Twelfth Night by Anna Bradley
Sutherland Sisters #3

Not really the story of a Sutherland sister although Ethan, the hero of this book, did appear in a previous book and I liked him quite a bit upon meeting him then. I have to say he was definitely unlikable, at least at first, in this novella but it was easy to warm up to him as the story progressed.

Ethan heads home to close down one of his estates only to find someone he knew well in the house and holding a party…and according to my notes…he behaves as a “pompous jerk” when first he steps into the room. With the housekeeper a young woman he knew well and held in his mind as his “first love” loving the house he only holds horrible memories of the two definitely butt-heads as they spend time under the same roof. The question is whether or not he can overcome his beliefs and guilt related to the past and if so move forward into a positive future…and if he can…will it be with Thea, his housekeeper or with someone else entirely.

Enjoyable holiday romance that does end on a happy note for all – I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington – Lyrical Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Publisher's Description:
When a headstrong beauty clashes with the man she once loved, she’s determined that the spirit of Christmas will open his mind, heal his heart, and perhaps give them a reason to celebrate—for many seasons
to come . . .

As far as Ethan Fortescue is concerned, his family’s seat in Cornwall is only a source of torment, one that he’s managed to avoid for two years. Now that he’s the Earl of Devon however, he can close the door on his haunted past by locking up the cursed place for good. But upon arriving at Cleves Court, he is shocked to find the house aglow with Christmas celebrations, filled with music and laughter. And right at the center of the holiday madness is the infuriating—and eternally tempting—Theodosia Sheridan . . .

Thea has always loved the town of Cleves, especially at the holidays. As a girl, she also loved Ethan with all her heart. It’s painful to see how his brother’s tragic death has embittered him. Still, she will do anything to make sure the town thrives—even if it means going to battle with Ethan to save Cleves Court. Now she has only until Twelfth Night to make a Christmas miracle happen—by proving that his childhood home can be a source of love and wonder. But before long, she finds herself wondering if she’s trying to save the house—or its handsome master…

My Thoughts:

This novella has it all. It is a blend of humor, a tragic background, and sensual intimacy.

Anna Bradley has brought all of these elements together in this delightful holiday story.

Ethan wants nothing to do with the home that holds such tragic memories.
The loss of his mother and his brother at Cleve's Court has him wanting it closed forever.

Thea has been in love with Ethan for most of her life. She is certain that he will find his way back to Cleve's Court even though it is the source of his pain.
Now he has returned, his only intention to close up the house for good.

Will Thea be able to change his mind? Will her efforts to save Cleve's court and the home he wants nothing to do with lead to a future together or will it tear them apart?

I adored the trio of orphans. The twin boys and their younger sister were a source of joy and laughter. Their antics made them an essential part of this wonderfully written holiday story.

I gave this book a solid 5 of 5 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 4.5 of 5.0 flames. The intimacy is not only hot but surprisingly sweet.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

It's quite a different story about a love of the past and many many emotions and stories from back in the day - a lovely developed storyline. I couldnt put the book away!

Ethan has recently inherited the title, Earl of Devon. He is on his way to the family estate in Cornwall. He plans to close the house and never see it again. There are only terrible and sad family memories there. Ethan plans to return to London and continue to live his life as a man who drinks to excess and enjoys all good things in life.

He arrives on Christmas Eve and finds that rather than an empty house, there is a house filled with people who are celebrating the holiday.

The housekeeper is,Thea, a young woman who grew up with Ethan. Ethan's mother took in the orphaned Thea and raised her as a part of the family.

As well as party guests, there are 3 orphans who are being housed there for a time. Henry and George are identical twins and Martha is their younger sister.

Thea and Ethan were best friends as children. Along with Ethan's brother Andrew, they shared a wonderful childhood. Andrew died and Ethan's family fell apart.

Thea and Ethan a good hearted people who carry scars and sorrow of the past. Both of them are good people.

Ethan has created an image of himself as a careless and carefree man, but in reality he is a man of honor and caring. He is intelligent, charming and amusing. But, when he finds Thea has done things without his knowledge he becomes an angry man.

