The Errant Earl
Grade : C+

This book was flawed and a little disjointed, but at times very interesting and different. The Errant Earl is not your run of the mill Regency, which is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Sometimes believability and convention were stretched a little too far for my tastes, yet the unconventional plot kept me fairly engrossed.

When Alexander Ferrars, Earl of Lazenby, is injured in a carriage accident, he causes some major difficulties for a small Cheshire town. The local inn is completely unsuitable for his sick room, and he isn't well enough to be moved much farther. The doctor decides that the only possible option is to have him stay at the home of Miss Frances Willbraham. Frances has the room to keep him, and enough staff to keep a vigilant watch. She's unmarried, but her married sister is currently living with her, so the basic proprieties will be kept. Frances quickly agrees, and the desperately ill man is brought to her home. She helps the doctor nurse him and even picks out bits of cloth and wood from his severely mutilated leg.

Frances's sister Kitty is none too pleased about the arrangement. Unlike Frances, she's heard of Lazenby, and he has a terrible reputation as a rake who cavorts with married women. In this case, the ton's view on Lazenby is pretty accurate; he does go after married women, and was in the process of running away with one when the carriage accident occurred. Frances tries to squelch Kitty's fears. Lazenby is, after all, not in any condition to cavort with anyone. Indeed, his convalescence is of some duration. Just long enough for Fran to fall in love with him, and he with her. She reads to him from Ovid's Art of Love, and they play games and laugh together. Lazneby realizes that it's time to grow up and put his life in order, and Frances (who until this point had been determined to remain single) realizes that Lazenby is the kind of companion she has always wanted.

However, a tragic turn of events threatens the fledgling romance with almost certain failure. Lazneby's past catches up with him in a most unpleasant way, and he feels the need to leave the area - and Fran - forever. Then things go from bad to worse when Lazenby finds himself accused of a horrible crime. Fran must find a way to help him prove his innocence, even though circumstances really seem hopeless.

This book has two distinct parts, and they don't necessarily go well together. The entire first half features Lazenby in the sick room. He is really, really unwell. He doesn't go anywhere, so there isn't a whole lot of action. Yet it's appealing in a slow, thoughtful way. This is the part of the book where the couple really falls in love, and I found it quite believable. This part of the story (profligate rake realizes the error of his ways when he meets the right woman) is one we've all read countless times before, but there's a reason it's such an old standby. We like to hear about bad boys who are redeemed by love. In this case, Conway takes the time to make both character interesting and believable; that's why the scenario works. Lazenby's repentance comes about gradually, mostly because his injuries have left him so much time to think. Fran is a worthy match for him. She's independent in every sense of the word, with a fortune at her disposal and the intelligence to know how to manage it.

The second half of the book is in sharp contrast to the first. Suddenly the action heats up and the plot twists and turns all over the place. I never knew what would happen next - which kept me interested - but it also seemed way over the top after the relatively quiet first half. It's hard to truly discuss this part of the book without giving away spoilers left and right, but suffice it to say that intrigue abounds. Sometimes too much intrigue.

I also felt that the whole initial premise of the book required far too much suspension of disbelief. I had a really hard time believing that Fran's house was the only suitable place for a single man with a bad reputation, no matter how lofty his title. While Fran's sister Kitty is pretty irritating, her constant fussing about the impropriety of it all actually seemed pretty sensible for the time. I also had a problem with Fran's reading choice. Ovid's Art of Love is really risqué, and I can't imagine reading it to a stranger in my home now - let alone two hundred years ago.

That said, I still found this book more interesting than many of the other Regencies I've read in recent months. It may be outlandish and a little hard to believe at times, but I did like these people, and I cared what happened to them. If you're looking for a trad that a little "out there," you might find this one worth your time.

Reviewed by Blythe Smith
Grade : C+
Book Type: Regency Romance

Sensuality: Kisses

Review Date : August 9, 2004

Publication Date: 2004

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Blythe Smith

I've been at AAR since dinosaurs roamed the Internet. I've been a Reviewer, Reviews Editor, Managing Editor, Publisher, and Blogger. Oh, and Advertising Corodinator. Right now I'm taking a step back to concentrate on kids, new husband, and new job in law...but I'll still keep my toe in the romance waters.
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