I have a new favorite historical romance author!

'Lady Charlotte's First Love' by Anna Bradley is Book Two in "The Sutherland Sisters" series. This is the story of Lady Charlotte Hadley and Julian West. I feel you can make this a standalone book if you choose to do so but totally enjoy their story you might want to.
Charlotte and Julian have met earlier in the previous book "Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor" and Julian was helping his cousin become closer to Charlotte's sister. Charlotte found out and felt hurt and went a married someone else. Julian left for Waterloo and that was it until now. Charlotte is a widow and starting to do scandalous things to keep from being alone. Julian too has changed after returning home. No longer the fun and funny guy he is hurt and serious. Loved watching these tow come together and heal each other.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Lady Charlotte has one love -Julian West and he broke her heart thinking that he played her for a fool, using her to blackmail her sister Eléonor by his cousin Cam.
But things are never what they seemed. Eléonore rushed to make a loveless marriage to a man that she didn’t love. That ended tragically for her. Now she’s on a path to destruction!
Julian West is a fraud a fake, he’s not the hero that England believes him to be. His best friend can vouch for that if he could...but dead men don’t talk. The last thing his friend asked of him was to take care of his sister. He can offer her his name in marriage it’s the least he can do. Only one person stands in his way Charlotte-the woman that destroyed him and couldn’t forget!

What an emotional roller coaster! I cried for the young lovers they were, misunderstandings and hurt got in the way of their happiness. But their attraction and awareness of each other was stronger than ever. But hurts that haven’t healed still kept them apart until Charlotte just broke and finally Julian saw the truth!
I totally loved this angst filled romance it pulls your heart right out and bleeds for them! I totally recommend it, you won’t be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher via NetGalley for my honest unbiased opinion

Not too long ago, I did the review for the first book of this series which is Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor and Charlotte and Julian's beginnings are quite heavily featured in there.

So much heartbreak is in the book and I felt so bad for the both of them cause they were near perfect together in book one and things went pear shaped. Though things take a little bit to start righting themselves in this book, I was really rooting for Charlotte an Julian to get back together.

The book is splendid and I have to say it is my favorite out of the 2 of the series I have read, and i cannot wait for any more coming our way from Anna.

I am going to really highly recommend it and encourage you to give it a try!

Lady Charlotte's First Love
by Anna Bradley

What’s it About? A year ago Lady Charlotte thought she had found love with Julian West, then she found out he was part of a revenge plan and she was his target. Her heart broke and she married someone else. Julian on the other hand went off to war with a broken heart because he truly did love Charlotte only she wouldn’t see him after they spent a night together and then she married someone else. Now he’s back from the war wracked with guilt and not in the mood to help his cousin Cam, who is married to Charlotte’s sister Ellie. They want Julian to find Charlotte and convince her to join them in their country estate. Since Charlotte was widowed she’s been acting reckless and while Julian is sure he doesn’t care for the woman he thought he loved a year ago, he reluctantly agrees to bring her home. Well, he finds her and her wicked widows club in a brothel and when he sees Charlotte again he can’t help but feel again.




Overall reaction to the story? The angst and heartache almost did me in! Lady Charlotte’s First Love has so much emotion bursting from the pages and I couldn’t help but be drawn into Julian and Charlotte’s conflicted romance. These two had so much to work through because so much had happened in the year since they last saw each other. This book is definitely high on the angst and heartbreak but to me that made the romance so much sweeter, so much more earned if that makes sense. Their inner demons weren’t easy and the guilt they suffered for their individual mistakes was the biggest threat to them individually and as a whole but by the end I was so happy for Julian and Charlotte because they’re that kind of couple that you know loves with everything they have.


Describe the hero in five words: Stubborn. Kind. Loyal. Loving. Damaged.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? I liked Julian when I first met him in his cousin Cam’s book, Lady Eleanor’s Seventh Suitor. Julian lacked the ruthlessness of his cousin and had a kind of poetic, gentle lover kind of vibe about him. He fell so hard for Charlotte in that book and when she turned away from him he was broken. Now Julian’s experiences as a soldier have turned him more like his cousin used to be. He’s bitter, wracked with guilt, and determined to stay away from Charlotte. He was so different but I still liked him, he loved his cousin and was genuinely happy for him and Ellie but he was totally broken. I have a soft spot for broken characters like Julian. He was a good guy who saw horrible things and was haunted by them and he just forgot who he was for awhile, but that’s what made him such a good character. There was still some of that gentle, passionate, kind man in there somewhere that needed to come out so he could truly join the living again.



