You’re the Earl that I Want
The Lords of Worth, Book #3
By Kelly Bowen
IBSN: 9781455583881
Author’s website: http://www.kellybowen.net
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Una
Synopsis
THE EARL DOTH PROTEST . . .
For businessman Heath Hextall, inheriting an earldom has been a damnable nuisance. The answer: find a well-bred, biddable woman to keep his life in order and observe the required social niceties. But it’s always been clear that Lady Josephine Somerhall is not that woman. Once a shy slip of a girl, Joss is now brilliant, beautiful chaos in a ball gown.
. . . BUT THE LADY KNOWS BEST
In her heart, Joss has always loved Heath, the one person she’s always been able to count on. That doesn’t mean she wants to marry him though. Without a husband, Joss can do as she pleases-and now, it pleases her to solve the mystery of an encoded file given to Heath by a dying man. It’s put Heath in peril once, and Joss won’t let that happen again. She’ll do what she must to ensure the earl’s safety. And to remind him that what she lacks in convention, she makes up for in passion
Review
Lady Josephine Summerhall is unusual for the time period. She doesn’t want to get married. As she puts it so eloquently she certainly doesn’t want a life where her main duties would be to plan the next meal, run the house and produce an heir and a spare. Joss as she is known to family and friends is well travelled, well educated, can speak many languages and can shoot when necessary. Joss has always loved Heath Hextall however when he inherits the earldom she also knows she does not want to marry him. When Joss and Heath become involved in a mystery involving an encoded file both work together to find the solution. Joss is determined to keep Heath safe and in doing so finds that she is becoming more and more attracted to him. He brings out a passion in her that cannot be extinguished. How can she keep Heath without the conventional marriage that is expected?
Inheriting the Earldom has been Heath Hexthalls worst nightmare. He knows to survive in society he will have to marry to keep his life in order. Meeting Josephine Somerhall at a ball he notices that she has grown into a beautiful and outspoken woman, certainly not wife material. Thrown together after the ball when he is given an encoded file from a dying man, Heath realizes that Joss has many abilities that will be useful. Reluctantly he uses her language abilities to help unravel the code. As they work together he realizes that he is falling in love with her. Knowing Joss is never going to agree to a conventional marriage Heath must think of a way to win her affection.
Kelly Bowen has again written a fast paced and easy to read historical novel. I loved the complexity of the characters and the flow of the story. It not only had the love story but a good mystery as well. An absolutely delightful summer read and I look forward to more Kelly Bowen books!
