I enjoyed the first book in the series: The Earl Next Door. The setting of a school for girls and the 3 widows was interesting. I would be interested in reading more books in this series.

Amelia Gray writes a wonderful, touching, funny and heartwarming historical romance. The Earl Next door is one of those books that I did not want to put down once I started it. I love the fact that Amelia Gray shows that women are intelligent and can be appreciated for that even for the time that it is written. I will be looking to read more stories by this author. If you are looking for a story filled with humor, love, laughter, and charm, be sure to read The Earl Next Door.

Three widows open a school for girls. This leads Adeline to meet her neighbor. Chemistry between them is instant. Now Lyon has to convince her to marry him. Enjoyed reading about them getting their happy ever after.

Heat Factor: Mildly steamy
Character Chemistry: Like an old pair of jeans
Plot: A widow starts a school and rubs a neighbor the wrong way...but then kind of the right way...
Overall: It’s cute, you’ll fall in love with the characters, it’s well-written. It’s a keeper.

Some people go on vacation and they max out their itinerary, seeing as much as they possibly can. Other people go on vacation and stay put. They read, they eat where the locals eat, they find the best coffee shop and go there every day...if you’re the latter, you’ll love this book.

Let me explain. This book largely takes place on the same block. Nearly the whole thing. You’ll get to know the neighbors, you’ll get comfortable with the alleys and gardens. It’s just charming. Equally charming? The relationship between Lyon and Adeline, our hero and heroine.

I expected their relationship to be more complicated and messy based on its beginning--Lyon mistakes Adeline for the mistress of a new “house of ill repute” setting up in his neighborhood. That error is quickly resolved when he learns that the number of mattresses being delivered are for, in fact, the small girls’ school Adeline is starting for the daughters of those lost in a shipwreck (a wreck where she also lost her doofus of a husband, may he rest in peace).

I will say that the first steamy scene was a little less than titillating--but then as Lyon and Adeline develop more complicated feelings for one another, those scenes get steamier and more beautifully written. (I see what you did there, Ms. Grey. It’s always better when you’re with someone you love. Clever.)

All in all, it’s sweet, it’s funny, you’ll feel like you’ve made yourself a comfortable little home in their neighborhood, and when you’re finished you’ll feel a little homesick.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Adeline's husband died when he went down on a ship called the Salty Dove. She is now a beautiful widow, who with two of her widowed friends start a school for the girls whose brother, father or some other relative were on the ship when it went down. They saw the need to help the girls learn to read and write and to learn a trade so they can support themselves. The only problem is Lyon, the Earl of Lyonwood who happens to be her neighbor. It has been reported that since a large number of beds were being delivered, it must be a bordello. When Adeline, the Dowager Countess of Wake was mistaken for the madam of this so called house of ill repute, she slaps him across the face. Lyon was intrigued by this woman. He wants a wife who will love him as he will love her. Part of the reason that she was picked by Wake to marry was that he wanted a heir. He tortured her and was cruel to her, and she still did not get pregnant . The chemistry and attraction sizzles between Adeline and Lyon. I loved the caring between the two, but Lyon took my heart with the love and support he gave to her. I received this book from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this wonderful book. Loved it. They is so much more but I don't want to give away the plot.

I have been an Amelia Grey fan for years. I loved Adeline. The plot was good. This story is about Adeline who is the Dowager Countess of Wake and after he husbands death found herself and found her independence. Lord Lyon is the son of the two-timing Earl of Marksworth and he wants to have a respectable, loving wife someday. He is likes Adeline instantly, But she just wants a handsome man not another husband. I enjoy this book very much.

This book was ok. And you can sympathize with Adeline for not wanting to get married again after what she went through. Though Lyon was making it very hard for her (I admire his restraint in waiting for her, and not giving in to the physical only). I didn't like that Adeline came to her senses not because she realized or came to realize by way of her friends that she wanted to be married to Lyon, but because of circumstances. Huh. Or maybe I missed that part?

At any rate, this was an easy read to while to afternoon away.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book.

What a great story! The characters, Countess Wake and Lyonwood, were relatable and their chemistry jumped off the page. I had a hard time putting the book down and am excited for the next in the series!

