Lady Emily Vale wants to help society as much as she can,
and while donning the appearance of Lady Justice her
pamphlets and ideas have changed many lives. When her sister
turns up missing she must ask for the help her domineering
arch nemesis, Colin Gray, Earl of Egremoor. He might be the
last man she wants in her life, but when unforeseen
circumstances strand them in the Scottish countryside their
misunderstandings might just turn into true love.
THE EARL by Katharine Ashe is a pleasant romance many Ashe
fans will enjoy. Emily is an independent and compassionate
heroine, and though at times a bit judgmental this makes her
all the more human. I'm not sure how I feel about Emily
taking the name Zenobia, especially when no one else in the
story call her by this name. When I read this name during
Emily's scenes I find myself jolted out of the story. Colin
is a wonderful romance hero, who secretly has a good heart
and tries his best to do what is right. He seems
intelligent, and knows plenty of intelligent women, yet he
refuses to believe Justice is a woman, and this I find hard
to believe. However, Emily and Colin are a perfect for each
other, and their romance was tension filled and sweet.
The setting Ashe has written is very well done. The Scottish
countryside is really brought to life, and Ashe uses the
trouble Emily and Colin get into to bring the rugged
mountains and forests to life. The secondary characters,
such as Emily's French maid are delightful and bring some
humor to the story, and Pip really brings out the best in
Colin. The mystery and the plot twists help move the plot
along at a nice pace, and the ending will live readers
satisfied. THE EARL is a fine read with a gorgeous setting
and a wonderful mystery.
How does a bookish lady bring an arrogant lord to his knees?
Entice him to Scotland, strip him of titles and riches, and
make him prove what sort of man he truly is.
Opposites…
Handsome, wealthy, and sublimely confident, Colin Gray, the
new Earl of Egremoor, has vowed to unmask the rabble-rousing
pamphleteer, Lady Justice, the thorn in England’s paw. And
he’ll stop at nothing.
Attract.
Smart, big-hearted, and passionately dedicated to her work,
Lady Justice longs to teach her nemesis a lesson in
humility. But her sister is missing, and a perilous journey
with her archrival into unknown territory just might turn
fierce enemies into lovers.
Excerpt
The moon had ceded the night to the stars when she arrived
at the meeting place they had agreed upon via letter: a
small ancient cemetery surrounded by a fence and hedges on a
street still busy with carriages and horse traffic. A long
black cloak and veil aided the dark in disguising her.
Her coachman walked beside her, but he would not accompany
her to the meeting. For all his taunting, Peregrine did not
frighten her. A man who dedicated his leisure time to
rescuing strays was unlikely to harm a lone woman.
The cobbles shimmered with rain as she gestured for Jonah to
remain across the street. Lamps lit this part of London
irregularly, and the break in the wall was in shadow. Beside
the gate stood an enormous man.
“Ma’am.” The behemoth bowed. “He awaits you within.”
It was immediately clear why Peregrine had suggested this
place. The thick hedge within the walls created a bower of
privacy and the gravestones scattered unevenly throughout
made swift escape impossible.
He had staged the situation to his advantage too. He stood
among the stones not four yards away, a lamp on the ground
behind him casting him in silhouette. He was tall, and the
breadth of his shoulders and solid stance suggested a man of
fine physical conditioning. The night was mild and he wore
no hat or overcoat—nothing to disguise him.
He was entirely willing for her to know his true identity.
The gate creaked closed behind her.
“Good evening, madam,” he said into the darkness. “It is a
pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I have looked
forward to this moment for years. But, of course, you
already know that.” His voice was smooth and low, far from
menacing, rather intimate, and shockingly, unbelievably,
horribly familiar.
Only hours earlier this elegant voice had proposed marriage
to her.
“I am Gray,” he said. “Now remove that veil and tell me your
name.”
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