Publisher's Description:

Lily Thornton waited two long years for the return of her beloved husband, the Earl of Arnsbury. But the man she married in secret has no memory of her.

After being tortured in India, Matthew Larkspur can hardly return to a normal existence. He cannot sleep at night, and he knows he is not the man Lily needs. A haunted darkness festers inside him, turning him into a beast who does not deserve the love of a beauty.

But beneath his tormented scars lies the man Lily has loved all her life. And she refuses to give up on him, especially when his wildness stirs her blood…

My Thoughts:

I liked this story even more than I did book #1, "Good Earls Don't Lie". While reading this story I found myself remembering parts of Rose and Ian's story.
This book has more of a convoluted nature than the first one of the series.
Matthew has returned from India a different man than the one who left. Lily loves him still but his nightmares and hallucinations may be the death of him or the ones he loves.
This story is one for the keeper shelf. I'm not certain if there will be another book in this series, but I would like to see one about James and Evangeline.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.5 of 5.0 flames. The intimate scenes are both sweet and combustible.
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 title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

<i>Book received from both Netgalley and Kindle Press for an honest review</i>

This is the second book I've read by this author, though the first I saw in my wanderings. Spotted it on Netgalley in a 'Read Now' section. Investigated GoodReads to see what people thought of the book, didn't get far as I spotted that this was the second in a series; wandered over to first book, spotted it was a Kindle Unlimited book - investigated it, tried sample, sample turned into acquiring the KU book and reading it, which finally leads back to this book which I got while still needing to read roughly 30% of the prior book. Whereupon the prior book suddenly hit a slight issue that I termed 'icky' in my review. But completed that book, liked it, turned immediately to . . . a different book, but now back to this book here.

I started my review for the first book in this series by noting how the cover <I>did not</I> have the relatively common trope of having a shirtless man on the cover. And commenting on the fact that 1) the first meeting between the two main characters actually had the main male character shirtless; 2) that same guy kept losing his shirt in the book.

Which brings us to this book here. And I spot . . . a man losing his shirt on the book cover. Now this specific man is one who, it seems, would be less likely to be careless about his shirt. No, not because he is . . fastidious, but because he was tortured and physically abused while in captivity in India. Vague idea a guy like that wouldn't like to parade around shirtless. Careless about appearance, sure. Also he has super long hair and a beard in the book. At least in the opening section. I assume the cover does not represent the beginning of the book, or the male character would be huddled, have Fabio long hair, and a scruffy beard. And look super dirty, weak, and vaguely insane.

Right.

Series: This is the second book in a series, should the first be read before the second? Well, the characters that populate the first book, talking mostly about the background characters, reappear in book two. <spoiler>Insane mother Thornton; Lily Thornton (who is now the main character of her own book); Rose Thornton (who wasn't a background character in first book, but is now a background character in book two); Grandma Thornton (who isn't actually called Thornton, but, instead, Mildred Lady Wolcroft). James Thornton, current Earl of Penford, and Matthew Larkspur (Earl of Arnsbury), were both mentioned in the first book, but only very briefly seen (I believe James might have only made an appearance). Lady Arnsbury, or whatever Matthew's mother name might be, was in the first and second book. </spoiler>And so - background characters in both books are same; setting is same (with the addition of Arnsbury property); different main characters. Though the secret relationship between Lily and Matthew was mentioned in book one - and shown in book two. So, back to that question, can you read book two without reading book one? I strongly advise reading book one before book two, especially if the reader ever desires reading book one. A specific scene that occurs in some detail in this book directly connected to the 'end-game' of book one.

Characters of the main: Two points of view, Matthew Larkspur (Earl of Arnsbury), and Lily Thornton (who is something around the age of 20 in this book . . . if I did the math right, and read the flashbacks right). Matthew is, I believe, 35 (based on a comment that he is 10 years older than James, and James was 23 before he went on his trip to India). Matthew, as noted, is an Earl. Lily is the daughter of an Earl; and while Matthew is away in India, Lily's father dies, and James becomes the Earl of Penford (and therefore Lily is also the sister of an Earl).

