Sumner has done it again. I really am enjoying this series, and am looking forward to future installments.

As always I would have enjoyed it if the book was longer, maybe a little bit longer time to pass between the initial spark and things moving along. Also a little more time focused on their time apart.
Those are minor complaints though, as the story of Oliver and Necessity is engaging and you can't help but like them

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )

THE REVIEW
Necessity Bryne lost her entire beloved family to cholera and was forced to set out on her own. Alone at the age of 12, she chose the difficult path, determined to become a famous gardener!

Oliver Aspinwall, Earl of Stanford is the legitimate brother to his half-brother, Xander. When their horrible father frames Xander for theft and forces him out of his house, Ollie is left to bare the abuse of their father alone. Scared, inside and out, from his fathers abuse and years of fighting for England, his Opium addiction got the better of him when he put himself in the path of a madman after his brother. He woke up with a nasty cut on his face and an Angel treating his wounds. Their first meeting left them both intrigued.

A few years later, Oliver is sober and a recluse at his country estate. Xander decides to send Necessity, now a well-known landscape architect, to live at the estate for a month and fix the dilapidated gardens. But he had ulterior motives as well; Xander hopes these two lost souls will find each other.

They dance around each other for a bit before Ollie can’t take anymore and then the real fun begins! A well and true love affair. One month before Nessie has to head back to London, but when their emotions get the better of them, the outcome of their month long affair is greatly altered!

I love everything that Tracy Sumner writes. Without exception. One Wedding and an Earl was a great edition to the Duchess Society and I loved her connection to Jasper Noble drawing him into the overarching storyline. I think I will LOVE his book!

TROPES
Historical Romance, Georgian Era, Country Life, Byronic/Brooding Hero, Damaged/Tortured Hero, Disabled/Wounded/Scared Hero, Rake Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Titled Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Bluestocking Heroine, Dresses as Male, Experienced Heroine, Hoyden Heroine, Independent Heroine, Orphaned Heroine, Scientist Heroine, Working Heroine, Angst Romance, Class Difference, Fling to Love, Beauty and the Beast, Forced Proximity, Lessons in Seduction/Teach Me, Second Act Breakup Romance, Five Star, Four Flame ( )

I like damaged noblemen heroes and heroines who work. And there were things to like about them here, but ultimately I got tired of the leads butting heads so much and getting in their own way, and I didn't quite 'buy' how things played out. I think if this book were condensed a fair amount then there just wouldn't be room for so much start/stop, come here/no go away relationship drama, and I would have enjoyed it more. It's higher than average steam, which I approve of, lol, and had some nice variety. This was mostly a miss for me, but not quite so tedious as to drop a star. This is my 2nd to least favorite of the series so far though. (I would rate them 1, 3, .5, 4, 2).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )

Delicious!

Take one girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Necessity Byrne of the Shoreditch Byrnes, budding Gardener to the ton, willing to go out of London to work on a garden design by Capability Brown that’s fallen into disrepair.
Into the mix bring a Scarred Earl, Oliver Aspinwall, Earl of Stanford, his faith in humanity, except for his illegitimate brother Xander Macauley and his cohort aptly named Leighton Group, non existent. Haunted by his father’s treatment of him from age five, escape to the army in India has left him fighting opium addiction given for his injuries. Mobbed by the women of the ton and more who are lured by the promise they see of riches or just a good time (he has quite the sexual reputation) they throw themselves at him. He’s fled to the family pile in Derbyshire for the last couple of years, eschewing alcohol and opium, labouring to ease the tension and memories, and drinking tea. He’s put on weight and is even more devastating than before, not that he gives a fig.
Necessity’s been taken up by the Duchess Society, and we know what their help means!
So when the Necessity and Ollie meet again, oh yes! and wasn’t that was interesting! of course the sparks fly. A series of lusty romps doesn’t even begin to cool the ardor between these two.
Their road to a HEA is strewn with miscommunication. I loved it!

A Wolf Publications ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )

One Wedding and an Early by Tracy Sumner
The Duchess Society #4

Sigh…what a wonderful story to sweep me into the past and spend the day. Love this series and enjoy returning to the Leighton Cluster as it grows with the addition of more couples and their offspring.

What I liked:
* Josephine Byrne – known as Necessity and at one time Josie: orphaned young, made her way on her own, superb gardener, has dreams and aspiration, knowledgeable, forthright, strong, assertive, competitive, rather taken with Ollie
* Oliver Apinwall, Earl of Stanford – close friends and family call him Ollie: difficult backstory, ex-military, has dealt with addiction, half brother to Xander Macauley, scarred, reclusive, keeps emotions close, stargazer, rather taken with Necessity
* The way Necessity and Oliver originally meet
* The way Xander plays matchmaker by sending Necessity to fix Oliver’s gardens on his estate
* Watching the relationship develop and the dance of emotions and communication difficulties that Oliver and Necessity must negotiate
* That Necessity is not afraid to state what she wants
* The close relationship, love, and support that exists within The Leighton Cluster
* Getting to see the characters from previous books in the series
* The conclusion
* Wanting to read the next story with Dash and Theo while wondering if Jasper Noble will get a story of his own, too

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like – especially Oliver’s father
* Thinking about poverty, disease, and class issues prevalent in this era

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to the author and Wolf Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars ( )