The Earl I Ruined

Still wanted more kink but this one was much more enjoyable than [b:The Duke I Tempted 40019357 The Duke I Tempted (Secrets of Charlotte Street, #1) Scarlett Peckham https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525996814l/40019357.SY75.jpg 61977414]. There was still a good amount of angst/drama/etc, but Constance and Julian were much more enjoyable as POV characters, especially Constance. Not sure I'll read the third book in this series, but I'm definitely keeping an eye on this author!

I was prepared to like this book. I really was. A plot where the heroine proposes to the hero to save his ruined reputation? Sign me up.

However, there were irritating parts of this book that I just couldn't ignore. Firstly, 90% of the main characters' problems would not have existed if they were capable of simply talking to each other. In the first half of the book, I could understand their mutual wariness but after that point it just got tiring. What they really seemed to excel at doing was talking at each other. While they both made very salient points about the implications of the heroine's actions at the beginning of the book, they never have a conversation where they compromise and begin to see the other person's point of view. Although as readers who can peer into the minds of the characters, we see them begin to understand each other, we never see them have a discussion about this. I believe that this greatly contributes to the feelings of mistrust they both still have towards nearing the end of the book. However, I must admit that the line about love being a series of actions is perhaps one of my favourite romance novel quotes. If not for that this book would probably have received 2 stars.

Still, the book was well written and I'll try another Peckham book to see if my issues with this novel are resolved in some of her other books.