Thea feels a sense of belonging and does not want the house to be closed. She also knows that the town and everyone in it will disappear without the estate to support the area.

The children add a great deal of humor as well as a sense of family to the story.

Ms Bradley has created a lovely Christmas story. Christmas and its celebration are an ongoing theme of the story. It is a quick and entertaining read.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

As far as Ethan Fortescu, Lord Demon is concerned, his family’s seat in Cornwall is only a source of torment, one that he’s managed to avoid for two years. He’s now the Earl of Devon & so he can close the door on his haunted past by locking up the cursed place for good. But upon arriving at Cleves Court, he is shocked to find the house aglow with Christmas celebrations, filled with music and laughter. And right at the centre of the holiday madness is the infuriating and eternally tempting Theodosia Sheridan who’s now the housekeeper & she has always loved the town of Cleves, especially at the holidays. As a girl, she also loved Ethan with all her heart. It’s painful to see how his brother Andrew’s tragic death has embittered him. Still, she will do anything to make sure the town thrives even if it means going to battle with Ethan to save Cleves Court. Now she has only until Twelfth Night to make a Christmas miracle happen or Ethan will depart for good.
A heart warming story, we met Ethan in Lady Charlotte's First Love & I’m glad he’s had his HEA. Ethan & Thea have loved each other since they were children & shared a kiss when they were teenagers. Ethan needs to remember the good & happy times at Cleves rather than just the heartache & Thea tries everything she can to do this plus she’s aided by three orphans who worm their way into Ethan’s heart. This is the third in the series but doesn’t feature any Sutherlands & it could very easily be read on its own. The characters are well developed Ethan changes from the haughty Earl to be the man who cares about others

This is the story of a young earl and the woman who saved him, the story of two childhood sweethearts killing the ghosts that tore them apart, the best Christmas romance I’ve ever read.

Two years after his father’s death Ethan Fortesque, earl of Devon, arrives in his Cornwall estate in order to shut down the house and be done with it forever. Too many ghosts from the past still haunt him, despite the fact that he never returned there since he left for Oxford all those years ago. Disease, family tragedies and a lot of pain have turned him from the happy young fellow he once was to a drunken waste and a jerk. But the girl who was his first and only love and who is now his housekeeper, the fierce Thea Sheridan, and three little orphans, two twin brothers and their little sister, who seem to be nothing but savages will show him that it’s still possible to find love and happiness at Cleves Court.

So in a few words, this is the long process of a man who at the beginning is a mr. Scrooge type to a man who’s willing to do anything for the woman he loves. After she shows him that she’s willing to do the same for him and even more. I loved Thea for that, she saves him because she’s the only one who knows him, because since she was a child they were always together and she knows better than anyone what he’s been through… and she never tells him that she’s been through the same, but he realizes, that’s what makes him come back to her. And their love story or better said, the second chance at it, is a slow burn… slow sweet and beautiful. This is a true love story, going step by step, layer by layer… never looking back until the end.

But there’s more than that, there’s a lot of fun. Apart from Ethan and Thea’s story I loved how the three orphans win Ethan’s heart and vice versa. Their conversations are so funny and the children are so spontaneous and quick in understanding and learning, they soon find a father figure in his lordship, although it takes a little longer for six-year-old Martha to find a place in her heart for Ethan. And as Christmas stories and romances should, it all ends well for all of them, leaving me as a reader with a heartwarming feeling and a wide smile.

I've very much enjoy Ms. Bradley's stories and this one is no different. Ethan Fortescue, Earl of Devon, is a man haunted by his past. Cleves Court, the family home in Cornwall, is nothing to him now. Tragedy there has erased every fond memory he'd ever had of the place and he's determined to close it down and never set foot in it again. That's it until he arrives to find Theodosia Sheridan, his childhood friend Thea, is now housekeeper of the grand home and she's determined to keep the place open while helping Ethan to remember the good times they had here.

