I enjoyed it but due to the short length of the book, I didn't completely end up loving the couple because it felt rushed. Wished Leo had been accepting of women's rights, not to mention I find the fact that even though he was going marry someone else he felt like it was okay to behave that way with Ivy at the start of the book, it just didn't give the best impression of him.

What’s it About? Leopold Graham, Lord Hampton has been left with cleaning up his late father’s mess. Not only did he die in a scandalous way, he left Leo with debts that could ruin the family. So the formerly rakish Leo has decided to marry for money, except his mother doesn’t agree with that so she invites Ivy Leighton to a house party in the hopes that she can show Leo what life can be with the right partner. Ivy no stranger to Leo though, when she was a young girl she lived in Leo's home and they were the closest of friends. Now she's an independent, intelligent young woman who has no intention of marrying but agrees to attend a house party as a favor to a woman who was like a second mother to her. Sparks fly between Leo and Ivy but Ivy is disappointed that Leo doesn't remember her and she's agreed to keep her identity a secret from him.



Overall reaction to the story? I was thoroughly charmed and delighted by An Early by Any Other Name and Lauren Smith I am a new fan! I really enjoyed this historical romance because it takes place right as women were starting to campaign and fight for their right to vote in England. That fact gave the plot a different feel to it than the usual historical romances that I read, not to mention that it greatly influenced the characters’ behavior. An Earl by Any Other Name beautifully balanced the changing times for women and the need for a sweeping romance between two very different people. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

Describe the hero in five words: Charming. Loyal. Selfless. Fun. Caring.
Did you like him? Yes.
Why? Leo started off as just a typical aristocrat set in the ways of his ancestors because there was comfort in the familiar, even if it wasn’t fair. But he quickly proved his worth by being level headed, open minded (Even when he didn’t realize it). I loved how charming and entertaining he could be. And as much as Leo claimed to be against the suffrage movement, he wasn’t an overbearing character; he was considerate of his mother and didn’t order her around as would have been his right as lord of the manor in that time. He was just so likable and easy to fall for because he wasn’t the type of man who was determined to be right when all the evidence in front of him said he was wrong.


Describe the heroine in five words: Courageous. Determined. Caring. Intelligent.
Did you like her?
Why? Ivy was wonderful! She wasn’t some featherbrained nitwit who said she wanted rights but had no concrete arguments to stand on. She knew why she wanted the right to vote and she knew just how to explain her thoughts to Leo in a way that wasn’t patronizing, nor was it antagonizing. She was logical, and articulate. Ivy’s independent personality didn’t feel forced or fake; she just was who she was and that happened to be a woman who loved and lived fiercely and wanted women to have the ability to control their own lives. She is definitely the type of woman I would love to be friends with because along with that fighting spirit she has a heart of gold. She treats everyone with courtesy, respect, and if she’s known them for long a deep and honest affection, no matter their social status.


Let’s talk about the romance: Leo and Ivy aren’t total strangers, they have a history together and that made this romance all the sweeter. Lauren Smith seemed to want to emphasize the emotional connection between them more than they physical which really worked in this case. With Ivy being a suffragette it made things a little more complicated but it didn’t take away from the connection that these two were building in spite of Leo not being sold on women voting. What I found beautiful about their relationship was the respect between them. Leo never degraded Ivy or women in general, he had his own arguments against women being able to vote that had merit at the time but he was also willing to listen with a fair mind to Ivy’s arguments. I loved that sense of equality between them in a time where things were starting to shift and men didn’t exactly take kindly to women wanting the right to vote. I loved that Leo wasn’t trying to be a “macho” man and was more than willing to learn a thing or two from a woman’s perspective.


How about that supporting cast? Leo’s mother was a breath of fresh air too! She was every inch a society lady but with none of the snobbish, single mindedness of her class. She wanted Leo to be happy and she knew he wouldn’t be happy with a traditional woman. I loved her to pieces. I wasn’t completely sold on Leo’s friend Owen who behaved terribly towards Ivy but in the end, his circumstances explained a lot and now I’m curious about him!

Click It or Skip It?Click It. An Earl by Any Other Name is truly a feel good romance with lovable characters and a swoon worthy romance.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

this was fun. Sensual at times but so much fun especially with Leo trying to figure out Ivy. And when he realizes that button is back it gets more entertaining.

Leo is a good guy. He was once carefree and rakish but then his dad dies in scandal and he becomes more serious. Almost to serious. He is thinking of marrying this really really stiff and snobby woman to save his family home. He gives us up on the idea of love. So sad because he is a sweet guy underneath it all. We see him go through alot in this book. I love how Ivy and his mom pull one over on him.

