Thank you for letting me read this book. I enjoyed it but at time felt like it dragged on too much. I like the feistiness in Lady Wake despite the abuse at the hands of her dead husband. I thought Lyon was a good fit for her.

Adaline is finally free of a loveless and emotionally abusive marriage when her husband dies in a shipwreck. She has started a school with other widow's of the wreck for poor girls whose fathers died in the wreck as well.

Lyon is a neighbour to the school and assumes the home will be a brothel before he discovers it will be a school and accuses Adaline of being the madam.

Their relationship is quite fraught from this point on, however there is definitely sexual tension. There are only a couple sex scenes in the story, but they are pretty steamy ones!

The side story with a couple of the kids is pretty cute. I also really enjoyed Lyon's aunt.

When she became a widow Adeline and her friends decided to open a children's school for children whose fathers were on the ship with her husband. It is successful for the most part and she seems to have no problems with the neighbors that is until Lord Lyonwood comes back home to the neighborhood. The problems ill soon be solved though as a friendship will ensue and maybe a little more.

I enjoyed this book


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

Spoilers:

Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, is out of mourning two years after a shipwreck claimed the life of her husband. With the help of two friends who were also widowed, she is opening a school for children and siblings of victims to give them the training they’ll need to survive in the world. Unfortunately for her, the next-door neighbor, Lyon Marksworth, Earl of Lyonwood, has other ideas. In the opening scene, he barges in on her with the misconception that she is opening a brothel and is the madame. The argument that ensues is the first of many for this fiery couple, and the path to love is anything but smooth. After a marriage where she was treated poorly, her only worth being to produce an heir (which she failed to do), she’s determined never to marry again. One of the many problems with this book is that an unexpected pregnancy is what finally compels her to marry because falling in love (which happened way too quickly given their animosity towards each other) wasn’t reason enough.

In successful enemies-to-friends romances, there is generally a slow burn before passion ignites which gives the hero and heroine time to get to know each other and resolve their misunderstandings. In this book, it all happened way too quickly and improbably. The Earl had no baggage and Adeline’s was clearly spelled out in the beginning. There was little of the humorous banter and flirtation common to the genre, and this story desperately needed all of these elements. As a result, it was rather boring. Grey has done a good job of introducing Adeline’s two widowed friends who are presumably the heroines of the next books in the series. With hope, the subsequent books will have love stories that are more plausible and fun.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Paperbacks through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

When Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, learns of her husband’s sudden death, she realizes she’s free. At last, she can do, go, and be as she pleases. Finally, she can have the life she has always dreamed of. She doesn’t need, or want, to remarry. Especially not the supremely dashing future Marquis of Marksworth, who makes Adeline yearn for his desire. . .

Lord Lyonwood, son of a philandering marquis, will not be like his father. He wants to run his estates and watch them flourish—and find a wife who brings love to his life. When he meets spirited and self-reliant Adeline in a case of near-scandalous mistaken identity, Lyon feels he’s met his match. But Adeline isn’t interested in a marriage proposal. She will only accept becoming his lover—and Lyon finds it hard to refuse. Unless the fire of his passion can melt Adeline’s resolve. . .

Okay, what young lady who was brought up to be proper and married into the same situation wouldn't love FREEDOM. That time period was downright oppressive unless you were a wealthy male. Taking a lover rather than remarrying was her best option if she wanted to make her own choices and live her own life. She lasted as long as she could before he wore her down. Hooray for HEA!

Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake is finally free after her husband perishes when the ship he was on sinks. When she goes to the dock to claim his belongings, she is upset by how the families of the crew are treated. Along with several other windows, they are determined to help the girls from the crew's families. The women start a boarding school for the girls to teach them a trade.

Adeline was quite happy as a widow until she met Lord Lyonwood. Lyon is the son of a philandering marquis, but Lyon wants to be in love with the woman he marries. For now, he is happy managing his estates. Until Lyon meets his new neighbor in a case of scandalous mistaken identity. Adeline is self-reliant and determined. He has met his match. Can Adeline see how perfect they are together?

This was a wonderfully written book. I loved the characters. Adeline is a woman who is just discovering who she is after her husband locked her away in the country. She is determined to see the school succeed. Lyon has watched his father's exploits in "romance" and wants nothing like that. I liked the relationship between Lyon and his father. It wasn't perfect. They struggled to see eye-to-eye. I almost felt that Lyon's dad needed his own HEA to see what he had been missing.

I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next one in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!

I gave up on historical a LONG time ago so mother dearest does those and her exact words were "whoo boy did I love that book." So, it definitely got her approval although I did hear her grumbling about some choice people in it because you have to have some DRAMA. She would definitely recommend to anyone who has read Amelia Grey or loves historical!!

This book is the 1st book in the new series First Comes Love. I can not wait for any other future books in this series. This book is about Lyon and Adeline. Lyon thinks Adeline would make a great wife, but Adeline is a widow and does not really want to be married again. This book was nice from the beginning, I did not want to put it down and I finished it within a weekend.
Amelia Grey is an Author who gets you into her books and you really enjoy them. No one will be disappointed in an Amelia Grey book.

The Earl Next Door is delightful, A predictable yet alluring love story interwoven by skilled story telling and charismatic characters.

Adeline, Lady Wake, has just returned to London after being kept at confined in her late husband’s country home. Since his death, she has moved back to London and purchased a home with an outbuilding perfect for a boarding school for girls. The home and building happen to be right next door to Lyon, the Earl of Lyonwood, who mistakes the home for something else, scares the children, and fights his growing attraction to his widowed neighbor.

The Earl Next Door is the first book in a new historical romance series by Amelia Grey. I really enjoyed the interactions between Adeline and Lyon. They banter, they butt heads, they aggravate each other, and they have fun together. Adeline and Lyon found in each other what they didn’t realize they desired. The misunderstandings threaded throughout the book are reminders that relationships aren’t perfect, and it is important to communicate.

What especially drew me into the book is Adeline’s quest to help the young daughters of the men who perished with her husband. In historical London society, it wasn’t unheard of for women without ties to a man to resort to brothels to make ends meet. In many cases, single women were not allowed the provisions to sustain a livelihood. The school Adeline and two of her friends established hopes to provide the girls with skills that will serve them well and keep them out of the houses of ill repute.

The emotional scenes in the book made my heart ache for Adeline. How she was treated and talked to by her former husband was despicable. His willingness to find what he supposedly needed in the arms of someone else was a slap in the face to his wife – and near the end of the book it gets even worse. I was distraught for Adeline. I realize that happened a lot and I know it still does but the acts are unacceptable regardless of the time period. She, of course, handled things will the grace expected of Lady Wake, but what a miserable two years of marriage and a horrible turn of events after she opens the school.

I enjoyed The Earl Next Door. The story was fun, engaging, and the antics between Adeline and Lyon were entertaining. I have yet to read a poor historical romance from Amelia Grey. The author’s books are fantastic, flow well, and have likable characters.

Amelia Grey's books can stop me from doing anything else to read it right away. The characters are charismatic, enigmatic, passionate.

However, in this book, I did not feel any connection with the characters.
From the blurb I thought the story could be interesting. A young widow, with plenty of money and independence to choose her own lover after years of mistreatment of her ex-husband. But Lyon proved to be an idiot like the previous one in her life. And even when the romance between them happens, it does not seem real.
2 stars

The Earl Next Door is a smoldering historical romance in the new Love Comes First series by Amelia Grey. Lyon, Earl of Lyonwood, made a dreadful mistake when he mistakenly thought his new neighbor Adeline, Dowager Counter of Wake, was a lady of the evening. Definitely got things off on the wrong foot and made matters worse with each time they met. Sparks flew from heated words and somehow a passion slowly grew between the two of them.

Adeline is a strong, independent woman and isn’t going to stand by when she feels she has been wronged. She never would have thought that heat and attraction would ignite when she encountered Lyon and want something that she’s never felt. Her first marriage was constrictive and she doesn’t ever want that again. When Lyon offers for marriage she only wants to be his lover and have those stolen moments. Lyon wants more and they are at an impasse. Lyon has waited a long time for the right woman to come along and he would have to find a way to show Adeline that he wouldn’t be anything like her first husband and her love is what he wants.

Amelia Grey has created a wonderful story with passion, spunk and wit. The set up for the series arc is interesting to see how 3 young widows navigate their circumstances now that they are eligible to return to society after their mourning period. Adeline and Lyon were very likable characters and I loved their verbal sparring. I felt the attraction and hurt with their dilemma. The ending was a little rushed and predictable but nonetheless enjoyable. The Earl Next Door is indeed a good beginning for her new series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this unconventional romance by Ms. Grey. While Adeline and Lyon are both peers they have such a refreshingly different approach to life. Adeline was married before she really came out and discovered what love was all about. Now widowed after an oppressive marriage she is determined to live life on her own unconventional terms.
Lyon is an earl and resists all attempts by his father to match make him into fathering an heir to his estates. He definitely did not expect to find love when he first bursts into his next door neighbors living room finding her scandalously dressed in a crimson corset. The conflict only worsens when he complains about the noise from her school for children and she subsequently barges in soaking wet into his home when his card party friends block the street with their carriages.
This is a great start to what seems to be an excellent new trilogy. Can't wait to see what comes next.

The Earl Next Door
First Comes Love #1
Amelia Grey
St. Martin’s Press, May 2019
300 pages, Kindle, Paperback, Audible, Audio CD
Historical Romance, Romance
Provided by NetGalley

✫✫✫✫⭑

The cover shows a lovely couple sparkling in the evening light. The background and the woman’s gown are richly colored, but for some reason, the picture seems fake. I mean, we all know it’s fake, but this one doesn’t seem to make any effort to appear real or cohesive.

The story, however, was really fun to read. It’s one of those “widow glad to enjoy her freedom after a horrible marriage” vs. a “man who is determined to have her as his wife”. The Dowager Countess of Wake, Adeline, is young and attractive and very glad to be free of an unwanted husband. She’s determined to never be married again and to enjoy her widowed state. She’s going to be in charge of her life from now on. No man is going to tell her what to do or how to live her life ever again. She and her two other widowed friends are quietly starting a school for children orphaned by the ship lost at sea in which they also lost their husbands. But a nosey old neighbor and “the earl next door” are determined to stick their oars in and interfere at each step. Sometimes it’s embarrassing. Sometimes it’s infuriating. And sometimes it’s just more than she can resist. Especially since the earl next door happens to be the very handsome and very eligible Lyon Marksworth, the Earl of Lyonwood, one of society’s leaders.

A to and fro of verbal swordplay makes for a brisk getting-to-know-you period. When they finally realize that they are on the same side, they settle down a bit and become rather good friends and more. This is a really fun romance and I highly recommend it to any of you who like historical romances. She only slaps his face once, but he really deserves it.

I couldn't really get into this book. I did enjoy the writing style but I just lost interest and I put it down never to return to it.

When her husband dies in a shipwreck, Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, s happy to be on her own. She and her two friends, Julia and Brina, decide to open a school for the young girls who had a relative killed in the same wreck. It will be set up in Adeline's backyard.

Adeline's neighbor, Lord Lyon, thinks Adeline is setting up a house of ill-repute in her house, and he lets her know when he barges into her house to demand to know what is happening. Thus sets in action a contentious relationship between the two. Adeline is determined to never wed again. Can Lyon change her mind?

I am a fan of Amelia Grey's historical romance novels, but this one just didn't capture my attention. I didn't feel tension between Adeline and Lyon, and some of the scenes felt forced to me. There was interesting interactions with the students, but it wasn't enough to save this one.

In the end, this was just not a book for me.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was excellent, the author's style is really coming into its own - the dialogue was witty, fun and original, the characters were sparking, but also deep and interesting and the story flowed smoothly. I wholeheartedly recommend!

This story features an extremely strong, independent, fierce female character who knows what she wants and goes for it. This can be contrary to the type of female leads we see during this time period. Adeline had a rough past in her first marriage and when her husband died, she realizes she is free and she will never let anyone hold her down again. While this is fantastic in so many ways, it may also hold her back as we soon come to find out. Despite this, I loved her character to bits.

Enter Lyon – the handsome, funny and determined young man from next door. While they get off on the wrong foot, he can’t help but be swept away by Adeline. While she may not have been what he had been looking for, her spirit is what hooks him. He loves her independence and willingness to stand up for what is right and for herself.

This was a sweet story of learning to let go of our past and not let it define our future. Adeline was so stuck in her past, that she was losing out on something potentially so amazing. You kept wanting to give her a little shake and some common sense in the right direction. Can they move past their history? Can they build a future together? Or is her past too much for her to bury? This novel is sweet, funny romance that will be perfect for the upcoming summer months.

The Earl Next Door by Amelia Grey is a decadent yet thrilling read. This historical is more fun. A young woman recently became a widow. She is loving the freedom of being on her own. Adeline explores all the the single life of a woman can enjoy. Taking a handsome lover is one of them. Adeline never plans to wed again. But the twist is neither the the Lord, but he can't refuse the possibility of making Adeline his forever. The intrigue and curiosity burned throughout this tale. It was wickedly yet brilliantly woven. A journey of pleasure, forbidden things, and a task of breaking down Adeline's no marriage plan was entertaining to follow. Every page captured my full-attention. However, the marriage she had with her husband, seemed to be one not of love. It was a matter of following the ton's views and hiding who and what she she really was. Adeline was more blunt than I normally found in historical fiction novels. She had a way of cutting off people. Her attitude and demeanor sort of pushed me away from liking her. Her character was just waiting to jump to her full glory. But society deems certain expectations...and Adeline is full of fury, rage, and passion. The relationship between Adeline and and the Lord is an interesting one. Both are wicked in passion, minds, and souls.