Review: Why Earls Fall in Love [Wicked Widows, book 2]

Title:       Why Earls Fall in Love [Wicked Widows, book 2]
Author:   Manda Collins
Rating:   ★★★★
Availability: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Manda Collins is back with Why Earls Fall in Love, the sequel to Why Dukes Say I Do, the first book in her Wicked Widows series. When I saw that Manda had a new book out, I immediately had to get it. I didn't realize until today out of her eight novels, I've already read five, and I'm pretty sure that number will still increase with her other future releases.

Society often makes strange bedfellows—and even more surprising betrothals... 

IS IT A REASON FOR ROMANCE?
 In Why Earls Fall in Love by Manda Collins, young widowed Georgina Mowbray is settling into her role as Lady Russell’s companion quite well—until the lady’s nephew Dominic, the Earl of Coniston, arrives in Bath for a visit. Georgie’s always found him shallow and too smooth, and trusts him as much as she trusts most men…which is to say, not at all. But Con turns out to be more intriguing than she remembers—and completely irresistible...

OR A PROMISE OF PASSION? 
Pretty, practical Georgie is nothing like the women Con usually woos—especially since she seems blind to his charms. But his elderly aunt is so fond of her that Con is determined at least to be sociable…with the occasional flirtation thrown in just for fun. But things take a serious turn when a dangerous figure from Georgie’s unhappy past appears and threatens to bring her harm. Con will do whatever it takes to keep Georgie safe. And if he can show her that all men are not menaces, he might be able to keep her in his arms and never let go…

I enjoyed the first book so much and liked the romantic, albeit a bit predictable, pairings that I did not hesitate to read Why Earls Fall in Love. However, this time, I didn't fall for Con or even particularly liked the heroine. Instead, I liked the story and think it's a good addition to the whole Wicked Widows series, and I am so psyched to read the real culprit behind the mayhem in the three ladies' lives!

The Earl of Coniston is an alpha to the bone, and I like that he knew what he wanted and that he didn't try to run from his feelings. However, he didn't appeal to me as much as Trevor did in the first book; Con sounded too glib for my taste. But I like that he trusted Georgina even against his family, and that he was all hell-bent on protecting her. I believe I'm capable of protecting myself (or running away from danger!) but it was nice to escape in a book where the man was a man who fought for his woman. Ooops, my romantic little heart is showing.

Georgina was a morose widow who was tightly controlled. By the end of the book, it is not known whether she has become more relaxed as a person. Now that I think about it, there wasn't really much character development between the two of them because they were too busy dealing with the man/woman who has been terrorizing her.

I find that, inevitably, there's always that one book in a series that is a good addition to the series as a whole but is not as amazing as the others. Why Earls Fall in Love was that for me. It did, however, spark my interest in historical romance again and in the Wicked Widows series. I am so excited for the last book, dealing with the delicious tension between Perdita and Archer, whose groundwork for romance has been laid out in this second book. Also, I am bursting with curiosity to discover who they're really dealing with!

Have you been reading the Wicked Widows series? :)