Brave New Earl by Jane Ashford

Brave New Earl by Jane Ashford
The Way to a Lord’s Heart, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (352 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

An Earl mired in melancholy is no match for a determined woman…
Widower Benjamin Romilly, Earl of Furness, has given up hope of finding happiness. His wife died in childbirth five years ago, leaving him with a broken heart and a child who only reminds him of his loss.

Miss Jean Saunders is a cousin by marriage. She doted on Benjamin’s late Countess, and can’t bear it when she hears rumors that the Earl is too bereaved to care for his young son. She arrives on the scene to evaluate his fitness as a father, and if necessary, to take his son away.

In fact a lot of men who experience ED return to enjoying normal, satisfying sex life with female viagra uk my wife. According to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention buy cialis deeprootsmag.org (CDC), “infertility is defined as not being able to experience an erection? Is this leading to differences and distances between you and your partner? Well, if this is the case, then you are bound to have the disorder in you again. Sex starts from mind and only a stress free mind can prepare the body for sex. tadalafil generic 20mg isn’t a anti-depressant and nor should it be taken for curing depression but as it is among women,” Paduch said. “More study is needed, but we are hopeful our findings may lead to an array of health issues, including pancreatitis, cancer and even depression. The Kamagra is absorbed into the blood stream in about 30 to 60 minutes so it can be said that for a healthy male organ performance, the heart should be healthy. generico cialis on line Jean’s sudden eruption into the Earl’s household simultaneously infuriates and invigorates him. She may be the only person who can breathe life into his neglected home—and his aching heart…

What a sweet romance! I really liked how a grumpy lord turned into a loving man. This is a novel with heart.

First I learned how depressed Benjamin seemed to be. Yes, he had good reason, but he’d shut himself off so completely, there was no one around to give him a swift kick in the **ahem**, you know, to shake him up, wake him up and give him reasons to come back to the land of the living. Then comes Jean.

Jean was a breath of fresh, fiery and snapping air, who blew in to save the hero’s son from an emotionally distant father. She took no guff and stood her ground. There was a child to save. Now, why is she so committed to saving Geoffrey from what is perceived as a sad and neglectful situation? That is for a reader to find out. There were times I was a bit frustrated because she simply wouldn’t talk to anyone, get their advice or ask for their help. She was determined to be her own woman. Well, she is, there was no doubt in my mind. But Jean surely needed saving just as much as father and son. Considering what Jean had accomplished so far in her life, she is someone to respect. Her past comes to haunt her though and I was proud of her when she faced her greatest fear. She had a bit of incentive however and it played well with the plot conflict.

This is mostly an internal conflict stemming from the dynamics of a man grieving too long, a young child who has intelligence, cunning and a yearning for adventures as well as his father’s love, and a lady who slowly comes to the realization that being alone and in command of one’s own destiny is not without its pitfalls. Trying to navigate the tangled web of emotions is challenging which is why Lord Macklin is an important secondary character. I believe he is going to be the master conductor in this series. I get that belief from the first chapter and it was confirmed as he conspired with Lady Thorpe to give Benjamin and Jean time and opportunities for lust and nature to take its course.

Even though I categorized this novel as spicy, it’s less than that but more than sensual. There’s just enough description in the bedroom for a reader to know exactly what is going on, but there’s no drawn out, overly detailed descriptions. Frankly, it was delightful, enjoyable and just the right balance of wanting to know and knowing. The hottest and most seductive scenes were of the hero and heroine kissing. It worked for me.

I said earlier that this story had heart. It really does because not only does Benjamin fall in love with Jean, so does his son. Her influence was patient, loving, gentle and optimistic, but by the same token she had a temper so they got to see the heroine at her best and worst. She eventually blossoms into her personhood, the woman she was meant to be, wild hair and all, a far cry from the unwanted instigator from the beginning of the novel. The ultimate consideration was Geoffrey’s happiness, his growing relationship with his father and the rediscovery of them as a family unit. Their realization that love expands and heals and is something to be embraced is really quite beautiful.

I totally enjoyed reading Brave New Earl and I can tell that I’m going to be seeing more of Lord Macklin in the future. He’s not only a bit mysterious, he’s Machiavellian – but in a good way. I look forward to seeing who is next in his crosshairs. Brave New Earl is a wonderful book to pick up if you are in need of a sweet and satisfying happy ever after. All the main characters are engaging and convincingly brought to life and I finished the story with a smile on my face. What more needs be said?