Blame It on the Earl

When Sarah and Kenver accidentally fall together, scandal erupts. Could their blunder lead to love? Sarah and Kenver and well suited, and they're sweet together. His parents strongly oppose the match, which makes up the largest part of the conflict of the novel. The author does a great job at developing the cast of characters. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Terrific love story with difficult family dynamics Sarah and Kenver start things off right, taking care of each other after a freak accident puts them in a precarious position. Getting back to safety was only the beginning of their problems, however, as their entire community, especially her parents, were scandalized by their absence - regardless of the cause - forcing them to get married right away. Then they travel to his home, where his parents demonstrate their absolute worst personality traits while trying to drive Sarah from their home. This part was very difficult to read, as I am accustomed to seeing the MMC have enough backbone to defend his lady, even to his parents. Kenver was, at the beginning, far too immature to know how to break free of the go-along-to-get-along habit that had kept the peace for so long. Sarah is determined to stick it out, though, and they do eventually find a way to break through the stalemate and rewrite the power dynamics that have ruled the estate for far too long. There's not much to blame on the earl, despite the title, but the spiteful countess is every horrible mother-in-law stereotype there is. The story was never boring, as it included many interesting characters and a few surprise reveals along the way. I must say that I greatly preferred the Kenver of the last few chapters to the one in the earlier chapters. Sarah's cheerful patience held out far longer than it should have had to, but their HEA showed that even the worst people can change, when faced with no other option. If you like a hero that is a little more cinnamon roll than take-charge alpha, then you'll enjoy this story. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Good book.