When to Engage an Earl (Spinster House #3) by Sally MacKenzie

When to Engage an Earl by Sally MacKenzie

Blurb:

If love is a malady, the Spinster House ladies have caught it, one by one.

 
Miss Jane Wilkinson couldn t be more delighted when her two best friends marry, creating a much-desired vacancy at the Spinster House. For the first time in her twenty-eight years, Jane can be free of her annoying older brother and enjoy complete solitude with the exception of the Spinster House cat, Poppy. If only Jane s unruly thoughts didn t keep drifting to handsome Alex, Earl of Evans, in the most un-spinster like ways.

Though jilted once, Alex has always intended to marry and raise a family. Now that his two closest friends have tied the knot, he is more determined than ever to find a wife. If only it wasn t the intriguing Miss Jane Wilkinson that his heart as well as the rest of him desired. Not only does she appear uninterested in marriage, it s clear she s the managing sort. And yet, despite Alex s fiercely independent spirit, the idea of being managed by her is quite appealing. Now if he can only convince her to give up her beloved Spinster House in favor of a far more pleasurable home in his arms.

I must admit that it took me some time to realize that this book is the third in a series and that I read the first book "I-can't-remember-how-many-times-but-very-often". And guess what, I loved this book as much as I loved the other one, "In the Spinster's Bed". 

The characters are wonderful and I love to read how close they all are and to see how they interact. Our hero, Alex, the Earl of Evans, is someone I'd love to be friends with and when he is with Miss Jane Wilkinson, our heroine, well, you definitely get why everybody -except them, of course- knows that they belong together. 

And of course there's also Poppy, the cat, how could I not remember this cat right away? She is a very unusual but simply amazing character (and I loved it!). As a cat, well, you know what they say about cats and their owners underlings and the way cats rule their lives, right? And Poppy - let's just say that she is a very special case and nobody would dare not to obey her.

What I liked a lot about this book was the fact that even though Jane's indecision and her insecurity concerning her feelings for Alex are a bit frustrating and sometimes you just want to take her and Alex, lock them up somewhere together and don't let them out till they realize what everybody else already knows: they are perfect for each other! But - and this is what I really liked, you can understand Jane and her indecision. No, her childhood wasn't perfect but she hasn't been badly abused or soemthing like that but you can understand why she values her independence that much and why she is loathe to give it up. Of course there are also other insecurities and some misunderstandings but in the end - well, all is well, that ends well, right? 

A very enjoyable and highly recommendable read - I loved it!

★★★★