Saturday, August 28, 2021

Series Review - First Comes Love

 

In this blog post, I will be reviewing the First Comes Love trilogy by Amelia Grey.


Title:  The Earl Next Door
Author Amelia Grey
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Genre:   Historical Romance
Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages:   294
Date of Publication:   May 28, 2019
My Rating:   3 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

What does a Wickfedly Wonderful Widow really want? One noble suitor is about to find out. . .

Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, is all on her own after her husband’s sudden death. The good news? Losing him allowed her to find herself. Finally, Adeline is free to do, go, and be as she pleases. She cherishes her newfound independence and is not looking for another man to wed. But seeking out a new lover? Well, that is a whole ’nother story. . .

Lord Lyon, son of the two-timing Earl of Marksworth, wishes to have a respectable, loving wife someday. When he meets the beautiful and self-reliant Adeline, Lyon is instantly smitten. But Adeline would rather have the handsome suitor in her bed than to take his hand in marriage. It’s a scandalous proposal—and one that’s hard for Lyon to refuse. Unless the fire of his passion can melt Adeline’s resolve. . .and he can find a way to be the Wickedly Wonderful Widow’s lover for all time?
Independence over propriety. That is exactly what Adeline, Dower Countess of Wake has in mind once she becomes widowed. She is looking for a new lover, simply put. Marriage is no longer on her agenda. When she meets Lord Lyon, who is actually looking for a wife, she turns the tables on him. They have a strong connection from the very beginning, however, they have different goals. Will the undeniable passion they share for one another change either of their goals?

I found this story by Amelia Grey to be a change of pace. Over and over again in these historical romance stories (okay, so I love reading them!) the heroes are often rakes, and unforgivable at that. In this story Adeline wants what she wants, and that does not include marriage. Completely unconventional and it actually caused me to drop a star for this review.

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Title:  Gone with the Rogue
Author Amelia Grey
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Genre:   Historical Romance
FormatKindle ARC
Date of Publication:   April 28, 2020
My Rating:   3 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

A powerful handsome rogue finally meets his match in Gone With the Rogue, the second book in the First Comes Love series from bestseller Amelia Grey.

She had an acceptable marriage of convenience. Now widowed, can this determined and beautiful mother find true and forever love?

The sinking of the Salty Dove took her husband’s life―but it didn’t drown Julia Fairbright’s courage to endure. She creates a proper life for herself and her young son. But now, the ton’s most notorious rogue is back in London, and how he makes Julia feel is anything but proper. She can’t deny the desires he awakens in her, even though she knows that the handsome devil will surely break her heart.

Garrett Stockton owns a successful shipping company and is rumored to have a woman on every continent and half-a-dozen in England. The truth, however, is that Garrett has but one mistress: the wide open sea. That is, until he meets Julia, whose spirit of independence matches his own. What begins as a flirtatious battle of wits turns far more passionate than either of them could have imagined. Suddenly, Garrett’s only desire is to sail into the sunset with Julia as his wife and young Chatwyn his son. But she won’t take his hand―how can he convince her that his love is real and his heart is hers?


MY THOUGHTS:

Just as in the first book of this series, we have another widow. This one is Julia Fairbright and she has defied convention and made a life for herself and her son. Meeting a notorious rogue soon begins to change Julia's outlook.

Garret Stockton may be a rogue with plenty of women in his past but there is one woman that just might change everything for him and that is Julia. They are a lot a like, and what is more they share an undeniable attraction to one another. Before long Garrett soon wonders if he will be ready to settle down, and not only become a husband, but a father as well.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

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Title:  How to Train Your Earl
Author:  Amelia Grey
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Genre:   Historical Romance
Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages:   352
Date of Publication:   April 27, 2021
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A roguish earl must fight using his honor and not his sword to win his lady's hand in How To Train Your Earl, the third book in the First Comes Love trilogy from bestseller Amelia Grey.

Brina Feld has settled into a life devoted to helping others since the sinking of the Salty Dove left her widowed. She has no need for a man in her contented life. But when the notorious and handsome Lord Blacknight returns and awakens her desires, her peace and serenity vanish. If she agrees to an alliance with him, she knows she will have to battle her heart to keep from being snared under his spell.

Zane, the Earl of Blacknight, was never supposed to inherit the earldom, so he didn't much care to lead a respectable life before then. Fistfights, card games, and drinking are the order of the day. Now he's determined to change his rakish ways and he knows the proper lady who can help him. There's just one problem: He's already bet he'll win her hand before the Season is over. With her resolve to out-scheme him, how can he show her that his love is true?


MY THOUGHTS:

Brina Feld is a widow. In a deed of heroic bravery, her husband lost his life when a ship called The Salty Dove wrecked. He saved several lives, but lost his. Brina swore never to marry again, instead plans on dedicating her life to help others. Although still in mourning, at her aunt's insistance, she attends a ball in Paris, looking utterly beautiful. Her aunt assured Brina that no one would recognize her, so she could let her hair down - literally and figuratively - at least for one night. By so doing, Brina inadvertantly catches Zane's eye. 

Zane didn't even want to be at the Ball, but now he is the Earl of Blacknight because two months ago his uncle and cousin perished when a bridge gave way, thus his title. Now he has a title and responsibilities he never wanted or expected, and one of the things Zane must now think about is marrying so that he can get an heir. If Zane doesn't have an heir, his errant cousin Robert could indeed become the Earl. 

Brina and Zane meet under unusual circumstances. She never wants to marry again. He needs to marry. Then there is a bet, a bet that involves Brina. The bet is that she will accept Zane's proposal and marry him by the end of the Season. Quite naturally, conflicts arise and then the game begins. What an enjoyable read and my favorite book in the trilogy. I enjoyed the banter between Brina and Zane as well as how their feelings for one another grew the more time they spent together. 

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times
and USA Today bestselling author Amelia Grey read her first romance book when she was thirteen. She’s been a devoted reader of love stories ever since.

Amelia has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful gulf coast of Northwest Florida.

She is a two-time winner of the prestigious Booksellers Best Award, and she has also won the Aspen Gold, and Golden Quill awards. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the Maggie Award. Amelia’s books have been published in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and Japan. Several of her books have been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs.



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