Ms. Bradley has a way of letting the reader into the painful memories of his brother's Andrew death and his mother's passing of a broken heart. Ethan suffers from nightmares and they only intensify the longer he's at Cleves Court. Thea is a wonderful character, although I would have liked to see her get angry at Ethan's horrendous behavior once in a while. They both witnessed the horrific deaths, but Thea worked through her grief and Ethan has not. Even though this wasn't a very long book, Ms. Bradley skillfully weaves a intense and wonderful story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ethan, the Earl of Devon, is going home to close Cleve's court. It's too hard to go there after his brother and mother died there. He felt he could have, should have done something to stop his brother Andrew's death, not accepting that his illness, epilepsy, was not anything he could have helped with.
His father sent him away after Andrew's death fearing it could be contagious and Ethan's guilt was crushing.
As children both boys had a playmate, an orphan girl his mother brought home, Theodosia Sheridan. Ethan had always loved her.
He came into the house looking for the housekeeper to find a party going on...and that the housekeeper was now Miss Sheridan.....and she had 3 orphans staying there for the holidays.
Trying hard not to be drawn in and pressed to change his mind doesn't work and he falls irrevocably for Theodosia and the 3 imps.
I requested it because I am familiar with Ms. Bradley's work and was granted an Arc copy to peruse.

This is a new author for me and I enjoyed her writing. SQ

Very pleasant romance arranged with a traditional celebration of Christmas with a gaggle of orphans and an Earl determined to not enjoy himself.

I’ve read this series, and found it hit and miss. The first book was good, the second very difficult, and this was actually more light hearted, though still serious. The H was a character in the last book, but honestly, he didn’t even seem like the same person. He had proposed to the h in that book, but didn’t even seem to have cared for her in this one, which was somewhat confusing. The h was sweet and caring, the childhood playmate of the H. He was a rake, the spare who inherited after his father and brother died. Suspicion has been that he murdered his brother to inherit, though he didn’t. The reasons for his angst aren’t that great, not his desire to close down his estate, which is the main premise of the story. It’s actually a quick, fun read, and well written. And I did like the couple.

The Earl of Devon, Ethan, returns to his country estate to close it up for good. He has determined it will never be lived in during his lifetime. Once there, he happens up a Christmas party in full swing being held/hosted by his former childhood friend Thea, who is now the housekeeper. What follows is funny and true to the life of children with their impish ways. Siblings Henry, George and Martha are all wards of the parish who are living at Cleves Court, Ethan’s home, with Thea due to the lack of living arrangements for them at the parish. What follows is thei children’s madcap adventures taken out on the earl and his great-grandfather’s Aubusson carpet.

Ethan is a bit of a jerk at the beginning of the novella. He seems cruel and self-interested. But, as the story begins to unfold, you realize there is a lot of pain and hurt flowing underneath the facade of every day life. You begin to see a lot of the rumors and scandal attached to Ethan as his way of hiding from his feelings and pain. Where lovely, kind Thea hides her pain with good works, Ethan hides his with drink. Ethan’s family just fell apart once his brother died, with him possibly being blamed as the perpetrator of his brother’s death. Ethan does not handle it well at all.

Watching Thea and Ethan try to outwit each other proves funny and entertaining. This is, apparently, the third book in the series, but I read it as a stand alone and enjoyed it just as well without having read the previous two books. There is quite a bit of self doubt here, but saving grace in the end.

This book is full of sadness and torment, but comes through with redemption. The protagonist struggles to shake off his demons and feels the only path is to walk away from his legacy. The woman who has loved him for years sees it as her personal mission to help him remember all the good in his life and home. Unfortunately, she only has until Twelfth Night to convince him, or all is lost.

I read a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Twelfth Night With the Earl is the 3rd book in The Sutherland Sisters series and is the story of Ethan Fortescue, Earl of Devon. I first met him in the book Lady Charlotte’s First Love. When Ethan’s older brother Andrew developed epilepsy, his father abandoned the family and left for London and Ethan was sent away to school. Many years later he is returning to Cornwall to shut down his family seat as for him it is only full of misery. To his great surprise Theodosia Sheridan his childhood companion is now the housekeeper and she has taken in a trio of unruly orphans for the holiday season. Ethan wants the house shut down and all the unhappy memories buried away. The charming story of how Ethan and Thea find their way back to each other and overcome the tragedies of their shared past is a delightful holiday romance.

This was my first time reading Anna Bradley and even though this is book 3 in the series I had no problem reading it as a standalone. It was an enjoyable read though it didn't blow me away and leave me needing to go read the other books.

Ethan initially comes off as a royal PITA which we come to find out it's because he never has fully dealt with his feelings around the death of his brother. He becomes more likeable as we see him interact with a group of orphans that are staying in his home while their orphanage is being repaired. Then he shows a rascal side of himself that makes him a more engaging character. I also give him credit for not immediately turning out some of the servants when they first refuse to serve him. I know he and Theodosia were engaged in a battle of the wills but I could see that having turned out badly for the servants involved.

I didn't really warm to Theodosia's character. There was nothing outright wrong with her but her actions were a bit over the top to me. I get she wants to get Ethan to remember the more positive memories of his home but it stretched the imagination that no matter that she was his childhood friend and a former ward of his mother's, I can't imagine a housekeeper thinking she could basically plan a house party without the owner's consent. And for someone so concerned about the staff I find it hard to believe she would actively encourage them NOT to serve him no matter how badly he behaved.

What made the story for me was the children. I adored all three and honestly felt like we see more of them helping Ethan to create new, positive memories not marred by the memory of what happened to his brother. It was lovely to see the relationship growing between them and Ethan.

Overall not a bad book but not one I'm likely to go back and read again.

I loved this quick read that stars Ethan Fortescue, Earl of Devon, and his best friend from childhood.

We first met Devon in the previous book in the series, Lady Charlotte's First Love, as Charlotte's friend and suitor. I didn't like him much at the beginning of that story, but grew to love him as the story progressed and we learned more about him. I was really excited to see that Bradley had written his HEA.

Ethan is a man that is hurting over the losses in his life and just wants to forget that part of his life. But when he goes home to shutdown his childhood home, he is greeted with Christmas cheer lead by his childhood friend, Thea. She wants him to remember all the good times they had and not the sadness. Can she get him to reconsider closing down the home and finding his HEA?

I have absolutely LOVED this series and I hope that Bradley has more stories for us as I have simply adored them!! If you haven't already read the other books in the series, go out and get them now!!

I really love Anna Bradley and have read all the others in The Sutherland series. This book can be read as a standalone. It doesn't really involve the other stories at all except that this is Ethan's story who was briefly seen in another book. Here Ethan is returning home to close down a property where his memories aren't the most pleasant. There he finds his childhood love interest Theodosia. During Ethan's stay at the house, Theodosia tries to bring about the Christmas spirit and help Ethan remember what he loved about his home in the past. Spoiler alert: The story has some funny moments but my biggest issue with the story was that Theodosia was so out of character for a woman of that time. While I enjoy strong female characters, this felt unbelievable. Theodosia is essentially in Ethan's employ as the housekeeping, she wants him to stay out the house and not the inn nearby and yet she makes the first day pretty miserable for him, having children running about, not bringing him tea and making him fetch it himself, allowing the other servants to basically not serve the master of the house. She claims concern for the other staff in the house but I don't see how they can expect to keep their jobs when they aren't trying to impress their employer. This took me out of the story and the time period which I found unfortunate.

There is much more to this story than meets the eye. At the beginning it is definitely a comedy. Ethan wants you to think he is footloose and fancy free with all of his carousing and drinking but it cannot be further from the truth. I laughed out loud at the first part of this story. The kids were hilarious and Ethan was just as funny with his retorts. But eventually we get to the crux of the story and Ethan’s inability to deal with his brother’s death. Thea is the light at the end of Ethan’s tunnel. She battles with him to help him deal with his feelings. Their journey goes through many emotions and ends so very well. Loved this story.

a truly well-written and good historical romance. enjoyed

This is a cute little holiday tale. I do enjoy Anna Bradley. And there is not too much angst, but a sweet reconciliation story and some plucky orphans for added flavor. I will say that I think it could do without the "very dramatic misunderstanding" near the end. If you are looking for warm holiday read, this could be your cup of coco.