Edward and Amelia by Karen Thornell

Edward and Amelia
by Karen Thornell

ISBN-13: 9781524421052
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: June 6th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The last thing Amelia Kennington wants is to participate in the London Season. But the daughter of a duke is not afforded such opinions, so she submits to his plans. Beneath is a well-hidden fire that surfaces when provoked—such as when a gentleman startles her and she falls into the Serpentine.

Edward Drayton, the Earl of Norwich, has gained a reputation as a rake--a reputation that he intends to change. This Season, he plans to find a wife—except she seems to find him instead. And she is nothing like he expected.

Scandal is inevitable following Edward and Amelia’s accident-prone meeting, forcing them to marry. Amelia’s disdain for this man she hardly knows is more than clear, and Edward’s pride is wounded before their marriage has even truly begun. Yet, against all odds, the two slowly let their guard down. But when Society gossip, a sister’s jealousy, and long-held secrets threaten their budding relationship, the unlikely couple must determine if their love is strong enough to withstand the opposition they face.


My Review:
Edward and Amelia is a romance set in 1813 in England. It wasn't realistic historically nor did the characters act realistically. For example, even though it hadn't worked for any woman before them, woman after woman kept trying to trap Edward into marriage by getting in compromising situations with him only to have their reputations ruined. The eldest sister declared she wanted to marry a man with a high title but then actively worked to ruin the chances of happiness not only for her sisters but for herself by spreading scandalous rumors that would reflect poorly on her family. The friend who helped start the rumors clung to Edward at a public ball while flirting with him yet somehow everyone felt this shamed Amelia and gossiped about her instead of the flirt. These characters' actions made no sense.

Actually, the story didn't start off too bad. Edward didn't listen well because he was certain he knew what women liked. When Amelia said she didn't want to plan a dinner party, he basically told her that of course she would enjoy it and made her do it. When Amelia told him that she didn't like flattery, he eventually listened. Amelia refused to believe anyone would desire her because of her scars and because her family treated her so poorly. Edward slowly started to listen and open up.

But things got more and more absurd and nonsensical in order to keep them apart. Women kept visiting Edward in the evenings, but he didn't explain who they were or introduce them. Edward kept complimenting every woman he encountered (in front of his wife!) in an attempt to make them leave him alone. He wrote to the women that he'd ruined to apologize and left their letters on his desk where Amelia saw that he was still writing to these women. After weeks of marriage, Amelia received dozens of letters from "women ruined by Edward" within a few hours and yet she didn't suspect that they weren't genuine. She literally refused to listen to her husband try to explain the truth of his reputation. One moment, she reflected on how very little she knew about her husband but later felt that she knew her husband better than two friends who had known Edward his whole life. The author's efforts to keep them apart due to misunderstandings just became absurd. Frustratingly absurd. Not a satisfying read.

There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.