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The Earl Takes All
(The Hellions of Havisham #2)
by
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 hus ...more
After her hus ...more
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of The Earl Takes All (The Hellions of Havisham, #2)
[4.5 🌟]
This was disgustingly romantic and it could’ve easily gone the other way since the plot is pretty wild. But Lorraine Heath weaved this story so almost perfectly, my heart was beyond happy and grieving throughout it all.
I’m trying to calm down but my Amazon basket is full of Lorraine Heath’s books now, so yes, I highly recommend this.
This was disgustingly romantic and it could’ve easily gone the other way since the plot is pretty wild. But Lorraine Heath weaved this story so almost perfectly, my heart was beyond happy and grieving throughout it all.
I’m trying to calm down but my Amazon basket is full of Lorraine Heath’s books now, so yes, I highly recommend this.
Apr 26, 2016
Christine Wallflower & Dark Romance Junkie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
3.5 Agonizing Stars!
She pressed a finger to his lips. He stilled, his eyes searching hers.
"If you kiss me, I'll be lost," she told him.
"I'll find you, lead you back."
Well that was all sorts of angsty! I've been looking forward to Edward and Julia's story ever since I finished reading the first book in this series, personally I felt it was quite difficult to judge Julia, Edward and Albert from what I learned in the Falling Into Bed With a Duke book but if I'm going to be honest I would say th ...more
She pressed a finger to his lips. He stilled, his eyes searching hers.
"If you kiss me, I'll be lost," she told him.
"I'll find you, lead you back."
Well that was all sorts of angsty! I've been looking forward to Edward and Julia's story ever since I finished reading the first book in this series, personally I felt it was quite difficult to judge Julia, Edward and Albert from what I learned in the Falling Into Bed With a Duke book but if I'm going to be honest I would say th ...more
Be me, he'd gasped. Be me.
Edward Alcott and his twin brother, Albert had always been there for each other. Orphaned at seven, they'd gone to live with the Marquess of Marsden, where they'd been raised with the marquess's son, and another boy, the future Duke of Ashebury. The four had been not just friends, but brothers.
When Albert had started courting Lady Julia Kenney, Edward felt that she was stealing Albert away from him. The brothers had always been together and Edward resented the intrusion ...more
GIVE ME ALL THE ANGST. When I started this book, I knew that I was going to love it. Edward's twin brother dies on a trip with him, and he promised his brother he would take his place in order to protect his wife. Edward and Julia do not have a good relationship, but she has miscarried three times and is pregnant with another child. In order to protect her health, Edward comes home and pretends he's the Earl and her husband. There is so much angst because Edward has secretly loved Julia for year
...more
Nov 02, 2015
Kath S
marked it as lost-interest
After reading the first book I knew this was going to happen, but I wished it was just my imagination...*sighs*
I'm really sad because she's killing Grey. I would have prefered she'd killed Julia and let Grey be happy with another woman. I'm so disappointed I don't think I can read this book. Sorry, but no.
...more
I'm really sad because she's killing Grey. I would have prefered she'd killed Julia and let Grey be happy with another woman. I'm so disappointed I don't think I can read this book. Sorry, but no.
...more
I'm sure this is going to be a "marmite" book, but I loved it and gave it an A at AAR.
I’ve been desperate to read The Earl Takes All since I finished Falling Into Bed with a Duke, the first book in Lorraine Heath’s Hellions of Havisham Hall series. Even though at that point no synopsis had been published, I had an inkling of where this story might be going – which says a lot for Ms Heath’s ability to bury hints and subtext in whichever story she happens to be telling at the time – and I have ...more
I’ve been desperate to read The Earl Takes All since I finished Falling Into Bed with a Duke, the first book in Lorraine Heath’s Hellions of Havisham Hall series. Even though at that point no synopsis had been published, I had an inkling of where this story might be going – which says a lot for Ms Heath’s ability to bury hints and subtext in whichever story she happens to be telling at the time – and I have ...more
4.5 stars ...
Yes, that is how I sort of felt prior to starting this book... disaster ... how will this work? But work it did. I loved it. As I was nearing the end I was thinking to myself "Mmmm, I don't really love it as much as book one." But then we got an Epilogue ... now, if an Epilogue makes me cry tears of joy, of course I am going to love it. And I did. Suspend the disbelief a bit and enjoy ...
"I can see nothing but disaster if you follow this course."
Yes, that is how I sort of felt prior to starting this book... disaster ... how will this work? But work it did. I loved it. As I was nearing the end I was thinking to myself "Mmmm, I don't really love it as much as book one." But then we got an Epilogue ... now, if an Epilogue makes me cry tears of joy, of course I am going to love it. And I did. Suspend the disbelief a bit and enjoy ...
... then he headed down the...more
Such a sweet, if slightly unbelievable, romance!
You can read the synopsis says, so I'll not repeat what it says, but the slightly unbelievable part was exactly the premise: Edward pretending to be Albert in order to preserve the health of Julia and her unborn baby and his hope that that baby be a boy and the heir.
As we can understand since the very beginning, it's not just a noble act since Edward has been in love with Julia since he first kissed her. And even then he was pretending being Albert ...more
You can read the synopsis says, so I'll not repeat what it says, but the slightly unbelievable part was exactly the premise: Edward pretending to be Albert in order to preserve the health of Julia and her unborn baby and his hope that that baby be a boy and the heir.
As we can understand since the very beginning, it's not just a noble act since Edward has been in love with Julia since he first kissed her. And even then he was pretending being Albert ...more
Well done, Heath. Well done. I would say that this is a rounding up situation, as the narrator is not 5-star worthy, but I do believe the story is, and I prefer to give credit to the author. This was just so very well plotted. It is very rare, in my experience, where I feel that some part of the story was not rushed, was not fully explored as it NEEDED to be. This one did a very good job at giving the story time to breathe and progress as needed. The pacing was spot-on. I was very happy when the
...more
This was DELICIOUS. So much angst!!! And longing, and passion. Ohmyheck I died and went to romance reader heaven.
5 STARS
Fantastic! Loved it. And I have to say, I was totally unprepared for it. I will not say much about the story, because I think it's best to tackle this one blind. I do recommend reading this series in order. One thing I will say though, is that LH hit it out of the park with Edw ...more
“It must be so odd to have someone look exactly like you.” Lady Sarah gave Julia a pointed look.
“Did you ever confuse them?”
“No,” she lied. “The more one was around them, the easier it was to tell them apart.”
Fantastic! Loved it. And I have to say, I was totally unprepared for it. I will not say much about the story, because I think it's best to tackle this one blind. I do recommend reading this series in order. One thing I will say though, is that LH hit it out of the park with Edw ...more
Apr 26, 2016
Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
purchased,
5-star-books
Once again, Lorraine Heath enchanted me with this beautifully written and deeply emotional love story. It takes an exceptional writer to make such a challenging and potentially unpopular plot line work and, although I know some readers will disagree, I think she does this brilliantly.
“Do you know what I think, Allie? I think the weasel— who is supposed to be the villain of our tale— may just turn out to be the hero.”
For me, the success of this book hinged on Ms Heath’s ability to make me see ...more
“Do you know what I think, Allie? I think the weasel— who is supposed to be the villain of our tale— may just turn out to be the hero.”
For me, the success of this book hinged on Ms Heath’s ability to make me see ...more
** Contains mature themes **
This is the second book in series entitled: 'A Hellions of Havisham' featuring Lord Edward Alcott and Lady Julia Kenney Alcott in another twist of fate based in the historical Regency era. This series contains such unique storylines that they cannot fail to impress unless of course the reader is entirely opposed to the sensual content.
One summer night, Edward Alcott gives in to temptation and kisses Lady Julia Kenney in a dark garden. However, the passion she stirs wi ...more
This was me while I was reading it :D
...more
...more
✨THE WINNER TAKES IT ALLLLLLL✨
This one started off slow but by the end I was a blubbering mess—Lorraine had absolutely no reason to go that hard 🥺🤧 I want to read the rest of the series and then I’m assuming the kids have books too (plz lord plz)
At the request of his dying brother Albert, Edward pretends to be his now-dead twin so Albert’s wife’s labor goes smoothly so clearly there is going to be DRAMA but seriously this was a LOT. A good a lot but a lot nonetheless. It totally tugged on my hea ...more
This one started off slow but by the end I was a blubbering mess—Lorraine had absolutely no reason to go that hard 🥺🤧 I want to read the rest of the series and then I’m assuming the kids have books too (plz lord plz)
At the request of his dying brother Albert, Edward pretends to be his now-dead twin so Albert’s wife’s labor goes smoothly so clearly there is going to be DRAMA but seriously this was a LOT. A good a lot but a lot nonetheless. It totally tugged on my hea ...more
Dec 04, 2015
sraxe
marked it as do-not-read
So, the good, decent twin is killed off and the deflowering, manwhore twin gets to survive and have an HEA? No, thanks.
(And this is the brother who posed as his twin and kissed the h, Julia, without her consent when she was being courted by his twin. Ugh.)
(And this is the brother who posed as his twin and kissed the h, Julia, without her consent when she was being courted by his twin. Ugh.)
Nov 08, 2021
Justin Chen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
a-guy-reading-historical-romance
3.75 stars
A solid journey through the rise and fall of an atypical romance, but I need more plot! Reading The Earl Takes All was a constructive experience in further defining my preference in reading historical romance—turned out when a novel focuses solely on the relationship between the hero and the heroine (as if they were living in a vacuum), I'll eventually get bored. And I definitely got bored with this at around the 80% mark, and just skimmed the end.
There's no denying Lorraine Heath cou ...more
A solid journey through the rise and fall of an atypical romance, but I need more plot! Reading The Earl Takes All was a constructive experience in further defining my preference in reading historical romance—turned out when a novel focuses solely on the relationship between the hero and the heroine (as if they were living in a vacuum), I'll eventually get bored. And I definitely got bored with this at around the 80% mark, and just skimmed the end.
There's no denying Lorraine Heath cou ...more
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Many years ago, Edward and Julia shared a passionate kiss in a garden once upon a time, but despite the passion they felt...it went no where
when Julia married his brother and twin, the Earl of Greyling. For years, both Edward and Julia have been avoiding the truth and acting like they hate each other when in reality that is far from the truth. But when Edward and his brother go on a trip, his brother dies tryin
...more
Summary
Many years ago, Edward and Julia shared a passionate kiss in a garden once upon a time, but despite the passion they felt...it went no where
when Julia married his brother and twin, the Earl of Greyling. For years, both Edward and Julia have been avoiding the truth and acting like they hate each other when in reality that is far from the truth. But when Edward and his brother go on a trip, his brother dies tryin
...more
Edward and his twin brother Albert Alcott, Earl of Greyling, are on an expedition in Africa when tragedy strikes. Albert is attacked by a gorilla and while he lies dying, he makes Edward promise to protect his wife Julia and their unborn child by assuming his identity. Julia has been through three miscarriages already, and there is the fear that any further grief may cause another miscarriage. Edward, grief stricken himself and full of guilt because he caused the gorilla to charge and kill Alber
...more
5+ swoony stars for this amazing historical. I hardly ever swoon for book characters but oh, boy! Edward is definitely swoon worthy.
What Lorraine Heath wrote is an extremely romantic and tasteful forbidden love story between a widow and her brother in law.
Edward and Albert are twins but Albert inherits the family title as he is born first.
Both of them fall in love with the same woman, Julia, but Albert is the one who marries her. Julia and Albert have a love filled marriage. There is no love los ...more
What Lorraine Heath wrote is an extremely romantic and tasteful forbidden love story between a widow and her brother in law.
Edward and Albert are twins but Albert inherits the family title as he is born first.
Both of them fall in love with the same woman, Julia, but Albert is the one who marries her. Julia and Albert have a love filled marriage. There is no love los ...more
What a ride. How does Heath pull of these stories? Oh sure, go ahead and pretend to be your dead twin brother, his wife will never ever know. It is for their unborn baby! Well she did it and with aplomb. I live-tweeted this one with #bHeath21, so check that out for details!
I've been waiting for this story. I'm a sucker for the forbidden love theme. When I read the blurb it immediately made me think of Lisa Kleypas's "Stranger in my Arms"--which I loved.
Nope, it was not at all like Stranger in my Arms, lol. This one was way more complex, to the point I wondered if Heath was even going to be able to pull it off. It did however make me dig out my old copy of LK's book which I'll have to re-read this weekend. Looking forward to that!
Anyway, back to the tale....... ...more
Nope, it was not at all like Stranger in my Arms, lol. This one was way more complex, to the point I wondered if Heath was even going to be able to pull it off. It did however make me dig out my old copy of LK's book which I'll have to re-read this weekend. Looking forward to that!
Anyway, back to the tale....... ...more
4 "A Death Wish" Stars.
Quick Take-Aways Review: A very difficult premise to portray but generally well accomplished by Ms. Heath. Strangely, the one kind of extraneous factor that bothered me slightly was the way alcohol was used/portrayed in this novel. The hero almost had a bit of an alcoholic feel to him. Other than this "noise", I enjoyed the interactions between the H/He, particularly the fact that the hero's more laid back and understanding nature seemed to bring out the more edgier and re ...more
Quick Take-Aways Review: A very difficult premise to portray but generally well accomplished by Ms. Heath. Strangely, the one kind of extraneous factor that bothered me slightly was the way alcohol was used/portrayed in this novel. The hero almost had a bit of an alcoholic feel to him. Other than this "noise", I enjoyed the interactions between the H/He, particularly the fact that the hero's more laid back and understanding nature seemed to bring out the more edgier and re ...more
*4.5 stars
The first book raised the bar really high, but this one was really great too. The plot was interesting and Edward is amazing, but he can't top Ashe. ...more
The first book raised the bar really high, but this one was really great too. The plot was interesting and Edward is amazing, but he can't top Ashe. ...more
I have no doubt that Lorraine Heath wrote a beautiful story in this book. But I am afraid to read it. She has the damnest plot sometimes. Masquerading as a twin, albeit with a good reason, seems a far-fetched idea and I am not sure I could suspend belief for such a plot.
And I read Lisa Kleypas's Stranger in my arms, which also had a twin pretending to be his twin. I did not like it. Sigh, I am putting this on the to read shelf and it will probably sit there for quite some time. ...more
And I read Lisa Kleypas's Stranger in my arms, which also had a twin pretending to be his twin. I did not like it. Sigh, I am putting this on the to read shelf and it will probably sit there for quite some time. ...more
What a lovely story! I loved Edward so much! He’s loyal, sweet, sexy and loves Julia with all his heart. I liked Julia too, she’s perfect for Edward and I am so happy they were able to stay together and live happily ever after. Really liked this book!
This book made me cry. The impossible feelings, the taboo romance but holy cow, the feelings were all there. Edward and Julia's romance was hard but it was completely real. I can't wait for Locke's story.
...more
Once again, Lorraine Heath astounds me with her incredible talent. Her writing is so smooth and atmospheric, pulling me to the historical time period without feeling too stiff and formal. Her characters are wonderfully multi-layered and complex, even the ones you might not love as much. Finally, the love story is beautiful and every moment is heartfelt. The angst is chef's kiss. Once again, we have a hero who is a giver and not a taker. Someone incredibly protective of people he loves and who is
...more
The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath is a 2016 Avon publication. I as provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes you know from the start things are going to end badly. Yet, despite everything, I had to look, had to listen, had to know, even if my heart was on the line, knowing full well I would need a super-size box of tissues to get through it.
The setup is wrong on so many levels, I don’t even know where to start. Perhaps at the begi ...more
Sometimes you know from the start things are going to end badly. Yet, despite everything, I had to look, had to listen, had to know, even if my heart was on the line, knowing full well I would need a super-size box of tissues to get through it.
The setup is wrong on so many levels, I don’t even know where to start. Perhaps at the begi ...more
I really enjoyed this one too! It dealt with a difficult set of cards because we have Edward who lied to Julia about his identity and then we have the whole issue of the public figuring out this lie and ruining the rest of the family. I also loved how Lorraine takes these books to another heat level compared to other historical romance authors!! Definitely worth the read for the drama, the characters, and heat!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinopsis en Español // Synopsis in Spanish | 1 | 5 | Oct 21, 2015 07:19AM |
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Also writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor ...more
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor ...more
Other books in the series
The Hellions of Havisham
(3 books)
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“She could touch him however she wanted, say whatever she wanted. No holding back for fear of censure. No withdrawing for fear of judgment. With him, she could be herself completely and absolutely. Was herself completely and absolutely. Was more than herself as the world fell away. She was herself with him, with this man who accepted her openly, naughtiness and all. Who made her his own.”
—
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