Empowered By The Earl

TITLE: Empowered By the Earl

SERIES: Second Sons of London #3

AUTHOR: Alexa Aston

RATING: 

STEAM: 

THE SYNOPSIS

A self-assured earl who doesn’t like rules. A poised beauty mature beyond her years. Neither thinks they want or need love . . .

Major Owen Hasbury returns from the Napoleonic Wars as the new Earl of Danbury. He’s ready to enjoy life and make love to as many women as he can before settling down and siring an heir. His attitude irks his two closest friends, men who have come into recent titles and made love matches.

Louisa Goulding has a reputation as a bit of a bluestocking. She has served as her father’s hostess since her mother’s death years ago and has been an active part of the meetings in their home with her father’s War Office colleagues, giving her little time for social events. With the war over, Louisa wants to fully participate in the Season and finally live a life for herself, finding a husband who will give her children.

At the insistence of mutual friends, Louisa and Owen meet. She calls him out as a rake, telling him she won’t waste any time on him. But her beauty and intelligence intrigue Owen. He becomes friends with Louisa, even teaching her how to kiss, finally realizing the perfect woman is right before him.

Can Owen convince Louisa that he has changed—or will he lose her to another lord at the house party they attend together?

THE REVIEW

Major Owen Hasbury, Earl of Danbury has returned to London to take up the earldom at the death of his brother. After being a soldier for years, he has no interest in marrying anytime soon and wants to enjoy being back in London first.

Louisa Goulding has been assisting her father ever since her mother died years ago. Her duties keeping her busy, she has never really had time to be part of society and find a husband. This season, however, every man she meet seemed immature and uninterested in her intellectual self.

"He could understand in part now why she hadn’t wed. All the randy bachelors of the ton would not have taken the time to get to know her. Louisa Goulding had depths to be mined and most men, even those looking for a bride, would not have taken the time to unravel the layers of this remarkable woman."

When Louisa and Owen meet at a house party, there is definite attraction, but both dismiss the feelings. But spending time together, Owen makes Louisa feel beautiful and worthy of a love match, but Owen is insistent that he is not interested or ready for marriage. He instead offers to help Louisa refresh her riding skills and to help sort through the bachelors attending the house party...but watching the other men spend time with Louisa has Owen realizing he just can't lose her!

Ms. Aston knows how to weave a genuine romance in to a short story! And for being a fairly straight forward story...girl likes boy, boy not ready to be serious and needs some convincing...it was so fun to watch their romance bud and watch Owen kick himself for thinking he could walk away from Louisa! I loved seeing the characters from previous books in the series; it is always fun to see them years after their happy ever after!

“I love you,” he repeated. “I didn’t think I would ever love anyone but you have changed me in ways I am only beginning to see. You have brought love and laughter into my life. I yearn to spend all my waking hours with you. Raise our children. I want to learn everything I can about you. Your favorite food and flower. How many times you sneeze in a row. Whether you prefer Haydn or Handel. If your feet are ticklish.”

TROPES

Historical Romance, Regency Era, House Party, Country Life, Season/Marriage Mart, Gamma Hero, Rake Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Possessive/Jealous Hero, Protective Hero, Titled Hero, Bluestocking Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Spinster Heroine, Friends to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Sudden Nobility/Rags to Riches, Four Star, Two Flame

HistoricalRomance, RegencyEra, HouseParty, CountryLife, Season/MarriageMart, GammaHero, RakeHero, Soldier/WarHero, Possessive/JealousHero, ProtectiveHero, TitledHero, BluestockingHeroine, VirginHeroine, SpinsterHeroine, FriendstoLovers, ForcedProximity, SuddenNobility/RagstoRiches, FourStar, TwoFlame