Member Reviews
An entertaining story and romance with strong characters and well written plot that kept me engaged. Adrian and Helena are a worthy couple, good banter and chemistry between them builds to an enduring and satisfying ending.
Grumpy and surly Lord Hawke has returned to his country castle after 6 months away. His twin boys don't know him anymore and there are new faces around like a governess who puts him firmly in his place. Helena Templeton loves her position as governess except for when Lord Hawke is around. He's irritable and just plain mean, plus he hates cats so no good could ever come from having him around, can it?
I liked the storyline here even though the governess trope is very predictable. The boys were cute and the cats a nice addition. I didn't care for the character of Lord Hawke, he was just too curt and uptight. Yes, he was grieving for his wife and learning to love again, fearing that he would be rejected by his boys since it had been so long but that doesn't justify his actions and words. I didn't feel the attraction between him and Helena and the explanation that he acted rough around her because he actually liked her seemed a weak reason.
I also thought the excuse that she needed to return home because her older sister was lonely very weak as well.
The rest of the story flows along well enough and reads more like a story about two people rather than your typical romance novel, the romance here was very mild. Clean with only kissing mentioned.
Despite the low romance, overall this was enjoyable to read and well-written. Can be read as a stand alone.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There were so many things I loved about Fell In Love With An Earl. There were mischievous twin boys, adorable kittens, a rakish earl, and a feisty governess. Put all these ingredients together at Christmas time and you get a sweet, romantic treat!
Adrian is a complete mess. He runs from London due to his latest rakish escapades. Adrian is struggling after his wife’s death. He loves his sons but has estranged himself from the love starved children. Helena dearly loves the twins and is an excellent governess. Adrian comes home and wreaks havoc on the entire household. The couple start as enemies but slowly see each other in a more intimate light as they spend time together.
This plot was so much fun! Adrian’s escapades with the cats were hilarious. There were several laugh out loud moments. This is a fast-paced, easy-to-read, charming Christmas romance. Fell In love With An Earl is the third novel in the Games Earls Play series. This was a fun afternoon read. I recommend this light, entertaining read to relax and laugh in this stressful season!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed reading this book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Bradley writes so effortlessly with attention to detail that pulls the reader in. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. This is the third in the series which can be read as stand alone.
Helena Templeton is an uncommon woman who does a job and sticks to it. Even being a governess has it's drawbacks, but Helena is doing her best in teaching twin boys in the wilds of Oxfordshire.
When the boys father returns to his home after being on a drinking binge, he doesn't remember having a governess tend his children.
Adrian Chatham, the Earl of Hawke, left London quickly trying to cope with his late wife's death with lots of debauchery. He now is back and doesn't like having a young chit telling him what to do. He feels overwhelmed with the knowledge that his life is in shambles and can't seem to get a grip.
Helena loves her charges, and tries to help the Earl, but he is one stubborn man.They go round and round with him trying to intimidate her, but Helena give him a what for!
I feel that one the Earl needs the governess to teach him how to forgive and love again. But it will take a lot of trust and affection from both of them to find their happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.
Heartwarming story of healing and love
Helena has been instrumental in helping her two young charges, Ryan and Etienne, after the death of their mother and the frequent absences of their heartbroken father. So when Adrian finally returns to his estate and vehemently disapproves of his sons' unorthodox governess, he is unable to fire her without upsetting the entire household staff.
I simply adored the way Helena patiently and respectfully stood up to him and called him out on his parental responsibilities. Adrian's not a bad sort, just lost after his wife's death, and it takes quite a while before he realizes how much healing he needs to work on in order to be there for his sons the way they deserve.
I thought the introduction of Hecate was a brilliant way to build a common ground between these two, especially as he knew he was doing it for his sons. This entire book was so very charming and sweet, with six year old boys acting like six year old boys will, while Helena's gentle parenting style kept everyone working toward the necessary reconciliation.
This was a chaste story, with nothing more than a few impassioned kisses on the way to a delightfully heartfelt HEA. The characters were compelling and I was rooting for Adrian and Helena from their very first meeting. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
This was an entertaining, well-written historical romance. It was fun, sweet and held my interest. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
He's worse than the twins.
