My Brown-Eyed Earl: A Wayward Wallflowers Novel

Anna Bennett

Oct 2016 · The Wayward Wallflowers Book 1 · Sold by St. Martin's Paperbacks

About this ebook

NEVER SEND A DEBUTANTE...
William Ryder, Earl of Castleton, is at the end of his noble rope. Not only has he broken ties with his longtime mistress, his mother has publicly announced her wish for him to marry a suitable young lady—if only to help him raise the young twins in his care. Hiring a governess should solve some of Will’s problems...but when he meets the candidate in question, he finds himself in an entirely new predicament.

TO DO A WALLFLOWER’S JOB

Miss Margaret Lacey is brainy, beautiful, and, once upon a time, Will’s betrothed. But she bowed out of the engagement—and, since then, has never been the same. A tragic accident robbed her of everything, and now, at age twenty-three, her marital prospects are slim to none. Penniless but not without pride, Meg convinces the vexingly handsome Will to hire her for the job. What neither of them could have expected from this arrangement, however, is an attraction that burns stronger than ever. Are these two lost souls finally ready to be schooled in the art of love?

Don’t miss the Wayward Wallflower books by Anna Bennett!
My Brown-Eyed Earl (Book 1)
I Dared the Duke (Book 2)
The Rogue is Back in Town (Book 3)


What Reviewers are saying:

“Sharply drawn characters, clever dialogue...simmering sensuality.”
—Library Journal

“A new favorite among romance enthusiasts!” - BookPage on I Dared the Duke

"Will truly win readers' hearts." - RT Book Reviews Top Pick on I Dared the Duke

"Bennett brings new life to traditional Regency stories and characters. " - Kirkus Reviews on I Dared the Duke

Ratings and reviews

Meg’s mind was made up: she needed a position. Her friend Charlotte Winters lent a helping hand, and that’s how drab, dull wallflower Margaret Lacey became a governess to two six year-old twin girls. What Charlotte had neglected to mention was that the twin’s guardian was none other than William Ryder, now the Earl of Castleton. The same Will that Meg had curtly refused to marry him eight years before, when her father had urged her to accept this arranged marriage. Will’s life has gone topsy-turvy when the mistress of his deceased cousin unceremoniously dropped sisters Diana and Valerie on his doorstep. Not at all recovered from a hellish hangover, Will must interview governesses, and he certainly has not forgotten Meg, and when he sees her applying for the position, Will thinks the time has come to get back at the girl who thought she was too good for him. But deep down, Will is not the vengeful type, and when he hears how Meg is trying to keep her sisters Beth and Julie fed and clothed while financially helping her kind uncle Alistair, he hires her. Will has no doubt that Meg will do well, even if she’s sure she will fail. The premise for MY BROWN-EYED EARL is one that can go two ways: it can be very unpleasant or charming; everything depends on how the characters are defined and how the author goes about it, and I’m happy to say that every single page was a delight! MY BROWN-EYED EARL is evenly paced, the story flows smoothly, and the writing is seamless. Meg and Will clash often, but in civilised fashion and the verbal sparring is extremely witty and entertaining. Will likes Meg’s quick wit and her gumption; they are very well matched, and I loved how those two strong personalities interacted. They are willing to listen to reason and admit they’re wrong, and there are no silly misunderstandings because they both speak their minds. The romance was inevitable, not because the author said so, but because Meg and Will do belong together, it’s a given just as the sun will rise tomorrow. MY BROWN-EYED EARL is so carefully plotted that, every time I thought I’d predicted the outcome of a situation, I was wrong! The romance is absolutely lovely; Meg and Will’s love grows through respect, mutual attraction, and it blossoms quietly but deeply, and the sex scenes are sensuous and elegantly written. I also liked that the twins are neither monsters nor angels; they’re perfectly normal little girls and essential to the plot. There is also a bit of suspense, which at some point had me scratching my head at the purpose of a certain situation, and I must admit that Ms. Bennett definitely knew where she was going! The (gorgeous!) cover conveys precisely the mood of the book: mostly light-hearted, playful, and delicately exquisite. I also found MY BROWN-EYED EARL a surprisingly quick read: before I knew it, the book was over and not for a second was I ever bored. I’m already looking forward to book 2 of The Wayward Wallflowers series and Beth’s story. Dare I repeat myself? MY BROWN-EYED EARL is a delightful, genuinely charming, and most lovely story! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome read, I absolutely loved and it is a must read, I would rate this one a 20.

About the author

Anna Bennett started swiping romances from her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager and decided that books with balls, dukes, and gowns were the best. So, when she had the chance to spend a semester in London she packed her bags—and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anna found her way back to writing the stories she loves and won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart®. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Other weaknesses include reality TV, cute shoes, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. She is the author of My Brown-Eyed Earl.