The Earl Takes All

March 7, 2016
Heath draws together a couple whose genuine passion and love are hard to resist in her second Hellions of Havisham Regency (after Falling into Bed with a Duke). Edward Alcott is shocked to become the new Earl of Greyling after his identical twin is killed on the safari that was to be their last big adventure together before the birth of the earl’s heir. Worrying that the news of the earl’s death would cause his wife, Lady Julia, to miscarry—a concern in keeping with the era’s limited understanding of maternal medicine—Edward keeps it secret that the earl has died, announces his own death instead, and poses as his brother until the baby is born. Heath delicately allows Julia to mourn her brother-in-law while giving her enough intuition to realize that the husband who has returned from Africa seems somehow changed—and she quite likes the changes. Inevitably, the former ne’er-do-well Edward must reveal the truth to Julia; quite realistically, she is appalled and saddened to realize her actual husband has died. Edward’s deception creates several barriers to happiness, and once he and Julia realize they’d like to continue being spouses, they must overcome an ancient English law that forbids relatives by marriage to marry each other. Readers will eagerly follow Edward and Julia’s pursuit of an unusual happy ending. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House.

Narrator Helen Lloyd delivers a pleasing performance of a historical romance with some difficult plot elements. The second installment of the Hellions of Havisham series can stand alone, though followers of the series may be more invested in the characters. In this story, the deception of a man posing as his dead twin makes for plenty of tension, and redemption often seems uncertain. Lloyd delivers the right balance of emotion and poshness for these upper-crust characters, though at times it's difficult to discern which lord or lady is speaking. If listeners can suspend disbelief at some of the plot twists and go along for the ride, they'll enjoy Lorraine Heath's latest outing. L.C.L. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine