Four wounded hearts. Two meddling parents. One chance to fix what never should have been torn apart.
The last thing Nicholas Fairchild expected was to step into his grandfather's place as Earl of Penbrose, a title he thought belonged to his uncle. Still adjusting to his new duties, while simultaneously trying to avoid his embittered uncle and fight for the unpopular cause his father dedicated his life to, Nicholas is surprised by his mother's humble a house party. Feeling obligated to fulfill this one simple desire, Nicholas agrees. But, as he stands face to face with the woman who swore to never speak to him again, he wonders if granting his mother's request might have been one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
Staring at the man she snubbed two years ago over his lack of title, Miss Sybil Greenwald is dismayed to find he is the new Earl of Penbrose. Her embarrassment soon turns to anger. What would possess her father to insist she attend this house party after spending a year mourning her beloved mother? Even more, why had her mother insisted she needed to marry for a title in the first place? As her anger cools Sybil has a choice to let the past ruin her future, or grasp onto the second chance her heart has secretly been hoping for.
I’ve recently read a few historicals where intelligent women, knowing what they were risking, had premarital sex. So I thought, enough, time for a clean one. Unfortunately, clean ones often come with Jesus cameos, and this one checked that box.
That wasn’t the only thing that bothered me, but in HR it often feels like the choice is smut or Bible. What if I don’t want either?
But back to the actual story, I did not like the heroine. I was curious how she could redeem herself, because the premise puts her at a disadvantage, but I don’t think she did. Her reason for refusing the hero two years prior was his lack of title. Now he’s an Earl so they can be together. What.
She’s loved him all along obviously, but still, the only thing that changed was his title, and she was all of a sudden interested.
I don’t know if I should give this author another shot, the writing was good and there are some very likable characters that have their own books, but…
I stayed up way too late several nights reading this book, that’s how good it is!!!! Nicholas and Sybil are thrust back into each others company at a house party two years after their heartbreaking parting! For three weeks they try to avoid each other, but circumstances place them in each others paths over and over! Will they hold on to their past grudges or yield to the love they both lost?
Nicholas and Sybil were a match for each other! She was a stubborn spitfire!! I loved that about her, too! He was witty and caring! She was determined to ignore him and he wanted to give her space. I loved anytime they were on the page together! Their witty banter and romantic tension kept me turning pages!
Teah sure knows how to write a house party! Every chapter left me wanting to read the next! There was laughter, friendships, danger, adventure and love sprinkled throughout the whole story!! I really admired how Teah incorporated the black history in the novel! She definitely did her research and I loved Aida and her nana, the cook!!
I smiled and giggled throughout this whole lovely book! I enjoyed every moment with these characters and can’t wait to see the next story in the series!!!
Things I loved: ♥️Forced Proximity ♥️Enemies to lovers ♥️Morning horse rides!🥰 ♥️The question game! 😉 ♥️Eliza!!! She was my fav character!! If she was on the page, look out! ♥️Sweet Bradley! (I loved his friendship with Nicholas) ♥️Miss Cattering (aka “Kitty Cat”) and the cat scenes!! 😂 ♥️Chapters 37 and 38!! ♥️Witty Banter ♥️Second Chances
This is book #2 in the series!!
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be on you Teaser Tour Team!!! I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
There are some books that stick with you and some that don’t. This was one that stuck with me long after reading. It was hilarious, swoony, cute, adorable, irritating (you have to read it to understand why I was irritated with the characters.) It was a good thing though. I felt something for the characters, which meant I was rooting for them and was invested in their wellbeing. There were some really funny “kitty cat” parts that will make you roll. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say it was hilarious. This was my first book by Teah and it won’t be my last. (If you are wondering, this is book #2 in the series.)
*I received a copy of this book as an ARC reviewer, but a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are solely what I personally thought of this beautiful book.❤️❤️❤️
I liked the book very much. The characters developed well and it was very entertaining to follow Sybil and Nicholas on their journey. The book was filled with sharp wit and humour. I unfortunately do think that the book was too long. The book could have been cut in half with the same impact. Overall a decent read👌
This is one of those reviews that you read the book so fast you have a hard time remembering specific things about the book. I remember how Secret to an Earl's Heart made me feel though and some of my deeper thoughts.
Teah did an amazing job at painting a story full of second chances. Not just the main characters but also several side characters as well had second chance romances.
The whole theme of the book was a fresh start and moving on from the past to focus on a brighter future. Now, I don't always see such a well-balanced book of romance, intrigue and faith. This book had all three in spades and it flowed so well.
I will tell you this, Teah did a phenomenal job of making me want to punch some characters and hold and shelter others. What an amazing build of characters and where they fit in the world!
I have had many of the feelings in my own life that were portrayed in the book. I know that I, and others, have felt angry over being hurt and as if God has forgotten me. I know I have pined over what I have lost and covered hurt feelings with resentment. This book was eye-opening and gave me a chance to review my life and how far I have come. I rooted that much harder for Sybil and Nicholas!
"When she realized she had been found out, her feet fell to the floor and she straightened her skirts.
He was overcome with the urge to either throttle her or kiss her. The conflicting feelings warred within him until he finally said the first thing that came to mind.
“What in the world were you thinking, Sybil? Do you know what kind of danger you put yourself in today?”
His words seemed to galvanize her and she sat up straight. “I do not know what you mean, Your Lordship,”she said with sarcastic emphasis on his title, flashes of anger brightening her eyes."
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Well it is the second in the Merry Men of Eton series, it is the first that I have read. I had no trouble following along with the characters or the storyline. (I do own the first book and am looking forward to reading that)
In addition to the romance and banter and humor, there is a great amount of depth to this novel. It is much more than your average Regency Era romance. There are several additional storylines going on around the main characters of Sybil and Nicholas. I found my attention was invested in many of them. I learned a lot of historical information and my heart was touched several times while reading this book. The author's notes at the end are very informative as well.
As a side point, I often have autocorrect issues when typing "will be" because I tend to hit the back button instead of the space bar in between those words. Many times, actually more than I'd like to admit, I've sent messages with the correction of "will be" to Wilberforce. Now I know who that is!
I wish to thank the author for trusting me with an advanced copy of the book, and I am happy to leave my honest review.
This is an absolutely wonderful book, and it's a great follow-up to the first in this series. I highly recommend this book for regency/clean romance readers! Or even for casual readers outside that genre, because it's not my usual genre, and I still loved it from start to finish.
While this book is a little less plot and conspiracy heavy than the first book, the drama surrounding the romance helps make up for it. The struggling relationship between Nicholas and Sybil will definitely hold your interest until you start getting to the heavier conspiracy/plot later in the book (and even then, the relational drama doesn't let up until the end). I don't normally like romance books in general because it always seems so fast, forced, and in your face. Weight is really good about building relationships naturally, with time and effort, and I think that helps me connect better with them than most books. The characters GROW together, which gives me time to really appreciate them and the relationship.
My favorite part is the cast of characters, though. I love that every character, even beyond the main male and female lead, is fully developed, unique, and just plain fun to read about. The secondary characters do a great job of bringing the main characters to life, too. My favorites from this book include Bradley and Eliza. I'm excited to read a Bradley book next, because this book sets him up wonderfully!
This book has excellent tension in the relationships and the scenarios. It will keep you excited to read from start to finish. I never once felt bored or felt a need to put it down.
Also, this book makes me realize how much I crave brave, smart, compassionate, and heroic men. They're the best, in reality and in fiction! Weight writes some of my favorite, most honorable male characters. I love that her series has this backdrop of friendship between the "Merry Men," too. Again, the story isn't just straight romance. There are other great relationships in the book, too!
All of that aside, the writing is delightful. It's quick, clean, and easy to read. And it's witty, too! I chuckled out loud several times during this book (mostly due to Bradley and Eliza). If a book makes me legitimately laugh, it's definitely doing a good job!
