Over the last year, Arthur Shelton, Earl of Macklin, helped a group of four young men cope with the death of a loved one, to let go of the past, learn to live again, and find love. When his family leaves after their Christmas celebrations, he decides it is time for him to follow suit. While visiting his young friend Tom, he meets Teresa Alvarez. Teresa fled Spain to escape the horrors of Napoleon’s rampage. She paints scenery at the theatre workshop where Tom works. Arthur is taken with her immediately. Could she be part of the new life he desires? Will she even wish to be part of his future?

This is a wonderful story of second chances. The exciting plot has lots of action, adventure, and danger wrapped around an engaging courtship. Arthur and Teresa are joined by an awesome cast of characters. Tom, the three young ladies who love to solve mysteries and puzzles, and Miss Julia Grandison are absolutely delightful. The villains are just that. Arthur changes and loses some of his prim attitude during the story. You will love the red waistcoat with silver stripes and what happened when he wore it. An enjoyable read. I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I really enjoyed the WAY TO A LORD'S HEART series by Jane Ashford. It was nice to see Macklin finally get his HEA. I was a little disappointed that he didn't end up with Helena from HOW TO CROSS A MARQUESS—I thought they would make a good couple. But Teresa is a strong, courageous character, even if she's a little prickly at first. This book runs the gamut from serious to playful—it was nice to see Ada's friends again. I'm hoping they'll get a series of their own next!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

I´m not sure about this story. This is the first book I read from this author and I think the writing is really good.
Arthur Shelton, Earl of Macklin, has learned to live his own life as a widower. Yet when he returns home after traveling, he feels empty, and he quickly heads to London. There, he encounters Teresa Alvarez de Granada, a charming Spanish noblewoman and is immediately entranced.
But Teresa has finally found a life of peace for herself after suffering a lot in the hands of a noble man and the war. The earl might be charming and handsome, but she knows firsthand how dangerous attraction can be. But as both work together to solve the mystery of missing theatre dancers, the more entangled they get, and it's only a matter of time before her respect for him starts to feel a lot like love.
I usually prefer steamer romances. This is a bit old school for me, a lot of inner thinking and almost not actual physical interaction. It´s romantic in its own way you could say. I finished the book in a couple of days. It’s entertaining and the main characters are well developed.

I did not finish this book because I was bored with it and didn't care enough to try and continue to see if it would get better. Some may like it but it wasn't one for me

Earl's Well That ends Well by Jane Ashford is a lovely tale about Arthur, Earl of Macklin who was widowed and lonely now that his children were all grown. He went to London and made new friends. Played matchmaker to several people. Then he met Teresa Alvarez a Spanish noble woman with a sad past. Her past keeps her jaded. She has a hard time accepting that Arthurs truly an honest and honorable man. This story was a thrilling tale of intrigue, mystery, and love. I enjoyed it the whole time. The characters were really well done. I especially liked the ladies who solved mysteries. I hope the author gives the other 3 ladies there happily ever after. What a great read. thank you.

He's helped others, now its his turn.

I have been waiting for Arthur's story. He helped others through their grief (a bit bumbling in the beginning, but he got better at it) and now its his turn. Arthur has resigned himself to being widower, but that's about to change when he encounters Teresa.

I liked that they are compatible, they actually want the same things, though Teresa doesn't see that.
Recommend.

Earl’s Well that Ends Well is the final book (#5) in Jane Ashford’s “The Way to a Lord’s Heart” series. How good is it? It’s so good that I immediately tracked down #1 through #4 in the series for immediate glomming.

It’s a fascinating series, centered around loss, grief, and mourning. One night Arthur Shelton, the seventh Earl of Macklin, asks four young men to join him for dinner at Whites. Two widowers, an orphan, and lastly, an orphan who recently lost his only sibling, a sister. Over the course of time, the earl beards each man (more accurately, each aristocrat) in their country estate and acts as a genial, low-key Cupid. Unobtrusively, he acts as a sounding board and gently chivies the young men into a space where they realize their future is brighter than their past.

But what of the Earl of Macklin? He’s been a widower for years. His was a happy marriage but at the age of fifty, he wonders if that’s all there is. One day at the theater, visiting Tom, his young protégé and friend, he meets a woman who renders him bouleversée. Teresa Alverez de Granada is a Spanish widow who lives in modest circumstances but she’s clearly from a noble background. Teresa is a talented set painter at the theater where Tom is employed.

Ashford has a way of sharing Teresa’s memories of Spain that convince the reader that hers is a complicated back story—as when she bites down on a Spanish olive.

