Customer Reviews

The Black Earl

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This was the first book by Candace Camp I have ever read. I am hoping for better of the next book, "Evensong." The book began fairly well. The situation was plausible with young Elizabeth and Stephen under their wicked uncle's wing. I liked both of them and felt the right amount of dislike for her uncle Godfrey and cousin Geofrey as I figure the author would wish. There was a big deal made in the blurb about how Elizabeth was to throw herself on the mercy of Richard of Norwen. It seemed no such thing to me. Though he distrusted her, a marriage alliance made the most sense. From that moment on I found Elizabeth to be, as one friend said, "Bitchy, whiney, annoying." She went from sweetness harbored under abuse to a high and mighty noble woman who seemed to forget her past until the time came for bedding. She threatened her servants, was offended at being introduced to a wonderful woman who had happened to play the part of mistress in her past. I just found her hard to deal with. I began to almost wish James, Richard's half brother, would just kill her and end everyone's misery. However, Richard was a darling. He'd be everything a woman could want in a hero. He was handsome, in a rough way. He was noble and a gentleman to the end. The scene where he plays with his baby daughter is priceless. I would have gotten it for that scene alone. Even so, I've started "Evensong" now and it seems to hold more hope for me.

This book was the very first historical romance I read, and I absolutely fell in love with it. Having just read it again recently, I must say that I have mixed feelings about it. Whereas before I would have given it 5 stars in a heartbeat, I am now taking off half a star.

The story starts out well. We see Elizabeth and her brother Stephen under their uncle's wing who treats them cruelly. One day Elizabeth hears his uncle talk about Richard, known as The Black Earl. She learns that Richard has sworn revenge against her uncle, who was responsible for the murder of his parents and their previous sufferings. She decides to take the ultimate risk by going to him and throwing herself at his mercy to try and save herself and Stephen. You will admire her courage for doing so, as we are told how Richard is supposed to be merciless and possesses a black soul. Fast forward and we see them get married. Richard takes Elizabeth back to his home, and here we suddenly see a complete turnaround in her character. She is rude to Gwendolyne, thinking the woman beneath her, as she was Richard's late father's mistress and the mother of his illegitimate brother, James, whom Elizabeth also dislikes. Then she's not the most sympathetic of her servants. And all this time, Richard has shown nothing but kindness to her. Now I don't exactly hate Elizabeth, but the author could have painted her in a better light, seeing as how there was nothing to hate about Richard's character, so this is ensure to make most readers dislike Elizabeth for this reason. I agree with the other review that the main attraction to this book is Richard himself. He is to die for. And yes, you will fall in love with him even more when you read the scene of him with his daughter - it is oh so tender! Just priceless!

This is so far the only Candace Camp book I have read, but if the heroes in her other books are all like Richard, then I look forward to reading her other novels.