Oliver McCaron, Earl of Armbruster, is an influential, self-made man who lives life by his own rules. Though he’s never lacking for female attention, there’s only one woman he wants. And she’s the one woman who won’t have him…again. Widowed Lady Fieldhurst has spent the last seventeen years avoiding Oliver, after one glorious night together. Her parents had already planned out her life – she … life – she was never to become Oliver’s wife, despite their plans to run away. To protect her secret, she had to follow their wishes and marry the elderly earl they had chosen.
Now Ellen’s world is threatened by a blackmailer who could expose everything. She’ll have to face the only man she’s ever loved and ask for help. Because if the truth comes to light, it could ruin more than one life…
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Maybe 3.5 stars
Miss Ellen Hillgrave and Oliver McCaron, Viscount Fairview met and fell in love when they were both 17, they made plans to run off and marry, but in the end, Ellen married the man her parents betrothed her to, the much older Earl of Fieldhurst. Oliver was heartbroken and spent the next several years drinking and trying to forget Ellen, before settling into his responsibilities as Earl of Ambruster when his father died.
17 years pass before they meet again at a literary salon hosted by Ellen, who is now widowed and the mother of a 16 year old son, Philip. Oliver is at the salon at the behest of Sgt O’Leary of Scotland Yard to investigate a possible threat to the crown. Oliver is talking to the daughter of his target when Ellen approaches him. They speak for a few minutes when she is approached by Sir William Needham, the Royal Surgeon and her unofficial suitor. Later Oliver asks O’Leary about Sir William and learns his is respected and famous, Oliver tells himself it doesn’t matter who she is with, that he is over her, but deep down, he knows it isn’t true and he vows to stay away from her.
His plan is almost immediately shot when O’Leary sends him an urgent summons, once he gets to O’Leary’s office he is shocked to find out that Ellen’s son Philip is there and is rip-roaring drunk, O’Leary asks Oliver to take him home. Which he does and learns that this is not the first time Philip has been in trouble, he was recently kicked out of Eton and at her wits end, Ellen asks Oliver to speak to the headmaster. Oliver does and ends up agreeing to vouch for Philip and sets out to get the boy on the straight and narrow, which brings him in proximity of Ellen.
They both know the love they shared never died, but Ellen has a secret that she is sure will destroy her son’s life and refuses to consider reconciling with Oliver, not to mention she has a blackmailer who will stop at nothing to control Ellen and uses her secret to win her hand. And for his part, Oliver admits that she is the only woman he has ever and will ever love and refuses to give up. And so it begins…
I thought this could have been an outstanding story, but there were just things that bothered me, the first and most important being Ellen’s secret, I absolutely despise this trope and had a hard time getting past my dislike for her, especially when her reason for keeping the secret is so ridiculous and an incorrect. The second thing: this book has some very violent and graphic physical abuse scenes that may be upsetting to sensitive readers and there really should be a trigger warning in the blurb. Finally, I wasn’t thrilled with the way the villain was dealt with, his punishment was too mild considering what he had done. This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone and if you have read the first book, you will love catching up with Jacob and O’Leary!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Ellen Hillgrave married Lord Fieldhurst. She was seventeen years old and wanted to Marry Oliver but that was not to happen. She had one son, Phillip, She adored him and had come to care for Arthur Fieldhurst. Fourteen years later he dies and she is a widow with a thirteen-year-old boy. She has had a good life with Arthur and been fairly happy. But her son is acting out from the death of his father and is very naughty and also was suspended from Eton.
Oliver McCaron, Earl of Armbruster, Has spent seventeen years alone but has made the estate so rich it would take more than three lifetimes to spend it. He is a good guy and takes care of his estate. He is asked by his friend O’Leary of Scotland Yard to check out a Chartist in the form of Antonine Bertrand, they were afraid he might be a cause of hurting the crown. A long time ago, he knew Lady Fieldhurst, she was his love and lover.
There are so many twists to this story. It is written well, easy to understand and is well-plotted. The characters are wonderful and engaging. I read this excellent book in one sitting. and was totally entertained. The interactions between the characters was amusing, witty, and seemed so realistic. I love it. I highly recommend this novel.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
I was thoroughly enchanted with this story of two star-crossed lovers. Ellen and Oliver met when they were 17. They quickly fell in love and promised to marry. Oliver’s father took Oliver to their estate to further his education of becoming an earl someday. Unfortunately during those few days, Ellen’s parents entered her into a betrothal with an much older Earl of Fieldhurst. A week before the wedding, Ellen and Oliver become lovers. They are both virgins. They agree to run away to Scotland to marry. Unfortunately those plans never come to fruition.
It is seventeen years later when the story basically begins with flashback to their prior assignation. There is murder, mystery, blackmail and more entanglements in this historical romance. The road that these two face is just full of strife and discord. Ms. Cullen really put these two characters through so much that it was impossible to not fall in love with them. This story just took my emotions and pulled them all around and wrung my heart out. I really hated to put this down as I was so intrigued by these two.
This book was written in a multiple POV format. I love getting into the characters’ thoughts to really understand them so much better. Here we get more than just the two main protagonists.
