What do you think?
Rate this book
The Enchantresses #1
The Earl and The Enchantress
Not all scars can be healed with a kiss.
Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam, harbors a family secret so dark he has forsaken marriage to hide the past. When fate introduces him to Lizbeth, he believes he has met his perfect match—a woman with whom he can share passion without commitment.
Lizbeth Trethow risks everything to follow her heart until Sebastian’s past returns to haunt them. Desperate to hide the blood on his hands, he sabotages their happiness. Everything depends on Lizbeth unraveling the truth and turning this villain into a hero.
This is the love story of Lizbeth and Sebastian as they battle metaphoric ghosts born of murder and enlightenment to be together.
Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam, harbors a family secret so dark he has forsaken marriage to hide the past. When fate introduces him to Lizbeth, he believes he has met his perfect match—a woman with whom he can share passion without commitment.
Lizbeth Trethow risks everything to follow her heart until Sebastian’s past returns to haunt them. Desperate to hide the blood on his hands, he sabotages their happiness. Everything depends on Lizbeth unraveling the truth and turning this villain into a hero.
This is the love story of Lizbeth and Sebastian as they battle metaphoric ghosts born of murder and enlightenment to be together.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2018
136 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Paullett Golden
15 books160 followersCelebrated for her complex characters, realistic conflicts, and sensual portrayal of love, Paullett Golden writes historical romance for intellectuals. Her novels, set primarily in Georgian England, challenge the genre's norm by starring characters loved for their imperfections and idiosyncrasies. The writing aims for historical immersion into the social mores and nuances of Georgian England. Her plots explore human psyche, mental and physical trauma, and personal convictions. Her stories show love overcoming adversity. Whatever our self-doubts, love will out.
Paullett Golden completed her post-doctoral work at King’s College London, studying Classic British Literature. Her Ph.D. is in Composition and Rhetoric, her M.A. in British Literature from the Enlightenment to the Victorian era, her B.A. in English. Her specializations include creative writing and professional writing. She has served as a University Professor for nearly three decades and is a seasoned keynote speaker, commencement speaker, conference presenter, workshop facilitator, and writing retreat facilitator.
As an ovarian cancer survivor, she makes each day count, enjoying an active lifestyle of Spartan racing, powerlifting, hiking, antique car restoration, drag racing, butterfly gardening, competitive shooting, and gaming. Her greatest writing inspirations, and the reasons she chose to write in the clean historical romance genre, are Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë.
Paullett Golden completed her post-doctoral work at King’s College London, studying Classic British Literature. Her Ph.D. is in Composition and Rhetoric, her M.A. in British Literature from the Enlightenment to the Victorian era, her B.A. in English. Her specializations include creative writing and professional writing. She has served as a University Professor for nearly three decades and is a seasoned keynote speaker, commencement speaker, conference presenter, workshop facilitator, and writing retreat facilitator.
As an ovarian cancer survivor, she makes each day count, enjoying an active lifestyle of Spartan racing, powerlifting, hiking, antique car restoration, drag racing, butterfly gardening, competitive shooting, and gaming. Her greatest writing inspirations, and the reasons she chose to write in the clean historical romance genre, are Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
January 29, 2019
I received this book from author Paullett Golden in exchange for an honest review. First time I've done one of these so here goes!
4 STARS for a wonderful debut! This reminded me somewhat of a Megan Frampton or Vivienne Loret novel! Consider reading if you like them.
Finally I have written the full review!! Lol I have been so so busy and also lazy and taken basically a GR hiatus but IM BACK BITCHESSS
Short version: I really liked it. This author is brand new and her writing skills are very, very good. Wonderful chemistry between the H/h! There were likes and dislikes I'll get into later but this is on the top of my review list since the author was so kind to approach me with the book.
Long version: Lizbeth and Sebastian are what I like to call, an intellectual couple. With their relationship strongly based in their deeper conversations with one another, and an attraction that was always there to begin with, but starts with a slow simmer. I loved Lizbeth and how practical and witty she was. She wasn't dumb or one of those heroines who are like "I'm such a wallflower spinster and so smart" when in reality she a dumb bitch. No, she was intelligent and a good heroine, and it showed in her actions. I loved how mature she was, and that she recognized her attraction to him literally the first time she met him, and in a way she pursued him! I thought it was all very sweet and how she didn't change or act shy when she was around him, she was all nerdy and cute and I was ALLL ABOUT THAT. Coming from a girl who gets shy and is hard to be her nerdy self around guys, I really loved her!!!
Sebastian is our poor, tortured hero with a sad past so he is brooding and tough and all that jazz. I loved him too, because he was sweet and a good man, and his chemistry with Lizbeth was wonderful, especially the way they argued and debated about philosophy. It was such a good change, and their relationship was super wholesome.
I will say! I personally love me some sexytimeess. Not a requirement lol, but I wanted... more... that's not a criticism it's just the ho in me that loves reading that smut!
The criticisms I have are few, but important. I thought the book was stretched a little too long, and could have been shortened to keep up that urgency and excitement to finish it.
The main thing that bugged me was that the side characters were insufferable! I couldn't stand her spoiled sister and her husband who were shallow AF and portrayed as really dumb. I was surprised that they were gonna get a book of their own, because I had no interest in reading about them, lol. Really think I might skip the next book because I really couldn't stand their characters in this one.
Despite the bad side characters, it really was a sweet novel, and very very good for a first. I'm sure Ms. Golden has many more ideas brewing in her mind and I'm excited to read more by her.
4 STARS for a wonderful debut! This reminded me somewhat of a Megan Frampton or Vivienne Loret novel! Consider reading if you like them.
Finally I have written the full review!! Lol I have been so so busy and also lazy and taken basically a GR hiatus but IM BACK BITCHESSS
Short version: I really liked it. This author is brand new and her writing skills are very, very good. Wonderful chemistry between the H/h! There were likes and dislikes I'll get into later but this is on the top of my review list since the author was so kind to approach me with the book.
Long version: Lizbeth and Sebastian are what I like to call, an intellectual couple. With their relationship strongly based in their deeper conversations with one another, and an attraction that was always there to begin with, but starts with a slow simmer. I loved Lizbeth and how practical and witty she was. She wasn't dumb or one of those heroines who are like "I'm such a wallflower spinster and so smart" when in reality she a dumb bitch. No, she was intelligent and a good heroine, and it showed in her actions. I loved how mature she was, and that she recognized her attraction to him literally the first time she met him, and in a way she pursued him! I thought it was all very sweet and how she didn't change or act shy when she was around him, she was all nerdy and cute and I was ALLL ABOUT THAT. Coming from a girl who gets shy and is hard to be her nerdy self around guys, I really loved her!!!
Sebastian is our poor, tortured hero with a sad past so he is brooding and tough and all that jazz. I loved him too, because he was sweet and a good man, and his chemistry with Lizbeth was wonderful, especially the way they argued and debated about philosophy. It was such a good change, and their relationship was super wholesome.
I will say! I personally love me some sexytimeess. Not a requirement lol, but I wanted... more... that's not a criticism it's just the ho in me that loves reading that smut!
The criticisms I have are few, but important. I thought the book was stretched a little too long, and could have been shortened to keep up that urgency and excitement to finish it.
The main thing that bugged me was that the side characters were insufferable! I couldn't stand her spoiled sister and her husband who were shallow AF and portrayed as really dumb. I was surprised that they were gonna get a book of their own, because I had no interest in reading about them, lol. Really think I might skip the next book because I really couldn't stand their characters in this one.
Despite the bad side characters, it really was a sweet novel, and very very good for a first. I'm sure Ms. Golden has many more ideas brewing in her mind and I'm excited to read more by her.
October 21, 2018
The two very charming and compelling main characters in Paullett Golden’s debut novel have nothing keeping them apart but themselves. Each of them has very good reasons for avoiding love and marriage but they are also lonely and want more from life. Their journey to find their HEA is a lovely one where they have to learn to trust each other and open themselves to love. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and getting to know all of the characters. Each character was fully developed, robust and very relatable. I just knew I’d love aunt Hazel if I met her, she is so funny and caring, but I didn’t care for Charlotte or Drake. However, I understand there is more to Drake than meets the eye, so we’ll find him and maybe Charlotte redeemed in the next book – where they are the main characters. This book is well-plotted and well-delivered – an all-in-all excellent first book.
Lizbeth Trethow and Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam first meet when each steals away from a crowded ballroom looking for a moment of peace and solitude. Each is intrigued by the other, but since neither is looking for marriage, they know that this will be their only interaction. Neither of them could stop thinking of the other and when Sebastian’s cousin, Drake, Duke of Annick, decides to pursue Lizbeth or Charlotte for his bride, Lizbeth and Sebastian are thrown together more and more.
Lizbeth is a fixer, a healer of souls. She and her mother were very close and spent every day together frolicking on the beach, romping through the fields and delivering food to the workers at her father’s mine. When Lizbeth was seven years old, her mother died in childbirth and her whole world changed. Her happy, loving father withdrew into himself for years after his wife died and Lizbeth basically had the care of her father, the house and her sibling on her small shoulders. Now, she’s treated as a partner by her father and values her independence. She doesn’t have anything against marriage specifically, but she knows there isn’t a man out there who will treat her as an equal once they are married.
Sebastian had a horrible childhood with an abusive, mad father. Sebastian’s mother was sweet and loving to Sebastian, but she died when he was seven and from that point on he was abused both physically and mentally by his father. Those physical and mental scars run very, very deep. He feels unworthy and carries a huge load of guilt with him and he couldn’t possibly tie some poor woman to him for life. Besides, he has absolutely no idea how to love somebody, he’s never seen love and certainly hasn’t felt it. Sebastian is very, very, very slow to trust and very quick to see betrayal whether it is there or not.
Lizabeth is the balm to Sebastian’s wounds, but it comes at a price – he has to be honest with her and tell her all of his secrets. But, if he does, he knows he’ll lose her forever. Will he be able to conquer his demons and trust Lizabeth?
If you’d like to try a delightful new author, I hope you’ll give this one a try.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Lizbeth Trethow and Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam first meet when each steals away from a crowded ballroom looking for a moment of peace and solitude. Each is intrigued by the other, but since neither is looking for marriage, they know that this will be their only interaction. Neither of them could stop thinking of the other and when Sebastian’s cousin, Drake, Duke of Annick, decides to pursue Lizbeth or Charlotte for his bride, Lizbeth and Sebastian are thrown together more and more.
