Review - Capturing the Earl's Love by Jane Lark - A Marlow Intrigues Novella

Title: Capturing the Earl's Love

Series: The Marlow Intrigues #1.5

Author: Jane Lark

Pages: 75

Publish Date: May 29, 2014

Acquired: Amazon (Prior release)

Goodreads Rating: 4.0

My Rating: 5.0

 

Goodreads

Pre-Order here

 

Read my Review on Book 1

The Illicit Love of a Courtesan

 

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Rupert Stanforth, Earl of Morton, is missing his cousin’s company. He has too many burdens weighing down his shoulders, including the task of finding his sister, Rowena, a husband.

Meredith Divine has one friend in all the world, Lady Rowena Stanforth. She clings to their friendship as though it is a rope, when she is drowning in a lake of social isolation. Even Rowena’s elder brother cannot stand Meredith. Everyone judges her poorly, simply because her father is in trade. But despite Lord Morton’s constant rejection, Meredith’s heart still favors Rowena’s proud, judgmental brother.

Lord Morton would break the friendship his sister has with Miss Divine if he could, but the more he disparages Miss Divine, the more Rowena favors the girl. He’s ceased his complaints, in the hope the friendship would wither and die, believing the girl would make a wrong step soon. He just did not anticipate what that step might be...

 

 

My Review:

 

Where do I even begin with this story? All I can say is that Jane Lark manages to do in 75 pages what some authors cannot accomplish in 400 (+) pages. There is world building, character growth and development, an amazing plot and a beautiful romance that is not instantaneous. How did she manage this in 75 pages, well she's Jane Lark, that is all I have to say.

 

Before diving back into this world, I re-read the first book in the series. Not that I necessarily had to read this story, because it can be read as a stand alone, but frankly because I wanted to relive all those glorious feelings I felt the first time around. And I have to admit that I enjoyed it even more than the first time around. The only other book I can say that about is my favorite of all time, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen so that statement alone can you tell how fabulous of an author Jane Lark truly is.

 

This novella is about Rupert, Earl of Morton, cousin to Edward Barrington, one of the main characters from Illicit Love of a Courtesan. With a sick mother and a deceased father, it is left in the hands of Rubert to find a suitable spouse for his younger sister Rowena. Rowena has seemed to befriend a girl named Meredith from a family whom has new money acquired from Trade instead of Land, which during these times was looked down upon. (I can hear the voice of Anna Chancelor who portrayed my favorite Miss Bingley as I wrote that line - sorry P&P reference). Rupert is worried that this friendship may deter the chances of his sister finding an great match. But little does Rupert know that all the show he sees Meredith putting on, is actually for him as she is secretly in love with him.

 

But what Rupert doesn't know is that Meredith is not all that she seems. She is actually a very vulnerable girl who feels the every negative comment and statement made about her. She too is in a desperate situation with her cruel father wanting her to marry a landed gentleman in order to raise their standing in society.

 

Wanting a female touch to help with Rowena's time in London, Rupert has no choice but to ask for the assistance of his cousin's wife Elenor. Rupert's opinion of Elenor is not the highest, but in order to find more about that relationship you must read the 1st book. But Elenor has an ability that most don't, and that is to see the truth in any given situation. So she cautions Rupert to open his eyes not only to Meredith but also to the gentleman that his sister may have already fallen in love with.

 

At a ball in London both Rupert's and Meredith's life will change, better or worse, it depends who you ask. Meredith is told by her father that he has accepted the proposal of a man for Meredith who is old enough to be her grandfather. As she runs out of the ball room, Rupert see's her escape and taking Elenor's advice goes out to check Meredith's well being. Scared and heart broken over having to been sold to the highest bidder by her father, Meredith does, the only thing she can think of and kisses Rupert when she knows they would get caught by her father. Now Rupert has only one option and that is to marry Meredith, but he determined to make sure that she knows every day that he did not want this marriage. To find out the rest of this story you MUST GET THIS BOOK!

 

Once again I must make it note again, that all this and more occurs in just 75 pages! This novella made me feel and go through so many different emotions. Obviously I was glued to the pages and could not put it down. The ability Jane Lark has to create her world, makes you get lost within the pages as you are reading. So much to the point, when I put the book down it takes a moment for me to reorient myself to my surroundings. This novella kept me wanting me more and so desperate I was to get lost in Jane's writing I was, that I quickly dove in to the next book in the Marlow Intrigues!  

 

But wait!! Want to read some of this now? Well you're in luck because Jane has some of this amazing story on her blog!

 

Also - You can enter to win the first 2 books of the Marlow Intrigues series here!