"Secret to an Earl's Heart" is a beautiful Regency-era romance written by Teah Kemp Weight. The house party setting made for a very interesting background! The characters in this book feel unique and very three-dimensional. I really enjoyed getting to know Nicholas and Sybil! They are both intelligent, brave, and kind people with a strong sense of compassion and dedication. Both apart and together, they are devoted to fighting for what is right and good. I also loved getting to know Nicholas' mother, Lady Julia! She is such a sweet character and it was lovely to see how much she cares about both Nicholas and Sybil and wants to see them happy. I liked Sybil's father but feel that he was too hard on Sybil at times especially in regard to a major decision that he made which impacts them both. Nicholas and Sybil's friends were so much fun to get to know! Especially Eliza, Diana, and Bradley. There were so many entertaining and amusing moments between Nicholas and Bradley. Also, the cat scenes were so much fun to read about! The romance between Nicholas and Sybil was beautiful and so sweet! It was wonderful to see these characters realize the depth and steadfastness of their feelings despite their conflict and time apart. The wit and banter was great! The suspenseful elements of the story were also interesting to read, the speed of the plot was perfect, and the author's writing style is smooth. "Secret to an Earl's Heart" focuses on important themes including: family, friendship, love, duty, compassion, and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book! And am really looking forward to seeing what happens next. Thank you very much to the author for providing me with the wonderful opportunity of being a member of her Teaser Tour Team and for providing me with a digital copy to read and review honestly.
Reading this one right on the heels of the first book and I’ve gotta say, Nicholas’ story did not disappoint! I absolutely loved him from the brief time we had with him in Secrets of a Baron’s Daughter and I loved him even more in this book!
I really enjoyed the history that Sybil and Nicholas had. It wasn’t a pleasant parting but that made the return to friendship and more even sweeter. And as their love story was the main theme, this was such a great progression! They made a wonderful team with similar convictions and quick wit. I loved their “questions” for each other 😂.
I think another aspect of why I enjoyed this book so much was the multiple plots and storylines occurring at the same time! This was certainly an eventful house party! And I LOVED every couple’s happily ever after. All classes got their sweet romance and you couldn’t help but cheer!
This book hit a lot of interesting topics too! I definitely wouldn’t just classify this as a romance book. There was a lot of history, hot topics for the time period, villainous characters, and mystery/underhanded dealings. A book jam packed with pretty much everything.
I’m so looking forward to the rest of this series going forward. I love this group of men and the many characters we meet throughout the books.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A house party? After so much speculation revolving around his newly acquired title, Nicholas Fairchild isn't so sure a house full of guests is what he wants. At his mother's request, however, he agrees...and immediately regrets not asking for the guest list the moment SHE arrives. Miss Sybil Greenwald. The woman who rejected him.
Sybil Greenwald has come face to face with the man she snubbed two years ago. Forced to break her promise to never speak to him again, she intends to avoid the man as much as possible. But when the secret longings of her heart continue to tug her in Nicholas's direction, she begins to wonder why her mother insisted she marry a man of title in the first place.
Such a cute story! Nicholas and Sybil are a second chance every one can root for. I loved how they slowly became reaquainted at the house party and how they were able to talk through things. LOVED their adorable questions/counting game (even if my little brain was completely lost XD) SO CUTE. This book has so much to offer: a great romance, a dash of mystery, and some moments to keep you on the edge of your seat.
This was a delightful Regency book. The characters were well portrayed and developed. The story was interesting and the pace was good. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Amazon synopsis: The last thing Nicholas Fairchild expected was to step into his grandfather's place as Earl of Penbrose, a title he thought belonged to his uncle. Still adjusting to his new duties, while simultaneously trying to avoid his embittered uncle and fight for the unpopular cause his father dedicated his life to, Nicholas is surprised by his mother's humble request: a house party. Feeling obligated to fulfill this one simple desire, Nicholas agrees. But, as he stands face to face with the woman who swore to never speak to him again, he wonders if granting his mother's request might have been one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
Staring at the man she snubbed two years ago over his lack of title, Miss Sybil Greenwald is dismayed to find he is the new Earl of Penbrose. Her embarrassment soon turns to anger. What would possess her father to insist she attend this house party after spending a year mourning her beloved mother? Even more, why had her mother insisted she needed to marry for a title in the first place? As her anger cools Sybil has a choice to make: let the past ruin her future, or grasp onto the second chance her heart has secretly been hoping for.
