Book 1 in the exciting new Soldiers and Soulmates series from bestselling author Alexa Aston has arrived. Both wronged by their families . . . two souls alone in the world . . .Instead of making her come-out during the upcoming London Season, Lady Charlotte Nott finds herself tossed from her home after her father’s untimely death by a vengeful half-brother. Penniless, she makes her way in a world … Penniless, she makes her way in a world new to her, first serving as a companion and then governess to the three children of Lord Crampton. When the earl dies moments after hiring her, Charlotte takes on the running of Gray Manor’s household and estate until the children’s new guardian arrives.
Guilt weighs heavily on Major Danforth Grayson, having lost too many men under his command over the years. When he receives word of the death of the brother who wronged him, Gray returns home, bitter with the hand life has dealt him. He intends to hire competent people to manage the estate and care for his nephew and nieces and retreat to a solitary life in London—until he meets the inimitable Miss Nott.
Charlotte is drawn to Gray but knows she is no longer of his world. When he suddenly becomes the new Lord Crampton, she knows it’s time to leave her charges behind—for what woman would care to watch the man she loves wed another and start a family as she suffers in silence? Yet Charlotte knows Gray is a broken man and her leaving might shatter him forever.
Can Charlotte walk away from a flawed man who desperately needs her, or will she leave before she loses her own soul?
Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston’s first book of Soldiers and Soulmates, To Heal an Earl.
Each book in Soldiers and Soulmates is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Series Order
Book #1: To Heal an Earl
Book #2: To Tame a Rogue
Book #3: To Trust a Duke
more
Alexa Aston delivers a lovely historical romance in this first book of the Soldiers & Soulmates Series. In 1800 when Lady Charlotte Nott’s father dies just before her debut and first season, she finds herself at the mercy of a stepbrother, the new Earl, who reveals his hate for her and casts her aside, throwing her out of the house penniless.
Danforth Grayson as the second son to the Earl of Crampton, has no other future but the army. When he returns to Gray Manor after graduating from Oxford in 1803, his brother Seymour the new Earl, who blames Danforth for the death of their mother, purchases his commission in the army and tells him he should never return to Gray Manor again.
In 1808 a mature and world-weary Charlotte took a position as a governess for three children, the sickly future Earl of Crampton and his two sisters, Harriet and Jane. However, within minutes of her arrival at Gray Manor, her world turns upside down in ways she could never foresee. Soon she will meet Major Danforth Grayson, a damaged soldier, and the two will be irresistibly drawn to one another. But what future can they possibly share?
Enjoy the story!
To Heal an Earl, by Alexa Aston. I will admit that I cried while reading this book. This romance story is so beautifully written. It captured my heart and simply did not let go. I enjoyed everything about this love story.
All the characters are as memorable as the next one. I loved how the booked focused on everyone in the household. The story took in the characters feelings, their thoughts and how that transpires around how it effected everyone. The book was simple to read. I found it very easy to get lost into the story.
I liked that the book was an easy page turner. The romance between Charlotte and Gray was a quick release, but it was a slow burn for them to tell each other how they felt for one another. This book is definitely a happily f ever after. I found the book to have a number of inspirational moments. There moments of sweet joy and happiness.
There a few moments of tragedy that brought some tears, however this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. This a great book to read. My fellow readers, I recommend this love story.
It was fate.
Lady Charlotte Nott and Major Danforth Grayson, both were rejected by their families. Fate steps in when Charlotte becomes the governess to three lonely children and falls in love with their Uncle Gray. Circumstances change when Gray becomes the new Earl. With the love of the right woman, a man can learn to leave the past behind and live for the future.
Angst and tears, just right for a love story.
What an awesome read by this author. I always enjoy books that include children in the storyline, finding they add so much if well written. And of course, Alexa Aston never disappoints in this area. Loved the characters, and found the interaction between the hero and heroine captivating. Definitely recommend this beautiful tale.
Her brother after her father’s death Lady Charlotte Nott cut her off from everything she loved, her life in her childhood home. Penniless she decides to become a companion and after eight years she’s looking for a new job. She becomes the governess to the three children of Lord Crampton. The day she arrives Lord Crampton’s wife dies in child birth and he dies hearing the news. The children are left orphans and Charlotte awaits their new guardian. Major Danforth Grayson has been called home after his brother’s death, a home a never expected to see once his brother kicked him out a few years ago. His plan is to return to London society after he hires a manage the estate and someone to care for his nephew and nieces. What gray doesn’t expect is to find a quite accomplish governess who’s been running the estate since his brother’s death. She has everything under control and is expecting more from him than he can give, she expects him to stay and love and care for his young nephew and nieces. Gray and Charlotte work together to make a home and a life for the children and love and respect blossoms along the way. Gray is tormented by his Army days and feels unworthy of living a happy life, he’s forgotten how to care, how to love its less painful when he loses someone close to him. A great story of two lost souls looking for somewhere to belong and longing for love, family and happiness. An excellent story I loved and I voluntarily wrote a review.
Truly Magical. An exciting start to this new series by one of my favorite authors, Alexa Aston. Each story I read of hers just makes me more of a fan and this one tore at my heart. But in the best of ways because I love the broken hero or heroine who finds their way to love and this one fills that abundantly!
When all seems at it’s darkest, a tiny light can flicker and bring with it a new beginning. That light was Lady Charlotte Nott to Major Danforth Grayson. Two souls that had both been dealt less than the best of hands from their families. Charlotte when her father passed and her half brother threw her out on her own, she luckily found work as a companion and then a governess. She was just hired by Lord Crampton, when his wife passed giving birth and he died right in front of her! She ended up taking charge of the all the duties to run the manor while attending the children, Jane, Harriett and Roger.
Gray was called home from his duties as a Major in the army and back to the home of the brother who had scorned him, due to his passing. He was now guardian of the young heir Roger and his two sisters. He also brought with him guilt over losing some of his men during the war and all the sadness it brought with it.
But as he gets to know Charlotte and she him, magic may just happen and with the children, who just win your heart, anything is possible.
Surrounded in emotions of loss and pain with a journey that leads to happiness and passion, it does not get much better than this story. Sigh.
To Heal an Earl by Alexa Aston is a lovely story about Lady Charlotte Nott, whose father has just died. She has just been informed by her half-brother, Barclay, that she is no longer welcome in her home, which has become his since their father’s death. She may take personal belongings; he has called a coach to take her and gifted her with a small amount of money. It will be up to her in the future. Danforth Grayson, Gray, has spent is last years at war on the continent and has seen things no human should ever have to remember. These things have made him less human. Only recently has he been informed of his bother and sister-in-law’s death; that he must return home and care for his nephew and nieces and become the de facto earl until his nephew was old enough. Little did he realize that his life as about to change in even bigger ways that he had anticipated.
To Heal an Earl is a perfectly wonderful story about Charlotte and Gray. Charlotte is a strong, take-charge woman who doesn’t take no for an answer. Everyone at the manor loves her, including Gray’s charges. She brooks no interference and speaks her mind, including telling Gray that what his nephew and nieces need his love more that anything as they had never received it from their parents and were starved for it. Gray still believed he was too damaged for even this and retreated to London to take up a life there. Charlotte really had no choice but to accept things as they were until she contacted Gray to let him know his nephew was in his last days; his asthma had caught up to him and he was dying. Charlotte forced him to buck up and he did that and more. Two really wonderful characters mad this a remarkable story. One of the better. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of To Heal an Earl from Dragonblade in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own.
Lady Charlotte Nott was raised by her father; after her mother died when she was very young. Her father taught her everything there was to know about running the estate. She was very excited about her come out that her father promised her in London. Instead her father dies, and her half brother and his wife come and take over the estate. After the funeral, they tell her to remove herself, from the only home she had ever known, and gave her money for the mail coach. Never did they want to see or hear from her again. Penniless, she heads into an unknown world to make her way. She begins as a companion and then ends up at Gray Manor as a governess to three children. As she interviews for the position, the Countness dies in childbirth and the Earl dies immediately as a result of her death. Left alone with the three children, she stays on to raise them until Major Danforth Grayson comes from the battlefield to raise his nieces and sickly nephew. And so, the adventure begins. The Major is damaged from fighting. Too many have died, and he feels for all of them. Just how will he handle the estate, family and himself. This is a book that you will not want to put down as you discover the trials and hopes that seem to bind Charlotte and Gray.
Danforth Grayson being the second son and all but forgotten by his family buys a commission into the army. Making a career for himself he bears the guilt of years of commanding soldiers and watching them die. Not having spoken to his brother in years he is shocked to learn that he has died and Gray is to return home and care for his brothers children until the new Earl becomes of age. Lady Charlotte at the age of 18 was forced from her home after her fathers death and was left with no choice but to find work and try to support herself. After being a companion for years she has applied to become a governess. After being hired by the Earl he suddenly dies leaving Charlotte to try to manage his affairs until his brother can come home and oversee matters. When Gray arrives home he plans to hire someone to over see the children and then he will oversee matters from their tow home in London. What he doesn’t expect is Charlotte! She has everything under control and is expecting more from him than he can give, but Charlotte is getting under his skin and so are the children and the emotions are not what he wants or deserves. This is a wonderful story. I loved watching both Gray and Charlotte overcome the emotional turmoil that has happened in there lives and seeing them come together. Lots of emotions in this story, you will love it.
Lady Charlotte Nott has to face a completely different life than what she expected once her father dies. Her step brother hates her. Can she survive on her own?
Danforth Grayson has spent his adult life in the army. That can leave scars on a man that cannot be seen. Returning to his childhood home is even more emotional than being at war.
This is a very emotional story and you will definitely need a box of tissues. We have characters that are strong personalities, and that includes the children we meet. They discover that sometimes family can’t be counted on. Self sufficiency is the key to a fulfilled life.
I loved it.