What the Earl Needs Now by Michelle WillinghamMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book received from both Netgalley and Kindle Press for an honest review
This is the second book I've read by this author, though the first I saw in my wanderings. Spotted it on Netgalley in a 'Read Now' section. Investigated GoodReads to see what people thought of the book, didn't get far as I spotted that this was the second in a series; wandered over to first book, spotted it was a Kindle Unlimited book - investigated it, tried sample, sample turned into acquiring the KU book and reading it, which finally leads back to this book which I got while still needing to read roughly 30% of the prior book. Whereupon the prior book suddenly hit a slight issue that I termed 'icky' in my review. But completed that book, liked it, turned immediately to . . . a different book, but now back to this book here.
I started my review for the first book in this series by noting how the cover did not have the relatively common trope of having a shirtless man on the cover. And commenting on the fact that 1) the first meeting between the two main characters actually had the main male character shirtless; 2) that same guy kept losing his shirt in the book.
Which brings us to this book here. And I spot . . . a man losing his shirt on the book cover. Now this specific man is one who, it seems, would be less likely to be careless about his shirt. No, not because he is . . fastidious, but because he was tortured and physically abused while in captivity in India. Vague idea a guy like that wouldn't like to parade around shirtless. Careless about appearance, sure. Also he has super long hair and a beard in the book. At least in the opening section. I assume the cover does not represent the beginning of the book, or the male character would be huddled, have Fabio long hair, and a scruffy beard. And look super dirty, weak, and vaguely insane.
Right.
Series: This is the second book in a series, should the first be read before the second? Well, the characters that populate the first book, talking mostly about the background characters, reappear in book two. (view spoiler)And so - background characters in both books are same; setting is same (with the addition of Arnsbury property); different main characters. Though the secret relationship between Lily and Matthew was mentioned in book one - and shown in book two. So, back to that question, can you read book two without reading book one? I strongly advise reading book one before book two, especially if the reader ever desires reading book one. A specific scene that occurs in some detail in this book directly connected to the 'end-game' of book one.
Characters of the main: Two points of view, Matthew Larkspur (Earl of Arnsbury), and Lily Thornton (who is something around the age of 20 in this book . . . if I did the math right, and read the flashbacks right). Matthew is, I believe, 35 (based on a comment that he is 10 years older than James, and James was 23 before he went on his trip to India). Matthew, as noted, is an Earl. Lily is the daughter of an Earl; and while Matthew is away in India, Lily's father dies, and James becomes the Earl of Penford (and therefore Lily is also the sister of an Earl).
Story: For several years now, Lily's family have been attempting to marry her off to a rich fella who is the same age as Lily, and of a higher rank. But Lily first held them off by getting into a situation with Matthew, then held them off by the fact that the father died and people were in mourning. But people are out of mourning now, and while Matthew has returned, he is also considered to be insane. So, once again, the family is attempting to marry Lily off to someone she doesn't want to marry (partially this involves the family noting how Matthew is no longer acceptable so some other dude will have to do). Matthew, meanwhile, is attempting to 'get over' his experience of being brutally tortured and abused in India, while, at the same time, attempting to remember his relationship with Lily (which mostly starts off with him remembering her naked, and some vague sense that she is James sister). James, by the way, also has some romantic entanglements shown/revealed/discussed in the book though as a somewhat minor side story.
The book had some really neat animal related scenes - humorous and/or sweet, involving cats and dogs. Also, Lily, wishing to keep herself occupied, begins learning animal medicine with the encouragement of Matthew. Which is neat to see.
The romance is great, the characters are great, the conflict points . . . are occasionally bordering on over the top, but don't actually go over. All the way around a rather good book. Better than the first book in the series. Fun entertaining book.
Rating: 4.55
October 13 2017
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