I Kissed An Earl by Julie Anne Long | Audio Review

Series: Pennyroyal Green, #4
Traits & Tropes: ship trip; illegitimate but titled hero; adventurous heroine; grumpy hero; enemies to lovers/forbidden romance; forced proximity; hero has never known love
Publication Date: 06.29.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England/Ocean trip
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Rating: 4.5.5
Narration Rating: 4/5

Violet Redmond’s ancient family name and fortune attracts suitors just as quickly as her penchant for games and troublemaking drives them away. She’s restless and bored and knows her only remedy is to find a man who can keep up with her and to learn what’s happened to her missing brother Lyon. She never imagined finding both those things in one man of decidedly disreputable heritage.

The newly named Earl of Ardmay, Asher Flint is whispered about in ballrooms as an American savage even as the ladies swoon over his good looks. Born out of wedlock and raised at sea, he’s determined to capture a pirate known to have killed his mentor. Violet can’t believe her brother would’ve turned pirate, at least not without good reason, and she’s determined to learn the truth. Her staunch belief in his innocence frustrates Asher even as he admires her courage and tenacity. Violet and Asher come together in an inevitable conflagration of passion that could end in painful betrayal or in each finding exactly what they always wanted.

This story had to grow on me, but I think it’s now my favorite of the series so far. I expected to be annoyed by spoiled, troublemaking Violet, but I just wound up liking her determination. Asher annoyed me with how long it took him to come around, but he made up for it with a fantastic declaration of love scene. Especially for a hero who has never experienced love, he did quite a good job expressing himself. I loved that no matter how surly Asher was and no matter how her feelings for him grew, Violet remained true to herself and to her brother, even if it meant sacrifice. This book did a good job of examining the lengths we’ll go to for true love and I really enjoyed that. Everything worked out in a way that satisfied me, which I wasn’t sure would happen there for a while. This book really worked for me and is now one of my favorite shipboard romances for sure.

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2281126768
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4046677533



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