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To Love An Earl
A woman of remarkable beauty and indomitable will, Deirdre Fenton is determined to extricate her incorrigible brother from his latest escapade - a dalliance with a renowned actress rumoured to be enjoying carte blanche with the infamous rake and war hero, the Earl of Rathbourne. Despite her memories of the night the Earl nearly ravished her senseless - inflaming her fury and her passions - Deirdre intends to straighten out her brother, and then find a husband who will be steady and faithful. She wants no part of love, or its inevitable heartbreak.
A master strategist on the battlefield and off, Rathbourne discovers trying to breach the defenses of a woman who refuses to believe in happy endings is an uphill battle. And after five years of waiting to put Deirdre in her rightful place - in his home, his bed, and his heart - he's not above putting his considerable powers of persuasion to work. Firmly convinced passion is a battlefield where love conquers all, he vows to lead them both to victory...with the tender mercies of the heart
A master strategist on the battlefield and off, Rathbourne discovers trying to breach the defenses of a woman who refuses to believe in happy endings is an uphill battle. And after five years of waiting to put Deirdre in her rightful place - in his home, his bed, and his heart - he's not above putting his considerable powers of persuasion to work. Firmly convinced passion is a battlefield where love conquers all, he vows to lead them both to victory...with the tender mercies of the heart
476 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
5 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Thornton
66 books153 followersMary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 11, 2020
This book has many of the ingredients that I usually dislike in my romances.
Like an exhausting amount of push pull that can leave one quite dizzy and eager to get off the particular Ferris wheel. And I can never stand a stony, self-righteous h whose feelings for the H are ambivalent for most of the book. And for whom the H never comes first.
But what works for the book is the intense, irrefutable connection between the mcs, making it a thoroughly satisfying read with never a dull moment or letting up of pace at any point. Most books turn dull when all the cards are laid out on the table, but not this book!
And I see people have either loved it or hated it.
And the hate is for one out of two reasons. The h or the H.
I loved them both and I loved their love-hate story.
Because I love intense, passionate love stories (if they can convince me without hamming it. )
Like an exhausting amount of push pull that can leave one quite dizzy and eager to get off the particular Ferris wheel. And I can never stand a stony, self-righteous h whose feelings for the H are ambivalent for most of the book. And for whom the H never comes first.
But what works for the book is the intense, irrefutable connection between the mcs, making it a thoroughly satisfying read with never a dull moment or letting up of pace at any point. Most books turn dull when all the cards are laid out on the table, but not this book!
And I see people have either loved it or hated it.
And the hate is for one out of two reasons. The h or the H.
I loved them both and I loved their love-hate story.
Because I love intense, passionate love stories (if they can convince me without hamming it. )
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March 29, 2022
Gorgeous, complex, emotional - the pinnacle of Thornton's writing career. I think I detect a real Heyer-esque touch about it, too, minus of course the sheer eroticism.
Deirdre Fenton is a sharp-witted young lady dedicated to the care of her younger brother, Armand. Quite by chance she comes across the path of Gareth, Earl of Rathbourne - a man who once begged her to run away with him, before she slapped him across the face so hard he scarred and told him she didn't care if a bullet found him.
So yeah, he's not thrilled with her. But he's still obsessed with her. This one shrewish little chit has a hardened rake pretty much burning up inside for her, and it all started when - incensed he'd dismissed her as just another simpering debutante - she set out to fleece him of all his money at cards. I find the way she catches his attention rather adorable, and it's written in such a way as to make it seriously work.
When she puts herself back into his power, Gareth is quick to take advantage of her misstep to press her into marriage again. They just anticipate their vows a little... and the next morning she's gone. Thus begins the angstier bit of the novel, which occurs against a surprisingly detailed and rich backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Considering many HRs nowadays treat the Regency setting as so much wallpaper, it was lovely to see how Thornton had laboured to put in real people and language.
Yes, Deirdre can be a real bitch sometimes. But Gareth was more than a match for her, and I'm utterly in love with them both. He might be obsessed with her, but he knows exactly what he's getting into with her, and she softens over the course of the book. We have so many of my favourite tropes here, including a strident heroine eventually tempered by love; a hero who pulls out all the stops and whose domineering behaviour is countered by the heroine's sheer stubbornness; plenty of dubcon sprinkled on top...
For full disclosure, there is OW drama, but nothing unforgivable IMO.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Deirdre Fenton is a sharp-witted young lady dedicated to the care of her younger brother, Armand. Quite by chance she comes across the path of Gareth, Earl of Rathbourne - a man who once begged her to run away with him, before she slapped him across the face so hard he scarred and told him she didn't care if a bullet found him.
