Review: Twelfth Night with the Earl (The Sutherland Sisters #3) by Anna Bradley

Print Length: 153 pages

Publisher: Lyrical Press (November 14, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: When a headstrong beauty clashes with the man she once loved, she’s determined that the spirit of Christmas will open his mind, heal his heart, and perhaps give them a reason to celebrate—for many seasons 

to come . . . 
  
As far as Ethan Fortescue is concerned, his family’s seat in Cornwall is only a source of torment, one that he’s managed to avoid for two years. Now that he’s the Earl of Devon however, he can close the door on his haunted past by locking up the cursed place for good. But upon arriving at Cleves Court, he is shocked to find the house aglow with Christmas celebrations, filled with music and laughter. And right at the center of the holiday madness is the infuriating—and eternally tempting—Theodosia Sheridan . . .
 
Thea has always loved the town of Cleves, especially at the holidays. As a girl, she also loved Ethan with all her heart. It’s painful to see how his brother’s tragic death has embittered him. Still, she will do anything to make sure the town thrives—even if it means going to battle with Ethan to save Cleves Court. Now she has only until Twelfth Night to make a Christmas miracle happen—by proving that his childhood home can be a source of love and wonder. But before long, she finds herself wondering if she’s trying to save the house—or its handsome master…

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

I would consider this a stand-alone novella that the reader is perfectly capable of enjoying even without having read the other stories. To clarify something, Thea is not a Sutherland sister. Ethan however was featured heavily in book number two. Even with that, you do not miss anything that isn't clarified (or expanded upon) within the pages of this novella. 

Overall, this was a very cute story. I do think some of the characters acted very "out of character" for the time period however, which did take a way a little of my enjoyment. I understand that Ethan is dealing with grief and the ghosts that haunt his former home, but I cannot believe that his staff would refuse to serve him (or even that Thea would approve of such a thing) without being worried they would be fired immediately and sent away without reference. I don't believe there is a servant anywhere during that period who would take on such a risk just to prove a point. And to be honest, with the amount of anger Ethan carried around, I am very surprised he didn't do just that. It did make for a wonderful story arc watching Ethan and Thea find a way to revive their friendship of old considering not only the people they had become, but also the trials they had overcome. 

The addition of the orphans that Thea had taken in while repairs were done to the orphanage were by far some of my favorite characters. They definitely provided some much needed comical relief, and it was heart warming to see the way they brought life back into a dreary place (both literally and figuratively). Plus seeing a stuffy Earl have to deal with children was nothing short of a pleasure. 

I believe this story will still appeal to those who enjoy historical romances. I would read more from this author! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                     Twelfth Night with the Earl is available from Amazon.com