The Other Countess

The Lacey Chronicles #1

by Eve Edwards

England, 1582 ELLIE - Lady Eleanor Rodriguez of San Jaime - is in possession of a gold-seeking father, a worthless title and a feisty spirit that captivates the elite of the Queen's court, and none other than the handsome new Earl of Dorset . . . WILLIAM LACEY has inherited his father's title and his financial ruin. Now the Earl must seek a wealthy heiress and restore his family's fortune. But Will's head has been turned by the gorgeous Ellie, yet their union can never be. Will is destined to marry a worthy Lady so the only question is - which one . . . ?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Historical, Historical Romance, Fiction, Teen

333 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

Eve Edwards has a doctorate from Oxford University and thinks researching a large part of the fun for writing historical fiction. She has visited Tudor houses, attended jousts and eaten Elizabethan banquets to get the sights, sounds and tastes right for this book. And, yes, she can testify that it is possible to eat neatly without the modern invention of the fork. She lives in Oxford and is married with three children.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read: 3/10/22
Very slow. It's very clean and the text is for a younger generation. I think I would recommend this book for a preteen.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Countess is Edwards' debut novel and I am really impressed. It's such as sweet book with really likeable characters and superb dialogue. It's never condescending to its target audience and passages of descriptive detail are done beautifully. I really got a sense of the time period and enjoyed it so much I wanted to learn more about Queen Elizabeth 1st and her reign.

I really liked Ellie, her full title being Lady Eleanor Rodrigues of San Jaime. She's soft and gentle, and yet a feisty young lady and doesn't take kindly to insults, regardless of the persons rank and is determined to stand her ground and defend herself as best she can. She's unfortunate to have an alchemist for a father, who is more interested in trying to turn metals into gold instead of being a father to Ellie. They are pretty much penniless and spend many months and years sleeping in barns or a friends spare room.

Will, the Earl of Dorset, is an interesting character but I didn't like him so much at the beginning as he's rather cruel to Ellie, aged twelve, and her father. However, deep down it is because his father has just died, which he believes to be the fault of Ellie's father and his alchemy practises, hence his hostility. He is also only fourteen and now head of his family's estate and fortune, and all the burdens that come with such a responsibility.

What I enjoyed most about Will was seeing him grow as a person, watching him work things through in his mind and coming to realise that his words and actions are spiteful and how, against his pride, he eventually apologises to Ellie when they met again in the future.

When Ellie and Will meet again four years later he doesn't recognise her, so they flirt and play and you get a real sense of their growing love for one another. Of course, things don't run smoothly and Will eventually finds out who she is. I was hoping for more passion as the writing itself seems to be aimed at the higher age bracket in the young adult market, but the romance is so sweet that the lack of passion didn't hinder me from finding this book an absolute treat.

Verdict:

I am very impressed with this debut. I loved Edwards writing style, and although everything happens at a fairly slow pace throughout The Other Countess, not once did I wish away the pages. The writing is beautiful and the characters are so vivid that I loved every word. I will definitely be reading the sequel, The Queen's Legacy, which is to be released sometime in Spring 2011, but until then I urge any fan of historical fiction or romance to read The Other Countess!

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Other Countess’ is Eve Edward’s debut novel and the first book in her YA ‘Tudor Historical Romance’ series.
This book will be added to my ‘Favourites of 2010’ list – it’s that good!

Edwards takes a little swath of history and makes it her own in this dazzling historical romance, set in 1582 England under the reign of ‘Virgin Queen’ Elizabeth I.

Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Hutton is an alchemist’s daughter. She traipses the country with her addle-brained father, as he hunts for the scientific formula to turn metals into gold. The Hutton’s live on the kindness of misguided lord’s and earl’s who believe Arthur Hutton is the answer to their fortunes. But it is always a matter of weeks or months before the lord’s start losing their money in Hutton’s useless sciences, which often include phoenix tears in the potions. When the novel begins, Ellie is twelve and she and her father are being kicked out of Lacey House, having bankrupted the recently deceased earl. The earl’s son, Will Lacey, throws the Hutton’s off his lands, furious at the alchemist for having made their family destitute.

The novel skips ahead four years to find Ellie and her father housed in the Queen’s court; but Ellie knows it is only a temporary reprieve from their wandering life.
Also at court is William Lacey, Earl of Dorset. Will is 18 and on the hunt for a rich wife, after his father left the family practically penniless and all responsibility on Will’s eldest shoulders;

This wasn’t good enough for James “Will, we’re running short of time.”
“I know that, but this is the rest of my life I am hazarding here, no small matter easily settled. I want at least to know something of the character of the lady I eventually woo and wed.”
Ever pragmatic, James sighed. “To be honest, Will, all that matters at the moment is the size of the dowry. We are skimming just an inch above ruin?”

Will should be concentrating on courting the lovely (and wealthy) Lady Jane Perceval at court. But a chance meeting with Ellie sets all their fates on a journey of great passion and great loss. Torn between obligation and love, duty and family, Will and Ellie have to decide where their hearts lie when so much is in the balance.

Eve Edwards’ writing is a sumptuous delight, a literary banquet! Edwards is an Oxford University graduate and well-versed in research – and her attention to detail serves well in this book. She remains true to the period, utterly transporting readers to Elizabethan England. Edwards even borrows major historical figures for guest-appearances – including Queen Elizabeth I herself, and court ‘favourite’ Sir Walter Ralegh. Edwards also writes major historical conflicts and events, such as the persecution of Catholics in Protestant England, and the impending war with Spain.
Even if readers aren’t historical buffs, there’s plenty to admire in this sweeping saga. All of the historical references set the book on a grand-scale, but Edwards has written these complicated historical notations with such verve and flourish that they live on the page, and act as wonderful backdrops to heighten suspense.

Edward’s ability to marry history with suspenseful romance is impressive; she breathes life into the ages and gives readers long-ago characters to fascinate and charm.
I was a little sceptical going into this book. The series title - ‘Tudor Historical Romance’ – seems like a bit of an oxymoron when coupled with the intended YA audience. I love reading historical romances, but my tastes have always leaned toward adult writers like Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn, who write the regency as well as the smut. I wasn’t so sure how a historical romance would fare when intended for a younger audience, assuming that it would be a tepid PG13 romance... which just leaves the ‘historical’ and there’s always a chance that things can divulge into high school history textbook. NOT the case in Eve Edward’s ‘The Other Countess’. Not at all!

The romance is really quite heated. In fact, the entire book leans more toward the racy and raunchy side of things. Nothing explicit or that crosses any YA boundaries – but I was (pleasantly) surprised by the book’s sexual undertones. There’s talk of knight’s gleaming torsos, oversized codpieces and lord’s diddling their maids!
But I think the light sexual content is just Edwards being a true scholar. This book is set during the reign of Elizabeth I, and it’s a misconception to think that in the golden age people were strictly chaste and pure. The novel is set in a time when the reigning monarch was nicknamed for her (lack of) sexual orientation!

For all that this is an epic historical drama; the romance is the real draw-card in ‘The Other Countess’. Ellie and Will are wonderful characters – Ellie as an academic girl in a time when a woman’s virtues were in her dowry. Will who has been set the hard task of providing for his family by sacrificing his happiness. Separately these two have enough drama to fill the pages, but when paired together they absolutely sizzle! Theirs is a forbidden romance, and so many obstacles are set before them that their love seems impossible... but that just kept things interesting and suspenseful! I loved their interactions, especially because they both challenged each other’s convictions;

“What need I of the priest when I have an angel to bless me?”
Ellie groaned inwardly at his flowery language. “I think perhaps you have more need of spectacles if you mistake me for one, my lord.”

I love, love, LOVED this book! Eve Edwards has written a YA historical romance that confounds convention and breathes life into Elizabethan history.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cared more for the subplots and minor characters than the supposed main thread of this narrative, mostly because it just felt too cliché. The scenario's been done in so many variants already, transferring it back to the Elizabethan era doesn't really compensate for the fact that this offers no new or unique perspective on a very well trodden time period.

The Other Countess definitely has its appeals, that stunning cover for starters. The ambience is charming, the dialogue is superb and the brother dynamic is so endearing. In short, Eve Edwards has a lovely writing style. However, the structure and some of the context is a bit questionable: I was dubious when the phrase 'warts and all' was used... just a bit shy of a century before it was coined by Cromwell.

The plot meanders and is ultimately circular. By the end of the novel, hardly anything has progressed and there's not the slightest whiff of any character development. We all knew how it was going to end, but the journey there was slow and at times, painful. This novel was a bit, well...pointless in that sense - it never achieves anything.

The Other Countess can be termed loosely as a romance - but a very lukewarm and syrupy romance. The relationship had no foundations -it just appeared out of nowhere. The characters didn't seem to connect on any emotional level and had about as much chemistry as oil and water. Above all, the relationship was needlessly sexualized. Well, the whole thing has quite a generous offering of innuendo but it got tedious and cringey towards the end.

Speaking of the end, it had no closure. It was like hitting a brick wall. Despite the characters making a point of acknowledging their desires but compromising them for duty, of course they went and indulged them. Don't they always? The impending issues were swept aside and forgotten, the cast of characters left hanging. Maybe the fact that this is the first in a trilogy might account for that, but as a standalone it just doesn't work.

An enjoyable light read, but not nearly as good as I remember it. Nevertheless, if I come across the next instalments (The Queen's Lady and The Rogue's Princess) I think I will give them a try.

[🐝 Shaz 🐝 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice ok read

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very interesting

[snowplum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book fits into an odd little sub-genre that I'm quite willing to like, in theory. It combines elements of YA, romance, and historical in a way that I've not encountered before, which predisposes me to like it. But the reason I'm not raving is that it does them all fairly well, but none of them so well that I'm bouncing in my seat.

The historical is significantly more present in this novel than in most YA fiction or YA romance. In this book and its successors, the author takes on not only the more common plot elements such as Elizabeth I's reign (which you know 80% of YA authors who write about don't do any research above and beyond reading 5 other YA authors who wrote handmaidens to Elizabeth) and the nobility in the 16th century, but far more complex and darker issues such as the persecution of Catholics, common social attitudes toward and mistreatment of ethnic minorities, women's powerlessness, social injustice, the dark side of Manifest Destiny, and mental illness. I think that's admirable, but Edwards does it just enough that the book ends up in a nether realm between pure romance (because there's so much darkness and historical detail relative to other books that would casually be listed alongside it) and Serious Historical fiction, which makes it hard to identify a target readership.

Then there's the romantic element, which is very PG-13. That's fine by me, but anyone who feels like it's just a fact that even teenagers have passionate affairs and that sexual content is desirable in a book depicting a great romance will be disappointed with the relative chastity of this book. It's also just not the focus of the book even approaching a percentage of the time that Romance novels tend to achieve. Ellie spends a lot of time dealing with her fiscally disastrous and arguably insane father and with the dangers of being branded anything from a witch to a Catholic (either of which would end in torture or even death), and Will spends a great deal of his time engaged to someone else because he has to marry for money to save his family from the ruin in which his father landed them by giving all his money to an alchemist.

And, ultimately, that's where the third genre ambiguity comes it -- this doesn't feel properly like YA because the characters don't perceive themselves as adolescent. They are responsible for households, engaged in politics, and perceived by society as ready to marry and procreate, not just date. They may be technically teenagers, but that meant something different in 1600 than it means now, and by being historically accurate about 16 years olds, Edwards has effectively NOT written a YA novel.

All that said, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for a nice quiet afternoon read. But I'm hard pressed to figure out whose favorite book it's going to be or who has to drop everything and read it NOW.

[Jenny / Wondrous Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Other Countess isn't something that I'd normally read, but because it's one of the first titles to be published under Puffin UK's new Razorbill imprint, I thought I'd give it a go. It's a solid debut title, and has led me to believe that perhaps historical fiction is my thing after all. It's the second historical YA book I've enjoyed recently, so I think I need to pay more attention to this particular genre, and not just turn my nose up at it because there's a frilly dress on the cover.

Eve Edwards writes about Tudor England as if she lived during that period herself, with an excellent eye for detail and traditions present at that time. Every now and then the language strays into a more contemporary style, but this only happens once or twice that I remember. Edwards has taken the utmost care to preserve the time of the Tudors, and her writing shows a true passion for our country's history.

The romance present in The Other Countess is lovely and somewhat innocent, with both main characters suiting each other perfectly. Ellie is strong-willed and stubborn, while Will is every bit the protector you'd expect him to be. I'll admit to swooning at a couple of things he said, mostly lines directed at the lucky Lady Ellie.

The reason The Other Countess falls short for me is all to do with the pace of the plot. Around halfway through, things slowed down and I kept losing my concentration. I had the same problem with The Luxe series, though, so I don't think there's anything specifically wrong with The Other Countess. Even though I do still enjoy them, I think I just generally struggle with slower stories, especially ones with a historical setting.

I'm interested to see what Will and Ellie will find themselves faced with next, and whether their difference in wealth will have a bigger part in the sequel. The Other Countess is something different on YA shelves, and it'll suit those readers looking for a sweet love story with a nod to times gone by.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this wasn't anything new or unpredictable. It definitely wasn't a bad story...

The quick:
Will is the Earl of Lacey now that his father has passed away. He sends the alchemist and his daughter, Ellie away and forbids them to return. He feels they have drained his family of their wealth in their search to re-create gold. Ellie is young at the time, but as the years progress she and her father go to the Queen's Court. William is struck by her beauty, he is charmed with her... he just doesn't know who her Father is. When he finds out it is an explosion. He's in love with someone he is supposed to hate. She is penniless, he needs to marry someone wealthy. Can their love/hate relationship ever turn into anything more?

Like I said, it was predictable. The one truly original part that I adored was the friendship between Ellie and Jane. Usually the two women are pitted against each other and it gets ugly. These two become quite the pair of friends, so refreshing to not have to deal with cat fights!!!
Also, I feel like the author sort of rambled at times. The book could have been a bit shorter and faster paced.

3.5 stars

rec for historical fiction fans

sidenote: This is 100% appropriate for Young Adults, there is no sex scenes. The word nipple is not in this book ;)

[Katherine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exstactly what I am looking for and only some authors can produce a book like this. When I go to a book shop or libaray in search for a book that my heart preaches for, I can never find it. This is the type of book that I like and enjoy and I can not wait until I can get my hands on the next one, which will come out in Spring 2011. If you are the author and reading this review, all I want to tell you is that you have created the perfect book that is hardly found and is completely unique.

This book is about a girl called Ellie and William Lacey, the new Earl of Dorset and how their lives intertwine unknowingly. Will needs to marry a woman who is wealthy as his family needs to repair their fortune. Meanwhile Elenor wears a meaningless spanish title in Elizabethian England. Ellie's father is hated by Will for he has an obsession in science and trying to "unlock God's secret" of making gold. Therefore the match is entirely impossible. With misconception and wit creates the drama of this wonderful book. They rescue each other right back and so does this book.

It transports you to a magical life of a Elizabethan. Wonderfully charming and the best so far.

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Other Countess” is a wonderful historical romance set in the time of Elizabeth I. It’s the first book in a trilogy of romances set in this intriguing period. You can find full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...

[Vicki_cosy.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a few years ago, I remember a magazine series that became a bit of a fad at my school. I’m fairly certain, if my hazy memory serves me correctly, that it was called Discovery and each issue would cover a particular period in history. I remember relatively little about the series now (other than my mother being quite annoyed at my loss of interest shortly after signing up for a subscription). However I do remember the very first issue, devoted to Queen Elizabeth I. Reading The Other Countess by Eve Edwards reminded me how much I’d adored this magazine and made me wonder why in the years since I hadn’t read more about this period in history.

The Other Countess tells the story of Lady Eleanor Rodriguez of San Jaime, or Ellie. With a worthless title inherited from her deceased Spanish mother and a scholarly alchemist father whose obsession with discovering how to make gold has left them penniless, her position at Queen Elizabeth’s court is lowly and often resented. When the handsome Will Lacey, Earl of Dorset, arrives desperate to find a wife with a large dowry to save his own families dire finances the pair are instantly attracted to one another. But little does Will know, Ellie is the daughter of the man responsible for his own father’s demise and the focus of Will’s hatred.

This is an absolutely gorgeous book… I loved it! Packed full of romance, history and the most sumptuous descriptions of the rituals and fashions of the Elizabethan Tudor court, it’s a book you can fully sink into and immerse yourself with. The Other Countess isn’t the most action packed or gritty book you’ll ever come across, in fact it’s quite sedate at times. However Eve Edward’s rich and evocative writing completely draws you in and I found myself lost within the pages, flying through them surprisingly quickly.

The biggest triumphs in Edward’s debut novel however are the strong characters. Despite being set in a time when the most expected of a woman is a good marriage, Ellie is strong, educated and independent. While fate hasn’t been particularly kind to her and her father’s antics have tarnished her reputation, she remains dignified and true to her principles. She’s intelligent, witty and full of fun, yet loyal in her duty and respectful of her time. The romance between herself and the Earl is fantastic; the chemistry between the two is absolutely electric. However, I loved how the relationship wasn’t rushed. There’s no immediate swooning and weak knees and both struggle against their feelings in the name of duty, it was incredibly realistic and easy to sympathise with both.

Lady Jane Perceval is another strong and admirable female character full of hidden depths, her development being a complete surprise and her friendship with Ellie definitely one of the highlights of the book for me. I’m really excited to see that her story is picked up in Edward’s next book, The Queen's Lady,due for release in 2011. There’s also Will’s brothers, James and Tobias, whose banter and camaraderie is fun and humorous; Sir Henry Perceval, arrogant and pompous, a real love to hate character and the intriguing scheming maid, Nell, who all weave together to create a delicious and fascinating tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s fascinating, romantic, fun, witty and full of character’s to either fall in love with or fully enjoy detesting. With a mix of fictional and real historical figures, the depth of Eve Edward’s research is clear yet her writing is never bogged down with the kind of detail that may have your concentration wandering. The result is that while reading this book you feel as if you really have been transported back in time. The Other Countess is a fantastic debut, sure to thrill fans of historical romance and those new to the genre alike, and I eagerly look forward to more from Edward’s in the future.

[Elizabeth ♛Smart Girls Love Trashy Books♛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-

.....What?

This was easily one of the worst books I've read this year. Granted, my bar has been set phenomenally high this year and it's only February, but still. It was just so boring and has no real focus nor plot. If I told you what the plot was....I wouldn't be able to, because there pretty much is no real plot.

It's written in such a childish style that if it wasn't for all the sexual references, I would've assumed this to be another childrens' book mislabeled as YA. Plus the language used was way too simple and modern-sounding. Granted my only exposure to Elizabethan language has been in Phillipa Gregory's novels, but still.

Nothing is really resolved at the end, and the main character's extended family are way too creepy for my liking. Not to mention the plot thread about hating Catholics comes literally out of nowhere near the end of the book. Yes, it's historically accurate, but that doesn't mean you can just randomly shove it into a book that was for the most part pretty fluffy. It's out of place.

There were too many characters to properly keep track of. I kept getting confused by who everyone was. A chart at the beginning or end of this book might've helped.

Really the only thing I liked was the May Day party with everyone dancing on a May Pole and wearing flowers, but since the writing style is rushed and childish, the scene isn't given proper time nor description to properly flourish.

I also liked Lady Jane's character and am glad she has her own book! Maybe I'll like hers more.

Someone described this as being a 'YA bodice-ripper', and honestly, they're right. There's little plot and most focus is just on sexuality and sensuality. If you're into this sort of thing, then you'll probably like this book just fine!

Maybe I'm just sick of Elizabethan England in general. Perhaps I should go forward in the timeline to a more recent decade in English history....

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reviewing two rather mediocre books, I was so delighted to read The Other Countess and find that it was so completely unputdownable! I am rather in love with a story which is about just that: Love against all the odds. When you add in the historical setting (complete with knights jousting), how can you not fail to swoon? Okay perhaps if you're a feminist you're thinking this is a princess story but actually it isn't!

The characters are very cleverly casted. Ellie -- our heroine -- is a headstrong girl with a sharp tongue. She is not afraid to act outside of the social and cultural bevavioural expectations of women. She is well-educated and translates works in Latin and even Greek. She is a young woman burdened with an obsessed father. She also happens to be destitute and at the mercy of male benefactors.

