Though I’m not generally a fan of regency romances, the premise for this novel appealed to me as a romance reader, Sadly, I was disappointed. It’s hard to say if it was the genre or the story; probably some of each. The plot was ok, conceptually; In execution, there was no depth. Same for the characters— loved who they were intended to be, but the story made them one-dimensionally simple. They were described as interesting but actions and thoughts didn’t really deliver. Maybe Regency fans will enjoy This Earl of Mine? My lack of experience with this genre leaves me ill-equipped to make a prediction.

Loved it! I mistakenly started to read it early in the evening and I could not put it down. I was up all night turning the pages in my Kindle. 😆

Georgie had spunk and Benedict was our sexy hero. I enjoyed the flirtation that these two had. Their story had a nice simmering temp and gradually heated up. Their encounters were enjoyable and they really had a good time. The banter was good, teasing and at times seriousness. There was no immaturity in our heroine and dullness in our hero. The scenes when they sat in with Georgie’s sister and her beau were hilarious. The poor guy.

It was a little hard to believe in the beginning that Georgie’s mom accepted her daughter walking into prison n marrying a convict. It was certainly a new twist and possibly a very modern take. But it did not take away from the story and actually made it entertaining.

I can’t wait for the next book!

This was a quick read with a host of likeable characters. Georgiana is a headstrong, independent woman who is far ahead of her time and I loved that about her. Benedict is no pushover and himself is not beholden to conventional societal rules. Though their meeting is unconventional to say the least, I felt the author did a great job of setting up the relationship between them. Of course there is a great deal of turning a blind eye from a reader's point of view but the story is crafted well enough for that. I can't say I'd have been anywhere near as kind as Georgiana to a family member who attempts what her cousin does, especially given her resources. This was a pleasant introduction to a new author and series and I actively look forward to seeing Seb and Alex knocked over by their own love interests.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

Georgiana Caversteed has a head for numbers and a gorgeous sister. Georgie was raised by her father to be smart, capable and adventurous. Her sister is a more typical female of the times with her beauty and social skills at the forefront. When their father passes, he leaves Georgie his shipping business and her sister an income. Even though Georgie now runs the shipping empire, the rules of the times mean that she is still at the mercy of the menfolk in her family – in this case her cousin. Applying her intelligence to the problem, Georgie comes up with the perfect plan. If she marries a convicted man about to hang, she will become a widow in very short order. The rules are different for widows and she will have more standing to avoid being forced into marrying her distasteful cousin.

Cue Ben Wylde as the convict/Georgie's husband to be. What Georgie doesn’t know is that Ben is not truly a convict, being in Newgate prison undercover in his role as a Bow Street Runner. Ben is also the 2nd son of the Earl of Morcott – a known rake and scapegrace in society circles. Oopsie – Georgie’s brilliant plan doesn’t go quite according to plan. What starts as a foolproof plan for independence turns into Ben and Georgie working together to unravel a plan to free Napoleon from St. Helena. The find danger, adventure and even, dare I say it, true love. And a submarine. A real, honest to goodness, underwater craft that serves as the tipping point in the Napoleon-rescue scheme.

This Earl of Mine is a fun and engaging read. You’ll cheer for Georgie, you’ll cry for her (well, maybe just feel for her as SHE cries), you’ll be amazed by her and then the book will end. Then you’ll look for the next installment in the Bow Street Bachelors because it’s good fun and a great way to spend time curled up with a story.

I loved this book! I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this one is a doozy. Georgiana (Georgie) was a heroine I could love and respect—she’s smart and resourceful—and Ben was a great hero. This was just a really fun, delightful book that I read in one sitting. Kate Bateman is a new author for me, and I cannot wait to read her backlist, not to mention the forthcoming books in this new series.

Loved loved loved it!!!! The story was awesome, sweet, sexy and funny. I look forward to reading more from this author.
The title to me doesn’t fit until the very very end and that was the only thing that just didn’t work for me.

This was an engaging story around mistaken identity which leads to marriage. The mystery story seems to overpower to romance a little. Over all a solid and fun read.

