Review: "A Summer with the Earl" by Maude Winters

A Summer with the Earl: An Age-Gap Billionaire Instalove Fake Relationship Romance by Maude Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After graduating from university in Canada, Princess Sabine of Kent returns to London to take up her responsibilities as a working royal before starting a graduate law course in the fall. She and her sister Margaux will spend the summer on display for the eligible bachelors of their social class in the hopes of attracting a husband. The problem is that Sabine has no interest in marriage, at least not yet. That's not to say that she has no interest in men or dating, however. When she meets Malcolm Ferguson, the son and heir of the Duke of Lauderdale, at an event hosted by her parents, the attraction between them immediately burns white hot. Like Sabine, Malcolm's parents are pressuring him to get married and produce an heir, but he has no interest in giving up his carefree life as a London barrister. Quickly realizing that a fake relationship would benefit them both, Sabine and Malcolm agree to spend the summer pretending to fall in love. When the summer draws to a close, will they be able to part as friends or will they find that that their pretend feelings have become very real?

This story is a prequel to the Regency and Rivalry series, and just as in those books, Maude Winters has created a fun and engaging royal world. Malcolm and Sabine were both quite likeable and surprisingly relatable, and despite their age difference, they had a lot in common. I really liked them together and was rooting for them from the moment they met.

That said, some of the spicy scenes went beyond my personal comfort zone. This is obviously an individual preference and there are many readers who will absolutely adore this aspect of the story. For me, however, the first half of the book focused a bit too much on the steam and not enough on the growing emotional connection between Sabine and Malcolm. The second half of the book was better IMO, and I particularly felt for Malcolm's family situation and the challenges it presented for his relationship with Sabine. I was satisfied with where they ended up and the genuine connection I sensed between them.

Overall, I enjoyed "A Summer with the Earl" and would recommend it for all fans of steamy contemporary romance. I look forward to the author's next release.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Release Blitz + Review: "Falling" by Willow Aster

I'm happy to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Falling" by Willow Aster, book #4 of the Landmark Mountain series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

After learning that he's only marrying her to get his hands on her parents' land, Ruby Jones leaves her fiance at the altar and flees Utah in her vintage RV. She heads to her uncle's home in the small town of Landmark Mountain, Colorado only to find that he's traveling for the next few weeks. His neighbor, Callum Landmark, offers Ruby and her emu, Dolly, a place to stay. When grumpy Callum and sunshine Ruby form an unlikely attachment, will they fight their feelings or find themselves falling for each other despite the obstacles standing in their way?
 

For the most part, I enjoyed Ruby and Callum's story, though I must admit that it wasn't my favorite book of the series. It's difficult to explain without getting into spoilers, but the pacing of their relationship development felt off to me; it was a bit too slow in the first half of the book but a bit too fast in the second half. That said, I did like them as a couple and found them both to be quite endearing and relatable. Their interactions with the animals were entertaining, and it was great to catch up with Callum's siblings and their partners. In fact, I think the Landmark siblings' teasing banter was actually my favorite part of the story.

I'd recommend "Falling" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series.

 

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Falling"

When Little Miss Sunshine and a Hot, Grumpy Rancher are forced to live together, what could possibly go wrong?

 

To the small town of Landmark Mountain, Callum Landmark is a man of few words and considered to be the family grump. Uninvited and unexpected, I crash into his world like a wrecking ball and disrupt the delicate balance of his carefully constructed existence.

Forced to live together due to my life's unexpected adventure, I find that the more time I spend with him, the more I see beneath his impenetrable exterior and into the heart of the man that not many are privileged to witness.

And against all odds, that vulnerability draws me in, tugging at the strings of my heart with an undeniable force. Coupled with his love for animals—nothing could be more charming than to watch this sexy, rugged rancher and animal whisperer at work.

But our connection is forged at the worst possible timing. I'm running from past mistakes, and meeting Callum has me jumping headfirst into a whirlwind of new complications. Yet, I can't resist his allure and the sizzling tension between us.

As I navigate the twists and turns of my new life in this quaint town, I can't help but wonder if falling for Callum might be the most unpredictable adventure of all.

Falling is book four in the standalone Landmark Mountain series.