An outsider at her first English ball, Jewel is fascinated with the beautiful dresses and lovely dancing, but she’s vowed to save the Earl of Winchcombe from her cousin’s marriage trap. At first glimpse of the handsome lord, her heart beats faster. As they plan to thwart her cousin’s machinations, she discovers a kindred spirit in Oliver–even if he’s a peer and she’s a lowly colonist. Caught … kissing the earl, the ball ends in disaster and Jewel’s displeased uncle whisks her away to Scotland.
Lord Scar, as the ton calls Oliver, would rather be anywhere than at a godforsaken masquerade ball, and when he learns from the free-spirited colonist about the nefarious marriage plan, he grudgingly accepts her help. Jewel intrigues him and sets his heart racing. Yet, when the ball is over and the mask is off–Oliver curses the scar that will send her screaming away.
When her uncle banishes her, Oliver comes to her rescue by offering Jewel his hand in marriage. She agrees, despite his disfigurement. But what’s a beastly lord like him to do with such a beautiful wife–especially when he discovers she’s delightfully saucy?
Each book in the What Happens in the Ballroom series is STANDALONE:
* How to Train Your Baron
* About an Earl
more
Series: What Happens In The Ballroom #2
Publication Date: 1/27/20
Number of Pages: 400
Diana Lloyd is a new-to-me author. I believe she has written a few other books, but I haven’t read any of them. This was the second book in this series, but can easily be read as a standalone. I think the author has a good writing style and the pacing was good.
It is 1775 and the upstarts in the colonies are fomenting rebellion against the British Empire. Julianna (Jewel) Latham is completely oblivious to what is going on around her. Every single day there are carts in the streets loading up household goods and neighbors are disappearing – Julianna notices nothing – except her romance and then her heartbreak when her almost betrothed breaks it off with her in a not too nice way. When her father suggests that she should go to London and visit her aunt and cousins – in order to get over the heartbreak – she is still oblivious to what is going on around her. She’s also unaware that her father is involved in the rebellion and is sending her away to keep her safe.
Oliver Chalford, earl of Winchcombe, has spent his entire adult life within the confines of his estate, Winchcombe Abbey. He was horribly scarred when he was a teenager and people react very negatively to him when they see him. His twin brother, Penry, acts as the face of the earldom in London and Oliver conducts all of the legal estate business through correspondence from the Abbey. That all works well until Oliver wants to take his seat in Parliament and has to make an appearance in London.
Julianna doesn’t find London or her aunt’s family to be a very welcoming place. She’s made to feel as if she is there on the family’s sufferance only and that she is totally reliant on them. Yet, when she becomes aware that her cousin Udele’s plan to trap Penry into marriage, she does what she can to thwart the plan. Even though her note goes to Oliver rather than Penry, the plot is thwarted – but – Julianna and Oliver are compromised. Yet, her uncle doesn’t demand that Oliver marry her – hmmmmm — methinks something is afoot.
Oliver has his hands full trying to solve his own problems and can ill afford to add another thing to his plate. Yet, he does. He sets out to rescue Julianna – which throws the two of them into constant contact. Love grows, but neither will admit it because each is so accustomed to having those they love to betray them. Can they resolve both sets of issues and still find their HEA?
This story had all of the makings of a 5-star read, but it just didn’t get there – at least not for me — mostly because of inaccuracies. I never did really warm up to Jewel and her constant lament about going home to America to ‘protect’ her father. Who she admitted time and time again was a neglectful parent at best. Oliver and Jewel spent most of the book with each of them having their own thoughts about the other– when none of it was true and it was all just their imaginations. Then, in pursuit of the solution to their problems – they just kept ignoring the letters, etc. She stuffed them in her pockets – he stuffed them in his pockets. Not to mention that they just needed a good conversation. I’m not sure they ever had one – if they did, it was off-page. I liked Oliver and could understand his plight – and I wanted to see something good happen for him. He was such a sweet, caring individual – even putting Jewel first at risk to himself. He did that even when he first met her – and – since I said that – I thought the love part came much too quickly. Just as an extra note regarding the plot
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Boston native Julianna Latham is out of place and clearly an unwanted guest in her aunt and uncle’s London home. She knows her family is up to no good and sets out to prevent Oliver Chalford, the Earl of Winchcombe from being trapped into marriage by her scheming cousin. But when Jewel is caught in a compromising position with the earl herself, her uncle takes the opportunity to banish her to his far flung Scottish estate.