Describe the heroine in five words: Caring. Destroyed. Stubborn. Lost. Smart.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Charlotte bore the brunt of her falling out with Julian and she bore it alone. That really had me feeling for her because it totally changed her. I missed that spirited, mischievous young girl she used to be but it was clear early on that she wasn’t that person anymore. No matter that she married someone else, Charlotte truly believed that Julian didn’t love her like she loved him and how could she believe him? He had played a part in his cousin’s stupid revenge plan and while Julian soon backed off of the plan and really did fall in love with Charlotte, the damage was already done. I felt for her, she was alone in her grief and unrequited love because she never stopped loving Julian. That’s a torture in itself. I wanted Charlotte to overcome her grief because it wasn’t just the loss of Julian that was tormenting her and I understood why she felt so guilty, she was a good person and she felt like she could have been better for her late husband.



Let’s talk about the romance: There was no question that Julian and Charlotte belonged together. I fell in love with their sweet romance in the first book and had my heart broken right along with theirs but these two were special. They had a connection that was impossible to deny and difficult to describe. Not all couples have this special magic that comes from a sweetly passionate first love gone wrong. There was just something so dang solid about their feelings for each other even when they were fighting not to feel it again. Julian was just so hopelessly in love with Charlotte and she desperately wanted to love him again it was just so powerful. I fell in love with their second chance romance. It was like watching a dying garden being touched by sunlight for the first time in long while.



How about that supporting cast? There isn’t much by way of supporting cast except for Cam and Ellie and Charlotte’s wicked widows club which consists of three other women who are for their own reasons engaging in risky (for their reputations) behavior. By all accounts they seemed to be good friends though and I’d love for them to get their own stories soon. Then there was Charlotte’s other friend Lord Devon who seemed to be fighting a bad reputation and his own demons. Heavens but I can’t resist those kinds of characters!


Click It or Skip It? Click It. Lady Charlotte’s First Love is a sigh worthy emotional romance that I wouldn’t pass up for anything.

Publisher's Description:
From spirited young woman to reckless widow, the beautiful Marchioness of Hadley remains a force to be reckoned with. But beneath her antics lies a broken heart . . .

Since her husband’s tragic death, Lady Charlotte Hadley has embarked on a path of careless behavior and dangerous hijinks from which no one can divert her . . . until suddenly, her first—and only—true love reenters her world. Their fiery romance was so scandalous Charlotte had no choice but to marry another, more suitable man. Surely now they are both free to pick up where they left off . . .

Julian West has returned to London a hero after making a name for himself in battle at Waterloo. Every woman is vying for his attention—except the one who stole his heart. No matter, Julian has other obligations. But when Charlotte’s sister, Eleanor, charges him with protecting the widow from ruin, what ensues is another kind of battle—one that leads a chase from London’s bars and brothels to the finest country estate as Julian and Charlotte untangle a host of secrets, regrets, and misunderstandings. For could it be that the love they’ve forced themselves to forget is exactly what they need to remember? . .
My Thoughts:
I very much enjoyed book #1 of this series and looked forward to reading this one too. To this reader I found this one not quite as much to my liking. It is however, a good book.
Charlotte's story has a bit of mystery to it. Why has this beautiful young widow presented herself to the ton as one of the wicked widows?
What is the reason behind her suddenly reckless demeanor?
Julian is a mystery too as he has returned to London society after the war in which he was declared a hero. He doesn't feel very heroic. He instead feels he owes something to his friend who lost his life there. That something is to marry the man's sister so she won't be alone.
This is a convoluted tale of a different type of heroics. Jillian, who could not save his friend in battle is now determined to save Charlotte from herself.
I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a high sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. The intimacy between our hero and heroine is scorching at times.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title to read from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

4.5 stars
Lady Charlotte Hadley is a scandalous widow who hides behind her careless behaviour and dangerous hijinks. Julian West has returned to London a hero after making a name for himself in battle at Waterloo. Every woman is vying for his attention except the one who stole his heart. Then Charlotte’s sister, Ellie, charges him with protecting the widow from ruin, what ensues is another kind of battle, one that leads a chase from London’s gambling dens and brothels to Charlotte’s country estate as Julian and Charlotte untangle a host of secrets, regrets, and misunderstandings.
If you’re looking for a light frothy read then this book isn’t for you. It’s a dark but page turning, gut wrenching read, Julian & Charlotte are both fighting their own devils but they can save each other if only they can learn to trust. The characterisation is so very, very good & their anguish draws you to tears, their verbal sparring is so often hurtful but despite everything they are drawn to each other. This is the second book in the series & whilst it could be read as a stand alone book to really appreciate it I’d recommend reading Eleanor’s story where Julian & Charlotte first met & fell in love as two carefree young people, it will give some understanding as to why & how they have changed so much in a year. It was a long road filled with poignancy & anguish for them to find their HEA