Adrian's twins believe in misbehaving, just like their father, who is horibbly debached and running form his latest scandal. I did not care for him at all. His behavior is not how a grieving widower would act. Nope. He runs off to hook up indescriminantly and ignores his children. In fact, he never changes his behavior and attitude, he just wants Helena to solve his problems. All very conveniently for him. Helena deserved much better.
3.5
Anna Bradley was a new-to-me author, and I really enjoyed my first book by her. Helena and Adrian's love story was charming and sweet. I'll definitely read more books by her.
Adrian Chatham, the Earl of Hawke is having a hard time dealing with the death of his wife. Thinking he could drink her memory away, he has spent the past six months in London instead of in the Oxfordshire countryside with his twin sons, Ryan and Etienne. When Adrian finally does come back home, he is surprised to learn that his boys have a governess, Miss Helena Templeton. Adrian and Helena have a fun meet cute and boy do the sparks fly. As these two butt heads every step of the way, something else starts to happen and slowly these two start to develop feelings for each other. Just when it looks like Adrian may have found a second chance at love, outside forces may change that until he comes up with an answer that will be beneficial for everyone.
I really enjoyed this sweet, historical romance. Adrian was having a hard time dealing with life and Helena was just the perfect person to help him. Together they found a beautiful love that left you feeling happy.
A heartwarming story of a governess falling in love with 2 boys while caring for them.
Helena was a caretaker and substitute mother for them while their Dad was in away in London.
Adrian returns to home shamefully and finds it hard to reconnect with his sons.
Helena helps him along with the beloved cats in the house and barn.
I enjoyed the small trial along the way. Recommend highly.
I received an ARC but the honest opinion is my own.
This was an entertaining read with some humour. Miss Helena Templeton and Adrian, Earl of Hawke did not have a friendly first meeting and then it just went downhill! Hawke has quite the reputation of being a rake but is there more to his background? Helena is governess to his two 6 yr old sons. Helena is a sweet person who cares dearly for the boys, Ryan and Etienne. However, she isn’t afraid to say what she thinks. Hawke needs to re-establish his relationship with his sons. This story has some passionate moments, laughing out loud events and a happy ending. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The sudden passing of his beloved wife left Adrian, Earl of Hawke, so broken that after the year of mourning he fled to London and sook refuge in debauchery, visiting his twin sons only every few months at a time.
Two years later Adrian finds himself at the core of a scandal with a very prominent woman and therefore he goes back to his estate until the rumors die down. There, at his estate, he finds out that he has no connection whatsoever with his sons who are now six years of age, he also discovers that he has a governess who finally has his sons under her command. This young woman whose name is Helena and a growing litter of cats will help him make amends with his past mistakes, reconnect with his twins repairing the broken bonds between them and, in the process, find love again in the arms of this beautiful and determined governess who managed to tame her three men with kindness.
“Fell in Love With an Earl”, by Anna Bradley, is a very beautiful and sweet Regency Christmas romance. In it Adrian and Helena have their chance at love and life. They start off with the wrong foot but for the sake of the children and thanks to their forced proximity they warm up to each other and slowly but surely they go from a forbidden attraction to a life together as a family. It is a book full of the season’s spirit, full of joy despite the grief that Adrian needs to overcome, and full of cats and mistletoe.
Reading stories written by Anna Bradley is like coming back home to my blankets and my hot coffee in a cold day. Hers are such sweet love stories and so heartwarming that they’re perfect for when I feel under the weather. I simply love her.
A quick entertaining short read that I read it one go. I loved Helena who certainly had a backbone. Adrian was harder to like but as he gradually came to life as we learned his back story he became much more likeable. The twins and cats added humour and made me smile. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Adrian is not what you would consider a gentleman, especially when he travels to the home of his twin sons with sick on his pants. As he travels home he comes across a woman in a tree, why she is in that tree he has to find out why, especially since she is in a tree on his land. Helena was just minding her own business getting mistletoe of a tree when her hair gets caught in a branch. So the last person she excepts to help her is an Earl. But not just any Earl, but the father of the twins she has been in charge of for months. Adrian finds out that she is the governess of his sons and he is not pleased, so after an accident he tries to dimiss her. But his sons love her and what her to stay, so she stays and before long an attraction begins between Helena and Adrian and they fight it but you cant fight something that is meant to be.
This is my honest review, for I received an advanced copy from NetGalley
Helena meets her employer when he returns home to find her stuck in a tree. Adrian has become an absentee father while trying to deal with the loss of his wife. When he tries to dismiss her, the entire household threatens mutiny. I enjoyed reading this good story filled with interesting, delightful characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and the publisher (Oliver Heber Books) through NetGalley and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
Helena Templeton is the third sister to find a post after their name is tainted by their mother’s scandal. She takes a governess position with wild twin boys in a lonely castle deep in the Oxfordshire countryside. She’s just settled into her new post & tamed the twins when the their father, the rakish Earl of Hawke returns home unexpectedly, half-dressed and fleeing his latest London scandal. Adrian Chatham wasn’t aware he even had a governess until her returns home after months of London trying & having failed to chase his dead wife’s memory from his mind. The last thing he wants is a high-handed, meddlesome chit like Helena in his house, but his boys need her. Just as they reach a fragile truce, Helena’s sisters summon her home. Heartbroken, she leaves Hawke’s Run, but Adrian isn’t willing to let her go so easily. He wants Helena to use her miraculous matchmaking skills to find him a wife, and he has just the lady in mind
The third book in the series & a quick entertaining read which flowed really well & I read it in a sitting. I loved Helena who certainly had a backbone. Adrian was harder to like but as he gradually reformed his ways I grew to like him more & more. The twins were a delight. A lovely humorous short story, which made me smile
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This is a very sweet story with an healthy dose of humor. I loved reading Helena and Adrian’s thoughts and I laughed quite a lot during certain comedic moments of the book.
All the characters are well fleshed out, even the side ones, and the descriptions are beautiful. I heartily recommend this book and this entire series, even if I’m a tad disappointed that it totally lacks in steam. But it’s so well written that it’s one of the rare exceptions for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a wonderful story. Its not a super long story and it went very fast for me as I could not put it down. I actually felt it was a wonderful and enchanting tale and I positively adored the entire cast and story. It is very light reading and it is very romantic and sweet and just a perfect historical romance. I really loved everything about this story.
This is a giverness romance between Adrian who is a single father to two sons who lost their mother several years before. Helena is hired as a governess to the boys and she falls in love with them and they in her. Two years pass until Adrian comes home and thats when this book begins. It was a wonderful dad/nanny romance but in historical times.
I thought that this story was a sweet and pure romantic read. The characters Helena and Lord Hawke are quite the pair. These two people are quite the opposite in a number of decision making in the Hawke household. I loved reading how these two work at trying to learn to work together for the sake of the twins. I personally think the twin boys are the ones who actually has themselves put to rights, when it comes to the matters of the heart. The snow setting and living out in the country adds to the majestic atmosphere for two souls to find love. I enjoyed reading this story.
This is the story of Helena Templeton, a sister to the Templeton sisters who the ton are gossiping about because they each married an Earl unexpectedly. Helena accepts a job as Governess to the twin boys of the Earl of Hawke, Adrian Chatham without his being aware that his housekeeper had offered her the post. Adrian has been in London for the past months still grieving over the loss of his spouse 2 years ago. When they first meet,Helena is stuck up in a tree obtaining mistletoe for the ball they are planning and Adrian is not looking his best as he has lost his hat and is only wearing one boot, having lost the other one when he was pushed out of a window before he left London. Once he learns she is the Governess, he doesn't think she will last long as his boys haven't been able to keep a governess long before running them off. As they get to know each other better, Helena realizes that Adrian does love his boys but is having a hard time communicating his love to them. This is a pretty clean romance with a happy ending. I usually don't read clean romance but this one had plenty of action to keep me turning the pages to see what happened next.
I received the story as an ARC from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.