Love According to Lily

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

First Impressions
This was a pheonomenal read and after Lily and Edward's relationship being show more built in the previous books I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be satisfying like I was hoping for. However, this book blew it out of the PARK!!! If you need a historical that will make you want to stay up late reading, this is a must read. I couldn't believe how consumed I was by this book. I know this author can do that, I just honestly wasn't expecting it to this degree. Those who have read this book know exactly why its such a consuming read and really pulls you in so quickly.

I do want to put in a note that if you read the kindle edition, I am unsure if its been edited from the original as there is a page difference....only about 30 pages but its there. I didn't feel a difference though to be honest.

First Line
It was at the youthful age of twent-one that Edward Peter Wallis, Earl of Whitby, raised a coffee cup to his lips and made the conscious decision that he did not want to die.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Edward Peter Wallis, Earl of Whitby
The Heroine: Lily Langdon

Summary
Lily Langdon had been raised in a strict household by her parents and the one highlight of her life was her brother and his best friend Edward. Edward she instantly clicked with even when she was a child and he was learning to become a man. Lily is romantic and infectious and kind hearted. Ever since she has come out in society though, she changed toward Edward. She became shy and reserved after seeing the type of worldly women that Edward has affairs with on the regular. But when there is a house party her brother and his wife are hosting, she becomes in close proximity with Edward. Something is not right with Edward and when the truth comes out, she is determined to prove to him that her love for him is without bounds. But their challenges are just beginning....

What I Loved
Love According to Lily was everything I expected and more. I honestly was expecting this to be a 4 star read but it came close to being a five star read and that is rare for me with historical romance of late. So it definitely was way better than what I expected it to be going into this one. I just love these mixes of tropes. And a pining heroine is one of my favorite elements in a romance. There is something unique about a vulnerable heroine when it comes to the hero and him being so clueless and learning to love. Edward is your typical rake....gambling, being a womanizer, loves to drink and neglects his properties. But we see that there is so much more to him than meets the eye. Lily sees his goodness, even if he hides it deeply. Seeing how she captures his heart, how they make a marriage of convenience work, seeing them find their place to equally loving each other and a hint at the upcoming next book. (Which I didn't love the first time but I am hoping its better the second time around)

What I Struggled With
I think the only aspect to this book that keeps it from a five star is the conflict in the second half. It didn't feel that satisfying when resolved and there was tension between the brother and the friend and it wasn't ever resolved. Not sure if its because this might have been edited and changed from the original edition or not though.

Overall View
Love According To Lily is a impactful read that is emotionally riveting, addictive writing and beautiful friendships being portrayed!

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance-Victorian Era
Character Types: Rake/Rogue, Pining Heroine
Themes: Heart/Emotionally Touching, Page Turner
Tropes: Unrequited Love

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Elisa Braden
Julie Anne Long
Lisa Kleypas

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes ----its best to read this series in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments. show less

From BackCover:
Being raised in a strict, humorless household did nothing to dampen Lady Lily Langdon's romantic nature -- nor cool her lifelong affection for Edward Wallis, Earl of Whitby, her elder brother's oldest, dearest friend. But Edward cannot see the lovely woman she's become for the wild schoolgirl she once was. So with lessons in flirtation from her American sister-in-law, Duchess Sophia, Lily means to open Edward's eyes and win his heart.

But just when her seduction begins to take hold, tragedy strikes. Edward has lived a rakish life, believing he would never grow old -- and a terrible twist of fate threatens to prove him right. Yet adversity only strengthens Lily's resolve to find the ecstasy she knows is waiting in Edward's show more arms -- and to prove to the handsome, haunted earl that it is never too late to fall desperately in love.

Awards:
2005 RT Reviewers' Choice -- Regency Historical Romance show less