Scan barcode
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In Lady Meets Earl, Lucy is ever the dutiful middle child, a fixer and planner who almost can't help but step in when someone else flounders. Without realizing it, Lucy's falling into a role too small for her. So it's lucky indeed she has an eccentric aunt in Scotland who doesn't wish to see her spirit squashed. She invites Lucy to come for a holiday, where she can enjoy her art and live for her own whims. On her journey to Edinburgh, Lucy meets James. The two have an easy rapport and regret parting at the end of their train journey. An opportunity for continuing their acquaintance comes from an unlikely source: James just inherited Aunt Cassandra's home and means to sell it. While Lucy understands James' position, she fears her aunt's reaction to the news.
James' shock at inheriting his uncle's title was chased by relief that he'd be able to settle a debt hanging around his neck. Unfortunately, the estate isn't the lucrative lifesaver he'd briefly imagined. Selling the Scottish manor is his last desperate gambit to keep his lender's thugs at bay, so he'll follow through even if he regrets evicting his Uncle's erstwhile mistress. James has long been a loner responsible for caring for himself. It will take the cheerful meddling of others to make him realize he might be able to safely share his burdens.
I love that this series' premise of being on holiday makes me feel more relaxed, too -- a priceless windfall. This book offers the little joys of sightseeing in an unfamiliar city, seeking comfort in casual physical touch, and the bonds formed through sharing experiences with others. It's unusual for me to so wholeheartedly get behind a whirlwind romance, but I was swept up in the ease of James and Lucy's time together. And though there's definitely trouble to overcome, it's not in the form of a final act breakup, which made the whole affair that much more soothing.
Beyond the romance and the overall vibes, I now consider myself an Aunt Cassandra devotee for the way she ignores conventions and looks out for her niece in her own way. I also appreciate Lucy's positive relationships with her parents and siblings, which feel like a rarity in the genre. Though she needs some time away for herself, Lucy gets on the train secure in the knowledge she has familial support.
All around, this is a sweet, relaxing historical romance that I recommend as an act of self-care. Thanks to Avon for my copy to read and review!
James' shock at inheriting his uncle's title was chased by relief that he'd be able to settle a debt hanging around his neck. Unfortunately, the estate isn't the lucrative lifesaver he'd briefly imagined. Selling the Scottish manor is his last desperate gambit to keep his lender's thugs at bay, so he'll follow through even if he regrets evicting his Uncle's erstwhile mistress. James has long been a loner responsible for caring for himself. It will take the cheerful meddling of others to make him realize he might be able to safely share his burdens.
I love that this series' premise of being on holiday makes me feel more relaxed, too -- a priceless windfall. This book offers the little joys of sightseeing in an unfamiliar city, seeking comfort in casual physical touch, and the bonds formed through sharing experiences with others. It's unusual for me to so wholeheartedly get behind a whirlwind romance, but I was swept up in the ease of James and Lucy's time together. And though there's definitely trouble to overcome, it's not in the form of a final act breakup, which made the whole affair that much more soothing.
Beyond the romance and the overall vibes, I now consider myself an Aunt Cassandra devotee for the way she ignores conventions and looks out for her niece in her own way. I also appreciate Lucy's positive relationships with her parents and siblings, which feel like a rarity in the genre. Though she needs some time away for herself, Lucy gets on the train secure in the knowledge she has familial support.
All around, this is a sweet, relaxing historical romance that I recommend as an act of self-care. Thanks to Avon for my copy to read and review!
amberreadsalot's review
4.0
This is a lighthearted romance that I liked, though I didn't quite love it (but I came so close!). Lady Lucy Westmont is 24, with three failed seasons behind her. Unlike so many of these books, her parents are content to let her wait to marry until she finds "the one". James Pembrooke is a business man who made a bad investment and lost everything, then compounded his issues by borrowing money from a notorious and nefarious moneylender who is now demanding repayment.
