisty, yet at times very serious Novel! Tynan Brayden is the “Giant” Earl of Westcliff. Know for his size and protective instincts he is also the cousin of James Brayden (Match Made in Duty) Earl of Exmoor. Once again we visit a topic some find hard to read about, the results of war (injuries, mental illness and internal pain). While this is a rough topic, Meara has the gift to be able to turn tragedy into a positive and twist a whole lot of love, romance and snark while she is at it.
Tynan has helped and seen his cousin overcome his disfigurement, from the last war, and is happy James has found a wife and true love in Sophie. He; however, wants nothing to do with marriage and respectability. That is why he is a member of the most secret, deviant & wicked club for Earls. While he is about to spend the night with a married woman and a Peacock feather Tynan sees an innocent young woman hanging around the lightpost about to go into the building next door. That particular building is known to be a notorious Opium den. Something the Earls do not like but must tolerate. His loving/protecting instinct (from being the older brother to a group of comical GIANT Brayden men) kick in and runs out to see what she is doing (and his lady friend leaves in a huff).. Just in time to rescue her from some unsavory persons. Lady Abigail Croft has absolutely no clue how much danger is she in. She has one goal. Get her beloved brother out of the Opium Den and save him from himself. Having returned from the war (her last living relative) a broken man who is haunted terribly day and night he seeks comforts from using drugs. He doesn’t want to waste away but that is exactly what is happening. Abigail is desperate and seeks Tynan’s help. Tynan seeing what James went through agrees. He seeks help from both the Earl of Coventry (the leader of the Wicked Earl’s Club) and his cousin James. It is agreed that Abigail and her brother stay at the Earl of Coventry’s country cottage to break clean from Opium. There is one catch if Tynan sleeps with Abigail he MUST marry her. Now the challenge begins, having someone go cold turkey is one challenge, keeping his hands of a woman he is falling in love with is another thing. He does not want marriage and to make matters worse Abigail has not only fallen in love with Tynan is very interested in finding out what a beautiful Peacock feather can do!
When Tynan Brayden, the Earl of Westcliff, rescues Lady Abigail Croft from ruffians one dark night outside the Wicked Earls’ Club, he never expects his carefree life to be upended by this girl with big, brandy-coloured eyes and a stubborn determination to save her brother Peter from his heroin addiction. He doesn’t know why he feels the possessive need to help her. Lady Abigail Croft is at the end of her rope. The Earl of Westcliff’s offer to help only complicates matters, for he is big as a gladiator and handsome as sin, and far too distracting.
Oh I’m loving the Wicked Earl books, this is the second of the series & I’m totally hooked. The characters are very well portrayed & the pace of the story is good, so much so that I read it in an afternoon. A very engaging enjoyable book I look forward to more books about the Brayden siblings from the author & of course my weekly dose of the Wicked Earls
I enjoyed this Episode I am read the whole series
The second installment of the Wicked Earls. It will be enjoyable to read a short story of all the Earls in the club and read about all the different personalities. The stories are just long enough to have a nice plot, develop the characters and come to a happy ending.