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

A beautiful love story

I have read and reread this story many times. It is wonderfully complex with many twists and turns. Not your usual tropes and storylines. Highly recommend it.

A Wonderful Love Story

This book was so lovely. The characters long for each other so much. highly recommended

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

My fav yet but LH

What a sweet book. Yes there is romance, however, this time the sweetness factor kept me engaged until the end.

Well developed story and hero

Most people love the story of a forbidden romance. Heath tantalizes us with how she's going to create a happily ever after and she delivers. I like the emphasis on how Julia loves Albert and Edward - in different ways - never diminishing either love. The character development of Edward is superb.

GREAT

Loved it. Very well written and performed. Characters are well written and performed simply GREAT.

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.

Better Than Expected

This kind of a storyline is one I usually avoid but the reviews made me give it a try and I did enjoy it overall and it had a satisfying conclusion to give it a HEA. I just did not like the narrator, she is both monotone but kind of grating on your ears. Some of the dialogue was a little corny or didn't sound authentic to the characters. Overall, I did enjoy it better than the first and I am enjoying the series, will be listening to the next.

Another great series from LH

I liked book 2 and 3 better than 1, but would rate the Hellions series highly. It is too bad LH did not utilize Kate Reading as the narrator for this series. Helen Lloyd spoiled it. I just had to tune out her annoying voice and concentrate on the story.

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.