Title: The Earl in My Bed
Written by: Stacy Reid Published by: Entangled Publishing: Scandalous Publication Date: April 9, 2018
Genres: Fiction,
Romance,
Historical,
Regency Pages: 257
Format: ARC,
eBook Source: Netgalley,
Author's Pal Sexy Times: Yes, only consensual relations between main characters.
Rating:
For years, Daphne Wentworth, Countess Carrington has loved her powerful, enigmatic husband, despite the fact that they married under less than ideal circumstances. But no more. Finally at her breaking point, Daphne intends to create a scandal so big, her austere husband will have no choice but to divorce her. Except everything goes awry when he surprises her with the last thing she expected.
Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington, has returned to London for one reason—to seduce his wife. After a near-death experience, he is in need of an heir and means to make his marriage a real one. To his shock, though, his wicked, beautiful countess wants the exact opposite, and he must now do everything possible to entice his countess to stay forever.
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What I Liked
There was blame too share
No one was blameless and I really liked that. Both parties had made mistakes, let others affect their marriage and had let their emotions rule over logic.
I like this because no one is a saint and we all make mistakes especially in the heat of the moment. It helped to make them feel more human.
Character development
The development of the Heroine and Hero was done very well and mixed well with their own personal development during the story. I felt a lot of heartache at the start of the book for both the characters situations. Sylvester had a right to be angry but he shouldn’t have taken it out on Daphne. Although Daphne was very unhappy in her marriage and had valid reasons for wanting out. She should have been more proactive in fixing her marriage in the first place. Reading the main characters coming to terms with this was an interesting read.
The Subplots
I really enjoy the information in books in regards to the social and political climate they are set during. It makes them feel like the characters have lives besides each other, which to me helps enhance the believability of the story. So the addition of Sylvester’s Anti-slavery work and Daphne’s orphanage help create more 3-dimensional characters.
Daphne’s and Sylvester’s Fidelity
Even though they had both endured a loveless marriage neither of them broke their vows. This is more indicative of how they feel about marriage rather than each other. I liked that both parties whether or not they meant to, were technically still loyal to their view of marriage and even when Daphne wanted out it wasn’t because she wanted to go get hitched to someone else it was for her own freedom and happiness. Neither of them flew into the arms of someone else at the first sign of trouble or even after a great deal of it.
What I Didn’t Like
Daphne’s lack of commitment to fixing her marriage
I mean I guess this is just me but I would have pushed to know what was up. Six years! Mate, I probably would have trouble handling six months of cold indifference
I would have liked Daphne to have taken a more active role in fixing her marriage early on. She really has just let it happen to her. She puts all this energy into planning a way out rather than trying to fix the marriage.
Sylvester’s near death experience
That it took a near-death experience for the man to realise maybe he should try to make the best of a bad situation. I would have liked it if the catalyst for Sylvester’s return was a much more internal one. Rather than due to an external experience.
A few crude words
I’m just not a huge fan of crude descriptive words or language during the intimate bits. Even heavy possessiveness puts me off sometimes. This book had a couple but not too many to drive me off. This is a personal preference on mine. I simply prefer more romantically inclined endearments.
Final Thoughts
The start of the book filled me with sadness for the characters but the anticipation of them falling in love had kept to going.
I knew what I was getting into with the brooding Hero and a bit too naive Heroine, but I still just really enjoyed the book for what it was. A story about two people coming to terms with their own mistakes in life and realising they had both wasted time in their our lives and should have just communicated more earlier on in their marriage. We can all say “Oh I wouldn’t have done that” but hindsight is a funny thing.
Overall an enjoyable read for those who don’t mind a bit of heartache too begin with, a brooding hero who comes good and heroine who finally stands up for herself.
I was provided with an ARC copy by Netgalley Author’s Pal and Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
About Stacy Reid
Stacy is an avid reader of novels with a deep passion for writing. She especially loves romance and adores writing about people falling in love. Stacy lives a lot in the worlds she creates and actively speaks to her characters (out loud). She has a warrior way, never give up on her dreams. When Stacy is not writing, she spends a copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from Walking Dead, watching Japanese anime and playing video games with her love.
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