Amelia Grey

What does a Wickedly Wonderful Widow really want? One noble suitor is about to find out. . . Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, is all on her own after her husband’s sudden death. The good news? Losing him allowed her to find herself. Finally, Adeline is free to do, go, and be as she pleases. She cherishes her newfound independence and is not looking for another man to wed. But seeking out a new lover? Well, that is a whole ’nother story. . . Lord Lyon, son of the two-timing Earl of Marksworth, wishes to have a respectable, loving wife someday. When he meets the beautiful and self-reliant Adeline, Lyon is instantly smitten. But Adeline would rather have the handsome suitor in her bed than to take his hand in marriage. It’s a scandalous proposal—and one that’s hard for Lyon to refuse. Unless the fire of his passion can melt Adeline’s resolve. . .and he can find a way to be the Wickedly Wonderful Widow’s lover for all time? “A master storyteller.”—Affaire de Coeur

The Earl Next Door

Rachel Benton

First I would like to thank St. Martin’s paperbacks and Net galley for giving me an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

The Earl Next door is the first book in Amelia Grey’s First comes love series. I really enjoyed in this book. One of things I most enjoyed about this story was the chemistry between Adeline and Lyon. You can practically feel the attraction between these two characters off the pages.

One of the my favorites moments between them was their first meeting. Lyon barges into Adeline and accuses her of being madam and trying to open a brothel in the neighborhood. Despite his callous remarks we learn that Lyon on a mission from his Aunt and one of the neighborhood gossips Mrs. Feversham. Not only that he cares about the neighborhood and doesn’t want to see any unsavory element moving in there.

The thing I liked most about this scene was not so much the scene itself, though I was highly amused by the scene, but what the characters were feeling. I thought that Amelia Grey did an Amazing job in creating the hidden spark between these two characters.

Another thing that stood out to me about this story and found really refreshing was kind of the reversal between Adeline and Lyon. Usually it’s the woman that wants marriage and the man hesitating about if he wants that kind of commitment.

In story we learn that Adeline marriage was not a fairy tale for sure. He led her to believe when he married her that he loved her. In reality, the only reason he married her was because he thought that she would provide him with children. He became abusive both verbally and physically when Adeline didn’t get pregnant. He threw the fact that his mistress was pregnant in Adeline face. Adeline understandably doesn’t want to get back in that type of situation.

Lyon on the other hand has always been pressured by his father to marry so he can have a male heir to pass down the family name. Lyon has always resisted this because when he wants to marry he wants it to be for love. And he won’t settled for nothing less. Even when Adeline turned down his proposal and suggested they be lovers. Even though they had been intimate previously, Lyon thought that keeping her as lover would not only disrespect her, but disrespect their relationship as a whole and diminish it . In order to grow as a couple they needed to be in truly committed relationship that marriage would provide.

Some of the criticism i had towards the story really came at the end of the story. After understanding some of the character motivations for both Adeline and Lyon I was kind perplexed by the way they ended up together. Adeline has been having these fears that since she can’t get pregnant she will never make Lyon truly happy. So instead of disproving these theories and having Lyon marry her despite the fact that she won’t be able to give him children. Adeline miraculously ends up pregnant. So they would have to marry regardless. So that for me made the plot kind of self-defeating.

Then there was the introduction of Wade’s illegitimate daughter into the story. I guess I’m trying to figure out what she brought to the story? She was introduced at the end and Adeline’s view of her didn’t shed a good light on Adeline. She was all but forgotten when Adeline gave birth to her own child. I was kind of hoping that Adeline would take her guardianship of the little girl a little bit more seriously then just allowing her to attend the school. 

Aside from these minor bumps in the road I really did enjoy the story and would recommend reading this book. I look forward to reading the next series in this book.

Jolie

3.5 stars

I am going to do this review in a different style today. I am going to list the pros and cons (with explanations). I have done reviews like this in the past. I have found that I can get my thoughts across better this way. It is up in the air if this review style will become a permanent thing.

Pro’s of The Earl Next Door


1. It is set in Regency England. I am a massive fan of historical romances set in that period. I love being able to imagine going to balls, eating by candlelight, and being courted.

2. Adeline’s independence. What I liked is that the author chose to have her independence be true to the era. While she could do what she wanted, she still had to observe the tons’ social dictations.

3. Lyon. While he was a typical Regency romance hero, he did stand out to me. He had a strong moral code (which was explained in the book). As weird as this sounds, he also didn’t have a mistress. Usually, in these books, the male main character is ending a relationship with a mistress, or he is considering one. Not Lyon. It was refreshing to read.

4. Adeline and Lyon’s initial relationship. I loved it!!! From the minute he asked her if she was running a brothel, I knew this relationship was going to be a good one. She put Lyon in his place several times. My favorite one? Well, when she walked into his house, soaking wet, and proceeded to tell him and every other man there off. I slow clapped at the end of that scene.

Con’s of The Earl Next Door

1. Adeline’s backstory. While it wasn’t the most tragic one I have read, it struck a nerve with me. When everything was revealed, she put through a lot by her late husband. I could understand why she felt the way she felt later on in the book.

2. Lyon’s father. He grated on my nerves. Every single scene he was in, I wanted to erase him, he annoyed me that bad. For someone who has been married three times and was engaged to be married again, he didn’t have the right to push marriage on anyone.

3. Adeline and Lyon after they had sex. I did like that Adeline didn’t want to get married. I liked that she tried to keep it simple. I also liked that Lyon was the one pushing marriage. But, after the first few interchanges, I started to get annoyed.

4. The end of the book. I was underwhelmed by it. It was predictable. Everything that took place after Nora arrived at Adeline’s house I predicted. Even the epilogue I didn’t like.

Conclusion of The Earl Next Door

I started off liking The Earl Next Door. It was in my favorite romance era, Regency England. I enjoyed that the author chose to make Adeline as independent as she could for that era. I loved Lyon and thought his character was a refreshing change. Adeline and Lyon’s relationship, for the first half of the book, was excellent.

The book started going downhill for me after Lyon and Adeline had sex. Their relationship became a power struggle. He wanted to marry her, and she didn’t want too. I did wish that Adeline’s entire backstory was revealed earlier in the book. I could not stand Lyon’s father. The end of the book was disappointing to me. It became too predictable. Even the epilogue, which I enjoy, was “meh.” But, saying that, I do want to read book 2!!

Sans

Not great. Not even good. Very mediocre. The writing style was the main problem. Some odd Americanisms and anachronistic phrasing, some weird places where I wasn't sure who was doing what to whom, and far too much time spent puttering around in Adeline's head, rehashing everything we've already been told before.

That was the second problem. So much telling and not enough showing. The third problem was how these two magically sensed how the other felt. Constantly. No one has that good a connection, especially after one week of knowing each other and speaking a handful of times.

The Earl Next Door

Reviews