A feel good, romantic and funny Regency romp.

The story is well researched and I learned something new about the era.

The characters were really likeable and I couldn't help but get a good feeling as these two fell in love.

The story was exciting in places which kept me glued.

I loved it and can't wait for the rest of the series.

I like this fun and entertaining historical read. Georgie needs a husband to give her the freedoms of a widow and decides to marry a man in Newgate who will soon be hanging from the gallows. Ben is undercover and can’t blow his cover so he agrees to marry Georgie. What will she do when she finds out the truth? Fast-paced with plenty of drama, and so much fun. I liked the characters and the story really drew me in.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: In order to keep her fortune out of her cousin’s grasp, heiress Georgiana Caversteed needs a husband ASAP but she doesn’t actually what to stay married so she comes up with the perfect solution: marry a condemned criminal in Newgate prison. Except Benedict Wylde was the wrong choice in husband, he was working undercover for Bow Street, is actually the second son of an Earl, and when Georgie spots him in a crowded ballroom, not a condemned convict. Though the two are already married, they agree that Wylde should court her publicly, which keeps them close to one another and fans the heated attraction that started the moment they said “I do.”





Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? This Earl of Mine is so wildly out of the realm of possibility with its heroine, it feels like the author plucked a contemporary heroine out of her time, dressed her in historic garb, and dropped her in the middle of 1816 London. And yes, that does affect how I rate historical romances. I can take a little fudging of historical facts and taking small liberties with the rules of society back then but Georgiana Caversteed is far too modern to be believable. The book may be fiction but there still has to be some element of believability to it.

I did like Georgie enough but yes I held it against her that she was too modern. She had moments of being a bit dense about how her own society works which backs up my claim that she’s actually a modern character trapped in a time traveling scenario.
Show/hide

Benedict was a little better except I had to question his efficiency as a spy.
Show/hide There’s being honest, and then there’s being stupid and I felt that by sharing information that wasn’t his to share, he fell squarely into the latter category. That was a big TSTL moment for me since he was thinking with the wrong head at the time.

If I set the overly modern heroine aside, I can say that This Earl of Mine gave Benedict and Georgie moments where they could get to know each other outside of their physical attraction to each other. Georgie proved herself to be an ally and asset instead of a burden or a damsel that needed rescuing while helping Benedict with his assignment. That part of the book was the one that yielded the best results. I love a good adventure and that’s what it was.

All that said, Kate Bateman does have an interesting idea for this series going and I enjoyed This Earl of Mine enough to give the next book in the series a go. With this book there was a lot going on with the characters, most of it just seemed to be thrown in there just for the heck of it and not fleshed out at all.

Click It or Skip It? Click It if you can get past a VERY anachronistic heroine and quite the info dump throughout the whole book. I’ll be looking forward to the next book to see if there are any changes made.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Georgie and Benedict’s story in This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman, book one in her Bow Street Bachelors series. This fantastic Regency romance of an heiress and a rogue accidentally ending up in a secret marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes. Desperate to keep her fortune away from her cousin, shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed resorts to marry a condemned criminal in Newgate prison. Georgie is surprised at the heat from the kiss she shared with her scoundrel of a husband. Georgie never expects to see her husband again, so imagine her shock when she spies him across a crowded ballroom. Notorious rogue Benedict Wylde never expected to have a wife, especially while undercover in Newgate, working for Bow Street. In order to keep their marriage of convenience a secret, Benedict courts Georgie in public; but the more time they spend together, the more they enjoy each other’s company. They could have invented electricity considering the way sparks flew between them. Now if only this heiress, who could own the world, find love and happiness with a penniless rake.

Ms. Bateman wrote a wonderful story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, witty banter, endearing character, and a swoon worthy romance giving Georgie and Benedict a chance at love, happiness, and a future neither expected. I highly recommend This Earl of Mine to other readers and look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Georgiana Caversteed is very wealthy and is accustomed to and adept at fending of fortune hunters. When her noxious cousin attempts to compromise her in order to marry and access her fortune, she has reached the limit of her patience. Her plan is quite daring, rather, quite desperate. She will marry a condemned prisoner and then live as a widow. When the prisoner chosen for her dies before the wedding, the guards force his cellmate, Benedict Wylde, to take his place. The problem? Benedict is not really a prisoner, but the second son of an Earl and an undercover agent for Bow Street. The other problem? He can’t get out of marrying the girl without blowing his cover. He will have to try to straighten it all out later. Believing her plan has succeeded, imagine the shock of seeing Ben at a ball several weeks later. Once the shock wears off and she learns the truth, they decide they Ben will court her, they will marry publicly, and then go their separate ways. Now, you know about best laid plans, right?

The characters in this story, with the exception of slimy cousin Josiah, are intelligent, independent, caring, and a bit cautious. Georgie runs the shipping company her father left her competently and expertly. She takes care of the business and the people who work for her. She loves and cares for her family. Ben served the country in the war in France. He is courageous and intelligent. He and his brother, the Earl, were left impoverished by their father and are working hard to make the estate sound and profitable again. Ben is unfortunately quite poor, but he is not a fortune hunter. He is honorable and perfectly agreeable not to make claim on Georgie’s fortune.

The couple spends a great deal of time together and start down the road to a possible happy future. Several things help this along, Georgie’s curiosity about Ben’s case, her desire for adventure, and her overwhelming need to satisfy their physical attraction.

This is a great start for the new series. The story is compelling and somewhat different. Ben and Georgie are fantastic. The chemistry between them sizzles. I love the side story of her sister’s romance, the way she made sure cousin Josiah would no longer be a problem, and the two absolutely awesome surprises at the end. A great read! I enjoyed and recommend it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

What a wonderful debut of the Bow Street Bachelors Regency series with a fast-paced read that is so well-written, I felt like I had traveled back to 1816 London and was totally immersed in all that was happening from the beginning and I really didn't want the book to end. I loved the engaging characters especially smart and wealthy shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed and her instant attraction and undeniable chemistry with Benedict Wylde, well-known rake who she meets and he agrees to a fake marriage while he is working undercover in Newgate Prison. "This Earl of Mine" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted Regency romantic adventure. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The storyline and characters drew me in right away and the sexual tension kept me enthralled. I always enjoy watching a couple get married for convenience and then fall in love and this book was no different. I would have liked the author to focus on one storyline a little longer instead of having both the cousin who wanted to marry Georgie for her money and the spy trying to release Bonaparte. It watered down the climax a little bit as there were two competing plots and both needed a climax. Albeit, I still enjoyed the novel and will look for more of Bateman’s books.

Georgiana Caversteed is a very wealthy heiress wants keep her fortune out of her cousin's hands. She even goes so far as to marry a convicted felon in Newgate prison who was supposed to be put on a ship far that was being sent away allowing her to live her life without a husband around. In Newgate prison undercover notorious rogue Benedict Wylde never expected to get a wife. Once he returns to his own life he spots his wife across the ballroom he needs to find his wife and decide out they would somehow dissolve their marriage. During their courtship Georgie finds Benedict quite intriguing and trustworthy, but she doesn’t know if he’s after her or her money. I loved this story with great characters and story line. An excellent story I loved and I voluntarily wrote a reviews.

Talk about putting the cart before the horse, she was looking for a short lived (as in soon to be hanged) groom for a marriage of convenience. The premise was fascinating. I couldn't wait to read how Georgiana would react when she discovered her groom was not what she thought - dead or banished! Kate Bateman wove a story that was plausible and well written. I look forward to reading more from Kate.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher with no strings attached. These are my honest opinions of the book.

A well crafted, engrossing and entertaining historical romance that was also informative as I learned something new.
I rooted for the well written characters and appreciated the style of writing and the well researched historical background.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

(I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press & Netgalley. All opinions provided are my own.)

Not many historical novels I’ve read include a scene in that most notorious of institutions—Newgate Prison—let alone begin with them. I was so excited to see where a book could go when it opens with a heroine propositioning a secret-Bow-Street-Runner (and Earl’s brother!) for marriage, believing him instead to be a convict destined for exile.

It turns out that this crafty, entertaining read is willing to go a lot of places, all in the ultimate goal of bringing our heroine and hero together, of course.

While I was initially attracted to the premise of This Earl of Mine, it turns out to be something that execution-wise, I just couldn't quite buy. I appreciate adventurous historical romance plots and distinctive stories and voices, but in this case, I wanted more explanation for Benedict’s decision to accept the marriage and the financial agreement thrust upon him. As he notes, he obviously doesn’t have a lot of options, but marriage to a stranger while you’re a fake prison inmate (and about to be free) seems like a pretty big deal.

And while Georgie’s motivation to protect herself and her family from her cousin Josiah and like-minded fortune hunters is pretty understandable (even if she is securing marriage through somewhat less than honorable means), I did wonder at her failure to ask why Benedict—the bribed prison guard’s Plan B—had been imprisoned.

The arrangement between Georgie and Benedict becomes even more complicated when they decide to publicly court one another (without, of course, revealing that they’re actually already married), but I can forgive that because it seems to be the easiest way for them to be together later and also—chemistry and oh yeah, they’re keeping a secret and that’s fun and sexy.