William is a young man who is carrying his own burden in the form of family duty. His father wasted the family fortune and now he is left with the responsibility of finding a way to restore their fortunes. He is a handsome earl with a prejudice against the man who led his father into his obsession with alchemy. That man happens to be Ellie's father. Their two stories are intertwined from the very beginning. William is rather foolish at times but his relationships with his brothers was wholly endearing and showed an adorable softness beneath an angry and arrogant persona.

The plot is expertly paced with great cliffhanger chapter endings that just kept me wanting more. The dialogue is both endearing and amusing and I loved the way that Edwards gave this historical book a contemporary feel without it becoming absurd. I admire her skill.

In addition to the romantic theme of the novel, Edwards explored the issues of religion and alchemy. William is employed to ensure that Catholicism is kept out of his lands. There is a fear of an attempt on Queen Elizabeth's life by the Pope's spies and staunchest supporters. I liked the way the author remained unbiased to both religion and alchemy. As the reader, you could interpret the consequences of extremism where both belief systems were concerned.

Overall, this is a story that swept me away with its majesty of courtly drama, family politics and love across a social divide. I am completely enamoured of The Other Countess and the Earl of Dorset. This book has a timeless will they? won't they? appeal. Fans of The Luxe series will love this novel. Eve Edwards' debut stole my heart. I just did not want to put down. More please!

[The Readings of a Busy Mom Riaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.thereadingsofabusymom.blogspot.com

The Other Countess is Eve Edwards debut novel and for a first I am very impressed. Eve's novel is so well written it leaves you in awe, the mode of expression gives you a great feeling of time and experience and has you falling over the pages with hope and happiness. This a well explored novel and is only a taster of what Eve is capable of.



The Story was told from 3 points of view Ellie, Jane and Will but more chapters where given to Ellie and Will. Ellie's character was my favourite she was strong, confident and had up most knowledge and ability, even if some things where done poorly she wouldn't allow that to stop her, she shone so much in this novel I was happy for the ending she received. Will was my favourite from all the male characters he tried to do the best he could and that was all I needed to win me over(what can I say I'm a sucker for a little romance). The last character is Jane who I would have loved things to be different to what they where. I wish she would have tried harder in some aspects and not given up so easily but the role she played suited her character and maybe I will hear more from her in the sequel as her character engaged me the most. I found myself wanting to know more of how things played out for her, only time will tell if my longing will be answered.



Over all The Other Countess is a wonderful read, its romantic and slow yet you don't wish to put it down. I certainly cant wait for the sequel The Queens Legacy where I hope to hear more of Jane, if not I'm sure it will be great, but until then I hope you will all read this and enjoy it the way I have, especially if you enjoy historical fiction and romance.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think from my introduction and my 'I LOVE THIS BOOK SO FAR' that used to live undearneath the 'Currently Reading' bit that I enjoyed this book a lot. I read it within about a week which is pretty good for me. I'm a bit of a romantic at heart. I love being given flowers and chocolates, though it never happens much and I just love a classic love tale or love match. It DOES make me feel a little tearful.
The difference about this book is that the love-ness starts early on. They meet each other and fall in love on Page 15 but unlike other novels, doesn't realise who she is until a couple of chapters later, which I really liked. On the plane coming back from my holiday, I was sitting there, slightly excited because I knew who she was in relation to the story and I couldn't wait to find out when he did. Sad, I know...
I love Elizabethan times, let's face it, who in the blogosphere doesn't? Though I maybe a bit bias with my slight obsession for all matters history. Edwards got it spot on and I felt like I was being transported there and wished I was Ellie. She even added some of the language at that time. Okay, sorry Shakespeare by whenever I read your plays, it just goes straight over my head but in this book, I understood what they were saying.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It is one of my favourite books now and I'm so glad I bought it. I would read it if you don't mind a bit of romance that leaves you smiling happily like a lovesick idiot. (*cough* me *cough*) Or likes history.

[Terri Pray · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing style felt jerky to me and put me off. Despite three attempts I couldn't get past the first chapter and gave up.

[lorien ‧͙⁺˚*･༓ଳ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utterly, and completely boring! -_-

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the blurb of this book at the library, the debut novel of Eve Edwards, I knew that it was the kind of book that I would love. To be immersed in the Tudor world filled with intrigue in the courts of Queen Elizabeth I mixed together with love at all odds…. What could be better?
It turned out that I was right in the end and I couldn’t tear myself away from it. Everything about it was so lovely and well thought out with characters that I warmed to and believable and witty dialogue.

It was the characters in the book that made this book so gorgeous and stand far above the countless predictable 'will they, will they not' historical romances. Even though the book is told in the third person, different chapters follow the lives of the main characters in the book and we are given an insight into the point of view of these characters through this.

My favourite character was the heroine Ellie or Lady Eleanor Rodriguez of San Jaime, who owns a worthless Spanish title inherited from her late mother. She is a sensitive and sweet girl with a fun filled nature but with a feisty and strong willed spirit that comes out in her at times along with a tendency to be very defensive of herself when she is offended. Unusually for girls like her at that time she is very learned and well educated in the languages of Greek and Latin to much amusement and suspicion at court, where unmarried young ladies are sought after for their dowries. Her father is an alchemist who is obsessed with his work and often doesn't care to think of how his quest to find gold affects his daughter and the kind of life she is condemned to because of it. I sympathised with Ellie on this and sensed her frustration in her fruitless attempts to open his eyes to how the world views him and his work. Since she is a pretty young lady made destitute by her father's lifestyle, Ellie is also very vulnerable of being pursued by young men offering her their protection. Yet through all her ill fate and spoilt reputation she manages to stay true to herself and.

Will, the eighteen year old Earl of Dorset who is burdened with the responsibility of restoring his family's lost fortune, frittered away by his late father . Knowing that the future of his mother and younger siblings is in his hands, he must win the favour of the Queen and endeavour to impress young ladies suitable for matrimony. At the beginning of the book aged just fourteen, Will was a character that it was difficult to like because of his cruel manner and hostility towards Ellie and her father. Believing him and his alchemy practices to be the cause of his family's financial ruin, he throws them out of the household penniless. Yet, given the circumstances of his father's recent death, his actions can be forgiven a little. It was nice to see Will grow as a character throughout the book and see his true personality that was hidden under the fears and worries of his duties and responsibilities. Through the later stages of the book, he was the kind of young gentlemen that every girl would dream of; caring and chivalrous with a playful and witty sense of humour. I'm sure that lots of readers have fallen head over heels in love with him!

Besides Will and Ellie there are other sideline characters such as Lady Jane Perceval, who isslightly vain rich heiress but through her friendship with Ellie, a loyalty grows between them and I liked seeing in the development in her character. I'm looking forward to finding out more about Jane's story in the sequel to The Other Countess, The Queen's Lady. There is also James and Tobias (Will's younger brothers) who bring a touch of lighthearted fun in their comical brotherly teasing. I loved how each of the characters (including the minor ones) each had a story of their own which followed through the book to create a strong plot and memorable cast of characters.

