The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath is a deliciously angsty historical romance where a man pretends to be his twin to help his sister-in-law through her pregnancy. A must-read slow-burn love story!

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The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath is a deliciously angsty historical romance that grabs you from the start. Edward Alcott steps into his twin brother’s shoes after a tragic accident, pretending to be the Earl of Greyling to help Lady Julia through her pregnancy. This setup is crazy enough to be a vintage romance, but it was actually published in 2016. I picked it up after Cheyenne recommended it during our vintage romance books podcast chat.

Edward has always had feelings for Julia, even though she married his twin. The guilt and genuine concern he feels after his brother’s death push him to honor his brother’s last wish. When he returns, Julia is close to her due date, and the emotional shocks need to be kept at bay for the baby’s sake.

The slow-burn romance between Edward and Julia is sweet and tentative. There’s a lot of angst as Julia tries to understand why her husband has changed so much and why he’s keeping his distance. Edward’s struggle to be a gentleman while hiding his true identity and trying to embody his twin, who was completely a completely different person, adds to the tension.

The prior connection between Edward and Julia makes their relationship believable and touching. It’s a story of forbidden love and sacrifice. I read this book in one sitting. It was that addictive.

Read More

• Books by Lorraine Heath
• More in the Hellions of Havisham series
• Vintage romance book recommendations podcast episode
• Find the perfect book for your mood