So why did his fun loving mom get involved? She found her son to be losing himself. So she and a friend decides to meddle. And meddle she did. She gives Leo a mystery in Ivy.

Ivy is vivacious and independent. Very open and doesn’t care what others think. she was once a very close childhood friend of Leo’s but she has changed since than. She doesn’t let him know who she is though for she wants him to see her for who she is now and also doesn’t want to ruin his mom’s scheme.

The book is fun and entertaining. Lauren Smith has taken a young man and turned him around into being someone that we love and who finds love. A man who went from rogue to overly serious to fun loving once again. And how does he become this? The love of Ivy. The vivacious openhearted girl that takes his heart and doesn’t care about his father’s indiscretions and sees the man Leo is.

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This was a great quick read. Leo was determined to marry a respectable, rich woman after his father left his family in ruins, but his mother has other plans.

Ivy has been in love with Leo for years and when his mother invites her to a house party in hopes of matching the two of them, she jumps on board.

I loved watching these two together and even though this was a novella, I didn't feel like their story was rushed. Definitely one that I would recommend!

An Earl by Any Other Name is the first book in the Sins and Scandals series by Lauren Smith.

Leo Graham, Lord Hampton has struggled with debts his father got their family into before his death, and it's come to a point where despite being a man who always wanted to marry for love, he now has to marry a woman for her money. The woman he intends to propose to he doesn't even like!

Ivy Leighton is a suffragette, she has very strong views on women's rights, and although she would love to marry, she won't give up the independence she craves. The independence that she would lose immediately if she were to wed.

Leo and Ivy knew each other when they were a lot younger, they were firm friends, but when Ivy was taken away from their home by her father they lost all contact with each other.

Leo's Mother recently met with Ivy in London, upon seeing how beautiful Ivy is, and knowing the bond between her and Leo, she invites Ivy and her father to a house party she is giving. She wants to show Leo that there are beautiful, sassy women out there and that he shouldn't settle with marrying a woman just to save his estates.

Upon seeing Ivy, Leo is instantly intrigued and definitely attracted, he doesn't even recognise her from his past because she was only 8 at the time! Will he fall for Ivy, will she fall for him? It seems that even if that happens they still can't marry. She needs her independence and he needs money. How can this story possibly have a happy ending?? You will have to read it to find out!

This was a fun romantic quick read. One of the highlights of the book for me was when Ivy and Leo came across each other for the first time as adults. Such a fabulous laugh out loud scene. It set the standard for the rest of the book which had other such funny moments, but also some equally deep moments as well. I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book.

My escape into historical romance typically settles on the Regency period, so this story was a change for me. Based in the Edwardian period, with very Downton Abbey like moments, this novella was cute. To begin, I was not expecting a novella at all. I thought this was going to be a full-length novel based on the description and the fact that it is supposed to be the start of a new series. I had never heard of a novella series before.

I enjoyed the characters, but their romance was a bit too insta-love, although not as bad as it could have been. It helped that the characters once knew each other from their childhood. The hero of the tale flip-flopped on his opinion rather quickly. Aside from these aspects, the story was cute and ended too quickly.

A notorious rake is in need of a wealthy bride, and the lady he finds isn't who he thought he wanted. What will Lord Hampton do now?

England - 1911

Leo Hampton, Earl of Hampton, age 32, and son of the late Lord Hampton, is having to deal with the gossip of how his father died in his mistress’s home last year. Due to the deceased man’s indiscretions, Leo is having difficulty finding backing for his business plans. Even the family home in the country, Hampton House, is at risk of being lost.

Leo’s parents’ marriage wasn’t a happy one and now his mother. Wilhelmina (Mina), Dowager Countess of Hampton, is ready to enjoy life again. She wants to go to London and get back into society and she also wants to join the suffragettes. To hold her off from rushing to London, Leo agrees to her hosting a house party.

Mina’s plan is to invite numerous young ladies who might appeal to Leo to marry. He has already been considering Mildred Pepperwirth with her solid pedigree yet aloof and cold personality. However, Mina wants him to marry for love. Mina has in mind Ivy Leighton for Leo. She is modern woman and a suffragette.

Ivy is driving her father’s car to Hampton House for what she thinks is a suffragette meeting when the car breaks down just before getting there. Luckily, Leo comes along in his car and rescues her. At age 24, Ivy remembers how she has always loved Leo, but Leo doesn’t remember her. Who is she?

