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westlinwind's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy the writing, but the ending felt as though the author wrote herself into a corner with all the problems and then just decided to declare them fixed.
freemajo's review against another edition
3.0
Oliver seems like a nice guy and all, but this felt very formulaic and uninspired.
kateh3077's review against another edition
5.0
I would like to start this review by thanking NetGalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book.
I have given this book 5 five star rating because the writing style was great and I will read the book again as well as recommend it to others or buy it as a gift. It was also a good book for the continuation of this companion series (The Dukes of War).
Plot/Story line:
This was a lovely easy to read romance book. The book follows the stories of Grace Halton, a young American girl who comes to the UK to find her husband so she can use her grandparents dowry to return home to her sick mother, and Oliver York who's returned from the War to find the estate finances in arrears and himself the Earl of Carlise as his father's died. She needs a rich husband while he needs a rich heiress but still they can't stop thinking about each other from the day they meet.
Character (s):
There was a lot to the two main characters Grace and Oliver but equally as much to the other characters. Both characters were strong, kind,gentle natured loving people whos love story was captivating.
Summary:
I enjoyed this book as much as I did the "The Viscount's Christmas Temptation" and as much as I'm sure I will the rest of the series. Erica's writing was fabulous as was her world building. The way she described the expectations in the regency period as well as the places and clothing was really evocative and made me as the reader feel like I was experiencing. Especially her descriptions of the clothes as it made me feel like I was actually touching the materials.
I have given this book 5 five star rating because the writing style was great and I will read the book again as well as recommend it to others or buy it as a gift. It was also a good book for the continuation of this companion series (The Dukes of War).
Plot/Story line:
This was a lovely easy to read romance book. The book follows the stories of Grace Halton, a young American girl who comes to the UK to find her husband so she can use her grandparents dowry to return home to her sick mother, and Oliver York who's returned from the War to find the estate finances in arrears and himself the Earl of Carlise as his father's died. She needs a rich husband while he needs a rich heiress but still they can't stop thinking about each other from the day they meet.
Character (s):
There was a lot to the two main characters Grace and Oliver but equally as much to the other characters. Both characters were strong, kind,gentle natured loving people whos love story was captivating.
Summary:
I enjoyed this book as much as I did the "The Viscount's Christmas Temptation" and as much as I'm sure I will the rest of the series. Erica's writing was fabulous as was her world building. The way she described the expectations in the regency period as well as the places and clothing was really evocative and made me as the reader feel like I was experiencing. Especially her descriptions of the clothes as it made me feel like I was actually touching the materials.
dark_siren's review against another edition
5.0
Grace has come to England on a mission. She needs to marry fast so she can afford to take care of her ailing mother. Her maternal grandparents who cut off her mother before Grace was born are willing to begrudgingly provide her with a 1000 pound dowry to a husband they approve. Grace's Grandmother is the very definition of a termagant and her Grandfather seems to just let his wife rule everything.
Oliver has recently come home from war and inherited an Earldom only to find his father wasted his inheritance and he is now penniless and in debt.
Despite their financial woes and knowing they should each marry someone wealthy Grace and Oliver keep getting drawn together not only through circumstance but also through love.
Oliver has recently come home from war and inherited an Earldom only to find his father wasted his inheritance and he is now penniless and in debt.
Despite their financial woes and knowing they should each marry someone wealthy Grace and Oliver keep getting drawn together not only through circumstance but also through love.
kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this 1 better than the first one. I understand needing to marry for duty . . . But it's always better when people marry for love. The fact that both Grace and Oliver had intentions of marrying for duty and ended up marrying each other (for duty but it was also) for love made this an excellent story.
casseyt's review against another edition
2.0
Well written, but just not quite hitting the expectations it set up.