So yeah, he's not thrilled with her. But he's still obsessed with her. This one shrewish little chit has a hardened rake pretty much burning up inside for her, and it all started when - incensed he'd dismissed her as just another simpering debutante - she set out to fleece him of all his money at cards. I find the way she catches his attention rather adorable, and it's written in such a way as to make it seriously work.
When she puts herself back into his power, Gareth is quick to take advantage of her misstep to press her into marriage again. They just anticipate their vows a little... and the next morning she's gone. Thus begins the angstier bit of the novel, which occurs against a surprisingly detailed and rich backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Considering many HRs nowadays treat the Regency setting as so much wallpaper, it was lovely to see how Thornton had laboured to put in real people and language.
Yes, Deirdre can be a real bitch sometimes. But Gareth was more than a match for her, and I'm utterly in love with them both. He might be obsessed with her, but he knows exactly what he's getting into with her, and she softens over the course of the book. We have so many of my favourite tropes here, including a strident heroine eventually tempered by love; a hero who pulls out all the stops and whose domineering behaviour is countered by the heroine's sheer stubbornness; plenty of dubcon sprinkled on top...
For full disclosure, there is OW drama, but nothing unforgivable IMO.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
March 11, 2025
Same book under different titles. My review is under The Passionate Prude title
July 13, 2015
In a nutshell:
I loved Elizabeth Thornton's Almost a Princess and I guess that's why it pains me to admit how disappointed I am with To Love an Earl. The novel was promising, but its extremely convoluted plot, slow pace, frustrating heroine, and flat characters ruined it for me.
Believe me when I tell you that the book's blurb doesn't even begin to cover the seemingly ridiculous amount of conflicts in the story. Attempted murder? Check. Conniving mistress? Check. Claims of treason? Check. Gambling debts? Check. Blackmail? Check. And the list goes on. It was as if the writer Googled "possible conflicts" and just added whatever she found into the equation. In effect, the story became nothing more than a combination of disjointed elements. Nothing really made sense, and all those said elements only succeeded in overwhelming the hell out of me. I was only halfway through the book and I was already feeling bombarded by so many issues that I literally had to stop and take a stroll for a while, to soothe myself.
When I came back, I realised that I stopped giving a fuck.
It was such a shame because I really liked Gareth. Mind you, no one's more surprised by that fact than I am, because I didn't expect to like him when I started the story. I was actually prepared to hate him. I can only tolerate manipulation to a certain degree, and Gareth went over and beyond my limits. Hell, he even resorted to blackmail just to get Deirdre to marry him.
But damn, he won me over in the end. My resistance started to thaw when I saw how desperately in love he was with Deirdre. The depth of his feelings was eventually revealed to us through a conversation he had with his good friend, Mr. Landron.
He was actually quite pitiful because the heroine totally misjudged him and his intentions at the start. Not without reason, of course. With his reputation and reckless actions regarding her virtue, I could hardly fault Deirdre for being wary of him. But still, my heart felt a twinge of pain every time Deirdre lashed out at him.
As the story progressed, Gareth's situation became more and more pathetic, much to my chagrin. Deirdre's attacks on him grew less justified and became downright cruel. My heart burned with hatred for her when she lied to Gareth and eventually culminated when she pointed a gun at him. And oh, did I mention that every time they had sex she would eventually do something cruel just to spite him? Like, when they first did it, she deliberately held off her release just to show her defiance? WHAT THE FUCK? SERIOUSLY? YOU'RE GOING TO DEBASE THE ACT OF LOVE LIKE THAT?
Reading them having sex didn't even feel warm or loving; it left me feeling unclean and hollow.
Look, I have the utmost respect for strong willed heroines, but Deirdre was just cruel and stupid, man. She'd kiss Gareth one minuted and then lash out at him in another. I could almost hear myself telling her in my head: "Seriously, girl, what is it really going to be? Hatred or love? Pick one and stick to it, you stupid bitch!"
Needless to say I will not read this again. I don't recommend it to anyone. Believe me, just steer clear of this book.
I loved Elizabeth Thornton's Almost a Princess and I guess that's why it pains me to admit how disappointed I am with To Love an Earl. The novel was promising, but its extremely convoluted plot, slow pace, frustrating heroine, and flat characters ruined it for me.
Believe me when I tell you that the book's blurb doesn't even begin to cover the seemingly ridiculous amount of conflicts in the story. Attempted murder? Check. Conniving mistress? Check. Claims of treason? Check. Gambling debts? Check. Blackmail? Check. And the list goes on. It was as if the writer Googled "possible conflicts" and just added whatever she found into the equation. In effect, the story became nothing more than a combination of disjointed elements. Nothing really made sense, and all those said elements only succeeded in overwhelming the hell out of me. I was only halfway through the book and I was already feeling bombarded by so many issues that I literally had to stop and take a stroll for a while, to soothe myself.
When I came back, I realised that I stopped giving a fuck.