Ridiculed and feared because of the scar that bisects his face, Oliver has lived a reclusive life away from society. Now that his wastrel father is gone, Oliver must brave London to claim his seat in the House of Lords. He never expects to find a lady who doesn’t shy away from his scar. When Oliver learns that Jewel has been sent away, he pursues her. A fake engagement between them soon becomes very real as they realize their fates are both entwined in her uncle’s scheming and they fight to release her inheritance from her uncle’s clutches and save Oliver and his reputation from accusations of insanity.
I really enjoyed this book up until about the halfway point when things went from delightful intrigue to a little too far-fetched. You risk spoilers ahead as I get my thoughts out. I enjoyed the intrigue and mystery aspects but when the steam was lost around halfway, the story just sort of gadded about and lost sensibility in some areas and it never really recovered. There were so many childish misunderstandings between Oliver and Jewel before they were honest about their feelings that the plot device got a bit overused. The whole idea of a peer being at risk of being sent to Bedlam is also too far-fetched, I think, just because no one would’ve had this kind of power over a peer. Oliver was very sweet and I think he fell for Jewel rather quickly just because she was the first woman to not be frightened away by his scar and I would’ve liked to see more real conversation between them. Jewel’s constant insistence on returning to Boston, in the midst of war, to protect her father (somehow), with whom she admittedly wasn’t close, just didn’t make sense to me and came off as annoying naivete. I feel like Oliver especially deserved more from Jewel and I wanted to see more tangible good happen for him, although I’m glad he finally had someone choose him.
Inaccuracies and critiques aside, this book was well-written and I really thought we were headed for five stars until that halfway point breakdown. I’ll still check out more works from this new-to-me author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found this to be an enjoyable read, especially since it has one of my favorite genre….a scarred hero! I love it when a heroine sees past the scars and truly sees the hero for who he really is. “About an Earl” is Oliver and Jewel’s story, a story filled with hope, heartbreak, mystery, drama, humor and love.
Oliver has been a recluse for the last 10 years, ever since the day he showed his scarred face in public causing screaming and fainting and being called a beast. Being the heir to the Earldom, he has his twin brother represent him while he does everything by correspondence. Then, one night at a masquerade party, his life changes forever when he meets Jewel who has her own tragic story to tell. Wanting to help her father who has been imprisoned in Boston and yet wanting to help Oliver prove that he not insane, she is torn as to what she should do. They also have a mystery to solve!!
I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
About an Earl
What Happens in the Ballroom Series #2
Diana Lloyd
https://www.facebook.com/DianaLloydBooks/
Release date 01/27/2020
Publisher Entangled Amara
Blurb :
An outsider at her first English ball, Jewel is fascinated with the beautiful dresses and the lovely dancing, but she’s vowed to save the Earl of Winchcombe from her cousin’s marriage trap. When she first glimpses the handsome lord, her heart beats faster. As they plan to thwart her cousin’s machinations, she discovers a kindred spirit in Oliver—even if he’s a peer and she’s a lowly colonist. Caught kissing the earl, the ball ends in disaster and Jewel’s displeased uncle whisks her away to Scotland..
Lord Scar, as the ton calls Oliver, would rather be anywhere than at a godforsaken masquerade ball and when he learns from the free-spirited colonist about the nefarious marriage plan, he grudgingly accepts her help. Jewel intrigues him and sets his heart racing. Yet, when the ball is over and the mask is off—Oliver curses the scar that will send her screaming away.
When her uncle banishes her, Oliver comes to her rescue by offering Jewel his hand in marriage. She agrees, despite his disfigurement. But what’s a beastly lord like him to do with such a beautiful wife—especially when he discovers she’s delightfully saucy?
