The Earl Takes All

By: Lorraine Heath

Narrated by: Helen Lloyd

Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

One summer night, Edward Alcott gives in to temptation and kisses Lady Julia Kenney in a dark garden. However, the passion she stirs within him is best left in the shadows as she weds his twin, the earl of Greyling. But when tragedy strikes, to honor the vow he makes to his dying brother, Edward must pretend to be Greyling until the countess delivers her babe.

After her husband returns from a two-month sojourn, Julia finds him changed. Bolder, more daring, and more wicked - even if he does limit their encounters to kisses. With each passing day, she falls more deeply in love.

For Edward the embers of desire sparked on that long-ago night are quickly rekindled. He yearns to be her husband in truth. But if she discovers his ruse, she will despise him - and English law prevents him from marrying his brother's widow. Yet he must dare to risk everything and reveal his secrets if he is to truly take all.

©2016 Jan Nowasky (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

I almost gave up on this book...

Any additional comments?

After finishing the previous book in the series, I read the synopsis to this story and grimaced. I realized it was another story filled with secrets that would cause un-needed angst and pain. When I first started this book, I was irate by Julia and Edward and the secret. I felt that Julia was needy and Edward an idiot. Although I wasn't daft enough to think that Julia really believed the rouse. I was one chapter away from stopping it but then the weirdest thing happened, the sh*t hit the fan and didn't dominate the remainder of the story and the character of Edward really came to life. I finally saw the real Edward that Lorraine Heath had been showing us since the previous book .

So many situations and comments about Edward (or from him) made so much sense now (him trying to help Ash with Minerva, him talking to Albert about Ash's financial problems, wanting to solve them for him). I was delighted. Julia took a short sojourn onto harpy lane but found herself back on the right lane after a while. I must say- I enjoyed watching these two develop a love that had been brewing for years... One knew it with all their being while another knew it but fought it. Edward was so giving, so thoughtful. He's nothing like what you see on the surface, you have to pay attention to the small nuances. Then there's Albert, the brother who knew more than one thought he did was great too. What a giving man he was even in death.

Two brothers who gave in the name of love. This book was amazing. My irritation all for nothing.

Thank you Lorraine Heath for the fantastic story.

I also realized Helen Loyd sounds better @ 1.1 speed. She sounds old and whiny at normal speed. The narration played a huge role in my rating of the previous book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Unexpected twists

When you read a romance, you know it'll all work out somehow, but in this one, the HOW of working it out is a series of surprises. What talent and hard work went into building the plot!! I thoroughly enjoyed listening.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Satisfying, Emotional Tale

I love the intense, sometimes heart wrenching, emotions in Lorraine Heath's books. Although I could predict a lot of what would happen in this story, I didn't know how it would happen, and I relished hearing the story unfold. Helen Lloyd's narration suits perfectly. I really enjoy visiting with familiar characters from other Heath books, and I can't wait for the next in this series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not my Favorite Troupe but in the end WORKED

Listened for Fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00

Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)

Quick Thoughts: Going to admit the first half of this book I did NOT like Edward. I am not a fan of the "take the place of your twin" troupe. He won me over though and I ended up rooting for him. I loved Julia all the way through. She was a great leading lady. This is one of those stories I think you have to judge on your own. It won't work for everyone but I did end up really liking it.

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Helen Lloyd / Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins


Helen is one of my favorite narrators! She nailed the narration for Edward and Julia--making them come alive. I love her pacing and emotions. I highly recommend listening to this one.

Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews

Lorraine Heath is a wonderful storyteller

I enjoyed The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath. I love twin stories with a twist and this twist lived up to creating a scandal. I didn't care for the narrator, but she wasn't unbearable.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

This is a tough one to rate

From almost the beginning the situation in this book made me uncomfortable. I've never been a fan of twins switching places. I almost gave up on it but I kept on. It turned out better than I thought although I can't say I really liked it.

I wasn't happy that one of the Hellions was killed off. One of the things I enjoy in series like this is the continuing characters and having one die in book 2 was tough. I understand that it's good for a book to draw out an emotional response, or three or four, but they also serve as escapism and there are enough sad things in the real world. Just my two cents.

The narration was good.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

You'll think you won't like it..then you love it!

I admit, I saw this coming while reading Falling Into Bed with a Duke, and I was very skeptical as to whether or not Heath could pull off a story line like this. But of course - SHE DID!

The whole switching brothers story line works without being "wrong". Its hard to explain, but Heath was able to make the reader root for Edward and Julia WITHOUT making Albert into someone who you wanted to hate! Albert was never made out to be anything other than a good man and STILL you wanted Julia and Edward to have a chance to love each other!

As I was listening - I realized the main climax of the story happened and we still had hours left to listen! Then I realized - oh there's more drama - its not all roses and puppy dogs for the last 3 hours! (I would love a book that gave me 3 hours of happiness AFTER the major conflict is resolved, but NO it never seems to happen!!)

Either way I loved it and can't wait for Locke's story!

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved it!

I am not usually in the habit of buying audiobooks. Didn't particularly like the narrator, but the story is beautiful and full of love. You get to know Edward and understand him better. The epilogue is definitely one of the best parts.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

this might be the best in this series!

Heaths books always read and listen well. the narrator is not my favorite, but this was still a great story. the previous stories he was mentioned in really made his character seem interesting; Edward's story was the one I've really wanted to read for a while now !

0 of 1 people found this review helpful