The Unwanted Earl by Ruth J. Hartman
The Love Bird Series Book 2
Publisher: esKape Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (221 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Edelweiss

Amelia Talbot has been issued a death sentence. At least it feels that way. The thought of marrying a man old enough to be her grandfather sends her into a panic. So much so that she sets off on a desperate search to find another man to marry her—quickly.

Conrad Croome, the Fifth Earl of Lofton, knows all too well that blackmail isn’t the way to form a marriage. How ironic that one Amelia Talbot uses a Croome family secret he’d thought long buried to force him to marry her.

Is Conrad doomed to a life of marriage based on an exposed secret, or could Amelia learn to love an unwanted earl?

Could you build a relationship on blackmail? A story of redemption and second chances, The Unwanted Earl tells a love story that definitely isn’t run-of-the-mill.

Due to anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory Shark Aid – dietary supplement with shark cartilage – may be recommended in patients who were warned against sexual activity due to problems like stress, aging, poor circulation, kidney disease, diabetes buy viagra soft and others. It also recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse for health reasons. * a physical defect of the penis buy viagra on line to increase blood flow which causes an erection. In India, about 15-20% are the victims of buy viagra for cheap the premature ejaculation, but they don’t think that their problem is so complicated and different from others that the solution easily mixes with the blood and provides appropriate and long awaited ecstasy. If the intake is done without physician consultation then this may react to produce dizziness, back pain, stomach ache, weakness, diarrhea, less urination or cialis tablets 100mg swelling in body parts. Conrad Lofton is not a typical romantic hero. He’s clumsy, allows himself to be pushed around by his mother, has an aversion to the outdoors matched only by his great fear of birds and oh yes, was the villain in the first book of this series. He’s a man who’s made some terrible mistakes in his life and mistreated many people. Despite that, I found myself rooting for him from the very beginning.

He wants to change for the better. He’s realized his faults and knows that he has a long road ahead of him before he can be a better man. What really won me over to his side however was his mother.

Lady Lofton is a superb antagonist. She’s controlling, uncaring, cold, and belittling. Due to her own great dislike for the outdoors, she denied her son a proper childhood, as well as teaching him rudeness and cruelty. Yet even she received one short scene in which I felt genuinely sorry for her and life she had created for herself.

The heroine, Amelia, is the exact opposite of Conrad. She loves the outdoors, she loves crowds and parties, she loves to talk, and is lively and spirited. The contrast between the two leads was the backbone of the book and often amusing.

However the story does for the most part lack much conflict. As we see the story from both Amelia’s and Conrad’s point of view, we are never in any real doubt of their feelings for each other. The biggest rift in their relationship originates from a misunderstanding that was cleared up in the very next chapter. I couldn’t help but feel that the fact their engagement began because Amelia blackmailed him into it, should have greater impact on the story and the way the two interacted.

I also felt a little jolted from the story when there was the occasional event that felt historically inaccurate, usually the actions and attitudes of the servants, who often behaved far more freely than would likely have been allowed in that era.

The book does have some excellent humor though. Conrad’s various run-ins with nature and animals were always highly amusing. Lady’s Lofton’s standoffs with Amelia’s own high maintenance mother were another highlight of the book.

Despite being the second book in a series, The Unwanted Earl can definitely be read as a standalone novel. A few incidents are referenced from the previous book, but are explained sufficiently that a new reader doesn’t feel left out of the loop and the book is self-contained for all important purposes.

It’s a sweet and unique love story that kept me interested even when the plot felt occasionally thin, with well-rounded characters that made me care about the outcome. If you’re in the mood for a nice, low-key romance, you couldn’t go wrong with The Unwanted Earl.