My review :
When helping a recluse Earl leads to her banishment, what are they to do against the forces decided to ruin them
I have awaited a long time for this sequel of How To Train Your Baron, a read I very enjoyed.
But today I felt like I was left somewhat underwhelmed by the story.
While the plot was entertaining and the hero a wounded soul like I love them ready to anything for the love of his life, I never really rooted for the heroine.
There were many times I was upset by the characters courses, their inaptitudes to see what was sitting in front of them, their miscommunications and misconceptions.
JUST READ THOSE LETTERS !
Oliver is the beast in this kind of Beauty and the Beast tale, he was disfigured as a kid by the one person whom should have protected him. Since, because of people’s reactions to his face, he withdrew from society in his father’s estate and lived through his penmanship, using words as means to mingle with his peers.
So when for the first time, a woman looks at him and does not run away screaming, and even better kisses him, how can he not be intrigued by her even if he is often at loss when around her.
His relationship with his twin brother is one of love and confidence, I loved how they interacted, throwing barbs but also having full faith and understanding of the other.
Juliana nicknamed Jewel is so intend in going back to America whatever her father sacrificed to send her in England, she does not see nor understand Oliver, she is drawn to him but refuses to accept it would be more than a mere attraction.
Her obsession to go back when her father wanted to protect her from impending harm because of the war looming was unsettling. I understand a filial devotion but she ranted all along the storyline her father was absentee, that everyone left her behind when Oliver spent their journey to reach for her, penning letter upon letter for her, despite his own dire situation, he always made her his first priority, ready to sacrifice his own happiness if it will mean she will be free.
Yet at the first wrong word, misunderstanding, she leaves and never fights.
Even if I am not a great admirer of the heroine, the hero, the side characters and the plot are entertaining and enjoyable.
Why a 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled and preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/537375170184992/?d=n
3.5 Stars
Julianna is a Boston native who has traveled to England to run away from and get over a broken heart. She now resides with her aunt and uncle.
Oliver Chalford is the earl of Winchcombe. He has not set foot in town in several years due to a prominent scar on his face. A scar that sentences him to be ridiculed and feared.
When Julianna realizes her aunt and cousin have hatched a plan to nab an earl and force him into marriage, she sends an urgent message to said earl.
This sets off a set of unforeseen events that none are prepared for. Julianna must fight for her independence and freedom while Oliver must fight to protect his and title prove his sanity.
Together, they set out to solve a mystery and set each other free. How will Oliver prove his sanity and how can Julianna ever be truly free?
I enjoyed the mystery in this novel tremendously. It kept my undivided attention and had twists and turns until the very end. It was invigorating and engaging.
Julianna and Oliver’s first meeting is sweet and romantic. I couldn’t help but sigh. Their interlude felt whimsical. I felt the spark of their first kiss
With that being said, however, I had a hard time believing in their relationship. For me they fell into to love too hard and too fast. There was no relationship building or getting to know each other before the notion of love was thrown about. Not to mention the misconceptions and mistrusts that abound between them during the story.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved both characters. I just wanted them to love each other on a deeper more meaningful level than shortly after a first kiss.
The heat level is low but the mystery abounds.
I received an ARC via NetGalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About An Earl is book 2 in What Happens in the Ballroom Novel series by Diana Lloyd. I really enjoyed this book. I think it is witty and extremely creative. The plot was unpredictable and kept me reading late into the night. Set in England in 1775, this story briefly touches on the American War for independence.The heroine Julianna Latham is sent from the Colonies by her father to England to escape the Revolution. When she overhears a plot against a lord, she does what she can to rescue him. I liked Jewel’s character. She is young and naive but she develops into a mature young woman by the end of the book. Oliver Chalford is not a typical hero. Scarred as a child, he earns the name Lord Scar by those who disdain him. There is a small resemblance to Beauty and the Beast here. I thought the pace was good. There were a few confusing moments in the middle of the story, when some history was introduced. But overall, a very good read. There are several steamy sex scenes. I am looking forward to more by Lloyd. I was given a copy of this book.
A scarred hero and a heroine who plans to heal him – a perfect pairing for this Regency romance. Diana Lloyd’s second book is as beautiful as her first.