The story starts with James learning he has unexpectedly inherited an earldom from an uncle who abandoned James when he was orphaned at a young age. The title has no money, a crumbling estate, and an estate in Scotland which might be James' last chance to pay off his debts. He will take a quick jaunt to Scotland, quickly sell the estate, and then deal with the moneylender and other creditors.
Lucy, in the meantime, is also headed to Scotland to see her beloved aunt. Lucy has grown tired of always being the helper and dreams of a little bit of freedom. James and Lucy meet on the train to Scotland, neither aware they are headed to the same place. They get to Scotland, and Lucy's aunt's home, and their love story really takes off from there.
I enjoy a strong heroine, but Lucy's quick flip into a woman willing to ruin herself from a girl who was the model of propriety seems a little abrupt. That said, I liked her with James, they seemed to make sense. This wasn't a story with a big evil - the moneylender is barely a villain and is dispatched with disconcerting ease. This really is a story about a couple learning to trust and communicate, and for James to learn that he is no longer alone.
As other reviewers have stated, the ending drags a bit as the author strives for a neat and tidy ending, even though life is anything but. I would give this book 3.5 stars, but I will round up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. All the opinions herein are my own.
The story starts with James learning he has unexpectedly inherited an earldom from an uncle who abandoned James when he was orphaned at a young age. The title has no money, a crumbling estate, and an estate in Scotland which might be James' last chance to pay off his debts. He will take a quick jaunt to Scotland, quickly sell the estate, and then deal with the moneylender and other creditors.
Lucy, in the meantime, is also headed to Scotland to see her beloved aunt. Lucy has grown tired of always being the helper and dreams of a little bit of freedom. James and Lucy meet on the train to Scotland, neither aware they are headed to the same place. They get to Scotland, and Lucy's aunt's home, and their love story really takes off from there.
I enjoy a strong heroine, but Lucy's quick flip into a woman willing to ruin herself from a girl who was the model of propriety seems a little abrupt. That said, I liked her with James, they seemed to make sense. This wasn't a story with a big evil - the moneylender is barely a villain and is dispatched with disconcerting ease. This really is a story about a couple learning to trust and communicate, and for James to learn that he is no longer alone.
As other reviewers have stated, the ending drags a bit as the author strives for a neat and tidy ending, even though life is anything but. I would give this book 3.5 stars, but I will round up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. All the opinions herein are my own.
skyhazzard's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book so much and I’m so sad it’s over! 😭😭😭 5 minutes in I was like this is going to be a 5 star book. I immediately fell in love with James and everything that happened after just cemented my love for him more. I was just like how can he get anymore perfect. And Lucy was so fun and she was surprisingly very forward with James, I was just like go girlie.
The only thing I wish we could have seen more of was Lucy with her aunt Cassandra, I think that would have been fun. She was away for most of her trip and I wanted to see what they’d get up to.
Oh and the side characters were so fun as well! I loved Blackwell and omg Hercules!! I’m just obsessed with this book!
The only thing I wish we could have seen more of was Lucy with her aunt Cassandra, I think that would have been fun. She was away for most of her trip and I wanted to see what they’d get up to.
Oh and the side characters were so fun as well! I loved Blackwell and omg Hercules!! I’m just obsessed with this book!
jillmlong's review
2.0
I found this book to be ok. At times I felt the writing was a bit choppy and things weren't explained well. The romance was a bit lackluster but I did read the book to the end.
andrea_author's review against another edition
5.0
James has inherited an impoverished earldom. His only choice for paying his debts is to sell his remote Scottish country home. Traveling by train, he meets a mysterious, beautiful young woman. Little does he know, she's the niece of the tenant he's about to evict!
This is a fun, romantic, engaging story. James and Lucy have chemistry from the start. They're likable individually and together. It's a lovely escape with interesting side characters.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a fun, romantic, engaging story. James and Lucy have chemistry from the start. They're likable individually and together. It's a lovely escape with interesting side characters.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
edwina's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
lonelyfangirlirl's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
notesfromthebookdrop's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
overflowingshelf's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
CW: sexual assault; death of parents; anxiety; violence
Lady Meets Earl was a delightful second installment in Christy Carlyle’s Love on Holiday series. Despite being love at first sight, the romance was charming, with fantastic banter between James and Lucy. I enjoyed these characters and loved the journey the book takes you on.
