This is a fun little romp through the ballrooms of Regency England and an endearing love story.atruegemaward

Darius , Earl of Redgrave, is seeking a wife among the debutantes of the season. Unhappily, the only one who seems to suit him is the one person in the Ton that he cannot dare even look at, Lady Mary.

For her part, Mary considers herself practically on the shelf. She enjoys her talks with Darius, even after she learns he’s the cad who jilted her sister just days before their planned wedding. If her family’s feelings weren’t enough to keep them apart, danger from the past is still stalking Darius.

Can these two people who should never have come together forge a happily ever?

I liked Darius, although he should have done something drastic before jilting Mary’s sister. Mary herself was a smart, strong woman, who would have been perfectly content with single life-until she met her fate with the Earl.

Well written and featuring strong characters and an interesting plot, this was an enjoyable light read.

I love a good historical romance and The Earl's Return was good. Not great, but good.

The book features a heroine who's a bit older than the typical woman on the marriage mart for this time period, which gave her a bit more freedom socially. Mary isn't spiteful or cruel and I think she came at each situation fairly logically. Her bouts around town unchaperoned and in questionable locations wasn't as convincing as the author might have thought, though, as I doubt that it would have been so easy.

Her counterpart, Redgrave, wasn't a good or bad leading gentleman, simply just a name on the page. Which worked for this romance which was just steamy enough to keep me intrigued, and I think the relationship between Mary and Redgrave was given enough time to really develop too. 

A light, quick romance for sure and I'll be checking out the author's other works soon.

I really enjoyed Darius and Mary's story!

After Darius up and marries someone else when he is engaged to Mary's sister, she doesn't want anything to do with him when he comes back to town 4 years later and a widower. But they keep running into each other and find that they share an attraction for the other.

I loved all the antics and secret meetings. They kept me riveted until the very end. This was a great conclusion to the Marriage Mart Mayhem series!

4.5 out of 5 stars! Four years ago, Redgrave (Darius) ran out on his fiancée to elope with a woman he was coerced into marrying. Now after his wife has passed away Redgrave is back in London so he can find a new wife, someone who he'll be able to have a meaningful relationship with, which he wasn't able to get in his first marriage. What Redgrave didn't plan for was falling for the younger sister of his ex-fiancée. Yet, could things finally be working out for Redgrave or will others from his past find a way to set him up for failure again...

An enticing novel from beginning to end, this historical romance keeps you on your toes as you fall in love with Redgrave and his budding relationship to Mary. They are one of those couples who seem to work from the get go, then add in their intense attraction to each other and you have a compelling read I didn't want to put down.

I recommend this novel to those looking for a unique historical romance.

Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
-- read more of this review and TWO TEASERS on my blog: frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com --

The Earl of Redgrave had abruptly broken off his engagement to Lady Abigail four years ago, marrying another woman and retreating to the country with her. After four years, his wife died in childbirth along with the baby. In need of an heir, the Earl returns to London to seek out another wife. In spite of himself, he is drawn to Lady Mary, Abigail's younger sister. Though Mary has no intention of getting to know him, they often meet at the orphanage where they both assist, or in social circles. In spite of himself, Redgrave is drawn to Mary, and soon can't imagine being married to anyone else.

I am a huge fan of Regency romance novels, and admittedly I don't know all the details of the time period. Still, it's a lot of fun to imagine the grand homes and balls, the gowns and the sights of London and the English countryside in that period. There is a distinct pattern that these novels take, and The Earl's Return is no different. There is a conflict between our hero and heroine that has to be overcome before they get together, and the couple certainly has their share of them here: a manipulative former father-in-law, a menacing ex-suitor, reputations to maintain, and family alliances. Mary is a very likable heroine, sure of her own feelings and needs and eager to help others. Redgrave is a tarnished sort of hero, but he does have a moral code that he follows to the best of his ability. They move within the noble circles of London and try to follow its constraints, even when it doesn't always suit them.