. It was a sweet book and I enjoyed the writing style. It felt like there were some pacing problems towards the second half and there are definitely threads that could have been more fully fleshed out and will hopefully be addressed later in the series.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing us with a copy of this book so that we can write this review.Its been a while since I have been able to sit down and write a review, but the second I finished this book I knew that I have to sit and write this one. This is a great book for the first book in a series. It introduces out to such a beautiful thing that three amazing widows do. They take the time to look past their own loss and hurt to do something amazing for some little girls. I have to say though that there are things that were really sad during this book. The things that Adeline had to deal with in her marriage were so sad to read. To have her go through so much, its no wonder that she didn't want to ever marry again. She was such a strong woman is made to endure some hardships because of an insecure man is just heartbreaking. So its no surprise that she doesn't ever want to marry again. But Lyon is an incredible man who helps her see that not everything is how it was in her first marriage. I loved the fire and spark between them. There is definitely chemistry between the two from the very beginning. I think you will also enjoy every part of this book.I give this book 5 kisses.Happy reading... Adri

3.5 Stars!! This book was good. I wasn’t crazy about it though. It felt a bit rushed. The main characters seem to have fallen in love really easily. All they really did was argue & they fell in love? It was a good read, just a bit underwhelming.
*I received this book to read and review at no charge from the publisher and I gave my honest opinion.*

Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, loses her husband in an accident at sea. She joins two other widows to establish a Boarding school for girls who fathers also died in the wreck but have no means to support themselves.

Lord Lyonwood lives next door and is awakened to find young girls singing and dancing in the garden. He is instantly drawn to Adeline but after a love less marriage, she refuses to enter into another. Instead, she agrees to be his mistress.

It is a great story with witty banter and well developed characters. I am looking forward to the next adventure in the series. I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. All views are my own.

I only have given this book 3 stars because I never really could get into the story. It felt stilted and, unfortunately, boring. I never connected to Lyon and Adelaide. I may have too high standards, but that is how I felt. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.
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I loved Adeline and Lyon's story!!

Adeline and Lyon's first meeting didn't go well, to say the least. But they were both instantly attracted to the other. As they got to know one another their feeling turned into something more. But what happens when one wants marriage and the other doesn't? Can these two work out there issues to find their HEA?

These two were great together! Grey did an amazing job of bringing these two together and showing them struggle with the decisions they had made for their lives. This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next book!!

A pleasant read to escape reality for a bit and go back in time. I voluntarily read this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 1 in a new series by Amelia Grey. I must say I did enjoy the story. An Earl comes home and storms next door thinking that a house of ill repute had moved in. Lyon is rude and annoying but he did grow on me. Adeline is trying to help girls in need and all she needs is an annoying neighbor. I loved the romance that grew. Looking forward to more in the series.

The Earl of Lyonwood’s aunt arrives at his townhouse to complain that a house of ill repute is moving in next door. After all, why else would her friend, his shut-in neighbor, have seen all those beds being delivered to the building? And when the earl goes to confront his new neighbor and finds her wearing a risqué red dress, he assumes his aunt was correct. Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake is, of course, not planning a brothel, but rather a school for the daughters of seamen lost in the disaster that killed her late, unlamented, husband. Naturally, one misunderstanding leads to another, and Lyon is not especially happy to have a covey of boisterous girls as his neighbors. And when two of the girls appear in his room while he is in the bath, things go from bad to worse! How all this get ironed out, despite many bumps in the road along the way, makes for an absolutely delightful and satisfying tale. Characters are well-drawn, even minor ones, and their flaws make the story more interesting, despite the predictability of the romance at its core.

This book was an okay read. I appreciated the strong female lead character however I didn’t find anything particularly “original” about this historical romance. The market seems to be heavily saturated with similar storylines. Unfortunately this failed to stand out and did not hold my attention well.

Strong female characters always grab my attention and this one doesn’t disappoint. Well written, kept my attention, and made me feel like I was right there, wanting to reach out and plead for each other’s case with the emotions I felt.

Amelia is a widow after her husband drowns in a shipwreck. She is finally free to do what she chooses so, she buys a new house with a large building behind it that she decides to use to start a school for girls. Lyon, her next door neighbor, is sent, by his aunt, to see what kind of business Amelia is opening and, mistakenly makes a wrong
assumption. These two fight tooth and nail about the school, the girls in the school, the noise and, generally everything! The heat between them is explosive and, painfully obvious to everyone but them! When they finally realize they have no control over their physical attraction to each other, Lyon realizes that he loves and wants this woman. Amelia, on the other hand, has decided that, since she believes she is barren, she will never remarry.
It takes time, for Amelia to realize that Lyon is nothing like she believes and, that true love is worth the effort!