Cracking open the first book of a new series is always an exciting time for me. I love the anticipation of discovering a new world, the possibility of new adventures, and meeting new characters. I started Anna Bennett’s new series, Debutante Diaries, with high expectations – and I wasn’t disappointed. We will come to meet sisters Fiona and Lily, along with their friend, Sophie as they set out in life with a rather intense beginning.

First Earl I See Tonight introduces Fiona, who is facing a very difficult family scandal should she not hand over money to a blackmailer. She may be the daughter of a very wealthy man, even if their wealth comes from trade, but she has no immediate access to the funds demanded on her own. Fiona will do anything to protect her family, even propose a marriage of convenience to a man who was once kind to her knowing that he is in desperate need of funds to refurbish his estates. In Fiona’s mind she can pay off the blackmailer, give Gray the funds he needs to restore his grandmother’s once beautiful home and be done with it all… except blackmailers are never satisfied with their first demands, and her groom of choice is simply not co-operating as she expected him to. And there’s that pesky attraction building between them that keeps getting in the way of her plans. Fiona picked Gray for several reasons; he’d been kind to her, he desperately needed ready cash, and he’d been jilted so wasn’t looking for a love match. So why then did she have to go and fall in love with the stubborn, cold hearted man? That only made the blackmailer’s next demands even more despicable.

Gray had two loves in his life these days – his ailing grandmother, and his estate. An estate that was practically falling down around them. One that his former fiancée had sneered at, ended the engagement and ran away as fast as she could from. So why on earth was one very wealthy, if admittedly clumsy young lady proposing a marriage of convenience? Certainly he knew who Fiona was, remembered her with kindness, even for him, but when a woman asks for a man’s hand in marriage it tends to grab his attention… and his anger. There was something else going on here, so Gray called her bluff by inviting her entire family to stay at his estate determined to scare the little forward miss off as quickly as possible. Only he didn’t count on her stubbornness, her courage or the attraction that was building between them. Suddenly discovering Fiona’s secrets became his top priority since her happiness was his primary goal now. He didn’t count on falling in love, but he would get to the bottom of this puzzle.

I enjoyed First Earl I See Tonight very much. The story captured my attention, the characters were realistic and believable (even under the circumstances) and I wanted to know more about this couple’s future as well as Lily and Sophie’s stories down the line. Yet as much as I enjoyed Gray and Fiona’s romance there were things that didn’t make sense within that time period, and to be frank, those little details bothered me throughout this story. I’m not going to nitpick, it’s not my story to tell… but sometimes little details will take me out of a story and that is always annoying to me. Inconsistencies aside, I will definitely follow this series for my curiosity is now high and I want to know what happens next. If you love a good Historical or Regency Romance with likable characters, interesting plots and secondary characters you’ll want to learn more about then First Earl I See Tonight is perfect for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

A startling funny story. Fiona and Gray are the perfectly mismatched couple. Fiona has a problem and a husband is her solution. She grabs the bull by the horns, proposes to Gray and sets out to convince him that marrying her is an excellent idea. In a series of hilarious incidents in which they attempt to get to know each other, there are mishaps, mayhem and accidents. The road to love was not smooth but it sure was fun and enjoyable.

Captivating! I was totally captivated by this intriguing, tender and suspenseful historical romance. These characters will touch your heart and a the romance is filled with wonderful tender moments that at times took my breath away.

Fiona Hartley is desperate, a shy, but rich, debutante, who is being blackmailed. Wanting to save her family from scandal, she proposes to a handsome Earl that is in dire need of the funds, that she can supply. But after being refused by the woman of his heart the Earl of Ravenport has decided that marriage would not be in his future until he could take care of his estate, finances and his grandmother.

But what starts out as a way to scare off Fiona, he invites her and her family to come and stay at his crumbling down manor house. But the more these two interact, the more they are taken by the other. Will the tender, beautiful moments lead these two a HEA? You will need read to find out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thought and opinions are my own.

David Gray, Earl of Ravenport may be an Earl, but having just been dumped by his fiance because of the state of his property, he has sworn off love and marrying. Instead he is concentrating on fixing everything up to its former glory so his Grandma can enjoy it before her sight completely goes.

Miss Fiona Hartley is not titled, but she comes from money and has a very large dowry to offer the right man. Too bad none are calling. When Fiona gets a letter blackmailing her regarding her younger sister, she must take matters into her own hands. If Fiona can find a man who is willing to marry her in the next 2 weeks, in exchange for her nice dowry, she will enter into a marriage of convenience, as long as they give her the money she needs to pay off the blackmailer. Of course who comes to mind, Gray, the Earl who was just dumped.