It was such a shame because I really liked Gareth. Mind you, no one's more surprised by that fact than I am, because I didn't expect to like him when I started the story. I was actually prepared to hate him. I can only tolerate manipulation to a certain degree, and Gareth went over and beyond my limits. Hell, he even resorted to blackmail just to get Deirdre to marry him.
But damn, he won me over in the end. My resistance started to thaw when I saw how desperately in love he was with Deirdre. The depth of his feelings was eventually revealed to us through a conversation he had with his good friend, Mr. Landron.
"Yes, but that's not the connection that interests me." The Earl seemed reluctant to say more, but finally went on with slow emphasis. "He is half brother to Miss Deirdre Fenton."
At Deirdre's name, Landron's head went back and his expression became guarded but he said nothing. Rathbourne caught the sudden restraint in his friend's manner, and his smile became faintly self-mocking.
"What? Haven't you anything to say? No grim warnings about avoiding the vixen who left your friend a shell of his former self?"
Landron's voice was dry and chiding. "I've said it all before. I don't know why I bother. But I thought, in five years, you would be over her. Was I mistaken?"
...
"Why do you dislike her so much?"
"I was the one who picked up the pieces after she had put the boot to you, or had you forgotten?"
He was actually quite pitiful because the heroine totally misjudged him and his intentions at the start. Not without reason, of course. With his reputation and reckless actions regarding her virtue, I could hardly fault Deirdre for being wary of him. But still, my heart felt a twinge of pain every time Deirdre lashed out at him.
She had rejected him without knowing the first thing about him, without giving him a proper hearing, and that had hurt. It had hurt because he had been captivated by everything about her. What a contemptible specimen he was to let her acquire such power over him. What did she have that she had this hold over him?
As the story progressed, Gareth's situation became more and more pathetic, much to my chagrin. Deirdre's attacks on him grew less justified and became downright cruel. My heart burned with hatred for her when she lied to Gareth and eventually culminated when she pointed a gun at him. And oh, did I mention that every time they had sex she would eventually do something cruel just to spite him? Like, when they first did it, she deliberately held off her release just to show her defiance? WHAT THE FUCK? SERIOUSLY? YOU'RE GOING TO DEBASE THE ACT OF LOVE LIKE THAT?
Reading them having sex didn't even feel warm or loving; it left me feeling unclean and hollow.
Look, I have the utmost respect for strong willed heroines, but Deirdre was just cruel and stupid, man. She'd kiss Gareth one minuted and then lash out at him in another. I could almost hear myself telling her in my head: "Seriously, girl, what is it really going to be? Hatred or love? Pick one and stick to it, you stupid bitch!"
Needless to say I will not read this again. I don't recommend it to anyone. Believe me, just steer clear of this book.
November 19, 2017
The heroine of this novel just destroyed all the romance that could have been so beautiful. She was such a shrewish bitch. She did see how much her stepfather's infidelity had destroyed her mother's life, but that still was no excuse for her "man-hating" ways. The hero would have done anything, and often did, for this bitch. Wow. I can't believe the author thought this angry, resentful, man-hater would make an appropriate heroine. It really takes A LOT for me to rate a novel with just one star; I usually try to be "nice" when I'm rating, but I honestly had a fucking headache throughout this story. I only managed to finish it out of sheer obstinacy. This heroine did not deserve to have the love of a man like the H. So what if her mother had shitty taste in men and no backbone? Boo fucking hoo. That wasn't an adequate excuse for being a bitch and for being a hypocrite when it came to her useless jackass brother. Even the OW in this novel was more useful than this spiteful heroine. I can't even believe that I'm actually not cussing out an OW...
August 26, 2021
This is a mixed bag for me.
It is well written but very dated in its ideas.
Men are allowed to whore around and have control of finances etc.
A woman's aspiration is marriage.
The author has tried to make the heroine strong, she has control of some finances and has worked hard to keep her family, caring for her brother and she to an extent resists the Hero BUT she does become annoying and at times I wanted to bang their heads together. She never wants to marry.
The writing also has some dated terms, her abigail, for example is a ladies maid but this is not explained.
It is at times very tell not show, so paragraphs of description of scenes, though important ones are written for the reader to see.
The Hero.
The Hero and heroine had a dalliance 5 years ago until the heroine remembered he was a man-whore so she pulled the brakes.
He says his reputation is exaggerated and to an extent it is but there is a huge ongoing other woman situation.
Spoiler
X
X
X
X
The Hero is working with another woman in the spy business.
He's happy with this arrangement as it keeps the heroine safe from his enemies, the French, as they will believe his interests lie elsewhere.
The problem with this is she is for a start an ex and wants more, even telling the heroine this.
Also the whole of London and half of Brussels also think he's with the other woman.
Especially when he escorts her places and pays for her clothes and flirts with her at parties.
So it's not surprising that the heroine isn't going to believe any flirtation he does with her and take him seriously.
In the time apart, 5 years, the Hero goes off to war. He later comments on an unnatural 3 month celibacy, waiting for the heroine to come around so I'm thinking he was with others while they were apart.
The heroine gets engaged to another man.
Also after they play their game of I want you, I don't want you, she kisses other men.
He also kisses other woman.
No details of intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
The sex scenes, especially the first, blurs the lines of dubious consent.
He does use brute force in the situation, she finds herself trapped in a room with him.
Propriety of the time makes it difficult for her to just leave and she was stupid to have ended up in this situation but she does say no several times as he proceeds.
But again it's a mixed message as although she pushes away, verbalised no she also melts at his touch at times and ends up begging him or at least calling out his name.
So was he right all along as she wanted it really?
She later says she didn't but in the heat of the moment she gave mixed signals but I don't think he'd have stopped if she hadn't.
The Hero regularly looses his temper and says rash things and even spanks her with his slipper at one point.
The heroine pushes his button deliberately at times.
I found myself seeing both POV but it's hard to relate it to modern thinking as things have changed so much and yet not....
The heroine has huge daddy issues over infidelity and the Hero at one point admits that he lied, blackmailed etc to have her and says that due to her issues it was the only way.
But I couldn't help but think that it also made so many issues for them when he knew she didn't trust easily and had he flaunts this other woman and if she accepted him then she looks like a chump for ignoring the cheating as he hasn't explained his work situation and says he doesn't want a future with other woman but then is witnessed kissing her or leaving her room when other woman is on a robe with nothing underneath. Total mixed messages, situations are not always explained.
So enemies to lovers, sort of.
He's painted as being besotted with her and determined to marry her from the start.
I think if I'd been the heroine I'd have left the country too.
Extra story regarding her brother which I assume continues elsewhere.
HEA.
It is well written but very dated in its ideas.
Men are allowed to whore around and have control of finances etc.
A woman's aspiration is marriage.
The author has tried to make the heroine strong, she has control of some finances and has worked hard to keep her family, caring for her brother and she to an extent resists the Hero BUT she does become annoying and at times I wanted to bang their heads together. She never wants to marry.
The writing also has some dated terms, her abigail, for example is a ladies maid but this is not explained.
It is at times very tell not show, so paragraphs of description of scenes, though important ones are written for the reader to see.
The Hero.
The Hero and heroine had a dalliance 5 years ago until the heroine remembered he was a man-whore so she pulled the brakes.
He says his reputation is exaggerated and to an extent it is but there is a huge ongoing other woman situation.
Spoiler
X
X
X
X
The Hero is working with another woman in the spy business.
He's happy with this arrangement as it keeps the heroine safe from his enemies, the French, as they will believe his interests lie elsewhere.
The problem with this is she is for a start an ex and wants more, even telling the heroine this.
Also the whole of London and half of Brussels also think he's with the other woman.
Especially when he escorts her places and pays for her clothes and flirts with her at parties.
So it's not surprising that the heroine isn't going to believe any flirtation he does with her and take him seriously.
In the time apart, 5 years, the Hero goes off to war. He later comments on an unnatural 3 month celibacy, waiting for the heroine to come around so I'm thinking he was with others while they were apart.
The heroine gets engaged to another man.
Also after they play their game of I want you, I don't want you, she kisses other men.
He also kisses other woman.
No details of intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
The sex scenes, especially the first, blurs the lines of dubious consent.
He does use brute force in the situation, she finds herself trapped in a room with him.
Propriety of the time makes it difficult for her to just leave and she was stupid to have ended up in this situation but she does say no several times as he proceeds.
But again it's a mixed message as although she pushes away, verbalised no she also melts at his touch at times and ends up begging him or at least calling out his name.
So was he right all along as she wanted it really?
She later says she didn't but in the heat of the moment she gave mixed signals but I don't think he'd have stopped if she hadn't.
The Hero regularly looses his temper and says rash things and even spanks her with his slipper at one point.
The heroine pushes his button deliberately at times.
I found myself seeing both POV but it's hard to relate it to modern thinking as things have changed so much and yet not....
The heroine has huge daddy issues over infidelity and the Hero at one point admits that he lied, blackmailed etc to have her and says that due to her issues it was the only way.
But I couldn't help but think that it also made so many issues for them when he knew she didn't trust easily and had he flaunts this other woman and if she accepted him then she looks like a chump for ignoring the cheating as he hasn't explained his work situation and says he doesn't want a future with other woman but then is witnessed kissing her or leaving her room when other woman is on a robe with nothing underneath. Total mixed messages, situations are not always explained.
So enemies to lovers, sort of.
He's painted as being besotted with her and determined to marry her from the start.
I think if I'd been the heroine I'd have left the country too.
Extra story regarding her brother which I assume continues elsewhere.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2021
My 3rd book of Ms. Thornton and what can I say? I loved all 3 books that I've read so far. This book isn't without flaws but it is a page turner. I find her style of writing lovely - smooth and flowing, and, at the same time, gripping.
However, I've never seen a more ill-suited couple. Individually, they're lovely people. Together, they're a mess. Gareth with his high handed ways (I'd consider his love to be obsessive) and Deirdre, an independent miss who doesn't relish Gareth's autocratic manner. I don't believe they had a conversation without it ended in a fight. They keep misconstruing each other's meanings. They seem to bring out the worst in each other. It was quite exhausting really. Strangely enough, I enjoyed it. I would credit it to Ms. Thornton's prowess as an author that kept me glued to the book.
There is an element of forced seduction/dubious consent in this book. People who are triggered by this, please keep away. This book was written in the 80s so this element was the norm back then.
Ms. Thornton has become one of my favourite authors and I'm looking forward to her other books.
However, I've never seen a more ill-suited couple. Individually, they're lovely people. Together, they're a mess. Gareth with his high handed ways (I'd consider his love to be obsessive) and Deirdre, an independent miss who doesn't relish Gareth's autocratic manner. I don't believe they had a conversation without it ended in a fight. They keep misconstruing each other's meanings. They seem to bring out the worst in each other. It was quite exhausting really. Strangely enough, I enjoyed it. I would credit it to Ms. Thornton's prowess as an author that kept me glued to the book.
There is an element of forced seduction/dubious consent in this book. People who are triggered by this, please keep away. This book was written in the 80s so this element was the norm back then.
Ms. Thornton has become one of my favourite authors and I'm looking forward to her other books.
March 29, 2019
Ahh... an alpha in a historical! Just my kinda romance. I quite enjoyed the push & pull dynamic between the H and h. The reason for the the loss of 1 Star is for the heroine and the dragged on lengthy ness at the end of the book (just didn’t find the need for it and skimmed a fair bit). The heroine was at times just plain exasperating I could’ve given her a good spanking myself! There was quite a few misunderstanding and as a result of their egos rubbing up acting out like children but overall it was a good read. I liked the hero very much. His single minded pursuit for the heroine although at times I didn’t think she deserved it.
The plot revolves around the history Waterloo battle with Napoleon so we get a feel or real life characters like Earl of Uxbridge, Duke of Wellington and the chaotic situations people of both upper and middle classes had to go through. This book certainly does not warrant the number of 1-2 stars that have been given by other readers and hope that like minded people will come across this hidden gem.
The hero, although was fairly forceful in his attentions to the heroine, there was never a doubt in the book that he did not love her even when she was being immature.
Definite recommend!
The plot revolves around the history Waterloo battle with Napoleon so we get a feel or real life characters like Earl of Uxbridge, Duke of Wellington and the chaotic situations people of both upper and middle classes had to go through. This book certainly does not warrant the number of 1-2 stars that have been given by other readers and hope that like minded people will come across this hidden gem.
The hero, although was fairly forceful in his attentions to the heroine, there was never a doubt in the book that he did not love her even when she was being immature.
Definite recommend!
May 26, 2012
The main female character of the book is the stupidest, blindest, most self-absorbed, most wilful and most horrid heroine I've ever encountered in a romance. The "hero" is an obsessed, arrogant SOB and stalker. Their first sexual encounter is a rape, pure and simple. I read about 3/4 of the book but finally couldn't stand any more of the heroine's idiocy (including going to look for her 20-year-old brother at the battlefield of Waterloo, while the battle was still going on, because she thought he might come to harm there and she had to protect him from it). The book is almost 500 pages long - at least twice as long as it should have been. What was Elizabeth Thornton thinking (or drinking) when she wrote this one?
May 5, 2021
I'm really worried about past me.
This was another 5 star read for me 10 years ago. I don't know why my teenage heart liked oppression, but now these novels make me very uncomfortable.
The heroine had some character, which I am able to respect. I'm also very worried about the amount of female reviews saying that she ruined the "romance" for them. The main problem with this book is that the hero (and author?) does not understand that coercion is NOT CONSENT . The way the hero bemoans the ways in which the heroine is "abusing" him is downright despicable. It's gaslighting, it's verbal abuse, it's narcissistic, the list goes on. The reality is that the heroine rightfully disliked him, yet he uses every power structure and her attraction to him to make her bend to his will (and let him have her). And whenever she tries to present a resistance, he threatens physical violence and sexual assault. And before you think to yourself it's a boddice ripper!, it wasn't written in the boddice ripper era, and more importantly boddice rippers are just books about rape, and I can't grasp the amount of internalised misogyny that made women write novels about raped women for the reading pleasure of other women.
I'm giving it two stars instead of one, because the writing itself is pretty sold, if a little on the dramatic side.
This was another 5 star read for me 10 years ago. I don't know why my teenage heart liked oppression, but now these novels make me very uncomfortable.
The heroine had some character, which I am able to respect. I'm also very worried about the amount of female reviews saying that she ruined the "romance" for them. The main problem with this book is that the hero (and author?) does not understand that coercion is NOT CONSENT . The way the hero bemoans the ways in which the heroine is "abusing" him is downright despicable. It's gaslighting, it's verbal abuse, it's narcissistic, the list goes on. The reality is that the heroine rightfully disliked him, yet he uses every power structure and her attraction to him to make her bend to his will (and let him have her). And whenever she tries to present a resistance, he threatens physical violence and sexual assault. And before you think to yourself it's a boddice ripper!, it wasn't written in the boddice ripper era, and more importantly boddice rippers are just books about rape, and I can't grasp the amount of internalised misogyny that made women write novels about raped women for the reading pleasure of other women.
I'm giving it two stars instead of one, because the writing itself is pretty sold, if a little on the dramatic side.
December 12, 2012
Damn, this is the kind of historical romance i just love...Our heroine has guts, our hero is a bad-boy and the story flows rapidly...
Two thumbs up!
Two thumbs up!
June 1, 2020
3.5 stars, trainwreckiest of trainwrecks. no, but seriously, this entire book was like one long ping-pong match between deirdre and rathbourne.
September 11, 2021
Re read 2021
Just as good as when I first read it 10 yrs ago!
Heroine is super strong!! But she’s also quite prickly and feisty. She won’t be everyones taste. If you like sweet doormats, this is not for you.
👌She doesn’t take any crap from the H.
In this story the H loved first and he loved her way more. He’s actually quite obsessed and stalkerish!
Safety spoiler
This is a bodice ripped with rape/force seduction!
No cheating after they had sex.
There is a pretty big ow drama angst. Shes his ex mistress(no longer sleeping together), but she’s not evil and she has to stay around him, because the ow is a spy, just like the H. They were made to look like they were still lovers, but the h didn’t know that they were in a mission together.
He tells the h that the ow is not his lover, but couldn’t tell her why she had to stay, which caused a lot of drama for this couple…
The OW was in love with the H.
The h got so pissed at him one night that she kissed 3 om lol😂
Then when they’re back at the hotel, he staged a scene with the ow to make her jealous( he kissed the ow at her door, and made it seem like they just had sex), because he was jealous that she kissed 3 guys!
This book is one of those epic stories. Good stuff!
Just as good as when I first read it 10 yrs ago!
Heroine is super strong!! But she’s also quite prickly and feisty. She won’t be everyones taste. If you like sweet doormats, this is not for you.
👌She doesn’t take any crap from the H.
In this story the H loved first and he loved her way more. He’s actually quite obsessed and stalkerish!
Safety spoiler
This is a bodice ripped with rape/force seduction!
No cheating after they had sex.
There is a pretty big ow drama angst. Shes his ex mistress(no longer sleeping together), but she’s not evil and she has to stay around him, because the ow is a spy, just like the H. They were made to look like they were still lovers, but the h didn’t know that they were in a mission together.
He tells the h that the ow is not his lover, but couldn’t tell her why she had to stay, which caused a lot of drama for this couple…
The OW was in love with the H.
The h got so pissed at him one night that she kissed 3 om lol😂
Then when they’re back at the hotel, he staged a scene with the ow to make her jealous( he kissed the ow at her door, and made it seem like they just had sex), because he was jealous that she kissed 3 guys!
This book is one of those epic stories. Good stuff!
January 5, 2020
Hero is obsessed with heroine since he saw her years ago. h is very aloof and wouldn't give H the time of her day which made him want her even more, to the point of insanity (where he almost rraped her). She got away but not before leaving a scar on his face. He went to war, bronken hearted but still could not get over h. He came back to try and get with h again. This time he decided that by whatever means he can, he will win h's heart. When nothing works he used blackmail to get h to marry him. He is EXTREMELY POSSESSIVE of h. He was even jealous of her brother!
I loved this book especially because I could genuinely see that the H really truly loved h. Genuinely cared for her and was utterly possessive of her.
We do get a Happily ever after! ❤
I loved this book especially because I could genuinely see that the H really truly loved h. Genuinely cared for her and was utterly possessive of her.
We do get a Happily ever after! ❤
August 9, 2016
Bodice-wripper? Yup. Great heroine who has gumption in a time when we all know it was very unrealistic? Yup. Neat character development? I thought so. A good guilty pleasure novel and an author I will definitely need to read more from.
