The Other Countess

 by Eve Edwards

Reviewed by

Elizabeth Mosolovich

         Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime (or Ellie, to her friends) is the half-orphaned daughter of a penniless alchemist in Elizabethan England. Her father's mad pursuit of turning lead into gold has drained their fortunes and his daughter's belief in him. It has also gained him the enmity of William Lacey, the new earl of Dorset, for squeezing his father out of their fortune, leaving Will, his mother, and his siblings as poor as Ellie and her father.

         The two meet at court, both trying to win royal favor and fortune, and soon sparks begin to fly. But not only does Will hate Ellie's father, and therefore Ellie, he also has a duty to marry someone with money to save his family. Amidst this romantic drama, Catholic persecution also causes Ellie to be under suspicion and makes Will realize just how desperate he is to marry her.

         This was a nice and intriguing read which switched point of views, and I especially enjoyed Ellie's quiet, intelligent and friendly voice. It's a nice bit of historical fiction plus romance, so I definitely recommend it if you like that. There are also two other books in this series, The Lacey Chronicles, which are just as fun, so go check them out.