Story: For several years now, Lily's family have been attempting to marry her off to a rich fella who is the same age as Lily, and of a higher rank. But Lily first held them off by getting into a situation with Matthew, then held them off by the fact that the father died and people were in mourning. But people are out of mourning now, and while Matthew has returned, he is also considered to be insane. So, once again, the family is attempting to marry Lily off to someone she doesn't want to marry (partially this involves the family noting how Matthew is no longer acceptable so some other dude will have to do). Matthew, meanwhile, is attempting to 'get over' his experience of being brutally tortured and abused in India, while, at the same time, attempting to remember his relationship with Lily (which mostly starts off with him remembering her naked, and some vague sense that she is James sister). James, by the way, also has some romantic entanglements shown/revealed/discussed in the book though as a somewhat minor side story.

The book had some really neat animal related scenes - humorous and/or sweet, involving cats and dogs. Also, Lily, wishing to keep herself occupied, begins learning animal medicine with the encouragement of Matthew. Which is neat to see.

The romance is great, the characters are great, the conflict points . . . are occasionally bordering on over the top, but don't actually go over. All the way around a rather good book. Better than the first book in the series. Fun entertaining book.

Rating: 4.55

October 13 2017

I read this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This is the second book in the series. It can be read as a stand alone. This is the first book I have read written by Michelle Willingham.

I was intrigued by the author tackling PTSD due to war/ torture. The hero, Matthew travels to India with his best friend and is taken hostage. Before he leaves, he secretly marries the heroine, his best friend's sister Lily. He escapes and 2 years later returns to London haunted from what has happened to him. This story is about Matthew and Lily finding their way back.

I enjoyed the story but got lost with some of the details. In the beginning she writes about the age difference between the 2 being extensive but it isn't until later I found out there was about a 15 year difference. Also, the timing of the book was off. It seems to take place from summer through Christmas with the last chapter taking place another 6 months after. You would read one scene, and in the very next scene, it was "weeks" or even "months" later. There were too many time holes. Also, we have to keep track of the secondary characters. They are introduced and then later told how they relate to the hero or heroine.

All in all, an interesting subject for romance. I will read other books and stories by Michelle Willingham.

Lily Thornton waited two long years for the return of her beloved husband, Matthew Larkspur, the Earl of Arnsbury. After being captured & tortured in India, Matthew can hardly return to a normal existence. He cannot sleep at night nor eat, and he knows he is not the man Lily needs no matter how much he feels better when she is near.
A well written book with good characters & the plot was well paced. I enjoyed it but I did have some reservations. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, the way that Matthew’s torment was handled was very good & how Lily fought for him was so good, also Iris’ illness was well handled. However I felt the second half wasn’t as good, it raised too many questions for me, for example how did he manage to arrange things when he had no money? & those questions weren’t answered. So I felt the first half was a 4.5 star read but the second only a 3.5 star

I liked the story mainly because of it was quite different from usual regency romance. I was curious to see what would happen next. The book made me laugh and I appreciate the sarcasm which had been well balanced. The psychological issue addressed in the book is also noteworthy. It illustrates the helplessness of a person who has no option but to accept that he could anytime get lost in his own hallucinations. I was fascinated by love and support shared between the couple. The story clearly shows how love,caring,support and trust could win over the hardest of ordeals that the destiny throws upon us. A great work and a must read if you are looking for a regency romance that would not allow your heart to keep the book aside until you turn the last page.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

It was so great. For me this author is a hit or miss and I enjoyed her original series about the 3 dressmaker sisters. Well this story continues that story. How? well I am not spilling. If you loved Juliette and Dr Paul well they are a very big part of this story and I LOVED it.

This is the story of Matthew who was NOT a soldier but who went with his best friend to India and they were captured and tortured. He is saved but so much damage has been done to his mind.

Lily is the best friends sister and she has loved Matthew forever. She was told to wait to marry him two years before and she totally has. But the man who comes back is not her Matthew, or is it?

This book was wonderful and I LOVED every second of it.

This was a fantastic story about an everlasting love and what it means to fight for someone even when they don't want to fight for themselves.

“What the Earl Needs Now” is quite an interesting novel that tells the story of a woman in love with a man despite all odds. He was her childhood sweetheart, her brother’s best friend, her most loyal confidant and protector, both of her and of her brother. When said brother has a conflict with their father, he decides to go in and adventure in India. So sudden is this decision that Matthew, the hero of the novel, who is older than the heroine’s brother, feels protective about the lad and decides to accompany him. That happened two years before the start of the novel, and at the time, Lily had had another conflict with their father when he offered her to marry someone else. That day she’d run to Matthew for help and ended up saying the marrying vows to him, although that wedding wasn’t legal.

