It has been 5 years since Eli Dawes left for war with Rose Hayward's betrothed Anthony and she believed they both died at Waterloo. But the man standing in her studio is not the same handsome rake who she remembers, because that man truly did die at Waterloo.


Eli Dawes, the new Earl of Rivers had never planned to return to England. Injured and left for dead at Waterloo, he has spent the last 5 years in Belgium, first recovering from the horrible burns that left him disfigured and then hiding. When he learns of his father's death, his inbreed sense of duty compels him to return home. But he won't stay in London, instead he goes to his Dover estate, Avondale House. He is shocked to find Rose in residence, apparently her sister leased the house for a summer term for her school, the Haverhall School for Young Ladies and Rose teaches painting.

Rose and Eli shared a unique friendship before he left and once he was gone, she believed he, along with his friend (and her fiancée) betrayed her. She is still hurt and angry and wants nothing to do with him. Rose has not had an easy time in the years since Eli left, she has changed. She is a gifted artist and after learning the truth of their loss of fortune after her parents died, has used that talent to help support her family. But Rose has other reasons for staying away from the ton and she believes Eli played a big part in that. The morning after he arrives, she has it out with him and shows him some of the cruel caricatures that Anthony published, caricatures she thought Eli knew about and helped Anthony with. When his shock is apparent, she realizes that he truly didn't know what Anthony had done and apologizes.


Rose is the only woman Eli has never forgotten, he was falling in love with her and tried to get over her with other women and a wild life, when that failed, he decided to leave and went to war. But seeing her again, brings him right back to where he was before he left - he still loves her and still wants her. She pushes him to move out of hiding, to be a better man. When she introduces him to Lady Anne, he gets an idea of how he can help the families of fallen soldiers and Rose supports him 100%. They grow closer and finally become lovers. Rose convinces him that he needs to return to London and stake his claim on the earldom. He asks her to go with him and she agrees.


They arrive in London and Eli gets several surprises and has high hopes for the future, but instead of the HEA he envisioned, Rose breaks his heart and returns to Dover. Eli is crushed and throws himself into his project to try and forget his pain, but when the Duke of Holloway comes to see him and Eli learns why Rose wouldn't stay in London, he is resolved to win back the only woman he has ever loved.

This is a very emotional story about two broken people, with lots of angst, secrets and the healing power of love. It is well written, flows nicely, has wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, some surprises and an ending that brought tears to my eyes. This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title. I am happy to recommend this book, but make sure you have a tissue handy!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

“I needed to trust that a great love would eclipse all earthly vanities.” KellyBowen is magnificent! Rose and Eli’s story showcases the brilliance in which she brings her characters to life. Their humanity, crisis, resolutions and love is so blindingly vivid. I never tire of reading her stories. A job well done!

Eli was an impetuous, wealthy young heir who ran off to war with other young men like him looking for glory, and to avoid an arranged marriage. On the proverbial dark and stormy night, he returns to his family estate only to find others living on it.
Rose is a woman who has experienced her share of darkness and is now living the life she chooses, as an art instructor at a school fir young ladies. On that same rainy evening, she is startled to find the once presumed dead heir to the property dripping on the floor of her bedroom.
Rose once thought Eli was her dear friend, but after an apparent betrayal, and passing years, her feelings are no longer friendly toward him. As for Eli, the once beautiful young man, sought after by women everywhere in his path, he has come back much the worse for wear.
The story is absolutely lovely. Two people, each broken in their own way, come together by chance and struggle for healing, love, and each other. This is the second book I have read by this author, and I am very impressed. I hope to read many more.
I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book. I zoomed right through it. I liked both Rose and Eli (though Rose more). There is something about Kelly Bowen's writing that sucks me right into a story.

Fall in love again with this awesome story of Rose and Eli. When you read how each one had endured personally and emotionally, the author produces an euphoria in the reader through each and every chapter. Eloquently written, this amazing story grips you from the first chapter to the last as the reader witnesses the beauty in how the characters grow - every reader will never want this story to end. Ever.

