Review: How To Entice an Earl

by Manda Collins
Rating: 2/5

Lady Madeline Essex is the last of the unwed “ducklings” in her family—and by far the most outspoken. But when she boldly enters London’s most notorious gaming house in search of fodder for her novel, even her sharp tongue can’t save her from the horrible crime she stumbles upon there. As luck would have it, first on the scene is the last man she wants to see her vulnerable. The one man who could tempt her heart… Christian Monteith, the new Earl of Gresham, isn’t much for card rooms and gaming hells. But as a favor to his former commanding officer, he's investigating a gamester for espionage on the night that Maddie ventures in looking more enticing than he's ever seen her. Suddenly, his feelings for his friend aren't so friendly anymore. And when her curiosity brings the impetuous novelist to the attention of a madman, Christian will stop at nothing to protect her—from a sinister plot that is far more dangerous than any stolen kiss…

This is book three of the “Ugly Ducklings” series. In book one Cecily uses a stolen dance card and falls for the Duke of Winterson. In book two, Juliet uses it and lands Alec Deverill. So In book three we should be charmed as the final wallflower of the cousins borrows the dance card and falls in love right?

Not really. It was made clear that Cecily was a wallflower because of her bookish leanings and she was happy like that, she only tried to move out of her place to get into the Egyptian club. Winterson was a happy surprise. Juliet was a wallflower because of her leg injury and it took Deveril and the realisation that she wanted more to get her to try.

Maddie… had a gambling addict for a (little? big? I’m still not sure it’s like it was changed really late in the process) brother. Oh and she doesn’t want to get married. I am so sick of heroines who want to become spinsters with no reason. Not only that but I’m expected to believe that her family don’t need money or influence. Seriously?

Maddie was also stubborn like it’s going out of fashion. There were plenty of times (including the ending) when she took actions out of some kind of petty desire to prove to Christian that she has her own mind. And hardly any of these time were actually smart times to be doing it.

Christian really was kind of there. I mean he was a three dimensional character, but he and Maddie really suffered from a lack of chemistry. I could see them ending up very unhappy once the lust wears off. And I can bloody well ignore established character in the face of a HEA like the best of them.

Amelia Snowe was more sympathetic to me in this book. Her cruelty toward Maddie and her cousins was very much out of a desire to control some aspect of the marriage mart, I mean she’s pretty and she needs to marry, and the longer it takes the less likely she will be able to. Even the outburst at the end (which was oddly out of character for Amelia) was symptomatic of her frustration and jealousy. Except even that got ruined as Amelia wasn’t telling Maddie about Gresham as a I’d want to know kind of thing, but intending to RUIN THEIR MARRIAGE? When did Amelia become so psychotic? No, really when?

The mystery sucked. Not only did the solution feel wrong in some ways but the set up was one that pointed towards the CLF (anarchists don’t worry) but then didn’t anymore to suit the resolution.

And finally, the thing that just topped my mediocre cake of disappointment: The Dance Card. In How To Dance with a Duke and How To Romance a Rake, the dance card was Amelia Snowe’s with all the names signed by suitors and when Juliet tries to give it back to Amelia, it’s not hers. What? It’s been like some kind of magic Dance Card the whole time? Bullshit.

Currently Listening: My Only One – All Time Low