whiskeyinthejar's review against another edition
2.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Yankee Grace has traveled to England to secure, hopefully, a monetary advantageous match. Her mother is deathly ill back home in America and her grandparents are miserly generally all around horrible people; Grace's situation is a bit dire you could say. Unfortunately, without a respectable dowry the ton is looking down their aristocratic noses at Grace and the seedier gentleman are dogging her steps while making bets at White's about who will tup her first. Oliver, the Earl of Carlisle, is back from the Napoleonic Wars and hasn't quite shed his hero cloak. When he spies Grace regulated to the corner like a wallflower, he appoints himself her savior. The problem is that Oliver has his own dire issues to deal with, his father bankrupted the earldom, his bestfriend is catatonic, and now he is battling a serious attraction to a penniless American. Grace and Oliver must decide if money or love is the path to true happiness.
First off, I have to bring up the fact that this did not feel like a full length novel, the first in this series was labeled a novella at 180pgs while this one is being called a full length novel at 106pgs. A little confusing and the story definitely hurt for lack of pages. Things started off well, if not a little bit heavy with the describing of looks and then frequent mentions of luscious lips, golden eyes, and enticing smelling skin. If there could have been more to the ending I wouldn't completely call this an insta-love but with a decidedly lack of substance I think I have to go there. Grace and Oliver spend most of the book emotionally apart as they each need money and neither has it so marriage appears to be off the table. There does seem to be some chemistry between the two but with the shortness of the story it never gets fully explored.
If stringent on historical accuracy or British vernacular you might want to gird your loins, some parts get a bit rough in that department. Grace also behaves with more of a free spirit in sexual terms at times than what felt natural for her character (not to mention the time period) especially a scene where she offers up her breasts to be "eaten", it made for a couple jarring scenes. I do have to mention though, that their wedding night sex scene was wonderfully romantic and the soliloquy Oliver delivered was beautiful. This is the dilemma I have with this author, I like her characters and she has flashes of brilliance but the lump of clay can't seem to get off the potter's wheel and become a dazzling vase.
The relationship, various issues, and ending were ridiculously wrapped up quickly. Grace and Oliver are forced to get married, so neither had to truly explore their feelings and come to a decision, Oliver's bestfriend just suddenly and miraculously recovers, Grace's family issues are no more, and hey, kiss your money woes goodbye kids, here is a (extremely fortuitous) solution! It is all a bit overdone and hokey. Even with all this, like I said, I still liked Grace and Oliver which I have to attribute to the charm the author manages to infuse them with. I'm going to read the next book in the series and give the author one last try because of the promise I sense in the writing, I just hope it is sincerely a full length novel.
Yankee Grace has traveled to England to secure, hopefully, a monetary advantageous match. Her mother is deathly ill back home in America and her grandparents are miserly generally all around horrible people; Grace's situation is a bit dire you could say. Unfortunately, without a respectable dowry the ton is looking down their aristocratic noses at Grace and the seedier gentleman are dogging her steps while making bets at White's about who will tup her first. Oliver, the Earl of Carlisle, is back from the Napoleonic Wars and hasn't quite shed his hero cloak. When he spies Grace regulated to the corner like a wallflower, he appoints himself her savior. The problem is that Oliver has his own dire issues to deal with, his father bankrupted the earldom, his bestfriend is catatonic, and now he is battling a serious attraction to a penniless American. Grace and Oliver must decide if money or love is the path to true happiness.
First off, I have to bring up the fact that this did not feel like a full length novel, the first in this series was labeled a novella at 180pgs while this one is being called a full length novel at 106pgs. A little confusing and the story definitely hurt for lack of pages. Things started off well, if not a little bit heavy with the describing of looks and then frequent mentions of luscious lips, golden eyes, and enticing smelling skin. If there could have been more to the ending I wouldn't completely call this an insta-love but with a decidedly lack of substance I think I have to go there. Grace and Oliver spend most of the book emotionally apart as they each need money and neither has it so marriage appears to be off the table. There does seem to be some chemistry between the two but with the shortness of the story it never gets fully explored.
