The Untamed Earl
The Playful Brides, 5
Valerie Bowman
St. Martin's Press
May 3, 2016
Blurb
Owen has spent most of his bachelor years drinking, gambling, and skirt-chasing. He won’t see another pound from his parents, however, until he’s engaged to Lavinia. Desperate, he accepts an offer from her innocent and spirited—and absolutely beautiful—sister Alex: She will
turn him into a perfectly tamed suitor, and show him how to woo the shrew. But when Alex’s true motives come to light, will their bargain lead to recriminations—or to a romance that defies everyone’s expectations?
My goodness Alexandra's sister is something else. I wanted to throat punch her. Everyone cater to her whims and if they didn't she would screech like a banshee. I think she should be locked up in a bedlam, but hey her parents were willing to live her. Bat-shit crazy that one. It's amazing how Alexandra had put up with her sister's antics for so long, I personally would have murder her in sleep. Basically her parents wanted to pawn Lavinia onto someone else and figure might as well match her up with Owen. However, there is one problem with this problem, Alexandra has been in love with him since she was 15. I adore Alexandra's spirit. She was willing to find a way to get Owen for herself by making him so unappealing to her sister. Great plan. He's halfway there since he does have things her sister doesn't like. I admire Owen for giving it his all to court Lavinia. Even his friends warned him about her temperament, I like how they all said she was difficult (which was being kind).
Basically, Owen enlist the help of Alexandra to woo her sister, but she had other plans. This is where the journey begins. Owen and Alexandra are so perfect for each other, but there is the parental problem. Alexandra might have set out to sabotage Owen in the wooing. Hey, she knew that Lavinia and him would never suit. Plus, Alexandra saw that Owen was more than scoundrel, never-do-well chap. She saw that their was more to him that meets the eye, and she believed in him when no else would (except Cass). I liked how Owen saw that Alexandra was beautiful, smarty, witty young woman who would be a wonderful wife.
Anyway, The Untamed Earl is an entertaining retold version of The Taming of the Shrew. Instead of having the shrew tamed, we have a lord who needs to be modeling to be husband material. However, he didn't need much taming, guidance is probably the right word along with the right girl. Owen and Alexandra are simply fun with there banter and flirting. Fortunately, Alexandra wasn't afraid of little work when it came to Owen. Overall, The Untamed Earl is fairly fast pace read with light fun moments. I have throw this in, I can't wait for Berkeley's book. I have loved him throughout this whole series. He's been willing to help everyone out in each of these stories, and he needs to happy ending. Yes, Berkeley definitely helps Alexandra in this story too.
Copy provided by St. Martin's via NetGalley.
You checkout the first chapter of The Untamed Earl:
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Author Info
VALERIE BOWMAN was an RT Reviewers Choice Award nominee for Best Historical Novel 2013 in the category of Love and Laughter for SECRETS OF A RUNAWAY BRIDE, and in the category of Best First Historical in 2012 for SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT! She has been featured as a bride on TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta, and in guest posts for USA Today’s Happily Ever After and Publishers Weekly’s Beyond Her Blog. She’s received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist while also becoming a top pick for Romance Reviews Today, Fresh Fiction, and BN.com (Bookseller Best Picks) with SECRETS OF A SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE. Valerie has recently been nominated for the 2014 Kirkus Prize with THE UNEXPECTED DUCHESS.
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