Veena’s review of Waiting for an Earl Like You (Masters of Seduction, Book 3) by Alexandra Hawkins
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 03 Jan 16
This is a fun Regency romp with twins who switch identities to keep things interesting. Thorn has always been somewhat jealous of their next door neighbor Olivia’s relationship with his twin Gideon, but when he meets her again all grown up into a beautiful woman, he can’t resist pretending to be Gideon and stealing a few kisses. Can she tell the twins apart? Who will she chose?
Olivia, Gideon, and Thorn have romped together on their families’ adjoining country estates. The sparks that have always been there between Thorn and Olivia flare into a full-blown conflagration when they run into each other at his parent’s house party. Olivia and Gideon have sneaked away to go boating on the lake when Thorn comes upon them and they all end up in the water. After braving the gauntlet of the Ton’s glares and her stepmother’s wrath, Olivia retreats for some much needed peace in the family gazebo, only to exchange sweet kisses with Thorn pretending to be Gideon.
Fast forward to the season in London where Thorn and Gideon live next door to Olivia’s father’s summer rental. Thorn takes every opportunity to seduce Olivia while pretending to be his twin as well as looking out for her. As the play between Thorn and Olivia heats up, they get caught making out by her father and Thorn mans up to do the honorable thing with a pretend engagement.
Olivia is a feisty heroine who is determined to forge her own path, even as she succumbs to Thorn’s practiced seduction. She chooses who she wants to be friends with regardless of the political consequences or Thorn’s desires. Thorn’s friends are fun as they get into the various scrapes that young single men of the ton seem to get up to. There’s definitely something brewing between Gideon and Thorn, but the author chooses to leave this a mystery for now.
There are a lot of undercurrents in this story that will be lost if you haven’t read the previous two books, but most particularly the earlier book in the series. The Marquess of Norgrave plays a cameo role in this story that will definitely surprise readers who have read the earlier books. All in all, a fun if slow-paced read.
Grade: C+
Summary:
LOVE ISN’T ALWAYS WHAT IT SEEMS.
Justin Reeve Netherwood, Earl of Kempthorn—a.k.a. Thorn—has never cared much for his neighbor’s daughter. But his twin brother, Gideon, befriended the wild, reckless, and wholly inappropriate Miss Olivia Lydall in youth, and two have been close ever since. So when Olivia finds herself in a state of romantic conflict and seeks out Gideon for advice, he’s only too pleased to oblige. Only problem: The man Olivia is speaking to is Thorn. And now it’s too late for him to tell Olivia the truth…
Thorn always believed that Olivia was too smitten with Gideon for her own good. So what’s the harm in steering her away from him? But Thorn’s charade turns out to be anything but harmless once he begins to see Olivia for who she really is: A woman full of spirit and passion…and someone he can’t live without. But how can Thorn claim Olivia’s heart when their deepening connection—and burning desire—is built on lies and deceit?
Other books in this series:
