*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Please take this review with a grain of salt. See, I'm reading so many romances these days that the formula is getting dull. I love the story and beginning, but once I see how the couple is going to get pulled apart I tend to lose interest. It is as if the moral of most romance novels is to be honest, open, and communicate with the person you are in a relationship with.

Yet, in this case I will say the couple is pretty open and understanding-- not jumping to conclusions. In fact there were times I was surprised by the actual conversions.

Okay, I'm sorry this review is so backwards, but I totally had to get the above off my chest. Let me talk more about the book.

I did really like this couple. Fiona is independent and courageous. She takes steps to protect herself and her family in different ways and for different reasons. She does tell Gray things and her troubles AND even says when she doesn't want to tell more, but lets him know there is. Gray is so grumpy, but I felt like he definitely had a reason and is made very apparent. He is hardworking, a romantic, and not an asshole (which honestly is something that needs to be said since so many romantic leads are).
This couple felt natural and while there is definitely attraction, the affection noticeably builds.

This is a sweet romance with cute characters and interactions. I enjoyed the writing and thought everything flowed at a good pace. I like the characters that will be the leads of the other books, so I will reading those as well once they are published.
If you like cute historical romances and are looking for something that doesn't talk about their lust all the time (although does have a few good sex scenes), you should check this one out.

What's a poor rich girl to do when a blackmailer threatens to expose a family secret? Why look around for a convenient husband who will give her the money she needs in exchange for her dowry to help replenish his coffers? Get ready for a role reversal in this delightful historical romance where debutante Fiona proposes to her Earl and tries to fool her family into believing its a love match.
Fiona is a rich debutante who has been finished to perfection. Alas her fortune comes from trade and not because of her blue blood plus she's a bit clumsy to boot. Hence she's not quite knee deep in suitors she can chose from. The Earl of Ravenport comes to mind since he had the good fortune to rescue her from her clumsiness at the last society ball she attended.
I really like Fiona, she's quite the intrepid heroine who goes after what she wants with single minded determination. Before the earl can really take a deep breath he finds himself hosting a house party on his crumbling estate hosting his grandmother a few friends and Fiona's family. Slowly but surely Fiona starts to get under the earl's defenses.
The house party is a lot of fun with Fiona's sensuous innocence awakening the earl's libido. Soon they're sneaking away for hidden liaisons as the blackmailer ups his game. The activities like archery etc. are a lot of fun as Fiona demonstrates how completed she failed in all the finishing school activities except for her heart.

Fiona needs access to her dowry or her sister could be ruined. Gray was recently jilted by his fiancée and Fiona thinks he is the perfect man to enter a marriage of convenience with. Can he convince it is a bad idea or will sparks fly and love prevail? Fun, entertaining story with great characters. I liked it.

Miss Fiona Hartley is writing a letter to David Gray, the Earl of Ravenport, proposing a marriage of convenience to him. Although she is a wealthy heiress, she needs to marry a titled man, and soon. It seems that she is being blackmailed. Someone has learned that her sister, Lily, was left on their doorstep when she was just an infant. Her mother was a famous London madam who could not care for her. She left a bootie and a note with her saying, “please take care of my Lily.”

Fiona, her sister, Lily, and her friend, Sophie, have just begun their first season. They each have decided to keep a journal of the people they meet and their impressions of them.

When Gray receives Fiona’s note, he is convinced she is trouble. He is worried about the crumbling ancestral home he inherited and is working on it every chance he gets. When he became the next Earl, there was no money left in the family coffers. In addition, his dear grandmother keeps reminding him that he needs an heir.

When Fiona dances with Gray at a ball that evening, he confirms that he received her letter but is not inclined to accept her proposal. However, they agree to meet in the park the next day to discuss it further. Knowing his home is such a mess, he thinks to deter Fiona by inviting her and her stepmother, sister, and friend to stay at his home for a house party. He is sure that once she sees the condition of his home, she will be disheartened and change her mind about pursuing him.

Ah, but Fiona is enchanted by Gray’s home that he calls the Fortress. As she loves to sketch, she enjoys all the beautiful vistas and spends lots of time drawing them. She and Gray become somewhat closer but she is afraid to tell him about the blackmailer. However, it appears that someone at the house party may know more about the blackmail scheme but who is it?

This is a great plot, but I grew a bit weary with Fiona and Gray. Lack of communication between characters is frustrating but I suppose without it, there wouldn’t be a story. Anna Bradley is a favorite author of mine and her books are always a good read.

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

Anna Bennett is a new author to me and one that I will be read again.

Fiona and her sister Lily are very fortunate that they are wealthy…but even though they are rich society still looks down on them, because their father made his money in trade, so when Fiona receives a letter about her sister, Fiona will do anything to stop this news becoming public. So she writes a letter to an Earl who hopefully can help.

David Gray, the Earl of Ravenport needs money and lots of it, and the only way he can the money is by marrying an heiress. Because you see the money is for the Fortress which is a small medieval castle and which Gray gave it this affectionate name…but its also for his beloved grandmother and Gray will do anything for her. So when an unexpected letter arrives with a marriage proposal, this leaves Gray with a dilemma.

Overall this book was a great read and it also had the mystery of who was blackmailing Fiona and again this left Gray with a dilemma and one that was a little surprising.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Miss Fiona Hartley needs her dowry money to pay off a blackmailer hell bent on ruining her sister and so proposes a marriage in name only between herself and the Earl of Ravenport, a man sworn of marriage after being jilted by his fiancèe. As the days move forward can they both keep their hearts out of the equation.

Great story, great characters

I received a copy from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

Pleasant regency

This is the first book I've read by Anna Bennett. While I liked Fiona and Gray I just didn't really get drawn into the story. I found myself skim reading and was both surprised and dissapointed with the villain.
While this book was not all I hoped for I would give the author a second try.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

In order to protect her family, Fiona must do something unconventional: propose to an Earl.  Not just any Earl, but the angry and recently single from an engagement Earl Ravenport.  Also, their marriage needs to happen in a matter of weeks in order to save her family.  Who would possibly say no to that?

This book was fantastic! It had romance, humor, adventure and an especially heartless villain.  It also tested loyalties among the characters as well as how far one is willing to go for the ones they love. Easy and fun to read with the narratives alternating between Fiona and Gray.  It was especially hard to put down around the 75-80% mark where all of the tiny details sprinkled along the way turned into a storm (literally) of chaos where I just kept saying "no no no no no no".  This was the part of the book that I think was the best! 

Favorite character was Earl ("Gray") Ravenport because the author was able to slowly reveal his warm, funny, and charming personality.   Initially he comes across as defensive and distant (often described in the book as "cold") but through interactions with his grandmother and Fiona he finally warms up.  

Furthermore, I enjoyed the use of the Fortress in disrepair like Gray was after his broken engagement to Lady Helena.  Yet with his grandmother as his main motivation and Fiona's help he was able to get a lot of progress on restoring it, and himself.  It reminded me a little bit of Beauty and the Beast, without the animated furniture, in that Belle's love for Beast was able to restore the castle (and Beast) to it's original beauty.

Lastly, I really appreciated the use of the relationship between Fiona and her sister Lily, as well as the relationship with Gray and his grandmother.  I am fortunate enough to be very close with my sister, just as Fiona and Lily are close.  I am also fortunate to be very close with my grandmother whom is well-loved by everyone she meets, just like Gray's grandmother.  I hope the next book in the series is about Fiona's sister, Lily, as it seemed to have set up a conflict that could continue for her that I would like to see resolved.  

I would recommend this book for adult readers who enjoy romance, especially regency romance, the strong bonds of sisterhood, and the restorative power of love.

On the other hand, I would not recommend this book for readers who may be offended or triggered by the following: graphic violence, foul language, suicide, blackmail, betrayal, gambling, prostitution, and sexually explicit scenarios.  

Please note: an electronic ARC of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

Nunca había comenzado una novela de romance histórica con la protagonista femenina proponiéndole matrimonio al protagonista masculino. Eso simplemente no se hace! Pero Fiona Hartley no tiene otra opción. Necesita dinero de manera urgente y al casarse podrá obtener lo que necesita así que le manda una carta al Conde de Ravenport proponiéndole algo como un negocio: él necesita dinero y con la dote de ella que obtendría al casarse Ravenport podrá arreglar su mansión familiar, sólo tiene que darle a Fiona la cantidad que necesita y ambos podrán vivir tranquilos.

Esta parte si es más común, me ha tocado leer varias novelas donde los protagonistas se tienen que casar y después viene el amor. Pensé que eso me encontraría aquí pero me sorprendí al leer porque, para empezar, los personajes tuvieron química desde el principio y Fiona me encantó. Tenía una forma de ser muy optimista que contrastaba bien con lo seco que podía ser Gray.

Debo admitir que a veces me molestaba esa actitud tan pesimista del Conde. Su niñez fue bastante traumática sobre todo las muertes de sus padres pero él se la pasaba diciendo que jamás podría amar a alguien pero se desvivía por su abuela. Creo que nunca se daba crédito a sí mismo por todas las cosas buenas que hacía.

Y de nuevo digo que Fiona me encantó, Siempre fue un personaje que actuó con fuerza y motivación por la seguridad y el bienestar de su familia. Una vez que se metió en la cabeza que se iba a casar con el Conde de Ravenport, se dedicó a hacerlo posible. No se permitía desviar de la meta. Solo fue al final cuando permitió que las circunstancias la aplacaran y si me dio un poco de coraje porque pensé que iba a pasar como en tantas otras novelas donde los malentendidos mantendría separados a los protagonistas pero aquí fue donde la fuerza Gray salió a relucir y me probó equivocada.

Quedé muy contenta con mi lectura y espero con ansias el segundo libro de esta nueva serie.

I liked the story and the MCs were great. Fiona was a strong heroine who was smart, funny and sweet. Gray was a good guy but it was hard to warm up to him since he stubbornly pushed the h away for a large part of the story. He does redeem himself but I would have liked to see him more decisive when it came to Fiona and Helena. The author didn't really give us any solid reason why Gray was so hung up on the ex. I never got a sense that either of them were ever emotionally invested in the other. In other words, it wasn't painted as a huge love affair, for either party. We know she didn't feel anything for him and Gray never described her as anything special (other than her physical beauty) so it didn't make sense why he was so bothered by the broken engagement. Or why he clung to that as the reason for pushing his h away.

Oh, Fiona -- struggling to meet a blackmailer's demands and save her family, the intrepid debutante decides to propose to an earl who needs money as much as she does. Of course, Gray needs loads of cash, to refurbish his crumbling home and estate, and all Fiona wants is 5,000 pounds a year and a cottage in what she sees as a business arrangement. Desperate as the earl is, he's not that desperate and the story moves on from there as he seeks to show her why he's not husband material. Burned in love before, Gray is a damaged hero to die for -- outwardly brooding but inside, vulnerable and yearning for love. Just like Fiona. How the two find their HEA, defeat the blackmailer and head off into the sunset is an engaging story, with witty dialogue and compelling characters. Most enjoyable. (I received an eARC from NetGalley. Opinions mine.)

Delightful story of a brave girl desperate to save her family by proposing marriage to a brooding earl with his own issues.

The story and characters are well developed. The author does an good job of writing the internal motivations and thoughts of the characters. The heroine, Fiona, keeps a journal to give the reader insight and some comic relief. As I read, I came to care about the characters and couldn't put it down.

The story was well paced and keeps the reader interested. I'm eagerly awaiting Lily and Sophie's stories.

The first in Anna Bennet's Debutante Diaries series is the kind of regency romance I live for! First Earl I See Tonight is the beginning of an intriguing series for the most romantic of romantics. A jilted duke, bitter and hardened toward love, is propositioned by a young woman desperate to save her younger sister from ruin. The immediate answer is a hard "no" but Fiona's talent and genuine charm may be all she needs to secure the safety of her sister's reputation.

First Earl I See Tonight moves at a balanced pace. There's enough time to get to know Fiona, her younger sister and their best friend, and the Gray. There's even a bit of intrigue as Fiona tries to determine just who has the nerve to blackmail her. A good chunk of reading time revolves around Fiona trying to convince the duke to marry her as they get to know one another. Gray's dark past sneaks to the forefront while the cast attends a house party at his country estate. The characters' depth is revealed piece by piece as the story plays out and it left me with a warm feeling. I loved Fiona's wild plan and her determination in the face of rejection. She risked much for her sister and even when her feelings toward Gray became more her compassion rose to encompass his feelings as well. I had a lot of 'aw, that's so sweet' moments reading this story and I would definitely repeat the process a couple dozen more times!

You certainly can never go wrong with a regency romance and especially not with Anna Bennett! I'm excited to read the next book in the series, The Duke is But a Dream, which sounds just as enchantingly romantic as First Earl I See Tonight!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

I always look for a good deal of sweetness in the historical romances I read, and this one is full of it. Both hero and heroine are good people trying to do their best for their loved ones, Fiona especially for her sister and Grey for his grandmother. Fiona pursues Gray, in a very honest, vulnerable way, and, despite early reservation, Gray is always honourable in his dealings not only with Fiona, but with all characters.
It is a delightful, charming and funny book and will be reread in the future because of it.

First Earl I See Tonight follows a bold new plot, where our female character takes her future into her own hands. In a time where women were not encouraged to be bold and independent, Fiona takes care of herself. When she finds herself in a position where she is being blackmailed (which at first you think is directed towards her but it is not – it is against her sister), she looks to save herself and her family from disaster.

The only problem? Women weren’t in control of their money then. So Fiona devises a plan to get her hands on her dowry to save her sister – the only problem with the plan? She has to convince Gray to marry her and with his current situation between his home and his failed engagement, he has closed his heart to love.

While superficial circumstances bring the two together, they slowly come to realize how much alike they truly are. They both put family and friends before themselves and both see the beauty beneath the surface not just the glitter on the outside. Just at they come to realize there could be more than meets the eye, disaster hits – a shock and betrayal that you will never see coming. It leaves you wondering if they can survive this both physically and emotionally and if they can, can they still pull together to form a future.

First Earl I See Tonight is a beautiful story of forgiveness, acceptance and hope for the future. While our past may not always be pretty and the present the same, we always have hope for the future and moving to a brighter place. This was a lovely story from start to finish.

I love first stories in new series and First Earl I See Tonight is no exception. Anna Bennett is a strong voice in historical romance and the Debutante Diaries series looks promising. Two sisters and a good friend all pledge to write a journal about their First Season and plan to share in their old age. First up is Fiona Hartley. Being desperate to marry in order to get her dowry to pay off a blackmailer, she boldly propositions the Earl of Ravenport to marry before the deadline, and his immediate answer is no. She’s determined to not take no for an answer and pushes on. David Gray, Earl of Ravenport, hopes to dissuade Fiona and invites her and her family for a house party at his country estate, the Fortress, and let the old place speak for itself. If that doesn’t scare her away he doesn’t know what will. He has his own reasons for not marrying but being around Fiona he sees her for who she truly is and wonders what if.

The story is a mix of mystery, suspense and romance. Fiona has a limited time before the family secret is exposed and boldly takes steps to get David to change his mind. The more time they spend together the more they both develop strong feelings for one another. One kiss turns into two and before you know it they are seeking each other out for one more touch. Over the course of the house party Fiona and David also learn to trust another person with their secrets. Both could ruin a person and/or family seeing suicide is a taboo and could devastate David and his elderly grandmother. Fiona’s family secret was no less damaging and she would do anything to protect those that she loves. Both these characters showed strength and maturity that resonated well with me. I also love Fiona’s journal entries because it really adds more to the story with her more personal and private voice. Fans of historical romance are going to love this story. The writing was crisp, the pace was good and the story itself was fulfilling.

4.5 Stars

Fiona Hartley is being blackmailed. The heiress received a note, advising that her adopted sister’s scandalous birth details would be revealed to the press unless she makes the required payment within two weeks. Knowing that her family would be ruined if this secret is revealed, Fiona decides she will make the payment, and the only way to do that is to access her dowry. And the only way to do that is to marry quickly. One problem – she has no prospects. Knowing that the Earl of Ravenport has recently been jilted and is in need of funds, Fiona decides to take the bold approach and ask him directly to marry her. Besides, he was the one gentleman who was kind to her when she had an embarrassing fall at a recent ball.

When David Gray’s (Earl of Ravenport’s) fiancée, Helena, got a look at the sad shape his estate was in, she abruptly ended their engagement. Gray’s dreams of restoring the family home, known as “The Fortress,” for his beloved grandmother were shelved. The enigmatic earl just built the walls a little higher around his heart and carried on. He’s shocked to receive a note from Fiona, blatantly offering a businesslike marriage proposal. Though Gray has no intention of attempting marriage again any time soon, he’ll meet with Fiona to tell her in person.

Fiona is somewhat honest with Gray, telling him that she needs five thousand pounds from her dowry, but not explaining the reason. Though her offer is tempting, Gray continues to refuse. Fiona is very tenacious, and despite himself, Gray agrees to host a gathering at The Fortress, knowing full well that Fiona will finally accept his refusal when she sees his run down estate. Much to his surprise, Fiona sees the beauty behind the years of neglect. She’s a talented artist, and creates some lovely drawings of his home, as seen through her eyes.

While Fiona’s goal is a quick and convenient marriage, she begins to fall for the distant, but kind earl. She notices how hard he works, his devotion to his grandmother, and, of course, his physical appeal. Gray starts to believe that he may actually have a future with Fiona, and his walls begin to tumble. Gray’s parents’ marriage was far from ideal, and their relationship colored his views on love. There’s also another dark secret from his childhood which still affects him today. When he finally shares that secret with Fiona, her support makes him believe that he may truly find happiness with her. I loved watching the polite and distant man become smitten, more open, and happy. Their physical relationship, as well as their growing intimacy as friends is truly wonderful.

But there is still a snake in paradise, namely the blackmailer, who has now upped his/her game and is determined that Fiona and Gray not marry. I think my absolute favorite thing about FIRST EARL I SEE TONIGHT is how Gray maintained his belief in Fiona’s affection, even when her words said that she couldn’t marry him. Only one thing kept this story from being perfect for me, and that’s the fact that the villain only appeared to be vanquished for the present, and could make a reappearance. Fiona and Gray are truly likeable characters who are perfect for each other. I love how their relationship developed, and how Fiona helped heal Gray. FIRST EARL I SEE TONIGHT is warm and captivating and has the kind of romance and characters I love to read about.

A desperate debutante, Fiona Harltley needs to marry quickly so she can get her dowry. Her sister is in trouble and being blackmailed and that is the only funds she can get to!! What to do? David Gray, Earl of Ravenport is not in the market for a wife. He has been jilted by his fiance' and it would take a strong force to make him succumb. But he never expected Fiona, a determined young beauty to step into his life. Focused on repairing his crumbling estate, when he receives a marriage proposal he decides to invite her to his country house to let her see how his estate needs significant repair. Good plan you say? Well that is only the beginning for these two. As they interact it made me laugh with some of the humor and banter back and forth.
Can these two truly come together with Fiona wanting their marriage to be in name only? With a handsome man and a beautiful lady, I sincerely doubt that would hold!
A wonderful start to a new series, this one will keep you entertained until the end!

First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett. Miss Fiona Hartley, an artist, needs her dowry money to pay a blackmailer who plans to expose some information that could ruin her sister. The Earl of Ravenport, Gray, recently been jilted by his fiancée, has no desire for a wife. He is now working on renovating his crumbling country house, Fortress, before his grandmother goes blind. He has no money and Fiona feels he is her best choice. She asks him to marry her and only asked for the money needed for the blackmailer. She can’t ask anyone else so the burden falls completely on her. A great story to see what happens: can she thaw his heart, who is the blackmailer, and can they learn to trust each other. A great story. I received an advance copy from Net Galley for my honest review.

This was an entertaining read. I did like Fiona, a talented artist, was determined to help her sister, Lily. The loving connection between the sisters was engaging. Gray, Earl of Ravenport, had many issues in his background which affected his attitude towards the idea of romantic love. They had an hilarious first meeting. I enjoyed the way their relationship grew. There are some amusing moments and romantic ones. There is also the mystery of who the blackmailer might be and why he is doing this. The identity was a surprise to me. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.