Lizbeth is a fixer, a healer of souls. She and her mother were very close and spent every day together frolicking on the beach, romping through the fields and delivering food to the workers at her father’s mine. When Lizbeth was seven years old, her mother died in childbirth and her whole world changed. Her happy, loving father withdrew into himself for years after his wife died and Lizbeth basically had the care of her father, the house and her sibling on her small shoulders. Now, she’s treated as a partner by her father and values her independence. She doesn’t have anything against marriage specifically, but she knows there isn’t a man out there who will treat her as an equal once they are married.
Sebastian had a horrible childhood with an abusive, mad father. Sebastian’s mother was sweet and loving to Sebastian, but she died when he was seven and from that point on he was abused both physically and mentally by his father. Those physical and mental scars run very, very deep. He feels unworthy and carries a huge load of guilt with him and he couldn’t possibly tie some poor woman to him for life. Besides, he has absolutely no idea how to love somebody, he’s never seen love and certainly hasn’t felt it. Sebastian is very, very, very slow to trust and very quick to see betrayal whether it is there or not.
Lizabeth is the balm to Sebastian’s wounds, but it comes at a price – he has to be honest with her and tell her all of his secrets. But, if he does, he knows he’ll lose her forever. Will he be able to conquer his demons and trust Lizabeth?
If you’d like to try a delightful new author, I hope you’ll give this one a try.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
June 1, 2020
Not all scars can be healed with a kiss.
Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam, harbors a family secret so dark he has forsaken marriage to hide the past. When fate introduces him to Lizbeth, he believes he has met his perfect match—a woman with whom he can share passion without commitment.
Lizbeth Trethow risks everything to follow her heart until Sebastian’s past returns to haunt them. Desperate to hide the blood on his hands, he sabotages their happiness. Everything depends on Lizbeth unraveling the truth and turning this villain into a hero.
This is the love story of Lizbeth and Sebastian as they battle metaphoric ghosts born of murder and enlightenment to be together.
________________________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
The Earl and the Enchantress is the first book in Paulett Golden's Enchantresses series and is a historical romance.
Lizbeth and Sebastian had great banter together and I enjoyed reading about them, I think they're great together. Also I appreciated that although this is a historical romance, everything wasn't solved as soon as they came to their senses about their feelings for one another. The story continues to grow and develop as they begin their lives together and new obstacles arise between them that they need to overcome.
The drawback of this book for me was that things were drawn out a bit more than need be. There were a lot of false starts with Lizbeth and Sebastian, but the same could be said of real life sometimes so I don't have a problem witht hat. But I still just feel that this book could have done with some more editing to trim it down a bit and be probably 100 pages shorter overall to aid with the pacing of the book.
I enjoyed the Paulett Golden's descriptive writing style and would read other books by her. I can see the care and time she puts into the building of her stories. although I enjoyed The Earl and the Enchantress, I don't believe I will continue on to the following book in the series, The Duke and the Enchantress because it tells the story of Charlotte and Drake. I didn't really connect with their characters or like them very much from this book, so I can't picture that changing with an entire book dedicated to them. But I would read other boks by the author because I can see the care and time he puts into the building of her stories.
_____
I would like to thank BookSirens and Paulett Golden for sharing a copy of The Earl and the Enchantress with me for reviweing purposes. This is my honest review.
Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam, harbors a family secret so dark he has forsaken marriage to hide the past. When fate introduces him to Lizbeth, he believes he has met his perfect match—a woman with whom he can share passion without commitment.
Lizbeth Trethow risks everything to follow her heart until Sebastian’s past returns to haunt them. Desperate to hide the blood on his hands, he sabotages their happiness. Everything depends on Lizbeth unraveling the truth and turning this villain into a hero.
This is the love story of Lizbeth and Sebastian as they battle metaphoric ghosts born of murder and enlightenment to be together.
________________________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
The Earl and the Enchantress is the first book in Paulett Golden's Enchantresses series and is a historical romance.
Lizbeth and Sebastian had great banter together and I enjoyed reading about them, I think they're great together. Also I appreciated that although this is a historical romance, everything wasn't solved as soon as they came to their senses about their feelings for one another. The story continues to grow and develop as they begin their lives together and new obstacles arise between them that they need to overcome.
The drawback of this book for me was that things were drawn out a bit more than need be. There were a lot of false starts with Lizbeth and Sebastian, but the same could be said of real life sometimes so I don't have a problem witht hat. But I still just feel that this book could have done with some more editing to trim it down a bit and be probably 100 pages shorter overall to aid with the pacing of the book.
I enjoyed the Paulett Golden's descriptive writing style and would read other books by her. I can see the care and time she puts into the building of her stories. although I enjoyed The Earl and the Enchantress, I don't believe I will continue on to the following book in the series, The Duke and the Enchantress because it tells the story of Charlotte and Drake. I didn't really connect with their characters or like them very much from this book, so I can't picture that changing with an entire book dedicated to them. But I would read other boks by the author because I can see the care and time he puts into the building of her stories.
_____
I would like to thank BookSirens and Paulett Golden for sharing a copy of The Earl and the Enchantress with me for reviweing purposes. This is my honest review.
December 24, 2018
"Escape with me," he dared
"I'm yours," she whispered.
And thus it began, a marvelous story of love. What I enjoyed most about Sebastian and Lizbeth's journey to their HEA was that it was filled with life, real issues and fears. A slow burn that ends with a WOW!
What I loved about the author was her knowledge of the era! Her descriptions are fresh and rich. Her writing is strong and emotionally driven. An author to follow.
I felt right there with Lizbeth in her need and challenge to help her new husband understand and recognize what true love is. Unconditional. I also liked how deeply she loved him even before she knew the truth of his past.
"I'm yours," she whispered.
And thus it began, a marvelous story of love. What I enjoyed most about Sebastian and Lizbeth's journey to their HEA was that it was filled with life, real issues and fears. A slow burn that ends with a WOW!
What I loved about the author was her knowledge of the era! Her descriptions are fresh and rich. Her writing is strong and emotionally driven. An author to follow.
I felt right there with Lizbeth in her need and challenge to help her new husband understand and recognize what true love is. Unconditional. I also liked how deeply she loved him even before she knew the truth of his past.
May 5, 2020
While fiercely independent Lizbeth Trethow is moving steadily towards spinsterhood, she is totally unprepared for what happened when she meets traumatized recluse Sebastian, Earl of Roddam. Inspite of herself she is drawn to him and helps him deal with his past.
The Earl and The Enchantress (The Enchantresses #1) by Paullett Golden is set in London and Northumberland 1790, and is the first installment in The Enchantress Series of 4 books. The story is about Lizbeth Trethow who wants to avoid being trapped in a marriage of convenience. She is very surprised to find a kindred spirit in Sebastian Earl of Roddam. He has no interest in getting married because he tries to hide traumatic experiences in his past.
Main character Lizbeth, Liz, Trethow is the bookish and self-proclaimed spinster material that refuses to be told what to do by a man. It’s nice to see she goes through a positive character development throughout the story as she takes some of Sebastian’s values to heart. She seems a strong and well rounded lead character who carries the story well.
Supporting character Sebastian, Earl of Roddam is the slightly paranoid recluse who is being weighed down by traumatic events of his past. I felt sorry for him and think he might have needed professional help and therapy if such health care system had been available at the time. I found him to be a realistic character whose life experiences provided food for thought.
The Earl and The Enchantress is set in the opulent life of titled families in London in late 1700s. In The Earl and The Enchantress Liz takes enormous risks to her own and her entire family’s reputation. I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed environments and lifestyle descriptions of their extreme opulence. Plenty of room was given to fascinating descriptions of interiors. It felt like a pretend trip to a museum.
The Earl and The Enchantress (The Enchantresses #1) by Paullett Golden was not what I expected at all. The plot was different in that it had a mix of historical romance and mystery which I found new and interesting. The mystery part was enjoyable and entertaining and was my favorite part of the story. The progress of the plot was unusual as the romance part seemed to get resolved earlier than I expected for a historical romance, while the mystery part got room to develop in the second half.
I am a reader who prefers Sweet/Clean Romance historical fiction. As this story contains some rather graphic scenes, these parts were my least favorite.
Anyone who enjoys romance stories with a mystery element would enjoy The Earl and The Enchantress (The Enchantresses #1) by Paullett Golden. Fans of Paulett Golden would love The Earl and The Enchantress it too. Other authors to explore might be Erica Ridley or Tracy Sumner.
Thank you to author Paullett Golden and Book Sirens for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
My rating:
3 start / 5
Main reasons: Good plot, mystery part, good writing
The Earl and The Enchantress (The Enchantresses #1) by Paullett Golden is set in London and Northumberland 1790, and is the first installment in The Enchantress Series of 4 books. The story is about Lizbeth Trethow who wants to avoid being trapped in a marriage of convenience. She is very surprised to find a kindred spirit in Sebastian Earl of Roddam. He has no interest in getting married because he tries to hide traumatic experiences in his past.
Main character Lizbeth, Liz, Trethow is the bookish and self-proclaimed spinster material that refuses to be told what to do by a man. It’s nice to see she goes through a positive character development throughout the story as she takes some of Sebastian’s values to heart. She seems a strong and well rounded lead character who carries the story well.
Supporting character Sebastian, Earl of Roddam is the slightly paranoid recluse who is being weighed down by traumatic events of his past. I felt sorry for him and think he might have needed professional help and therapy if such health care system had been available at the time. I found him to be a realistic character whose life experiences provided food for thought.
The Earl and The Enchantress is set in the opulent life of titled families in London in late 1700s. In The Earl and The Enchantress Liz takes enormous risks to her own and her entire family’s reputation. I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed environments and lifestyle descriptions of their extreme opulence. Plenty of room was given to fascinating descriptions of interiors. It felt like a pretend trip to a museum.
The Earl and The Enchantress (The Enchantresses #1) by Paullett Golden was not what I expected at all. The plot was different in that it had a mix of historical romance and mystery which I found new and interesting. The mystery part was enjoyable and entertaining and was my favorite part of the story. The progress of the plot was unusual as the romance part seemed to get resolved earlier than I expected for a historical romance, while the mystery part got room to develop in the second half.
