What the Earl Needs Now by Michelle Willingham is Book Two in the "Earls Next Door" Series. This is the story of Lily Thornton and Matthew Larkspur the Earl of Arnsbury. I have read the previous book in this series but feel this is easily a standalone book. Lily has loved Matthew since she was young. Matthew is her brother James (James Thornton the Earl of Penford) best friend. When Matthew was getting ready to leave for India he married Lily in front of a priest and they had their one night But Matthew ended up getting captured and tortured. James went to bring Matthew home but he is a changed man who doesn't seem to remember much. Matthew is finding it hard to feel or know anyone after the terrible torture he was put through....they even burned his feet. When Lily tries to go to him and remind him that they married and that she wants to help him get better he says he doesn't know her and orders her away .
This was a very emotional read that I found I could not put it down. I had to know their happy ending. Loved it!

This is a very sweet historical romance. I absolutely loved Matthew and Lily story. Matthew had a lot of demons inside of him due to what happened to him in India and Lily was very determined to stand by him. Their road to happily ever after was not an easy one but they got there at the end. There was not a lot of cliffhangers. The steam level is ok, it suits the story but I prefer my books a bit more steamier.

Matthew Larkspur, Earl of Arnsbury, has loved Lily Thornton as long as she’s loved him. When her father threatened to make a match for her, Lily begs Matthew to wed and bed her before he leaves for India with her brother, James. He gives in and they share one night together, before their lives go terribly wrong.

Lily’s father dies shortly after James and Matthew leave for India. While in India, James and Matthew are kidnapped and tortured for over a year. Two years have passed and James and Matthew are finally home, but Matthew is horribly broken and refuses to honor his marriage to Lily. They both knew it wasn’t legal, but Lily always assumed they would make it so once Matthew returned.

Willingham takes this story in several different directions. Matthew deals with horrific post traumatic stress disorder including hallucinations. Lily has to learn to accept Matthew as the man he’s become. With several secondary characters rooting for and against the couple, the stakes have never been more dangerous. I was sobbing at points in the story about the torture Matthew endured in India and what he continued to battle once he was back home.

This was my first experience reading Willingham and thankfully she has dozens of novels I can sink my teeth into. Even with the box of tissues I went through with this story, the ending was worth it all. If any of her other novels are this good, I will be filling my bookcase with more Michelle Willingham novels as soon as possible.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I really enjoyed this story of Lily and Matthew. Matthew, best friend of Lily’s older brother returns from two years in India a different man. The time he spent abroad with Lily’s brother was pretty horrendous. Lily, who’s loved him for years waited for his return and so wants to help him, but needs to decide if that’s what is best for either of them. But Matthew is in a dark place. Throw in a plot to harm them filled with intrigue, and a heated longing to be together they each feel, and this was difficult to put down! The author included a cast of interesting characters and a realistic scenario, along with two special characters that gave me a laugh.
I highly recommend this book to romance readers. I missed the first in this new series and fully intend to go find it and read it too!

Matthew Larkspur followed James Thornton to India, it was to protect his best friend. They were captured, held and tortured for two years. Now that he is home, he is broken and mired in nightmares. Lily loves and wants nothing more than to help Matthew heal. They married, vows but no license, in secret before he left and Lily wants to make the marriage real. Matthew doesn’t believe he can be the man Lily needs. She won’t give up on him, and even though he tries to convince her to stay away, he loves and needs her. This will be a hard won happily ever after.

I really liked the credible portrayal of Matthew’s PTSD and Lily’s reaction and response to it. They worked through it together, but not easily and not quickly. Matthew’s own strength, the fantastic support he, and Lily, received from their families, and Lily’s period of uncertainty made the story realistic.

This is a complex story, exciting and suspenseful, with secrets, intrigue, blackmail, betrayal and danger, all woven together in a way that holds your attention from start to finish. The characters are written so that you feel you know them. The vivid descriptions bring the story to life. There are some surprises, including the how and why of Matthew’s capture and torture. This is one that’s hard to put down. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. The review and comments are my own.

I am giving a fair and honest review in exchange for being given this ARC. Ms Willingham is one of my "go to" authors. I am afraid that my opinion is that this is not one of her best books. Do not mistake me, she writes good stories! I just felt this one lacked something. I still read it all, saved it into my "collections" and will continue watching for her books.

This was a captivating book from beginning to end, even with its somewhat unbelievable premise. Lily Thornton loved Matthew Larkspur, the Earl of Arnsbury -- enough so to marry him secretly before he set off to India. Or did she? And what is a secret "wife" to do when her husband returns, tortured and barely able to recognize her. Lily doesn't quit, that's for sure, and her determination -- even when rejected and embarrassed -- is a beautiful thing to see. This is an extremely thoughtful look, too, at true PTSD/mental illness, and there is no easy resolution. That adds a layer of depth to the usual story of two lovers finding each other. The mentions of the wonderful sisters from the "Secrets in Silks" series adds to the story, as does the presence of one true villain, a cad, and a mysterious female stranger who is a blackmailer (or is she?). This world is complex, but made fun, too, with the addition of little Beast and the wonderful Sebastian. Just a great read. (I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.)

