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Philippa Jane Keyworth
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The Unexpected Earl Kindle Edition

by Philippa Jane Keyworth (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 443 ratings

Six years after being jilted without a word of explanation, Julia Rotherham finds Lucius Wolversley standing before her once again–unexpected, unannounced, unwelcome.


With her heart still hurting and, more importantly, her pride, Julia must chaperone her younger sister, fend off fortune hunters, orchestrate a fake engagement, and halt an elopement–all whilst keeping the man who jilted her at arm’s length. But what Julia doesn’t know is that this time, the Earl has no intention of disappearing, and this time he has more than an explanation to offer…

Reviews

‘This is a charming and squeaky clean Regency Romance with a solid hero and feisty heroine who obviously belong together. I enjoyed settling in for the twists and turns of the plot as they find their way out of their estrangement to reunite. – Historical Novel Society

'There is a whirlwind of excitement in this delectable romance filled with deceit, comedy, and love gone wrong!' - InD'Tale Magazine

Awards & recognition

  • 5 star review & crowned heart, InD'Tale Magazine
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  1. Print length
    344 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 23, 2020
  4. File size
    3.3 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a whirlwind of excitement...comedy, and love gone wrong." - InD'Tale Magazine"...well-written and...impossible to put down." - Austenprose

About the Author

Philippa Jane Keyworth, known to her friends as Pip, has been writing since she was twelve in every notebook she could find. Originally trained as a horse-riding instructor, Philippa went on to become a copywriter before beginning a degree in History. A born again Christian, Philippa lives in the south of England with her handsome husband. Philippa has always written stories and believes that, since it is one of her loves and passions, she always will. In her early writing career, she dabbled in a variety of genres, but it was the encouragement of a friend to watch a film adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that began her love affair with the British Regency. Since then, she has watched every Regency film and TV series she could get her hands on and become well acquainted with Georgette Heyer's novels which gave her the inspiration to write her own. Both as a reader and a writer, Philippa believes it is important to escape into a world you yourself would want to live in. This is why she writes stories that will draw you into the characters' joys and heartaches in a world apart from our own. Her debut novel, The Widow's Redeemer (Madison Street Publishing, 2012), is a traditional Regency romance bringing to life the romance between a young widow with an indomitable spirit and a wealthy viscount with an unsavory reputation. The novel has been received well by readers and reviewers who have praised the heartfelt story and admirable characters. Her second novel, The Unexpected Earl (Madison Street Publishing, 2014), explores another romance in the Regency era when an impetuous young woman has her life turned upside down by the reappearance of the earl who jilted her six years ago. So, what are you waiting for? Get swept away into another time with characters you will learn to love, and experience the British Regency like never before.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08532LRRC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Passalande Books (February 23, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 23, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 443 ratings

About the author

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Philippa Jane Keyworth

Philippa Jane Keyworth

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Philippa Jane Keyworth, also known as P. J. Keyworth, writes historical romance and fantasy novels you'll want to escape into.

She loves strong heroines, challenging heroes and backdrops that read like you’re watching a movie. She creates complex, believable characters you want to get to know and worlds that are as dramatic as they are beautiful.

Keyworth's historical romance novels include Regency and Georgian romances that trace the steps of indomitable heroes and heroines through historic British streets. From London's glittering ballrooms to its dark gaming hells, characters experience the hopes and joys of love while avoiding a coil or two! Travel with them through London, Bath, Cornwall and beyond and you'll find yourself falling in love.

Keyworth's fantasy series The Emrilion Trilogy follows strong love stories and epic adventure. Unveiling a world of nomadic warrior tribes and peaceful forest-dwelling folk, you can explore the hills, deserts and cities of Emrilion and the history that is woven through them. With so many different races in the same kingdom it's become a melting pot of drama and intrigue where the ultimate struggle between good and evil will bring it all to the brink of destruction.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
443 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a very enjoyable read with a wonderful Regency tale and interesting characters. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting it's a quick read. However, the pacing receives criticism, with multiple customers describing it as sluggish.

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10 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story of this wonderful regency tale, praising the author's knack for plot creation.

"...It is a traditional Regency with no explicit behavior and was an uplifting escape from the modern world. I enjoyed every minute." Read more

"...So far, each book I've read by her has an intricate plot with thoughtfully crafted characters, backstories, conflicts, and resolutions...." Read more

"A wonderful regency tale in the tradition of Georgette Heyer...." Read more

"I liked the storyline but my goodness person had to slough through a lot before getting anywhere...." Read more

9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very enjoyable and worth the wait.

