Release Day Book Brief: The Return of the Earl by Sandra Schwab

Title ~ The Return of the Earl

Author ~ Sandra Schwab

Published ~ 14th April 2017

Genre ~ Historical M/M Romance

Rating

Synopsis

CAN THEY OVERCOME THE BETRAYALS OF THE PAST FOR A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE?
On the Continent they call him the Ice Prince, icy of manner, icy of heart. Now, after thirteen years of exile, Con returns home to England and to Harrowcot Hall, a place haunted by memories of a long-lost friendship and past betrayals, a place where all of his dreams shattered and died.
But the past is over and done with, and can no longer touch him -- or so Con thinks. He certainly does not expect to come face to face with Bryn Ellison again, the man whom he once loved beyond everything and who repudiated their bond in the cruelest way imaginable.
As snow and frost close in on Harrowcot Hall, Con's icy demeanour starts to melt while he grapples with old hurts and newly awakened passions. Will he give in to the lure of the past against his better judgement?
WARNING:
This book contains a very grumpy earl, a dashing stablemaster, some ravishment in various places, several garden follies, a lot of snow, and a horse called Lancelot.

Freya’s Book Brief

What we have here is that classic tale of the Earl and the stablemaster. Yum Yum.

The year is 1822. Banished by his father thirteen years previous, seven years after his father’s death, the now man, returned to the family home, as Viscount Conway the Earl of Stanbury. Overseas he was proud to be known as the Ice Prince. To those who knew him intimately, he is known as Con.

Harrowcot Hall was steeped in memories for Con, most of which he preferred to forget; mainly because of the betrayal from the man he loved, Bryn. His father, too, was a grade A bastard.

From the beginning, this story grabbed me. It’s sweet, simple, not too long and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Technically, it’s not perfect, but what stories are? At the end of the day, it all comes down to interpretation. The scene setting firmly set me in the era, the cast was a nice size, and I couldn’t stop reading – that trumped any little things my inner beta noticed.

Being home among the memories initially brought out the worst in Con. It often made him come across as an arrogant p***k. But, I liked that about him simply because it made him more human. His redemption came in his alone times when he showed his more vulnerable side.

It’s obvious that Con’s father was a manipulative bastard, and the rat can be smelled a mile off. It’s a question of when the secrets would be let out of the bag. That nugget mixed with Con’s arrogance, made juicy reading.

Onto, Bryn – The stablemaster whose betrayal sends Con into brood mode. Ohhh, he’s delicious and swoon-worthy. He’s a strong man who loves horses and treats them well – what’ not to love? A fan might be needed around him.

Every character in a story has to undergo their journey. Con’s Ice Prince persona changes in a way that had me eating up the pages and not wanting to put the book down.