February 9, 2025
This book promised sparks, but delivered… well, more like a damp squib. The hero was head-over-heels for the heroine, which was cute, I guess. But the heroine? Her devotion to her ne'er-do-well brother was more passionate than any romantic feelings she had for the hero. Talk about a love triangle where one side is decidedly less loved. And the angst? It was there, but felt more like a mild irritation than a full-blown emotional rollercoaster. Then, the hero decides to solve everything with a high-stakes card game? Because that's how you win a woman's heart, right? (Spoiler alert: it apparently is in this book). Overall, a bit of a head-scratcher.
February 27, 2023
Can I just start by saying I was so surprised by this book, the writing was on point. This was my first Elizabeth Thornton book and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. To Love An Earl, in my opinion was so easy the main H, Gareth/Earl of Rathbourne has just gone to my list of favourite HR heroes and our h, Deirdre is a strong h who was well written, there are times when you get frustrated with the push and pull in their relationship but I get where they're coming from, their backgrounds did make it understandable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2020
I liked the writing style of this book, but I did not like this book. The h was a very hard character to like. We learn about her history and why she is the way she is, but I just couldn’t like her. She has an anger management problem and attachment issues. The H has boundary issues and needs to learn the meaning of no.
The H and h were just not good for each other. Too many hissy fits and tantrums.
I’ll summarize this whole book as: ’The story of the development of a very toxic relationship during the Napoleonic Wars.’
The H and h were just not good for each other. Too many hissy fits and tantrums.
I’ll summarize this whole book as: ’The story of the development of a very toxic relationship during the Napoleonic Wars.’
January 1, 2022
This book reminded me of Gone with the Wind. A love to hate, hate to love romance. Rathbourne falls hard for Deidre but she spends most of the book hating men and dodging all of his moves. Even when he finally gets her, there's still more to overcome. This book is filled with conflict and if you hate conflict, you will hate this book.
October 13, 2011
I tried,tried and finally 2/3 into story, I gave up...The pace was so slow.and No romance at all.Deirdre is too tenacious in her hatred and prejudice.the cold annoying heroine just made me want to slap her,again and again... As a couple, this really was a mismatch.
January 26, 2014
I loved this book although Garreth was like a caveman at times, there was never any doubt of his love for Deidre.
March 15, 2020
As bodice rippers go, this is at the top. How did I ever miss this one?
October 1, 2015
I usually like Elizabeth Thornton's books but this was just horrible! I was unable to muster up the least bit of sympathy for any of the two leads which is completely unlike me. Deirdre was judgemental, petty and cruel and obsessed with keeping her brother out of trouble as if he was two instead of twenty and Garreth was an unfeeling caveman, who seemed to be less interested in getting to know the girl he's supposed to love than he is in manipulating her. Thow in the fact that their first "love scene" is more or less rape and I'm having serious doubts that I'll ever finish this book!
November 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this one. It is Deidre and Rathbourne's love story. Deidre was just a tad too eager to look for a way to be angry with Rathbourne and Rathbourne was just as eager to not explain things enough to cause her to be angry with him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2018
All they did was fight and snipe at each other - rather exhausting
May 25, 2022
This book is a mess but I love it! It stays on my favourites list no matter what
October 28, 2016
THE BAD-
1) Superrrr rapey...
2) Boderline abusive (and over the line at times, that dude was #Controlling and literally threatened to hit her a few times well with his "I should beat you" lines. And he reached out, grabbed her arm, and dragged her back when she attempted to walk away on several occasions).
THE GOOD-
3) An interesting slow pace, the rhythm of occurring events was very relaxed. Nothing felt rushed or as if it came out of nowhere.
4) Nice repartee between female characters and very good portrayals of friendships and camaraderie across the board.
THE REST-
5) Best I can say is that the story has nice bones. The structure for better is there the characters (male in particular) are what suck. It's an ok read if you can get past #1 & #2. I just skimmed those scenes with an eyebrow up in disdain at what passed for romantic in the #bodiceripper books.
Seriously how many times does a girl have to say no? Literally the whole book I spent thinking about that line between stalking/harassment and persistence. They do say the difference between a romantic gesture and a restraining order is whether the girl likes her stalker back.
Honestly his behavior would have had any woman extremely stressed out and perpetually full of anxiety and feeling threatened. But yah, supposedly he lurves her and somehow that gives a man a magical "get away with anything card" because obviously his feelings and wants are all that matter. I mean he picked her. She should be flattered. Or so authors back then would have us think. Smh
April 30, 2023
I really cannot say I liked this one. This took place during the Napoleonic War, specifically the Battle of Waterloo, and I found that bit interesting. However, both the MCs were not likable and were annoying in their own way. Each was obsessed and not in a good way.
