TITLE: When the Earl Met His Match by Stacy Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Release Date: September 18, 2020
Format: e-ARC (249 Pages)
Genre: Historical Romance
Blurb: When Hugh Winthrop, the future Earl of Albury, decides to advertise for a wife in the London paper, he never expected an anonymous response from a woman who matches him wit for wit. Their back-and-forth letters on the true nature of love, something they disagree on wholeheartedly, leave him shocked—and intrigued. But then the woman he’s been corresponding with shows up on his doorstep, enticingly beautiful and offering a marriage of convenience in exchange for his protection…
Lady Phoebe Maitland expected to marry for love and nothing else, until the man she gave her trust betrayed her. The more intrigued she becomes by the mysterious and devastatingly handsome Hugh, however, the more she realizes he’s holding back from opening his heart due to long-held secrets she struggles to understand. As passion flares wickedly between them, their marriage bed is quick to heat up. But when Phoebe’s past threatens to destroy the fragile bond they’ve formed, even a budding belief in love might not be enough to save them.
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What a refreshingly delightful story. A page turner with really likeable characters and a well developed story.
Lady Phoebe Maitland, afraid of the marriage arrangement her parents secured for her, decided to forge her own path. Hugh Winthrop, the future Earl of Albury, who had fallen ill and now tends a sick father, decided to advertise for a wife in the London paper instead of spending the time courting someone at the ton’s gatherings.
A marriage of convenience that was supposed to meet both parties needs ends up being so much more.
I loved this story even without reading the prior books. Initially, I didn’t know this was part of a series, but I started to suspect it was because I could tell there were a few things that would enhance my understanding of the side characters. It is clear that Lady Phoebe’s decisions were spurred on by actions that occurred with her siblings in their own stories that came before this one. Lady Phoebe and Lord Hugh had enough of their own issues that I was engrossed in their journey together
The main characters were very unique in that Lady Phoebe was independent, strong willed and unrestrained in a way that went against propriety. Lord Hugh was a mute and there were rumors about his legitimacy which made his family very defensive.
What stood out to me was the amount of empathy that Lord Hugh’s family had as well as how inclusive they appeared to be. I admired how passionate and unreserved Lady Phoebe was especially as Lord Hugh seemed stoic. But they were alike in their kindness and loyalty to family. Lady Phoebe and LordHugh were so good together as friends as well as lovers. This story was so endearing and somewhat full of angst that I wanted to know how it ended but didn’t want it to end either.
There were many things to love and enjoy about this story, but how the characters were written tops my list. The pace of the story, the care for those less fortunate and for protection offered to Lady Phoebe despite the manner in which she arrived to Lord Hugh etc. This story is one of the best stories I have read this year and I now plan to read the prior books.
*Special Thanks to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for the e-ARC given in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author Stacy Reid writes sensual Historical and Paranormal Romances and is the published author of over twenty books. Her debut novella The Duke’s Shotgun Wedding was a 2015 HOLT Award of Merit recipient in the Romance Novella category, and her bestselling Wedded by Scandal series is recommended as Top picks at Night Owl Reviews, Fresh Fiction Reviews, and The Romance Reviews.
Stacy lives a lot in the worlds she creates and actively speaks to her characters (aloud). She has a warrior way “Never give up on dreams!” When she’s not writing, Stacy spends a copious amount of time binge-watching series like The Walking Dead, Altered Carbon, Rise of the Phoenixes, Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, Love and Redemption, and playing video games with her love. She also has a weakness for ice cream and will have it as her main course.
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