"...That said, I still enjoyed the book and the writing, and I do believe this is author to be an up-and-coming author we should watch for in the future...." Read more

"...this book a summary, I'll only say it is unique, clean, and a very enjoyable read." Read more

"I found this book interesting because it had a plot that was a twist on the jilted h story...." Read more

"...I found this an enjoyable and quick read." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters interesting.

"...The characters were complex and complete. They all seemed liked flawed and very real people...." Read more

"...Her characters are unconventional, which is a blessing since I swear most of the characters in romance novels feel like cardboard cutouts of the..." Read more

"...but it was a clean read, the story was plausible, the characters were interesting, it had interesting side characters, and it had a satisfying ending..." Read more

"...Loved the character of Mr. Highsmith, especially….maybe the author will be writing about Annabelle’s and Peter’s romance next...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one noting it's a quick read.

"...(the overuse of descriptions, for example), but I found the writing much smoother, the plot much more unique and intricate, and the pacing better..." Read more

"...So the book isn't perfect but it was a clean read, the story was plausible, the characters were interesting, it had interesting side characters, and..." Read more

"...Thank you Philippa . Keep writing and we'll keep reading" Read more

"...I found this an enjoyable and quick read." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book sluggish.

"...The heroines anger lasts way too long and makes the book drag. I found myself skipping over descriptions of lots of unnecessary stuff...." Read more

"...The story was good and generally well written, but it did feel a little slow at times...." Read more

"Terrific read although pacing was sluggish and contrived for the first 55percent-- mostly because the author drags out the reason why the earl..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kathleen Charon
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book that was worth the wait!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I was a fan of this author after reading her debut novel and could hardly wait for the release of this book. I was not disappointed. The descriptions of the surroundings, the balls and the city of London were clear enough to transport me there. The characters were complex and complete. They all seemed liked flawed and very real people. The anguish that Julia felt, to have been jilted with no explanation was understandable and palpable. The complex emotions that the situation created was also very realistic to me. It is a traditional Regency with no explicit behavior and was an uplifting escape from the modern world. I enjoyed every minute.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Lily G
    4.0 out of 5 stars An unexpected pearl
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I'd like to first recommend that readers consider her book _Fool Me Twice_, for I found it a far better example of her writing and storytelling skill. I want to give this book 3 stars, but I'll go ahead and bump it to 4 because I've read so many terrible romances lately from some of the top romance publishers, that I'd like to boost some promotion for an up-and-coming writer who is still managing to out do the current top names even with the issues this book has. I enjoyed the book, so I do feel bad that most of my review here will be somewhat negative. I'll start with the positive for a balance.

    The positive: The author seems to have a knack for plot creation. So far, each book I've read by her has an intricate plot with thoughtfully crafted characters, backstories, conflicts, and resolutions. For the most part, she's done good historical research without the terribly grievous anachronisms that are all too common in too many romances. The author gets inside the head of the characters so we can see how they're feeling, what they're thinking, and the status of their internal conflict, which helps us understand their decisions, actions, and motivations. I love the title of this book, for that's exactly what this earl is--an unexpected guest. The very person no one expects to show up. Clever title. The romance is clean, focusing on the romance instead of the smut. Her characters are unconventional, which is a blessing since I swear most of the characters in romance novels feel like cardboard cutouts of the same characters from the previous novel. The reader learns about the characters as they learn about each other and thus are part of the falling in love process.

