A charming little tale with a more independent than usual heroine, which I appreciated. Great chemistry between the lead characters, with some nice subplots. Based on this book, I would definitely consider picking up other novels by the author.

The story of Adeline and Lyon starts off with great potential that declined for me as it progressed. I love Regency period novels but am getting tired of the subjects introduced, in this case fertility issues and casual sex. It just didn't fit for me, and I wanted it to. I am intrigued by the school, and the potential for future stories, but this missed the delight I usually take in this era of story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Enjoyable read
A good story , likeable characters, but for some reason I found it hard to stay focused on the story .
It felt a little jumpy and didn’t flow as easily as I hoped , please allow for the fact this is a personal thing and may be great for you .
I didn’t stop me from enjoying the general storyline or the plot of the book , so please bare this in mind .
I’ve read the author before and her books have been wonderful .
I look forward to reading more from her .
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Adeline is a widow who has sworn off marriage. She dedicates her time to a good cause which is quite fullfiling.

Lyon is an Earl who has never been married despite his father's nagging to settle down and produce an heir.

Adeline and Lyon start off with a love hate relationship but underneath it all, they are attracted to each other. Being neighbours they are unable to avoid bumping into each other. They fight their attraction as they have different dreams. They eventually give in, but Adeline is adamant about getting remarried. Can Lyon change her mind?

It's an entertaining and easy to read book. Both of the main characters have their appeal and the concept of the story is interesting.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

I was grateful to receive a copy of the Early Next Door in exchange for an honest review. This was a quick and very enjoyable book. The plot was unique and, the character building was simple and easy to follow, and the relationship between Adeline and Lyon was perfect. Overall, this is a great book that I would recommend to friends and family.

The Earl Next Door by Amelia Grey is the first in her new series First Comes Love. A well written Regency romance with an imaginative premise. Three young women become widowed when the ship their husbands were on sank. They decide to create a boarding school for the daughters and sisters of the crew members of that ship to teach these girls reading, writing and dressmaking skills in order to have options for their futures.

I enjoy stories about widows who find love again. Widows don’t have the same societal constraints as unmarried maidens so they can have more adventures.

I so enjoyed this line after Adeline’s first encounter with her neighbor Lord Lyonwood. (He thinks she’s opening a brothel in his neighborhood…many beds had been delivered to her house after all…)

“For three days Adeline has stewed about her neighbor. Well, some of that time she’d simmered and a time or two she’d sizzled. But no matter when or how she’d thought about the man, heat was involved.”

This was a light, fun and enjoyable read. I am looking forward to the next books in this series.
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Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

"The Earl Next Door" by Amelia Grey
Loved this easy to read Regency romance... The growth of the characters as they are find real love and learn to trust. Truly a relaxing fun read. I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. And, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this story. I hope that you will enjoy this story also. Happy Reading.

This was a very enjoyable read. I liked getting to know Adeline, her friends, & of course, the Earl of Lyonwood (aka Lyon) her next door neighbor. Adeline is a widow that is opening a boarding school for girls who lost their father to a sea disaster. She wants to give them an opportunity to better their lives by learning to read, write, & sew, which was very uncommon during this time period if you weren't wealthy. She & two friends that lost husbands at this same disaster are working together for this cause. Adeline had no love with her husband & couldn't conceive no matter how hard she tried. He made no bones about making her feel poorly about this. Therefore she doesn't want to marry again even though she feels something for Lyon (after tumultuous first meeting). I highly recommend reading this book to find out how their story develops. You won't be disappointed. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

4 starts. A great read.
This is the first book I have from her and I will continue with the series.
Amelia Grey did a great job with this love story. The characters are easing to like and you will find yourself laughing and crying at some of the situations they get themselves into. She does a great job of introducing the other widows for the books following.. The antics of the little girls are fun and could be another series :).
I was given a free copy from Net Galley for an honest review.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Adeline, the Dowager Countess of Wake has sworn she’d never marry again. She enjoys the freedoms she has a widow and being able to decide what she does with her days. When she meets Lyon Marksworth, the Earl of Lyonwood, the attraction between the two is mutual. Sparks fly as Adeline struggles with the feelings Lyonwood awakens within her even as she remains firm in her decision to not marry. It’s up to Lyonwood to convince her otherwise.

Lyonwood is likeable. He is honorable and tries to do the right thing. Adeline has issues to work through from her past and she is unable to move forward until she does. I only wish that when Adeline and Lyonwood come together at the end that there had been a different reason for it.

I thought the story was well-written. I enjoyed the secondary characters.

I look forward to the other books in this series.

Adeline, the Dowager Countess of Wake, had been mistaken as a lady of the night. She was getting ready for her first season since her husband had died on the Salty Dog. A ship that was sunk with a hundred and fifty people aboard and very few made it. She was trying to select fabrics to make up a few gowns. In amongst the fabric she found a red set of stays and her favorite color is red. So she did the unthinkable and tried them on, with a gold ribbon around her waist tied in a huge bow. There was a brusque knock on the door and in barged a man. Demanding to see the madam of the house. This man turned out to be Lyon Marksworth, the Earl of Lyonwood and he had just been slapped across the face for insulting her, thoroughly. She is attracted to him as he is to her but there always seems to be misunderstandings separating them.
I enjoyed this tale of a difficult introductions, meeting the ton and slowly getting to know each other. The author has written an amusing, but well written story. The characters are well developed and are very lifelike. His dad was something else, he was in his fifties and acted like he was thirty, he was also just as young looking. A truly mesmerizing read.

What does a fiercely independent young widow really want? One determined suitor is about to find out. . .

When Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, learns of her husband’s sudden death, she realizes she’s free. At last, she can do, go, and be as she pleases. Finally, she can have the life she has always dreamed of. She doesn’t need, or want, to remarry. Especially not the supremely dashing future Marquis of Marksworth, who makes Adeline yearn for his desire. . .
Lord Lyonwood, son of a philandering marquis, will not be like his father. He wants to run his estates and watch them flourish—and find a wife who brings love to his life.
This newest book by Amelia Grey is one I simply could not put down. This is book #1 of the new First Comes Love series. I hope the whole series enthralls and pulls me in like this one did.
I gave this book 4.4 of 5.0 stars for plot, storyline and characterization. There are humorous moments from the girls at Adeline's school that she opened for the unfortunate children whose fathers were lost at sea on a particular ship.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Started out so promising and then went quickly downhill. Sloppy romantic scenes that didn't make much sense. Not much of a story once the questionable "big event" occurred. You know exactly what the ending will be based on the back story. No surprises and the whole idea of the widows banding together was a little much for me. Several distracting spelling errors as well.

This is the second book that I have read from this author and I have enjoyed. These two meet under a false impression and Adeline lets it be known that she is not the type to back down. Adeline is a young widow and after the marriage that she has had she has finally found freedom and she is not about to give that up. She meet Lord Lyon and they are attracted to each but she lets him know that she is not getting married again however she does not mind taking him to her bed,(scandalous at that time) anyhoo as these two spend time together they do fall in love but is she willing to give up her freedom? Does he show her that he is not like her husband> Well read it and find out..enjoy!

I love Regency romance and historical romance, but for me this was just okay. About a widow who falls for her neighbor. I liked that the character was a mother - that added a nice dimension to the story. But the romance was a little blah for me and the villain who wanted to marry her felt kind of melodramatic and unconvincing.

I love when historical romances have a female character that isn’t interested in getting married. Adeline had a terrible first marriage so I can totally see why she was hesitant about Lyon. I was pulling for them! I’ve never read a book previously from Amelia Grey but I will for sure check out her backlist.

While I do love a good old fashioned bodice-ripper, I've grown fond of ones that contain a bit of humor, whether it be through banter or circumstances. While Amelia Grey's The Earl Next Door was definitely a bodice-ripper of the best sort, I did miss the lighthearted feel of other period romances.

Adeline and Lyon's story was very well written. It was wonderful to watch Adeline come into her own with Lyon and out from under the shadow and stigma of how her husband treated her.

Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake is a childless widow at 22 because of a shipwreck. She and two other widows start a school to teach 9 young girls whose families were also affected by the accident. She buys a house with a separate building that can be turned into a boarding school. There are a few problems. One is an extremely nosy neighbor (she has has a spyglass to better see what is happening), the other is a very attractive (and single) Lyon Marksworth, the Earl of Lyonwood. Sparks fly, arguments ensure, and whoopee is made. Infertility is dealt with and the title is safe. I liked Lyon more than I liked Adeline. I am looking forward to Kit and Brina’s stories.

The Earl Next Door is the first book of the First Comes Love series. The series will tell the story of three widows whose husbands died in a shipwreck. Due to this loss they decide to open a school for the daughters or sisters of the men who worked the ship. The first book is about Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake. She lives in the property where the school is. She is the neighbor of Lord Lyon.
Their first encounter is a little scandalous, but there is an instant physical attraction between them. Due to some misunderstandings between them they fight there attraction for each other. I felt that there was more of a physical attraction than a romantic one. There was a slow build up of them getting close, then all of the sudden they are intimate and things seemed to move at a fast pace. I understand Adeline's reluctance of giving up her freedom/independence, but the reason for them getting married seemed a little too old school.
Overall, it was an okay read for me.