Brave New Earl

A story of second chances and finding happiness when least expected. Benjamin had lost his wife during childbirth and could not seem to come out of his grief. He had a hard time interacting with his five year old son Geoffrey because he reminded him of his mother too much. Jean, a distant cousin to Benjamin's late wife, barges into his household determine to to take Geoffrey with her. What occurs is a lot of humorous moments and Jean and Benjamin are such great characters. I enjoyed the dialogue and the interactions between the three and could not wait to see how it all turned out. Prepare to be entertained!

3.5 Stars Widower Benjamin Romilly, Earl of Furness, has given up hope of finding happiness. His wife died in childbirth five years ago, leaving him with a broken heart Geoffrey who only reminds him of his loss. Miss Jean Saunders is a cousin by marriage. She arrives on the scene to evaluate his fitness as a father, and if necessary, to take his son away. An enjoyable read but if you’re looking for historical accuracy then this isn't the book for you. A wife & child were the property of the husband so a distant cousin arriving to remove the child had no legal standing to do so & a magistrate would have put her in her place. Also a single young woman would have been ruined staying in a home with two unmarried men without a chaperone. So a book to enjoy as purely a piece of fiction. The story flows well & the characters are well portrayed but I found it hard to really connect to both Benjamin & Jane, I liked them but didn’t love them. I also felt a little sorry for Jane as felt she’d always be second best to Benjamin. I do however look forward to more of Arthur’s meddling! My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read