A 2016 Foreword INDIES award finalist for Romance.Out of the war and into another, Captain Lord Anthony Hargreaves finds the politics of romance to be as uninviting a battle as the one that nearly cost him his life in Badajoz, Spain.Wounded both mentally and physically from the Peninsular War in 1812, Anthony returns home to find that his older brother has died, placing Anthony next in line to … next in line to inherit the estate. But he’s not ready for such responsibilities. And when Anthony’s dying father pleads with him to marry and produce an heir to preserve the family title, it nearly sends Anthony over the edge; nevertheless he dutifully faces a long line of hopeful young ladies who await him. No one grabs his attention, though, like Amelia Clarke, his mother’s stunning companion, who is off-limits for the earl. But when Anthony unwittingly puts Amelia in a compromising situation, he dedicates himself to protecting her reputation.
But the horrors Anthony faced while away from home have left him feeling broken and tormented. And Anthony finds himself drawn to Miss Clarke, the only one who can chase away his demons, but he must overcome the hostility of a society driven by class, a jealous duke bent on revenge, and himself–for could Amelia ever really love a haunted man?
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The Earl’s Betrothal by Karen Tuft is a superb Regency novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is the type of story one reads because she wants to escape from reality, and in today’s world, boy, do I crave fictional worlds to escape into! I found so much to love about The Earl’s Betrothal. The characters are sweet and endearing. Amelia is all that is good and innocent, but she’s also strong, smart, and independent. I very much appreciate that she is not afraid to stand up for herself and for what is right. And, I really love how Amelia is able to see past people’s exteriors to their true hearts. Anthony is my favorite type of hero — the protector! Anthony is a true leader, but like many leaders, he often takes the burdens of others onto himself so others suffer less. His time in the military has scarred him emotionally and mentally, and he has a lot of demons to work through. While I hate human suffering in any form, I do have to say I found Anthony refreshing because he is such a noble and honorable character. My favorite aspect of his character is how he cares for Amelia even though her social standing is well below his. I love this because unlike most people in Anthony’s social circle, he is able to recognize Amelia’s true value. So, while there are plenty of sweet and steamy kisses that make the reader’s knees weak in this novel, what I found the most romantic is how genuine Anthony’s feelings for Amelia are.
There is so much more to love about this novel. The plot is excellent. I was engaged the entire read, and there are even a couple of moments where I gasped audibly because I just did not see certain things coming. The pacing is also excellent as this is one of those novels I read late into the night because I was unwilling to put it down. I also very much appreciate the timely and thoughtful themes weaved throughout the narrative. All in all, The Earl’s Betrothal is a story I highly recommend. If you are a fan of well-crafted Regency stories, then The Earl’s Betrothal is definitely the book for you.
I purchased an eBook copy from Amazon on December 10, 2019, to read and review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
One of the best regency romances I have ever read! Wonderful characters and such an engaging storyline – I certainly did not see some of the plot twists that happen! Don’t miss this wonderful story!
4 1/2 stars. Anthony and Amelia are a wonderful couple. He returned from war, and her with a somewhat ambiguous background. And yet they are ultimately a perfect match. That is not to say that there are not some extreme difficulties that need to be overcome before their romance is able to fully come to fruition.
I hope to have the opportunity to read more by Karen Tuft and, in particular, I hope to read more of Lucas and Kit other supporting characters from this story… As well as perhaps updates on Anthony and Amelia and their extended family.
A lovely read-my first by this author, but it won’t be my last. She does her characters so well.
When Lord Anthony Hargreaves returns to England, he discovers his family had been informed he was dead. His father was nearly killed by the news. In his desperation to see the family name continue the Marquess commands his son to marry right away and present him with an heir within a year.
The Earl is not ready to consider marriage. He still has living nightmares that torment him at times during the day and as he sleeps each night. He finds himself attracted to his mother’s companion though. She is attracted to him. His admiration leads to a hasty engagement. Can Lord Anthony and Miss Clarke overcome all the objections around them including their own?
I very much enjoyed this sweet and clean romance. It was refreshingly charming, witty, and unexpected. I loved each of the characters and that a couple of them are adorable toddlers. There were a couple moments when I wondered how historically accurate some aspects were but it did not mar the experience. I loved that it depicted the traumatic effects of war so realistically. It was healing to read about the characters dealing with the burdens of guilt and self doubts. I particularly enjoyed the way religion naturally formed an important part throughout the book as characters prayed to God for help. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!