The Earl of Dryden by Tammy Andresen

The Earl of Dryden Series: Chronicles of a Bluestocking Series Book #1
on September 24, 2019
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 125
Goodreads

A dangerous lord and a desperate debutante…

The Earl of Dryden knows all about the debutante who refuses to speak a word to anyone, but he never expected she’d be so lovely, nor did he anticipate that he’d catch her confiding her secrets to a marble statue. Even more surprising, he wants to help her. Which is a mistake. A man like him shouldn’t go anywhere near a woman as lovely as Miss Chloe Finch. She’s too alluring by half, and his soul holds real darkness, the kind that would swallow such a lovely creature whole.

Miss Chloe Finch is in grave need of a hero. But when The Earl of Dryden offers his assistance from behind a statue while she is attending a ball, she is well aware she shouldn’t accept. His darkly handsome looks make him look more like a pirate than a lord, and his reputation is even worse. Still, she can’t deny the heat that scorches her skin with a single sweep of his mysterious gaze. Nor can she deny that despite everything inside her screaming that she shouldn’t trust him, a tiny bit of her is tempted. So very tempted.

The Earl of Dryden is book one in the Chronicles of a Bluestocking by Tammy Andresen. This is a wonderful story about redemptive love. Lord Fenton Allstar, the Earl of Dryden actually appears in an earlier book called My Duke’s Seduction. Fenton is the opium addict in need of rescuing. This story begins years later with Fin seeking to improve his tattered reputation through marriage. Who will do? Beautiful Miss Chloe Finch is widely thought to be mute. When Fin discovers her hiding at a ball, he is instantly intrigued. “Behind the statue stood a man. Not just any man. Tall, dark, and broad, his hooded eyes stared down at her with a dangerous glint that made her shiver.” Chloe carries a secret and she thinks she is unlovable. Though he is free of opium, Fin still believes he is untrustworthy and dangerous. Can two flawed people find true love? I loved that the characters are not perfect, just very relatable. He gave her a voice, she gave him a purpose. This is a spicy story with a heated sex scene. My only negative – I wish it had been longer. Great message of redemption.