What I am reading this week
For today’s TBR Thursday I have The Earl by Katharine Ashe. I actually pre-ordered this book before it came out and couldn’t put it down upon it’s release. I finished it in one day. It seems one of my last Wednesday Reads post was a Katharine Ashe book as well. What can I say, this author is on my auto-buy list.
Rating
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Loveability: 💗💗💗
Heartbreakability: 💔💔
Why I chose this book
I have been eagerly awaiting The Earl since The Rogue accompanied me on my trip to England in March. A crossover book, it is the last of the Falcon Club and the second in the Devil’s Duke series of books. I am such a sucker for the Falcon Club. The characters are all so unique and fun and quirky. Though Viola may possibly be my favorite of the heroines.
Lady Pirate, need I say more?
About the book… don’t worry, there are NO spoilers!
What’s not to love about a strong independent woman and the arrogant man who believes he is obligated to wed her. The history between Lady Justice and Peregrine is so well woven into the story and explains so much of their initial animosity. It is also the binding which holds them together, making them stronger throughout their adventure. And beneath it all, just there, is the underlying sensual attraction between them. Simmering just under the surface until it boils over in a frantic and fantastic way. But this is not just sexual encounter — it is a reconnect between them; a meeting of the minds as well as the bodies that has each of them giving up a little of themselves in the process.
And, of course, that’s when it all goes wrong.
What I enjoyed about it
The heart of the story is Lady Justice v. Peregrine — a showdown six books in the making. Yet it goes so much deeper than just an antagonistically friendly public feud between to mysterious individuals. I had my suspicions as to who Lady Justice was back in How a Lady Weds a Rogue, and even after all is revealed to the reader, l loved how it remained a mystery to Peregrine.
Peregrine — I can’t use his name here, it’ll give away too much — but Peregrine…sigh. He gives me goosies…
I must say, my favorite surprise would have to be Lady Justice’s father. While even his own daughter thinks him a somewhat lax guardian, he has known about her activism for years, keeping her secret life to himself. In his brief appearance in the book, I see much of my own father in him, quietly cheering her on over her writings.
Not that I have a secret life or anything.
In all seriousness, It was a pleasure seeing these two characters grow over the course of the book, really over the course of the six books. I always like watching characters realize their preconceived notions of the other are completely wrong, and the rekindling of the friendship-turned antagonism-turned-sexual attraction-turned-full understanding was especially gratifying in this instance.
Is this an author I’ve read before?
Yes. Absolutely. Katharine Ashe is on my auto-buy list. :)
What keeps me coming back for more?
The depth of character development, the complexity of the story, the wit of the characters… it all adds up to a multiple memorable books.
The Earl is full of excitement, adventure, strong opinions, stronger convictions and a deeply hidden love between the characters. So go, read Katharine Ashe’s books – I highly recommend the Falcon Club and Devil’s Duke series. But whatever you do, SAVE THE EARL FOR LAST! No exceptions…well, until The Duke comes out, Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. :)