I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
this is the second instalment in Michelle Willingham's Earls Next Door series and can be read as a standalone.
Matthew Larkspur, the Earl of Arnsbury, has returned to London after spending the last two years being tortured in India. He is haunted by his experiences and refuses to believe he married his best friend's sister days before leaving for England.
Lady Lily Thornton has long been in love with her brothers best friend. When her father was prepared to force her into a marriage she and Matthew agree to wed in secret but without a marriage licence, the wedding isn't legal.
Lily refuses to abandon Matthew in his time of need, but there are external forces working to disrupt their HEA.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The struggles the two protagonists must endure are depicted in a realistic manner. The hero is not suddenly cured, instead, he adjusts to his circumstances and the plot develops over an extended period of time. The HEA is well deserved and fought for in this story.

London - 1846

Lily Thornton’s brother, James, the Earl of Penford, has accompanied Matthew Larkspur, the Earl of Arnsbury having just returned from India. Lily and Matthew are married but the capture and torture that Matthew endured in India has changed him and he does not even seem to remember her. However, he does recognize her and his mother, Charlotte Larkspur. While he may remember these family members, his mind is filled with memories of the horrific torture he has endured. His nightmares are constant. His spirit is broken and he simply cannot return to his former life. But Lily is determined to not give up on him. Lily tries to help him but he is so immersed in his own nightmares and hallucination to be reached. So, she flees to Ireland to spend time with her sister.

Lily wants to love Matthew and be his wife but his rejection of her is difficult for her to accept. Other family events happen that require her to return to London which bring the couple back together.

Oh my. What a hot mess this book is. Some of the time periods are well-defined which cause confusion. It is very difficult to try and read a book that is so depressing and downright boring. This book is not for me.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lily Thornton’s husband, Matthew the Earl of Arnsbury has returned after two years. Lily married in secret before he traveled to India with her brother. Lily eagerly goes to see Matthew and soon discover he doesn’t want anything to do with her. Matthew is struggling with PTSD and is trying to fight his way out of the nightmare he once lived being tortured every day. Lily tries to reach Matthew, but soon flashbacks from his imprisonment scare her away. Matthew decides he needs to make amends and he must work to earn back her trust and save a love that had barely begun to thrive. Lily refuses to give on him and Matthew must learn to live with the past in order for them to find their way to happiness and leave the past behind.
This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

what the earl needs now picks up after good earls don't lie left off. the love of lily thornton's life has returned, but instead of claiming her as his wife, matthew larkspur, the earl of arnsbury, is out of his mind with trauma from the terrible torture he endured while he was in india.

matthew isn't the man lily remembers from two years ago. he barely remembers loving her. and he is in no condition to keep promises made before everything changed.

it’s hard for lily to accept that the matthew she loved is gone. she refuses to believe it, until she catches him in a weak moment and he snaps. and it’s then, when she realizes that he doesn’t even see her, that she accepts that the matthew who has returned from india is a fundamentally altered man.

so they can’t pick up where they left off, but perhaps what they really need is to start over. and it’s not an easy thing to do, to let go of what you thought was known and certain, and see where these new paths may take you. but to find the happiness that only they can unlock in one another, matthew and lily need to start at the beginning. with no guarantees, except maybe the fact that they both want the happily ever after outcome.

this is a true second chance at love romance, but one thing i liked is that the characters aren’t separated because of some huge misunderstanding or assumptions about the other person. life gets in the way of matthew and lily’s relationship, but love is always there. they just need to relearn how to trust it.

This is a sad story of a man with PTSD, from torture in India, and the girl he left behind. It’s a sad story, the couple had consummated their relationship before he went to India, which he did to protect her brother. They exchanged vows but had not a marriage license. Therefore not legally binding. She initially wants to help him recover, but he sent her away. She continues to visit, until he accidentally hurts her during a flashback. This is second in a series, and though it stands alone, I think reading the first book would be helpful. Eventually the couple find some peace, but there are others who would destroy their peace. The story is complicated by her mothers dementia. It was a pretty good story, but seems to have too much going on, but then, I guess there wouldn’t otherwise be a story.

I loved this book from beginning to end. It was filled with so much emotion and feels. The love between Matthew and Lily was so obvious even when Matthew tried to push Lily away from him. They both go through different struggles throughout the book but they ultimately never give up on each other. The romance and steam was perfect but the suspense added a much needed element to round out this book. I also loved the animals in this book and the sweetness they added to it. Overall, this was a really satisfying feel good read.

The soul-deep love of this story is beautiful to read. The level of pain and redemption urges the read to help the characters find peace and love with each other.

Lily Thornton waited for him for a long time. She felt they were married. Matthew Larkspur, Earl Of Arnsbury decided to join his friend, James who is Lily's brother, and go to India.
This was a suspenseful story, there is danger, intrigue, lies and death in this amazing tale. The characters are full bodied and full of life. The descriptions are wonderful and help bring the story to life for the reader. This plot is very twisted and complicated. The author has made an excellent read out of all the threads that move thru out. It makes sense, easy to read, concise and definitely keeps your attention. I stayed up very late, I could not put it down. I loved the description of her wedding gown. Ivory fabric yards of it cascaded behind her. The whole setting was so romantic.

I was interested in this second-in-series book by Michelle Willingham after having enjoyed book 1, “Good Earls Don’t Lie”. I appreciate the overall maturity of Willingham’s characters. They talk with each other and don’t spend half of a book pouting over a miscommunication. That being said, I felt like several of the more complicated plot elements in this book were rushed over, and not allowed to develop fully. Matthew’s nightmares about his experiences in India ended rather abruptly, as did Lily’s fear in reaction to them. I'd give this a solid 3.5 * rating, though.

Lily Thorton, youngest sister of James Thorton, the Earl of Penford, has been in love with Matthew Larkspur, the Earl of Arnsbury, her brother's close friend, since she was sixteen. Two years later, on the same day, her father tells her that he has accepted an offer for her hand in marriage to Lord Davonshire and her brother tells them that he is leaving to sail to India to seek adventure and that Matthew was accompanying him (to keep an eye on him, as he had a premonition of danger). Lily runs to see Matthew asking for his help and he arranges a secret marriage, with a minister to hear their vows, but illegal, as there is not enough time to procure a special license.

When they return two years later, they are broken men, captured and tortured supposedly for information about the British. Meanwhile in Britain, Lily's father had dies and her mother has been suffering from bouts of dementia. When Lily rushes to his side, she finds a very different from the man she knew. He is suffering from PTSD, and at first denies even knowing her. But she refuses to give up on the man she loves and slowly helps him battle his demons. But everything, is not as it appears to be.

I received an ARC from netgally.com for an honest review. I have not read previous books by this author, so read as a stand alone. The characters are well developed and the plot full of twists, intrigue and humor.

Lily waited two years for Matthew to come home from India so they could wed. But he came home a different man. Matthew had been kidnapped and tortured to the point he did not think he could love anymore. Lily decides they need to be friends and work to improve their relationship from there. Can love find a way. When needed they are there for each other no matter what. Matthew's cousin is after his title and will do what ever it takes to get it. I story of how true love cannot be put aside.

Lily Thornton has loved Matthew Larkspur, the Earl of Arnsbury, for years. When he decides to protect her brother by traveling with him to India, she asks him to marry her so she will not be forced to marry another. The marriage wasn’t legal but it kept her suitors away while she waited and waited....
Two years later and her love has come home. Matthew, however, is not the same man that she promised her heart to as he has been held and tortured by a madwoman while in India. He is scarred inside and out and doesn’t feel he deserves the woman seeking to restore him. Will he push her away or let her heal his brokenness?
This was promising in parts and lacking in others. Too many things were huge issues then quickly resolved. His amnesia was the beginning of the quick fix. The others that bothered me were Lily’s sudden fear of him and then lack-there-of, his PSTD quick recovery, and the return of some foes that were gone in a flash.
The story was good but there were just a few distractions. James’ story looks to be riveting though.

What a truly engrossing read! The prose is excellently written, the pacing is just right, and the HEA is hard won and well deserved! I loved my introduction to Michelle Willingham’s work and definitely look forward to reading more from her. This was a real can’t-put-it-down book and I definitely have to go back and read the first book in the series now!

Lily Thornton has loved Matthew Larkspur, Earl of Arnsbury, for a long time. When her father was trying to marry her off and Matthew was getting ready to leave for India, she and Matthew said their vows in front of a priest – but there was no license – and they both knew it. But they had a one night honeymoon. Lily lived on that one night for the two years it took Matthew to return – a scarred and broken man. He had been captured in India and tortured for over a year – horrible torture that I won’t describe. It broke him physically and mentally. In today’s world, we would say that he has PTSD. He loses himself in remembrances of the torture and can hurt someone.

Lily has visited Matthew almost daily since his return, but he’s broken and he doesn’t want her to cling to a broken man – so he tells her he doesn’t remember her. Oh – but he does. She doesn’t give up and keeps visiting. She seems to have a calming effect on him and he is drawn toward her light. Until something happens one day and he hurts her.

Matthew is eaten up with remorse and now Lily is afraid of him. She still loves him, but she keeps her distance from him. That is what really draws him back into the world – that and getting rid of all of the medications he’s been taking. He needs a clear head if he is going to deal with his demons and win Lily back.

Matthew is a sly devil and knows how to woo this particular lady. Oh! Yes, he does. Not with flowers, candy or jewelry – but with veterinary books and a correspondence course. Can you believe?

There are also some pretty nasty villains in this book – Matthew wasn’t captured by accident and the perpetrators are too close to home for comfort.

A couple of reviewers have commented on the speed with which Matthew handled his PTSD and criticized Lily for giving up on him. I beg to differ with them. If you look at the amount of time the story says elapsed, it wasn’t exactly quick. Yes – it happened within a few chapters of the book, but the elapsed time covered in those chapters isn’t terribly short. Then, regarding Lily – he really frightened her and hurt her – I would think anyone would have to think twice about being in his company given those circumstances.

This was a truly excellent read!

"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."