ABL Review at a Glance
Title: Capturing the Earl
My Rating: 4
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Author: A.S. Fenichel
Format: ARC*
Publication Date: January 26, 2021
Blurb
The friendship of four young ladies has created an indestructible bond to protect one another from the perils of love and marriage…
After the demise of her friend’s disastrous marriage, Mercedes Parsons isn’t about to let the widowed Wallflower of West Lane, Lady Aurora Radcliff, undertake another perilous trip to the altar. At least, not before the bridegroom-to-be is thoroughly investigated. If only Mercy could stop her uncharacteristic daydreaming about Wesley Renshaw’s charm, his intellect, his dashing good looks. After all, the earl has already set his sights on her best friend! She must keep her wits about her and avoid giving into temptation.
Wesley is both irritated and intrigued by the machinations of Mercy—He cannot let her cleverness and beauty distract him. He needs to marry her friend, Aurora, so he can reclaim his family’s ancestral home. A wrong he has hoped to right his entire life. Besides, who is penniless spinster Mercedes Parsons to decide whom he can and cannot marry? Yet while he admires her unwavering loyalty to her friends, he decides it’s high time the misguided woman had a dose of her own medicine. Two can play at this spying game. But they are both embarked on a dangerous charade. And it won’t be merely Mercy’s reputation at risk—or her heart on the line—as Wesley comes to the inescapable conclusion that he has found the right woman at exactly the wrong time.
My Thoughts
I’m so happy to have the chance to catch up with the Wallflower girls again.
As with the first two books in the series, A.S. Fenichel writes a captivating Regency romance that any fan of the genre will enjoy. Her speciality is characters as they all seem to come alive in such different ways. That’s especially difficult for a time when women were not praised for their individuality, so writing realistic yet individual women characters is especially hard.
Capturing the Earl is the third installment and can definitely be read as a standalone, but I would suggest grabbing them all because they are such fun.
I particularly liked the love triangle that wasn’t, though I will say that Wesley’s pursuit of Aurora mad me uneasy at times. I had to remind myself that this was a time defined by duty and he felt he had an obligation to pursue the more rational partner.
Mercy’s sweet nature made for a very endearing heroine, even if I did want her to stand up for herself and her wants a little more. Then again, I understand that she felt torn about any relationship with Wesley and knew what he needed she couldn’t offer. It was a heartbreaking scenario that really pulled me into the story.
The romantic scenes were spot on and I felt the tension throughout. I honestly can’t wait until we get to Aurora’s story.
About the Author
A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful IT career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back.
A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.
Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in Missouri with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.
*Special thanks to A.S. Fenichel, Kensington Books, and Pump up Your Books for my copy of Capturing the Earl in exchange for an honest review.
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