Aware that marriage between an architect’s apprentice and an earl’s daughter would be disastrous, Adam rejects Kitty’s request that they elope. But fifteen years later he learns that he is, in fact, the only son of an earl who has recently died. The pair meet again, he still single, she a lovely widow, both now equal in rank; but can they resolve the misunderstandings that lie between them? The sparks soon rekindle, but she, though a beloved stepmother, is childless, and does not an earl need an heir? And who is trying to kill Adam?

This is a ‘second-chance-at-love’ romance of the kind popularized by Austen’s Persuasion, with a touch of mystery thrown in to add further suspense. The lovers are sympathetic figures: Adam in his struggles to adjust to an unfamiliar role, and the young Kitty at the mercy of a father ready to marry her off to settle gambling debts. Despite hurt feelings, both struggle to be fair-minded as they reassess their past interaction and present circumstances. More openness would have helped, but it is never easy to break the habit of concealing one’s insecurities from others.

Recommended to lovers of Regency romances.
HNR Issue 94 (November 2020)
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-earl-with-the-secret-past-harlequin-historical/

This was a pretty good book. I liked both Adam and Kitty. With second chance romances, especially in historical romances, the female lead tends to forgive the male lead too quickly IMO. I appreciated that it wasn’t really done too quickly for me. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Hertfordshire

Adam Monroe, age 21, is trying to explain to Kitty, age 17, why they cannot marry. He simply does not have the money to continue the lifestyle she has always known. She is the daughter of an earl and he an apprentice to an architect. His widowed mother is the man’s housekeeper. His employer has been good to him and Kitty’s father would never allow her to wed him. As much as she wants them to wed, it is best to turn her down.

Edinburgh - 15 years later

Adam, now age 36, has become a successful architect and has returned home to his mother after completing a job. She confesses a secret she has kept from him. It turns out his father was not killed in a war. Instead, she took Adam and fled his father. The man was an earl and he has died. Adam is now Ambrose Adam Trewin, the English Earl of Kelridge. He has an Uncle Grenville and a cousin, Bartholomew. His uncle is not happy that Adam is the new earl because he wanted the title.

Kitty is now Lady Fenton. Her husband has passed away and she is the stepmother to four: Robert, Viscount Fenton, Edward, Jennifer, and Charis. She loves then all dearly and only wished she and her late husband could have had children of their own. Kitty is a practical woman who lives in the present and doesn’t allow herself to think of the past. She enjoys writing and wants to be a published author. Robert tells her that he has invited Adam to dinner as he is the new earl and wants to introduce him to people. Kitty is shocked to find he is the man she loved so long ago. Will he recognize her?

Watching this romance bud and then bloom was a treat. Adam and Kitty’s attraction to one another was too hard for them to fight. There is not only romance but intrigue in this book. A delightful story. Enjoy!

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

There was so much potential in this story that I feel just was never realized. Also, I can already tell that I'm going to be in the minority with my opinions on this one. However, I just couldn't stay interested in this story for long periods of time. I had to keep putting it down and going off to do other things (or as much as I hate to say it reading it before bed so that I could fall asleep easier). The problem wasn't with the writing by any means, the author had a strong writing style, it was just that this one seemed to drag on and go over the same ground until it became predictably tedious.

I get it. Adam and Kitty were once in love, but he couldn't marry her then because he didn't know he was actually the son of an Earl. He broke her heart and now, fifteen years later, she has obvious and understandable trust issues when it comes to him (to the point where the first several of their interactions paint her with an almost waspish personality). Plus she has a secret that she has been carrying that she feels will impact any possible future with him. But instead of letting him make up his own mind, she makes it up for him.

Now I know, a lot of historical novels have this same basic story-line, but I think one of the things missing from this one was Adam actually trying to woo Kitty, and to win her over by proving he's not the man he was fifteen years ago. Time and again he tells himself that is what he is going to do, but then he gets sidetracked by kissing her. Or wanting to kiss her, or every other thing under the sun so that I don't feel we ever actually got to the woo-ing part. There was definitely chemistry between them, and some playful banter when they weren't sniping at each other, but the "love" between them didn't feel real.

As I said above, I'm most likely going to be in the minority with my feelings on this one. However, I would definitely read more from this author.

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.