Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: James, Earl of Crofton

SERIES: Earls of Crofton #2

AUTHOR: Rebecca Cohen

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 298 Pages

RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2020

BLURB:

James Redbourn enjoys all the pleasures King Charles II’s Restoration court affords him as the Viscount of Crofton. His encounter with the enigmatic Chivalrous Highwayman in Epping Forest, sets the court aflame. Tales of the charming rogue treating his latest victim with his usual gentle hand has ladies’ fans quivering with every whisper.

While the Chivalrous Highwayman is a delicious fantasy, it is the intriguing Adam Dowson, the son of one of the greatest Cavalier generals, who fires James’s daytime desires. Their friendship might be growing stronger, but Adam seems to be one of the few men who is impervious to James’s charms, no matter how hard James tries.

When James’s father become deathly ill, James races home. He is ill-prepared to become the 4th Earl of Crofton, and his father’s vague but dire warnings on his deathbed only make matters worse. Now the earl, James must discover what is happening at Crofton Hall that had troubled his father so deeply.

James turns to Adam for help. Despite Adam’s own secrets, James trusts him. James hopes he’s not making a mistake, risking his family estate, and his already bruised heart. Together, they need to work to clear out the rotten core at Crofton Hall, and along the way secure a happy future for them both.

REVIEW:

James appreciates all the frivolities within the court of King Charles II. He enjoys a good game of cards and given his rank and beauty he beds both men and women. To date, no one has caught his eye enough to consider a more permanent arrangement. That is until Adam Dowson crosses his path. No matter the incentive, James’s advances are consistently and politely rebuffed. When James’s father dies before his time, he is thrust into the role of Earl, which brings several complications for which he was ill-prepared. Adam steps up to the plate, proving to be a true friend and possibly something more.

The son of a renowned general, Adam has travelled extensively. His latest job is ‘keeper’ to Knaiper, a friend of James, who must be encouraged to tread a steadier path. Adam is not a man of high rank but is a man of secrets – having them, seeing them and keeping them. He is captivated by James, but if he becomes involved with him, more than his excellent reputation is at stake. However, events ensure that Adam’s fate is firmly entwined with James.

I loved the first book in the series Anthony, Earl of Crofton. Anthony and his lover Sebastian were tasked with finding a traitor intent on assassinating the king. But I’m not here to talk about book one. James is the great-grandson of Anthony, First Earl of Crofton. This story also captured my heart.

In this installment, James, while travelling to London with his cousin Tilly, their coach is chased down by the man known as the Chivalrous Highwayman. The two are subsequently charmed out of their jewels by a person extremely knowledgeable over their personalities and movements.

Initially, several characters present themselves as candidates for the highwayman, but one soon becomes the obvious favorite, and he is delicious.

The story is told in the third person entirely from James’ viewpoint. As I received the arc for this story well in advance of release date, I don’t believe it was the final copy as I found some errors that would have no doubt been found in the last read-through. Therefore, I’m not going to make further comment on the technical aspects.

On his deathbed, James’ father imparted the knowledge that someone was scamming the estate and something bigger was also afoot. This mystery put James into an awkward position, especially as he hadn’t had time to gain intimate knowledge of running an estate. Add into the melee that being an earl made him the most eligible bachelor in the land, and James knew he needed help.

Enter the frame, Marchent – a true friend to James and scene-stealer who does his part. He also puts Adam Dowson front and center as the man who can help.

What follows is a drama which combines the life of the extremely privileged with not so much a mystery, but more a ‘we know whodunit’ now let’s get proof and set a trap. There is a small but superb extended cast—a shoutout here for Remembrance, James’s manservant.

James is a man effectively learning how to swim. He is a sweet soul, but he isn’t as attuned to considering the actions and feelings of others as he could be. He’s a work in progress and often needs advice.

In all areas, the story is a slow burn, with lots of verbal sparring, which was a delight to read. As for the sparks between James and Adam, lots of simmering is how I’d describe it. But damn, they are good together. Every time Adam is in a scene, he is a delight. Therefore, I’d give him top billing, followed by the Merchant, then James – who eventually becomes a man, anyone would be proud to call Earl.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

Amazon