Loved Kate Bateman's first book in the Bow Street Bachelors series. Great dialogue, lots of adventure and romance.

This was an absolute pleasure to read from start to finish. When heiress Georgie Caversteed takes measures to prevent her low life cousin from forcing her into marriage, it had to be desperation to marry a convict fixing to hang. A convict who isn't a convict, a marriage that is really real and a plot to free Napoleon from St. Helena, create non-stop adventure and unending amusement.

I was impressed by this new to me author. Her heroine, Georgie, is an heiress who would rather marry a condemned criminal then her nefarious cousin. The hero, Benedict, is an ex-soldier who helps investigate crime. Together they find in each other someone who wants them for themselves. Can’t wait for the next in the series! I received an ARC for my honest review.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Pretty steamy, the romance is pretty basic, but I’m assuming you don’t read these for the plot. Solid three

New author, new series, couldn’t put it down.

The familiar trope of strangers marrying in order to get around an unwanted suitor is done in a new way with Kate Bateman’s This Earl of Mine. Finding a husband in Newgate Prison to marry and then assuming the convict will be hanged making her an instant widow and therefore independent, is the desperate plan of Georgiana Caversteed.

Unfortunately for Georgie, Benedict Wylde is not a condemned prisoner but an undercover agent, only a temporary resident of Newgate.

Another twist is to the traditional rich/poor story. Ben is the impoverished second son of an penniless Earl and Georgiana is extremely wealthy.

There is adventure, romance and humor in this book. An example is Ben and Georgie’s reactions to Georgie’s sister’s suitor’s “poetry” were so much fun to read.

Bateman has created so many great characters to choose from to continue this series. I greatly look forward to the stories of Ben’s brothers in arms Alex and Sebastien, along with Ben’s brother John.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

Rating 3.5

Georgiana Caversteed is a very wealthy heiress, that runs her deceased Father shipping company. She's been pursued by many gent's of the ton, as well as her cousin who's not a gent at all. She's very aware and skeptical of these men, believing they are pursuing her only for her great fortune. Georgie wants to be an independent woman in charge of her own life. She comes up with a plan to find a criminal on death row to marry, that way she is free to live her independent life as she pleases.

She ends up marrying Benedict Wylde. He wasn't on death row but was suppose to be put on a ship far that was being sent away allowing her to live her life with a husband that's not in her crosshair.

Little did Georige know that Benedict was a veteran of Waterloo, fought in other battles, and now works for Bow Street. Benedict was working undercover while in Newgate and couldn't really not marry Georgie as it would blow his cover. He decides once he's out they would somehow dissolve their marriage. He was very intrigued and attracted to Georgie.

Well Georgie was attending a ball not long after her marriage when she gets the surprise of her life. Georgie discovers her husband is not on a ship sailing far away but is attending the ball as well.

What takes place is two people who have issues they are trying to navigate through find each other and a possibitly of true happiness and love.

Georgie finds a man in Benedict that is honorable, trust worthy and though a scoundrel, he's also a true gentleman. But she will have to figure out whether its her or her money he's after. Benedict is younger brother of an impoverished earl, seeking to work for money to help his brother improve their estates.

Benedict didn't have the best example of love, with his parents barely tolerating each other during their marriage. But yet he finds his wife to be intelligent, fun and adventurous. He's very attracted to her and love her mind and thinking.

There is a small mystery that Benedict is working on as a Bow Street runner and Georgie decides she can help him. The two work well together and that just adds to their attraction.

The two learn to trust what their heart is telling them and find love and true happiness with each other.

The romance was steady in certain parts of the book and others times I found it lagging and slow. The mystery seemed to at times overpower the love story in my opinion. The storyline was okay but felt again the push of a more modern theme and heroine in a historical romance. Which sadly wasn't what I was looking for when I pick up a historical. I look for character, story line and actions to be approiate for the time period.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this historical romance with a modern heroine determined to take control of her life by marrying a prisoner so that her cousin would not force her into marriage and take her family fortune. Georgie is smart, independent and adventurous. Everything you want in a heroine. Ben is poor but with an old aristocratic name. I loved that he didn't let his status to get in the way of his desire for Georgie and that he comes to care for her because of her personality and not her money. Well written and engaging.

