Member Reviews
I would like to thank netgalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Alexa has been in love with her brother's best friend, Maxon, for as long as she can remember. He doesn't see her as anything but a little sister, with pressure to marry well she decides to swear of love and marry for money. When Maxon is sent to chaperone her for the season everything changes.
Miss Alexandra Farris lost her heart to her older brother's friend, Lord Maxon Collins, long, long ago. Despite her girlhood attempts to win him, he never noticed her. Now that her first season is underway, she understands why. He prefers willowy blondes, not curvaceous maidens with darker coloring like herself. Rather than wallow in self-pity, she forgets love and focuses on something more attainable—an advantageous match. Lord Collins is plagued by an uncomfortable feeling whenever he goes near Miss Farris. One of annoyance. And yet, he can’t seem to stop thinking of her, touching her, kissing her...He must act in her brother’s stead, which means he has to approve her suitor and ensure her safety. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to find a worthy gentleman.
This was an ok story. The premise is a very common one used in historical and contemporary books. In this situation though, it didn’t really have a saving grace for me to separate it from any of the others I’ve read.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
This is book three in the series. It was funny- laugh out loud! Crazy! What love does to us! I enjoyed reading this book and think it was well worth my time. The characters were wonderful- each in their own way. A great addition to the series.
To entice an Earl was a sweet and fun quick read. I love the romance between Alexa and the Earl.
I really wanted to like this book. However, the heroine was just not likable for me. She was up and down and immature. The hero, was more likable but really, they are supposed to be adults! With all the tooo and froooo in this book all it succeeded in doing was giving me a headache. The only thing that saves this book and allows it three stars is the writing. The author is one I will be watching as the writing shows such wonderful talent. I just could not get into this story.
I was given this book in return for an honest review via NetGalley. My opinion is my own and done voluntarily. Regards, Anna Swedenmom
This read was unfortunately not able to hold my interest. I preference a steamier romance and while I don't mind a clean read, I want my characters to have chemistry, which I felt was lacking in this story. This read was a miss for me,
To Entice an Earl is well written, but was difficult to read, but not well planned out. Alexa is allowing herself to be bullied by Lord Edmund way too long. If she thinks to make Lord Maxon Collins jealous, it does not seem to be working as it should. Collins does seem angry on her behalf, but smirks too much. Once he decides she is being mistreated, he allows that to go on too long.
I am so sorry, I just did not like this book. I like strong female characters. I like heroes who are kind, gentle and respectful, not some one who smirks at the woman he is trying to protect and whom he supposedly loves. The arguing between Alexa and Collins began to frustrate me. It reminded me of squabbling third graders who can’t get along. Collins was not even smart enough to realize his highhandedness was pushing Alexa toward Edmund.
The character who fairs the worst is Miss Cannas. You wrote that marrying Edmund is the best she can hope for, but wow – he knows how to punish his wife once he owns her. He tells his intended how to dress, how to act, what to eat and more. He needs to end up with someone just as horrible as himself, not Alexa’s sweet friend.
Since I do not believe in publicly demeaning an author’s writing, I will not post this review anywhere but on Net Galley. This is my third Naomi Boom book. The first two from the Entangled Nobility series, were much better written.
This regency romance was in desperate need of a more developed plot. Oh, and maybe a female lead who has a clue.
It started out with potential. Our heroine, Alexa, has been in love with our hero, Maxon, ever since she was a child (not creepy at all) but she believes he sees her only as his friend’s little sister. At the most, she thinks he likes her as a friend. So, thinking all is lost with her one true love, Alexa saddles up to marry the first eligible man who comes along in the ballroom, Lord Edwin.
Yeah, love triangles are my favourite things. (In case you can’t tell, this is sarcasm.)
Meanwhile, we learn that Maxon not only likes Alexa as a friend but he also lusts after her (to such an extent that if I had to hear about Alexa’s lusty curves one more time I was going to scream). He also doesn’t like Lord Edwin (surprise!) so when Alexa’s brother, Gavin, sends him to act as his representative and a chaperone to Alexa, Maxon decides it is his duty to break up the ‘happy couple’ before their engagement becomes official.
