REVIEW: Engaged to the Earl by Lisa Berne

Engaged to the Earl by Lisa Berne is the fourth book in The Penhallow Dynasty but can be read as a stand-alone. The prologue starts with Gwendolyn Penhallow reminiscing about when she first saw Julian, the Earl of Westenbury, at Almacks and instantly fell in love and became engaged. Then the story goes back in time when she was fourteen and asked Christopher Beck, her neighbor, to marry her. Tired of his father’s disapproval, Christopher left Whitehaven to make his own way and travel the world.

After Christopher left, Gwendolyn had the opportunity to travel Europe with family friends. Upon her return to England, she was invited to London to participate in the season by her Cousin Judith, where she meets Julian and becames engaged. When Christopher finally returns to England, he ran into Percy Penhallow. Percy invited him to join the family for a party, which turned out to be Gwendolyn’s engagement party. Christopher was able to renew his friendship with the Penhallow siblings and their friends.

Gwendolyn slowly comes to realize that she had fallen in love with the idea of marriage to Julian and that the reality of the life they would have would not be the same as her idea. After Gwendolyn ends her engagement to Julian, the friendship between Christopher and Gwendolyn slowly grows into love as time progresses.

There were a lot of sub-plots and side characters in the book and they seemed to overwhelm and slow down the book. It was hard to stay focused with all the different interactions between characters and the story going back and forth in time. All the side characters were interesting, but I wish that more interactions between Christopher and Gwendolyn was written. There was plenty of adventure and drama in the book and Gwendolyn eventually found her way to a happy ending.

Book Info:

Publication: February 25th 2020 | Avon | The Penhallow Dynasty #4

A spirited debutante—a brash adventurer—the perfect fiancé—and good intentions gone terribly, deliciously bad. The Penhallow Dynasty continues in this sparkling Regency romp!

Christopher Beck came striding into a glamorous London drawing-room and can’t believe his eyes. The last time he’d seen Gwendolyn Penhallow, she was a dreamy, strong-willed girl with a wild imagination, and now she’s a beautiful and beguiling young lady… who’s engaged to Society’s darling, the Earl of Westenbury. Christopher had fled England to seek adventure elsewhere. Has he found it here, too—the most delightful adventure of his life?

Gwendolyn is sure she’s betrothed to the most wonderful man in the world. But then, shockingly, Christopher Beck shows up. Nobody has heard from him in years—and not only he is very much alive, he’s also sinfully attractive, blithely unconventional, and disturbingly fun to be with. Which wouldn’t be a problem, except for the fact that she’s, well, promised to another. And just what on earth is she going to do about it?