The first in a new series. This second chance, secret baby book was an entertaining read I couldn’t put down.

Pen, a farmers daughter, turned hops farmer has been hiding as a widow with her ten year old daughter. The father is alive a well though. When Harry returns from war as an Earl he swears to do his duty and marry. Then realizes she is what he needs, more than anything.

I liked that both the heat and the love between them hasn’t diminished over ten years. They clearly know and trust one another so deeply.

I recommend this one to anyone looking for a second chance love story that is bigger than the rules of society.

Received ARC in exchange for honest review.

It was good up until the last page, wasn’t a HEA but cliffhanger in my opinion. I would have loved to read how Harriett would take the news....and a later time to see what all life has treated Pen and her daughter.
9-10 years later when the childhood best friends turned loves was the last time they saw each other, she 17 he 18 when he went to war as a spy for the English Crown. Now on official business for his buddy to find out who or what JWS was in Little Puddinton. Well he got to whom it was but he also found his long lost sweetheart and her secret. How will he take the news and when will that mean for his future??

Harry, The Earl of Darrow goes to Puddledon. on an errand for a friend. When he gets there, he meets a young girl with a streak of white in her hair. This is a trait in his family. The Earl and his late brother have this mark as do the legitimate and illegitimate children of his late brother who has left so many children in the surrounding area. Harry is honorable and would never do this. He happens upon Pen, a girl whom he knew in his youth, the summer when he was eighteen. She and Harriet are living in the Benevolent Home for the Maintenance and Support of Spinsters, Widows, and Abandoned Women and their Unfortunate Children where they grow hops and make ale for sale. He never knew he was a father until he meets Harriet. Harry has promised his mother that he would marry and produce an heir to the line. Lady Susan is available and would expect no more of him than to be his wife.and in exchange she would produce an heir with no love involved. Pen expects nothing but loves him very much. He decides that he will marry Lady Susan, produce an heir and have Pen as his mistress. He will be able to see Harriet, whom he has come to love and wants to acknowledge. While in Puddleton, his Mother, sister-in- law and Lady Susan show up. Will Harry marry Lady Susan and will Pen agree to be his mistress? What will be better for Harriet? Will Harry's mother accept her illegitimate grandchild? I loved this book. It was unlike any I have read. Different take on the ton and how they manage their lives and loves. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review and no compensation otherwise.

Satisfying and very sex positive reunion romance between an earl who did some growing up over the ten years he was separated from his partner, and a woman who went from strength to strength as a single mother and entrepreneur. Back together unexpectedly, there's a regency-appropriate assessment of class differences and social scandal, with an earned happy ending.

Pen and Harry share such a touching story. Once Harry rediscovers Pen, he knows he needs her in his life forever, but will that be as his Mistress or his wife? This book was a little slow in spots but a refreshing read. I would recommend it for sure.

Harry and Pen grew up together and shared a summer romance before he went to war. Little did he know that Pen’s life was drastically altered.
Harry is back from the war and needs a wife and heir as his duties for the earlship. He has chosen Lady Susan but can’t bring himself to say the words. Instead he goes on a search for the Duke, only to discover Pen and the daughter he never knew. What transpires makes for a lovely read. But there were times I wanted to hit Harry over the head.!

Loved this book could not put it down. It appears this is the first book in a new series can't wait to read the books that follow

I loved this book! I loved watching the main characters reconnect over their daughter. One thing I liked was that they never doubted that they wanted each other and to be a family, they simply weren't sure how.

I received a free copy for an honest review from Netgalley. I have enjoyed several book from this author before and therefore looked forward to reading this one though the description was my favorite. What ales the earl takes place entirely over a few days. Pen, a tenant farmer's daughter and Harry the second son of and earl and now the current earl after his brother dies had a summer of love before Harry left to fight in the war. Now that Harry has returned and his brother has died he has promised to marry before the end of the season. I enjoyed this book, I like that Harry can accept why pen never told him about Harriet instead of throwing a hissy fit. This was a quick read that was fun.

Harry Graham returns to take over as the Earl of Darrow upon his brother's death and sees his past with his first love Penelope Barnes everywhere. Under duress he agrees to find a wife, but runs an errand for a friend and actually finds his Pen at a home...along with the daughter he never knew he had.
The tale triggers emotions, sorrow for Pen's trials, anger at the vicar and Harry's almost betrothed.
Colorful characters pepper the pages to make an interesting read, heated nicely by the fiery attraction between Pen and Harry....including a happy-ever-after.
I requested and received a Netgalley ARC to peruse for an honest critique.

What Ales the Earl by Sally MacKenzieTen years ago Penelope Barnes was kicked out of her father's house because she was pregnant. She was able to go to her aunt's for a whort while but eventually found her way to Puddleton and the Benevolent Home there. Her daughter has the distinctive stripe of white hair that all of the Grahams have. But no one knows that her daughter is a Graham. Penelope has been claiming to be a widow. But now there's a new mother/daughter duo at the home and they've identified Harriet as a bastard. Of course, they think she's the earl's daughter.

And she is. Well, not the former earl who was an incorrigible rake and left bastards all around the countryside. No, she's the daughter of the current earl. The one who left Penelope before she knew she was pregnant. The one who has just wandered into Puddleton...

A nice world-building book that suffers a little from so much introduction (I wish we had seen more of the brewery if that's what the series is based around) but I'm definitely looking forward to more in the series.



Three and a half stars

This book comes out July 31st

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Sally MacKenzie's romances are just delightful. Full of witty banter, great characters and satisfying romance. We always buy her for our library.

I loved Pen and Harry's story!

Pen and Harry were childhood friends. Right before he went off to war, they became intimate and Pan got pregnant. With no way to contact Harry, Pen does what she needs to survive and ends up in a tiny town living as a widow.

Harry is on the verge of getting engaged when he is asked by a friend to find out some information. He ends up in the same town as Pen and discovers he is a father. Their old attraction is still present but because of their differences in station, they feel like they can't be anything more than lovers.

Can these two go against society's norm to find their HEA?

I'm excited to see what this series brings! I'm hopeful that we get to see Pen, Harry and Harriet again!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This is a very sweet story with a second chance romance. I had some trouble fully understand the heroes motivations. My frustration with him was a bit distracting but at all it was cute

Enjoyed it

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Widow's Brew
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher for an honest review. Thank you!
This novel brings in past love and the prejudices of society. Penelope Barnes and Harry Graham spent a wonderful summer together before he left for the army. He never knew Pen was pregnant. Pen had a terrible upbringing by her father, and she had to manage the farm, for which her knowledge would be important when the ladies of the home she currently resides in make their infamous Witch's Brew, a popular ale among the locals. Harry is pressured to marry, though he does not want to. When he has an opportunity to escape from a party, he does and runs into Pen and his daughter, Harriet. Harry wants them both is his life, but he can never marry Pen due to her station. Pen and Harry love each other, but know the rules of society. Pen will do anything to protect her daughter. Harry wants to be a part of Harriet's life, for he needs both her and Pen. I felt frustrated with Harry, his wanting a society wife but keeping Pen as his mistress...you cannot have the best of both worlds, for you are sacrificing yourself and causing resentment. Harry needs to make a choice, for he was never supposed to be the earl, and he needs to realize what is more important, what society thinks or what his heart needs.

I have to fess up. I did not like Harry at all until the end of the book. I knew it would all work out in the end, but just the idea of how daft he could be made my mind up. Pen and her daughter Harriet made up for him though.