My One and Only Earl

Forever Yours #12

by Stacy Reid

James, Lord Kingsley’s best friend’s dying wish was that he married his spinster sister. Unluckily, James is honor-bound to fulfill another oath and can never marry Miss Poppy Ashford, no matter how delightfully charming and sensual he finds her.

Treated horridly by her stepmother and half-sisters, Poppy has little to anticipate for her future. She is stunned when the devilishly handsome and most sought-after Lord Kingsley suggests a scheme that might make her more eligible and appealing to the marriage-minded gentlemen of society. Eager at the chance of a future that is more than her working as a governess, Poppy agrees to his lessons—even the ones in kissing!

Poppy knew every laugh, dance, and stolen kisses were just a pretense. So why did James make her heart throb so strongly, and why did her impossible dreams now include an earl she had little hopes of ever marrying?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Novella, Regency, Historical Fiction, Fiction

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2021

About the author

I am an unapologetic romance lover. I read it. I write it. Enough said. Well..I also have a warrior way "Never give up on my dreams." I spend a copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from Walking Dead, watching Japanese anime and playing video games with my love, Dusean.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read: 6/18/23
1.5 stars/ generously rounded to 2 stars

This was just a boring book! I thought this was a MOC. How disappointing to find out it wasn't. The characters are one dimensional with a pathetic plot. So instead of honoring his bff last request to marry his sister, instead he tries to marry her off. There was the won't they will they crap, except I didn't care either way. I felt no connection to any character. I just wanted the book to end. I rarely skip pages, but I had to. Why, SR! You're a better author than this

[kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ✰

my heart is very full at this moment. ♡

[ChasingLeslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Delaney, now Earl of Kingsley, served in the military with his best friend Richard Ashford. After learning that Richard passed away, James opens a letter that Richard gave him - years earlier - before they marched to war: his final wish was that James marry his sister Poppy. However, James feels honor bound to fulfill a betrothal contract his deceased brother made in order to save their estates. Despite his attraction to Poppy, James will help her conquer the ton and find a husband.

This is book twelve in the Forever Yours series. It stands alone, although the hero from book eight plays a small role.

This is a lovely Cinderella story complete with stepmother and two self absorbed half-sisters. Sunny Poppy has always been second fiddle in her family, and is even willing to take a governess position to strike out on her own and have her own life. James and his sister Daphne play "fairymother" and help polish Poppy up with society lessons and a new wardrobe. There was a lot of emotion packed into this novella...I really liked Poppy and James and wish there was a little more time to spend with them.

Tropes: Cinderella/Fairytale Retelling, Brother's Best Friend, Friends to Lovers, Lessons, Matchmaker

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #MyOneAndOnlyEarl #Booksprout

[Danielle Lamoureaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I would read a dictionary if Stacy Reid wrote it. She is one of my "autobuy" authors and I adore everything she writes. She writes characters with depth and this book was no exception.

This is book 12 in the Forever Yours series and a new take on Cinderella. James, Lord Kingsley’s best friend’s dying wish was that he married his spinster sister. Poor Poppy is mistreated badly by her stepmother and two half sisters and James steps in to help her boost her popularity this season. They met after the death of Poppy's brother and began a correspondence. I truly wish there had more to the story line about their correspondence over the two year time period when they were separated. I think it would have added more to the story. In this story, James has things he needs to overcome and Poppy finds her voice. It was a great story that kept me awake much longer than I should have been to finish the book.

James's sister and mother are wonderful additions to the story and I hope we see Daphne get a HEA in an upcoming book! I found myself wondering more about her backstory and future.

The tropes are Cinderella, brother's best friend, and class difference. I definitely recommend this book, and it does fine as a standalone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Luana ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read all the books from the Forever Yours series but the ones I have are usually very cute. This one was no exception. Very short and sweet read. A Cinderella retelling...

[Emilia Redington · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Beautiful ☆☆☆
It was a nice and short read.

Both main characters were likable and the story sweet and enjoyable.

I didn't rated higher because I rarely, if ever, rate a novela higher than 4 stars and that has to be absolutely great for me to do so.

In this story the end was really rushed for all the angst that was built in 140 pages. The whole resolution was but 10 pages.

Even if it was a novela this could've been handled better.

But all in all was a nice read.👌

[Preeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of friends to lover with loads of mutual pining and can be read as a standalone(>200 pages).
James was the second son and had served in the army with Poppy's brother, Richard. Now James is an Earl of Kingsley and meets Poppy at Richard's funeral. Poppy has a horrible stepmother and stepsisters who treat her as a 'necessary inconvenience'.Two years after their mutual grief made a connection, they meet again at Poppy's sister opening season in London. Here, James fights consistently with his attraction because he can't marry Poppy and thus decided to sponsor a season for her.
Both the MCs are very likable. James continuously tries to help and support Poppy and Poppy is sweet but has a strength in her character which can be seen in how she deals with her family. I would have liked it to be a bit longer as I think the plot was wrapped up quickly in the end. Still a well-deserved 4star read.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost a five star!!

My heart is full, my faith in historical romance restored! It was soft, angsty and absolutely full to the brim with pining ❤
The only thing that was kinda meh was the rushed end... Plus I wanted James and Poppy to be apart for awhile longer, maybe be reunited at the same place they met two years ago 🥺


side note: it is always a great pleasure to see viscount worsley 😘

[Shruti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice. Fun read.

[Darbella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars Poppy and James Cinderella lite.

[Topastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have picked my way through this series and have found some real gems. Poppy was so sweet but I appreciated she had a backbone and could speak her mind. James was a kind and honorable but a bit boring. I will say that they scene of when they are first intimate was HOT!! I do love me some Stacy Reid and this is the series that keeps on giving.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Delaney, Lord Kingsley’s best friend Richard’s dying wish was that he married his spinster sister Poppy. Unluckily, James is honour-bound to fulfill another oath and can never marry Miss Poppy Ashford, no matter how delightfully charming and sensual he finds her. Poppy meets James on the day of her brother Richard’s funeral & they form a bond as she weeps on his shoulder. They correspond & the letters are one brightness in her life. Treated horridly by her stepmother and half-sisters, Poppy has little to anticipate for her future. She is stunned when the devilishly handsome and most sought-after Lord Kingsley who is no other but James, suggests a scheme that might make her more eligible and appealing to the marriage-minded gentlemen of society. Eager at the chance of a future that is more than her working as a governess, Poppy agrees to his lessons.
A delightful story, well written with strong characters. I loved both James & Poppy who were perfect for each other, the road to their HEA wasn't easy but did make for a very entertaining read. I would have liked for there to have been more details about the letters they wrote also I felt the ending was rushed. Really it was that I wanted it to be longer as I didn’t want it to finish! A captivating read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Mari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing needs work. The story telling didn’t have a great flow, like an informational catalog instead of a romance novel.

[Obsidian True · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything happened quickly with little development. James was completely leading Poppy on, the whole time. He knew he couldn’t marry her and kept flirting and being physical with her. And then the solution that was used to magically solve all the problems at the end were ridiculous and used for ease and convenience. The way they behaved and flouted society’s conventions even at their first meeting seemed far-fetched.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful.
A charming Cinderella story of a sweet young woman named Poppy who has a hero enter her life only to know that he cannot be hers. James made a promise to his best friend but is unable to fulfill it due to an early promise made to his brother. Not sure what to do he suggest a plan to help Poppy find a husband and to get out from underneath her stepmother's control. Their first meeting was beautifully written as was the whole book but that first meeting was extra special. Life was not easy for either character but the author did a wonderful job showing just what true love can do. I was impressed with the characters and I highly recommend the book. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant

This story started out much like Stacy's other books. In fact, I thought I had already read it. It soon became evident that I had never read this book.
I borrowed the book from Kindle Unlimited but this is a great book which I would be interested in owning.

[Susan Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

the ending was a bit much…

I enjoyed the story and the chemistry between the leads. That ending resolution though came from nowhere and made me side eye the entire story and knock down the rating.

[b.andherbooks]

i'm sorry this was so boring

[SynergyQuest · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 star

Yay! It’s another Stacy Reid historical romance! My One and Only Earl continues a series that is chockfull of historical romance candy!

[Lisette · Rating 3 out of 5]

James made a promise to fulfil his friends dying wish without knowing what it was. When his friend dies and he finds out what the wish is (marry his friend's sister Poppy), he finds out it is something he can't do since he is engaged already. James struggles a bit with this dilemma when he gets to know Poppy better. I thought the romance was sweet. Not very original, but despite that still enjoyable. It's loosely based on cinderella.

[between the covers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally I like this author, but it was a chore to finish reading this book, because I was so annoyed with the "hero". The Hero was committed to wed another woman, but the heroine did not find out until about 85% into the book-and only because someone else told her. The way it got resolved was ridiculous. There were also some rough spots when it came to the flow of the story.

[Penelope · Rating 2 out of 5]

started off well but there was no chemistry, historical accuracy, personality, or charm to the characters. they moved in ways to keep the story beats going. i appreciate that she stood up for herself and was being proactive but she was boring and so was he. when did he fall in love with her? it was also an awk length and after the midway point dragged.

[Dorene Scogin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointing. It started pretty strong with a Cinderella vibe. Unfortunately, the plot failed and the author added a really far-fetched solution that involved making the hero a prize fighter. (WHAT?)

Maybe she’s turning them out too quickly. This one was a big miss.

[Sw3 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot is really compelling (for the most part). The MCs are pleasant. The h had just a touch of flakey. It didn't feel historically accurate at all (too much forwardness). And the pacing was just too rushed. A lot of telling, not showing. There's not much steam. And the ending is a little crazy.

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My One and Only Earl, Book 12 of the Forever Yours series, was about Miss Poppy Ashford, eldest of three sisters to the late Mr. Richard Ashford, and Lord James Alexander, Delaney, Earl of Kingsley.
James and Richard had been best friends and had even joined the military together. When Richard lost a leg in the war and was sent home, he and James lost touch. During the time apart, James' brother, Henry, the previous Earl of Kingsley, died, making James the new Earl. Two years after James' brother died, he received a letter from Poppy, informing him that Richard had also died. However, the letter arrived too late and he just missed the funeral. While in the military, James and Richard had swapped letters containing their last request should the other die first. Since Richard had died, James opened the letter from him, only to find out that his last request was for James to marry Richard's sister, Poppy, as their father had not provided for her. Unfortunately, by that time, James was under a different obligation and regretted he could not fulfill Richard's dying request.
Having lived for years with her stepmother and two half-sisters who all treated her abominably, Poppy tried to seek employment in order to improve her life, only to have the three of them ruin it for her.
Side Note: Of all the books in this series, this was the first one that had the evil half-sister syndrome with an angst and drama level way too high to be enjoyable. I kept wanting to put it down just so I could go slap someone silly in place of the sisters and stepmother. Also, the author inadvertently changed Poppy's last name from Ashford to Ashton when James invited her to waltz with him at the first ball after returning to Town. There were a few irritating grammatical and punctuation errors that irritated me a bit but were easy to pass over.
Although two years passed before he saw Poppy again, they had stayed in contact through the exchange of messages. Unable to marry Poppy himself, even though he might long to, James vowed to help her find a husband.
There was a lot of angst and drama, mostly for Poppy because of her stepmother and half-sisters always creating it for her, but there was enough humor to keep it from becoming over-powering. The passion was subtle and well-managed between James and Poppy, although the reader could sense that it was ready and longing to be unleashed.
The twists and turns of the story were a touch bizarre and the fact that it had the same attributes as the story of Cinderella made it a bit of a turnoff. However, there were enough differences to keep the reader's interest. The characters were well-developed if a tad immature. Poppy, for a 24-year-old woman, tended to let people walk all over her just because she cared for them. She did finally develop enough of a backbone to stand up to them, but it was a "too little, too late" kind of backbone. James, for his part, spent an unnecessary four years devoted to an allegiance begun by his late brother. What he should have done was to find another way to fulfill the obligations instead of waiting until it was almost too late. However, the book was decent enough to earn a five-star rating and to be added to the Keeper for the Shelves collection. It's just a good thing it was the final book in the series because 12 books was a bit long to draw out this particular series.

[Sandra Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an OK Regency romance, but I wanted more backstory on both James and Poppy. Because of that, it gets 3.5 stars from me, rounded down to 3 stars.

I liked James and Poppy, and thought they made a good couple. I liked that he tried to help her, just because her late brother asked him to. He saw more than just her initial appearance -- the person she was inside -- and was attracted to her. He was so honorable that trying to keep a promise made by his late brother almost made him lose her.

I thought Poppy should have stood up for herself to her family sooner. I get this was a Cinderella story, with the stepmother and two stepsisters, but Poppy should have at least refused to let them get away with some of what they tried to do to her. I really liked when James and his family helped her.

My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fighting for Love . . .

Poppy Ashford has been treated badly by her stepmother and half-sisters, all except for her older brother. After learning that Richard had died, James opens a letter Richard had given him years earlier. Richard requested in the letter that, if something happened to him while in the military, James would marry his sister, Poppy, to take care of her. But James’ brother Henry had promised to marry a 14-year-old Miss Vinette Winters, when she became old enough, and her father provided in exchange, money to try to save their estate. When James’ brother died, James was expected to honor that agreement.

James Delaney, now Earl of Kingsley, trapped by the promise of his brother, goes to Mr. Winters to get out of the contract because he has met and fallen in love with Poppy. He offers instead to pay back the money owed with interest over a 5-year period and to offer his connections and sponsorship to Mr. Winter’s daughter when she is ready for her first Season so they can find her a husband. Mr. Winters would not agree and threatened to sue him so the scandal would destroy his reputation. James kept offering a fair compromise, and finally Mr. Winters said he would allow him to cancel the contract if he paid back all of the money within 30 days! He knew that was impossible.

There is so much for both Poppy and James to deal with in this story. The story line is well-written, and the characters are likable and believable, generating the reader’s respect. James does find a solution which is quite drastic. Will he risk everything for Poppy? Can he get out of the hated, selfish contract that Mr. Winters won’t release him from?

[LOU71 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My One and Only Earl is the twelfth novella in the Forever Yours series. This is a sweet, gentle historical romance. Likable characters, well-paced story, and a delightful plot. Prologue set in Lincolnshire. The story continues two years later in London.

The Marquess and I: 5 stars
The Duke and I: 3 stars
The Viscount and I: 3+ stars
Misadventures with the Duke: 3 stars
When the Earl was Wicked: 5 stars
A Prince of My Own: 3- stars
Sophia and the Duke: 5 stars
The Sins of Viscount Worsley: 5 stars
An Unconventional Affair: 3- stars (barely)
Mischief and Mistletoe: 5- stars
A Rogue in the Making: 4- stars
My One and Only Earl: 4+ stars

James Alexander Delaney, now the Earl of Kingsley, is beholden to two requests involving young ladies. One, an oath made to save the family estates from sinking debt, passed on to him from his deceased older brother to wed a girl in three years time. And two, a dying wish from his best friend to marry the friend’s spinster younger sister. James is an earnest and loyal Hero.

Poppy Ashford lives with her step-mother and two step-sisters and is treated horridly by them. Yet, Poppy remains kind, strong in her convictions, and sweetly playful.

James and Poppy’s chemistry is easy and true from the start. I like the way James would pop in and out of the places where Poppy would be, just to see her. Their sexy time is a great part of the story. I like their names. Daphne was a great secondary character that supported her brother’s wishes. I liked how she and Poppy became friends.

I highly recommend this book. I highly recommend this series.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

“My One and Only Earl” is a Cinderella story right down to the wicked stepmother and two wicked ‘stepsisters’ – here they are half-sisters. Although this is a novella, it has a slightly complicated set-up. Without going into a lot of detail about this story, so you can enjoy it for yourself, I will try to lay just the minimum out for you.

Poppy is a sweet young woman who is treated abhorrently by her family. Her only ally was her older brother, who gets killed while serving in the military. He wanted his friend James to marry Poppy if something were to befall him. When that comes about, however, James is embroiled in another mess of his own brother’s making and so he can’t marry her even though he’d really like to. There is a lot of longing and frustration for both Poppy and James to deal with in this story. They are both likable characters trying to do the right thing in life, wishing they could figure out a way to make it work.

I thought the ending was good, but for me it came together a bit too quickly at the end after the journey that was taken to get there. There were also some parts of their long-term correspondence that I think it would have helped us to know more about because it would have increased the basis of their relationship. I really believe that even just another couple of chapters would have raised this another star for me, because it really was a nice story and well-written.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regency Cinderella

James Delaney, Lord, Kingsley missed his best friend’s funeral by several hours, but he swore to honor Richard’s last request to watch over his baby sister who has been left with an unloving stepmother and two stepsisters.

Poppy Ashford had the prettiest silvery eyes and had a way of making those she loved happy, and Poppy fell in love with James Delaney. Having no idea her brother’s friend was an Earl, she had been corresponding with the kind man who stopped when she was the only one left in the rain after Richard’s funeral. He held an umbrella over her head and wrapped her in his great coat, and sent her home with it. Poppy secretly slept in it sometimes when she was lonely, and was thrilled when James offer to help her have a season.

James enlisted his sister Daphne to help him give Poppy some social polish, much to the dismay of her stepmother who thought attention from an Earl should be directed to her daughter.

Poppy is thrilled by the dances given only to her by the Earl of Kingsley, and even more so by the kisses even he didn’t mean to dispense. James is attracted to Poppy and would marry her himself, but for a contract of marriage left by the previous Earl of Kingsley, James brother. The estate was deeply in debt, so the previous Earl agreed to marry the lender’s daughter when she came of age.

As Daphne and James try to send Poppy off to a happier future than she would have had without them, Poppy still dreams it could be James. Like in Cinderella, will Poppy get her prince in the end?