Surprisingly low-angst, despite the set-up. I hate love triangles, but I didn’t deduct that from the rating - I did enjoy this book. But, I kind of thought Slate was an ass. I’m not too keen about looking down on people of lower classes. Probably one of the cleanest books I have ever read - just one brief kiss. I liked it but felt it was a bit bland, just not my cup of tea. ( )

The Earl, the Vow, and the Plain Jane by Cheryl Bolen
Book #2: The Lords of Eton
Source: ARC from author
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Lord Slade, Sinjin to his friends, will do anything for his family, including sacrifice his future happiness to fulfill a deathbed promise to his father. Though he carries the fancy title and is a revered member of the government, Lord Slade isn’t a wealthy man, and fulfilling the promise he made to his father is going to take an exorbitant amount of money. With that in mind, Lord Slade sadly decides, he is only going to be able to fulfill his promise if he marries an incredibly wealthy woman whether he loves her or not. Marrying well means not only fulfilling his promise to his father, but providing well for his younger sisters, and ensuring a proper dowry for their future.

Trouble is, Lord Slade has already met the woman he is quite taken with, could very easily love and spend his life with, but she has even less than he.

Jane Featherstone has long admired Lord Slade and the good work he has done in government. He is kind, caring, dedicated to helping those less fortunate than he, and intelligent. Jane couldn’t care less about his title or lack of money, she simply enjoys Lord Slade’s company, the stimulating conversation, and commitment to causes greater than themselves. Jane Featherstone could easily love Lord Slade, happily spend the rest of her life with him, but without a fortune and her self-described unspectacular good looks, she knows she isn’t the woman for him.

As one might well expect, when you try to fight fate, fate takes offense and finds ways to fight back. As it happens, Jane and Lord Slade keep getting thrown together which only makes their mutual feelings for one another intensify. To combat the feelings, and in a misguided effort to “do the right thing,” each publicly encourages the other towards alternate romantic entanglements. Jane’s goal is to attach Lord Slade to her extremely wealthy and beautiful cousin, and Lord Slade is working awfully hard to hide his feelings about the odious man Jane has attached herself to.

The Bottom Line: Though not quite as exciting as book one in the series, The Earl, the Vow, and the Plain Jane is still an endearing read with a cast of familiar and fine characters. Of all the cast, Jane is by far my favorite with her strength, intelligence, and willingness to dive in and accept any challenge. Unlike so many of the women of her time and place, Jane uses her head, not her looks, and that always makes for an excellent character for me. As for Lord Slade, he is quite the likeable character, but I tended to feel sorry for him along the way. That is, until the moment he finally pulls his head out and takes charge of his life, his future, and his happiness. As so often happens with Cheryl Bolen’s books, everything works out exactly as it is meant to, and that it one of the primary reasons I so enjoy her books! ( )

The weight of a deathbed vow

A pleasing story that has you're upstanding hero reluctantly clinging to the deathbed vow made to his father to restore the family castle to its original glory. To do this he has to marry an heiress. Of course there's one available, even with several hitches.
I must admit I found myself annoyed with Lord Slade as he clung to his duty and then left an amazing woman like Miss Jane Featherstone to suffer, the woman he admired who understood Whig politics and their ramifications. All this was mother's milk to Jane, having been given full reign to join dinner conversations with some of the leading minds of the day from her early years. Of course Jane's not acceptably beautiful, probably more arresting. At least Lord Slade finds her pretty.
I really disliked that Lord Slade was rude to Mr. Poppinbotham who is not only standing for a parliamentary seat but seems to want to court Jane. Lord Slade couldn't have her so no one was going to. And I do hope there's a rosy future for this cit. turned politician. I rather came to like the much maligned Mr. Poppinbotham, absurd as he was in his focus on the cost of things. Of course he was focused on money! He'd had to claw his way up to a place of wealth and prominence.
So I had little time for the hero of the novel when he acted like a dog in the manger over Jane. I suppose I shall eventually forgive him as he was between a rock and a hard place. And I know, he's a man of honor etc. etc. I loved the female lead and some of the supporting cast. Though Jane's cousin, the heiress, is really quite self absorbed that only Jane's forgiveness of her many foibles had me willing to forgive her too. Oh my! I seem to have used a host of superlatives in this review. Yes, I could see the end coming, and am pleased to report that an HEA does hold sway, despite the path being strewn with obstacles.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

The Earl, the Vow, and the Plain Jane by Cheryl Bolen
Like that I had just read the first one and this one reaches out to others I've met in the prior book. It's great to catch up with everyone and also it's a good stand alone.
Love how the title has the components of the book story itself.
So many emotions they go through while attending events that include dancing.
Love the political dinners and discussions and how important they are and love the secrets that come out about who is writing the articles for the paper.
Love hearing of the food and precise details of coming out mean. Very descriptive details just walking outside near the gardens-so lovely.
You know they can never be married because of a vow made. Found at times there were a lot of characters that might confuse the readers.
About the author and other works by the author are included at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion. ( )