I am a HUGE Kelly Bowen fan. I love her take on things and her heroines are always strong women in the best of all ways.

In this story, the Earl of Rivers has returned from the dead. <spoiler> Eli was seriously burned at Waterloo and disappeared for several years. Just when he is about to be declared officially dead - his "solicitors" send an investigator to find him. After that, he feels the weight of his responsibilities and decides to come home - where he finds his house already inhabited by the ladies of the school. This includes his old friend Rose Hayward. Rose is very angry at Eli for his role in a, particularly horrible publication. They quickly set that drama to the side - but other arise - particularly Eli's fear of how people will judge him. He has been very seriously disfigured - including the loss of an eye and an ear. As time moves on - they fall in love (or in Eli's case - fall deeper into love) - but issues abound to keep them apart. </spoiler>

Things I liked...
- The strength of the family relationships - as always - Kelly Bowen writes these beautifully and truthfully
- Two damaged people healing each other
- The level of honesty between Eli and Rose
- The lovely ties to other books in this world - cameos from King and Elise

Things I didn't...
- There were several points in this book where I felt the story reached a natural conclusion - problem was they were at the 30% and 50% mark....
- I felt like I was missing context - Eli and Rose had a long history with each other but we didn't see any of it first hand, it was all through discussion. I think seeing them together, in action, if you will would have made their connection more powerful. I think also seeing the former fiance in action would have been helpful too. I know the focus was on fixing their inner views and self-acceptance - but I think the resolutions rang a little hollow without that experience
- This book - as well as the others in the series feel a bit fallen out of time. I love the concept and I love the message - but it still feels out of place in a book that takes place right after Waterloo. At one point the female doctor trainee goes so far as to discuss using copious antiseptic. Antiseptic concepts, as far as I know, really didn't come in to play until the late 1860s. No matter how progressive the doc - that concept just didn't even exist. I feel like the 1870s or 80s might have been a better fit for the series as a whole...

Overall - I like the book a lot - but didn't love it. I am still intrigued enough to continue to Harland's story...

I received an ARC from NetGalley/Publisher for an honest review.

I don’t often highlight passages in books. Usually, it’s a complete story that drives my feelings. Last Night with the Earl is an exception. I think I highlighted half of this novel. Eli was one of the most intensely romantic heroes I have read in a while, and I needed him right now. In addition to Eli’s beautiful turn of phrase, the overall prose in this story was lovely and swoon-worthy.

After six years of hiding, Eli, Earl of Rivers is back altered both mentally and physically after his grievous wounds at Waterloo. When he returns to his estate in Dover, he is knocked over (literally) by the one woman he has never been able to forget. Rose, an artist, and a teacher, is wary of Eli with misunderstandings and past hurts standing between them.

As I mentioned, Eli is a wonderful hero. His deep and abiding respect for Rose was apparent throughout the book. His occasional flustered and prudish moments made me laugh. I loved it when Eli would use Rose’s words against her in an argument! Rose was a fascinating heroine. She was fearless on the outside and vulnerable on the inside which made her human. I loved her racy occupation and willingness to help other people see the beauty in themselves.

I do wish this book had been longer. It was a vibrant story with excellent character development, but I wanted more. I would have loved to hear more about Rose and her painting as well as Eli and his reactions to them. I wanted to know more about Rose’s relationship with Eli’s father as well as what happened with Eli went to the Duke about the land at the end. Overall, the story was fabulous, and I can’t wait to go back and read the first book in the series!

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

I wish I could give 1/2 stars! This would get 4 1/2. I recently just discovered Kelly Bowen and have now read all of her books! This one did not disappoint. I love Beauty and the Beast and second chance tropes. This book hit them both successfully! Both H and h have been through a lot of pain and heartache in the past. The story of them coming through that alone and together was very satisfying to read. The angst was just enough (not a fan of very dark books). I highly recommend this book.