    The negative: (a) The point of view shifts occurred too often and were wholly distracting and unnecessary. Mid-page, suddenly the point of view would switch to another character and then back again, or to several characters and then back again. Aside from the shifts, I frankly don't care what the stable boy is thinking, or the father, or the maid, or anyone except the hero and heroine. (b) There was some serious confusion with the dandy/fop references. Two issues here, in fact. First, the time period is quite clearly Regency, yet the fashionable men are powdering their faces and wearing rouge. Powder and rouge went out at the turn of the century and is a fashion for the 18th century, not early 19th century. Second, dandy and fop were used synonymously, and these two words are far from synonymous. If referencing a person who pays fastidious attention to his appearance and is the height of fashion, then generally speaking, these two words could be considered synonymous, but when writing a historical piece in which the characters are being classified by their type of fashion sense and behavior, it is important to distinguish the fop from the dandy. I kept asking myself, "So which is this person? A fop or a dandy?" when the character would be referred to as being both. The fashion sense, the mannerisms, and even the time period would be vastly different between these two. There was at the turn of the century a good overlap between the two where you would find both fops and dandies, but they were still quite at odds. Further into the Regency, the fop was no more, so to still have fops running around would indicate some old-fashioned fellows who would stand out in all the wrong ways. The error isn't dissimilar from confusing hipsters with hippies. (c) The heroine is supposed to be in her mid 20s, but she acted more like a teenager in some chapters, such as her pouting to her mother about it not being fair that her mother allows her sister to sleep in but not her. I just wouldn't expect a woman in her mid 20s to act as the heroine does in some instances. (d) The word "upon" drove me batty. And I do mean batty. I believe the writer should do a Find search in Micro Word for the word "upon" to realize just how often it was used, sometimes twice within the same sentence. The best fate for that word is for the writer to hit Delete on the keyboard. There were quite a few combinations with "upon" that made the writing feel stuffy, such as "bestow upon." There's writing in a Regency style, and then there's writing downright stiffly. A good bit of stiff writing in this. It felt as though the writing tried too hard, honestly. Relax more. Let the words flow rather than trying so hard to sound stuffy. (e) The description was not just a case of the purple prose, but the descriptions were often ill-timed and unnecessary. Let's start with a compliment--the writer has a gift for description, truly. I can visualize it all quite well. The problem is that the description becomes so much that I felt like I was drowning in adjectives and similes of everything and anything, right down to the homeless beggar on the side of the road. Describe what's relevant to the moment to immerse the reader in the moment, and then cut to the action, moving the reader along the action. Descriptions slow the reader down to smell the flowers, so you don't want to slow it down in the middle of an action scene or slow it down so much that pages are dragging with what every single servant in the house is wearing on any given day. That description becomes unnecessary. (f) I'm concerned that the heroine and hero might be alcoholics. From the very beginning, the heroine was getting drunk. Every time we found ourselves flashing to the hero, he was wallowing in drink. There was waaaay too much drinking going on, and too many jokes on the heroine's part about enjoying the punch and wanting to finish off the hero's flask. Between reading smut and reading about excessive drinking, I'd almost rather the smut, and that's saying something. Drinking that fits the time and the mood is acceptable, but I'm not too interested in reading about people with drinking problems. (g) There needs to be more dialogue tags, especially when there are more than two people in the room. Quite a few conversations were missing dialogue tags, so I had no idea who was saying what, especially when there was a room full of people. (h) A few chapters were written from a secondary character's perspective, and it didn't make any sense why. (i) The story jumped a bit too abruptly from the heroine being upset with the hero to joking with him in a single conversation. After 200 pages of upset, it seems unlikely that she'd suddenly be joking with him in a single conversation. (j) Some parts didn't make sense. A few examples are why a bruise would turn purple on impact of a punch, why Highsmith pockets the trinket to examine, why in the middle of a hurried and panicked scene a character would take the time to go through at least four cravats to tie it correctly, etc..

    I hope the negative doesn't sound too harsh. I'm sure that in time, these writing issues will all be resolved. There is definitely some growing room for this writer, and it is that growing room that made parts of the book more irksome than enjoyable. That said, I still enjoyed the book and the writing, and I do believe this is author to be an up-and-coming author we should watch for in the future. I recommend trying _Fool Me Twice_. Some of the same issues are in that book (the overuse of descriptions, for example), but I found the writing much smoother, the plot much more unique and intricate, and the pacing better planned. Of the two, the fool me book is superior, but that is just my own humble opinion. I recommend giving this writer a try. It'll be fun seeing what new books she comes out with, for I have no doubt they will only improve, especially when she has such a knack for storytelling.
    One person found this helpful
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  • NE
    5.0 out of 5 stars A little Heyer, a little Austen, I loved it.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A wonderful regency tale in the tradition of Georgette Heyer. There are enough reviews that give this book a summary, I'll only say it is unique, clean, and a very enjoyable read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Slow going
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I liked the storyline but my goodness person had to slough through a lot before getting anywhere.

    The heroine and hero had been quietly engaged when they were younger. The hero broke things off with no explanation. Six years later they meet again. There are several things going on - their feelings for each other, a man who is currently trying to win the heroine's affections, the siblings of the main characters and a villain.

    But everything was so drawn out! It took pages to learn what the trinket was, and though I had already guessed the hero's reason for breaking their engagement, that was not confirmed until near the end.

