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A review by anovelreader
Surrender to the Earl by Gayle Callen
4.0
2020 got off to a rough start for me, so low conflict, comfort reads are really hitting the spot. I stumbled upon [b:The Arrangement|15797358|The Arrangement (The Survivors' Club, #2)|Mary Balogh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364250976l/15797358._SY75_.jpg|19754340] by [a:Mary Balogh|9759|Mary Balogh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1267712180p2/9759.jpg] which lead me to [b:The Captive|18487090|The Captive (Captive Hearts, #1)|Grace Burrowes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387513698l/18487090._SY75_.jpg|42447642] and now this. Like the others, Surrender to the Earl is a sweet historical romance between two genuinely good people that takes place in the English countryside. It includes a small but obvious mystery.
Audrey Blake, our heroine, is a blind widow who longs for nothing more than to escape her family home, where she is both carefully controlled and neglected. Robert Henslow, Earl of Knightsbridge, served with Audrey's late husband in India and, feeling some guilt over his death, offers her his assistance upon his return to England. Audrey leaps at the opportunity and so the couple fake an engagement to get Audrey away from her domineering family. Troubles at Rose Cottage, Audrey's inherited estate, keep Robert close to her side and soon h/H are questioning whether this fake relationship might turn real.
Both leading characters are admirable, have overcome tough situations in life, and generally treat one another well. I enjoyed Audrey's determination to live an independent life despite her disability and it was even better to see this through Robert's eyes and observe his feelings grow from friendship to perhaps something more. I never actually took that love language test, but have to think I'd be an "acts of service" kinda gal. 'Cause I was swooning over Robert's steadfast support as Audrey settled into her estate and, unlike the heroine, cheering along when he stood up for her.
The issues with the Rose Cottage staff and Audrey's relationship with her sister provided welcome subplots (even though I immediately guessed the "mystery"). As in many novels that use past traumas to delay a couple from a happy future together, the conflict felt contrived at times. It probably didn't help that the relationship is not settled until the very last pages.
Audrey Blake, our heroine, is a blind widow who longs for nothing more than to escape her family home, where she is both carefully controlled and neglected. Robert Henslow, Earl of Knightsbridge, served with Audrey's late husband in India and, feeling some guilt over his death, offers her his assistance upon his return to England. Audrey leaps at the opportunity and so the couple fake an engagement to get Audrey away from her domineering family. Troubles at Rose Cottage, Audrey's inherited estate, keep Robert close to her side and soon h/H are questioning whether this fake relationship might turn real.
Both leading characters are admirable, have overcome tough situations in life, and generally treat one another well. I enjoyed Audrey's determination to live an independent life despite her disability and it was even better to see this through Robert's eyes and observe his feelings grow from friendship to perhaps something more. I never actually took that love language test, but have to think I'd be an "acts of service" kinda gal. 'Cause I was swooning over Robert's steadfast support as Audrey settled into her estate and, unlike the heroine, cheering along when he stood up for her.
The issues with the Rose Cottage staff and Audrey's relationship with her sister provided welcome subplots (even though I immediately guessed the "mystery"). As in many novels that use past traumas to delay a couple from a happy future together, the conflict felt contrived at times. It probably didn't help that the relationship is not settled until the very last pages.