To Love the Brooding Baron - Review

To Love the Brooding Baron

By: Jentry Flint

Publication: June 4, 2024 by Shadow Mountain

256 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Opposites attract and sparks fly when the vivacious Arabella falls for a baron who lives under the shadow of a scandalous family secret.

Arabella Latham is a free spirit who longs to feel the spark of true love, but few men can match her passion for Shakespeare or her zest for life. Though her prospects seem slim, Arabella knows she can always count on the handsome but stoic Lord Henry Northcott, dubbed “The Brooding Baron” by the ton, to be willing to engage in intelligent conversation and even share a congenial dance with her at almost every ball. His quiet demeanor is the opposite of her vivacious personality, and she finds herself drawn to him, despite their differences.

Lord Northcott has quietly admired Arabella for years, grateful that his friendship with her brother has allowed him to share in her company. But he knows he cannot pursue a romantic relationship with any woman—let alone someone as bright and beautiful as Arabella—because of the shadow that an old family scandal has cast over his life. He has vowed to preserve what is left of his family’s reputation by holding himself above reproach apart from society and focusing the majority of his efforts at Parliament.

But Arabella is determined to show Lord Northcott that life is meant to be enjoyed, and she sets out to see what is behind the walls the Brooding Baron has built around himself. Could the spark of true love be enough to drive away the shadows holding Henry back?

I finished To Love the Brooding Baron about two months before I wrote my review of it. So I don't remember all of the details exactly. And I actually had a hard time recalling what this book was about just based on the Goodreads description and my highlights. That might tell you something you need to know. Or it might not. I will say that this book wasn't listed on Goodreads as the 2nd in a series, but it follows secondary characters from the book Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint. So it's at least a companion book, but I would label it as book 2. Book 1 isn't essential to understand or enjoy To Love the Brooding Baron, but it would be helpful as there are references to events from the previous book.

If I remember correctly, Arabella is Emerson's sister from the previous book. Emerson and Olivia married. Olivia and Arabella were best friends. Emerson has a group of friends which include Henry and Bradbury (I can't remember his first name). Henry has always been interested in Arabella. But he's a bit worried that he might be crazy. See Henry's big family secret revolves around mental health issues. I can't dive into them to discuss them because they're all supposed to be spoilers. Or at least secrets that need to be exposed at just the right time.

Because To Love the Brooding Baron touches on mental health issues during a time when so much was unknown and misunderstood about these issues at the time, we have some glimpses into the insane asylums. This was so sad and disturbing. I mean just about everyone knows of the horror stories that went on in the insane asylums throughout history. And To Love the Brooding Baron touched on anyone's nightmare of being trapped somewhere like that you don't belong.

Arabella was a little challenging for me. She isn't happy with the status quo. She isn't one to stay within the confines of society's role for women. She's going to go and do whatever she wants to do. This grates on me. And she has to learn that sometimes the rules are there for our protection and not just to keep us from having the fun that we might have. Thankfully, Arabella is blessed with many who care about her and would do anything to protect her or get her out of the messes she creates for herself.

There were twists concerning Henry. And like the mental health issues, I can't discuss them without spoiling anything. I will say that I was a little frustrated with him too. I can't say too much about why though.

To Love the Brooding Baron gets 3.5 Stars. I had some frustrations with the main characters. I don't love stories about mental health--mostly because I like to read happy and light stories and mental health stories are often weighty and sometimes dark. I will be looking out for Bradbury to get his own book in the future, and I would love to read it when the time comes. Have you read To Love the Brooding Baron? If so, what did you think? Let me know!