    Not much heat in this -- nothing to make you blush.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Pat. H
    4.0 out of 5 stars Plot based on miscommunication trope but entertaining story overcomes it.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book interesting because it had a plot that was a twist on the jilted h story. In this case the h, Julia Rotherham, didn't face social scandal for being jilted because no one knew of the betrothal except her parents. They had requested she be allowed to enjoy one season before marrying and both the H, Lucius, Earl of Woversley, and Julia agreed. Then, out of the blue, Lucius had ended the relationship by letter and gave no reason for his change of heart. Julia and Lucius had known each other most of their lives and played together as children. When the relationship had grown into love they had promised to love each other forever even though she was only 17 at the time and he just slightly older. Julia was heartbroken when the love of her life broke off the relationship and she never fully recovered.

    The story starts six years later at Julia's younger sister's coming out ball. Lucius's best friend talked him into attending an evening at Almack's because he had avoided society events for years, but it was time for him to reestablish himself in society. To Lucius's surprise when they arrived it wasn't Almack's after all, it was the London home of his former fiance. He had done everything he could to avoid her all these years, but now he was stuck at an event she was sure to attend.

    Julia was appalled to see him entering the ball and found his cool greeting confusing; did he not recognize her? Was he so coldhearted he had forgotten his promises so easily? How could he act as if nothing has ever occurred between them? It was like a scab ripped off her broken heart opening the old wound. She couldn't let him see how he effected her, so she turned to a good friend for help. Peter Highsmith had proposed to Julia the year before but she had gently turned him down. Peter still hoped he might have a chance with Julia so when she asked his help to avoid Lucius he agreed. They decided to act like they were romantically involved so Lucius would see that Julia did not want him in her life. It worked so well that Lucius got jealous. He wanted to speak to Julia alone to try to explain why he had broken off their engagement, but instead he lost his temper and was shaking her when they were interrupted by his inebriated friend. The friend totally misunderstood what was going on and thought Lucius was holding Julia in his arms. Then the friend shouts out congratulations to Lucius for finding love so soon. Others heard his stupid remark and hurried to the door to see what scandal was happening. The only thing to do since they were compromised was for Lucius to ask Julia's father for her hand in marriage immediately.

    Each of them thinks the other hates them and here they are about to get married. What a mess. Of course, over the rest of the book they start to remember why they loved each other in the first place. It takes forever for Lucius to finally get to explain to Julia what happened six years before and why he felt he had to do what he did. She has years of anger to overcome before she can begin to see him for the man he has become. So there is a lot of miscommunication to straighten out. That old trope has been used so much that at first I thought it might ruin the story; but considering they were so young when they were first engaged and acted in a way fitting for their age, and now they have matured but have a lot of old problems to overcome, it fit the story and I didn't find it kept me from enjoying the book.

    The problem of Julia's younger sister was a little harder to go unnoticed. She was written as a loving and kind young lady sometimes, then would become exceedingly angry over what to me appeared to be a trifle and fly off the handle like she was psychotic. Then she would calm down and be sweet and kind again, until the next time something irritated her. I guess her strange behavior was important to the plot, but it felt like it was written incorrectly. There was no middle ground in her behavior. When Julia tried to warn her parents about the sister's behavior the parents acted like it was totally normal and nothing to worry about. That too seemed very unlikely; they were very hard on Julia and she was an adult.

    So the book isn't perfect but it was a clean read, the story was plausible, the characters were interesting, it had interesting side characters, and it had a satisfying ending. When I finished it I felt it had been a very enjoyable read.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cathy Morgan
    5.0 out of 5 stars great clean regency romance
    Reviewed in Australia on December 31, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed it - clean regency romance, among the best I've come across since Georgette Heyer. Great for a light read - will be looking for more by the author. Highly recommended.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2020
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    Very well written and entertaining story with lots of highs and lows. Well described characters goodies and baddies, intrigue and romances.
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  • Miss Sprick
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ben scritto
    Reviewed in Italy on September 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Gradevole e ben scritto, con competenza e spirito. Non brillante come 'Fool me twice', ma una buona spanna sopra gli ultimi Regency letti. La storia è forse esile, e le incomprensioni tirate un po' troppo per le lunghe (molti tentativi di chiarimento saltano per l'arrivo improvviso di un terzo incomodo) ma la sua lettura mi ha rinfrescato la mente in queste giornate afose.
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  • tabbycat
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on June 2, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyable and light weight read.
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  • MR NIGEL WALTON
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2015
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    Enjoyable read
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