Title: The Earl’s Unlikely BrideAuthor: Ella Matthews
Series: The Dashworth Brothers #1
Pages: 278
Publication Date: July 10, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
One summer to make her his…
After four failed seasons, Emily Hawkins is tired of following the rules. Aside from crossing swords with her lifelong enemy, Freddie Dashworth, she is an exemplary member of Society. But after all this time, she’s yet to find a husband and life with her over-bearing mother is becoming intolerable.
Freddie returns to his childhood home to help look after his orphaned niece. His neighbour, Emily, has been his nemesis for years. The infuriating miss is the only woman immune to his charms and there’s nothing he enjoys more than her disapproving glares. It’s a shame he can’t stop thinking about her, because she clearly despises him.
One minor indiscretion later and everything in Emily’s ordered world changes. The one person on her side appears to be Freddie but can she trust her former antagonist? And what will happen to her when she does?
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My Thoughts on The Earl’s Unlikely Bride:
A wonderful opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers historical romance, The Earl’s Unlikely Bride follows antagonistic neighbors Emily and Freddie, a pair that always seems at odds. A bluestocking who prefers to hide in a crowd, Emily believes she has nothing in common with the charming and roguish Freddie. He is a man who drives her to distraction with his teasing and taunting, but though it seems like they share a mutual dislike of each other, much more bubbles beneath the surface.
Emily and Freddie have such a fantastic love story, and I enjoyed watching them break down each other’s walls. They have great banter, and their progression from enemies to romantic interests was positively swoon-worthy. I love that Freddie fell first and that everyone else seemed to know how the couple felt about each other long before they themselves did.
Some of the other relationships in the story were also interesting to read about. Freddie and his brothers, who have never been close, are adjusting to caring for their young niece, and their relationships are evolving. I liked seeing these men who were always pulled apart reconnecting and forging strong sibling bonds as adults. Emily’s relationship with her mother is also one that stood out, but not for positive reasons. Her mother puts so much pressure on her, and the barrage of criticisms she continually hurls at Emily made me hate her. Emily is so lovely and intelligent, and to see her berated by someone who should be lifting her up was heartbreaking. I like that Emily slowly started standing up for herself and how Freddie supported her and gave her the confidence to speak her truth.
I thought this was a great start to The Dashworth Brothers series, and after meeting Freddie’s endearing siblings (and niece!), I can’t wait to read each of their stories!
- Enemies to Lovers
- Next door neighbors
- Rogue/bluestocking
Very persuasive review! This story sounds fantastic, so I’ll be adding it to my TBR.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the book if you get a chance to read it!