When the Earl of Greenwall demands his only son, Lord Stafford, retrieve the viscount’s by-blow, everything in ADAM LAWRENCE’s life of dissipation changes. Six years prior, Lawrence released his mistress, Cathleen Donnell, from his protection, only to learn in hindsight that Cathleen was with child. Stafford arrives in Cheshire to discover not only a son, but also two daughters, along with a … strong-minded woman, who fascinates Stafford from the moment of their first encounter.
AOIFE KENNICE, the children’s cousin and caregiver, appears impervious to Stafford’s masculine charms, as one of England’s most infamous rakes. In truth, Aoife is not immune as she pretends; rather she cannot imagine herself as the object of more than a flirtation on the part of the viscount. On balance, they are worlds apart: Aoife is the daughter of a minor Irish baron and the opposite of her beautiful cousin Cathleen, who possessed all the skills to lure in a handsome viscount. To make matters worst, Aoife maintains the family’s sheep farm to support Stafford’s family. A “lady” Aoife is not.
A battle begins: A fight Adam must win – a fight for the heart of a woman worth knowing, his Irish “Eve.”
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Review: His Irish Eve: A Regency Novel: Regina Jeffers:
Those fans that have loved and enjoyed Adam Lawrence in Regina Jeffers’s other novels, will rejoice at the completion of his story. For those who have forgotten his story or do not know him at all, don’t worry as Jeffers did an excellent job explaining Adam Lawrence, Viscount Stafford, heir to the Earl of Greenwall, and listed those books that he appeared in. I had actually read several of those previous books and vaguely remembered him as a minor character. Ex: He was featured in the books of the Realm: In Jeffers’ The Phantom of Pemberley, Lawrence and his Mistress Cathleen Donnel had mutually agreed to her release from his protection. She left him and traveled to Cheshire in order to support her family following the passing of her uncle. Our story started six years later.
Adam had received a summons from his father, the Earl of Greenwall. When he reported to Leicestershire, he was informed that the Lawrence family solicitor had received a request for a monthly stipend to help raise a boy child born to Cathleen Donnel, Adam’s former mistress. Adam’s father was not impressed that the child had been born on the other side of the blanket. Adam had no idea that when he and Cathleen separated she was with child. The Earl informed Adam that he was to travel to Cheshire and bring the boy back to him. Someone should do something regarding his responsibilities.
This was where our story began with Adam making his way to Cheshire during a thunderstorm [of course]. As he traveled the rain and wind-swept road, he encountered a woman just as a loud clap of thunder spooked his horse. He was thrown to the ground, hurting his leg. The woman was returning from the village having mailed a few letters. It reminded me of Jane Eyre and Rochester. All we needed was a dog named Pilot. Adam discovered the woman was Aoife Kennice. I liked how Jeffers gave her readers a pronunciation of the Irish name for Eve… ‘Ee – Fa’. I cannot read it without hearing the robot WALL-E saying Eve’s name. [movie reference]
Aoife informed Adam that she was a cousin to Cathleen Donnel who had died several years before. The reason she sent her letter to the solicitor was that her situation had become dire. She had spent her own small inheritance and what little she had left was about gone just trying to keep food on the table. He also discovered he not only had a son but two daughters. Cathleen had delivered triplets. Adam was frustrated that his father had failed to tell him that bit of news. His father’s only command was to bring back the boy. Nothing was said about the girls.
Adam had earned his title as a rake, a scoundrel, a jerk and a not so nice guy. He would discover many things along his journey toward redemption. As we watched him struggle, I am often aghast at his behavior, his quickness with his overtures with Aoife. I had to keep reminding myself that was what a rake did. Adam had to come to grips with his life, his behavior and why he was what he was. He and his father had locked horns most of his life and life to him was not worth living unless he could go against his father’s wishes. Now that we have that established, you know the rake has to have an awakening as to what life was really about.
Watching his journey was so worth it. This was a quick read and I simply could not put it down. The insertion of historical events only made Adam’s and Aoife’s journey exciting and at times gut-wrenching. Times were changing in Britain and Adam and Aoife embraced enlightenment and new innovations that shocked society and shook up the old guard.
Several scenes between Adam and Aoife reminded me of Rochester’s emotional torture of Jane Eyre. I wanted to smash him; however, I stuck with it and it was so worth it. Societal concerns and propriety appeared to be thrown out the window. I kept thinking… really, would they have allowed this? I had to remember, he was a rake, so nothing mattered to him except what he wanted.
I loved the HEA and I certainly recommend it. You will love the characters. Aoife was one heck of a woman. She was the making of her man. I loved the children. They were such sweet kids, strong work ethic, strong character, with love of family and doing what was right. I really liked them. And the ending… with Adam and his father [**no SPOILER here**] was most excellent. As this was the Christmas season, there were gentle religious references that should not offend anyone. It was Christmas and that was what they did at that time of the year with their traditions.
There were edit problems in just about every chapter. Some were small errors like word replacements [something else was supposed to be used] or words left out altogether. It only slowed me down a couple of times. I had to reread a couple of sentences in order to clarify what was being said.
This is a book I consider a keeper to be read over again for a feel-good love story. I won a copy at the Austen Authors website with no expectations of a review. The views expressed are my own. Note: I later purchased my own copy. I just had to have it.