The Earl I Adore by Erin Knightley (Prelude to a Kiss #2)
Released: January 6, 2015
Historical Romance
Signet

Reviewed by May

He’s an earl determined not to marry. She’s got a sister who just eloped, is poor, and has very few prospects. So what’s a girl who is infatuated with a handsome and kind earl to do? Why find ways to spend time with him and daydream about what it might be like if only he returned her affectionate feelings…

Sophie is an accomplished musician, known as quite the chatty girl, and the combination of her curvy figure and small dowry means that she’s never had any real suitors. I really enjoyed this character, and loved watching how as she spends time with Evan (aka our handsome earl) her girlish infatuation grows into true respect, admiration, and more. She is so likeable, and despite her circumstances she’s always looking for the silver linings and bright sides. I loved that about her.

I’m afraid I couldn’t apologize if I wanted to. Sometimes in life, we have to take a risk. Sometimes those risks are worth it, and sometimes we’re haunted by them for the rest of our lives. The thing is, you never know which outcome you’ll get unless you actually take that leap.

The writing was so engaging – a scene at the start where Sophie hears Evan saying how he’s not interested in her at all had my eyes tearing up for her. I can’t remember the last time a heroine had me so emotionally invested and rooting for her.

I liked that this story takes place in Bath, the setting of a music festival, and the rich cast of supporting characters as well. While I liked this story quite a bit, the development of romantic feelings on Evan’s part was not all that great.

Oh, it was likely quite realistic. He slowly sees her as a woman, and tender feelings grow because she is an honest, caring, wonderful woman. But I never really felt like he was swept away with romance-land love. I think if he had been driven more by his own feelings and less by his past and by other characters that influence him it would have been even stronger.

Without giving away story secrets, I’ll just say that their parents had more to do with them getting together than mutual chemistry and that had me bummed out. But only a little bit – because I really did enjoy both this heroine and this writer’s overall style.

Grade: B

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