Gareth, the earl of Rathbourne, was obsessed with Deirdre Fenton for 5 years and thought of her constantly while he was away fighting in the war. He was disturbed by her rejection of him and that can really be the only reason he held this flame for her. Once he returns and finds out she never married, his hope is renewed. Deirdre refuses to marry because her stepfather left her mother for his mistress, thus leaving their family destitute. Gareth refuses to take no for an answer, though it is not in the typical sexy way in a bodice ripper. He basically compromises her and when that does not work, cuts her off from any means of support and threatens her brother. That is what gets her attention.
Deirdre is weirdly obsessed with her younger brother, Armand, and basically tried to protect him from the consequences of his scapegrace ways. She acts like a helicopter mom to him and really, I think that she is only five years older. Time and time again, she chooses her brother over herself, her husband and her own safety. It's really absurd. Especially since Armand clearly states repeatedly to just let him be. I felt bad for her husband since she never put him first.
Anyway, this one dragged on and the romance just was not there for me.
Gareth, the earl of Rathbourne, was obsessed with Deirdre Fenton for 5 years and thought of her constantly while he was away fighting in the war. He was disturbed by her rejection of him and that can really be the only reason he held this flame for her. Once he returns and finds out she never married, his hope is renewed. Deirdre refuses to marry because her stepfather left her mother for his mistress, thus leaving their family destitute. Gareth refuses to take no for an answer, though it is not in the typical sexy way in a bodice ripper. He basically compromises her and when that does not work, cuts her off from any means of support and threatens her brother. That is what gets her attention.
Deirdre is weirdly obsessed with her younger brother, Armand, and basically tried to protect him from the consequences of his scapegrace ways. She acts like a helicopter mom to him and really, I think that she is only five years older. Time and time again, she chooses her brother over herself, her husband and her own safety. It's really absurd. Especially since Armand clearly states repeatedly to just let him be. I felt bad for her husband since she never put him first.
Anyway, this one dragged on and the romance just was not there for me.
May 10, 2020
What a disappointment!!
I hate the characters, all of them!
Gareth for his relentless pursuit and scheming ways: I know he fell in love with her and the bitch wouldn't even consider him blabla, but after all the stunts she pulled, he should have ignored her for good. He was always providing her with the stick to beat him
Deirdre woow... she is one of the few heroines out there I can't stand: she simply ruined that book! What a c*nt! Seriously, I would have understood her if she wasn't in love with him but she did have feelings for him all that time and she was simply playing dumb! Mean, Cold and Hurtful Bitch!
Coddling her bummy brother but always quick to judge other men...
Now the story wasn't any better: extra long and filled with irrevelant details. This was supposed to be a romance, but all that talk about war or betrayal, it was too much. The author added too much details and twists and instead of creating good angst, it became annoying.
If you want to read a book with the hero in pursuit while the heroine is denying him until she finally realizes her feeling, a book with a good angst and great writing style, try What I Did For a Duke
Same genre but less frustrating!!
I hate the characters, all of them!
Gareth for his relentless pursuit and scheming ways: I know he fell in love with her and the bitch wouldn't even consider him blabla, but after all the stunts she pulled, he should have ignored her for good. He was always providing her with the stick to beat him
Deirdre woow... she is one of the few heroines out there I can't stand: she simply ruined that book! What a c*nt! Seriously, I would have understood her if she wasn't in love with him but she did have feelings for him all that time and she was simply playing dumb! Mean, Cold and Hurtful Bitch!
Coddling her bummy brother but always quick to judge other men...
Now the story wasn't any better: extra long and filled with irrevelant details. This was supposed to be a romance, but all that talk about war or betrayal, it was too much. The author added too much details and twists and instead of creating good angst, it became annoying.
If you want to read a book with the hero in pursuit while the heroine is denying him until she finally realizes her feeling, a book with a good angst and great writing style, try What I Did For a Duke
Same genre but less frustrating!!
March 13, 2018
I could not get past the rape scene. Apparently Ms. Thornton is of the opinion that what spirited women need is a man to dominate them, make them surrender and then they can experience the true nature of sexuality and relationship. While she may think this to be the very epitome of 'romantic' when coming from a a wealthy and handsome Earl, the reality is that his behavior is that first of a seducer who has no care for any but his own pleasure (how is she to know he means marriage - if he actually did in the first incident) and when he returns, it is of a man who's decided he's in love with someone and is going to force her his will.
It is a shame that the relationship is set up in this way because Thornton's period writing is better than many and there is clearly a plot forming somewhere out that in the future that involves his activities during the war as a spy. Despite these things I cannot recommend this book.
It is a shame that the relationship is set up in this way because Thornton's period writing is better than many and there is clearly a plot forming somewhere out that in the future that involves his activities during the war as a spy. Despite these things I cannot recommend this book.
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