I received a copy from the publishers in via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Lady Charlotte's First Love is the second instalment in Anna Bradley's The Sunderland Sisters series. We first meet Charlotte and Julian in the first instalment of the series. Julian assisted his cousin Cam to blackmail Eleanor Sunderland into marriage by seducing her sister Charlotte. Unable to forgive Julian for his behaviour, Charlotte marries Marquess Huntley and Julian leaves for the battle of Waterloo.
In this instalment, Charlotte is now a widow and Julian has returned a war hero. Julian is enlisted by Cam and Eleanor to stop Charlotte's descent into ruin, much to his displeasure.
The first instalment really needs to be read to understand the background of these two characters. I liked these characters in the first book but I just couldn't connect with them in this story. They are both struggling to overcome their own personal demons and battling with grief.I feel a lot of the angst and drama could have been overcome if people would just communicate.
The story is well written and I will follow the series. I loved the first instalment but the characters in this were a letdown.

An enduring second chance regency romance. Honesty or a lack of play a big part in their failed courtship. I actually didn’t like the hero for much of this read, he brought me around in the end, but it was touch and go there for a while.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My heart is still pounding, what a Great Story Charlotte, Lady Hadley, has gone from an innocent young lady to a Wicked Widow! Her marriage only lasted five months, however, her entire life had changed in those five months. The love of her life had lied to her, left her for Waterloo, she winds up married to a Marquess. Now, Captain Julian West is returned the Conquering hero, with an anger so deep, it is about to destroy him He has been tasked by his cousin Cam, to straighten out Charlotte before she totally self destructs. She is the last person, he wants to be near! This is a moving story of love, betrayal, lies, hate, and forgiveness. I deducted one star, I tried one half, but could not get it to do that. Once again, Too Much Graphic Sexual Content for me. There is a better way to describe lovemaking, without it becoming pornographic. However, it truly is well worth reading! I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee👒

In return for being given this ARC I am giving a fair and honest review as promised. Why do we tend to blame ourselves harder and for a much longer time than those around us do? We waste so much time and so many tears. Unfortunately, not all stories end up happily. Good tale.

Charlotte Sutherland was in love with her brother-in-law’s cousin, Julian West, but when he joined the army to fight Napoleon, she married the Marquess of Hadley. She didn’t love Hadley as she did Julian and feels guilty over his accidental death from a fall off his horse. She avoids her family by staying to herself and her 3 widowed friends. Her sister and brother-in-law, Ellie and Cam, are very concerned over the places she and her friends go and don’t understand why she won’t come with them to the country estate.

Julian returned from war with survivor’s guilt and pain. His best friend died in battle and Julian thinks he should have saved him. He wants to make it up to his friend by taking care of his sister, which he thinks includes marrying her. When Cam asks him to help Charlotte, he reluctantly agrees as he still hurts over her marrying another man. They still love each other, but won’t admit it.

The rest of this very good story is for you to read. I enjoyed it very much and can easily recommend it. I can’t wait for the next book, Twelfth Night with the Earl, about Lord Devon, one of the secondary characters in this book (Nov. 14th).

Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC.

I'd actually give it 3.5 stars if I could.
What an emotionally wrenching ride to reach a Happily Ever After! Toward the end of the first book in the series, Lady Eleanor’s Seventh Suitor, you got an inkling of the issues that permeate this book. There are multiple issues but you could discern them from the first book’s story. This book deals with the aftermath and reactions of each of the main characters. You really do need to read the first book in order to gain a full appreciation for and understanding of this story. I liked these characters in the first book but somehow couldn’t come to like or be invested in them in this one. They are broken individuals and remain that way through the majority of the book – well, maybe the whole book except for perhaps the epilogue. There is a lot of melodrama.

Recap from the first book: Charlotte Sutherland was madly, deeply, passionately in love with Julian West. They had an intimate relationship until she overheard something that made her believe that he had pursued her only because it made things easier for his cousin Cam to pursue her sister. That is true, to a point. Julian did start pursuing her for that reason, but he came to love her as much as she loved him. When she announces her engagement to another man, Julian heads off to war.

A year later Julian returns from the war, except he isn’t the same Julian who left. That Julian was joyous, happy, humorous and loved life. This Julius is hard and joyless. This Julius is Captain West.