I am a reader who prefers Sweet/Clean Romance historical fiction. As this story contains some rather graphic scenes, these parts were my least favorite.
Anyone who enjoys romance stories with a mystery element would enjoy The Earl and The Enchantress (The Enchantresses #1) by Paullett Golden. Fans of Paulett Golden would love The Earl and The Enchantress it too. Other authors to explore might be Erica Ridley or Tracy Sumner.
Thank you to author Paullett Golden and Book Sirens for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
My rating:
3 start / 5
Main reasons: Good plot, mystery part, good writing
July 1, 2020
The Earl and The Enchantress, by Paullett Golden. Paullett shows her talent as a writer. Her writing provides the readers imagination to get lost in a book.
Gather around people, I have a secret to tell you. Paullett Golden has done it again. What? You say. Well, let me tell you about this little story called, The Earl and The Enchantress.
Sit back and enjoy the story. Grab tissue boxes, you may need them. Oh wow! This was a story that pulled at my heart strings. Sebastian and Lizbeth’s romance is a love story for all those hopeless romantics out there.
They first meet by accident, by hiding out in the library. Not together, but unknowingly of the other party hiding out as well. As days go by, the two seek out each other at balls. They can’t seem to get over this enchanting spell that one has for the other. Then one day our illustrious two, share an interesting conversation on the balcony.
Here these two begin to bare their souls to each other. Over time and their fulfillment of lust and exquisite pleasure, the couple becomes trapped by demons from the past. Horrible memories resurface to were Sebastian is unable to shake them. Lizbeth sees the man that she vowed never to marry, never to love break down in front of her. As the strong, independent woman and loving wife.
Lizbeth searches by hell and high water, to find the cure that ales the man that she swore in front of God to protect. Sebastian beats himself down over how his horrible father has treated him, and being deprived the last chance of seeing his loving mother. He calls himself a murder. He tries to convince Lizbeth that she should leave him, and continue her life at a safe distance. Lizbeth, says oh no you don’t!
Not after you swept me off my feet. You’re not getting rid of me that easily. This book has so much drama, passion, love and forgiveness. As a reader, you get lost into the world, where Sebastian takes his journey of cleansing his soul. In the end, I really started worrying about Sebastian, because we all know, when a man has lost the love of his life and feels that he has nothing.
The ending is never good. If you are curious to know what secret breaks Sebastian and how his lioness breaths new life into him. Read, The Earl and The Enchantress. I recommend this book, with two snaps and a puppy love bark. Until next time my fellow readers... read on! I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
Gather around people, I have a secret to tell you. Paullett Golden has done it again. What? You say. Well, let me tell you about this little story called, The Earl and The Enchantress.
Sit back and enjoy the story. Grab tissue boxes, you may need them. Oh wow! This was a story that pulled at my heart strings. Sebastian and Lizbeth’s romance is a love story for all those hopeless romantics out there.
They first meet by accident, by hiding out in the library. Not together, but unknowingly of the other party hiding out as well. As days go by, the two seek out each other at balls. They can’t seem to get over this enchanting spell that one has for the other. Then one day our illustrious two, share an interesting conversation on the balcony.
Here these two begin to bare their souls to each other. Over time and their fulfillment of lust and exquisite pleasure, the couple becomes trapped by demons from the past. Horrible memories resurface to were Sebastian is unable to shake them. Lizbeth sees the man that she vowed never to marry, never to love break down in front of her. As the strong, independent woman and loving wife.
Lizbeth searches by hell and high water, to find the cure that ales the man that she swore in front of God to protect. Sebastian beats himself down over how his horrible father has treated him, and being deprived the last chance of seeing his loving mother. He calls himself a murder. He tries to convince Lizbeth that she should leave him, and continue her life at a safe distance. Lizbeth, says oh no you don’t!
Not after you swept me off my feet. You’re not getting rid of me that easily. This book has so much drama, passion, love and forgiveness. As a reader, you get lost into the world, where Sebastian takes his journey of cleansing his soul. In the end, I really started worrying about Sebastian, because we all know, when a man has lost the love of his life and feels that he has nothing.
The ending is never good. If you are curious to know what secret breaks Sebastian and how his lioness breaths new life into him. Read, The Earl and The Enchantress. I recommend this book, with two snaps and a puppy love bark. Until next time my fellow readers... read on! I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
November 5, 2019
There was much thought and care put into this book, and I give kudos to the author for that. I wish I could say I liked it more, but it ultimately fell flat for me. I thought that it could have used a heavy hand at editing without losing the focus of the story, as there were times when it felt tedious and redundant. I am hiding the rest of this review due to spoiler potential.
December 2, 2018
***SPOILER ALERTS***
Usually regency romance is not my thing. However, this was a really good book.
There are a couple of things that I feel set this book apart from the majority of regency romances I have read. First, there was an element of psychological fiction in this novel. The male protagonist is suffering from guilt and emotional trauma. At the point of the denouement, when I assumed her love would be the balm to heal him [eye-roll], HE actually did the work, thinking about the traumatic events and forgiving himself for his actions. The female protagonist helped him with her support, but he did the work to do the healing. He's the only one that truly could.
The author created very complex characters. Again, I have often found regency romance and historical romance in general to have stereotypical two dimensional characters comprised of heroes and villains. Ms. Golden doesn't do this even with her host of secondary characters. At first, I feared that Annick or his mother were villains, but they are much more complex in nature than that. I found this to be a quite refreshing change from the norm.
I enjoyed the 18th century book and author name dropping: Locke, Frances Burney, Samuel Richardson, and Daniel Defoe. It was delightful.
And the spicy parts were REALLY good. Lots of sensuality, but it didn't dominate the book either, which I appreciated.
Usually regency romance is not my thing. However, this was a really good book.
There are a couple of things that I feel set this book apart from the majority of regency romances I have read. First, there was an element of psychological fiction in this novel. The male protagonist is suffering from guilt and emotional trauma. At the point of the denouement, when I assumed her love would be the balm to heal him [eye-roll], HE actually did the work, thinking about the traumatic events and forgiving himself for his actions. The female protagonist helped him with her support, but he did the work to do the healing. He's the only one that truly could.
The author created very complex characters. Again, I have often found regency romance and historical romance in general to have stereotypical two dimensional characters comprised of heroes and villains. Ms. Golden doesn't do this even with her host of secondary characters. At first, I feared that Annick or his mother were villains, but they are much more complex in nature than that. I found this to be a quite refreshing change from the norm.
I enjoyed the 18th century book and author name dropping: Locke, Frances Burney, Samuel Richardson, and Daniel Defoe. It was delightful.
And the spicy parts were REALLY good. Lots of sensuality, but it didn't dominate the book either, which I appreciated.
March 19, 2020
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review. Did not finish. Sentences like this defeated me in under 3 chapters:
"Leather bindings decorating the walls aromatically romanced her nostrils, and the shelves of bound and color-coded books tantalized her."
AROMATICALLY ROMANCED - what? Why not a simple, " The smell of leather bound books was her favorite scent and these shelves of...? Bit Ms. Golden never states simply when she can artfully embroider. See what I did there?
And then there was this: "To top off her discomfort, she was sure that behind the mask, hungry eyes glazed her with honey and pineapple."
Did his hungry eyes think she was a a ham? Mmmm, ham.
She is a bluestocking who doesn't want to marry. He is tormented. Of course he is. More than half of Regency heroes are tormented, which is why I love it when I find a cheerful hero.
I am just putting this on my list of books that may wow another reader but did not work for me.
"Leather bindings decorating the walls aromatically romanced her nostrils, and the shelves of bound and color-coded books tantalized her."
AROMATICALLY ROMANCED - what? Why not a simple, " The smell of leather bound books was her favorite scent and these shelves of...? Bit Ms. Golden never states simply when she can artfully embroider. See what I did there?
And then there was this: "To top off her discomfort, she was sure that behind the mask, hungry eyes glazed her with honey and pineapple."
Did his hungry eyes think she was a a ham? Mmmm, ham.
She is a bluestocking who doesn't want to marry. He is tormented. Of course he is. More than half of Regency heroes are tormented, which is why I love it when I find a cheerful hero.
I am just putting this on my list of books that may wow another reader but did not work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2020
4.5 ⭐️
Wonderfully told story about two people finding each other when they both thought they’d be alone forever. I loved the chemistry, friendship and romance between these two. This book felt a little long but the story was lovely. I also got my HEA.
If you love regency romance then you’ll love this. This is my second book by this author and I’m definitely reading the rest of her books.
This was a Arc from BookSirens and I’ve given my honest opinion.
Wonderfully told story about two people finding each other when they both thought they’d be alone forever. I loved the chemistry, friendship and romance between these two. This book felt a little long but the story was lovely. I also got my HEA.
If you love regency romance then you’ll love this. This is my second book by this author and I’m definitely reading the rest of her books.
This was a Arc from BookSirens and I’ve given my honest opinion.
February 23, 2019
Wow!! I just found a new author that I will be following! This was soooo good, I couldn’t put the book down. It was engaging from the first page. Well written with plenty of intrigue, emotions, sizzling chemistry and mystery. I’m so glad I found Paulette Golden! Now on to her next enticing book! “I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."
January 28, 2019
The “Earl and the Enchantress” is everything you want in a romance novel, coupled
with an unexpected yet satisfying journey into deeper themes. Lizbeth and her sister, Charlotte, embody the classical divergent points on women’s rights. Charlotte, the social butterfly, yearns for a husband to take care of her and provide status, which she finds in her Duke. However, Lizbeth is dedicated to avoiding marriage altogether, content to be in control of her own destiny and experience life through the safety and confines of the books she adores. Lizbeth meets her match in the Earl, who matches her intelligence and abhorrence of social norms. Moreover, the Earl’s attentions draw out a part of Lizbeth she’s never known.
The surprising twist as a reader is the traditional formulaic romance novel is shattered. The ‘happily ever after’ isn’t achieved with the marriage of the characters occurring halfway through the story, but instead through a true test of their relationship. The Earl harbors a dark secret he believes will push Lizbeth away for good. When the secret is revealed, Lizbeth not only accepts him, but finds the truth of the secret, leading to a gratifying ending. Thus, this novel highlights how love can cast away the darkness of soul and mind.