When Ellie is staying at court with her father (who is working under the patronage of Lord Mountjoy) four years after her last encounter with Will, they meet again. A little afraid of Will to start off with, she soon realises that he doesn't recognise her for the girl he hates and resents and warily tries to enjoy his attention before he finds out the truth about who she really is.
Despite their past and feuds between their families, their relationship blossoms into affection and friendship that desires to grow. However, the rules of society forbids them to ever be together and Will has his duty to his family to think of. Ellie has nothing to offer him but his potential bride Lady Jane has the money that can save Lacey Hall and for his family to live in comfort again. Can they learn that love brings greater fortune than gold?

I felt that the book was well paced and the love between Will and Ellie grew at a natural pace and it wasn't a 'love at first sight' romance, which made their relationship seem more realistic. The bond and vibe that they shared was so lovely and they really brought out the best in each other, they're my favourite couple now!

Not just a romance, Edwards brings life under the reign of Elizabeth to life with beautiful and enthralling descriptions that highlight so many delicious details for the reader to devour. They are the sort of things that you wouldn't know from reading a non- fiction historical information book from all the fine details of Elizabethan fashion to jousting tournaments. At court we meet real life people such as the infamous Sir Walter Ralegh (there was a different slant on his character that I found interesting and probably more realistic than the dashing descriptions of him in other books) and the Queen herself. Besides hearing about the rich and famous, Edwards gave an insight into the lives of the commoners in the village near Lacey Hall and how they find their 'perfect match,' creating a contrast between the two lifestyles. Real issues such as religion and politics also have a mention in the story which really adds an extra dimension to the world that goes beyond the main characters.

Verdict: The Other Countess was a delightful and sweet historical romance with captivating and vivid descriptions that I found myself lost in for hours... I adored it! The characters are easy to relate to for a modern audience and they now have a special place in my heart. Be prepared to be swept off your feet by this irresistible tale and into the Elizabethan era and savour every moment of it!

[Klancy Hoover-Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Period books with noble characters and romance is my guilty pleasure. So of course I really enjoyed this book!

The story centers around Ellie, a lady whose mother was nobility at the Spanish court before she died. Living with her father after her mother's death, Ellie is thrust into several different homes where her father vies for support for his alchemy practices. He is convinced he can turn lead into gold and throws his money as well as others' into his experiments. Despite her father's eccentrics, Ellie is able to establish a reputation for herself as an intellectual. The book centers around Ellie's time at court and the characters she meets there.

I loved Ellie and Jane's friendship. Obviously their friendship was a little strained for a bit because Jane was going to marry Will but thankfully Jane called off the engagement

I couldn't put this book down, so I suspect I'll love the second book as well!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light read and I thought it was a nice story line, but I found myself not enjoying the book completely.
I can see why other people would like it, but I prefer something with a stronger plot.

[Karo adores... · Rating 3 out of 5]

Als Ellie, eine verarmte Comtess, den Duke of Dorset, Will, am Hof der englischen Königin Elizabeth I. wiedertrifft, ist sie zuerst nicht erfreut, denn selbiger Lord hatte sie und ihren Vater vor ein paar Jahren mit Schimpf und Schande aus seinem Haus gejagt, nachdem sein Vater gestorben war. Doch Will erkennt sie nicht sofort, und entwickelt eine Schwärmerei für sie, und auch Ellie ist vom Charme des Adligen fasziniert. Sie verlieben sich ineinander. Doch Will darf seinem Herzen nicht folgen, denn sein einziges Ziel, weswegen er an den Hof gekommen ist, war, eine Frau zu finden, die eine ordentliche Mitgift in die Ehe bringt, um seine Grafschaft vor dem Ruin zu retten. Werden die beiden doch noch irgendwie zusammenfinden?

Ich habe letztes Jahr mit vollkommener Begeisterung Finding Sky von Joss Stirling gelesen, und als ich herausfand, dass die Autorin unter dem Pseudonym Eve Edwards Historical Romances veröffentlicht, war ich sofort Feuer und Flamme. Und wirklich: der Roman kann zwar nicht auf ganzer Linie überzeugen, war aber ein schöner Schmöker für zwischendurch.

Die Geschichte spielt im elisabethanischen England. Glaubenskriege haben gerade erst das Land erschüttert und die spanische Armada steht vor der Tür, um den einzig wahren Glauben der Katholiken zurück nach England zu bringen. Für mich persönlich eine sehr interessante Epoche, da ich mich sowieso schon immer für die englische Geschichte interessiere, vor allem aber auch ein Faible für historische Romane über diese Zeit habe. Nun gut, dieses Buch ist eher an Jugendliche und junge Leser gerichtet, daher hatte ich da vielleicht etwas zu viel erwartet (nachdem ich ja auch die Königin der historischen Romane Rebecca Gablé seit Ewigkeiten verehre), und musste diese Erwartungen schnell wieder runterschrauben. Hat man das einmal getan, und erwartet kein hundertprozentig perfekt recherchiertes Buch, kann man anfangen, die Geschichte zu genießen. Der historische Hintergrund wird zwar das ein oder andere Mal eingebaut, doch trotzdem ist die Geschichte von Ellie und Will immer der Mittelpunkt.

Mir gefiel die Leichtigkeit, mit der Eve Edwards die Geschichte der beiden erzählt, es liest sich so flüssig und unbefangen, dass man förmlich über die Seiten fliegt und es gar nicht merkt. Manchmal braucht man solch einen Schmöker, der einfach nur das Herz erwärmt, einen gut unterhält und der sich schnell wegliest.

Ellie hat mir als Charakter am besten gefallen. Sie ist klug, starrsinnig und liebevoll, hat also alle Sympathien auf ihrer Seite. Will ist eigentlich auch ein toller Charakter, sehr galant und edel, ein Beschützer, wie er im Buche steht. Bei ihm hat mich bloß manchmal seine übertriebene Höflichkeit und Vornehmheit gestört, dadurch bekam er in meinen Augen einen leicht weiblichen Touch. Ich stehe eben doch mehr auf die Bad Boys, oder auf die gröberen Charaktere. ;) Am meisten irritiert hat mich die Entwicklung von Lady Jane, hier wurde es leider etwas unauthentisch. Kommt sie in ihrer ersten Szene wie die typische Gegenspielerin der Hauptperson rüber, die intrigiert und zickt, ändert sie sich nach und nach zu einem vollkommen anderen Menschen, die sogar sofort Freundschaft mit Ellie schließt. Das habe ich der Autorin leider nicht so recht abgenommen. Weiterhin muss man hier deutlich sagen, dass die Charaktere eindeutig in gut und böse, in schwarz und weiß eingeteilt sind. Wen das stört, der sollte vielleicht nicht unbedingt zu diesem Buch greifen, denn tiefgründige, vielschichtige Charaktere sucht man hier vergebens.

Die Story selbst plätschert an einigen Stellen ein bisschen vor sich hin, ein paar Zeitsprünge sind eingebaut, die nicht ganz zum Spannungsbogen passen und zudem hatte ich das Gefühl, dass die Autorin nicht so recht wusste, ob sie nun noch eine leicht erotische Komponente einbauen soll oder nicht. In einigen Szenen wird ziemlich offen darüber geredet, dass die Person, um die es gerade geht, sexuelle Gedanken hat, in anderen Szenen wiederrum wird keusch um das Thema drumherum geredet. Auch der Erzählstil ist etwas sprunghaft, da die Perspektive teilweise in einem einzigen Absatz mehrmals wechselt. Hier wäre ein klar definierter Erzähler eine Wohltat gewesen, ob sich die Autorin nun nur hauptsächlich auf Ellie, oder auf Will und Ellie oder vielleicht auch auf Will, Ellie und Jane beschränkt hätte. Dennoch kann ich mich nur nochmal wiederholen: All diese Schwächen sind definitiv kein Grund, um das Buch zu verteufeln, denn ich habe es trotzdem gern gelesen.

Wer ein locker-leichtes Buch mit historischem Hintergrund und einer gehörigen Portion Liebesgeschichte sucht, ist bei Eve Edwards' Die Sehnsuchtsvolle goldrichtig. Liebhaber des historischen Genres sollten jedoch ihre Erwartungen vorm Lesen etwas herunterschrauben oder doch lieber zu einem "Erwachsenen-Roman" greifen.

[Sara I · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover was mainly the reason I picked this book up. I had no idea it was set in the 1500s when Queen Elizabeth was ruling! (I love both Elizabeth and time period!) But yeah I totally judged a book by its cover and it actually didn't turn out so bad when I did that... :P

The Lady Eleanor with nothing but a title, simple Ellie was turned out of the Earl of Dorset's home when the previous Earl dies and his son immediately kicks her and her father out. Why? Because her father is an alchemist, convinced that his discovery to creating gold is just around the corner. With the previous Earl's interest they stayed at his home and over time his money was used nearly all up from supporting her father's studies. Now the new Earl, William Lancey, has a lot on his shoulders.

Skip forward 4 years and you'll find Ellie at court. Her father has latched onto another rich man and together they are causing explosions and such. Again, the son has no patience with her father and wants them gone. But she will make do. The strangest thing is that the Earl of Dorset who threw them out? He's now here at court looking for a wife! And he doesn't recognize her at first, he is nice and handsome. Until he finds out who she is, then she is nothing more than a thing to hate.

However there was an incident that he feels he must apologize for. He stills hates her, but the polite thing to do is apologize. Sadly, Ellie and her father have been kicked out due to an explosion that set everyone on edge. They travel nearby the Earl of Dorset's lands and settle in a little cottage with an older woman. Later they are found out by William and he comes to visit...and to throw them out. When he tells Ellie what he intends to do she gives him and earfull that convinces him to let them stay. And gains her a little admiration that is slowly growing into something more.

Pros:I liked nearly all the characters. The bad ones you aren't supposed to like after all. I loved William and his brother, who were always bickering and hilarious. Ellie was just so sweet and I really liked her. The setting was lovely and great historical fiction. I thought it was very well done and really felt real :) The plot was interesting and the love story sweet. I definitely felt for Lady Jane as well, who the next book is about. I think that after reading this book I will definitely be picking up the next one to find out what happens next :) And there are several things still unresolved so...

Cons:I can't really think of any writing or plot details that I disliked... There were some bumpy or slightly unlikely spots but overall it seemed well done and flowed well. As for disliking characters I really disliked Lady Jane's brother. Blech.
Some of the ways that those at court lived are a bit...erm interesting. Lady Jane's brother attempts to assault Ellie, sleeps often (not shown) with Lady Jane's maid and then there a couple other mentions of sex, rape, and hooking up (though not in those terms). There is also some drinking, brief violence and mention of having been beaten. Some kissing and Ellie is found by William in her shift and petticoat (shocking back then you know!). And there is a catholic priest found who is nearly tortured and several others are questioned with him. Language wise there were 17 cuss words.

Overall, this was a pretty good book with a unique story, wonderful setting and a sweet couple :) I would recommend to 15+ girls who enjoy this time period (1582 I think was the year...) and some romance.

[marta (sezon literacki) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pierwszy tom Kronik rodu Lacey opowiada historię córki pewnego alchemika, który w imię nauki poświęca wszystko. Młodziutka Ellie musi znosić kolejne upokorzenia, które ściąga na rodzinę jej ojciec swoim bezgranicznym oddaniem alchemii. Kiedy w końcu oboje trafiają na królewski dwór, nastolatka poznaje osiemnastoletniego hrabiego Dorset – Willa Laceya. Nie jest to ich pierwsze spotkanie i z tego powodu oboje są nastawieni niechętnie do dalszej znajomości, jednak serce Willa wbrew rozumowi zaczyna bić szybciej na widok tej prostej dziewczyny. Niestety nie może pozwolić sobie na taki mezalians, bo jako najstarszy przedstawiciel rodziny ma obowiązek podnieść ją z finansowej ruiny, a jedynym rozwiązaniem jest poślubienie posażnej panny z arystokratycznego angielskiego rodu. Sprawa staje się jeszcze bardziej skomplikowana, kiedy idealną kandydatką na żonę Willa zostaje Lady Jane, przyjaciółka Ellie.

Fabuła nie poraża oryginalnością, trzyma się raczej wcześniej utartych schematów, a mimo to ma w sobie urok, który od książki nie pozwala się oderwać. Oczywiście od początku wiemy jak cała historia się zakończy, ale tak naprawdę nie ma to znaczenia, bo czytelnik angażuje się w losy bohaterów i z zainteresowaniem śledzi ich perypetie. Bohaterowie również wpisują się w kanony tego typu literatury – są dosyć prosto zarysowani, bez głębi charakteru czy wnikania w psychikę. Na uwagę zasługuje jednak fakt, że mimo nieskomplikowanej kreacji znajdą się tu tacy, którzy wyłamują się z ram swojej epoki. Ellie jest bardzo wykształconą i pewną swojej wartości młodą kobietą, zna trzy języki, za to nie ma pojęcia o typowo kobiecych zajęciach. Przypomina trochę samą królową Elżbietę, choć oczywiście brak jej królewskiego obycia. Lady Jane także nie jest standardową damą z wyższych sfer. Ma w sobie prawdziwie ludzkie uczucia, nie zadziera nosa jak jej brat, zamiast tego pokazując współczucie i zrozumienie. Edwards dobrze się spisała rezygnując z kreowania stereotypowych postaci, jednak mogła trochę się nad nimi pochylić i nadać im jakiejś głębi.

