Series: First Comes Love, #1
Tropes & Traits: titled hero; widowed heroine
Publication Date: 05.28.19
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England
Heat Level: 3/5
Rating: 3/5 stars
Since the death of her controlling husband Adeline, the Dowager Countess of Wake, is finally able to attain some freedom. She's focused on the girls' boarding school she's established with her two best friends and has no interest in marrying and being under a man's thumb again. However, that doesn't stop her fierce attraction to her neighbor, the Earl of Lyonwood.
To his father, the Marquis of Marksworth's chagrin, Lyon has eschewed taking a mistress and wants a wife he truly loves, rather than one whose sole purpose is to produce heirs. When he meets his fiery and independent neighbor, Adeline, Lyon is instantly intrigued. Soon he finds himself longing to make Adeline his but she still doesn't want to marry and suggests they become loves instead. But Lyon wants more than half measures and stealthy liaisons. What Lyon feels for Adeline is too deep for him to accept that sort of relationship with her. He just has to convince her that a marriage to him will be different than her previous experience.
This book was rather different from others I've read, which I did like. Adeline's refusal to be open and honest with Lyon even after he opened up to her made me dislike her. Her insistence on generalizing behaviors without hearing him out was not what I expected from such a freethinking lady. I found her to be a rather contradictory character in her treatment of Lyon versus her treatment of the schoolgirls and that made her less likable for me as well. Lyon wasn't necessarily likable all the time himself but I loved that he stood up to Adeline and didn't let her push him around either. These two were constantly butting heads and creating tons of sexual tension, which I appreciated, but Adeline's desire to have her cake and eat it too, at the expense of the feelings of the man she supposedly loves, was off-putting for me and just made her seem selfish and rather hypocritical.
I don't want to add any spoilers, but the final catalyst for Adeline actually accepting Lyon wasn't enough for me; it had nothing to do with him really and didn't demonstrate her being willing to truly chose him and I think he deserved more than that. We also didn't ever find out Lyon's real name which was a minor annoyance for me. Unpopular opinion here it seems, but this was maybe 3.5 stars for me. The story itself was fine and fast-paced, but I just didn't really connect with the main characters; I was more interested in the secondary characters and I do look forward to their stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To his father, the Marquis of Marksworth's chagrin, Lyon has eschewed taking a mistress and wants a wife he truly loves, rather than one whose sole purpose is to produce heirs. When he meets his fiery and independent neighbor, Adeline, Lyon is instantly intrigued. Soon he finds himself longing to make Adeline his but she still doesn't want to marry and suggests they become loves instead. But Lyon wants more than half measures and stealthy liaisons. What Lyon feels for Adeline is too deep for him to accept that sort of relationship with her. He just has to convince her that a marriage to him will be different than her previous experience.
This book was rather different from others I've read, which I did like. Adeline's refusal to be open and honest with Lyon even after he opened up to her made me dislike her. Her insistence on generalizing behaviors without hearing him out was not what I expected from such a freethinking lady. I found her to be a rather contradictory character in her treatment of Lyon versus her treatment of the schoolgirls and that made her less likable for me as well. Lyon wasn't necessarily likable all the time himself but I loved that he stood up to Adeline and didn't let her push him around either. These two were constantly butting heads and creating tons of sexual tension, which I appreciated, but Adeline's desire to have her cake and eat it too, at the expense of the feelings of the man she supposedly loves, was off-putting for me and just made her seem selfish and rather hypocritical.
I don't want to add any spoilers, but the final catalyst for Adeline actually accepting Lyon wasn't enough for me; it had nothing to do with him really and didn't demonstrate her being willing to truly chose him and I think he deserved more than that. We also didn't ever find out Lyon's real name which was a minor annoyance for me. Unpopular opinion here it seems, but this was maybe 3.5 stars for me. The story itself was fine and fast-paced, but I just didn't really connect with the main characters; I was more interested in the secondary characters and I do look forward to their stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2621978849?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
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