I enjoyed THIS EARL OF MINE, and am eager to see the next stories in this series! The Bow Streets Bachelors series focuses on a group of friends who are all second sons of titled gentleman, went to war against Bonaparte together, and co-own a club. In their free time, they work as Bow Street Runners. The blurb of this book promised a thrilling adventure and romance, and I can definitely say both were delivered! However, I did have a couple of problems that I think other readers may encounter as well, making ultimately a sweet Historical Romance, but nothing that really jumps out.

Likes:

"But here was a beautiful, infuriating woman, in his rooms. In his life. It was springtime, a time of hope and renewal, and the world was coming alive again. He was coming alive again, as if the emotions that had been deadened during the war were being coaxed forth by her presence."

- The romantic progression between Benedict and Georgie was really well-done! I enjoyed the unique circumstances in which they got together, and their mature choices after it was said and done. Basically, Georgia had been threatened by her cousin (one-dimensional evil/lecherous cousin) and took her fate into her own hands by marrying a prisoner who would soon be dead. This prisoner turned out to be a gentleman of the ton, undercover, and when he reveals himself as alive after their marriage, they have to figure out what to do afterwards. Annull? Continue the scam? Or make the marriage into something more.... real?

- I thought the dialogue was really cute, if not a bit repetitive.

- I enjoyed the background action/mystery with the Bow Street Runners, and how involved Georgie was in that subplot. In general, Georgie herself was really headstrong and enjoyable to read about. She's smart with the numbers and took up her father's shipping industry, but always lacked an ADVENTURE. When Benedict lands in her arms, adventure is all she experiences these days. Benedict comes off as a rake, but he has a really strong sense of duty and loyalty. Although he is penniless, he works hard to help his brother (an earl) pay off the debts their father left for them. I admired his patience for honored work, and the tensions that arose due to their differences in wealth.

Dislikes:

"'I see you,' he said softly. 'I see a woman who is brave and headstrong and secretly rebellious. I see a woman who is witty and clever, and who doesn't go fainting all over the place or falling into hysterics at the drop of a hat."

- I didn't enjoy the "I'm not like the other women/men of the ton." Said from BOTH sides! Like we get it, y'all special. Moving on.

- This book carried a bit too many familiar historical tropes used. Yes, it blended in quite well, but it also made it exceptionally predictable, and took a bit away from my enjoyment. Because of this point, it felt a bit formulaic at times.

- Background characters were all quite one-dimensional, although they were still fun.

- Anachronistic vocabulary. Imagine my surprise when I saw the word "playboy" in a book set around the 1800's. However, according to a quick Google sense, the current sense in which we use the word "playboy" (aka the way Georgia used to describe Benedict) came up in the 19th century, which matches the timeline. I just... that really threw me in a loop.

Either way, I enjoyed this one! Maybe not the most unique, but the heart-warming relationship between the hero and heroine make it a solid Historical Romance.

Trigger/Content Warnings: fatphobia, sexy times

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy!

This novel was an enjoyable read for the start to a new series by Ms. Bateman. Instead of a man being rich and falling in love with a poor woman, it is the opposite, which brings a new level of intrigue and plot. Georgiana Caversteed runs and owns her father's shipping company, making her an heiress. Heiress equals a magnet for fortune hunters, unwanted suitors, and in Georgie's case, an annoying cousin. How to get rid of all these unwanted men? Get a husband. How to keep her fortune under her control? Get them to sign a document. Where to find a husband? Go to the jail and find someone on death row so one becomes a widow. The unexpected twist. Discovering your husband is still alive and is a member of the peerage. Benedict Wylde has a reputation around the ladies, but his wastrel father spend all the money and he is helping his brother by giving him his earnings. Benedict works undercover with Bow Street to earn additional income, feeling he should give back for surviving the war and lives each day to its fullest. Benedict never expected to meet and fall for a woman like Georgie. Each has their own plan, but never added love into the the equation. Now they have to decide if that love is worth more than their initial plans as well as stopping those who want to free Napoleon.