It turns out Lord Edwin is controlling and demands extreme perfection at all times and Alexa decides this is not for her (she has messy hair which Maxon gets turned on by) and she will be rejecting his proposal. Alexa’s nose grows though because she keeps telling Maxon she loves Edwin. Cue forced conflict.
And that’s about it. Nothing else happens. There was a moment when I thought Edwin was going to become very creepy and suggest rabbit stew for dinner but it never eventuated (shame). Alas, it's basically just a round and round of Maxon admiring Alexa’s assets and Alexa keeping both of the men at bay.
Oh, there’s an odd scene towards the end where Boom tried to add some conflict by having Gavin disapprove of Maxon. Like… what? Aren’t they childhood friends? Didn’t Gavin trust him so much that he sent Maxon in his stead to look after his sister? But then Gavin’s saying Maxon is a bit beneath them? I was so confused by this idea!
This is what is known as a ‘clean’ romance (no secksy times) but Maxon does go in for a kiss on far too a regular basis for just a friend. I found all the kisses to be utterly boring. There was just no chemistry between the characters. Even Alexa never read the signs as to Maxon’s intentions with the kisses. She kept asking what it all meant. (Me too, Alexa, me too.)
Alexa was also clueless when it came to her supposed BFF, Miss Cannis. I suppose Boom included the character of Miss Cannis and her outcome as some sort of tribute to Charlotte Lucas but really, she came across as a scheming witch and Alexa’s ignorance only made her look dumber.
Look, this is a vast improvement of the last regency romance I read (which was a hot mess of epic proportions). Boom can string a sentence together and if she comes up with a stronger plotline, I’ll be there. But this time I can only give it 2 out of 5.
I received an arc of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Miss Alexandra Farris is determined to move on from her childhood crush, her brother's friend, Lord Maxon Collins. Settling for Lord Edwin, a pompous second son, Alexa seeks to move on but is unable to as Lord Collins has appointed himself her guardian in her brother's absence.
Quickly realising she is irritated by Lord Edwin but refusing to let Lord Collins know he was right she continues to profess her love for Lord Edwin.
Lord Collins is nursing a broken heart after being thrown over for a better title. He finds himself drawn to his friend's sister even though he has always found her annoying.
I just could not connect with the characters in this book. I just wanted to shake Alexa, she was very immature and too forgiving of bad behaviour. If she had just been honest with Maxon a lot of unnecessary situations would have been avoided.
The story was drawn out with little plot. It is hard for me to recommend the purchase of this book. While there is nothing particularly wrong with it it just has very little to justify the expense.
Miss Alexandra Farris has been head over heels in love with her brother's best friend, Lord Maxon Collins, since she was young. Unfortunately, she has given up on Maxon ever noticing her. Alexandra's family would like her to marry, but she is not that interested, but when Maxon tells her that he is helping her brother out by okaying her suitors, Alexandra temporarily loses it. She finds herself saying that she has already chosen a gentleman to marry, one Maxon cannot abide.
Maxon wants to be anywhere but in town for the season. He has no desire to watch over his friend's little sister, but duty has brought him there. Maxon cannot believe his eyes when he realizes Alexandra is all grown up. How did he miss it? Suddenly, he finds fault with every man interested in her. In fact, he wants her for himself. How will he ever give her up?
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars! Reviewed via NetGalley. This is my first novel by author Naomi Boom and I LOVED it!! Historical romances that involve being in love with brother's friend are some of my all time faves. I guess because I have siblings and I have been there myself so I can kind of relate to the situation. Maxon is hard-headed and arrogant. Alexandra is willful and strong I wanted to shake some sense into Maxon and Alexandra both so many times. They were so short-sighted and held back their feelings for much too long, but it did make their story that much more sweet. I cannot wait to read more by Ms. Boom.
Miss Alexa Farris is being squired by Lord Edwin, the second son of a Marquess. The man is quite pompous and critical of Alexa’s hair and freckles as he wants her to be perfect. It is very important that she be without flaws so she will pass her father’s critique. When Edwin asks her to marry him, she refuses to answer him yet.
There is another man who holds Alexa’s heart. When she confides the proposal to her friend, Victoria Cannes, the young woman does not approve of him. Alexa confesses that the only man who has ever interested her is Lord Maxon Collins who is an earl and a life-long friend of her brother, Gavin.
Alexa had not seen Maxon for years until the night of a dance party. Delighted but nervous at seeing him again, she finds him rather aloof and she tells him what she thinks of him. She has turned into a lovely young woman. Gavin has asked Maxon to look after his sister during the season as his own wife is increasing and he wants to stay near her.
When Edwin invites Alexa to a house party to meet his father, she agrees to attend only if Miss Cannes is also invited. Lord Collins invites himself as well as he is Alexa’s chaperone. At the party, things happen that show her the way to the only man she can truly love.
This is a nice little story but I admit that I found Alexa to be a twit and her immaturity makes her appear to need more time at home before making her debut.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
3.5 Stars
Miss Alexandra Farris lost her heart to her older brother Gavin’s friend, Lord Maxon Collins, when she was a young girl. Despite her girlhood attempts to win him, he never noticed her. Now that her first season is underway, she understands why. He prefers willowy blondes, not curvaceous maidens with dark hair & a freckled nosef. Rather than wallow in self-pity, she forgets love and focuses on something more attainable an advantageous match with Lord Edwin.
Lord Collins is plagued by an uncomfortable feeling whenever he goes near Miss Farris. One of annoyance but he can’t seem to stop thinking of her, touching her, kissing her. He must act in her brother’s stead, which means he has to approve her suitor and ensure her safety. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to find a worthy gentleman.
This is the third book in the series but could very easily be read as a standalone book. I found the pace to be quite pedestrian & kept hoping the pace would increase. The characters are well developed but Maxon was the only one I really liked. Alexa annoyed me & I constantly wanted to shake her, why on earth reaffirm time after time that she disliked Maxon? Why not say she liked her brother’s friend, if friendship was all she thought he could offer! Lord Edwin was horrid & consistently so all the way through. It wasn’t the best novel I’ve read but by no way the worst. It was an easy reading enjoyable book ideal for whiling away a few hours. I would certainly read more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Although this is being marketed as book number three in a series, you do not need to have read the other books in order for this one to make sense. In fact, I hadn't even heard of this series until I found this story.
Speaking of this story, I very much wanted to like it more than I did. As it is, I didn't hate but I didn't love it either. Alexa was very easy to dislike. She knew she didn't particularly like Lord Edwin, but when Lord Collins originally appears, she lies about being in love with him just to be contrary. As it is, she spent the majority of the novel telling Lord Collins that she didn't even like him when just the opposite was true.
Lord Collins was a more likable characters, especially considering he seemed to go out of his way to annoy Alexa on purpose. I feel like these two could have had a much more fulfilling story if they just would have been honest with each other from the beginning.
Also, I really don't understand Lord Edwin's motivation. Despite Alexa repeatedly telling him that she would not marry you, he insisted they would be wed - until he decides they will not and proceeds to insult her in the process. He was already an unlikable character, but this added aspect just put him over the top in my opinion.
All things considered, I believe this story may still appeal to those who enjoy historical romances. I would give this author another chance!
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.
Love this book! It is a clean Romance, however, it is truly Romantic! Iris Faris, has a problem, she has been in love with her brothers best friend, since they were young, Maxon is an Earl, she doesn't care about his title, just him! She has loved him for years, he only sees his best friend's little sister. Only thing is, she is little no longer. Now, she is about to be Betrothed, to a jerk, after Maxon had his heart broken over another young lady. Iris decided she could not take this unrequited love any longer. This is a truly witty, romantic book! There are a few mistakes, however, I let it pass, this is a new Author, one worth watching!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒
Blick. If Lord Edwin is this controlling now, God knows what he'd be like as a husband.
She's really in love with this jerk?
Get a clue, Miss Watercrest.
Are you sure you would have noticed if she was interested in you, Maxon?
Wait, so her plan is to keep an odious man on the hook so that she can spend more time with her chaperone, whom she is really in love with?
Lady Farris knows what's what.
The man just admitted to abusive behavior, but she still agreed to attend his house party?
Ugh, Edwin is such a twat.
Crap. Miss Cannis is in Twat and Twat Sr.'s sights.