Gray thinks Fiona is nuts but agrees to think about her offer. He even invites her and her family to his house thinking that she will change her mind once she sees just how bad of shape the property is in. Instead, this ends up backfiring on him. Gray also finds the more time he spends with Fiona, they more he is starting to realize that he is developing feelings for her. It takes a huge leap of faith for these two to trust each other because they both are hiding secrets. In the end, love wins out and Gray and Fiona get their happy ending!

I loved both of these characters. Fiona is such a strong force and so dedicated to her family. Gray's only purpose in life is to make his Grandma happy....he doesn't care about himself....but deep down he is loyal and loving, even if he doesn't always show that side of himself to other people. Overall, I loved this book. It was fun, entertaining and swoon worthy.

I accepted this to see if I could expand my list of exceptional historical romance authors and I don't think I really found one. This was a good story, the pacing was good but not great, towards the end you knew enough that I was able to skip 2-3 chapters of nothing to get to a really good ending.

It was a bit verbose in places and the blackmail scheme was over done a bit and then expanded almost at the end for reasons that were a bit muddled to me, our heroine was so much the martyr she might as well have had it written on her forehead and our hero thinking spent most of the book muddled in his tragic past and botched recent present.

I did like the interplay, she should have shared the blackmail plot with more people but when it all came down I have to say I read it all in 1 day, scanned a few chapters and the ending was good with a presumed HEA, all together as a reading experience it was 4 Stars and depending upon your tastes and mood might be a bit more or less. Chances are I will most likely read the next one if I remember it but this was a good premise that was not realized to its potential.

Fiona is in need of her dowry money to pay off the blackmailer, who threatens to reveal her sister’s secret. She decided to propose marriage to David Gray, Earl of Ravenport. Gray is in need of money to renovate the Fortress, and even if he’s not interested in marriage after her latest engagement ended badly, she is intrigued by Fiona. Gray decided to invite Fiona, her sister and stepmother to his Fortress for a week, which he thought would scare her away, but Fiona is not like any other woman. Will the week at the Fortress change Gray’s opinion on marriage?

It’s the first book in the Debutante Diaries series and I very much enjoyed it. I loved the banter between Fiona and Gray and the mystery around the blackmailer. The secondary characters were great as well and I can’t wait to read Lily’s story. Overall it’s a well written book with wonderful characters and a great setting.

I must admit that it has actually been quite a long time since I picked up a historical romance novel to read, having thrown myself into a lot of other genres since starting this blog, even to the point where I thought that maybe that genre just didn't interest me as much as it used to. But I liked the sound of FIRST EARL I SEE TONIGHT by Anna Bennett and decided to give it a whirl and I am so glad that I did, because what I found was a wonderful historical story with all of the attention to detail that I love and characters that just won my heart from the very beginning.

Miss Fiona Hartley will do whatever it takes to protect those that she loves even if it means coming up with a plan to deal with a blackmailer who could destroy her family. Determined to pay this evil person off, she realises that she must marry to be safe and so decides to propose to Earl Ravenport who is one of the few men who has ever shown her kindness. Knowing he has been hurt recently, Fiona tries her best to prove to him that a marriage in name only would benefit them both, but as she begins to see beneath the surface of the brooding Earl, she just may fall for the kind and frightened man that lurks within ...

With plenty of misunderstandings, secrets, and sultry assignations, FIRST EARL I SEE TONIGHT by Anna Bennett made me fall in love with historical romance all over again and I read this book in one sitting. I loved Fiona who was honest, upfront, intelligent and talented and Gray was a character that I just wanted to hug (that is when I wasn't shouting at him to open his heart!). The setting is superb and came alive in my mind as I read each page and this book really conveyed emotions very well. I felt every fear and sadness that they experienced and even found myself blushing at other parts of this story too😉

FIRST EARL I SEE TONIGHT by Anna Bennett is everything you could wish for in a fabulous historical romance and I want to thank this author for re-igniting my love for this genre which I have neglected for so long. I'm off to do some book shopping!

First Earl I See Tonight (Debutante Diaries, #1) by Anna Bennett ... I loved all the characters in this book ...well except for a couple... thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me preview this book. Gray (Earl of Ravenport) and Fiona (trying to protect her sister from a blackmailer) These two have a wonderful story.. he needs money to restore his country home for his grandmother,,, she needs to get to her dowry to pay off the blackmailer. There are plenty of laughs, tragic pasts, tears, love, mystery and steamy sex on our way to a HEA. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Family is an extraordinarily powerful motivator for many to rise to incredible acts of bravery. A threat to family is what Miss Fiona Hartley wakes up to on the day her life changes. This courageous young woman refused to bow under the weight of the threat, but dashed ahead of it and took the reins of her own destiny to the best of her ability. Much credit should be given to Fiona for thinking outside of the box. In a time when women are treated as merely ornamental, she takes charge with a great deal of poise and maturity. She decides an immediate marriage will resolve the issue of the threat, but will not tie herself to just anybody. She solemnly considers all of the options and chooses the man she feels confident will give her the greatest potential for happiness in her future. The reader may crow with pride over her pluck in this.

Fiona's choice is David Gray, the impoverished Earl of Ravenport, and a man haunted by more than one ghost.

Reading this story, I was reminded so strongly of Beauty and the Beast. Fiona is bright, considerate, unfailingly loyal, fierce, and brimming with love. She encounters Gray, who appears to do all he can to drive her away - with quite deliberate efforts, it must be said - but who holds the key to her future and her family's safety. Being so strongly motivated to protect her family, particularly her little sister, gives Fiona the strength to stand firm against whatever Gray throws at her. And that strength gradually wears away his own resistance to her, allowing him to heal from decades-old wounds.

What the reader never sees coming is that with all of the healing and laughter and love that blooms between Fiona and Gray, he must be deeply wounded yet again before they achieve a happy ever after.

Anna Bennett has expertly constructed a story that draws the reader in heart and soul. Fiona is the plucky underdog that every reader roots for from the first pages. Gray gradually grows on the reader until they are just as in love with him as Fiona is. And then suddenly he is plummeted into the depths of loss and hurt and despair, so as to break a reader's heart. I could not read certain passages without finding tears streaming down my cheeks.

I am so impressed by Anna Bennett as an author, and am eager to read each and every writing she produces.

Awesome Regency romance with enjoyable characters and plot that keeps the readers attention. Gray is a basically impoverished Earl who is struggling to bring his estate back to its original magnificence. He desperately wants to do this for his aging grandmother. Fiona believes the Earl has potential but she needs a groom in order to gain access to her dowery. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters banter for the time period. I received a complementary copy via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Bennett in the future.

4.5 Stars
First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett is book One in the Debutante Diaries series. This is the story of David Gray, Earl of Ravenport and Fiona Hartley.
David had a harsh childhood with the only highlight was his Grandmother. David lost his parents and having to take over the family Title around 12 years old. David try to take a chance at love but his fiancée broke up with him not to long after seeing the run down family home. David has moved past finding that kind of happiness but has moved forward with fixing up the home for his Grandmother. Fiona is a awkward, accident prone women but also is a artist who works to protect the family. Fiona's father is a wealthy mill owner but Fiona has no access to money other than if she was to marry. When she starts to get a blackmail letter forcing her to pay them or have her family secrets revealed that would impact her sister...she goes forward to find a way to marry. When she starts to make a list of men the David comes to the top of her list after he helps save her from a mishap at a ball. Fiona goes forward to write him a letter with her offer of marriage and what the business side would be about. Thinking to discourage her, David invites her and the family to his home but what first was meant to turn her away has now drawn him in.
Enjoyed watching their story play out in this book. I can't wait for the other books in this series.

This book was magical. It took a typical historical romance and gave it an awesome twist. I loved how sweet and brave Fiona was. She kicked but and took Gray for a whirlwind. The author did a great job of creating a heroine who was headstrong and amazing and still was able to let Gray be an alpha. It was a well balanced scorching read. I would definitely recommend it.

I liked the characters in this one a lot. Gray and Fiona were great together. His blend of cold distance and the inability to trust, and her openly selflessness and compassion work great together to make for a wonderful love story. I’m glad Gray found a way to open up and love again and I liked Fiona’s spirited and determined drive to win Gray over. She was bold and didn’t give up. The plot was strong, the conflict believable (and sad being who the bad guy ends up being), and the passion and emotional tension all roll up into a great story. It is an easy read; easy to fall in love with and the characters are well drawn and captivating. I do recommend it, though I did skip a lot of the journal entries because I wanted to get back to the interactions between the characters, the series has great potential and I want more.

As a first timer reading a book by this author, I was really very impressed with how much I enjoyed her writing style, the storytelling was very easy to follow, get engrossed in and was an absolute pleasure to read. Fiona is a very strong and forward thinking heroine, she is a very likeable character with a positive personality that only made me like her more. Gray is your usual type of hero, he's a little broken with a dark past that has left him to be wary of everyone except his loving grandmother. Fiona and Gray are both an eclectic mix of willfulness and stubbornness and yet they are both open to seeing past what is on the surface. In short they are a perfect fit for each other once their true nature is revealed.
I really enjoyed the plot of this story as it took a few twists and turns that made it such an interesting read. It was very exciting knowing the danger that was there lurking in the background just waiting to happen while everyone but Fiona went about their lives as though all was well. I never guessed who was behind it all so it was a very well thought out plot that was not easy to guess.
Great story, great romance, and characters that you will love.

Loved it. Great characters, excellent story line and it's written to captivate. I couldnt oit the book down.

A blackmail note! How am I going to come up with the money to save my sister, Lily's reputation and the reputation of my family? My only recourse is to marry and use my dowry money. But I only have two weeks to accomplish this. What to do, what to do? Hmm... The Earl of Ravenport was recently jilted by his fiancee, is in a desperate financial situation and he was so kind to me when I tripped on the dance floor recently and landed among the musicians. The gallant Lord Ravenport extended a hand to help me up. I'm sure I will be fine married to such a courteous gentleman. My decision is made. Now to pen a proposal of marriage and send it to Lord Ravenport.

This is exactly what Fiona Hartley, daughter of a wealthy merchant does in this story. Needless to say the Earl is not overjoyed at this proposal and has no intention of considering marriage but it has piqued his curiosity. So Fiona and David Gray meet again at the Northcroft ball. From this point the progression of their interactions and relationship is a great to story to read. The author, Anna Bennett has woven a fun tale with this mysterious background of who the blackmailer is and how Fiona solves her problem. Anna Bennett has delightful characters, a fascinating storyline and a perfectly paced story in this book. I look forward to reading about more of her Debutante Diaries ladies in future books in this series.

Fiona decides that the best way to deal with a blackmailer is to propose to the poverty-stricken Earl o Ravenport. If they can marry, she can access her dowry and pay off the blackmailer to save her sister.

They go to the Earl’s estate because he figures, like his former fiance, she’ll take one look at it and drop the idea right away. But, of course, she doesn’t. And with his desire to fix up his estate before his beloved grandmother goes blind, he starts to like the idea of marrying Fiona.

I thought Fiona was a bit dopey to think that she could pay off a blackmailer one time and be free of it. And since the secret he knew is something that very few people know, she might have thought of trying to figure out who might have found out the information. Teaming up with the Earl to solve that mystery might have been a more interesting novel than simply figuring that she can marry him and get some money.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opini are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I did not want to put this one down! Fiona was a wonderful character with her love and loyalty to family, determination to keep everyone safe, and brave enough to take those steps. As I learned about Gray's past, I cared more about how this story ended. He started as a self-absorbed man but found his way into the world. I loved the interactions between Fiona and Gray, and enjoyed the love between the secondary characters. This is a story that I highly recommend, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

I really enjoyed this book! The heroine was feisty and strong. And the hero was perfect! There was just enough drama and angst and it was a perfect love story. The author’s writing was witty and flowed. I look forward to reading more from her.

Publisher's Description:

Once upon a time three young ladies vowed to record their first London seasons…and to fill in the gaps of their finishing school educations. Thus began The Debutante Diaries—and London will never be the same…

“Fans of Regency romance authors Eloisa James, Tessa Dare, and Mary Jo Putney will go wild.”—Booklist

An heiress with a daring proposal. An earl who’s determined to resist her. And a love that just might be written in the stars, in First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett.

Recently jilted by his fiancée, David Gray, Earl of Ravenport is not in the market for a wife. Even if Gray didn’t have his hands full renovating his crumbling country house, it would take more than a bold marriage proposal from a headstrong young beauty to thaw his frozen heart. Gray is confident that spending a week at his ramshackle estate will change her mind about marriage, but every passionate moment he spends with her tempts him to change his…

A talented artist, Miss Fiona Hartley desperately needs her dowry money to pay off a blackmailer set on ruining her sister. The handsome earl seems a sensible choice for a husband…if only she can convince him that romance will play no part. But marrying in name only may prove difficult for Fiona. Gray can’t help but be dazzled by her genuine warmth. Yet as their feelings deepen, Fiona’s deadline looms. Will her secrets destroy them, or is true love their final destiny?

My Thoughts:

I have read other books by this author and have enjoyed them, but this beginning to a new series just didn't draw me in completely like previous books have. It seemed a little forced to me.

Even the intimate scenes were not what I have come to expect from this author. They were steamy but also seemed a bit stilted.
Although I thought the book was somewhat mediocre it was a readable contribution.


I gave this book 3.75 of 5.0 stars (rounded up to 4 stars) for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. The intimacy though it didn't seem to flow is steamy.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.