Eve Edwards z niezwykłą lekkością wprowadza czytelnika w realia elżbietańskiej Anglii i czyni to w sposób bardzo udany. Wprawdzie nie znajdziemy tu bogatego tła historycznego z dokładnym omówieniem zwyczajów panujących na królewskim dworze, ale duch epoki jest odczuwalny na każdym kroku. Odrobinę więcej miejsca autorka poświeciła kwestii religijnej i walce protestantów z katolikami. Zachowała jednak płynność fabuły, dzięki czemu ten trudny temat nie odstaje od pozostałych treści, za to stanowi świetne dopełnienie. Ponadto nie zabraknie tu intrygi i młodzieńczych porywów serca, które dominują w całej powieści. Na ogół piękne uczucie momentami staje się zbyt banalne i ckliwe, na szczęście tych przesłodzonych momentów nie ma zbyt wiele. A i te, które się pojawiają, zostają przełamane chwilami goryczy, bo poza tymi pozytywnymi postaciami, znajdzie się też cały szereg czarnych charakterów, uprzykrzających życie innym.

„Alchemia miłości” to książka z tej zdecydowanie mniej ambitnej półki, ale tym samym jest naprawdę fajną odskocznią od problemów dnia codziennego. Typowe czytadło, które na kilka godzin umili czas, poprawi humor i zrelaksuje, a przy tym przeniesie czytelnika na dwór królowej Elżbiety I. Eve Edwards zaserwowała swoim czytelnikom zabawną historię z happy endem, która z pewnością skradnie serca wielu czytelników na całym świecie.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really been enjoying historical fiction recently but most of the stories I've read have been set in the Victorian era so it made a nice change to come across something set in Tudor times at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Eve Edwards has done a fantastic job of capturing the era, life at court was fascinating and I loved the jousting contest what I enjoyed most though was the characters.

Ellie (or Lady Eleanor Rodriguez of San Jamie if you go by the title she inherited from her mother) is the daughter of an alchemist and more like her father's carer than his daughter. He is obsessed with finding the formula to create gold and doesn't really think about how his pursuit effects Ellie. They are constantly moving as he tries to find someone to sponsor his work and often end up having to sleep in barns. Her father has destroyed their families reputation and although Ellie is beautiful she has now dowry to offer potential husbands. She is intelligent and can speak several languages but in Tudor England her skills are not seen as an asset by most men.

Will (the Earl of Dorset) inherited his title when he was just 14 after the death of his father. He blames Ellie's father for the loss of their family fortune and has had to work hard to support his family in any way he can. He is now left with no option but to try and find a wife with a dowry big enough to support the family estate. When he first meets Ellie he doesn't recognise her as his nemisis' daughter and there is an instant attraction between them. Ellie knows exactly who Will is and is equally sure that they can never be together, not when he learns who her father is and that she doesn't have a dowry to offer him.

Ellie is a great character, she is smart and also a realist. She may dream of being with Will but refuses to be the one who stops his chances of regaining his family fortune. I felt for her having to put up with her father and his quest for gold and it was easy to want her to have a happy ending. Will is the character who goes through the most growth throughout the book though, when we first meet him he is just 14 and has been thrust into the position of trying to provide for his family after his father has wittered away their money helping Ellie's father. It is no surprise that he hates the alchemist and although he behaves terribly to Ellie and her father you can easily see why he acts the way he does. As he gets older it becomes much easier to like him as he starts to realise that the way he behaved before was wrong.

I loved the relationship between Will and his brothers so was very pleased to realise that this is the first book in a series and that we will get to see more of them all together. I didn't expect to like Ellie's romantic rival Lady Jane but I actually found myself feeling quite sorry for her and the way men seemed to only be interested in her for her dowry. It will be interesting to see how things play out for her in the next book. If you're a fan of YA historical romances then I'm sure you will enjoy The Other Countess as much as I did and would highly recommend giving the series a try.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Lacey is the new Earl of Dorset. Left with a title but not the fortune, Will must make amends for his father's mistakes if his family is to regain their status. His only means to do so is to attend court and find wife with a hefty dowry.

Ellie Hutton is the daughter of an alchemist who spends every penny on his studies. Despite being Lady Eleanor Rodriguez of San Jaime, a title inherited from her late mother, Ellie is more akin to living in barns than fancy dresses.

Circumstances leads them both to the court of Queen Elizabeth I and despite a harsh meeting in their younger days, Ellie and Will find themselves attracted to each other. However, both know it is impossible for them to be matched as Ellie is far from the rich wife Will needs.

The author does a great job of setting the scenes in this book, with just the right amount of description to make you feel like you're there without going to far. The plot is largely character based, focusing on the relationships between the characters.

I really loved the characters in this book. Ellie is a fiesty, spirited sixteen-year-old who's had to deal with a lot in her life. She's been exposed to all walks of life and is equally able to be friends with the village girls as she is the ladies of the Queen's court. Ellie's intelligent and educated in a time when this wasn't the norm for women, although Ellie hopes to impress the queen, who appreciates learning, with her Latin translation. It was easy to like Ellie right from the start of the book, her difficult relationship with her father bringing the reader straight on her side.

At the start William is seen as cold and arrogant, largely due to his opinion of Ellie's father but as the story continues it is makes sense why he's like this and as we get to know him more he's really quite endearing. As the eldest son and new earl, he's had his life dictated to him and there's much he has to do to ensure his family regains their fortune which will allow his younger brothers to have a good education and a decent dowry for his younger sister. He has a lot of responsibility placed on his shoulders for an eighteen-year-old and he mostly handles it well. He has two aspects to his personality; The Earl of Dorset is almost like a character he puts on; strong and noble. Will himself - when he's with his family and friends - is the likeable side of him.This is when he's funny and sweet and, at times, nervous and scared (in an adorable dorky kind of way).

There's a good set of supporting characters as well. The younger Lacey boys, James and Tobias, provide a fun element to any situation with their brotherly banter. Lady Jane Perceval, daughter of the Earl of Wetherby, is both rival and friend to Ellie whilst her brother, Sir Henry, is a bit of a bad guy - taking advantage of the ladies (and their maids) and basically doing whatever suits him.

With an interesting plot and great characters, this book is bound to keep any historical fiction fan hooked and it is well deserving of its comparison with any Philippa Gregory novel.

[Kristen Kooistra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I have a hard time finding a good Elizabethan era book to read anymore since a lot of them are just respinning the lives of the main players of that period. But in this one it's almost a completely new cast with just some glimpses here and there of famous figures.

So it was a new story, set in a time I love, but without me going into it knowing the people and the way things play out.

There were two points I thought tripped me up. Near the beginning, Will makes a statement about how education is wasted on a woman. But never again does that come up. From that point on he seems completely fine with educated women and I thought the original remarks should've either been cut or there should've been a moment where we see Will reconsidering his beliefs and changing them.

And then I thought Will's switch from preparing to throw the alchemist and Ellie out to having them stay was sudden. I mean, he was really angry that they were there. Said we need to get rid of the pests. Stormed down their in a dudgeon and had no qualms about telling Ellie they needed to leave and soon, despite knowing that she's not her father and they had nowhere else to go. But a small altercation with Ellie where she tells him that makes him completely okay with them staying and his attitude towards them became a lot more positive.

But the rest of the story was amazing. Ellie is a countess who has nothing but an empty title to her name. She's dragged around by her alchemy crazed father, living off the not so much kindness, but similar madness of strangers who think her father is on to the secret of gold.

They're first kicked out of their home when Will takes over after his father's death and there's a good amount of bad feelings between the two families. Years later, Ellie and Will meet again, only Will doesn't recognize her. Eventually he figures out who she is and there's some backlash from that.

Half of the story is geared towards their time at court and bumping heads, and the last half is where the real romance swoops in as they're now in a more settled environment.

One of my absolute favorite parts about this is how Ellie and Will realize what is best for them isn't what's best for Will's family, and try and put Will's family first. It makes me admire both of them more for not being like "Screw everyone else." They weighed their actions, attempted to go other routes, and I really liked how the whole thing played out. (trying not to give stuff away!)

There's also this touch of humor throughout and that was handled well. I love seeing even the slightest bit of humor in fiction because a book that brings out emotions like that in me already rate higher.

I had a few things I wanted to see at the end, but I'll just have to go get book 2 now!

[Tammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Countess is exactly the kind of book I enjoy: it's frothy and fun, with characters that are easy to like and prose that's easy to keep reading.

Ellie is the daughter of an alchemist and her father has ruined himself and gone half-mad in his fruitless pursuit of gold. He's also taken others down with him, namely the father of Will Lacey, who dies leaving his family near-bankrupt. Will blames Ellie's father entirely for the mess and The Other Countess begins with a furious Will chasing both dad and daughter off Lacey land.

Flash forward a few years and Ellie is now a beautiful young woman, attached to a family at Queen Elizabeth's court. Will comes to court to try to do the only things that will help his family: Win the queen's favour and hook himself a rich bride. But guess who he meets...

It's not difficult to predict what will ultimately happen in this light and charming tale, but what it lacks in surprises, The Other Countess more than makes up for in great characters and a swoon-worthy romance. Ellie is fabulously feisty, but also a very dutiful daughter and you can't help but feel sorry for her, being saddled as she is with a father who is completely oblivious to everything (how much he is mocked and hated, how poor they really are) but his alchemy. Will is very Mr Darcy, in the sense that he starts out as so snooty and mean to Ellie, but just when you are about to write him off as an irredeemable asshat, he comes to his senses and apologises so beautifully and makes it up to Ellie so heroically that...well, that's when the swooning starts.

The supporting characters are super, too: Will's brothers and their teasing banter-filled relationship, and Lady Jane, the rich girl Will has picked to marry. I liked that, while it at first seems that Jane is going to be the bitch and Ellie's nemesis, Eve Edwards avoids that particular cliché by having Ellie and Jane become friends.

One thing that actually did surprise me about The Other Countess was the amount of humour in it. Will's siblings are pretty fast with the jokes and Lady Jane has a scheming maid whose sexcapades are played for laughs, but even the serious subplots - which involve the religious complications of Elizabethan England - are lightened up with some funny lines.

All this adds up to a lighthearted and pleasing read: A 16th century rom-com, you could say. Eve Edwards has written more romances for the Lacey family (the next books are The Queen's Lady and The Rogue's Princess) and I am really looking forward to reading them.

[*MystGrrl Reviews* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based in England in 1582 this is story of Lady Eleanor "Ellie" Rodriguez of San Jaime. Thanks to her "Alchemist" father's endless pursuit of turning base metal into gold, all Ellie has is a worthless title and herself to offer in marriage. As the daughter of a failed Alchemist and a Spaniard mother, her chances of making a match, let alone a good match, are slim to none.

As her feisty spirit captivates the elite in Queen Elizabeth's Court, she finds unlikely friends in unexpected places but among the courtiers there are some that despise her father for the trail of financial ruin that he leaves in his wake. One of which is the Earl of Dorset, William Lacey. Ellie's father financially ruined the Lacey Estate when William's father caught the "gold" fever. Now it is up to William to make a good match at Court and restore the family fortune.

But his eye has been caught by a beautiful yet elusive countess at court. Unknownst to him that same mysterious countess is the same beggar brat daughter of Sir Arthur Hutton that he had banished from his lands after his father's death years before. If William discovers the truth it will be the beginning of Ellie's downfall and William will find more than one dilemma on his hands as he questions his motives and beliefs.

Although it was an ok read the story seemed one massive cliche and you get the feeling that it all has been done before. I got the feeling that maybe, with a few twicks here and there the story would have better suited as an adult romance novel but ended up as romance "light" for a younger reading auidience.

The synopsis was intriguing and was what had originally sucked me in but the story was somewhat of a let down as you could pretty much tell how things were going to work out and what was going to happen as it happened. Ellie goes through trial after trial because her father's misguided pursuits and self centered nature, which after a while does get a bit irritating so you end up wishing he would just blow himself up and free poor Ellie from being continually dragged down with him. But for all it faults, it was an Ok read. Who knows, maybe the sequel The Queen's Lady will redeem the series?

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Ellie Hutton (also known as the Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime, a worthless Spanish title she inherited from her mother) is the daughter of an alchemist obsessed with his craft. He has wasted all the family’s money over the years and Ellie often resents the life she lives as a result of his decisions. Eighteen-year-old Will Lacey, the Earl of Dorset, must solve his family’s financial problems after his late father wasted the family fortune. He hopes that if he can marry a rich heiress with a large dowry, his family‘s problems will be solved. Will and Ellie last met four years ago, when he threw Ellie and her father (who had been sponsored by Will’s father) off his lands after his father died. Will blames Ellie’s father for his family’s poverty, as much of the money his father wasted was spent on alchemical research.

It is at the court of Elizabeth I in 1582 that Ellie and Will meet again. Ellie’s father has found another nobleman to sponsor him, and Will is searching at court for a wealthy young woman to marry. Ellie and Will are instantly attracted to each other - and horrified by that fact, as a result of their past history. Their attraction eventually develops into love, but Will is forced by his duty to his family to court the Lady Jane, a wealthy young woman with a large dowry.

The Other Countess is one of my favorite books so far this year. Ellie and Will and all the other characters were very well developed and I liked all of them. I wanted to hate Lady Jane at first, for being an obstacle to Will and Ellie’s love, but she was actually a really sympathetic character and I am looking forward to reading her story in the sequel, The Queen’s Lady, which will be published in February 2011. The historical setting was really well researched and highly detailed. I highly recommend this book to readers who love historical romance or stories set in Tudor England.