Review: Taming Her Forbidden Earl

Title: Taming Her Forbidden Earl
Series: Lady Lancaster Garden Society Series, #1
Author: Catherine Hemmerling
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Scandalous)
Release Date: December 2, 2012
Buy Link: Amazon (Kindle)

Blurb:

Everyone knows William Bredon, the earl of Pembroke, has a reputation as a captivating rogue, determined to never marry until his duty to produce an heir requires it. So when he invites Lady Hannah Rochester to dance, Hannah vows to keep her distance. But the undeniably gorgeous William, with his dark humor and seductive gaze, draws her in nonetheless.

Of course, Lady Hannah is not completely what she seems, either. A member of the dowager Lady Lancaster’s Garden Society, she secretly spends her days solving mysteries and uncovering intrigues, and when she brings William into the fold, a sinister plot develops that brings the two closer together. William’s protective nature ensures he remains by Hannah’s side, but he will not surrender his anti-marriage stance.

Can intrigue, passion, and maybe even a little bit of scandal reform the most notorious of rakes?

Review

This book was quite overwhelming in the beginning. The language was definitely a little bit too much when the book opened. However, the more I read into it, the more I started enjoying it. It still fascinates me to this day how different things were for women back then.

• Women were not allowed to read, or even see, touch, or buy a book.
• People of the ton had maids and butlers at all times to be at their service. They even need assistance taking a bath and putting on their clothes and combing their hair! Hah!
• Two people of the opposite sex walking in public without a chaperone (maid or otherwise) must be married immediately!

That's only some of the society rules back then. I still can't believe how far we've gone now. Anyway, that's not the point of this review. This book was very enjoyable. I loved that there was intrigue and that the heroine was strong-willed and determined to be part of the plan. I also loved that Lord Pembroke respected Hannah enough to treat her as an equal instead of as a child as most others do to women.

The romance was not as apparent in this story until towards the end. However, the sexual tension was more than enough to make up for it. I love their little mission and the improvisation they had to do to carry out the plan. Lord Pembroke's realization towards the end was awesome. As predictable as it was, I still enjoyed it.

The climax of the story was even better. I thought someone was really going to get hurt! Fortunately, someone was only threatened to be hurt. The way that person escaped the danger was also very interesting. I bet women were not supposed to be able to do that as well! 

Overall, I recommend this book if you like historical novels. However, I would not recommend this book for readers just starting to get into historical romance because the language might be a little intimidating, unless you naturally enjoy the old way people converse with each other.

Check out this funny scene!

   William entered the room with Alexander and Lichfield at his side. He had been listening to the two of them bicker the entire way to the Hargreaves home. Alexander was holding William to his promise about being the best man at his wedding. Also true to the deal, Alexander insisted on being the one to break the news to Lichfield.

   William's good friend was too pleased with the turn of events to care one way or the other about being the best man, but he couldn't resist having a little fun with Alexander.

   Therefore, the two had been going back and forth about their virtues--growing ever more exaggerated by the minute, as reason they should be best man over the other.

   "I am quite certain I have... satisfied many more women than you, Lichfield!" Alexander hissed heatedly.

   "I find that doubtful, young Bredon," Lichfield responded airily.

   "I find you--" Alexander began, when he was cut off by William, who had had quite enough of both of them.

   "Will you two cut it out? Why don't you just pull them out to measure once and for all?

   The two men looked at William in stunned silence for a second, before Lichfield raised an eyebrow to Alexander and said, "I'm game if you are."

   Alexander shrugged and said, "Fine by me." William watched as his brother and best friend headed off to look for the nearest empty room. I really need to work on enlarging my pool of friends, William thought dryly.