I received a copy of The Earl’s Unlikely Bride by Ella Matthews from NetGalley. This book is a historical romance set during the Regency period. It follows Lord Sebastian Hawthorne and Miss Clara Whitfield, who have known each other since childhood, but have a difficult relationship. When they are back around each other in society regularly, one instance changes the course of their lives.
Sebastian has moved back to his childhood home to care for his niece, along with his other brothers. Clara is his neighbour, and they have known each other since childhood, but have a love-hate relationship. Clara is fed up with society and irritated by her mother’s behaviour about her still being unmarried. Sebastian, on the other hand, attracts attention easily and behaves in a certain way to maintain his image. When Clara and Sebastian are brought together due to the latter’s niece and him being back in his childhood home, they see each other in a different light. Slowly, they start getting to know each other on a deeper level that develops into a romance.
The characters have a lot of inner conflict throughout the story. Sebastian was traumatised by his aunt as a child due to his learning disabilities, making him guarded and burdened to maintain the image he has created in society. Meanwhile, Clara is curious and smart, but she has limited opportunities to learn. Her mother is extremely critical of her, finding faults in everything she does, and this has affected her confidence and self-respect. Clara and Sebastian are accepting of each other completely, even of what they individually consider flaws. There is a build-up of emotional intimacy and security between them.
This book has a lot of historical romance tropes that I enjoy. A marriage of convenience and a slow-burn romance best describe the story. It has strong characters that kept me interested in their story. I enjoyed the slow-burn romance of Sebastian and Clara; they built an understanding and trust through communication. Clara becomes stronger and more confident after her marriage because she has people around her, like Sebastian, who builds her up. Sebastian starts to let his guard down about his insecurities and lets Clara see parts of him he hides from others. The story focuses more on emotional development than high drama, which is interesting.
Overall, The Earl’s Unlikely Bride by Ella Matthews is a cute and charming historical romance story. It has a steady pacing and interesting characters that kept me hooked to the story. I felt the story focuses on a romance, which is built on trust, patience, and understanding. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to explore more of this author’s works.
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