When the two men return to England they’re completely changed both of them. Matthew barely remembers his old self, and Lily’s brother doesn’t want to speak about what happened to them in India. With her father dead and the old vows now invalid, Lily will have to take matters seriously and be the strong pillar on which the two men could rely on.

Above many things there are two subjects that I’ve loved about this novel. First, Lily as a strong female character and second, the subject of the mental illnesses and the way Michelle Willingham handled it.
Lily is not a sheep that will be nurtured and controlled by any man, so she tells her father. She’s not only strong but also determined to live her live and her love her own way. She, at 18, stated very clearly that she has her own mind and that no one will control her life and her future but hersef. And she continues to be her own person throughout the novel. When everybody, including Mattew, so much as suggests to her what she should do about her situation she faces them and tells them no. She’s clear but she’s not blunt.

And Matthew is suffering a severe case of PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) after being abducted and tortured on a daily basis for so long, for reasons unclear to him (which will be revealed later on in the book). He returns home a shadow, he’s a recluse in his own chamber and he will change his behavior when something makes him relive the torture (ie: a gun shot in the distance, a cup smashing on the floor…), he’s completely broken and unsuitable for marriage. But Lily is not one to give up easily on someone she loves. Just like she doesn’t give up on her mother.

Because apart from Matthew, the mother suffers from another mental illness, this time, an early (for her age) case of senile dementia. Now I know how dementia works in the mind of a person, and I can say without the shadow of a doubt that the symptoms and the episodes in which the woman is lost in her daydreams is quite accurate. Although she is a side character, the figure of Lily’s mother is important for the book because it is thanks to the older woman that Lily understands what life feels like to have a mental illness, therefore from that moment Lily understands Matthew better.

There are also other subjects like the love between sisters, the love in the family, the legitimacy of an adopted person’s right to inherit, the way greed and hatred can make a person go beyond all moral and ethical boundaries. Etc, etc.

In conclusion I liked this novel, but in all honesty it wasn’t amazing in my opinion. The first half of the book was brilliant but then the second wasn’t so good. It was merely good if anything. I had the feeling that I was reading two different novels (or rather novellas, given the extension of the book) with the same characters in both. The first half of the novel tells the story of a man’s descent to hell and the woman who brought him back to life and saved him. And the second half is one of revenge and family drama, very much like a soap opera. It didn’t make sense; the continuity between the two halves was rather weak. And the fact that there are time lapses (“a week later”, “two months later”) where there shouldn’t didn’t help at all. The reader has to make an effort filling the gaps. As a result, the plot as a whole sounds a bit forced and artificial. It should have been published as two novellas instead of one book and they would have worked better. At least for me.

I read this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. What the Earl Needs Now is the second book in Michelle Willingham’s Earls next door series. I had not read the first book Good Earls don’t Lie prior to reading this one so I think it can be read on its own. The sizzle factor is very hot. Lily Thornton and Matthew Larkspur the Earl of Arnsbury do not have an easy journey to HEA. They pledged to each other before Matthew left for India with Lily’s brother James but now 2 years later Matthew has returned beaten, tortured and broken suffering from PTSD and not sure that he wants to marry Lily. The story is a bit of a roller coaster with Lily’s mother suffering from dementia, a family wedding in Ireland, an adorable kitten, a rescue dog, nasty villains, blackmail, mayhem, conniving relatives and a mystery to solve. I very much enjoyed this book and now think I must read the first one about Lily’s sister Rose.

After escaping captivity and torture in India, the Earl has vague amnesia and definitely PTSD ,enough to push away the sweet family friend he secretly married before leaving. Now, with secrets from his own family looming, can get pull himself together or lose her forever?

This was an interesting historical romance. You're introduced to the characters and see them separate quite quickly. The reunion is not a typical one due to Matthew's PTSD. The journey that you take with Lily and Matthew is definitely unforgettable. I wish their love story hadn't been so very quick at the beginning. However, I enjoyed it and will look out for more books from this author.

