“Where have you been all my life, Kelly Bowen? If Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, and Lisa Kleypas were to extract their writing DNA, mix it in a blender, and have a love child, Kelly Bowen would be it.” — HeroesandHeartbreakers.com Earl. War hero. Notorious rake. After the Battle of Waterloo, Eli Dawes was presumed dead-and would have happily stayed that way. He’s no longer the reckless young man … young man he once was, and only half as pretty. All he wants is to hide away in his country home, where no one can see his scars. But when he tries to sneak into his old bedroom in the middle of the night, he’s shocked to find someone already there.
Rose Hayward remembers Eli as the arrogant lord who helped her late fiance betray her. Finding him stealing into her art studio doesn’t correct her impression. Her only thought is to get him to leave immediately. Yet the tension between them is electric, and she can’t help but be drawn to him. He might be back from the dead, but it’s Rose who is suddenly feeling very, very much alive.
y, very much alive.
y, very much alive.
y, very much alive.
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Five long years ago Eli Dawes was the toast of London. Heir to an earl, rich, handsome, charming, witty, and, well, there just weren’t enough adjectives to describe him. Of course, debauched also applies. He can and does have any woman he wants – except for the one he really wants. He can’t have her because she is betrothed to his friend. When the opportunity to skip off to war with three friends presents itself, Eli grabs it. Sadly, he is the only one of the group to return home and he is badly scarred – and betrayed by one of those friends. All he wants to do is to go to the family estate, Avondale, near Dover and just hide out. He’s in for a really big surprise when he finds his home occupied by a dozen young female students and their instructors – one of whom is the woman he has never stopped loving.
Eli had been left for dead on the battlefield of Waterloo. He was horribly betrayed while trying to save the life of a wounded young soldier and Eli survived only by chance. Everyone believed he was dead, so maybe he should leave it that way. He had crawled, inch-by-inch away from the battlefield and was found by an old widowed lady who nursed him back to health. His scars were so bad that he thought never to return to England – even after the lady who saved him had died. Then, he got word that his father had passed away and that he was needed to return to assume his duties as earl.
Rose Hayward, sister to Baron Strathmore, had always led a happy and productive life away from London. Once Anthony Gibson, youngest son of the Viscount Crestwood noticed her, she was pulled into the life of the ton. It wasn’t a life she sought, but it came along with Anthony who was now her betrothed. When Anthony betrayed her, made a laughingstock of her and left for the war she just curled in upon herself. On the outside, she was strong, brave and resilient, but on the inside, she was a quivering bowl of jelly anytime she was in a crowd. Basically, she had a panic disorder an absolutely couldn’t deal with crowds.
Rose didn’t just blame Anthony for the betrayal, she blamed Eli as well. She had hated him for five years and would hate him until her dying day! Then, there he was, standing in her art studio very much alive. Wasn’t it interesting that she had a very sharp object at his neck? Their encounter goes downhill fast and she ends up railing at him about the betrayal and his part in it. He professes his innocence and is sincere enough that she believes him.
I love how Rose helped Eli to overcome his feelings about his horrible scarring. She helps him see himself as more than those scars – “to realize that his ruined face belied not a monster to be eschewed but a hero to be embraced”. She also helps him find a way to channel his need to help others and gets him on the right path. It is too bad that she can’t accept the same help from him, but she just hasn’t the courage.
Rose was a lovely heroine, but she did make me want to slap her when she wouldn’t tell Eli what was wrong and allow him to help her. Eli was a wonderful hero and I loved seeing him grow into a wonderful, loving, responsible hero.
The story is well written and I enjoyed the characters and seeing them grow. However, I really dislike loose ends and I had hoped to see what happened with Lady Anne and August’s man of business from the last book. Lady Anne was mentioned but was introduced using her maiden name, so I assume they didn’t marry. Now, in this book, we have Lady Ophelia and Lord Linfield (not Mr. Linfield as he is referred to in this book). Evidently leaving loose ends will be a feature of this series.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
I have read every book Kelly Bowen has written starting with her first one. I love all of them but this one may be my favorite. It was hard to put down. Not only is the story good, but the characters are wonderfully imperfect, and that makes them real.
Rose Hayward is an artist and a teacher at the Haverall School for girls. Her sister, Clara, is the headmistress of the school. During the summer they take a few of their students to Avondale House, near Dover, for classes that fit what the students desire to learn, like medicine and art. This summer, a surprise appears in the night. Eli Dawes, Earl of Rivers, has returned home. Eli went to fight Napoleon with some friends against his father’s wishes. When it was over, he was not the same and stayed in Europe until someone found him there. He is surprised Rose is there, as she is the only woman he never forgot.