The taste brought back the sunshine of her youth, the scent of lemons, the whisper of vine leaves stirring on an ancient pergola. Gone forever, but still remembered. She chewed memories. If only the good ones could be separated from the bad and kept like a casket of jewels to be taken out and admired at will.

Macklin wants to know everything about Teresa and Teresa tries, in vain, to prevent the earl from infiltrating her every thought. He is courteous, warm, friendly, and never overly familiar and Teresa is sorely tempted to explore a relationship with the earl, regardless of her chequered past.

Don’t make the mistake I made—start with the first book in the series, Brave New Earl. Soon enough, you’ll be loving Arthur and Teresa’s story.

Arthur Shelton, seventh Earl of Macklin, 49, has spent a nice Christmas with his children and their families. He lost his wife, Celia, 10 ten years ago from a fever. Even with his own grief, he has helped 4 young men with their own grief, enabling them to find happiness and love again. Now, he realizes it’s time for him to find love again too.

Back in London, he sees Tom, a young man he helped from being on the streets to now working and living an honest life. He enjoys the theater and likes to work with the scenery. Walking together one day they encounter a young woman fighting off a bully. Tom introduces her as Señora Teresa Alvarez de Granada. Tom says she paints the scenery and is quite talented. She acts aloof to Arthur which surprises him. Then she turns and leaves abruptly. Tom explains that she lives quietly with a servant and seems to have a small income. Arthur thinks she was born a lady and now lives a life of reduced circumstances. She likes her simple life and her privacy. When Arthur comes by the theater one day to see Tom, Teresa is there and again acts aloof. However, Arthur does what he can to talk to her and draw her out.

Arthur later learns that Teresa’s family lost so much in the war and she is bitter. Perhaps he can help her overcome her own type of grief.

Arthur and Teresa join Tom and some of their friends from the theater in get-togethers. That’s when I began to wonder why I was reading this book in the first place. Why is an older earl hanging around with younger people and trying to impress some woman who treats him with disdain? I have read many books by this author and have enjoyed only a few. in recent years I find her books to be off the wall. Sorry, I try to continue to give authors like this the benefit of the doubt and try them again, but I think I’m done here.

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

This romance is something quite different that the typical historical romance. The hero is an older widowed earl, and the heroine is a Spanish lady living among the working class in London.

The novel takes us behind the scenes of a theater at the time and explores a mystery of opera dancers going missing. I love that we get to see a different perspective on life in London.

I do think reading the previous books would provide a helpful background knowledge of the secondary characters here. But I was still able to enjoy the book.

I also loved the Shakespeare references.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

This was a well-written, entertaining book. Teresa Alvarez de Granada has a quiet, safe life and that's how she wants it to stay. Arthur Shelton, Earl of Macklin meets Teresa and is instantly smitten. The characters in this book were great, the story drew me in, and the book was hard to put down. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Earls well that ends well by Jane Ashford

This story is a second chance romance story of the middle aged Widowed Earl of Macklin and widowed Mrs Alvarez de Granada.

Reasonably well written if a bit outdated style by today’s standard and the storyline is a bit long winded.

There wasn’t a great deal of romance in the story so did disappoint a little . Ok read

3.5/5

Arthur Shelton, Earl of Macklin, has helped four young noblemen recover from grief and find love, but he's learned to live his own life as a widower. Yet when he returns home after travelling, his estate feels too empty, and he quickly heads to London. There, he encounters Teresa Alvarez de Granada, a charming Spanish noblewoman and is immediately entranced. There is no room for earls in the quiet, safe life Teresa has finally found for herself. The earl might be charming and handsome, but she knows firsthand how dangerous attraction can be. The more determined Teresa is to discourage Arthur, the more entangled they get, and it's only a matter of time before her respect for him starts to feel a lot like love.
This is the fifth book in the series & Arthur finds his HEA, I've wanted the gentle meddler to find happiness from the start of the series. Another aspect I loved was that Arthur is a grandfather in his fifties & Teresa is in her forties. They are attracted from their first meeting but their relationship only advances in the later third of the book. A well written book with strong characters & previous characters do make appearances which I love. I also love Tom & would love to meet him again when he’s mature & ready to marry. The book is well paced & held my interest all the way through, an enjoyable series finale
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I have not read the other books in this series but I was fine reading this as a standalone.
This was a delightful read. It's been awhile since I read a clean, heart-warming romance. It was wonderful to read about two lonely souls finding each other (especially convenient that they happen to be neighbors!)
The writing flowed nicely. I never felt that it was overly descriptive.
If you're looking for a lovely heart melting regency romance look no further.