There are some scenes that may trigger issues for some here by way of violence. It is not highly descriptive (as murder mysteries and thrillers) but it may not be suitable to all. I highly recommend this story to anyone over the age of 18.
Deceiving an Earl by Sharon Cullen is the story of Ellen Fieldhurst and Oliver McCaron, Earl of Armbruster. Ellen and Oliver where young and in love but her parents had other plans for her so she was sent off to marry Lord Fieldhurst. Now 17 years later she is a widower who has been avoiding Oliver ever since that day they loved and was torn apart. But now in their present day Ellen has a son that isn’t listen to her and she hopes that Oliver can help. There is more going on than just that but it does put them on the path to be together again.
Enjoyed this second chance at love.
Oliver McCaron, Earl of Armbruster, spent seventeen years wondering what happened to his Ellen to change her mind about marrying him. Ellen instead married the Earl of Fieldhurst, a man twice her age. While in the same circles, the two never spoke to each other until Oliver showed up at Ellen’s salon. Oliver never intended to attend, but at the behest of the Crown, he joins the unusual crowd gathered in Ellen’s home.
Ellen’s husband passed away three years ago, leaving her to show their young son how to be an earl. Now sixteen, Philip, has been suspended from Eton and might possibly be expelled. Ellen is at her wits end since the boy believes he’s ready to take over for his late father. Through their renewed acquaintance, Ellen asks Oliver for help to set Philip on the right track.
Renowned surgeon, William, has been nipping at Ellen’s heels for months. While Ellen only sees him as a friend, William needs more. When Ellen rebuffs his proposal, William discovers a long-held secret he uses to force Ellen’s hand.
Cullen has given us another dynamic story! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The story goes back and forth between the past in the present, so we get to see Ellen and Oliver at seventeen and at thirty-four. The road they take is made even more complicated by Philip and William in very different ways. Ellen is tough with a huge heart. Her son always comes first. While he never intended to, Oliver has waited for Ellen to hold his heart once again. As always, Cullen delivers us a very satisfying ending. So, what are you waiting for? Have tissues in hand for this magnificent love story that spans almost two decades.
I received Deceiving an Earl for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Who doesn’t like a second chance romance? I really do and this one took 17 years from young love to finally meet up again, and in a most unusual circumstance.
The hero, Oliver, Earl of Armbruster has been working with Scotland Yard and now he is directed to find out some information on a certain person. But it also has him running into his young love, Lady Ellen Fieldhurst, now widowed and with a sixteen year old out of control son it seems! He really does not want to get involved with her again because she truly broke his heart and he has never forgotten her..
One think leads to another and he ends up helping her with her unruly son, trying to get him on the right path. She on the other hand is being blackmailed by a doctor to reveal one of her big secrets which will make a mess for several people.
I have to say I just wanted to shake Ellen at times and that is the work of a great author that evokes those strong feelings for her characters. Can these two find that love again they had and bring it back to life? A lot of twist and turns and truly kept my interest!
A wonderful love story. Ellen and Oliver has had their happily ever after delayed by seventeen years. Elena is keeping a secret that could be devastating to all the people she loves. This story shows the depth of love two people can share. It also shows how far a mother will go to protect her child. Ellen falls prey to the machinations of an evil man and Oliver becomes her knight in shining armor and rescues her. This is an intense story with a very happy ending.
Oliver & Ellen were childhood sweethearts who parted when Elen married the older Lord Fieldhurst in an arranged marriage. Seventeen years pass & Oliver McCaron is now the Earl of Armbruster, is an influential, self-made man who lives life by his own rules. Ellen is widowed with a sixteen year old son who has fallen off the rails & she is threatened by a blackmailer who could expose her secret. She’ll have to face the only man she’s ever loved and ask for help.
I love a second chance novel & this promised so much as neither Oliver nor Ellen had truly stopped loving each other & the mystery of a blackmailer always draws me in but I dislike the ‘big secret’ trope when there is really no need for it & the reasons for keeping the secret just didn’t hold water for me. I really liked Oliver who loved Ellen & was determined for them to be together. I didn’t like Ellen at all & she didn’t deserve Oliver, what she had stood by & let happen was beyond the pale. Otherwise this was a well written novel with much to recommend it. I do feel there should have been a disclaimer in the blurb as some events could be a trigger for some readers
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This book absolutely, positively goes in my keeper file. A second chance romance that really puts this couple through heartbreaking emotional and physical pain.
They met at a ball, instantly fell in love, but kept their meetings secret from their families, Then everything fell apart. Seventeen years later Oliver, Earl of Armbruster, walks into Lady Fieldhurst’s house for an evening of eccentric artists, actors and poets. Working with Detective O’Leary, he’s looking for a Chartist, but then he sees Ellen, Lady Fieldhurst, the woman he’s never stopped loving. She’s now a widow and that gives him hope. But Ellen keeps turning him away, because she has a secret, a secret she will do whatever it takes to keep. There’s another problem. In West End London people are missing and there’s a murderer on the loose. Another great all nighter.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.