Guy Neville never expected to be the Earl of Argyle, a position he is completely unprepared to handle, but when his brother dies unexpectedly, he has no choice but to assume the title with all it's responsiblities and pray that no one learns of his secret. With the help of his long time friend and former batman, Kit, he steps into the role of earl and actually does very well, but when his vile cousin Patrick starts snooping, Guy worries that him learning Guy's secret is the least of the damage he will do.

Abigail Pinehurst has overcome a horrific past and made a life for herself and her sister, Dora. She is a gifted artist and is excited to go to the Earl of Argyle's estate to draw the famed and rare ghost orchid for her patron Lady Calthorpe. While on her way to the estate she is confronted by Patrick Neville, he has learned of her past and threatens to expose her if she doesn't spy on Guy and report his secrets to Patrick. As much as she hates Patrick, she can't let her past be known - it would destroy her and Dora. She agrees to his terms, but when she meets Guy, she wonders if they work together, they can thwart Patrick.

Slowly they come to trust each other and Abigail learns of his inability to read or write and the nightmare of his childhood, she knows that Patrick will use the information to have him declared unfit and possiblity instutionalized. She cares for him and tells him the truth about Patrick. Together they form a plan to beat him at his game, but it soon becomes clear that Patrick has more in mind than just having Guy declared unfit, he wants him dead.

This was a very emotional, well written story with lots of secrets, a bit of angst, some heartbreak, steamy love scenes, a HEA that didn't seem possible and a very sweet epilogue. I am happy to recommend this book and while this book is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone title.

Attracted to the Earl is the third book in the Imperfect Lords series by Bronwen Evans. While it is part of a series with reoccurring characters it can be read as a stand alone. It is currently scheduled for release on May 28 2019.

The Earl of Argyle has died suddenly, leaving his brother Guy Neville at a complete loss. The dull-witted second son, as his father used to call him, Guy is now responsible for the estate and his brother’s seat in the House of Lords. Shamed by an inability to read or write, his distress is multiplied by a cousin willing to do anything to take his estate and an inquiry from a dyed-in-the-wool bluestocking who wishes to use the Argyle library and study a rare plant on the estate. Guy’s first instinct is to decline her request—until he catches a glimpse of Miss Abigail Pinehurst. Abigail cares for only one thing: plants. She is unconcerned about how she looks, what she wears, or the impression she makes on men. An orphan who turned to books for solace in a miserly, cruel institution, she now makes her living illustrating the greenery she adores. Lord Argyle, in fact, with his uncanny memory and chiseled features, is the first man to capture her attention—a ridiculous distraction since he is so far above her station and she has so many secrets to hide. But her unreasonable heart has a mind of its own.

Attracted to the Earl is a book that caught my eye mainly because of Guy's predicament. Unable to read, but not stupid, he ha to navigate a world that has very little empathy or room for weakness. I love that good people and family are the cornerstone of Guy's success, both on and off the battlefield. He is a good man that doubts himself but still works hard to provide for and protect others. Abigail has worked hard, and fought hard to get where she is. Like Guy, she will do just about anything to protect those she cares for, and I was impressed with her ability to widen that circle as the story continues. When you have seen the evil people can possess trusting new people can be hard, and Abigail's judge of character and effort to be better really stands out. Watching two love stories unfold amid so many secrets, and danger, was engaging and I enjoyed the read. There were moments that everything felt too easy, too simple, but then again Guy and Abigail had several real discussions so there were less misunderstandings and communications than in most romance.

Attracted to the Earl is a good historical romance. The characters were solid and the danger will played. Fans of the author will want to pick it up, and I think many others will enjoy it for a weekend read as well.

This is the first book by Bronwen Evans that I have read and I am glad to say I look forward to reading more of her work. I really enjoyed this book! I love how both leading characters have their weaknesses and how they accept one another fully in spite of those weaknesses. I love how both characters are given the chance to grow and find their own self value and their places in the world through the relationships they hold dear.

Abigail Pinehurst is the very talented artist who has been commissioned by Lady Calthorpe to paint the elusive and rare Ghost Orchid that can only be found in the forest of the Argyle Estate. On her way to Argyle House, Patrick Neville uses her darkest secret to blackmail her into digging around and uncovering what he hopes will be evidence that his cousin, Guy Neville, the new Earl of Argyle is unfit to run the estate.
Guy Neville, Earl of Argyle never wanted his title for many reasons the biggest being a disability that nearly cost him his life, but now that it’shis he will do what he must to keep it out of the hands of his greedy cousin, Patrick Neville. Will the unexpected and coincidental arrival of a beautiful artist prove to be a spy sent to find out his secrets or the woman of his dreams?

I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to find out what all of you think.

"Love gives you strength even in a tragedy."

I love my tortured heroes and wow, Guy Neville sure is one of them!! Physically abused by his father during his childhood years, he runs away at age 14 to join the army and now, 15 years later, a war hero, he's back home and finds himself the Earl of Argyle, after the sudden death of his older brother. I actually cried at some of the scenes of what his father did to him, just because he couldn't read or write. In that era, that stigma would actually place you in an asylum! He's terrified that someone will learn his secret and he will lose the chance to prove himself capable of running the estate.

Miss Abigail Pinehurst arrives at Guy's home, at the invitation of his mother, to find and draw the elusive Ghost Orchid plant that's somewhere on the property. She brings along her younger sister, Dora, who has her own mini story in this book! We soon learn that Abigail is hiding many secrets of her own and is also being blackmailed.

I really enjoyed how this author played out Guy and Abigail's story until they could reach their HEA. Be prepared for lots of suspense, mystery, twists & turns, romance, etc. I totally recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more from Bronwen Evans.

I was given a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Attracted to the Earl is book three in the Imperfect Lords series by Bronwen Evans. Even though it is in a series it can also be read as a standalone book fairly easily. This is Guy and Abigail’s story. It is full of issues, challenges, and a big secret. These characters were well developed and worked well together. They worked through their issues to form a solid romantic bond. Bronwen Evans has a terrific writing style that works for me every time I read her stories. I recommend this book as it was a good story.

This was an ok book. I really liked it for the first 70% of the book. It just lost its steam and became repetitive. The H became very cheesy and the h wasn’t much better. It’s a 4 Star in the beginning but then just drops to a 2. I found myself skimming through the last part of the book so that I could hurry up and finish already. It just ruined it for me.

Attracted to the Earl by Bronwen Evans is book Three in the Imperfect Lords Series. This is the story of Guy Neville and Abigail Pinehurst. I have read the previous books, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Guy never thought he would have to take his brother's (or Father's) title as The Earl of Argyle, but now his brother has died. So it now on his shoulders to carry on the Estate, Title and the spot in the House of Lords, but Guy has a secret. Guy has a hard time learning so he can't read or write which he has kept secret but now it will surly come out. Then a bluestocking in the name of Abigail comes to his door asking for use of his library and wanting to find a special plant. At first he thinks to turn her away... she may be a spy for his cousin to find out what he is hiding.
Abigail and her sister Dora, are orphans who only really have each other. Abigail is being threaten by Guy's cousin to find out what Guy is hiding or he will ruin them.
Really enjoyed their story and this touching subject of the learning issue.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. This is a 3.5 star read; rounded down to 3 stars. Guy, the Earl of Argyle cannot read. He has felt stupid because of this fact his entire life, and after unexpectedly inheriting upon the death of his brother, he must keep his secret at all costs if he is to prevent his cousin Patrick from having him declared incompetent of running the earldom.

Abigail was invited by Guy's brother prior to his death to visit the family home to try and find a reclusive orchid so she can draw it for her sponsor. Growing up in rough conditions, Abigail has made a secure life for herself, her companion, and her younger sister, but Patrick knows a secret that could threaten all that. He won't reveal it if Abigail spies on Guy and discovers his secret.

I really liked the characters of Guy and Abigail - both have experienced extreme hardships in their past and worked to move past them and build happy lives. The author does a good job of giving the reader a feel for the attitudes towards how people would perceive Guy's inability to read and the very real consequences including being locked up in an asylum. The happy ever after is hard won and satisfying, but where I struggled with the story is that the romance and their initial relationship felt too rushed. I would have liked Guy and Abigail to get to know each other a little more before acting on their physical attraction. Overall, I found the book an enjoyable read and a good way to pass an afternoon.

Abigail & Guy are Awesome character's I became so attached to them & there background stories that led to them connecting. I have yet to read a book by Browen Evans that I have not liked. I received this book as a ARC to review from NetGalley. I will continue to request more books by Browen Evans in the future. I don't want to give out spoilers but this book has everything but the underling premise is love and that disabilities or birth circumstances can not define a person.

4 Stars!! I really enjoyed reading Guy & Abigail’s story! They both had really sad, rough upbringings as they both had one horrible parent! This was book 3 of the series & I’ve only read book 1 from this series but I wasn’t lost at all. I definitely need to go back & read book 2!! I really liked the few surprise twists in this book-especially at the very end! I’ve never read a book like this one before. It’s definitely worth reading & I recommend it!
*I received this book to read and review at no charge from the publisher and I gave my honest opinion.*

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for review. attracted to the earl was an enjoyable and different book. the characters were not perfect like in other romance novels and they were a good couple. however there was very little conflict and tension in the book because everything was solved so fast and easily. overall a good book.

Guy Neville doesn’t know what to do. His older brother passed away, leaving him The Earl of Argyle. The reason Guy is at a loss is that Guy doesn’t know how to read or write. If it came out that he was illiterate, it could cost him the Earldom. When Guy meets the beautiful Abigail Pinehurst, Guy knows that his cousin has sent her to spy on him. Can he trust her? Or will she be the one to uncover all his secrets and use them against him?

Abigail Pinehurst is being used to spy on Guy. She doesn’t want to spy on him. With her reputation at stake, as well as her sister’s, Abigail would do anything to keep her blackmailer from talking. But, once she gets to know Guy, she wants to help him. Can Abigail do that without letting him know about her past? Can she protect her sister?

I am going to start this review with a trigger warning. There are several explicit scenes of child abuse. Guy endured emotional, physical, and psychological abuse that took years for him to get over. I went cold reading what he went through. Some people might think that the descriptions were too much, but I disagree. Those graphic scenes only showcased how strong he was. If you are triggered by child abuse, then do not read the book. Unfortunately, Guy’s abuse is a significant part of his character and part of the plot.

Guy’s inability to read or write had me wondering. Did he have a form of dyslexia? Everything that was mentioned made me think that he did.

Whenever Guy remembered his childhood, I got tears in my eyes. He had cracked ribs at 7. He was forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. He was dunked into wells. He was starved. He was beaten. All because he couldn’t read or write. My heart broke into smithereens every time he remembered something. I was thrilled that he had a secure support system when he was an adult. The support and love that he was denied as a child were there tenfold.

Abigail didn’t have a much better childhood. Her childhood wasn’t talked about until the latter half of the book. I was heartbroken when it was revealed where she came from. Then I got angry. When everything was explained, I understood why she decided to spy on Guy. She had Dora to protect.

Abigail and Guy had some serious chemistry going. From the minute she showed up, dripping wet, the sparks flew. I wasn’t too surprised when their chemistry exploded.

Their sex scenes were intense. I liked that Abigail wasn’t a shy virgin. She was able to look at Guy and not shrink from the size of his member. She was able to take intense pleasure from them having sex. I liked that Guy didn’t have to be gentle with her.

The main plotline, Guy’s disability and Abigail being sent there to spy on him, was well written. I liked that Guy went from being terrified that his disability would get out to not caring. He was willing to have someone else take over rather than have Patrick take over the estate.

I felt terrible for Abigail in this plotline. She was being blackmailed into doing something that she didn’t want to do. All she wanted to do was sketch the Ghost Orchid. Instead, she was forced to look for anything that would give Patrick leverage over Guy. It was a horrible position to be in.

I couldn’t stand Patrick. He was a slimy man who got what was coming to him. I wished that Kit did what he threatened earlier. It would have taken care of a lot of things.

I did figure out what Abigail’s secret was early in the book. The author dropped enough hints. But it wasn’t until Patrick saying something that it was confirmed.

I liked the end of Attracted to the Earl. I loved the note that Abigail got from her mother. The epilogue made me smile. I loved seeing them in a good place!!

Guy Neville has been hiding his inability to read all his life, since his father threatened to send him to an asylum and tried to kill him. After he ran away and became a successful warrior in the army, his brother dies and leaves him a title and an estate to manage. But, his cousin Patrick will do anything to get the estate to pay his debts. Abigail Pinehurst has arrived to find the elusive Ghost Orchid and draw it in full bloom. She’s also been threatened by Patrick to find Guy’s secrets or her secrets will be made public. Can Guy and Abigail thwart Patrick’s plans before someone gets hurt?
I love Ms. Evans’ romance novels. They draw me in and take me on an intense romantic ride with suspenseful moments and intriguing characters. I enjoy the themes from each novel. This novel seemed to be about accepting and persevering through hard times. I also liked how the main characters didn’t let pain from the past disrupt their future. The only drawback was that we never find out who cut the saddle. Otherwise, it was another stellar read. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

A good story about dealing with dyslexia in those days and the way it was regarded. There are two romances happening in this book even though there is a lot of deception surrounding these characters. The hero, Guy is strong, but his insecurities keep him from realizing just how capable he is. It takes a strong woman to see the real man and also realize that he deserves so much more. Well written and and engaging, I loved these characters.

The premise of this story seemed intriguing, and having enjoyed the first two books immensely, I was excited for this one. However, everything about this one unfortunately fell flat for me.

To begin with, I would not call this a love at first sight novel. This a definitely a lust at first sight novel. Even though she shows up soaking wet, (it is specifically mentioned that she looked like a drowned rat), Guy is immediately aroused by the sight of her. He is also, rightfully mistrustful considering the situation with his cousin.

However, even the secrets between them are not enough to keep them from bedding each other. Even when Guy takes a nasty tumble they can't keep their hands off each other (to the point where I began to feel that their lust for one another overshadowed every other part of the book). It is a bad sign when the budding relationship between Kit and Abigail's sister Dora, was more interesting than the main one.

And then there was the ending. In which everything was quickly and a little too neatly tied up with a bow and hand delivered. Even with one source of conflict being resolved, I found it too hard to believe that everyone was so willing to overlook the vast difference in their social standings. And not only willing to overlook it, but willing to risk their own good names and reputations to lie about her past. It was just too much, and it didn't work for me at all.

Even with that, I do believe this story will still be well received by those who enjoy this author as well as those who enjoy stories where things are not always as they appear to be.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Guy and Abigail's past and secrets threaten their lives. This story is about how they overcome them. I found it a good read! I received an ARC for my honest review.

Attracted to the Earl by Bronwen Evan
4.5 Stars. A well-researched and beautifully written story with vivid characters, and a gripping storyline. This historical story is filled with emotional angst, secrets, danger, deception, intrigue, adventure, passion and steamy romance that kept me reading until the last page! As I was reading I thought the plot was transparent, then the author threw in a creative curve ball at the end that was truly cleaver! I loved and recommend this book.

DNF--thank you for the free copy. This just wasn't for me. The story quickly was unfolding in a manner that I normally don't care for. Too much, too soon without the proper build up of chemistry.

I just really enjoyed this book. It was just really easy to get lost in this book. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

**** 4.5 Stars ****

I loved that this book had a unique storyline with a truly heroic hero and a heroine who is the definition of a strong, resilient, intelligent woman. We learn the hero’s secret right from the beginning and for that time period, it is really a huge issue. That is a time where the slightest affliction caused one to be shut away – either on a country estate or in an asylum – or more dire consequences. That was a real threat and I appreciated how the author showed the consequences of a problem that today we don’t even think twice about. The heroine’s secrets are revealed more slowly throughout the book, so don’t get impatient (as I did). I liked that the information came out in increments rather than in one big ‘reveal’ moment toward the end. Truly, this is a unique story and I enjoyed it. *** BTW – there is more than one romance in this book and the minor romance is sweet too.

I don’t know who wrote the book blurb, but to me, the part about the heroine isn’t anywhere near the view I got as I read the book. I know that it would be hard to write the heroine’s part of the blurb without giving away plot points but – well – I just thought it was way off base.

The opening scene of the book is great. It takes our hero, Guy Neville, from the ecstasy of his mistress’s arms, to rejection, to total abject fear and grief. The descriptions of his reactions are perfect – you absolutely feel his fear and his deep, deep grief as he learns that his brother has unexpectedly died – and now he is the new Earl of Argyle.

"His father’s stupid, idiot son was now the earl. The boy who could not read or write, the boy his father had beaten until he was almost unconscious on several occasions, but that still did not make Guy able to read or write . . . was now the Earl of Argyle."

Guy has been most fortunate in his choice of friends. Kit was his batman during the wars and he helped keep Guy’s secrets. Guy was a brilliant tactician, but he could neither read nor write and Kit took care of all of that for him. When Guy was severely wounded (almost died) and had to leave the military, Kit came with him. They protected each other in war – and now they protect each other in the civilian world.

Abigail Pinehurst arrived at the Argyle estate a bit over a year after Guy had inherited. Before he died, Guy’s brother had granted permission for her to search the estate for the rare Ghost Orchid so she could draw/paint it for her benefactor. You’ll love the scene where Guy first meets Abigail.

Abigail has huge secrets – painful secrets – that could ruin her and her sister, Dora. She cannot allow those secrets to come out – even if it means being a spy for the despicable Mr. Patrick Neville – cousin to Guy. She’ll do all she can to wriggle away from Patrick, but she’s pretty sure there is no way to do that.

The book is fast-paced and filled with threats and danger. I loved that once Abigail realized how honorable and trustworthy Guy was, she decided to trust him and never went back on that. So many heroines are written to be wishy-washy and Abigail wasn’t that way. Good move by the author.

I thought the resolution was a little too quick and too pat. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a blood-thirsty wench and loved what happened, it just seemed too quick and out-of-the-blue. I also had a bit of an issue with the disparity between the status of the hero and the heroine and it was not believable. It is implausible even in today’s world, so I definitely have trouble buying it in the Regency world.

"What was also so very clear was that the differences in their stations didn’t matter to him. He was not perfect, he was damaged."

I definitely recommend this book because there are so many things to love about it. The hero is what all heroes should be – as is the heroine. I liked that both of them had been through so much, but neither was bitter nor had they lost the ability to love or trust. They were both stronger for what they endured as children and adults. Definitely, a must read.

From the Author’s Note: Here’s to love, the most commanding four-letter word in the world, and the power it has to heal.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.