This is a clever story where we learn more about Ivy and see the person that Mildred is. Readers always hope to see that love conquers all. Do read this novel to see if that is the case.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a new genre for me being a historical romance. This is the first time I've read one. I enjoyed this story, I just ended up getting lost in the story. This story is well developed and will keep you hooked till the end. Well written characters which you will love. This book is less then 100 pages but there is so much packed into these pages. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future and maybe try another historical romance.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

And Edwardian Era Novella! This was an inta lust/love short story. Really enjoyed getting to know Lauren Smith's writing style! The characters were amusing and one slighty devilish. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

An Earl by Any Other Name is the first book of Lauren Smith's new Sins and Scandals series. It's novella length and insta-lust to love. I know they say never judge a book by it's cover but I assumed (yeah I know) that this was a Regency or Victorian historical romance (strictly judging the dress), nope it's Edwardian early 1910. It really threw me off when they started talking about automobiles. Apparently I don't pay close enough attention to the Italic print at the beginning of a chapter. Normally I don't mind insta-love/lust but in this case Leo just bugged the crap out of me because of it, and then throw in the rushed feel of the book and it's almost like he has no personal growth, he just became more accepting. Ivy was fine she was justified in her worries. I loved his mother I kept picturing Glynis Johns the mom from Mary Poppins. I love the era, and I loved the idea behind the story but I wish it was full novel length, I just wanted to see a little bit more of a change in Leo and the conflict not so rushed.

Leopold Graham inherited the title Earl when his father died in bed with his mistress. Leo having weathered the embarrassment and finding out the money's all gone realizes he has to stop being a rake and be a respectable gentleman and that means finding a respectable wife with money enough to save the family estates. Ivy Leighton has known Leo all her life but after her mother's death a father she never knew existed came and claimed her. Now years later she is a beautiful young lady and once again back in Leo's life, thanks to his mother's meddling. She has manipulated things so Leo and Ivy end up together for the different house party activities. Leo spend most of the book thinking to make Ivy his mistress and marry the bland and dry Lady he picked for his prospective wife. Not to mention Ivy and his mother are part of the suffrage movement and he finds that silly, he thinks women aren't smart enough to make up their own minds about politics. I get most men thought that way back then but Leo was just aggravating.

Overall, it was an okay read, not quite what the blurb promised.

Loved the story - it had a quick pace, good romance, and realistic characters. I loved the childhood crush turned romance aspect, and looked forward to the plot resolution.

I’ll admit I’m kind of a sucker for romances between two people who should be off-limits to each other. I haven’t read a historical in a while so I thought I’d give this one a try. I didn’t realize it was a novella length story, so that was a slight disappointment. I’ve never read anything by this author, and while she didn’t wow me with anything new, it was a solid, if short, read.
Leo and Ivy couldn’t be more wrong for each other. Leopold Graham is an earl desperate to repair his family name. With the scandal his deceased father created (dying in bed with your mistress) hanging over his head, Lord Hampton is in need of money and respectability sooner rather than later. Ivy Leighton is a suffragette determined to spend her life fighting for women’s rights. She is no meek wallflower willing to let a man run her life, and being half-gypsy makes her a less than ideal match for a man looking to avoid scandal.
The down on his luck nobleman looking for a wealthy, respectable wife is nothing new in the world of historical romance. Leo has definitely sown his wild oats, having never had a moment’s regret over his past dalliances. The weight of responsibility on his shoulders now that his family is in crisis has made him a changed man. No longer in pursuit of the next adventurous liaison, Leo has made up his mind to propose to a perfectly normal (a.k.a. boring) young lady with a large dowry. Unfortunately, all it takes is one look at the beautiful, vibrant Ivy to know that settling for the woman he had chosen for himself would be unselfish but so wrong.
Ivy is independent in her thinking, hell bent on living her own life and paving the way for women after her. She can’t afford a distraction like Lord Hampton. Her attraction to him is as unwanted as it is undeniable. In him she sees everything she could possibly want in a man, but she knows that settling down with a traditional English lord would be setting herself up for a life of tradition and dependence on a man. Her independent streak was no match for Leo’s seductive charm, and when you add in a meddling friend and mother, Ivy had no chance of refusing him.
I loved Leo and Ivy. They were both well drawn out characters and I could easily believe the attraction between them. The only annoyance was how often I was reminded of how wrong they were for each other. I knew from the description of the book that Ivy wasn’t the type to settle for a traditional marriage, and that Leo couldn’t risk a love affair with a wild gypsy woman. The author constantly mentioned those facts, even when it was quite obvious that neither Leo nor Ivy were listening. This was an easy read with enjoyable characters.
I give An Earl by Any Other Name 3.5 stars.

Leo Graham needs to marry and soon. His just needs a biddable titled lady of some fortune to make a match and he already has a certain young woman in mind. It is not what he wants for himself, but his late father left his family in a bad spot.

Ivy Leighton spent the best years of her childhood at Leo's home. Once they were inseparable. Ivy moved away and things changed, but now she is back and she intends to get to know Leo again. Ivy just hopes Leo will not be disappointed in her.

This is not my favorite time period... the time of the automobile. I did love the parts about the women's movement. I love how strong and self-assured Ivy is. She knows what she wants in life and is not afraid of fighting for it. Leo is a little pig-headed in my opinion, but it is nice to see how Ivy makes him see the light. I love the story of their having been childhood friends, them reuniting and becoming more. AN EARL BY ANY OTHER NAME is a touching novel!

Leopold Graham, Lord Hampton, short on funds and long on looks and charm has resigned himself to marrying for convenience after the scandal of his fathers’ death. Half gypsy heiress Ivy Leighton knows what it is to be different and vows never to marry and give up her rights to a husband as she takes up the suffragette cause. Yet Leo and Ivy each secretly harbor the dream of finding happiness and their one true love.

Lauren Smith continues to bring wonderful characters to the pages of her romances as seen in the first work of her, Sins and Scandals series, An Earl by Any Other Name. This story brought together history and sentiment in this author's distinctive and appealing writing for a fast and enjoyable read. Ivy's unconventional background and modern leanings might have clashed with Leo's more traditional values but their attraction was far-reaching and genuine. Ms. Smith managed to parlay Leo from stuffy to sexy in the span of this work with ease and credibility. Ivy was assertive and vulnerable for a great character contrast that played beautifully into the relationship she had with Leo and made for some smoldering interactions. The scandals and sins of An Earl By Any Other Name is the perfect way to start a Lauren Smith series!

This novella is the first in Lauren Smith’s new Sins and Scandals series that definitely looks promising. It had everything I love in a historical romance: an engaging story, witty dialogue, emotion, an endearing heroine, and a sexy rake hero reformed by love.

Leo Graham, Lord Hampton, is in a pickle. His family’s reputation is tainted by a scandal and he needs to find funds to protect his legacy and family home. A marriage of convenience seems to be the only option to solve his financial problems. He’ll marry a wealthy, prim and proper heiress, and use her fortune to sustain his family estate. His rakish days are over and he intends to keep out of trouble to restore his family’s name.

But his mother has other ideas. She is convinced that Ivy Leighton is the wife he needs. Leo and Ivy are childhood friends, but it has been more than a decade since they have last seen each other. Life happened and they were separated. Ivy also happens to be a suffragette and has no intention to marry. She doesn’t recognize her mischievous friend, he is rigid and not open to equal rights ideas.

I enjoyed the witty dialogue and fun interactions between these two characters. They had such a spark whenever they were together. Their banter was natural, their teasing was amusing. Ivy has a quick temper, she is independent and educated. You can’t help cheer for this couple. I loved how they were able to reconnect and find a perfect balance despite their differences. I recommend this novella and I’m totally looking forward to the next books in this series!

An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.

A few days ago I read, An Earl By Any Other Name by Lauren Smith. I absolutely loved the story. I'm only gripe will be the cover. The cover reminds me of most regency stories, so when I came to find out it was set in 1911 I was a little shock. That's pretty much my only issue with the story. However, it's a wonderful story set in a time where there a lot of change going on. We have women who want the right to vote, would like a voice in the world. They want to be more than object that should be place on a mantle.

Ivy Leighton would love to see change. She loved to be loved for herself and not her money. We still see at this time some of the Lord's trying to keep to the old ways, but the world is changing. Ivy definitely would like to be an equal in the world.

We have Leo, who is one of those lords who is trying to on to the old ways. Of course he has his road all mapped out, but when he gets to know Ivy he's not sure if the road he's on is the right course.

I love how Lauren brings to life these characters in An Earl By Any Other Name. You want to cheer on Ivy for being a progressive young woman, and at times you want to smack Leo for being an idiot. Yes, it's a quick read, but capturing. Yes, it could have been a little longer, but it was enough as a novella. Sometimes you get novellas and go that's it, but this isn't one of them. I love the dynamics these two bring to the story. I can't wait for more to come in this series.

Copy provided by Forever Romance via NetGalley

An Earl By Any Other Name is my very first book by Lauren Smith . The minute I saw the cover and read the blurb I just knew I had to read this book and it was just fantastic . We follow Ivy and Leo as they fall in love and it is fun to see how it happens because they are technically supposed to be opposite but as the book goes on you begin to see how perfect these two are for each other . I loved that this book incorporates the topic of women's rights . In the time that this book was written you can just imagine how much women were treated like property instead of people so I thought it was excellent that it was incorporated in this book . An Earl By Any Other Name was sexy , swoon worthy historical romance and I cannot wait to see what Lauren Smith will write next. If you love all these things in your romance you should definitely buy this story as soon as you can .