What also works for me? The stirring sensuality between Georgie and Benedict and how it’s part of a relationship that’s based on genuine respect. Thanks to their unique circumstances—that of a shipping and trade heiress who actually works the business and a former rogue turned member of the Rifles willing to go to any lengths for the job—Georgie and Benedict are often overlooked/misunderstood/gossiped about unfairly.

Those misconceptions don’t last long between the two of them, and it’s sweet to watch.

Equally sweet (and also powerful and cool) is when Georgie issues a fantastic speech to Benedict basically illuminating his (and maybe the reader’s too) double standards when it comes to financial discrepancies between partners, especially when it's the hero living paycheck to paycheck.*

In the end, while I didn’t connect to the characters or story in This Earl of Mine quite as much as I would have liked, I did walk away feeling like I’d read something adorable and unique. Kate Bateman’s a bold writer who’s not afraid to take risks, and that comes across from start to finish in this historical.

3.5 stars out of 5.


*I've seen this motif pop up a lot in reviews of Angelina M. Lopez's contemporary Lush Money. Pick it up if that interests you!

This was my first time reading Kate Bateman, but it won't be my last. The inciting incident is rather far-fetched, as are a few other elements of the plot, particularly at the climax, but the characters are so fun, so well-developed, the chemistry and romance between them so well-depicted, that I didn't care. I was happy to go along for the sake of a good story. And I love a good opposites-attract romance. Georgie is a sheltered, wealthy society girl, jaded because no suitor has ever seen past her money to the woman beneath, and Benedict is a street-wise second son who's had to fight for everything he has, and he doesn't care a fig for Georgie's money. It was a joy to watch these two slowly come to realize they were perfect for each other.

It was very refreshing to read about an independent businesswoman during this age, and one that actually knows about business. This is not just an aspect of the story that is glossed over. As heiress to her father's shipping company, Georgie has spent her life learning the ropes, and she knows her stuff. She's earned respect from the men in her field, and her knowledge comes in handy in Benedict's investigation. They make a good team. I was also pleased that Benedict's time as a soldier in the war was not glossed over or depicted as something resolved by the presence of a good woman. Though he does not let it take over his life, the reader gets the sense that his experience will always be with him, and I think that's very realistic.

Despite a few outrageous moments and the subplot involving Georgie's rather ridiculous younger sister, I loved the main characters and their witty banter and steamy sexual tension set against the backdrop of a high-stakes investigation. I'm looking forward to reading from Kate Bateman's backlist while waiting for the next book in this series.

This Earl of Mine is the first book in the Bow Street Bachelors series by Kate Bateman and what a fabulous start to a series it is!

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is approaching her 25th birthday which is when her inheritance officially becomes hers to do with as she will. She is a single woman not for want of fortune hunters trying to woo her. Her own cousin is getting desperate to convince her to marry him and Georgiana is worried that he is going to try to compromise her to force a wedding. With that in mind, she comes up with a plan to stop him in his tracks...she decides to marry a man on death row in Newgate prison.

Benedict William Henry Wylde, the second son of the late Earl of Morcott is in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. He needs the job in order to earn money to help his brother, the new Earl, pay off debts their father had accrued before his death, and to maintain the estate that had sadly fallen into a bad state of repair. When he is approached in his cell by the turnkey and Georgiana he has no recourse except to accept her offer of marriage. He certainly couldn't explain to her that he wasn't actually being sent to Australia (her man on death row had died before he could marry her then see the hangman's noose). So the wedding takes place with Georgiana happy that she was safe from her cousin's clutches and knowing her husband would be safely out of her life.

Or so she thinks! Things go awry when Georgiana comes face to face with her husband in a ballroom of all places, dressed to the nines and looking every bit the rake she realises he is when she finds out who he is. What happens now? Will he keep her secret? He is her husband, does he want to take up his place with her. There is a physical attraction between them, but whether Ben is a criminal or a rake, being known to be married to him wouldn't do her reputation any good. How did her plan go so badly wrong?

From the very first pages of this book, I was absolutely intrigued. I'd never read another book where a woman goes to the bowels of Newgate in search of a husband. The story continued to get better and better with danger, suspense and of course the fabulous romance building between our main couple. There is a particular scene between them where close quarters see things between them getting quite steamy, again, where that scene takes place is definitely something I have not come across in any other romance book. I loved it and I definitely cannot recommend it enough.

THIS EARL OF MINE is the introduction to The Bow Street Bachelors series, and this one definitely caught my attention rather quickly. Sometimes the premise of a story seems far-fetched beyond stretching my quite vivid imagination – yet, