A lovely end for the series. After one last fling the two MC separate never to see each other again! This is HR that will so not happen. I really enjoyed the build up of longing. It didn’t feel as character driven as some of the others in the series. It was great seeing all the characters together again as well. The perfect ending. 4.5 stars

OMG I loved this book sooo much! I've read many books from Jess, and this is one of my favorites. Lily is such a beautiful character. So caring and generous. I enjoyed the way she opens herself to new sensual experiences. Viscount George Lockhart is an adorable rogue who has to sacrifice his ways to make someone he cares about, happy. This story is full of aghast, amazing sexy times and deep and meaningful bonds. I enjoyed everything about it. I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lily Manning was planning to attend her sister's wedding in a few weeks and was not anticipating it as she wasn't sure if it would be a happing ending for her sister. She was a widow and has always held out to her sister, Alice, that her marriage was a happy one despite it being untrue. Prior to leaving for the wedding, Lily attends the Donville Masquerade at her best friend's urging so that she could experience how an intimate relationship between a couple should feel. After having an exciting night at the Masquerade with a man she only knows as Ares to her Aphrodite; she is appalled and shocked to discover upon her arrival to the groom's family residence, that he is none other than the man who is currently betrothed to her sister, Alice. I was unsure how the author would handle this quandary but she did it masterfully. The plot was developed in such a way to allow HEAs for Lily, George and Alice and her true love as well. I also enjoyed that the author introduced characters from previous books in the series throughout the storyline.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

An emotional read!

I found this book lovely. I liked the main characters, Lily and George.
At their first encounter, they have an immediate connection. But we soon realize it is an almost impossible match. Their attraction is challenged by Lily's devotion to her sister and George's concern for his mother. The plot is complex and well handled. It brings many emotions and heartbreaking scenes. It is a delightful read, and I recommend it.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I loved the premise of this story. It was filled with a variety of strong emotions and undertones that added depth to the storyline. Author Jess Michaels knows how to write books that draw readers with complex characters and fully developed descriptions.

This book had a few unexpected twists that were handled with finesse and created an emotional read. I really enjoyed the main characters of George and Lily as well as the other characters from other books to this series. Both characters were driven by love of family, causing them to make decisions for others more than themselves. I know the reader will be pleased with the ending.

I give it 5 STARS for being well written and entertaining.

The Lady Once Known As by Jess Michaels
About an Earl #5

~ Excellent conclusion to a wonderful series ~ Couldn’t put it down ~

What I liked:
* Lily Manning: widow, disliked her husband, loves her stepsister, stepmother is horrible, outgoing, kind, compassionate, experiences one passionate masked night that changes her life
* Viscount George Lockhart: rake, loves his family, kind, caring, helps others, engaged to please his mother, doesn’t love his betrothed, has one last night of passion before heading to his wedding
* The chapter at the Donville Masquerade and the immediate connection between Lily and George
* The chemistry between Lily and George and how hard they work to fight it
* The honesty, nobility, and strength of both main characters
* Finding out what Alice’s secret is and how it impacts her future and those of others
* Being able to wish karma to land hard on Lily’s stepmother
* Catching up with all the characters from the series and remembering their books
* The way the issue that is keeping Lily and George apart is resolved
* That I cared about the characters and how they would find their HEA’s
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Lady Westinghouse: Alice’s mother, Lily’s stepmother, narcissist, greedy, ruthless, evil
* Thinking about Lady Pembroke’s situation and how difficult it must have been
* Saying goodbye to all of the characters.

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more books by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen LLC for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Lily Manning is a widow who decides to go for a night of no-strings fun at the Donville Masquerade before traveling to her younger sister’s wedding. George Lockhart is getting ready to enter an arranged marriage, and he goes to the Masquerade for one last hurrah before he settles down. They share an amazing night. When Lily arrives for the wedding, however, she realizes that the man she had such a wonderful night with is her sister’s intended.

I wasn’t sure about this book for the first 50% of it. There was no cheating once Lily knew who George was, but it felt perilously close to it, and I couldn’t imagine how Jess Michaels was going to manage to write a resolution to the story that I was comfortable with. I needn’t have worried. Michaels ended up writing a beautiful story that brought me to tears in the second half. It was a fast read, and I found it an entertaining way to pass an afternoon. Jess Michaels is an auto-buy for me.

Perfect for fans of historical romances with a bit of spice and brisk plot.

For a short/"light" read, this packs a surprising amount of punch in 200 pages. For expediency it is quite tropey with "insta-lust," "wicked step-moms" and "forced proximity" doing a lot of work, but it doesn't feel contrived. Also featuring some post encounter slow burn and my favorite historical setting: the house party, Michael's creates a quick story with dynamic characters and a HEA that doesn't require out of character leaps. The conflict is realistic, the chemistry palpable and the resolution realistic for two grown adults.

While the pace and plot are solid, I would have read this story forever. Despite being the last in the series, I read it alone and enjoyed being dropped right into the action. Now, I will be adding the other four books to my beach reading pile, hopefully they are all this fun.

Lily’s stepwitch did a real number on he: after letting her raise her own daughter, she pushed Lily out of the family and into to a unhappy marriage to a much older man. Now widowed, seeing all her friends deeply in love, she feel lonelier than ever. Fretting over her little sister’s pending marriage, she lets a friend talk her into a night of pleasure with no consequences at the Donneville Masquerade.
George is a shameless rake who lived his libertine life to the fullest, but now his mother’s secret has put an abrupt end to it. The girl has been chosen, the date is set and he will become a faithful husband. She’s perfect, except... they have nothing in common, no feelings, nothing. But what is love when duty calls? However, his last hurray turns into a passionate lifechanging night.

She was masked, he wasn’t – and when they meet again at the house party preceding his marriage to her sister, she’s mortified and heartbroken. His soon-to-be sister-in-law’s hostility mystifies him... until he connects the dots.

An impossible match, and yet they can’t stay away. Enter a clan of perceptive friends, a reluctant bride, and, of course, the vindictive grabby stepwitch, and this becomes a emotional balancing act between their heart’s desire, doing what’s right, and not hurting their loved ones as more and more secrets come to light.

I loved George’s discovery of his own family, Lily’s devotion to her sister and the heartbreaking push and pull between this couple, but while the chemistry was excellent, the slow burn friendship moving and the plot twists captivating, this story missed that little extra something for me in the end.
That said, It was a very devourable delicious read, and a gorgeous addition to this wonderful series!

Just before leaving for her beloved younger sister Alice’s wedding, widow Lily Manning is persuaded by her friend Esme to throw caution to the wind and go to the notorious Donville Masquerade for one night of fun with no consequences. She ends up meeting Ares to her Aphrodite, who not only plays her body like a musical instrument but also creates a connection neither are expecting. Everyone’s favourite rake, Viscount George Lockhart, is about to marry by arrangement and he is struggling. He never would have rushed this wedding but for a promise he made to his beloved mother. When Lily arrives for the wedding and meets George, one thing becomes abundantly clear to her. He is the man she spent her one night of passion with, but since she was masked during the powerful encounter, he doesn’t recognise her. Now she’s in a terrible situation, both trying to keep the truth from coming out and working to discover if this man is a cad or just someone trapped by circumstance.
The fifth & final book in the series & the author has left the best until last. This beautifully written book is very easily read on its own but all the characters are friends so, of course, they make appearances. I found this to be a very emotional romance & several times reached for a hankie. I loved both George & Lily who were perfect for each other, their chemistry sizzled but they also cared not only for each other but for their family. There were secrets, there was a vile stepmother, there was the huge problem of George & Lily wanting to be together but neither of them wished to hurt those dearest to them. I just loved it & devoured it in a sitting. The icing on the cake was the brilliant epilogue
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

A lovely well paced romance where it all starts at a masquerade where George and Lily are irrevocably drawn to each other. Wonderful dialogue and connection and a wonderful journey to happiness.

First I loved the epilogue, it had so much heart and showed the beautiful happily ever after each of our couples deserves. George and Lily were really lovely together. I was wondering how the plot would be handled. I was nervous, but none of it felt behind her sister’s back or vicious. I loved her sister’s happy ending. Really sweet too. Lilly loves her sister more than anything and wants nothing more than her to have happiness and peace. George is a very kind man who is not cruel to anyone, he thought he would never find love and was shocked when he found it. I like that their feelings grow through friendship and nothing occurs again between them till the issues are resolved.

I loved this series, each book has emotional depth but is sexy at the same time.

It’s a great love story, unfortunately he’s pledged to someone else, her sister Alice. It’s well written and easily drew me into the storyline. I loved the story, there are some tense moments and a lot of emotions that will pull at your heartstrings. George and Lily will make a great couple if they are lucky. There were a few unexpected surprises that changed the dynamics of the story but eventually everyone got their happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this novel and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the fifth and last book in the series and features a friend who has shown up in previous stories, lighthearted rascal and rake, Viscount George Lockhart. Following a devastating revelation from his mother, George has decided to settle down and marry the woman of her choice. But before he takes on the shackles of marriage, he decides to visit the Donville Masquerade one more time, as he plans on being a good husband to his contracted bride, and treat her with greater respect than he observed in his parents marriage.

Mrs. Lily Manning is widowed after a disappointing marriage contracted by her stepmother. But after renewing her friendship with Esme, the newly married Countess of Delacourt, she learns there is more to the marriage bed than what she experienced and with the enthusiastic encouragement of her good friend, is sent to the Donville Masquerade to assuage some of her curiosity. With a mask to disguise her identity, she finds a night of passion and unexpected connection with a handsome stranger.

Those memories warm her as she travels to join her half sister, Alice, and stepmother at a house party to celebrate and prepare for her younger sister marriage. Lily has a difficult relatioship with her step mother, but loves her sister dearly, having essentially been her ad hoc mother when they were children. But as Alice became of age to marry, her mother did her best to take over control and separate the two sisters. Lily is eager to reconnect with Alice, and has grave concerns about her sister's betrothed as he is a notorious rake; worrying about Alice's future happiness.

But when she actually comes face to face with Alice's groom-to-be, she is shaken to the core to discover that George is her passionate stranger from her night at the Masquerade.

A wonderfully angsty forbidden romance story as George and Lily fight their attraction and growing feelings for each other as they try to be loyal and dutiful to their family. But Alice's mother doesn't share the same sentiment and loyalty and Lily discovers a secret that Alice carries that could greatly affect all their futures.

A sweet story about family love, loyalty, with lots of angst, and drama not just between Lily and George. Previous characters show up as well, with small connections to the story as well. But I loved their instant connection and passion at the Donville Masquerade, then the story of their conflict as they try to do what they believe to be right later in the story. This also neatly ends the series and there is an HEA and lovely epilogue for all in the end.

Sweet, steamy, and satisfying.

4.5 stars out of 5

My favorite of this series. The longing and wanting and not giving in was such a beautiful story for George and Lily. Jess can throw in some surprises in her stories and this is one of them. I think this is a beautiful love story.

4.5 Stars

Great conclusion to this series! I really like the chemistry between Lily and George. They hit it off right away. Things get complicated when Lily finds out George is engaged to her sister, Alice. Their stepmother is a piece of work, controlling and cruel. Lily and George try to fight their feelings but of course easier said than done. I do like they were not sneaking behind Alice’s back and getting together in secret. Of course Alice has a secret of her own which I saw coming but it is still a nice twist. I docked half a star in case I did feel George and Lily fell in love pretty quickly. I was expecting more moments together before they got to that part. Not really instalove though. Great seeing characters from the previous books and the epilogue was precious. Can’t wait for Jess Michaels next series about sister courtesans!

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Before leaving for a house party celebrating her sister's betrothal, widow Lily Manning is convinced to visit the notorious Donville Masquerade for one night of pleasure. Viscount George Lockhart is surprised by his immediate connection with a masked lady, thinking it's his one last hurrah before entering a rushed and loveless arranged marriage. Lily is shocked to find that her lover is her sister's potential groom.

This is the fifth book in the About An Earl series. George appears in the earlier books, particularly book three featuring his cousin Clarissa. Lily is also friends with book two's heroine, Esme, who shows up in this story.

This was another easy read from Jess Michaels. My only complaint is that it felt a little too "surface," but maybe that's because the book had a lower page count and didn't get to develop a little deeper. I did like the main couple and appreciated the epilogue after reading the rest of the series. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Tropes: Widow, Masquerade/Disguised Identity, Sibling’s Suitor, House Party/Forced Proximity

Steam: 2

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.