Review: An Unwilling Ear Alright!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 27, 2013
This was the first novella that I have read that didn't really feel too short. Audrey Harrison's story was believable and I enjoyed the story line very much. At time's it was really funny and other times it made you feel so sorry for the heroine. I like that this heroine was actually strong and held herself together. I usually read stories where the heroine isn't really strong at all but a weak, clingy and needy creature. After reading this story I'm looking forward to reading whatever else this author has to write.I feel for Penelope Hall throughout this book. She is badgered by her father to marry. Her father acts as if she's 30 years old instead of 20. Penelope is still young and not currently even close to be on "the shelf". Penelope has a friend in Richard the Earl of Rivington. He was a nice man who was her friend and confidant who allowed her to take walks on his great estate without the worry of her being chaperoned. They became friends when her father started playing matchmaker when she was 14 years old. Her father desperately wanted her to marry Richard for his title of Earl to improve his standing within the town of Cheshire. Richard didn't want to marry anyone so he and Penelope became good friends instead. One morning after her walk on Richard's estate Penelope is informed by her father that Richard was in a hunting accident while out of town and was killed. She is very distraught that her good friend and ally was killed and the thought of not seeing him again broke her heart. What was even worse her father was only upset because she wasn't married to Richard before he died calling it a "missed opportunity". I'm thinking what the hell man her friend is dead and all you can say is you missed the boat what a jerk.A couple of month's after Richard's death Penelope meets the new Earl of Rivington, Daniel Gerrard a business man new to the title of Earl and his friend Frederick (Fred) Wiseman while she is out for her walk. She is nearly run over by Daniel's horse when she appears in the lane. They exchange funny banter between them and Penelope is dazzled by Daniel's green eyes and handsome features. He nicknames her "Imp". She ends their conversation when Daniel calls her a trespasser on his estate and she tells him that the former Earl had allow her to walk on his estate whenever she pleased and that since Daniel was now the new Earl she would stop her walks on his land. When she leaves she leaves both men mesmerized and jealous. The next day Penelope's father calls on the new Earl and here we go again with the match making. Her father doesn't want the Earl for his daughter because he is in business and doesn't have the proper breeding for an Earl. Her father is interested in Fred because he will be a Baron one day. He doesn't care that the title Baron is one step up from a commoner it's the title he wants. Both Daniel and Fred are wealthy but her father see's good breeding as a must. I'm thinking is her father looking at the men like they are horses being brought up for inspection and sale.A few day's pass and Penelope's mother wants to pay a call on the new Earl and drags her daughter along. Both Fred and Daniel become interested in Penelope. Daniel is jealous of his friend because Fred asked Penelope to save him a couple of dances at the next assembly. Daniel isn't brave enough to ask her for a dance because he is shy and insecure while Fred is brazen and out going. A couple of days later Daniel sees Penelope at the edge of his land and makes a bee line for her. They talk for a few minutes and he allows her to come on his estate to renew her walks. Daniel has ulterior motives he wants to get to know Penelope because he is smitten with her. He goes out of his way to find her whenever she is on her walks. It's like he's trolling his estate under the pretense of investigating his new estate to make sure its running correctly.  After a week or two he wins her heart enough to ask for marriage then he goes and screws it all up by believing some tale that she is only after his title and that any man will due. Daniel publicly humiliates her at the dance which was very unnecessary and cruel. She's growing to care for him and he'd threw it back in her face. She leaves him and Fred at the dance and goes home for a good cry. That made me sad and wished they had Ben & Jerry's and An Affair to Remember on dvd for her to wallow with. I was with Daniel and his wooing of Penelope until he started displaying that he had no sense and was easily persuaded by some jealous and conniving person.Penelope leaves Cheshire to go and visit her sister Margaret and brother-in-law in Warwickshire which happens to be far away from Cheshire and Daniel.  She's not there a month when Daniel and Fred catch up with her under the pretense of Fred visiting his great Aunt Jane who is all to happy to help the duo and bonus happens to live near Penelope's sister. Well Penelope sees right through Daniel and doesn't really give him the time of day. She just exchanges formal pleasantries when he happens to be where she is because she was raised with manners. Daniel spends time trying to get Penelope to listen to him but she isn't having any of it. Daniel was an ass and deserves to walk the line for a long while. He should take some of that wealth he has made to buy himself a clue.