Eli’s aunts never believed him dead and are thrilled he’s home. Eli doesn’t want to be the man about town any more and decides to help old soldiers and war widows. He also wants Rose to marry him. She’s not sure she can live in his world. Of course, there is a HEA but also a lot going on that I won’t spoil. If you’ve read Kelly’s last series, you’ll recognize someone from that series and I liked how she worked him into this book. I can easily recommend this book. Another keeper from Kelly Bowen!
It has been 5 years since Eli Dawes left for war with Rose Hayward’s betrothed Anthony and she believed they both died at Waterloo. But the man standing in her studio is not the same handsome rake who she remembers, because that man truly did die at Waterloo.
Eli Dawes, the new Earl of Rivers had never planned to return to England. Injured and left for dead at Waterloo, he has spent the last 5 years in Belgium, first recovering from the horrible burns that left him disfigured and then hiding. When he learns of his father’s death, his inbreed sense of duty compels him to return home. But he won’t stay in London, instead he goes to his Dover estate, Avondale House. He is shocked to find Rose in residence, apparently her sister leased the house for a summer term for her school, the Haverhall School for Young Ladies and Rose teaches painting.
Rose and Eli shared a unique friendship before he left and once he was gone, she believed he, along with his friend (and her fiancée) betrayed her. She is still hurt and angry and wants nothing to do with him. Rose has not had an easy time in the years since Eli left, she has changed. She is a gifted artist and after learning the truth of their loss of fortune after her parents died, has used that talent to help support her family. But Rose has other reasons for staying away from the ton and she believes Eli played a big part in that. The morning after he arrives, she has it out with him and shows him some of the cruel caricatures that Anthony published, caricatures she thought Eli knew about and helped Anthony with. When his shock is apparent, she realizes that he truly didn’t know what Anthony had done and apologizes.
Rose is the only woman Eli has never forgotten, he was falling in love with her and tried to get over her with other women and a wild life, when that failed, he decided to leave and went to war. But seeing her again, brings him right back to where he was before he left – he still loves her and still wants her. She pushes him to move out of hiding, to be a better man. When she introduces him to Lady Anne, he gets an idea of how he can help the families of fallen soldiers and Rose supports him 100%. They grow closer and finally become lovers. Rose convinces him that he needs to return to London and stake his claim on the earldom. He asks her to go with him and she agrees.
They arrive in London and Eli gets several surprises and has high hopes for the future, but instead of the HEA he envisioned, Rose breaks his heart and returns to Dover. Eli is crushed and throws himself into his project to try and forget his pain, but when the Duke of Holloway comes to see him and Eli learns why Rose wouldn’t stay in London, he is resolved to win back the only woman he has ever loved.
This is a very emotional story about two broken people, with lots of angst, secrets and the healing power of love. It is well written, flows nicely, has wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, some surprises and an ending that brought tears to my eyes. This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title. I am happy to recommend this book, but make sure you have a tissue handy!!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
“I needed to trust that a great love would eclipse all earthly vanities.” KellyBowen is magnificent! Rose and Eli’s story showcases the brilliance in which she brings her characters to life. Their humanity, crisis, resolutions and love is so blindingly vivid. I never tire of reading her stories. A job well done!
Loved it! Fantastic characters, great writing, and one of those stories that makes you believe in the power of love. Really well done!
Lovely, lovely, lovely. I am in awe of this story. A physically scarred hero and an emotionally scarred heroine. Right up my alley. Love the scarred hero. The underlying messages of “you are strong but I will always be there when you fall” and “beauty resides everywhere” resonates throughout the story. I swear I needed a whole box of tissues to make it through the sweet, caring, unselfish scenes. Eli and Rose are beautiful people who pull at your heart.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
This book is exceptional. It is truly the best I’ve read in a very long time and that is saying something; I almost feel like I have to go edit some of my ratings of other books because this one has changed the scale. This was a beautiful, romantic love story of two damaged people learning how to grow together and meet each other halfway. It was so refreshing to have a somewhat reluctant leading lady who doesn’t come off as immature and irritating, but rather seems like someone you could know. Most books of this genre tend to have an outside force working against the couple and bringing them together, but in this case it was their own demons keeping them apart and seeing them overcome them was lovely. Also, Eli is the best hero I have read in sometime. This book is also extremely well written, from the steamy scenes to the descriptions, which, as a linguist, I truly appreciate. Do yourself a favor and go ahead and preorder/one click this book, you won’t regret it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Last Night With The Earl is a wonderful steamy romance. Bowen spins a complex tale that beats a romantic heart all its own. Her characters are very well developed with deep layers. Truly a great foray into the world of England after Napoleon’s defeat. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.
This novel is a good addition to the Devils of Dover series. There is a level of unrealistic behaviour on the part of some of the characters based on the time period the story is set in as it relates to social issues but that is one of the reasons I love these books. The novella at the back is by a person I had never read and it is a little depressing because it is about a woman who is coerced into a life of high class prostitution. It supposedly ends on a high note (this is a romance after all) but I still felt sorry for the main female protagonist. So I enjoyed the novel a lot and was left a little sorrowful by the novella. In all its a good read overall so I would recommend the book.
