A season with the earl
For the Egyptian heiress
Ranya Radwan's mission is clear: restore her family's
honor by retrieving the deed to their business from the Earl of Warrington.
Until she finds herself enthralled by the new earl, Owen. Accompanying him from
Egypt to England to find the deed, Ranya's swept into an unfamiliar world of
society balls and luncheons, but is captivated waltzing in Owen's arms. Yet her
duty to her family means returning to Egypt, not following her heart…
Good book that gives a different perspective than the
usual Regency or Victorian romance. Here we have Ranya, the daughter of a
prominent Egyptian businessman and cotton grower. He has had a long and
prosperous partnership with the Earl of Warrington, but the current political
climate means he needs to buy out of his partnership. With her father in
custody and her younger brother disappearing in his attempt to confront the
Earl, it is up to Ranya to save her father.
The book opens as she plots a way to meet the earl, who
is visiting Alexandria. On the way, disaster strikes, and her dress for the event
is stolen. A disturbing confrontation with the thief ruins Ranya's plans but
introduces her to Iksander, one of the dock workers. He gives her a way to
acquire a new dress and attend the event. Ranya doesn't know that Iksander is
Owen, the new Earl of Warrington, who is immediately intrigued by Ranya.
Owen appears to be the typical nobleman of the time. He
has shown no genuine interest in the family business or the estate, preferring
to spend his efforts on his interest in the theater. When he meets with Ranya
that evening, she isn't pleased about his deception but willingly tells him
about her need to get the partnership deed. She makes quite the impression on
Owen with her head for numbers and her knowledge of the cotton industry, so he
offers to take her to England in exchange for her teaching him what he needs to
know.
They spend time together on the voyage to England, teaching
each other what they need to know. Owen is a man with his feet in two worlds -
one foot in the world of an English nobleman and the other in the world of his
Egyptian mother. I ached for Owen and the story of his life, abandoned by his
mother and raised by his cold stepmother. Those Egyptian roots helped him
connect with Ranya, and I enjoyed watching them grow closer on the trip. Upon
arrival in England, Owen wants his stepmother to take Ranya under her wing
while he looks for the missing paperwork.
There was something off about the countess from the
start. She is determined to get Owen to marry before the end of the season and
doesn't hesitate to push her choices at him. She also wants him to sell the
family business and devote himself to the estate and Parliament. She remains
cold and disparaging to Ranya. I frequently got the feeling she was hiding
something from Owen. That feeling intensified as the book went on.
I liked how impressed Owen was by Ranya's intelligence
and knowledge about the industry. It was terrific to see him support her
participation in various meetings with mill owners and unions. I found these
sections fascinating reading with the clear explanations of the issues around
mill workers, mill owners, and cotton growers.
The more time they spend together, the closer Owen and
Ranya grow, and the stronger the sparks of attraction flare. Owen would love to
convince Ranya to stay in England. But Ranya has made it clear that she must
return to Egypt with the deed within three months. She also finally confides in
Owen about her missing brother. He is determined to help her find the truth
there, too. There is some mystery surrounding his disappearance, and I had suspicions
about what they would find. I ached for Ranya when the truth came out because
she felt betrayed. She realizes she has lost her heart to him, but their worlds
are too far apart for anything to come of it.
I wondered how the author would resolve the problem and was
not disappointed. Owen had a little maturing to do while he faced the mess that
his life had become. I liked the ending and seeing how he resolved his inner
conflicts, business issues, and his title. I liked the new Owen and seeing him
come for Ranya. I also liked her joy at seeing him again and hearing of the
changes in his life. I wish there had been an epilogue because I would love a
glimpse into their future.
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