I'm a fan of Ms. Bowen and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Eli Dawes, the Earl of Rivers and Miss Rose Hayward both have scars that define them. Eli's is his ruined face from the war, but Rose's are humiliation and shame from the betrayal of her fiance that cut her deep. When their paths cross, there is anger, bitterness and a hint of understanding for each other's plight. Can these two tortured souls find redemption and perhaps love with each other?

I loved this book. Eli and Rose were such characters born of tragedy and strength. They challenge each other to be better, to do better and their struggles are so real. Ms. Bowen has a knack for writing heart-wrenching scenes. Eli wasn't the normal regency hero, but his transformation from a bitter soldier to the Earl was very compelling. Fans of regency romance will definitely enjoy this book.

Last Night with the Earl by Kelly Bowen

Another title highly anticipated by me that was a disappointment. I was expecting more of a Beauty and the Beast trope but instead this felt closer to a second chance romance. Eli is dark and broody for maybe two chapters before coming out of his shell. And he and Rose begin lusting after each other around chapter two or three which makes a slow read for me. Not sure if I’ll be reading the next title or not.

Fabulous,heartwrenching, lovely. Eli and Rose's story is wonderful. Eli has been scarred in the war, Rose bears her own scars. When Eli finally returns to England, he's lost. Rose helps him find himself, then it's his turn.

Love the secondary cast. Linfield, Ophelia, Miss Swift, and a certain doctor!

An excellent read! The characters and storyline are enjoyable complex - and it doesn't hurt that the book is a bit steamy!

Eli first met Rose through his best friend, tied together by Rose's former fiance. He began to admire her almost immediately but declined from pursuing her in the interest of his friendship. Well...it turns out his best friend was a huge jerk. He published a book full of insulting drawings of members of society - including Rose! - before going off to war. Let's just say that his behavior on the battlefield didn't reflect well on his character, either.

Eli, too, went off to war and came back very disfigured. He and Rose both grapple with a negative body image; their common struggle is part of what draws them together.

Rose and Eli help each other to heal, but ultimately, their romance makes them both better people.

A fun and sexy historical romance! This was a great and easy weekend read that had lovely characters and a interesting story!!

3.5 stars - I enjoyed the premise, and yes it's a romance novel so I usually suspend belief, but the dialogues and phrases used were so informal and modern that it distracted a bit from the story.

Really enjoyed this one! In addition to some lovely writing, Last Night with the Earl is an extraordinary story of overcoming adversity and looking beyond physical flaws to the beauty within.

I did have a few problems with word choices and phrasing in certain areas; there were several incidents where the characters didn’t sound British at all and even felt a little too modern, which drew me out of the story for a moment. But all in all, I loved it!

I was disappointed in this book. It was too much like the first book in the series, A Duke In The Night, I had some issues with how modern the attitudes were in that book and they seemed to have carried over into this book. I'm certain that Ms. Bowen can write well but this story seemed to me to be just a rehash of the first book.

Another excellent historical romance from Kelly Bowen. I enjoyed it every bit as much as its predecessor and have ordered it for the library I work at.

Lovely, lovely, lovely. I am in awe of this story. A physically scarred hero and an emotionally scarred heroine. Right up my alley. Love the scarred hero. The underlying messages of “you are strong but I will always be there when you fall” and “beauty resides everywhere” resonates throughout the story. I swear I needed a whole box of tissues to make it through the sweet, caring, unselfish scenes. Eli and Rose are beautiful people who pull at your heart.

I have read others in this series and this one did not disappoint. I enjoy the characters and the story. Wish I could know the characters in real life. Very enjoyable read.

This book is darker than the last. The detailed references to the Napoleanionic War was beyond my knowledge base and I had to look up specific battles etc. to have a frame of reference, but as a librarian this is fun. I loved this book. Some of the writing is poetic and elegant which I'd love to see more of in this genre.