The Earl of Arnsbury is a tortured soul, he pushed everyone that was ever close to him away because he couldn't remember under the heavy influence of drugs the doctor had him on and mostly he was afraid. Lily paid no attention to his nudges to leave him alone, she forced a tiny crack through the window of his heart and let in a shaft of light that ignited deep within him. He was crying out for help silently and no one but Lily heard and understood and still he kept pushing her away. So deeply embedded in his tortured mind he couldn’t see the suffering he put her through. Lily wanted to give up, she so tried hard to do just that, but love had a firm grip on her. This has been a most rewarding, entertaining and downright interesting story, the storyline is excellent along with the characters. Lily and Matthew had a rough reunion which was marred by greed, jealousy, and attempted murder. They fought very hard to hold on to what they once had, not giving an inch, afraid if they do, it would be ripped away from them a second time, but with the help of a few meaningful love ones and pushy of course, they were led in the right direction, this is a MUST READ people give it a go you won’t regret it, I totally enjoyed reading it.

Lady Lily married Matthew, the Earl of Arnsbury, in a rushed ceremony without a time to obtain licence the night before he left for India with her brother. He came back two years later, a mentally damaged man following his capture and torture whilst there. He initially refused to recognise their marriage and pushed Lily away, worked she would get hurt by him in his PTSD afflicted state.

This has the potential to be good - a tortured mind, estranged lovers. Unfortunately it didn't quite work for me because I did not buy their initial romance. They barely started their courtship and suddenly, she was throwing herself at him and proposing to him. And if he was already an earl and a family friend, then why not marry with her father's blessing rather than in secrecy? Their second romance also did not convince me. He was reluctant initially, and she was adamant to remain by his side to support him ala "in sickness and in health". One unintentional and violent move from him while under the influence of drugs and she quickly retracted her promises and no matter his remorse and miraculous recovery, she stuck to her guns and remained mistrustful of him.

The writing was flowing well but there was no brilliance to make this book stand out. I enjoyed the first book in the series more.

I loved the first book in this series, so I was eagerly anticipating the next installment where Lily is finally reunited with her lost love! It was a difficult book to get through at times, due to the serious nature of the hero's PTSD, but it was also hard to put down as I wanted to see how they overcame their struggles as a couple. The ups and downs made for a realistic, engaging romance.

Lily Thornton has been waiting two years to be reunited with Matthew Larkspur, the Earl of Arnsbury, who she married in secret before he traveled to India with her brother. He was taken hostage by Indian rebels and tortured, and only a rescue from her brother saved his life. Upon returning to England, he is housebound, and Lily eagerly goes to see him. However, Matthew doesn't remember her or their marriage, and soon flashbacks from his imprisonment scare her away. Matthew must work to earn back her trust and save a love that had barely begun to thrive.

What was interesting about this couple was the author's particular emphasis on Matthew's age, being that he was over a decade older than Lily. Not only do you have the conflict created by his PTSD, but also have this age divide. It doesn't bother Lily but it does cause some strife between Matthew and her brother. The attraction between Lily and Matthew happens quickly, and Matthew knows that Lily is the one who has captured his heart. When he leaves with her brother to go to India, he hates to leave her behind, but he wanted to be there for her brother as he sought to find his way in the world. Coming back from such torture showed a strength in character in Matthew that appeals to the reader, as it is one that we all hope we would have, should something tragic happen. His love for Lily endures, even though many things are thrown in its path. He fights for Lily and, eventually, he wins her love in return.

I am eager to read the next book in this series, which I am hoping is Lily's friend, Evangeline's, time to shine. Her and Lily's brother, James, have quite the history, and I am interested to see how it will pan out.

There are times Lily pays matthew no mind, “that is my shirt you’ve used as a towel,” he felt compelled to point out. She dried off the kitten until it resembled a knotted ball of damp fuzz. Then she held him out..." I loved this book, Lily was very persistent, and Matthew was just a stubborn man.

Michelle Willingham's second book in the Earls Next Door Series "What the Earl Needs Now" is a fast paced, touching regency romance. Matthew and Lily, our Hero and Heroine, are strong characters. Each knowing what they want and overcoming doubts to achieve their desires. Despite torture suffered in India, Matthew overcomes and rediscovers his desire and love for Lily. Lady Lily is strong in her conviction to help those in need including, but not limited to Matthew. The pacing of the book was great. It kept the story active and lively. Each twist and turn kept the story engaging. I would highly recommend this book.