The writing itself is flawless (even my old university English teacher, who deducted a letter grade per error, couldn’t find fault with this novel). The verbiage is at times highly intellectual, which provides a delightful challenge for the educated mind.
Every character is dynamic. Even the stodgy mother-in-law shows growth.
Some critiques of this novel reference historical inaccuracies. To those critics, I say, it is a work of Fiction, and any inaccuracy does’t take anything away from the story.
My only complaint is the swiftness with which Lizbeth and the Earl agree to marry. The ‘romancing’ of Lizbeth is so carefully crafted that I wanted to see the ultimate moment of choice detailed a little more. In fact, upon opening the book, I thought it too long for a romance novel, but every page is certainly worth the effort.
with an unexpected yet satisfying journey into deeper themes. Lizbeth and her sister, Charlotte, embody the classical divergent points on women’s rights. Charlotte, the social butterfly, yearns for a husband to take care of her and provide status, which she finds in her Duke. However, Lizbeth is dedicated to avoiding marriage altogether, content to be in control of her own destiny and experience life through the safety and confines of the books she adores. Lizbeth meets her match in the Earl, who matches her intelligence and abhorrence of social norms. Moreover, the Earl’s attentions draw out a part of Lizbeth she’s never known.
The surprising twist as a reader is the traditional formulaic romance novel is shattered. The ‘happily ever after’ isn’t achieved with the marriage of the characters occurring halfway through the story, but instead through a true test of their relationship. The Earl harbors a dark secret he believes will push Lizbeth away for good. When the secret is revealed, Lizbeth not only accepts him, but finds the truth of the secret, leading to a gratifying ending. Thus, this novel highlights how love can cast away the darkness of soul and mind.
The writing itself is flawless (even my old university English teacher, who deducted a letter grade per error, couldn’t find fault with this novel). The verbiage is at times highly intellectual, which provides a delightful challenge for the educated mind.
Every character is dynamic. Even the stodgy mother-in-law shows growth.
Some critiques of this novel reference historical inaccuracies. To those critics, I say, it is a work of Fiction, and any inaccuracy does’t take anything away from the story.
My only complaint is the swiftness with which Lizbeth and the Earl agree to marry. The ‘romancing’ of Lizbeth is so carefully crafted that I wanted to see the ultimate moment of choice detailed a little more. In fact, upon opening the book, I thought it too long for a romance novel, but every page is certainly worth the effort.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2020
I loved The Earl and the Enchantress, with its charming and witty Lizbeth, the refreshingly deep connection she builds with the complex, tortured, but honorable and good-hearted Sebastian, and those well-timed (and oh my! steamy 🤭) intimate scenes. I don't come across many books that bring together smarts and spice so perfectly. 😍 I'm looking forward to reading Charlotte and Drake's story next!!!
4.5⭐s.
4.5⭐s.
February 13, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from VRO in exchange for an honest review.
I have a soft spot for a good historical romance, and this one did not disappoint. The love story was sweet, and there was enough plot to keep me reading.
I really liked that Lizbeth and Sebastian were drawn to each other first through intelligence and nerdiness first, rather than looks. They seemed more like real people than your average historical romance characters, although at times Lizbeth seemed a bit too perfect, in order to offset the tortured hero trope.
It was really refreshing to see both characters undergoing genuine personal growth by the end of the story, even if the plot necessitated some of it happening unrealistically quickly, especially without the assistance of a trained therapist!
There were points where the writing/editing was a bit clunky, like referring to the heroine’s hair being in a “loosely knotted top-knot”, and some errors were missed, but overall it was a good mix of description, dialogue, and action. I do feel that the book could have been a bit shorter, perhaps spending a little bit less time in our lead characters’ heads. Although I do appreciate the dual POVs, so we had a balanced view of what was going on with each of them.
I did get frustrated with the supporting characters. For all of the claims that Lizbeth and her sister are really close, and Sebastian and his cousin are also really close, we don’t really see much depth in these relationships or characters. Charlotte and Drake are both pretty shallow and annoying, and at times both are full on rude. Everyone keeps claiming that Drake is such a great guy underneath his facade, but we don’t really get to see it. I hope that the second book about their story develops then more as characters and shows some more positive traits and depth.
Overall, I really enjoyed this first book in the series, so I’m willing to give the next book a chance and see if it ends up as good as this one.
I have a soft spot for a good historical romance, and this one did not disappoint. The love story was sweet, and there was enough plot to keep me reading.
I really liked that Lizbeth and Sebastian were drawn to each other first through intelligence and nerdiness first, rather than looks. They seemed more like real people than your average historical romance characters, although at times Lizbeth seemed a bit too perfect, in order to offset the tortured hero trope.
It was really refreshing to see both characters undergoing genuine personal growth by the end of the story, even if the plot necessitated some of it happening unrealistically quickly, especially without the assistance of a trained therapist!
There were points where the writing/editing was a bit clunky, like referring to the heroine’s hair being in a “loosely knotted top-knot”, and some errors were missed, but overall it was a good mix of description, dialogue, and action. I do feel that the book could have been a bit shorter, perhaps spending a little bit less time in our lead characters’ heads. Although I do appreciate the dual POVs, so we had a balanced view of what was going on with each of them.
I did get frustrated with the supporting characters. For all of the claims that Lizbeth and her sister are really close, and Sebastian and his cousin are also really close, we don’t really see much depth in these relationships or characters. Charlotte and Drake are both pretty shallow and annoying, and at times both are full on rude. Everyone keeps claiming that Drake is such a great guy underneath his facade, but we don’t really get to see it. I hope that the second book about their story develops then more as characters and shows some more positive traits and depth.
Overall, I really enjoyed this first book in the series, so I’m willing to give the next book a chance and see if it ends up as good as this one.
November 16, 2021
Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam is an intriguing character. Intellectual, exasperated with “Society” and hiding a deep dark secret.
Lizbeth Trethow is a wallflower. Bright, enlightened and determined to marry with love and equality, or not at all.
Their intellect brings them together as friends. Both develop a secret passion for the other.
Unfortunately, Sebastian is scarred by an abusive childhood and is scared to allow Lizbeth close.
There are several advances and retreats before they finally come together.
Lizbeth is determined to help Sebastian work through his demons, but struggles to find the way until she stumbles upon some startling letters.
Will they find peace and happiness?
An enjoyable read but a possible trigger for abuse survivors.
I received a free copy of this book via Voracious readers and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
Lizbeth Trethow is a wallflower. Bright, enlightened and determined to marry with love and equality, or not at all.
Their intellect brings them together as friends. Both develop a secret passion for the other.
Unfortunately, Sebastian is scarred by an abusive childhood and is scared to allow Lizbeth close.
There are several advances and retreats before they finally come together.
Lizbeth is determined to help Sebastian work through his demons, but struggles to find the way until she stumbles upon some startling letters.
Will they find peace and happiness?
An enjoyable read but a possible trigger for abuse survivors.
I received a free copy of this book via Voracious readers and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2018
4.5 Stars as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-PS
Lizbeth Trethow lost her mother at age seven, and from that tender age started taking on the responsibilities of running her father’s household and caring for her baby sister, Charlotte. Now after several seasons, and watching how her friends’ marriages have turned out, she’s decided that wedded bliss is not for her. She has no desire to become a man’s property and only a strong love from an exceptional man will change her mind. While sneaking away from yet another ball for a few moment’s peace in the library, Liz encounters a most unusual man.
Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam, has also escaped to the library, only to have his solitude disturbed by a beautiful young woman. Roddam’s plans don’t include marriage, so he has no desire to be found alone with a young lady. He’s somewhat abrupt with Liz, though he finds her choice of reading material and her conversation fascinating. Rather than the typical single lady who bats her eyelashes and flirts with him, Liz has intelligent conversation and a sharp wit. They both enjoy their brief encounter, then Liz prudently leaves, and they don’t expect to encounter each other again.
Sebastian usually stays on his remote estate, not venturing to town, but he agreed to assist his cousin, the Duke of Annick, in finding a bride. Annick’s search has led him to Liz and Charlotte, and it seems that fate has decided to put Sebastian and Liz in each other’s path again. As they spend time together over the short time left in the season, their physical and intellectual attraction grows. Liz, for the first time, is willing to take a chance, and does all she can to let Sebastian know how she feels, while still staying within the bounds of propriety. Though Sebastian is clearly interested, he makes no declaration, and the season ends with each of them going off to their homes far away from each other.
Sebastian regrets his treatment of Liz, and though it’s not the proper thing to do, he writes to her. Surprisingly, she can’t resist writing back, though she had made up her mind to forget him. Their letters become friendlier and more intimate. Liz has an opportunity to visit Sebastian’s part of the country, when her sister, who has since married Annick, urgently summons Liz to visit her. Liz and Sebastian meet and become even closer, yet it seems that he can’t bring himself to propose. A defeated Liz is once again prepared to forget him, this time for good, but as the time approaches for Liz to return home, Sebastian finally proposes. They marry quickly, but this does not turn into their happy ever after.
Sebastian has his demons, no doubt, and is truly a tortured man. Tragedies from his childhood wrack him with guilt, give him nightmares, and cause him to doubt himself. After a passionate honeymoon, where Sebastian felt at peace, his insecurities return, causing him to jeopardize his new marriage. While I truly did like Sebastian, his waffling behavior was truly maddening. His drawing of Liz close, then pushing her away was so frustrating, as was his refusal to fully discuss what made him this way.
Liz is one of the strongest heroines you’ll encounter. Though confronted time and again by Sebastian’s confusing behavior, she never falters in her commitment to him. I feel that she went well beyond what a typical spouse would do. She’s not put off by Sebastian’s scars, physical or mental, and is determined to do whatever is necessary to save her marriage. I adored this woman!
THE EARL AND THE ENCHANTRESS is extremely well written for a debut novel. There are some truly romantic moments, such as this one:
“He had begged for the night never to end, or else for the world to end in that moment so he would know nothing but the moment itself, the feeling of elation, the uncomplicated attraction of two people perfect for each other.”
I love that Sebastian finally finds strength within himself to face his demons, and to move forward. He has a fun, sexy and playful side that had been buried due to the burdens he carried.
The second half of THE EARL AND THE ENCHANTRESS seemed to flow much easier to me, and the pacing really picked up and held my interest. There is plenty of passion, heartbreak, doubt, romance and some interesting, well developed secondary characters. Readers who enjoy a character driven romance will find this a story well worth reading. Paullett Golden is an author I will be following.
Lizbeth Trethow lost her mother at age seven, and from that tender age started taking on the responsibilities of running her father’s household and caring for her baby sister, Charlotte. Now after several seasons, and watching how her friends’ marriages have turned out, she’s decided that wedded bliss is not for her. She has no desire to become a man’s property and only a strong love from an exceptional man will change her mind. While sneaking away from yet another ball for a few moment’s peace in the library, Liz encounters a most unusual man.
Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam, has also escaped to the library, only to have his solitude disturbed by a beautiful young woman. Roddam’s plans don’t include marriage, so he has no desire to be found alone with a young lady. He’s somewhat abrupt with Liz, though he finds her choice of reading material and her conversation fascinating. Rather than the typical single lady who bats her eyelashes and flirts with him, Liz has intelligent conversation and a sharp wit. They both enjoy their brief encounter, then Liz prudently leaves, and they don’t expect to encounter each other again.
Sebastian usually stays on his remote estate, not venturing to town, but he agreed to assist his cousin, the Duke of Annick, in finding a bride. Annick’s search has led him to Liz and Charlotte, and it seems that fate has decided to put Sebastian and Liz in each other’s path again. As they spend time together over the short time left in the season, their physical and intellectual attraction grows. Liz, for the first time, is willing to take a chance, and does all she can to let Sebastian know how she feels, while still staying within the bounds of propriety. Though Sebastian is clearly interested, he makes no declaration, and the season ends with each of them going off to their homes far away from each other.
Sebastian regrets his treatment of Liz, and though it’s not the proper thing to do, he writes to her. Surprisingly, she can’t resist writing back, though she had made up her mind to forget him. Their letters become friendlier and more intimate. Liz has an opportunity to visit Sebastian’s part of the country, when her sister, who has since married Annick, urgently summons Liz to visit her. Liz and Sebastian meet and become even closer, yet it seems that he can’t bring himself to propose. A defeated Liz is once again prepared to forget him, this time for good, but as the time approaches for Liz to return home, Sebastian finally proposes. They marry quickly, but this does not turn into their happy ever after.
Sebastian has his demons, no doubt, and is truly a tortured man. Tragedies from his childhood wrack him with guilt, give him nightmares, and cause him to doubt himself. After a passionate honeymoon, where Sebastian felt at peace, his insecurities return, causing him to jeopardize his new marriage. While I truly did like Sebastian, his waffling behavior was truly maddening. His drawing of Liz close, then pushing her away was so frustrating, as was his refusal to fully discuss what made him this way.
Liz is one of the strongest heroines you’ll encounter. Though confronted time and again by Sebastian’s confusing behavior, she never falters in her commitment to him. I feel that she went well beyond what a typical spouse would do. She’s not put off by Sebastian’s scars, physical or mental, and is determined to do whatever is necessary to save her marriage. I adored this woman!
THE EARL AND THE ENCHANTRESS is extremely well written for a debut novel. There are some truly romantic moments, such as this one:
“He had begged for the night never to end, or else for the world to end in that moment so he would know nothing but the moment itself, the feeling of elation, the uncomplicated attraction of two people perfect for each other.”
I love that Sebastian finally finds strength within himself to face his demons, and to move forward. He has a fun, sexy and playful side that had been buried due to the burdens he carried.
The second half of THE EARL AND THE ENCHANTRESS seemed to flow much easier to me, and the pacing really picked up and held my interest. There is plenty of passion, heartbreak, doubt, romance and some interesting, well developed secondary characters. Readers who enjoy a character driven romance will find this a story well worth reading. Paullett Golden is an author I will be following.
December 10, 2018
I think I have a new found love for reading historical romances. I really enjoyed this book. I have been told that there were a few historical inaccuracies and the use of modern words in the novel that could pull the reader out of the story in several places.
This book is a Georgian Romance set in 1790, a time period that few romance authors seem to write about. Most romance authors seem to set their stories in the Regency era or the Victorian era. I liked the descriptions of places, from Cornwall to the far north of England. As Lizbeth journeyed to different places, I felt as though I was traveling with her.
There is a chapter where Lizabeth’s thoughts are shown and nothing else is happening. Her thoughts were on how her relationship with Sebastian had been developing over the past few weeks. Some would say that the pacing of the story was slowed because the reader was looking at her thoughts on how her relationship progressed instead of physically being shown the progression. In most scenes, I was able to see the relationship blossom with some parts being kind of slow.
I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Lizbeth and Sebastian’s relationship, and their characteristics were very relatable. Lizbeth and Sebastian don't have a traditional courtship by 18th century standards before they marry, but rather a fun friendship that tests their intelligence, wit, and desires. They slowly fall in love and grow closer together. They both gradually reveal things to each other that causes some issues, and their issues don't simply go away after the wedding. Thankfully, these issues do get resolved by the end of the novel.
Halfway through the book, the author revealed hints about Sebastian's past and his true character remained a mystery--to the reader, as well as to Lizbeth up until the end of the novel. I made some predictions based on this information and was elated when some of them came true.
I liked the ending of this book, and I'm glad that things turned out happily for Lizbeth and Sebastian after all the things they had gone through, especially Sebastian and the abuses he suffered in his childhood.
For warning, there are sex/intimacy scenes in the novel.
This book is a Georgian Romance set in 1790, a time period that few romance authors seem to write about. Most romance authors seem to set their stories in the Regency era or the Victorian era. I liked the descriptions of places, from Cornwall to the far north of England. As Lizbeth journeyed to different places, I felt as though I was traveling with her.
There is a chapter where Lizabeth’s thoughts are shown and nothing else is happening. Her thoughts were on how her relationship with Sebastian had been developing over the past few weeks. Some would say that the pacing of the story was slowed because the reader was looking at her thoughts on how her relationship progressed instead of physically being shown the progression. In most scenes, I was able to see the relationship blossom with some parts being kind of slow.
I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Lizbeth and Sebastian’s relationship, and their characteristics were very relatable. Lizbeth and Sebastian don't have a traditional courtship by 18th century standards before they marry, but rather a fun friendship that tests their intelligence, wit, and desires. They slowly fall in love and grow closer together. They both gradually reveal things to each other that causes some issues, and their issues don't simply go away after the wedding. Thankfully, these issues do get resolved by the end of the novel.
Halfway through the book, the author revealed hints about Sebastian's past and his true character remained a mystery--to the reader, as well as to Lizbeth up until the end of the novel. I made some predictions based on this information and was elated when some of them came true.
I liked the ending of this book, and I'm glad that things turned out happily for Lizbeth and Sebastian after all the things they had gone through, especially Sebastian and the abuses he suffered in his childhood.
For warning, there are sex/intimacy scenes in the novel.
September 27, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens, the publisher, and author for sending me a free advanced reader copy of this novel. This does not influence my review in any way, and I am posting this review voluntarily.
I rather enjoyed this friends-to-lovers regency read by Paulett Golden. I think it was well structured, had well developed characters, and was, overall, a very good read. I did not enjoy how closed off the main male character was and how his moods changed so quickly, as I fear that that trait might not bring about the most healthy relationship. The main female character was quite lovely in my opinion, but for all her talk of communication, did not do it very well. I did enjoy the plot twist at the end, and I think Golden wrapped it up quite nicely. I was a bit confused at some parts because of a few small historical inconsistencies but overall this book was a quick and enjoyable read with very lovely characters. Kudos to Golden for that!
I rather enjoyed this friends-to-lovers regency read by Paulett Golden. I think it was well structured, had well developed characters, and was, overall, a very good read. I did not enjoy how closed off the main male character was and how his moods changed so quickly, as I fear that that trait might not bring about the most healthy relationship. The main female character was quite lovely in my opinion, but for all her talk of communication, did not do it very well. I did enjoy the plot twist at the end, and I think Golden wrapped it up quite nicely. I was a bit confused at some parts because of a few small historical inconsistencies but overall this book was a quick and enjoyable read with very lovely characters. Kudos to Golden for that!
January 3, 2020
"It's not my fault you insist on holding our book club meeting naked. You're a crude and classless man." The rest of whatever she had planned to say muffled beneath his lips." This book was a siren to my book loving soul.
I absolutely adored the way Ms. Golden weaved so much classic literature into the story. It added so much extra charm. Sebastian and Lizabeth were wonderfully written character's. One of my favorite parts of the book -without giving too much away- was that they storyline continues on where most books abruptly stop. I wanted more and this book gave it to me. The inner battles that they each faced made them seem so real.
I would highly recommend The Earl and The Enchantress. Paullett Golden will now be on my must read list. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely adored the way Ms. Golden weaved so much classic literature into the story. It added so much extra charm. Sebastian and Lizabeth were wonderfully written character's. One of my favorite parts of the book -without giving too much away- was that they storyline continues on where most books abruptly stop. I wanted more and this book gave it to me. The inner battles that they each faced made them seem so real.
I would highly recommend The Earl and The Enchantress. Paullett Golden will now be on my must read list. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
November 1, 2018
The Earl and the Enchantress is a good romance novel. The characters are sweet and relatively believable, the tension is well-written and the story itself is engaging. The author clearly knows a fair amount about the period in which the piece is set, which is also always a bonus.
My only disappointment with this novel is its total conformity to generic conventions. It is a good romance novel, but I found that much of it was quite predictable, and the descriptive passages were essentially as one might expect - at no point did I feel it exceeded expectations or contradict the norm.
It was very enjoyable nonetheless, and I do recommend the Earl and the Enchantress to any avid romance fans.
My only disappointment with this novel is its total conformity to generic conventions. It is a good romance novel, but I found that much of it was quite predictable, and the descriptive passages were essentially as one might expect - at no point did I feel it exceeded expectations or contradict the norm.
It was very enjoyable nonetheless, and I do recommend the Earl and the Enchantress to any avid romance fans.
December 3, 2018
This was an enthralling story. Lizbeth is determined not to marry as she has no intention of just being cast aside but wants an equal partnership. She is attracted to Sebastian, Earl of Roddam and thinks she could have an equal say with him. Sebastian is also attracted to Lizbeth but he has a secret in his past and thinks himself unworthy. He is an honourable man and cares for his tenants. In the story we also meet up with his cousin, the duke, plus Lizbeth’s family. Secrets are slowly revealed and some surprises unfold. I loved the settings by the sea, both in Cornwall and Northumberland. I received a copy from eBooks Discovery and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 15, 2019
A solid, well-written debut with relatable characters
Thank you to the author, who asked if I would like to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book quite a bit! I wouldn’t say I was utterly riveted, but I didn’t like having to stop reading, either. I had no major problems with it, but a few small things bothered me. Not enough to detract from my enjoyment, though.
