Book Review: Capturing the Earl's Love by Jane Lark
Capturing the Earl's Love (Marlow Intrigues #1.5) by Jane Lark Genre: Adult Fiction (Historical Romance) Date Published: May 29, 2014 Publisher: HarperImpulse
From Kindle bestselling Historical romance author, Jane Lark, comes a brand new FREE novella to accompany her breathtaking Marlow Intrigues series.
This novella tells the story of secondary characters from The Illicit Love of a Courtesan...
Rupert Stanforth, Earl of Morton, is exasperated by his sister's choice of friend. Meredith Divine clings, using Rowena's plain appearance as a foil for her auburn curls and fuller figure. He would break the friendship, but the more he complains, the more time the girls spend together. Ceasing his disagreement, he hopes the friendship will die, believing Meredith will take a wrong step soon...
Meredith clings to her only friend, Lady Rowena Stanforth, despite the disgusted looks thrown by Rowena's proud, judgmental brother. Lord Morton cannot abide Meredith because of her low standing, but Meredith's heart favours him . . . then in his single act of kindness, Meredith grasps an opportunity she cannot resist...
Capturing an Earl's Love is a book 1.5 in the Marlow Intrigues by Jane Lark. This little novella gives us the story of how Rupert and Meredith met. I think their romance was the smoothest of all the ones I've read so far in the Marlow Intrigues. They had a rough start because, Rupert was unsure of Meredith's intentions. It's funny because we usually wonder about the man's true intentions. So, it was a little bit of a role reversal than what you usually read which was a nice touch. I digress, these two were cute, and I enjoyed their story very much.
Capturing the Earl's Love by Jane Lark was kindly provided to me by the author & NetGalley for review. The opinions are my own.
Lord Rupert Stanforth, Earl of Morton, watched his sister, Rowena, approach. She was smiling, and her friend, Meredith Divine, clung to her arm. His gaze briefly passed over the other girl. He was increasingly convinced Miss Divine only kept Rowena as a friend because Rowena was the perfect foil to show off Miss Divine’s more striking looks. Her auburn curls glowed in the candlelight beside Rowena’s lacklustre, light-brown locks. Miss Divine was also slightly taller, and a little fuller in the bust. While they crossed the room, she appeared to press as close as she could to Rowena’s side, letting Rowena’s less impressionable looks make Miss Divine’s stand out among the white-clad debutantes in the ballroom. “Rupert…” His eyes focused on his sister once more. She was out of breath, having just completed a country dance, and her cheeks were flushed, while her eyes glowed, expressing the fun she was having. “I want to introduce Meredith to Ellen. Will you escort us and do the honours? Meredith is dying to meet her.” Mmm, now what is this little game? He glanced at Miss Divine only to receive a very bright but subtly restrained smile. She was trying to win his approval. He was not interested. He wished nothing to do with the little schemer. Her father was in some sort of trade. Rupert had not even wished Rowena to befriend Miss Divine, let alone become so thick with her. The two of them were inseparable; or rather, Miss Divine hung about Rowena like a moth around a flame. Except Miss Divine was no moth. Her beauty was far too vibrant. Rupert was Rowena’s guardian. Their father had passed on long ago, so Rupert was responsible for keeping his sister safe. It fell to him to help her choose her friends wisely. Yet the more he disparaged Miss Divine, the more Rowena favoured the girl. He’d ceased his complaints. Their friendship had still blossomed. He’d hoped it would wither and die back. It had not—yet. He expected Miss Divine to make a wrong step soon though, one which would open his sister’s eyes, and end this arm-in-arm behavior.
Check out my reviews of a few of Jane Lark's other books:
Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional love stories. She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis. When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write a book. Now Jane is writing both Regency and New Adult novels and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others’ imaginations at last. Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development, and uses her knowledge of people to bring her characters to life. ‘Basically I love history and I’m a sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it’s wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction, and my understanding of people helps me write the really intense relationships I enjoy developing. I like writing characters who will capture your attention from the moment you open my book.’ Jane is a member of the Society of Authors, the Romance writers of America, Romance Novelists Society and the Historical Novelists Society To learn more about Jane Lark and her books, visit her website & blog.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.