Charlotte is leading a frenetic life in London. She is courting scandal at every turn and each thing she does is more outrageous than the last. She hates to be alone. As you read the book, you’ll find out the reasons for this.

There is a new character introduced in this book and I really liked him. His name is Devon and he is an Earl. He knew all of Charlotte’s secrets and pains and helped her deal with them – he also wanted to marry her. He will be the hero in the next book and that one looks like it will be a good one. Maybe not quite so dark and angsty.

I find this review a bit hard to write without including spoilers – which I won’t do. I have a number of concerns and questions around the book and the plot and the characters, but they all hinge on those spoilers as well. The bottom line is that I liked both of these characters in the first book and was disappointed in them in this book. I did enjoy the story but don’t pick it up looking for a lighthearted, happy read because you won’t find it here.

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

I loved this book! Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor made me long for the tale of Charlotte and Julian and thankfully it wasn't long in coming. It was lovely to see Charlotte and Julian make their way back to each other and find a way past all the issues and heartache between them. A truly enjoyable read!

I cannot say how badly I have waited for this book to come out. I had adored the glimpse of Charlotte and Julian's history in the first book of this series and couldn't wait for them to get their own story. This story of star crossed lovers that were separated because of misunderstandings is heartbreaking. Now, when they meet after more than a year all the previous passions and their hearts desires come forth. An amazing story that keeps you hooked right until the last page. I would definitely recommend this book. .

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 2 in the Sutherland series. We first met charlotte in book one where she fell in love with Julian. They had a brief affair but he went off to war and she got married. Now a widow Charolotte is determined to live in the moment and Julian wants to protect her. The story was well done. I laughed and cried and enjoyed it a great deal.

The romance of Charlotte and Julian came to a bitter end at the end of the previous book in this series “Lady Eleanor’s Seventh Suitor” and I strongly recommend that you read that book before this one because much of the background for their hurtfful confrontations in this book cannot be fully understood if you do not read in sequence.

In this book Charlotte is now the widowed Marquioness of Hadley and Julian is Captain West, a war hero who on his return is engaged by his cousin, Charlotte’s brother-in-law, to rein in Charlotte’s new wayward ways and scandalous behaviour. Julian, even more so than Charlotte, spares no occasion to vomit his resentment against the woman he had fallen in love with yet initially implicated with a lie to support his cousin’s attempt to blackmail Charlotte’s sister, Eleanor, into marriage. Nor does Charlotte fall for Julian’s charms since her trust in him was so utterly shattered when she discovered the lie surrounding their initial meeting, even if genuine love had later grown on both sides.

Unlike in Eleanor’s book, there is little room for humor in this book, apart from a few scenes provided by the merry group of “Wicked Widows” that Charlotte joins to find stupor out of not exactly proper entertainments to relieve her anguish and forget her painful memories. The protagonists have each suffered abominably both at the end of their relationship one year before and in the following months. Deaths of dear ones for which they both blame themselves have turned Charlotte and Julian into jaded spirits who do not seem to find a way to each other until one last lashing out on Julian’s part, jealous of Charlotte’s new friend and suitor Devon, prompts Charlotte to eventually leave London alone in the middle of the night and put herself in grave danger.

Love will win in the end, but the road to forgiveness and happiness is a troubled one, and I actually appreciated this realistic approach on the author’s part rather than have the two swoon over each other putting aside the pain they had each caused the other without a thought. It is consistant with their story as it temporarily ended in the first book and makes for a dramatic reading, but it also makes their happilyy ever after feel even more deserved. The balance between the part where Julian and Charlotte eventually come to understand each other and rekindle the love that never died between them could have probably had more pages to balance out the moments of hurtful confrontation (or these could have been more concise, one way or the other). This aspect, however, does not detract from the overall spirit of an excellent book where feelings of both pain and selfpunishment as well as refound love are explored with tact and intelligence.

The next novella in the series will be on Devon, who appears in this book as an apparent rake whose offer of marriage is eventually rejected by Charlotte even if she has come to trust him and appreciate his loyal friendship. Apart from the frolics he indulges the merry Wicked Widows in, he is a decent, caring man whose romance I will look forward to reading.

Lady Charlotte Hadley has been trying to forget her anguish by living scandalously close to the edge. She feels responsible for her former husbands death and much more. Her sister tries to prevent disaster by asking her husbands cousin, Captain Julian West to rescue her from certain disaster and deliver her to their country estate. The problem is that they have past history.
Intense and atmospheric.