Kathleen Ayer's has done it again! She build a world of delicious characters that you could not get enough of.
I personally loved Henora and connected to her through her pain of not being the most beautiful, feeling unattractive even, and having weight issues. A lot of girls and guys struggle with their self image...it doesn't matter from what time period...this theme has remained consistent. And making this particular pain made fun of and hurt...gave me flashbacks of being bullied and ridiculed as a child...it felt so real and this concept is so universal...you completely understand why Henora acts the way she does 6 years in the future and sympathize with her. And the way she grew from that through the story--the way she healed through and with the Earl of Southwell--I enjoyed it very much.
I love how Henora loved the Earl of Southwell and felt that connection to him right away and how he saw through her even when she was deemed "unattractive" and "round" by others. A consistent theme of beauty and love being more than skin deep--it transcends this and shines from within. Henora's and the Earl of Southwell's romance story's beauty and love shows that inner light--that light of pure love and the aspect of what's meant to be will always be. They were meant for each other and gravitate to each other no matter their "unattractive" appearances and the mean, jealous people of the ton trying to push them apart.
It was a beautiful love story to read! It was a joy and I could not put it down.
I received an ARC of the book. The comments are honest and my own.

Loved the ugly duckling who turned into a gorgeous swan. I loved even more that the Hero really liked the ugly duckling long before she became a swan. Only part I hated was anything to do with the Culpeppers, son or mother, and I really disliked Honoria’s family. Glad there was a HEA anyway! I received an Advanced Reading Copy but my opinions are my own.

Forgetting the Earl is the first novella in a new series by Kathleen Ayers that tells a story of revenge and love. This second chance romance is both heartfelt and heartbreaking and an overall pleasure to read. The characters themselves are vivid and well-developed, so much so that you find yourself easily drawn into the story.

Honora Dravenport is intelligent, just a little too round about the waist, and in HER opinion, a bit of an ugly duckling. Often the butt of unkind comments, Honora is a consummate wallflower…who quite frankly does not mind the distinction. Until that one night where she finds herself humiliated by the man of her dreams and a group of his friends. But hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and 6 years after being trapped in a marriage to a man who treated her abysmally, Honora is eager to get take her revenge on those who caused her harm.

Gideon, the Earl of Southwell has made his share of mistakes, and unwittingly hurting Honora falls at the top of the list. What started out as a lark with his friends, turned into an unforgettable encounter. Honora was unlike any woman he’d ever known. She was fascinating and engaging and had the prettiest eyes that he’d ever seen. So, when the opportunity to win her heart presented itself many years later, he took it. The only problem… how to make the woman he’d wronged fall in love with him.

Kathleen's writing is delightfully refreshing. I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to reading more from this author.

This book was provided as an ARC through Netgalley. The opinions provided are my own and have not been influenced by any outside source.

I love Kathleen Ayers's books! I always highly recommend her books.. They are always filled with interesting people and premises. However, I was hard for me to finish. It's not because it's a poor or boring read, but has a central theme that is painful for me. As a curvy woman, it hit a few buttons for me that I prefer not to relive. So for the first time, I didn't finish a book by Ms. Ayers. I received an advanced read copy for my honest opinion, which in this instance, pains me to give. I gave it three stars because I had to leave a rating.

Honora Drevenport is a plump awkward young lady that has not developed into the beautiful lady that her sister did. This makes her a joke among society and one that has had vicious jokes played upon her at the events she attends. Making her a laughingstock and not helping her to develop into an acceptable lady. She is book smart and that does not help, either. Even her mother calls her, “A teapot without a spout.” The Earl of Southwell is a renowned explorer and map maker, traveling the world to faraway places. Of course, that really intrigues Honora, and she is honored to meet him. But like all things in society, it does not work out well at all. I enjoyed reading Honora and the Earls story as it develops into a page turning experience. Hoping the next adventure, Kathleen Ayers presents us, is as enjoyable and full of adventure.

A Love To Last Forever

I loved this story between Honora and Gideon and I loved that there were aspects of ancient cultures included!
Honora was a plump, awkward but voluptuous girl who loved reading everything about ancient cultures and their gods and for a girl in this period of time was over educated and misunderstood. Upon one of her visits to the British Museum on a talk of India, she first set eyes on Gideon, the Earl of Southwell, an explorer who had travelled to many countries. Honora couldn’t take her eyes off him and fell a little in love!
Meeting the Earl again at one of the balls she attended and ended up dancing with him was a dream come true until she found out it was all a cruel joke, a trick played on her by two scheming people.
Six years later, Honora, now a widow. A widow that no-one recognised as the forgetful Miss Drevenport and who had now blossomed into a very beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure that most males wanted including Gideon.
Gideon having returned to London at the request of his childhood and best friend and now sporting an injury recognises her as none other than Miss Drevenport. Honora on a mission of revenge agrees to see Gideon, they fall in love, overcoming more traumas to finally have what should have been from the beginning.
I couldn’t stop reading once I started until the end, steamy moments which never fail to please and moments that tug at your heart! A Love To Last Forever!

Another great read from Kathleen Ayers who never fails to please.

This is the first book in Ayers’ new series and it follows Honora and Gideon. Honora Drevenport is an awkward, plump girl who has a massive crush of the Earl of Southwell. In a society full of slender judgemental girls Honora is uncomfortable in her own skin. Not only does her body shape not fit in but she’s very well educated and loves knowledge, yet another quality frowned upon by society. After accidentally humiliating the wrong Lord, he takes his revenge and humiliates her in front of everyone. Forced to marry a man she hates, Honora grows up to be a beautiful curvy and confident woman, set on taking some revenge against those who hurt her.

Gideon, Earl of Southwood is an explorer, and he returns after years away a changed man. His reintroduction to Honora brings back a lot of memories. Honora has never lost her adoration of Gideon and Gideon has never forgotten the girl he connected with all those years ago – the past mistakes haunt their interactions and Honora is torn between exacting some revenge and letting herself fall again.

I always enjoy Kathleen Ayers books and I was very excited to find out she was starting a new series. I was invested right from the start and enjoyed seeing the start of everything but liked that we had a time jump for the characters to have grown and changed in. The start was a little uncomfortable in the way that Honora thought of herself because of her weight but overall, I thought Ayers did an excellent job of showing her journey and the way Gideon saw her and helped her to see her past self in a different light.

I liked the concept of Honora being wronged and wanting some payback, she had a good heart and her friend was definitely a bad influence, but it was an interesting motivation for her to have. I loved seeing Gideon and Honora getting to know each other and liked that neither knew where the other was at emotionally as they left a lot unspoken. I also liked that during the development of their relationship reputation and virginity weren’t something they worried about as the time for those things had passed.

The revenge romance delivered an exciting edge to the romance along with heartache and second chances, all brought together in a beautifully written story. And though we had the concept of revenge it was done in a way that was understandable and not cruel or angry, instead it was more a story redemption and forgiveness. The story was fast paced with an easy natural flow. I loved this story – binged in one sitting! – and am already dying to read the next book in this new series. It delivered everything I’ve come to expect from Ayers’ books, complex characters, heartache, love, fast paced and compelling writing that draws you in right from the start!

Every one knows who Widow Culpepper is: envied by the ladies of the ton and desired by their husbands. But nobody remembers miss Drevenport, chubby and forgettable, object of a cruel wager that resulted in years of misery. Now it’s time for payback.
Beautifully written, wonderful and evocative, the emotions within this story will stay with you for a long time.

Trope : second chance,revenge,heroine transition
Honora was a very strong character who came into her own in the story.she endures much heartbreak and pain.she becomes all the more strong because of her troubled circumstances.
Gideon was difficult to understand, though he was likeable but he does to Honora I the beginning of the story felt a little out of character.
Nevertheless, the moments in which the main protagonists fall in love were good.
The steam level could have been higher .
Altogether a solid fast paced story.

Loved this romance so much, it's sexy and steamy and emotional at the same time. It truly captured me from the first pages and I couldn't put it down. So well written, just the right length, jam packed with emotion and wonderful characters in Honora and Gideon. I loved their journey, and how they find each other again where they are truly meant to be. Love definitely tastes better than revenge.

This book is not one I am going to forget any time soon. What a hit!!!
I was fully engaged from start to finish to the point I made a pb&j (no sugar, no salt almond butter with no sugar peach preserves on whole wheat whole grain bread) because I could not put the book down! I read it from cover to cover. It was a wonderful day because I read this book.
The heroine is older, she is a widow whose life turned on a prank. She was a plump, badly dressed and pimply young lady who didn't "take" during her season. She was also excessively smart and well read. She made an enemy out of Lord Tarrington because she repeatedly corrected his geographical and scientific facts while he was trying to impress a young lady. The lady turned him down, but it was because of his obnoxious personality, not his lack of knowledge. He and another young lady set up a prank where the gentleman the heroine was enamored of was wagered into dancing with her the night he was leaving for the Amazon. She liked him because he was smart and went on daring expeditions. He ends up being the hero also. So, the hero has a non-heroic moment where the heroine was humiliated to the point her unwanted suitor convinced her to marry him. After 4 years of hell with her horrible husband, he died choking on a chicken bone while he was verbally abusing her. So, she has grown into a beautiful and desired woman, who is a widow that has men dropping at her feet and ladies wanting to be her friend. The hero has returned from the Amazon, with a debilitating injury from a caiman. The injury causes him to limp, but he is still attractive. The heroine has returned to the Season with a new perspective and position in Society. Nobody recognizes her from before her marriage. And nothing is better served cold than a big dish of revenge.
This was a phenominal story that just continued from the series. I have enjoyed all of the books because the heroines are older and have had some challenge in their life that causes them to have developed a strong character. I like all the supporting members and I think the male lead is the luckiest man to have such a woman in their lives. I recommend reading this story and I will be adding to my keeper shelf. 5 stars all.the way!

I liked Honora right from the beginning and was so glad she took all the terrible things that had happened to her and became a strong, confident woman. It was good to know very quickly that Gideon was not part of the cruel prank played by Anabeth and Tarrington and that he pretty much cut them off on the spot (although it would have been nice had he tried to explain himself to Honora right away as well rather than running off on one of his trips). I liked that Honora was willing to give Gideon a second chance rather than remaining hell-bent on her plan to get revenge for his part in her great humiliation. They were perfectly suited for one another and it was such a pleasure to watch them fall in love as the adults they had become. I think my favorite interaction between them was when Honora seeks him out at the end and tells him how angry she is with him while he is drinking away his pain at her supposed betrayal. The entire scene shows how hard she is willing to fight for what she wants. Of course I was so frustrated with him for just believing rumors rather than going to her to find the truth. This is one of those rare books I wish had just a few extra chapters. I would have liked Honora and Gideon to return to London to face their enemies rather than letting someone else do it for them. I also would have liked a little more between Honora and her family.

Lady Honora was humiliated at a ball during her second season Overweight and stuffed into her gown, Honora was not considered pretty. A bet that the Earl of Southwell would dance with the most unattractive lady was witnessed by everyone at ball. Six years later, after her disastrous marriage, Honora has becomes a
beautiful woman desired by many men seeking a mistress, Honora is only interested in revenge for the three people who set her up for humiliation. Southwell quickly left for the Amazon leaving Honora on her on after her humiliation. Years later back from the Amazon and crippled, he still regrets his part in the bet. Seeing Honora again peaks his interest and desire. All he wants is forgiveness in his pursuit. Lies about her sweep the ton. Losing South is not an option. South is a swoon-worthy hero, even though I was disappointed in his disappearance. Loving Honora redeems himself. It's a good read when you turn the last page looking for more.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Miss Honora Drevenport, a bit of an ‘ugly duckling’, was made the target of a cruel prank by some unsavoury characters in her youth but the one she felt most betrayed by was the Earl of Southwell who she had the biggest crush on and who, ultimately, broke her heart and spirit. Fast forward a number of years and Honora, no longer a young, undesirable, society miss but a voluptuous widow, decides to exact her revenge on the people who broke her heart – but can she do it to the man who she has always loved, despite his ill treatment of her years prior?

I really loved the honesty between the two main characters, they both have their scars and have both grown a little older and wiser as the years have gone by. The side characters became a bit of a distraction for me however, as I felt it was such a short story that they were unnecessary, although I understand why they were there as this is the start of a new series and is setting up the scene for future books. I just wish the novella had concentrated more on the two main characters.

There was so much I enjoyed from this book and the characters were instantly likeable for me, the plot is just my cup of tea and the synopsis had me from the get-go. However, I felt a bit let down by some of it, namely the length of the book. There was too much going on for it to be a novella and because of that I felt that it deserved to be a full-length novel, just from the amount that happened and was resolved too quickly in my opinion. I also felt the synopsis was a bit misleading with the content warning of ‘multiple sex scenes’. I’m not saying there weren’t any because there were, but I felt like one of them was a bit closed door and not at all as explicit as it was portrayed out to be.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book and I always look forward to anything Kathleen Ayers releases, but I really hope the next books in the series are a bit longer – and steamier!

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down! If you love Kathleen Ayers other books you will definitely not be disappointed in this one too! I highly recommend giving this book a read!

A chance to put things right almost gets derailed by malicious people with evil intent in this well-written and almost painful romance. The victim of a vicious prank before her miserable marriage, Honora has had years in which to plan her revenge. When the opportunity presents itself, her first public victory is spectacular, but unfortunately leads to even more plotting against her. Being reacquainted with the Earl of Southwell seems as if the wheels of justice are starting to turn once more, but Southwell's seduction upends Honora instead. His careful wooing of the woman he inadvertently hurt and has never forgotten, makes Gideon realize that if he is to win the siren she has become, he has to tread carefully, otherwise risk his own heart. Despite the worst society can do to Honora, this novel comes to a good conclusion. I received a copy of this romance as an advance copy through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Honora is a young woman when she meets Earl of Southwell; at a ball he takes her onto the dance floor and encourages her to talk about her interests. They have many interests in common. He is everything that she admires in a man. After the dance she discovers that is was all a ruse, she has been the subject of a wager.
Years later, widowed she meets Southwell again.

This is such an amazing book and i became immediately immersed into the story and i couldn't put it down! I was really drawn to Honora and i thought she was a very strong character and intelligent, she reinvents herself, she is intent on living her life - preferably without her mother in law! Southwell was heroic and athletic until a twist of fortune changes his life. The story is really well written, fast paced, steamy, passionate and the Honora and Southwell are compelling to read. There's plenty of twists, turns, manipulations, schemes and drama. The story is told from dual POV revealling in depth the thoughts, feelings and emotions of Honora and Southwell. There is an epilogue and a HEA!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kathleen Ayers has created magic again! I always impatiently wait for new books from this author. I was excited to hear of a new series. Forgetting The Earl is as unique as it is eye-catching. This revenge romance brings heartbreak, grit, and second chances to life in a beautifully written passage.

Honora suffered a heartbreaking humiliation at the hands of Gideon’s friends. Years later, Honora is back, beautiful and alluring; she wants to make the dashing earl pay. Time has not been kind to Gideon; karma can be cruel. Honora must decide if love or hate will win.

I was concerned at the beginning because revenge romances make me nervous; they can go terribly wrong with the reader hating the aggressor. However, written ever so thoughtfully, this heart-wrenching, breath-taking story of redemption and forgiveness was exceptional.

I could viscerally feel Honora’s pain and humiliation. I loved the strong, loving person that is Honora. I liked how Gideon wasn’t painted as a good guy who made bad choices but as a selfish, inconsiderate jerk at the beginning. Gideon had to experience his pain to have empathy. Gideon and Honora’s experiences were starkly different, yet their emotional journeys were mirror images.

The plot was visceral and painful at times and done organically. This book moved fast and was a quick read. The connection between the couple is difficult yet inevitable. Honora’s journey to happiness, however rocky, was well worth the time. I was angry at Gideon initially, yet his character unfolded in a way that showed many layers and was vivid and complicated.

Forgetting The Earl is the first book in the exciting new series The Arrogant Earls. This romance is everything I expect from a Kathleen Ayers romance. Complicated characters, lush descriptions, and hauntingly beautiful writing made this book shine.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Utterly captivating! An absolute delight to read a sassy heroine who is not a diamond, but a true gem. Honora Drevenport begins as a plump, curvy girl who has been groomed to think little of her person. Not small enough, not interested in the right things, not a lady. But when she meets Gideon, Earl of Southwood, he calls to her. This man, an adventurer & explorer, the opposite of the typical Lords content to drink, gamble and play, is different. When she dances with him at a ball, it is obvious that despite their differences, there is a connection, a spark. But then she discovers his attention was simply a bet, and she is humiliated. She flees to the marriage her family has pushed for and after 6year, she is now a widow whose beauty is sought after. Southwell has returned from the Amazon, after surviving an attack from a Caiman. Their connection is just as palpable now, and he courts her. But the past never truly stays in the past and those same trouble makers strive to insert a wedge between them.
It is pleasant change to see a Lord who well appreciating a woman’s beauty, also understands the beauty that comes from within. He saw Honora’s beauty in the past, and continues to see that beauty in the future. He adores her curves, and does not seek to change her but to help her find comfort in the body she has beyond stays & corsets. Gossip can be a deadly thing, but when you have the right person by your side, nothing else matters.

Forgetting the Earl is one of those books that, in addition to telling a spellbinding love story, also addresses social issues that are not unique to any era. Honora Drevenport. Is a young, socially inept debutante with a brilliant mind and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Her mother, embarrassed by her bluestocking tendencies and her plump figure, just wants to marry her off to any man that will have her. Honora wants more out of life than that. No wonder Honora is drawn to the Earl of Southwell who travels extensively and shares his adventures in lectures at the National Geographical Society and occasionally at afternoon teas at his godmother’s home. There is a horrendous body-shaming incident at a society event when it seems like her whole world has come crashing down. The real story is how she manages to reinvent herself & eventually find happiness and acceptance on her own terms, not trying to become something she was not and learning to cut loose the negative people that were detrimental. Triumph against the odds!