This was also the perfect book to read as I was about to head out on my trip to the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh last November. While I was there, I got to visit some of the exact sites that James and Lucy went to, which made it extra special!
When Lady Lucy Westmont gets an invitation to visit her free-spirited and scandalous aunt in the Scottish countryside, she jumps at the chance to escape from society, have a little adventure, and find herself. Meanwhile, Jams Pembroke just learned he’s the new Earl of Rossbury, which feels like a stroke of luck after owing money to some unsavory men after a business deal goes awry. However, the earldom just piles on more debt as the only thing worth any money is a property up in Scotland, which he’s determined to sell to pay off all the debt. On the ride to Scotland, he meets Lucy, and they have an instant connection. Little do either of them know they’ll see a lot more of each other very soon as he’s the new owner of her aunt’s house.
As I said, the romance in this book is based on love at first sight. I’m not always the biggest fan of this trope, but it worked well in this book because these characters were well-defined and had fantastic chemistry. They first meet on a train to Scotland, and there is an instant connection, a sense of comfort and rightness, between them. They both have their struggles on that train ride – he’s dealing with anxiety over being on a train again, and she’s dealing with an attempted sexual assault on the train – but they find comfort in each other. That first journey does a lot to set up their relationship, and it does so perfectly.
James and Lucy also had fantastic banter and chemistry, which helped me buy their romance. They only know each other for a week before they have serious feelings, which is very quickly, but it felt like longer, given their chemistry and how well they understood each other. I really liked that they both could recognize and admire the other’s strengths yet didn’t fault the other for their flaws. That brought a level of maturity to the romance that I think is needed when it’s love at first sight. I also adore how SMITTEN James was with Lucy after such a short period – it was really sweet!
As I said, James and Lucy made this story work. James starts the book by discovering he’s an Earl, which seems like a boon as he’s in some money trouble after a failed business venture. However, the earldom he inherits is essentially broke, except for a few pieces of property, including one in Scotland that belongs to the ex-mistress of the late Earl. James is determined to sell it off to deal with his debts, but fate has other plans. I liked that he isn’t as ruthless and cutthroat as he thinks he needs to be – he softens pretty quickly once he meets the ladies living in the house. He’s also had some trauma in his past – his parents died in a train accident – which helps make him feel more real to me. I found him a charming and engaging male lead.
I also really loved Lucy. She’s a bookworm and independent thinker. She’s using the trip to visit her aunt in Scotland as a way just to be herself without the constraints of society and maybe have an adventure or two. Her personality isn’t that traditionally strong, feisty, independent woman you find in historical romance. However, she still projects that sort of energy as she’s confident in herself and her abilities, plus she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I think she was being a bit pigheaded towards the end as she wanted to take on a known street thug and criminal single-handedly, but she proved me wrong as everything worked out how she planned it.
Speaking of the ending, it went way more according to plan than I was expecting. Everything wrapped up very neatly, almost too neatly, as I expected more drama given the type of people they were dealing with. However, nothing is wrong with that as it made this book relatively low-angst. I also loved the epilogue – it was totally not what I expected, and I’m always a fan of a baby-free conclusion!
Even knowing where the story was heading with its premise, I still enjoyed the journey and experiencing it with these characters. The story was fun, and the pacing was spot on. I also loved the secondary characters, particularly Lady Cassandra and Angus Blackwood, who helped round out the story.
If you’re looking for a relatively low-angst, charming romance, look no further than Lady Meets Earl. The banter and chemistry make this love-at-first-sight historical romance work perfectly, and I enjoyed it! Plus, that cover is gorgeous, and I cannot help looking at it. Christy Carlyle is an often-overlooked historical romance author, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed her works over the years, and I cannot wait to read the next installment in the Love on Holiday series.
Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Violence
chandelierskies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0