FOREVER
YOUR EARL
By Eva Leigh
Wicked Quills Of London-Book 1
Publisher:
AVON IMPULSE
Release Date: September 29, 2015
However, it quickly becomes apparent that Daniel has an ulterior motive for making his offer to Eleanor. He is on a secret mission, and is hoping to throw Eleanor off the scene by keeping her attention, and the attention of the ton, off his true objectives. Daniel is in the middle of a desperate search for one of his best friends, the heir of Duke of Holcombe. I liked that Daniel doesn’t live up to his “rakish” reputation. Instead, Eleanor and the reader come to see Daniel as a man of depth, sincerity, and most of all, loyalty. Daniel is a man Eleanor comes to respect and admire. Instead of being another careless pampered spoiled aristocrat, Daniel is a man who is searching for meaning and purpose. I love that the romance and attraction between the two characters wasn’t just based on looks and the physical. Eleanor and Daniel fall in love because they respected the other’s intellect and abilities. This was a meeting of the minds and heart, not just bodies.
I
really loved the character of Eleanor and she is someone who’d I want as a
friend in real life. She is hardworking, ambitious, talented, loyal, and takes
pride in her work and all that she has accomplished. She is proud of building The Hawke’s Eye from
almost nothing, and will not allow anyone to insult or dismiss it, even
Daniel. I liked that this book actively
celebrates women’s ingenuity, creativity, and perseverance in a society that
almost actively goes out of its way to stymie and stifle them at every turn.
The
relationship between Eleanor and Daniel was great. There is a slow burn as they
both deal with the obvious chemistry and attraction between them. It was
interesting to see how both dealt with it. While Daniel rather quickly comes to
accept his feelings and becomes determined to be with Eleanor, no matter what,
Eleanor has more doubts. Eleanor hasn’t
had anything permanent in her life that she hasn’t built herself, that couldn’t
be yanked away at a moment’s notice. It becomes very difficult for her to reach
out and depend on anyone but herself. However, the way Eleanor comes to see
that the leap of faith is worth is was truly lovely. I like that to the end,
Eleanor and Daniel decide to be the master of their own fates, to shape their
own lives the way they want, to what makes them happy instead of what society
expects of them.
One
of the aspects of the book I enjoyed was that the author writes from a specific
and definite point of view. Leigh
discusses gender identity and politics, class, and privilege, and sharply
questions and criticizes societal norms that disadvantage Eleanor for simply
being who she is, while elevating Daniel for the exact same reason. For example, when Eleanor disguises herself
as a man and Daniel is coaching her on how to pull off the deception, Eleanor
notes the immense difference in carriage and attitude. Men are taught to take
up space, stride and act as if they own the world. Women, by contrast, are
restricted (sometimes literally by the clothes they wear) and are taught to
shrink themselves and be as inconspicuous as possible. But instead of ramming the message down our
throats, Leigh frames it as a learning opportunity. Daniel learns to question his beliefs and
assumptions as his eyes become opened to issues he’d never considered before.
I
recommend Forever Your Earl to anyone who enjoys smartly written romances with
strong heroines who aren’t afraid to blaze their own path and create their own
futures, and heroes who steadfastly
refuse to give up despite the odds.
~Lisa
~Lisa