Will her past impede her to listen to her heart ...

From the moment I discovered this series, I was very much curious about Macklin, and after the last book, I had great expectancy about a future release with his own HEA.
And one thing is certain the author did not disappoint. I loved every minutes of this read.
It is a different setting than the previous books as Macklin was helping young men to find a new path, with love on their journey, now he is the one struck by lightning.
But there is still young Tom to follow him.
So it was nice to learn more about this man, after decades of following society’s rules, he strayed a bit when he involved himself in others’ life, but still answered to the ton’s dictates.
But upon his first encounter with Teresa, he finds himself at loss, navigating for once new waters. He does not know how to interact with her without offending or angering her, she is not swayed and does not coo because he is an Earl, even more, she seems to reject him because of it. She is irritable and avoid him as much as possible. If not for Tom, she would do her best to never see him again.
Teresa is the enigma of this tale, who is she and why does she act in stark contrast to most women. When her past is reveled, she has every right to be wary of men and their supposed protectiveness. She went from having it all to having none at all, with only herself to rely on. She learned the harsh way how to swim among sharks lurking in the shadow to ponce on whom they will see as easy prey. Why she will need time to acknowledge Macklin as being different from the other men of power. What she thought first as being condescending is in fact real interest in the persons he mingles with, he is no meaningless patron, he cares about the people he befriends.

I loved watching them walk toward the other at their own peculiar speed, each tiny gesture or deed revealing a part of each other’s inner strength and kindness. Until there is no denying of their feelings.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 some sweet kissing.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

This book has too many characters and descriptions, it totally removed the fun of reading the main characters. It is well-written, though suffers from overly describing a lot of things and painfully long monologues. I also cannot care more for the main characters and their struggles and all. I can still see this being loved by other readers though.

I guess when your MCs are middle aged, this is what happens in a book? But I feel like older folks can have explosive passion too rather than a too slow burn. I just wasn't into it and while I forced myself to finish, it's not a book I'd recommend.

Heartwarming romance for the older set!

Arthur's friendship with young Tom brings him into the world of the Drury Lane theater, especially its behind-the-scenes creative staff. He's instantly fascinated by the beautiful but guarded Senora Alvarez, but her quiet life is protected only by continuing to protect her secrets and avoid entanglements with men like Arthur.

Arthur and Teresa are both drawn into investigating the mysterious disappearances of some of the opera dancers, bringing Teresa well outside her comfort zone and showing Arthur a side of London he had not previously examined. I loved how Tom was their facilitator, how strong and focused he was despite his youth, and how determined he was to find out what had happened to his friends.

This story captivated me from the beginning and I devoured every page as fast as I could. I was instantly in love with all these characters, and laughed and cheered with them as they successfully completed their mission. I loved the way Teresa challenged Arthur on every level, and his plan to remove Teresa's last remaining obstacle was brilliantly executed.

The HEA was delightfully sweet, and I hope we haven't seen the last of this intriguing world. Ada's friends are perfectly poised to star in their own books, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

New goal for 2021: stop giving authors chances after books burn me so severely in hopes of getting something different next time. Earl’s Well That Ends Well is mostly a continuation of the previous book’s sense of pure boredom and nothingness (so much so I apparently didn’t finish it), so I don’t know why I decided to review this.

I did like that this focused on an older couple, so I had hope they would at least be interesting. Nope! This was so boring. They had no chemistry, no substance. I skimmed, hoping something would happen, and…nothing.

And apparently there was a mystery plot? One of the lower-star reviews I read to see if someone else felt the same sense of nothingness mentioned it. What mystery plot? That would involve there being some perceptible end goal, with a buildup of suspense. I didn’t get any of that.

I can’t say who would enjoy this, given my adverse reaction. I suppose if you love a more “traditional” style Regency romance?

DNF 12%

There wasn’t enough excitement to hold my attention. While the female MC a was of Hispanic background, she wasn’t as fiery as I wanted her to be. The Earl was too meh for me.

I'm a fan of Ms. Ashford and this book is another enjoyable read. I loved Arthur Shelton, the Earl of Macklin. Arthur was so good and honorable and a model gentlemen. He truly loves helping people and wonders if perhaps he should help himself find a slice of happiness as well. Ms. Ashford teases out Theresa's history and I felt such outrage at what she endured during the war. She thought she wanted a quiet and safe life, that is, until she meets Arthur through Tom, a lad of 16 who traveled the countryside with Arthur. At first she doesn't believe anyone can be that good, but eventually she realizes that is who Arthur really is.

Some of the pacing in the book is a bit slow, but the ending is so entertaining!