Companion Lenore Griffin is in dire straits when a letter from a dear friend arrives, offering a new position. Relieved at her good fortune, Lenore packs up herself and her beloved dog, Hero, and makes haste for London. Upon arrival, however, not only does she find her old friend in a shocking state of dishabille, but she’s somehow mistaken his offer. He has not written requesting a companion for … for his new wife. He’s written to request Lenore become his companion…for the rest of their lives.
Price Wagstaff, Earl of Carmichael, must have been deeper in his cups than usual when he wrote that correspondence. He doesn’t remember a blasted word of it. Still, it is a disaster of his own making, and so he will do his duty by Lenore. He quickly decides his old childhood friend will make a sensible wife and an agreeable mother to his heirs. He can give her safety, protection and comfort. A marriage of convenience. Lenore need never know that Price’s heart can never be won.
Despite their intentions to live separate lives, the pair can’t avoid the closeness that intimacy provides, and soon, Price no longer wishes to. Is it possible that he may find love a second time? Perhaps…if his secrets don’t kill their chance at happiness. Again.
Distinguished Rogues Series
Book 1: Chills (Jack and Constance)
Book 2: Broken (Giles and Lillian)
Book 3: Charity (Oscar and Agatha)
Book 4: An Accidental Affair (Merrick and Arabella)
Book 5: Keepsake (Kit and Miranda)
Book 6: An Improper Proposal (Martin and Iris)
Book 7: Reason to Wed (Richard and Esme)
Book 8: The Trouble with Love (Everett and Whitney)
Book 9: Married by Moonlight (Gilbert and Anna)
Book 10: Lord of Sin (Julian and Portia)
Book 11: The Duke’s Heart (Sinclair and Kitty)
Book 12: Romancing the Earl (Price and Lenore)
Book 13: One Enchanted Christmas (Otis and Meg)
Book 14: Desire by Design (Alexander and Sylvia)
Book 15: His Perfect Bride (Harry and Ophelia)
Book 16: Pleasures of the Night
more
This dragged on a bit longer than necessary, but aside from that I thought the characters were great and that the story itself was interesting. The spinster cousins were a charming addition too, as was Hero. Trust, friendship, grief, sorrow, guilt, sexism, class issues. honor, communication, life choices, new beginnings, forgiveness, hope, and love were some of the undercurrents in this friends-to-lovers tale.
I received a free copy of Romancing the Earl, but that did not affect my review.
Sweet unassuming Lenore is surprised by her letter from her childhood friend, and even more so when it turns out he’s sent a proposal of marriage. Believing himself forever heartbroken by the traumatic loss of his previous love, Price hadn’t actually meant to propose, but decides to stand by it (especially in the light of the excitement and pleasure of his butler and housekeeper!).
Following this inauspicious start, the couple have to work out how to live together, and how much they mean to each other, in this gentle tale of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Lenore grows into her role as wife and Countess, explores her sensual side, and Price heals and slowly realises the truth and depth of his love for her.
The story references previous books in the series, but in a way that leads you to want to find out more, rather than detracting from it (I really need to find out the back story relating to the God-mama), and leaves you wondering what will happen to Wharton, Scarsdale and the Hillcrest sisters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Tale of Two Polite Idiots
ADULT Regency Romance
Money Can’t Buy Love Or Happiness
Price, the Earl of Carmichael, hangs out at a high end brothel, but he keeps to himself, just drinking.
The woman he thought was the love of his life was murdered by his insane godmother. He dwells on the loss of his beloved constantly, and it’s the source of all his troubles. He thinks he can never love again but knows he needs to marry and beget an heir.
While in a drunken stupor, he writes a letter to Lenore, a young woman he grew up with, the granddaughter of a maid at his country estate. In the Letter, He proposes marriage to her. Even though she is now a lady’s companion, she is still a commoner.
Lenore misreads the messy and sloppily written letter and thinks he wants her to come be a companion for his wife!
The two of them can’t seem to say what they want to say to each other. Their silence or non answers and misdirected dialogue confuses and hurts each other. Price spends all his time away from Lenore. Lenore wonders what in the world he is doing, but won’t ask! Both of them are frustrated and lonely.
ARC Provided Free by Booksprout
This ebook was $4.99 on Amazon at the time of this review.
Opinions Expressed here are entirely my own.
The ongoing misunderstandings became irritating to me, because it went on too long. I love dogs and have two, but I also felt the inclusion of the dog in many of the scenes in the book was unnecessary and distracting to The story and the relationship between the characters.
