You Never Forget Your First Earl

by Ella Quinn Narrated by Cat Gould

Overview

In this Regency romance, an English aristocrat needs a wife for his post, but the woman he chooses is searching for love.



With her three good friends all recently married, Elizabeth Turley is ready for some husband-hunting of her own. One gentleman in particular sparks her interest. Geoffrey, Earl of Harrington, is tall, handsome, and dashing. He's also just a bit too sure of himself. But Elizabeth has observed enough about the rules of attraction to pique the earl's attention. Yet once she has it, the discovery of a troubling secret taints her future happiness . . .



Lord Harrington must marry or lose a prestigious position in Brussels, and pretty, well-connected Elizabeth fits his needs admirably. But could it be that he has underestimated his bride? She doesn't bat an eye in the face of the danger they encounter overseas. She's strong-willed, intelligent, and more enticing each day-yet also more indifferent to him. Now Geoffrey faces his greatest challenge: to woo and win his own wife, or risk losing her for good . . .


Contains mature themes.

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

2018-05-01
An aristocrat departing for a diplomatic mission amid the Peninsular War seeks a capable wife, but the gentlewoman he pursues is hoping for love.An extension of the Worthington series, the novel stars Miss Elizabeth Turley, a friend of that family. Having witnessed many love matches, Elizabeth aspires for a passionate connection with her future husband. But Geoffrey, Lord Harrington, just wants a speedy wedding with a suitable woman so he can take up his first posting in Europe, where the allies wait for Napoleon's final move. Aware of his practical reasons, Elizabeth is still crushed when she overhears him discussing her after their wedding without mentioning love; cue a wholly predictable conflict. While Elizabeth's desire for love is standard in a romance, her insistence on it from a man she barely knows becomes tiresome. Other than this driving motivation, moreover, she is an undistinguished character, lacking individuality except for some glimmers in the last quarter of the novel. Perhaps Quinn (The Marquis and I, 2018, etc.) is relying on readers' already knowing both protagonists from the previous novels, but as a stand-alone story, this one fails to develop them. The slow buildup to the couple's wedding and estrangement and the journey to Brussels are also colored by scenes in which their family and friends teach them tactics that echo Cosmo articles on finding a man or podcasts about intimate relationships and behavior modification. The scheming would be comedic if the novel had a sense of playfulness; instead it aims for a dramatic tone that the characters don't have the depth to pull off.Recommended for readers of the series as a coda for the characters introduced earlier. Otherwise, the only appeal might be the brief climax that resembles Georgette Heyer's Spanish Bride romance-during-war narrative.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176395426
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	06/29/2021
Series:	Worthingtons , #5
Edition description:	Unabridged

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