The Arrogant Earls #1
by Kathleen Ayers
Seducing the Earl of Southwell is the perfect revenge…unless Honora loses her heart.
Honora Drevenport is a young, awkward, barely acceptable young lady when she first meets the dashing Earl of Southwell and falls hopelessly in love. After suffering a terrible humiliation at the hands of Southwell’s friends, Honora’s family forces her to marry. Years later, Honora is no longer unhappily wed but a stunning widow and the toast of London. A woman who has never forgotten the Earl of Southwell or what happened that terrible night.
Honora’s plan is simple; make Southwell fall in love with her and exact her revenge.
The Plot
Honora's story was very different from most historical romances I've read; the humiliation she endured in the beginning was heartbreaking. And then the awful marriage she allowed herself to be coerced into was just a bad. I can't believe she hadn't completely lost her spirit! After the incident at the ball when the man she was infatuated with unknowingly assisted in her humiliation, Honora gave up and married the man her family wanted. She lived for four years with her husband's and even his awful mother's cruelty until thankfully he died.
I was frustrated that Honora let the treatment go on for so long, especially after her husband died and she had complete freedom. I kind of wanted her to have all the affairs the Ton accused her of! I wished Gideon would have done better by Honora in the initial embarrassment, even if he had still left, I would have believed the love between the two a little more, if he had at the very least sought her out to apologize before running off somewhere.
“Is this the end of your groveling?” “No. It will continue for some time. Years, probably. Much of it will be done naked.” He gently rubbed his nose to hers. “At least now I know why I survived the black caiman, why even when the pain was so fierce I wished to die and just be left to rot in the jungle, I struggled to live.” “Why?” She smiled against his chest. “For you. For this. It is worth any price I had to pay.”
The Heroine
Honora was like most teenage girls; awkward in their bodies, blemishes on their face and lacking confidence. But Honora was also a bigger girl and the brunt of most of the Tons teasing. Not only were they cruel to her, but so was her family! After her marriage, she endured more torture from her husband and his mother; they said cruel things to her, kept her locked up in her house and humiliated her at every chance. I felt horrible for Honora; she was a smart, intelligent, sweet woman and just couldn't seem to get out of the grip of people who mistreated her!
The Hero
Gideon, the Earl of Southwell, was a explorer with the Geographic Society and traveled the world discovering new places and mapping them. He seemed to be a good guy, but he also was cruel to Honora. Even though he did it unknowing of the deeper meaning to the bet with his friend, he didn't try to speak with Honora, he just tucked his tail between his legs and left to explore some more. I really wanted to like him, but it wasn't that easy. I think he was sweet to Honora in the end, but he also believed all the lies about her.
“I adore the dress, by the way. Very fetching. Though, I don’t care for the admiration your bosom is drawing. I’m very possessive where you are concerned. As an only child, I never had to share anything, and I don’t mean to start with you.”
The Steam
Of the few scenes towards the end of the book, they were steamy, but I would have wished for even more passion from Honora. I know her physical relationship with her husband was horrible, but I hoped she would have been more eager and therefore passionate with Gideon.
Tropes
Victorian Era, Historical Romance, Ton Society, Disabled/Wounded Hero, Explorer, Beta Hero, Titled Hero, Bluestocking Heroine, Experienced Heroine, Widowed Heroine, Abused Heroine, Plus Size Heroine, Unrequited Love, Redemption, Ugly Duckling, Secret Crush, Outdoor Steam, Slow Burn, Secrets & Lies, Second Chance Romance
Add your comment