Companion Lenore Griffin is in dire straits when a letter from a dear friend arrives, offering a new position. Relieved at her good fortune, Lenore packs up herself and her beloved dog, Hero, and makes haste for London. Upon arrival, however, not only does she find her old friend in a shocking state of dishabille, but she’s somehow mistaken his offer. He has not written requesting a companion for his new wife. He’s written to request Lenore become his companion…for the rest of their lives.
Price Wagstaff, Earl of Carmichael, must have been deeper in his cups than usual when he wrote that correspondence. He doesn’t remember a blasted word of it. He quickly decides his old childhood friend will make a sensible wife and an agreeable mother to his heirs. He can give her safety, protection and comfort. A marriage of convenience. Lenore need never know that Price’s heart can never be won.
This is the twelfth in the series & each book can easily be read on its own characters do pop up from other books. We first met Price in book 9 Married by Moonlight & whilst it’s not necessary to read that book it does give a greater insight into Price. A well written well paced book that kept me happily reading. I didn’t like the drunkard Price had become but the more I read & the more he got his act together he more I liked him. I did really like Lenore who was mature & had the patience of a saint. I enjoyed the road to their HEA
My honest review is for a special copy I received from Booksprout & which I voluntarily read
Romancing the Earl
Distinguished Rogues Series #12
Heather Boyd
https://www.facebook.com/HeatherBoydRomanceAuthor/
Release date 02/18/2020
Publisher Heather Boyd
Blurb :
Companion Lenore Griffin is in dire straits when a letter from a dear friend arrives, offering a new position. Relieved at her good fortune, Lenore packs up herself and her beloved dog, Hero, and makes haste for London. Upon arrival, however, not only does she find her old friend in a shocking state of dishabille, but she’s somehow mistaken his offer. He has not written requesting a companion for his new wife. He’s written to request Lenore become his companion…for the rest of their lives.
Price Wagstaff, Earl of Carmichael, must have been deeper in his cups than usual when he wrote that correspondence. He doesn’t remember a blasted word of it. Still, it is a disaster of his own making, and so he will do his duty by Lenore. He quickly decides his old childhood friend will make a sensible wife and an agreeable mother to his heirs. He can give her safety, protection and comfort. A marriage of convenience. Lenore need never know that Price’s heart can never be won.
Despite their intentions to live separate lives, the pair can’t avoid the closeness that intimacy provides, and soon, Price no longer wishes to. Is it possible that he may find love a second time? Perhaps…if his secrets don’t kill their chance at happiness.
My review :
When two childhood friends engage in a marriage of convenience, is there hope for more …
I have discovered Mrs Heather Boyd’s work with the 10th book in this series and I must say, I loved her very unique writing style and her talent in portraying flesh and blood characters true to their area.
There is no badass heroine nor kick-ass heroes, her characters are flawed, they make mistakes and take wrong decisions but they are also profoundly human with the ups and downs that go with it.
Lenore knows she has few to expect from life, why when she received her long time friend’s letter, she didn’t not question it and sees what she only assumes he could offer and as it lands at a time when own position had became unattainable to maintain, she flew to London.
So she is in for a surprise. Why he has to convince her it is the right path for them.
« “We have been poles apart all our lives, my lord. You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and my first memory was polishing that silver until my fingers hurt.” »
Price is close to hit rock bottom, day and night he indulges in spirit to go to the day after, again and again. Why when challenged by his friends to find a wife, he penned in a drunken state his note to Lenore.
And in all, she is his answer, the perfect efficient invisible forgettable wife. The one who will not trouble him and left him mourn his late fiancée.
I was often upset at him for under the false prestance to please his new bride’s request, he leaves her all alone, to fend for herself with no one to help her smooth her first steps in society.
In some way, he had traded her precarious previous position to a prison, a gilded one. He keeps her in so way sequestered in his home, introducing herself to none of his acquaintances, so she has only the friends she made before to help her adjust to married life.
They walk on tiptoes around each other, their wedding night is a very awkward moment as they are unable to speak freely to one another. They, at every encounter, hurt the other by keeping their thoughts silent.
Yet, it is no sad tale, their reunion scene was just hilarious, I loved Hero. And the friends they have on both side, bring fun to the story. I loved Wharton and the playful Hillcrest cousins.
« I’ve learned they think of intimacy anywhere and anytime. Day or night. It amazes me now that they get any work done at all.” »
« I’m not saying she won’t be angry with you for lying to her. Most likely she’ll throw something at you. Keep your eyes open and learn to duck.” »
A well deserved 5 stars rate for this tale of grievance and letting the past go to open oneself heart to new hope and love.
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