Overcoming their scars
Sometimes scars are not only on the outside, but the inside as well. Eli didn’t want to return to London and stayed away for several years after Napoleon’s War. Scared from an artillery explosion, he sees himself as a monster. Returning after his father’s death he must take his place as an Earl. On his return, the house where he wanted to hide is now a school for young ladies. Seeing Rose as the art teacher brings back all the passion and love he’s always had for her, but could never act on. She carries scars as well, from the humiliation her former fiance years ago and she fears going back to London. Can they help each other overcome their pain? Gripping and very emotional with no easy path to an HEA. Excellent read with a bonus Christmas novella by Grace Borrows of a couple who find more in common then they expected, learning to trust and find love during the miracle of Christmas.
Kelly Bowen never disappoints, and Last Night with an Earl was no exception. A truly magical romance.
A physically scarred hero and an emotionally/socially scarred (but badass) heroine? That’s what I call a match made in heaven and exactly what we get in Eli and Rose! I LOVED how it is established very early on that Eli sees Rose as the one that got away, so we get a bit of second chance romance here too. Add to that a touch of enemies to lovers and Last Night with the Earl made me a happy camper. This one was a bit more emotionally taut than A Devil in the Night and that made the payoff to HEA that much more sweeter. It amazed me how Kelly Bowen portrayed Rose’s issue in such a way that seemed historically accurate, yet so easily translated to current times. I also really enjoyed the connections to the previous book and the hints to the escalating drama that we might see in the next…
What a revelation! Kelly Bowen is a new author for me, but what a happy discovery! Such a distinctive voice and original take on the genre, she really stands out as far as I’m concerned.
As regency romances go, this was quite gritty, deeply moving and sensual, and not at all the type of lighthearted romance filled with witty repartee that I’ve come to expect. Emotions run very deep here. Luckily, we get a wonderfully satisfying happily-ever-after, made even more so because of all the characters have overcome to finally get there.
I loved how the author incorporated issues that are actually still (or even more) relevant today in a way, like the government’s (and the public’s) treatment of veterans and their families, PTSD, anxiety disorders, survivor’s guilt, the industrial revolution…
This is an incredibly emotional story and both Rose and Eli touched me deeply. I adored Rose for pushing Eli so hard, though my heart nearly broke for him on several occasions, but when the time comes for turnabout is fair play… it turns out that Rose needs to deal with some issues herself too.
The secondary characters are very well-written and compelling in their own right.
This was an absolutely wonderful find! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Eli was an impetuous, wealthy young heir who ran off to war with other young men like him looking for glory, and to avoid an arranged marriage. One the proverbial dark and stormy night, he returns to his family estate only to find others living on it.
Rose is a woman who has experienced her share of darkness and is now living the life she chooses, as an art instructor at a school fir young ladies. On that same rainy evening, she is startled to find the once presumed dead heir to the property dripping on the floor of her bedroom.
Rose once thought Eli was her dear friend, but after an apparent betrayal, and passing years, her feelings are no longer friendly toward him. As for Eli, the once beautiful young man, sought after by women everywhere in his path, he has come back much the worse for wear.
The story is absolutely lovely. Two people, each broken in their own way, come together by chance and struggle for healing, love, and each other. This is the second book I have read by this author, and I am very impressed. I hope to read many more.
I highly recommend it.
Kelly Bowen writes some of the best female protagonists I’ve ever read! Her relatable, strong-willed, witty female characters truly set this book (and her others) apart in the world of historical romance.
Last Night With the Earl by Kelly Bowen is book Two in The Devils of Dover Series . This is the story of Eli Dawes, Earl of Rivers and Rose Hayward. I have read the previous book, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Eli has been away fighting the war but it has been over for a while but not wanting to return home until he is prompted to because of what happened back home. Eli chooses to go to one of the family homes that he knows to be half empty but for a few servants. When he sneaks into the house he quickly confronted by Rose. Rose and Eli were friends back in the day along with her being attached to his other good friend who was to be her fiance. Rose is now working at the school for girls after being hurt from the lost of Eli and her fiance.
This new reconnect has opened them up to a second chance to work through their past feelings and their future ones.
Loved their story!
Very inspiring, with courageous main characters. This story begins with a reclusive and presumed dead hero, making his way back to one of the country estates he inherited. Eli Dawes did not want to be discovered, after the personal loss he suffered at war.
I admire how Rose, a former close friend, challenges Eli’s reclusiveness and abhorrence with the public. Battling scars of her own, Rose pushes him beyond his comfort zones, and inspires him to do better, for himself, and for the causes dear to his heart.
Would love to have their road to happily-ever-after fleshed out a bit more however this did not detract from the overall enjoyment of this story.
*ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley.