{Mayfair Men of Mystery Review} Deceiving an Earl by @SharonCullen

Deceiving an Earl by Sharon Cullen
Published by Entangled Publishing on September 23, 2019
Genres: Historical, Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Available with KU Subscription, Barnes & Noble, iBooks
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Oliver McCaron, Earl of Armbruster, is an influential, self-made man who lives life by his own rules. Though he’s never lacking for female attention, there’s only one woman he wants. And she’s the one woman who won’t have him…again.

Widow Lady Fieldhurst has spent the last seventeen years avoiding Oliver, after one glorious night together. Her parents had already planned out her life - she was never to become Oliver’s wife, despite their plans to run away. To protect their secret, she had to follow their wishes and marry the elderly earl they had chosen.

Now Ellen’s world is threatened by a blackmailer who threatens to expose everything. Now she’ll have to face the only man she’s ever loved and ask for help. Because if the truth comes to light, it could ruin more than one life...

I received Deceiving an Earl for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Oliver McCaron, Earl of Armbruster, spent seventeen years wondering what happened to his Ellen to change her mind about marrying him. Ellen instead married the Earl of Fieldhurst, a man twice her age. While in the same circles, the two never spoke to each other until Oliver showed up at Ellen’s salon. Oliver never intended to attend, but at the behest of the Crown, he joins the unusual crowd gathered in Ellen’s home.

Ellen’s husband passed away three years ago, leaving her to show their young son how to be an earl. Now sixteen, Philip, has been suspended from Eton and might possibly be expelled. Ellen is at her wits end since the boy believes he’s ready to take over for his late father. Through their renewed acquaintance, Ellen asks Oliver for help to set Philip on the right track.

Renowned surgeon, William, has been nipping at Ellen’s heels for months. While Ellen only sees him as a friend, William needs more. When Ellen rebuffs his proposal, William discovers a long-held secret he uses to force Ellen’s hand.

Cullen has given us another dynamic story! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The story goes back and forth between the past in the present, so we get to see Ellen and Oliver at seventeen and at thirty-four. The road they take is made even more complicated by Philip and William in very different ways. Ellen is tough with a huge heart. Her son always comes first. While he never intended to, Oliver has waited for Ellen to hold his heart once again. As always, Cullen delivers us a very satisfying ending. So, what are you waiting for? Have tissues in hand for this magnificent love story that spans almost two decades.