House parties were a common way to have a group of people get to know one another better. But, what if you have a number of women who are interested in the same man? What if there are people who have ill intentions toward the lord of the manor and wish to see harm come to him? So are the circumstances that Nicholas Fairchild, the new Earl of Penbrose finds himself an unwilling host.
Among the guests are Sybil Greenwood, a woman who broke Nicholas's heart two years previously. Neither were aware that they would be in each other's company and so the story centers around them and the repair of their relationship. I liked seeing their feelings of hurt and resentment change to that of love, but I felt that it took quite awhile for this to happen. Both of them did have to let go of what had happened, but Sybil was extremely stubborn in doing so, while I thought Nicholas the better man for forgiving her so readily.
The cat incidents that take place throughout the story were funny, but I felt that they were a bit cruel. Miss Cattering certainly needed to be held accountable for her actions, but playing off her fears was not what I think would expect from Sybil and her friend. The tension between Nicholas and his uncle and cousin provided an interesting part to the story. Seeing the consequences of their actions showed yet another quality of goodness of Nicholas when he had to decide their fate.
I liked the potential love interests that were taking place at the house party and I think more of these couples's stories could be in future books. I was given a copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Let the house party begin. Nicholas Pembrose is in there beginning of hosting his first house party. Three weeks with whomever his mother chose to invite. When he first realizes that a young woman by the name of sybil Greenwald has arrived, he wants to hide for the entire three weeks. Nicholas and Sybil had met three years ago in London, but their short courtship ended with Sybil telling Nicholas she would never talk to him again. Now here they are, neither one knowing what will happen. I thought this was a wonderfully written, entertaining and captivating story. With many twists, and turns, interesting characters, witty and humorous shenanigans, and of course, charming romance. The only downside for me was keeping all of the characters straight. It was a little longer story than I usually read, but it kept my attention throughout. It is the second book in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I am definitely going to read book 1 and looking forward to book 3.
This book is dialogue driven and filled with all kind of humor, which delightfully surprised me. It’s a new to me author and I haven’t read the first one so it stands alone.
Nicholas is dreamy and very Captain Wentworthy so I’m a fan. He is struck with seeing his past and figuring out his future. Sybil is trying to find her way with a second chance. And there the sparks fly. Boy Sybil was determined and I wanted to give her a shake once in awhile. It’s not all light and fun, there is a bit of danger and drama.
Their story is filled with fun little games (the questions!) and a cast of supporting characters that bring so much life to the pages. And I loved the authors notes at the end.
It’s a fast read with all the clean regency romance to a very satisfying ending. Looking forward to reading more by this author!
This is a great second chance romance story. Nicholas and Sybil had a falling out 2 years ago when Nicholas proposed and Sybil said no. Now they are back in each others company at the same house party. Sybil’s father brought her. She wants to leave immediately but her father says she is selfish, so she stays for her father. This story has all the typical regency house party fun! I just love it! Nicholas and Sybil renew their friendship and more! I loved Bradley he is so funny. Also Nicholas’s mother is quite fun as well. Lots of good side characters to go along with great main characters! I like how there is a second couple romance story too. Overall I really enjoyed this story! Very clean and definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This was a clean regency romance. Once I was hooked (after about 7 chapters), I was looking for every spare minute I had to read this book and learn the story. You can expect to find in this book:
- Second Chance Romance - Duels - House Party - Surprise encounters - Horse Rides - Race Discussion
I loved seeing the second chance romance for not only the main characters but also Sybil's father, and seeing her journey to accept his second chance to find love after her mother's death.
Thank you to the author for the e-advance copy of the book. All opinons are my own.
My Rating Calculation: Hook: 6 Writing: 6 Format: 8 Plot and character development: 8 Content: 8
I really tried; I read more than 25% of this book, but it was uninteresting. I could not continue. Two years ago, Sybil Greenwald broke up with Nicholas Fairchild because she wanted to marry into the aristocracy. In those two years, Nicholas has become the Earl of Penrose (a total shock, because his grandfather skipped over his son to give the earldom to his grandson).
Now Nicholas' mother is having a house party and invites Sybil and her father (the father is an old friend of hers). Since Sybil said she would never speak to Nicholas again, she's in a quandary. Frankly, I didn't care about the characters, so I didn't care what happened to them. I stopped reading after about 100 pages; this book is incredibly dull.
3.5 stars, rounded up. . This book follows the current trend in modern regency to have characters that overlap in books that can be read in any order . Except I think I would have benefited from reading book 1 first in this case. I just felt disconnected from the main characters most of the time. . The writing in this is beautiful and paints a wonderful story. The villains are truly villainous, which I loved! . If you're looking for a second chance romance with a bit of social justice, give this one a try...maybe after reading book 1. . Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book to review. All opinions are mine.
I think I have yet to find a Regency romance I truly enjoy that wasn't written by Jane Austen. Most of them seem to focus entirely upon the romance, whereas Austen also wrote biting social commentary (which maybe only she could do, because she actually lived during that period. Modern authors who write about that time period don't have that benefit.) That was what made Austen's characters so compelling, and her world so believable. But most modern Regency books are just some wealthy man who doesn't want to marry, and some beautiful but upstart lady with a mind of her own, who makes him fall hard. They just fail to make me care.
This book was a really wonderful read. The story was set at an upper class regency house party which is one of my favourite settings for regency romance, however, it was such a deeper story than just that of a house party. It dealt with second chance love, abolition of slavery and issues of family disputes, all playing their own part in the story but perfectly weaving together throughout and coming together so wonderfully at the end. There was drama, mystery, political issues, strong characters and fun all weaved together in one coherent story. Nicholas and Sybil (our hero and heroine) were both really interesting characters and I loved how the author linked their history into the story and created a natural ‘enemies to friends to lovers’ trope into the second chance romance. They both grew throughout the book and I was completely rooting for them and their HEA. I adored the deeper issues, particularly the addressing of issues around slavery, and the demonstration of how different views were at that time. The book is the second in the Merry men of Eton series but worked well as a standalone novel (I haven’t yet read the first but will be sure to go back to book one after reading this one!) and I would highly recommend checking out this book and author!
So much more than just a proper romance! I enjoyed the many facets of this book, including the second chance at romance for the main characters, the abolition undertones, the multi-dimensional characters, the intrigue, the nefarious villain/uncle and the overarching theme of forgiveness and healing. Love, loved this book.
This second installment in the series definitely rivals the first novel in my estimation. The second chance romance, the issues of anger and bitterness, ugliness vs. goodness, the very relatable characters, and incredibly deep issues along the way make it into a really good read. It’s also clean which is a huge plus.
Secret To An Earl’s Heart was a great book with plenty of intrigue that made it engaging and hard to put down. It also has a very satisfying ending. Teah Kemp Weight delivers another closed door and clear Regency romance that I highly recommend.
Knowing about Eaton, this book was very funny to me. The old ways and the new. The merry men were great. And their faculty admirer, secretly urged them ao. I loved the way they helped this professor with his love life. A great story
What a great story! I loved it! What a great group of friends in each other's lives to help and support. Lovely dialogue and characters development. I am still curious about Lady Catering's dislike of cats. Great job on this story and series, I am really enjoying it.
Nicholas, now a lord, is forced to acknowledge Sybil, the girl who refused his proposal two years ago, when his mother invites her to the house party. When all the intrigue, hurt and misunderstandings are cleared away they find their hea
I really enjoyed this one! Loved them coming together after having a history....and while reading you discover what that history was! Love in the setting of a house party as well!
Having lost her mother A year ago now must try to reenter society. With many mistakes and upheavals can two people find their way through all of so many upheavals?