Thoughts on the writing and story
There were several parallels to Pride and Prejudice, but I’m not sure if they were intentional or if P&P was just a heavy influence on Golden. Either way, they were subtle and I had fun spotting them.
Golden is a good writer. She knows how to structure plot, how to make flawed characters sympathetic and lovable, and has a very firm grasp on theme. Also, she had some great lines. My favorite was: “His were the eyes of a dreamer, of a thinker, of someone who had stood on the edge of a cliff and wondered what it would be like to fly.”
Also, the book contained a thoughtful dialogue about women’s independence that wasn’t all “men drool, feminists rule.” The only bias was that of the characters, and that, too, was thoughtfully, not spitefully, presented. At 20% Sebastian made an argument that actually made me stop, tilt my head, and consider the situation beyond my own biased modern opinion. Is it more freeing for a woman to not wed and remain dependent on family or employer, or to make a careful match with someone who respects her views and will allow her to keep her own money to do with as she pleases?
It’s a very good question; I’m not entirely sure how I would answer it. My knee-jerk reaction would be that a woman is far more free by not wedding. But at that time, single women did not support themselves. They were always someone else’s burden. They did not live alone or conduct their own business. They either lived with and were supported by their parents, their husbands, or an employer/the church. Widows were another story, but single women had very few choices. To Liz’s thinking, the number of men who would respect a woman like her was very small, so she had resigned herself to spinsterhood and employment.
There wasn’t necessarily a saggy middle, the pace was pretty steady, but there were passages of musings and internal dialogue that went on for not only pages but entire chapters, albeit short ones. I did space out a few times during those passages, but I don’t think I missed much.
I personally didn’t feel the characters’ internal dialogue was redundant, but I would understand if some readers did think that. Sebastian was good at thinking himself in circles; his arc regressed a few times before peaking.
While most of the narrative was pretty grounded, there was one scene that was unusually ridiculous. In the middle of one night in late October they ended up playing around on the beach and in the water. They made love then lay naked in the grass. And all I could think was, “Aren’t you fucking cold? You’re gonna get pneumonia!”
Given what happened to Lilith—or rather, what Sebastian thought had happened to Lilith—and Liz’s penchant to swim alone, I thought for sure Liz would get into trouble in the water and he’d have to save her from drowning, bysodoing cleansing his conscience. I can’t decide if I respect Golden not doing the predictable thing or if I’m disappointed because I love those dramatic near-death scenes in romances. A little of both, probably.
Finally, a bit of general advice: Writers, don’t let your plots be propped up by misunderstandings, assumptions, and presumptions. Don’t keep your characters guessing at what the other is thinking and feeling, never working up the balls to ask. While it’ll go down in small doses, large doses will either make your characters appear stupid or weak or make your writing seem lazy. There needs to be more conflict than just uncertainty and insecurity, because those will get old fast.
Luckily, Golden didn’t overuse that kind of tension, though she came close. A little trepidation at first is understandably human, but it should have come to a point, especially for Liz, when they just quit dicking around and asked, “Hey, so is this going somewhere, or are we spinning our wheels? Cuz, dude, I’ve got better things to do than chase my tail.” Only they’d say it more eloquently, of course, and not mix metaphors. :)
Thoughts on the characters
I had mixed feelings about the secondary characters. Drake seemed like an entitled ass, but I would be interested in digging deeper into his heart and mind. I’m curious to see if he really does have a heart of gold in there somewhere and if the selfish prick could give up his precious mistress and make an effort with Charlotte. In historicals, few things piss off my modern sensibilities more than mistresses, and it can’t be an uncommon sentiment, because very rarely does the hero of the novel have a current mistress—which makes me very intrigued by the fact that Drake is the hero of the next book in the series. He’ll have his work cut out for him in earning my affection, because right now I kind of despise him.
I feel a bit similarly about Charlotte; with the exception of the initial ball, she started off as shallow and naive and went downhill to snotty and haughty. I see little leading lady potential in her, but I’d love to be pleasantly surprised. I didn’t have much sympathy for the brat when she quickly became dissatisfied with her marriage. “Boo-hoo, I married a duke, whose station is second only to royalty. I got everything I could ever want, but that’s not enough. I want him to love my selfish entitled ass. Why doesn’t he like me? Waaaahhh.”
*deadpan stare*
Your bed, Charlotte. Lie in it or get off your hoity-toity ass and change the sheets yourself.
I thought Aunt Hazel and her matchmaking antics would annoy me, but she actually grew on me. She wasn’t looking for good matches for status and bragging rights—though those are great perks—but rather she just wanted security for the girls she loved like her own children. I also appreciated her sense of humor; I was particularly tickled when she was in the rose garden with Liz and Sebastian and cited this excuse to give them a little privacy: “I must go sniff the flowers [over there] because I’m sure those smell different from all the others.” *snorts*
Even Aunt Catherine, who was ostensibly portrayed as a cold, snotty bitch, had her redeeming qualities. While she was harsh and in most situations valued propriety over compassion, she didn’t condone abuse. She promised to help Liz—and presumably Charlotte?—leave their husbands if the girls were being abused. By the end I still didn’t like her, but I respected her.
As for the leads, they were good, strong characters, though they had their faults. Liz annoyed me a bit when she married Sebastian without knowing his secrets after declaring she wouldn’t marry anyone who held back from her, but I think I can understand that her judgment was skewed by her emotions. God knows it’s happened to me, too.
I had so much in common with her it was ridiculous; her thinking often ran parallel to mine, and our personalities matched in a lot of ways. I nodded in total understanding when she said that socializing exhausted her. Running away from the party and finding a quiet room in which to read in peace? Been there, done that.
She disappointed me just a little when she didn’t leave a note for Sebastian before she left. She had to have known he’d think she’d left him for good, and I’d like to think she’d try to disabuse him of that notion. All she’d have needed to say is, “I’ll be back soon,” maybe adding, “I promise,” to make it a little more romantic and less like she’d gone to run errands.
And did children really not occur to her? I mean… I just don’t understand how it could not have occurred to her. I mean, seriously. Come on, Liz, you’re smarter than that.
I related to Sebastian a lot as well. He wanted to tell Liz the truth, wanted to come clean, but he wanted her to like him, too. I’ve been caught in the middle of my own desires like that—and I’ve made the same compromise he intended to and just written a letter. Truth delivered without confrontation. Cowardly but well-intentioned.
Oh, how I wanted to hug him. Just hug him and rock until he knew how lovable he was. Except that’s more or less what Liz tried to do, and he just wouldn’t have it. Some readers might be irritated by his waffling—pushing her away, pulling her close, pushing her away, pulling her close—but it didn’t bother me. If it had happened one time more, though…
Some readers might also think the Sebastian we met in that library wasn’t the same Sebastian throughout the rest of the book, but I don’t. I can understand why those readers might feel that way, but I disagree. He just had a very bad attitude in that first scene; there was no hope in him at all. Then he met Liz, and in her he saw opportunities that he’d hardly dared to believe possible.
What I really, really, really appreciated was that Sebastian made the effort to find peace within himself, of his own volition, for not only Liz’s sake but for his own, for the sake of their future together. I totally expected him to continue thinking himself a monster until something happened to force him to think differently—either saving Liz from drowning or meeting Lilith. Instead, he told himself enough was enough and worked to heal himself. Because really, if he didn’t do that, if he didn’t change his own thinking, if circumstances had just given him an out, he would have always had that self-hatred lurking in the back of his mind, his heart. It would have haunted him, not knowing if he’d have been able to slay the dragon himself. I was so, so proud of him in that moment.
I also appreciated that he didn’t just make the offer of friendship to Liz because he lusted for her and being her “friend” was a gateway. No, he really did want to be her friend, even if they never touched. They had common interests and got along well, and he lusted after her mind as much as her body. He liked her personality, too—he simply liked her, and finding her sexy just sweetened the deal.
Another thing I admired about him—well, I think Liz did this too, so I’ll include her. What I really admired about them as characters was their ability to realize and admit their mistakes, even if only to themselves. For instance, in the days after Sebastian assumed Liz and Drake were just fucking with him, he slowly realized that the logic wasn’t there to support that accusation. Where some characters might have stubbornly clung to it nevertheless and held a pointless, immature grudge, or maybe wouldn’t even consider the possibility that they were wrong, these two were smart, mature, and humble enough to know when they’d made an error in judgment and to make an effort to atone for it. That was nice to see.
Golden’s got a long list of titles she plans to publish in the near future, several in the Enchantress series as well as another trilogy, it seems. The second Enchantress book, The Duke and the Enchantress, tells the story of Drake and Charlotte and will likely be released at the beginning of February 2019. The short excerpt included with my ARC didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but it did whet my appetite. I would be mighty impressed if Golden turned those two douches into sympathetic protagonists.
Oh, I should mention in case anybody’s wondering, there’s no magic. The heroines are not witches; that’s not the connotation she’s employing in the title.
noapologybookreviews.com
keeneyeediting.com
Thank you to the author, who asked if I would like to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book quite a bit! I wouldn’t say I was utterly riveted, but I didn’t like having to stop reading, either. I had no major problems with it, but a few small things bothered me. Not enough to detract from my enjoyment, though.
Thoughts on the writing and story
There were several parallels to Pride and Prejudice, but I’m not sure if they were intentional or if P&P was just a heavy influence on Golden. Either way, they were subtle and I had fun spotting them.
Golden is a good writer. She knows how to structure plot, how to make flawed characters sympathetic and lovable, and has a very firm grasp on theme. Also, she had some great lines. My favorite was: “His were the eyes of a dreamer, of a thinker, of someone who had stood on the edge of a cliff and wondered what it would be like to fly.”
Also, the book contained a thoughtful dialogue about women’s independence that wasn’t all “men drool, feminists rule.” The only bias was that of the characters, and that, too, was thoughtfully, not spitefully, presented. At 20% Sebastian made an argument that actually made me stop, tilt my head, and consider the situation beyond my own biased modern opinion. Is it more freeing for a woman to not wed and remain dependent on family or employer, or to make a careful match with someone who respects her views and will allow her to keep her own money to do with as she pleases?
It’s a very good question; I’m not entirely sure how I would answer it. My knee-jerk reaction would be that a woman is far more free by not wedding. But at that time, single women did not support themselves. They were always someone else’s burden. They did not live alone or conduct their own business. They either lived with and were supported by their parents, their husbands, or an employer/the church. Widows were another story, but single women had very few choices. To Liz’s thinking, the number of men who would respect a woman like her was very small, so she had resigned herself to spinsterhood and employment.
There wasn’t necessarily a saggy middle, the pace was pretty steady, but there were passages of musings and internal dialogue that went on for not only pages but entire chapters, albeit short ones. I did space out a few times during those passages, but I don’t think I missed much.
I personally didn’t feel the characters’ internal dialogue was redundant, but I would understand if some readers did think that. Sebastian was good at thinking himself in circles; his arc regressed a few times before peaking.
While most of the narrative was pretty grounded, there was one scene that was unusually ridiculous. In the middle of one night in late October they ended up playing around on the beach and in the water. They made love then lay naked in the grass. And all I could think was, “Aren’t you fucking cold? You’re gonna get pneumonia!”
Given what happened to Lilith—or rather, what Sebastian thought had happened to Lilith—and Liz’s penchant to swim alone, I thought for sure Liz would get into trouble in the water and he’d have to save her from drowning, bysodoing cleansing his conscience. I can’t decide if I respect Golden not doing the predictable thing or if I’m disappointed because I love those dramatic near-death scenes in romances. A little of both, probably.
Finally, a bit of general advice: Writers, don’t let your plots be propped up by misunderstandings, assumptions, and presumptions. Don’t keep your characters guessing at what the other is thinking and feeling, never working up the balls to ask. While it’ll go down in small doses, large doses will either make your characters appear stupid or weak or make your writing seem lazy. There needs to be more conflict than just uncertainty and insecurity, because those will get old fast.
Luckily, Golden didn’t overuse that kind of tension, though she came close. A little trepidation at first is understandably human, but it should have come to a point, especially for Liz, when they just quit dicking around and asked, “Hey, so is this going somewhere, or are we spinning our wheels? Cuz, dude, I’ve got better things to do than chase my tail.” Only they’d say it more eloquently, of course, and not mix metaphors. :)
Thoughts on the characters
I had mixed feelings about the secondary characters. Drake seemed like an entitled ass, but I would be interested in digging deeper into his heart and mind. I’m curious to see if he really does have a heart of gold in there somewhere and if the selfish prick could give up his precious mistress and make an effort with Charlotte. In historicals, few things piss off my modern sensibilities more than mistresses, and it can’t be an uncommon sentiment, because very rarely does the hero of the novel have a current mistress—which makes me very intrigued by the fact that Drake is the hero of the next book in the series. He’ll have his work cut out for him in earning my affection, because right now I kind of despise him.
I feel a bit similarly about Charlotte; with the exception of the initial ball, she started off as shallow and naive and went downhill to snotty and haughty. I see little leading lady potential in her, but I’d love to be pleasantly surprised. I didn’t have much sympathy for the brat when she quickly became dissatisfied with her marriage. “Boo-hoo, I married a duke, whose station is second only to royalty. I got everything I could ever want, but that’s not enough. I want him to love my selfish entitled ass. Why doesn’t he like me? Waaaahhh.”
*deadpan stare*
Your bed, Charlotte. Lie in it or get off your hoity-toity ass and change the sheets yourself.
I thought Aunt Hazel and her matchmaking antics would annoy me, but she actually grew on me. She wasn’t looking for good matches for status and bragging rights—though those are great perks—but rather she just wanted security for the girls she loved like her own children. I also appreciated her sense of humor; I was particularly tickled when she was in the rose garden with Liz and Sebastian and cited this excuse to give them a little privacy: “I must go sniff the flowers [over there] because I’m sure those smell different from all the others.” *snorts*
Even Aunt Catherine, who was ostensibly portrayed as a cold, snotty bitch, had her redeeming qualities. While she was harsh and in most situations valued propriety over compassion, she didn’t condone abuse. She promised to help Liz—and presumably Charlotte?—leave their husbands if the girls were being abused. By the end I still didn’t like her, but I respected her.
As for the leads, they were good, strong characters, though they had their faults. Liz annoyed me a bit when she married Sebastian without knowing his secrets after declaring she wouldn’t marry anyone who held back from her, but I think I can understand that her judgment was skewed by her emotions. God knows it’s happened to me, too.
I had so much in common with her it was ridiculous; her thinking often ran parallel to mine, and our personalities matched in a lot of ways. I nodded in total understanding when she said that socializing exhausted her. Running away from the party and finding a quiet room in which to read in peace? Been there, done that.
She disappointed me just a little when she didn’t leave a note for Sebastian before she left. She had to have known he’d think she’d left him for good, and I’d like to think she’d try to disabuse him of that notion. All she’d have needed to say is, “I’ll be back soon,” maybe adding, “I promise,” to make it a little more romantic and less like she’d gone to run errands.
And did children really not occur to her? I mean… I just don’t understand how it could not have occurred to her. I mean, seriously. Come on, Liz, you’re smarter than that.
I related to Sebastian a lot as well. He wanted to tell Liz the truth, wanted to come clean, but he wanted her to like him, too. I’ve been caught in the middle of my own desires like that—and I’ve made the same compromise he intended to and just written a letter. Truth delivered without confrontation. Cowardly but well-intentioned.
Oh, how I wanted to hug him. Just hug him and rock until he knew how lovable he was. Except that’s more or less what Liz tried to do, and he just wouldn’t have it. Some readers might be irritated by his waffling—pushing her away, pulling her close, pushing her away, pulling her close—but it didn’t bother me. If it had happened one time more, though…
Some readers might also think the Sebastian we met in that library wasn’t the same Sebastian throughout the rest of the book, but I don’t. I can understand why those readers might feel that way, but I disagree. He just had a very bad attitude in that first scene; there was no hope in him at all. Then he met Liz, and in her he saw opportunities that he’d hardly dared to believe possible.
What I really, really, really appreciated was that Sebastian made the effort to find peace within himself, of his own volition, for not only Liz’s sake but for his own, for the sake of their future together. I totally expected him to continue thinking himself a monster until something happened to force him to think differently—either saving Liz from drowning or meeting Lilith. Instead, he told himself enough was enough and worked to heal himself. Because really, if he didn’t do that, if he didn’t change his own thinking, if circumstances had just given him an out, he would have always had that self-hatred lurking in the back of his mind, his heart. It would have haunted him, not knowing if he’d have been able to slay the dragon himself. I was so, so proud of him in that moment.
I also appreciated that he didn’t just make the offer of friendship to Liz because he lusted for her and being her “friend” was a gateway. No, he really did want to be her friend, even if they never touched. They had common interests and got along well, and he lusted after her mind as much as her body. He liked her personality, too—he simply liked her, and finding her sexy just sweetened the deal.
Another thing I admired about him—well, I think Liz did this too, so I’ll include her. What I really admired about them as characters was their ability to realize and admit their mistakes, even if only to themselves. For instance, in the days after Sebastian assumed Liz and Drake were just fucking with him, he slowly realized that the logic wasn’t there to support that accusation. Where some characters might have stubbornly clung to it nevertheless and held a pointless, immature grudge, or maybe wouldn’t even consider the possibility that they were wrong, these two were smart, mature, and humble enough to know when they’d made an error in judgment and to make an effort to atone for it. That was nice to see.
Golden’s got a long list of titles she plans to publish in the near future, several in the Enchantress series as well as another trilogy, it seems. The second Enchantress book, The Duke and the Enchantress, tells the story of Drake and Charlotte and will likely be released at the beginning of February 2019. The short excerpt included with my ARC didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but it did whet my appetite. I would be mighty impressed if Golden turned those two douches into sympathetic protagonists.
Oh, I should mention in case anybody’s wondering, there’s no magic. The heroines are not witches; that’s not the connotation she’s employing in the title.
noapologybookreviews.com
keeneyeediting.com
January 25, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my second Paullett Golden book and I am confident that I have found a new favorite author! I read the A Dash of Romance first (not part of this series) and very much enjoyed it entirely. I absolutely tore through The Earl and the Enchantress ignoring all responsibilities and reading the book cover to cover in no time! I was surprised and not too shamefully thrilled to learn that The Earl and the Enchantress is quite a bit more romantically explicit than the very chaste A Dash of Romance. In The Earl and the Enchantress our main characters, Lizbeth and Sebastian, were very appealing to me and I really appreciated their attraction to one another’s intelligence and that they were both so turned on by quality conversation together (though I thoroughly enjoyed their physical chemistry and internal monologues deeply appreciating each other’s physical forms as well)! Thank you Paullett Golden for your sexy descriptions of Sebastian’s physique and for the animal attraction between he and Lizbeth. I was very impressed with how open the characters were with each other very early on in their dialogue regarding their mutual affection for each other. I enjoyed their interactions so much that sometimes I found myself just slightly disappointed when an entire chapter involved page after page of either character’s self-introspection and questioning of their actions... repeatedly. These lengthy segments could have been just a bit more succinct and less frequent for my liking, probably because I was chomping at the bit for more scintillating interactions between our hero and heroine. I enjoy more mature and level-headed heroines which made Lizbeth a refreshing joy to read, and I loved that despite the determination from both main characters to never marry that they embraced their passion for each other and didn’t let their preconceived predilection against marriage injure their romance.
I am eager to read the next book in the Enchantresses series and already bought it and read the first couple of chapters before letting life’s responsibilities resurface and cause me to pause my reading momentarily. I, like many other reviewers, was surprised to learn that the sequel will cover the breadth of Lizbeth’s sisters story with Sebastian’s cousin, Drake, the Duke of Annick because we already know from The Earl and the Enchantress some of how unfortunate their romantic prospects turn out. I didn’t like Charlotte much so I look forward to learning more about their story. Though I don’t think that they could ever live up to my enjoyment of Lizbeth and Sebastian’s connection or my respect for the characters, I am hopeful I’ll come to love Charlotte and Drakes story as well. I can’t imagine being disappointed in Paullett Golden’s storytelling after loving two of her novels thus far.
This is my second Paullett Golden book and I am confident that I have found a new favorite author! I read the A Dash of Romance first (not part of this series) and very much enjoyed it entirely. I absolutely tore through The Earl and the Enchantress ignoring all responsibilities and reading the book cover to cover in no time! I was surprised and not too shamefully thrilled to learn that The Earl and the Enchantress is quite a bit more romantically explicit than the very chaste A Dash of Romance. In The Earl and the Enchantress our main characters, Lizbeth and Sebastian, were very appealing to me and I really appreciated their attraction to one another’s intelligence and that they were both so turned on by quality conversation together (though I thoroughly enjoyed their physical chemistry and internal monologues deeply appreciating each other’s physical forms as well)! Thank you Paullett Golden for your sexy descriptions of Sebastian’s physique and for the animal attraction between he and Lizbeth. I was very impressed with how open the characters were with each other very early on in their dialogue regarding their mutual affection for each other. I enjoyed their interactions so much that sometimes I found myself just slightly disappointed when an entire chapter involved page after page of either character’s self-introspection and questioning of their actions... repeatedly. These lengthy segments could have been just a bit more succinct and less frequent for my liking, probably because I was chomping at the bit for more scintillating interactions between our hero and heroine. I enjoy more mature and level-headed heroines which made Lizbeth a refreshing joy to read, and I loved that despite the determination from both main characters to never marry that they embraced their passion for each other and didn’t let their preconceived predilection against marriage injure their romance.
I am eager to read the next book in the Enchantresses series and already bought it and read the first couple of chapters before letting life’s responsibilities resurface and cause me to pause my reading momentarily. I, like many other reviewers, was surprised to learn that the sequel will cover the breadth of Lizbeth’s sisters story with Sebastian’s cousin, Drake, the Duke of Annick because we already know from The Earl and the Enchantress some of how unfortunate their romantic prospects turn out. I didn’t like Charlotte much so I look forward to learning more about their story. Though I don’t think that they could ever live up to my enjoyment of Lizbeth and Sebastian’s connection or my respect for the characters, I am hopeful I’ll come to love Charlotte and Drakes story as well. I can’t imagine being disappointed in Paullett Golden’s storytelling after loving two of her novels thus far.
December 3, 2019
You know that ghost is me.
Bookworm Lisbeth Tethow escapes to the library during a debutante ball only to meet a gentleman similarly hiding from the ball. Lisbeth learns he is none other than the brooding reclusive Earl of Roddam; Sabastian Lancaster. He challenges Lisbeth about a book they both read. Lisbeth takes the challenge and they discusses various topics. Lisbeth flees when she realizes they are alone in the library; together. Lol. Which is unheard of and scandalous. Also, she doesn't want to spoil her sister finding a good man to marry because of a scandal. However, the truth is Lisbeth is very smitten with the brooding earl and She is too overwhelmed to handle her newfound feelings for Sebastian. Lisbeth and Sabastian meet each other once again only to become closer and find they are each others intellectual equal. Unfortunately, Sebastian is suffering from the ghosts from his past and sabotages the growing relationship with Lisbeth before it can grow into something deeper than friendship. This book was great. I loved it. Sebastian reminded me of Rochester from"Jane Erye."lol. Like Rochester, Sebastian was in love with Jane but was haunted by his past ghosts. I loved how intelligent and literate the book is. The dialogue is clever and insightful. The characters are intriguing and Interesting. I loved the slow-burn between Sebastian and Lisbeth. I get so tired with the Insta-love romances. The slow-burn makes it more satisfying and beautiful when the couple finally gets together. The story was well-written and held my interest to the end. This is the first time I've read this author and will not be my last. I will be looking for more of her books on AMAZON. lol. I received a complimentary free copy from Voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review.
Bookworm Lisbeth Tethow escapes to the library during a debutante ball only to meet a gentleman similarly hiding from the ball. Lisbeth learns he is none other than the brooding reclusive Earl of Roddam; Sabastian Lancaster. He challenges Lisbeth about a book they both read. Lisbeth takes the challenge and they discusses various topics. Lisbeth flees when she realizes they are alone in the library; together. Lol. Which is unheard of and scandalous. Also, she doesn't want to spoil her sister finding a good man to marry because of a scandal. However, the truth is Lisbeth is very smitten with the brooding earl and She is too overwhelmed to handle her newfound feelings for Sebastian. Lisbeth and Sabastian meet each other once again only to become closer and find they are each others intellectual equal. Unfortunately, Sebastian is suffering from the ghosts from his past and sabotages the growing relationship with Lisbeth before it can grow into something deeper than friendship. This book was great. I loved it. Sebastian reminded me of Rochester from"Jane Erye."lol. Like Rochester, Sebastian was in love with Jane but was haunted by his past ghosts. I loved how intelligent and literate the book is. The dialogue is clever and insightful. The characters are intriguing and Interesting. I loved the slow-burn between Sebastian and Lisbeth. I get so tired with the Insta-love romances. The slow-burn makes it more satisfying and beautiful when the couple finally gets together. The story was well-written and held my interest to the end. This is the first time I've read this author and will not be my last. I will be looking for more of her books on AMAZON. lol. I received a complimentary free copy from Voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2020
I enjoy romance novels because, generally, the title gives away who ends up together. The Duke and the Maid, well, the duke ends up marrying his maid. The Marquis and the Governess, well, the marquis ends up marrying his children’s governess. It’s a predictability that is soothing and I know will have a HEA. But, I also enjoy reading a little about what happened AFTER the marriage, as well as the journey (often with several misunderstandings) that got them to that point. This book has both. There’s definitely a journey, but also a bit of what happens after. I truly liked both main characters (Lizbeth and Sebastian). The author managed to successfully portray both with some stereotypes (bluestocking and haunted by his past), yet without becoming annoying or over-the-top. I also hate when there are too many misunderstandings that a simple conversation would solve. This veered dangerously close to that, but again, the author deftly kept it in realistic mode without become exasperating.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading the next three books in the series. I also love when an author has enough secondary characters that you know would be perfect for each other, and you get to discover their stories. I am intrigued by the next one, as Charlotte kinda annoyed me, though I’m curious to know more about Drake...
Received a free copy through Notorious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading the next three books in the series. I also love when an author has enough secondary characters that you know would be perfect for each other, and you get to discover their stories. I am intrigued by the next one, as Charlotte kinda annoyed me, though I’m curious to know more about Drake...
Received a free copy through Notorious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2021
I would like to say I really did enjoy this book! It started off a bit slow for my taste but it picked up around the midpoint and it was worth it in the end.
The two main characters I really loved!! Sebastian and Lizbeth were a well written couple and the author did a good job of making them seem like real people with human emotions and logic. And who does not love a stoic man with a wounded soul (heart eyes emoji)?! I know I certainly do.
It seemed to me (and my little historical knowledge) that the author did a good job of painting an accurate picture of the clothing/etiquette of the time!
Would recommend for anyone interested in a historical romance.
**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
The two main characters I really loved!! Sebastian and Lizbeth were a well written couple and the author did a good job of making them seem like real people with human emotions and logic. And who does not love a stoic man with a wounded soul (heart eyes emoji)?! I know I certainly do.
It seemed to me (and my little historical knowledge) that the author did a good job of painting an accurate picture of the clothing/etiquette of the time!
Would recommend for anyone interested in a historical romance.
**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
March 18, 2021
I adored the heroine, Lizbeth. She is smart, witty and a woman before her time. She matches very well with the intelligent but brooding, Sebastian and their first scene together is intense. Neither of them is looking for marriage or even love, but they are continually drawn to each other.
The banter between these two is very fun and there is a slow burn attraction between the outspoken self imposed Spinster and the brooding Earl. This was a great and refreshing read. I found myself smiling at their bantering conversations but wish there had been just a little more physical action a little earlier in the story to really keep me hooked.
The banter between these two is very fun and there is a slow burn attraction between the outspoken self imposed Spinster and the brooding Earl. This was a great and refreshing read. I found myself smiling at their bantering conversations but wish there had been just a little more physical action a little earlier in the story to really keep me hooked.
January 24, 2020
Received this story in exchange for an honest review author and Voracious Readers Only.
And frankly, loved it. Solid, sweet story line, with enough tension to make it interesting, but without the annoying "no one really talks to each other" that can be common with romances. It is there, it's just not ridiculous, dragged out, and annoying, and does a great job wrapping it up. Seriously loved this book, the heroine was strong, which is appealing, with the hero to match.
Posted to GoodReads and Amazon
And frankly, loved it. Solid, sweet story line, with enough tension to make it interesting, but without the annoying "no one really talks to each other" that can be common with romances. It is there, it's just not ridiculous, dragged out, and annoying, and does a great job wrapping it up. Seriously loved this book, the heroine was strong, which is appealing, with the hero to match.
Posted to GoodReads and Amazon
January 1, 2020
Wow! This book was richly detailed like a fine tapestry where you see intricate, minute details in each section. I'll be honest, I didn't care for either Roddam or his cousin, Annick, at first. Roddam grew on me as I got to know him better ... what made him tick and what made him into the person he was when Lizbeth met him. Annick not so much but I'm willing to give him a chance in the next book.
The relationship between Lizbeth and Sebastian wasn't easy and it certainly wasn't a fairy tale from any of the books they read but it proceeded exactly as I expected and provided all the right emotions while I read through their highs and lows. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romances and hot romance!
Looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
The relationship between Lizbeth and Sebastian wasn't easy and it certainly wasn't a fairy tale from any of the books they read but it proceeded exactly as I expected and provided all the right emotions while I read through their highs and lows. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romances and hot romance!
Looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
January 10, 2020
Charlotte “Lizbeth” Trethow has watched her friends’ marriages and she’s decided she wants nothing to do with marring and becoming some man’s property so there’s not going to be any wedded bliss for her. She’s quite intrigued and attracted to Sebastian Lancaster, Earl of Roddam when she meets him. Her thought on marriage take a different turn when she meets Sebastian he’s a handsome, witty, intellectual and thoughtful man whom she feels she could grow to care for, but Sebastian has demons of his own as his past returns to haunt them. Can love grow between these two or will their difference be the end of their relationship before they have a chance to fall in love? An excellent story and one I voluntarily wrote a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews