A rocky path for this second chance romance!

The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk #2) by Diana Quincy      

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vivacious young Palestinian American woman Naila Darwish falls in love with a young Englishman visiting Philadelphia. Basil Trevelyn is looking at his uncle’s business concerns with a view to staying and eventually taking over the company.

Basil proposes and Naila accepts only to break it off when her Aunt Majida points out how such a marriage would effect the honor of her family. Later that day, realising she’s made a mistake Naila goes to tell Basil she was wrong but hed already left for England. Naila is brokenhearted. She returns to her family and becomes the faded spinster aunt, instead of the bird of paradise she’d once been.

Eight years later the Darwish family journeys to England for Naila’s sister’s  engagement ball and wedding to the Duke of Strickland. Naila and Basil meet again. Basil is now the Earl of Hawksworth, and Strick’s best friend.

How these two finally come together is a litany of mistakes and misunderstandings.

Despite the interesting storyline I didn’t really engage with Naila.

Naila decides to write a guide about the cultural differences that American heiresses face in Britain. A pamphlet designed to help these wealthy women contemplating such a move, and in doing so save stately homes of architectural significance. Putting impoverished lords together with a wealthy bride.

My feelings about the idea of a pamphlet for these women are somewhat ambiguous, especially seeing as many of these women found themselves in unenviable positions, married for their money to a man who could only see dollar signs, or to rakes and drunkards, or worse.

An Avon and Harper Voyager ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.