If stringent on historical accuracy or British vernacular you might want to gird your loins, some parts get a bit rough in that department. Grace also behaves with more of a free spirit in sexual terms at times than what felt natural for her character (not to mention the time period) especially a scene where she offers up her breasts to be "eaten", it made for a couple jarring scenes. I do have to mention though, that their wedding night sex scene was wonderfully romantic and the soliloquy Oliver delivered was beautiful. This is the dilemma I have with this author, I like her characters and she has flashes of brilliance but the lump of clay can't seem to get off the potter's wheel and become a dazzling vase.
The relationship, various issues, and ending were ridiculously wrapped up quickly. Grace and Oliver are forced to get married, so neither had to truly explore their feelings and come to a decision, Oliver's bestfriend just suddenly and miraculously recovers, Grace's family issues are no more, and hey, kiss your money woes goodbye kids, here is a (extremely fortuitous) solution! It is all a bit overdone and hokey. Even with all this, like I said, I still liked Grace and Oliver which I have to attribute to the charm the author manages to infuse them with. I'm going to read the next book in the series and give the author one last try because of the promise I sense in the writing, I just hope it is sincerely a full length novel.
thereadingbel's review against another edition
4.0
When Oliver York, Earl of Carlisle comes back from the war he comes back with his wounded and broken friends and to find his father has died. He died in a rumor causing way and he died with some unexpected surprises for his son the heir.
When Oliver goes to his first ball after his return, he is attracted to the wallflower that seems to not quite fit in with the others. When he learns that she is pretty much shunned due to her American accent and her merchant grandparents, Oliver still makes his presence know to her. He is immediately put in his place and he is a little startled at her open and honest response to his questions.
Grace Halton has come from America with a plan in mind and that plan is the only thing she can think of. She can't be bothered with good looking Earl's that she can't stop thinking about. She can't be bothered with an Earl that might have financial problems and she certainly can't be interested in an Earl that she just might be developing feelings for.
This was an interesting story and well worth reading if you like this type of story.
When Oliver goes to his first ball after his return, he is attracted to the wallflower that seems to not quite fit in with the others. When he learns that she is pretty much shunned due to her American accent and her merchant grandparents, Oliver still makes his presence know to her. He is immediately put in his place and he is a little startled at her open and honest response to his questions.
Grace Halton has come from America with a plan in mind and that plan is the only thing she can think of. She can't be bothered with good looking Earl's that she can't stop thinking about. She can't be bothered with an Earl that might have financial problems and she certainly can't be interested in an Earl that she just might be developing feelings for.
This was an interesting story and well worth reading if you like this type of story.
bbraden's review against another edition
4.0
"Oliver York returns from war to find his father dead, his finances in arrears, and himself the new Earl of Carlisle. If he doesn't marry an heiress—and fast!—he and his tenants are going to be pitching tents down by the Thames. He definitely shouldn't be trading kisses with a penniless debutante... no matter how captivating she is!
Miss Grace Halton is in England just long enough to satisfy the terms of her dowry. But a marriage of convenience isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. Back in America, her ailing mother needs medicine only Grace’s dowry can afford. Which means the dashing earl she can't get out of her mind is the one man she can't let into her heart."
Some people say this is the first in a series, but I thought it was the second? Either way, I enjoyed this book. The traces of war trauma, choices people make for family/titles, and throw in a dash of chemistry- you've got a hit on your hands. Yes, it could use a little more depth of individual roles and a little more time grounding the characters, but all in all a lovely read.
Miss Grace Halton is in England just long enough to satisfy the terms of her dowry. But a marriage of convenience isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. Back in America, her ailing mother needs medicine only Grace’s dowry can afford. Which means the dashing earl she can't get out of her mind is the one man she can't let into her heart."
Some people say this is the first in a series, but I thought it was the second? Either way, I enjoyed this book. The traces of war trauma, choices people make for family/titles, and throw in a dash of chemistry- you've got a hit on your hands. Yes, it could use a little more depth of individual roles and a little more time grounding the characters, but all in all a lovely read.