THE EARL I ADORE is Book two in Erin Knightley's Prelude to
a Kiss series. Fairly early on in THE EARL I ADORE, it's
made clear to the reader that there is some reason that the
Earl of Evansleigh and his sister steer clear of romantic
entanglements and refuse to marry. However, the reason is
not revealed until much later in the book. I think having
this information kept from the reader for so long puts the
reader on somewhat equal footing with the heroine, since
it's information she's not aware of either.
THE EARL I ADORE is a romance in which the heroine needs to
marry and marry well very quickly, while the hero has quite
definite plans to never marry. Blissfully unaware of the
quandary the other person faces, there is a wonderful
friendship that develops between the two. Sophie and Evan
are both likable characters and their similar interests
lead to an easy rapport. As I read, I found myself cheering
for Sophie as she's a very sympathetic character. The
pressure put on her by her mercenary mother is balanced by
the support she gets from her friends. I like the strong
friendships between Sophie, May, and Charity. After reading
THE EARL I ADORE, I'm eager to read the previous book -
which is focused on Charity - and look forward to reading
May's story in the future.
Although some of the more serious moments in THE EARL I
ADORE brought me to tears, there are enough lighter moments
to balance the story out. Evan's sister Julia is an
interesting character and something of an enigma. The
subplot involving Julia is interesting without taking too
much of the focus off Sophie and Evan's romance.
THE EARL I ADORE is full of the romantic longing and raw
emotion that I adore. The characters are interesting and
have depth. The ending is extremely satisfying and fits the
characters and the story. I hope to see some of the
supporting characters, like Mr. Wright, in stories of their
own. I look forward to the next installment in
this Prelude to a Kiss series by Erin Knightley.
Sophie Wembley is about to discover two hard truths: When
planning a rushed betrothal, one must not be picky; and
when
the perfect earl happens by, one must not be shy.
After receiving word that her sister has eloped, even
ever-optimistic Sophie has trouble staying positive. She
needs to secure her future before the scandal destroys
her
prospects, although she doesn’t relish the idea of a
hasty
marriage. But her longtime crush has just shown up for
the
summer festival in Bath. He may be the key to avoiding
disgrace and getting a happily ever after - if she can
bring
herself to pursue him.
John “Evan” Fairfax, Earl of Evansleigh, is one of the
most
popular bachelors in the ton. However, his easygoing ways
hide a dark past he’s determined to keep secret. Evan has
always kept acquaintances at arm’s length for
self-preservation, but there’s something irresistible
about Sophie…and her seductive charms may well sway the
confirmed bachelor to seize a chance at love.