Long-lost love… Newfound heir!

Richard, the Earl of Farnleigh, believed he had lost his sweetheart, Hetty, forever. Amid the carnage of the Peninsular War, she was torn from his arms, thought dead.

But now she’s back on his doorstep—with their two-year-old child!

Thinking Richard had abandoned her, pregnant Hetty became trapped in a joyless marriage to a cruel man. Now a widow, she’s finally free—but alone, vulnerable, and penniless.

Richard is her only hope for refuge. They’re bound by their son and an undeniable connection, but when they both bear the scars of the past, is a rekindled romance more than she can promise?

~Standalone~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  A Secret to Shock the Earl
Series:  Standalone
Author:  Laura Martin
Published:  February 24, 2026
Publisher:  Harlequin Historical
My Rating:  4 stars

A Secret to Shock the Earl is a standalone title.  I wish I could have loved this couple’s romance.  I liked it, but it didn’t draw me into their lives or thoughts, or make me really care about them individually or as a couple.  There is such pain in their story, both mentally and physically.  They truly are two wounded souls trying to fight their way back to the love they once shared before the effects of war and abuse took their toll on them.  Unfortunately, their story “told” me of their love; it didn’t show it to me.

In the end, A Secret to Shock the Earl was a good story; I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.  And sometimes a “good story” has to be enough.  No two people ever read the same book, this is my reaction to Richard and Hetty’s romance, yours might be quite different.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon