About the Book:
Title: Educated by the Earl
Author: Alexa Aston
Series: Second Sons of London
Page Length: 274
Publication Date: Feb. 25, 2022
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Synopsis: First sons inherit all. Third sons are promised to the church. Second sons do their duty and serve in the military—unless fate intervenes and turns their lives upside down.
Welcome to Second Sons of London, a new Regency Historical Romance series by USA Today Bestselling author Alexa Aston, where seven men who are second sons lay claim to fabulous wealth and lofty titles and fulfill their destinies when they find their soulmates.
A dutiful army officer who shuns intimacy. A selfless beauty ready to start living for herself. A chance meeting in the street that leads to love…
When Major Spencer Haddock’s father dies, he returns to England as the Earl of Middlefield. He seeks a typical ton marriage, where his wife will provide him with an heir and possibly other children and then they go their separate ways. He intends to find his countess quickly and not waste time at boring social affairs.
Lady Tessa Foster delays her come-out for several years in order to care for her ill parents. Now out of mourning, Tessa is eager to be introduced in Polite Society so she can find a husband and start a family of her own.
When Spence attempts to save Tessa from a thief brandishing a knife, she turns and attacks Spence. He quickly learns that instead of the pliant woman he thought he wanted as his countess, he desires Tessa—a woman of beauty and valor who stands up for herself and those she cherishes.
Can Spence change Tessa’s poor opinion of him and win the heart of the woman he has come to love?
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My Review:
Educated by the Earl is the first book in Alexa Aston’s new historical romance series, and it follows Spencer Haddock, the Earl of Middleton, and Lady Tessa Foster. Spencer is a disregarded second son who has recently and unexpectedly inherited an earldom. New to London society after a lifetime away from home, first in school and then in the military, Spencer is in search of a wife. Tessa has spent the last years caring for her ill father after the tragic death of her mother. Because of this, Tessa delayed her coming out and is now in London and entering into society. When the pair meets, sparks fly, and Spencer begins to realize that what he initially thought he needed in a wife isn’t actually what he wants. Can he convince Tessa that they are each other’s future?
Tess and Spencer are wonderful characters, and they both have interesting and complex backstories. They are both so strong and intelligent, and they share many interests. However, they are also very different. He’s very methodical and rational, and he is not usually ruled by emotion. He is led by his head, and she is ruled by her heart. However, Spencer’s growing feelings for Tessa change him.
I loved the romance between Tessa and Spencer. Their first meeting is so not what I expected, and Tessa really stands out as a compassionate, brave, and fierce woman. She challenges him and stands up to him, and I think that’s why Spencer finds her so intriguing. Tessa is not as impressed with Spencer as he is with her, and Spencer has to work hard to woo her. Initially, she finds him arrogant and not to her taste, though her feelings change as she spends time with him. All of their interactions are filled with great banter and a lot of sexual chemistry, as Tessa fights her feelings for Spencer, and he methodically tries to win her over with his honor and sincerity.
The secondary characters are really interesting too. I love Tessa’s maid, and I’m eager to learn more about Spencer’s friends and Tessa’s cousins. And the antagonists, though not as fleshed out as some of the other characters, create some intense situations and obstacles for Spencer and Tessa and add a bit of suspense to the story.
I think this is a great start to the Second Sons of London series, and I love that each book is a standalone story that can be read in any order. I would definitely recommend the book to readers of historical romance, and I look forward to continuing the series.
Special thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Dragonblade Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The secondary characters.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical romance with dynamic protagonists and a wonderful love story.
Ooh, this sounds like a series that I’d like! I love this H/h dynamic—he’s rational and isn’t ruled by emotion and she’s all compassion and heart. Yaas, I’ll definitely be on the lookout for this one! Great review, Julie 😍
Thanks, Dini! I think you’ll like it. 🙂