Daphne Westfall is a lady desperate for a future, one that doesn’t involve her dark past. On a cold night she receives aid from a mysterious stranger, one who tells her she can change her destiny, as long as she agrees to marry the man who wins her. The brooding Scottish lord that offers her his name and home is handsome but there’s something sorrowful in his eyes that feels all too personal to … to her…
Lachlan Grant never wanted to be an earl, but fate has been less than kind to him. At the insistence of a friend, he seeks out a bride and comes face to face with a woman who bewitches him instantly. But they each hold secrets that will haunt them both. With a love blooming delicately between them, will their new found happiness together wilt and fade beneath the frost of the past?
She’s a lady desperate for a future, one that doesn’t involve her dark past. On a cold night she receives aid from a mysterious stranger, one who tells her she can change her destiny, as long as she agrees to marry the man who wins her. The brooding Scottish lord that offers her his name and home is handsome but there’s something sorrowful in his eyes that feels all too personal to her…
He never wanted to be an earl, but fate has been less than kind to him. At the insistence of a friend, he seeks out a bride and comes face to face with a woman who bewitches him instantly. But they each hold secrets that will haunt them both. With a love blooming delicately between them, will their new found happiness together wilt and fade beneath the frost of the past?
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BEWITCHING THE EARL: LAUREN SMITH
This story brought me to tears. The feelings and emotions are raw and realistic. There is no way anyone reading this book would be able to walk away unaffected. It is such a beautiful tragic, sad and triumphant story of survival during the absolute worst of times. The h a granddaughter of a duke. She was reduced to living in the streets after her father committed serious crimes and was jailed. She was turned out with nothing but the clothes on her back. She was hungry, cold and reduced to begging while trying to keep safe. She did not deserve to pay for the sins of her father but she was. Along comes an angel or a gentleman who rescues her by offering his service. A bridal auction. The h fearful of abusive men but the gentleman assured her each participant is vetted and would be worthy of her. She agreed. On the other side of town, the H mourns the loss of his older most beloved brother. His brother died due to another man’s greed and manipulation. The gentleman was an acquaintance of the H and invited him to the bride auction. When the H heard the name of the bride he automatically agreed. She was the daughter of the man responsible for his brother’s death. He would marry her and make her life a living hell as revenge. What he did not count on was realizing that the h was not who he thought she was and did not count on falling in love. Two people, two torn hearts, each ended up being the piece of the heart that fit with each other. A dynamic story. I highly recommend it.
Read as one of the books in “A Hellion’s Midnight Kiss: A Historical Romance Collection” I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bewitching The Earl By, Lauren Smith is a wonderful beautiful written romance story. Daphne and Lachlaun where brought together and a tragic way. Daphne who lost everything and including her father. Lachlaun losing his older brother William. There love started out with Lachlaun loathing Daphne and she couldn’t understand why. Through the book the writer shows how Lauchlan struggles with his own heartache to get back to the man that he once was. The writing was so entrancing that it flowed from page to page. There was no struggle to read the story. It was easy to read and comprehend. I love this book.
I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
An unusual premise, but it worked out well. I drew to love the characters and felt the ups and downs with them.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving honest review.
After a rather long read, I was looking for something shorter and as it was among my last download from the April 30th releases, I decided it was perfect.
It was a cute story but I did feel it lacked something. The anger and bitterness of Lachlan because of the circumstances of his brother’s death were quickly erased, even I’m not one for angsty tales, I felt as it should have been a bit more explored.
As for Daphne, she was a nice young woman but too prompt to trust and give her heart, I would have liked to see them take more time to get to know another, to discover who is really behind the facade, to exploit their broken past to deepen their personality.
So it was a charming story of two persons who have an instant attraction and quickly fall for another.
Daphne Westfall’s circumstances were so dire that she now had to beg on the streets. She was at the end of her rope, when a mysterious gentleman who calls himself the Lord of Arrangements unexpectedly comes to her rescue. Lachlan Grant, the new Earl of Huntley, has been inconsolable since the death of his brother, he wants to avenge his sibling’s death, and this is the reason why Lachlan and Daphne meet. I will not say one more word about this enchanting historical romance because nothing unfolds as expected. By the way, there is no magic involved, only love.
Lauren Smith has given amost delightful spin to a trope that, in my opinion, often fails. Lachlan and Daphne are both broken people and while she sees hope, Lachlan at first, is consumed by darkness. He is a good man, and nothing can change that, however hard he tries. Ms. Smith spins a lovely yarn, at first quite melancholy, but hope, light, and love soon breach the grey clouds that haunt Lachlan. I love that the misunderstanding didn’t drag, that our couple was willing to listen to reason, and let themselves be happy again.
BEWITCHING THE EARL is a very emotional romance, with some wonderful tender moments, and some very appropriate steam. All the characters are fully fleshed out, even Lachlan’s mother and his friend Cameron, and Lachlan and Daphne are very complex and engaging. I think the gorgeous cover is perfectly suited to the tone of the story as well as Lauren Smith’s flowing prose. BEWITCHING THE EARL is a most irresistible romance.
After Daphne Westfall’s father is convicted and imprisoned for forgery, she is turned out onto the streets of London during a particularly cruel winter. Owning nothing more than her late mother’s pearl necklace, Daphne’s only hope of survival is to take her chances at a brothel but she is rescued by Sir Anthony Heathcoat, aka The Lord of Arrangements. Anthony proposes a marriage auction where Daphne will marry the highest bidder but also keep the ‘bid’ in a trust fund.
Lachlan Grant, Earl of Huntley, wants revenge against the counterfeiter who drove his brother to suicide. When he discovers that Westfall’s daughter is selling herself into marriage, Lachlan knows he’s found the perfect revenge. But Daphne Westfall isn’t the spoiled brat he expected to marry, and on their journey north to Scotland, he learns that exacting revenge upon another innocent victim of Westfall’s crimes is beyond his capability.
A lovely novella of revenge turning to love. The author writes such strong characters that really speak to you, you feel their pain & their joy. The story flows very well & I read it in an afternoon.
“you are my string of pearls, Daphne”, I just melted & the tears flowed, an engrossing page turning novella
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read