ARC Review: Empowered by the Earl (Second Sons of London #3) by Alexa Aston
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Series: Second Sons of London #3
Author: Alexa Aston
Published May 24th 2022 by Dragonblade Publishing
Goodreads Synopsis
First sons inherit all. Third sons are promised to the church. Second sons do their duty and serve in the military—unless fate intervenes and turns their lives upside down.
Welcome to Second Sons of London, a new Regency Historical Romance series by bestselling author Alexa Aston, where seven men who are second sons lay claim to fabulous wealth and lofty titles and fulfill their destinies when they find their soulmates.
A self-assured earl who doesn’t like rules. A poised beauty mature beyond her years. Neither thinks they want or need love . . .
Major Owen Hasbury returns from the Napoleonic Wars as the new Earl of Danbury. He’s ready to enjoy life and make love to as many women as he can before settling down and siring an heir. His attitude irks his two closest friends, men who have come into recent titles and made love matches.
Louisa Goulding has a reputation as a bit of a bluestocking. She has served as her father’s hostess since her mother’s death years ago and has been an active part of the meetings in their home with her father’s War Office colleagues, giving her little time for social events. With the war over, Louisa wants to fully participate in the Season and finally live a life for herself, finding a husband who will give her children.
At the insistence of mutual friends, Louisa and Owen meet. She calls him out as a rake, telling him she won’t waste any time on him. But her beauty and intelligence intrigue Owen. He becomes friends with Louisa, even teaching her how to kiss, finally realizing the perfect woman is right before him.
Can Owen convince Louisa that he has changed—or will he lose her to another lord at the house party they attend together?
Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston’s Empowered by the Earl, the third book in Second Sons of London.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Louisa Goulding has seen her two beloved cousins marry, and start families, and she's ready for her own future. After years being hostess for her widowed father, she's finally having a Season for herself, with the hope of finding a partner, but none of the gentlemen have caught her eye. When she's invited to her cousin, Adalyn's, home for the winter, and to prepare for the birth of her child, she meets Major Owen Hasbury, friend of her in-laws, and newly minted Earl of Danbury. Owen plans on waiting to get married, but knows that Adalyn will likely start matchmaking, and when he and Louisa meet, it seems he was right. Though neither think the other will suit - Owen is too much of a rake, and Louisa wants to marry for love, and children - the longer they spend together, as friends, it's clear that they are struggling to not blur the line between love and friendship.
Since reading the first two books in the series, I've been waiting for Louisa's story, and am so glad with how it turned out. She's put herself on the shelf while being her father's hostess, and now ready to marry, the men she meets are too concerned about their wealth or looks, and don't want an intelligent, older woman to marry. She needs someone she can talk - and argue - with, and who will challenge her, and not expect her to be a trophy wife. Owen is perfect for that, though they don't have the best first impression, nor though they see each other are a credible partner. I loved that Owen seemed to fall harder, first, and he was willing to fight to show Louisa that he was the one for her, but also willing to step aside if she decided she didn't want him. He never took away her autonomy or freedom, and rather praised her mind and intelligence more than anything. I'm not sure what the next books will bring - I don't think we've met any of their main characters, but I'm looking forward to them!
Dates Read:
May 22, 2022
Rating
3 Stars
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