♥ℳelody's Reviews > Redeeming the Reclusive Earl

The bane of his life and the balm to his soul.

This was such a delight. A charming, funny, angsty, endearing, adorable delight. I adored this so much and adored the leads Max and Effie even more. Two incredibly lonely souls finding acceptance and happiness in each other. For fans of Amanda Quick's Ravished I think you'll love this one. This had a very similar set up with a scarred "beast" recluse hero and a sweet eccentric bluestocking heroine who loves her archeology. Although I found this one much stronger with more depth and emotion on top of the humor. I loved Effie's combination of confidence in her intelligence yet vulnerability and insecurity of wanting a family and to be loved just as she is. Max was the perfect gruff, brooding, grouchy "beast" to her smiling personality and open heart. Max just dissolves into a big teddy bear around her and it was so great to see. Their meet cute happens when he finds her on his land digging up holes trying to extract an old ancient pot. He first mistakes her for a boy since she's covered in mud and wearing breeches and weird goggles. The hilarity and fun ensues from there. What I loved most about this was that while we got to see this couple slowly fall for each other we also got to see them become friends first. I found that very significant and so dear considering Effie never had a real friend before this. Her "big brain" and tendency to ramble out whatever comes to her mind and debate topics always scared people off and society labels her as odd. Her scholarly father died so that left her completely alone in the world with nothing but her and her passion for antiquity to distract her. I just found her so endearing and sweet. Both hero and heroine are recluses for different reasons but need distractions from the whirling questions and thoughts plaguing them in their loneliness. They both needed unconditional love and that's exactly what they found in each other.

"Can I ask you a question, Max?"
"You can always ask me anything, Effie. In fact, I insist upon it. I find your honesty and your undisguised curiosity refreshing."
"Then that is a first. Most people loathe it."
"Then most people are daft. What’s the question?"
"Are we friends now? I feel as though we are, but I am never entirely sure. And experience has taught me that if I assume, then I am doomed to be disappointed when my perceived friend starts to avoid me."
She said it so matter of factly, but his heart wept for her. It was so ill deserved. Effie was a breath of fresh air, not an irritation. "I suppose we must be."
Her delighted smile was like a balm to his soul. "That’s nice. And you don’t mind all the questions?"
"I don’t want you to ever think you shouldn’t ask questions, Effie. You can always ask me anything..."

Ugh. Just so adorable. ❤️ This scene honestly made me want to cry I found it so touching and vulnerable. I loved how patient and kind Max was with Effie. Her intelligence and how quick her mind works fascinates him. And him going from grumbly put-out neighbor to intrigued assistant helping her dig up treasures and artifacts on his land was really cute and hilarious. Their banter is the greatest thing. I loved the endless nicknames he came up for her when he was angry or wanted to tease her. Miss Naive, Miss None-of-your-business, Miss Ninnyhammer, etc. 😂 It becomes a game of sorts and it's hilarious. I also loved Max's older sister Eleanor who takes Effie under her wing and truly worries and cares for her recluse brother. I also enjoyed how Max and Eleanor championed Effie's passion in antiquities and wanting her research paper on her finds to be published in a magazine for Archeologists society which only accepts men. Max's passionate defense of her and lifting her up was very sweet and showed how much he loved her. She really becomes his everything and you really see it in his actions and needing to be with her. His vulnerability and just wanting her to love him in return just turns your heart over and makes you all gooey inside. Maximillion Aldersley really is a swoon worthy hero.

"I brought lunch. It’s in my satchel and I am happy to share it with you seeing that you have practically demolished that pesky wall for me."
"Then don’t dither, Miss Nithercott. Bring it hither from thither before I wither."

Her mind fascinated him. Never in all his thirty-four years had he ever witnessed anything quite like it. The way she worked her way through problems by asking herself questions was astounding, coming to reasoned and substantiated conclusions in minutes when most would take hours deliberating such complicated things.

"Not so much an oddity in the odd sense, more odd that you are so..." Maddening, lovely, entertaining, necessary, entirely perfect from your magnificent big brain to your mismatched earrings. "Errr...uniquely you."

The air around him was suddenly heavy with the heady scent of lilacs and fat summer roses. With things unsaid and hopes unfulfilled. He knew they were best left unsaid. Knew he needed to be thankful she was his friend and not keep foolishly wishing for more. For everything. Everything? The truth slammed into him and left him unsteady. She was his everything. Good lord, he was doomed.

I am conflicted on the rating for this and I might change it. I really wanted to give this a 5 star (ETA: fuck it, I did. It's worth 5 stars ❤️) but the reason I held off was I felt the big misunderstanding dragged on for too long and both characters got stuck in their own heads too long, playing on their own fears and insecurities. Max especially. While I really liked that for once a scar-ravaged hero really was struggling with his self-confidence and he doesn't just overcome it overnight, Max's self-loathing, deep insecurity and fear got the best of him at times and it made me want to shake him and wish he would just talk to Effie instead of leaping to the wrong conclusions. Which he did a lot of. So that did get a little frustrating and dragged things out a little too long in the last quarter. They both are masters of jumping to the wrong conclusions and misunderstanding each other. That and there was only 1 sex scene and no epilogue. I really felt this needed an epilogue. I did love the slow burn just craved a *little* more payoff in the intimacy department given all the yearning and build up. But at the same time given Max's deep insecurities and trauma over his disfigurement I understood why it took a while to get there.

But overall, this was so good and I will definitely be trying Virginia Heath's other works. I already have some of her other books on my TBR list.