When a Girl Loves an Earl

Rescued from Ruin Series, Book 5

By: Elisa Braden

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

What a girl wants...

Miss Viola Darling always gets what she wants. Always. And what she wants more than anything is to marry James Kilbrenner, the earl of Tannenbrook. She's fallen hard for the giant, taciturn, surly brute, and she positively will have no other. The problem? He's not interested. Not even a little. But Viola cannot afford to lose. And she has her heart set on James. If only he will bend to a bit of persuasion.  

...is an earl like no other...

James Kilbrenner knows how determined the entirely too beautiful Miss Darling can be - the daft woman cornered him at a perfectly respectable dinner and mangled his cravat before he could escape. He has no desire to marry, less desire to be pursued, and will certainly not kiss her kissable lips until they are both breathless, no matter how tempted he may be. 

...and only the right one will do....

Thrown in her path by a meddling marchioness, James finds himself under sensual siege from a tiny, flirtatious sprite who puts both his heart and his vow to remain unwed at risk. And when scandal looms, he learns the hard way that a man can resist only so long before the indomitable Miss Darling gets her way.  

Contains mature themes.

©2016 Elisa Braden (P)2018 Tantor

The mountain and the butterfly

“It was bound to make him furious, but it would also make him hers.”
First, know that this book can be had in a collection with three books and a novella.
(Books 4-7 or 4-6 depending which numbering in Audible you go with)

“She was Viola, mutilator of stitchery.”
My favorite kind of leading lady: darling, precocious and the quirky sort who gifts her crush with embroidery of an “ugly overripe trout.”

“The Earl of Tannebrook was not handsome, his nose was blunt, his brow heavy, his jaw hard and wide; on the whole, his face resembled granite that had been carved with an axe.”
My favorite kind of leading man: a broody, rugged lummox of an oaf who utters “bloody hell” as he resists the sunshine with a little hurricane that is Viola … and then fumbles with wooing his “wee and bonnie” lass when he mucks things up.

“This is dire indeed. Is there a murderous plot afoot? Someone has at long last tired of your surly ways and weighty brow … or perhaps grown resentful of your general intransigence?”
I sometimes find Ms. Sarah’s narration a bit breathy, but here she is sublime for Viola, the wee butterfly, and James, the Scottish Mountain. Ach! That brogue wrecks the angsty parts and the sexy parts in all the best ways.

Ms. Braden knocks it out of the park again.

This is a great story. I really like the in's and out's of the characters in each other's story because you get to find out how their stories start and continue from book to book. I have enjoyed each and every book in this series. Viola is a rare beauty and petite in size, while James is such a giant of a man it makes you wonder how are they going to fit. It is the lovely Viola who turns out to be time enough for the big man James, in spite if their mix match sizes. It was a lot of fun finding out how they made it work, and turned out to be perfect for each other.

Excellent Diversion

Loved this book in the series. Great characters and entertaining story. Narration was spot on. Just spicy enough. On to the next one in this delightful series.

I do love a Scottish brogue

And that is the best of Mary Sarah’s performance. Mostly she was too breathy and in a cadence with her reading of the story. Just about the time I was going to call it quits with the book, either James would speak with his brogue which she did excellently or she’d break up her singsong cadence with a breathy overlay and sound normal. Then she’d start a new chapter and her breathiness would come back. She drove me nuts! But I loved the story and the characters, especially James. Nothing like a Scot!

Interesting Characters, Thin Story, Annoying Narrator

I’ve listened to several in the series now but it’s been a bit and I was not happy to hear the whispy narrator breathing in my ear again.

She does a really great job on the men and dowager, and honestly every other character, so clearly a very talented voice actor.

But the FMC/narrative voice is so breathy I strain to hear at max volume. I found myself pressing the earbuds into my ear, then flinching when she switched to a heavier voice of another character. Really it’s incredibly annoying and the biggest challenge in listening to this series, as if she’s using her voice to add lace and tulle to the story instead of just leaving it to the author.

The story started strong with MMC and family, and I’m a sucker for the interwoven characters in this world. There wasn’t much in the way of real drama in the main plot though, more self-inflicted wounds and setup for what will hopefully be more exciting stories of other characters. I found the side story with his family and teaser ending more interesting.

I was on the fence with the FMC but warmed to her single-minded devotion, but got a little annoyed with her when she got discouraged after all her ridiculous machinations. Girl you are ride or die and there’s no turning back after all the mess you pulled to get this man you know nothing about, so it made no sense to me that after one bad discovery she would completely withdraw.

I also grew weary of his repeated protestations based on his past. It just went on and on despite whatever progress they seemed to make, so overall the story was more contrived than others.

WOW! Just…….WOW!

From start to finish, this book is thoroughly riveting! The story is nicely entwined with the delicious characters and evolves unpredictably to an ending that we all desire: love and happiness!

Enjoyable

I enjoyed the story. Love, the characters. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that man had beauty inside and I’m sure out. Loved how she helped him work out his issues. A feel good book loved it.

Very captivating

Well written and executed. Enjoyed the story line and characters. I Would recommend this book.

HATED the FMC...

I guess it is kind of a love story. I just can't stomach the every gorgeous girl can get any man she wants premise
YAWN... no kidding. Once again, lust conquers all.... again snore zzzzzzz. Give e something more interesting. It just wasn't worth listening to the whole thing.

Cute

A bit of fluff with snappy dialogue and characters without the ordinary behavior and personality traits. James, the earl, is not suave, debonair, or seductive yet Viola takes one look at him and falls for his big hands, yes that’s right his hands! Viola shamelessly pursues him and it is during the chase we realize that James doesn’t have a great personality, but that doesn’t stop Viola who continues her hot pursuit until she reels him in and they marry. There are some conflicts along the way that challenge their relationship but they are not intrusive and the action ambles along. I recommend the book to those looking for a mellow read and are not offended by sex scenes that are hot and frequent.

Dreadful dreadful narrator. Story ok

This is driving me mad. I don’t mind this author, the stories aren’t bad but Mary Sarah is APPALLING!!! Really!!! I’ve never heard so many mispronunciations!! I get it, their supposed to be posh, but that isn’t even how English posh people speak! She’s so obviously an American doing her best, but no. Just NO. Totally spoils my enjoyment and she’s reading so many stories on Audible! Ugh!

I’m now actively avoiding books read by her. Shame for the authors as I buy lots of books!