It is a truth universally acknowledged that a lady can do anything a man can do: backwards and in high-heeled dancing slippers.
Lady Juliana, daughter of the Earl of St. Maur, needs all the help she can get. She’s running a ramshackle orphanage, London’s worst slumlord has illicit designs on her, and her father has suddenly become determined to marry her off.
Enter Major Neil Wraxall, bastard son of the Marquess of Kensington, sent to assist Lady Juliana in any way he can. Lucky for her, he’s handy with repairs, knows how to keep her and the orphans safe, and is a natural leader of men.
Unfortunately for both of them, the scandal that ensues from their mutual attraction is going to lead them a merry dance…
Titles in The Survivors series include: Third Son’s A Charm – No Earls Allowed – Affair With A Spare
Title: No Earls Allowed
Series: The Survivors #2
Author: Shana Galen
Genre: Regency Romance
Published: March 6, 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 4.5 stars
I was easily captured by No Earls Allowed. Two stubborn, head-strong people from far differing backgrounds will find friendship, danger, satisfaction in their work with the boys at the orphanage… and along the way the love of a lifetime.
Neil is a survivor, in more ways than one. As a member of an elite fighting force during the Napoleonic Wars, this acknowledged bastard son of a Marquess placed his life on the line countless times. To many he is considered a hero. To himself he is worthless. Neil suffers from horrifying nightmares of his time in battle. Today we would recognize PTSD, but then this condition was often suffered in silence and ignorance. He often puts himself down for his place in life, and although his father acknowledges him, Neil still feels the taint of his birth. The fact that he survived the war and others, especially his half-brother did not eats away at his soul. When Neil is tasked by his father to bring a friend’s wayward daughter back home he thinks nothing of it. A simple task, easily done and finished. Or… maybe not.
Juliana is at her wit’s end, but she will not give up. Yes, it’s true that the teacher has left, the cook quit and that nasty slumlord will simply not leave her alone or take the word “No” for an answer – but she is not giving up on these boys. No one, not her father’s wishes nor the handsome military man he sent to shoo her back home will change her mind – or get her to leave these boys. It’s not happening. But one handsome man who knows how to make some much needed repairs around the rundown orphanage, can understand and engage several young boys into doing chores, doesn’t turn his nose up at the odd three pet rats… and could charm her stockings off in a heartbeat — now that man might convince her to do just about anything.
There is much to enjoy about No Earls Allowed, and I’ll let you discover those things for yourself firsthand. I frankly love Shana Galen’s works, I have for some time now. I don’t think there is one book of hers that I haven’t re-read several times over the years. And Neil and Juliana are among the top favorite couples of mine. I don’t know what it is that connects characters to readers, for each are unique, but I liked these two, enjoyed their romance, their discovery of each other and the way they worked together. The brotherhood of friends and survivors adds such a unique touch to this series, and I frankly would love to read stories about every single one of them. Which means I’m definitely looking forward to the next one, Affair With A Spare.
If you love Historical Romance books with humor, steam, likable and believable characters, lots of interesting secondary characters, touches of danger and intrigue… and just a damn good story, then I’d highly recommend No Earls Allowed and the entire Survivors series.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
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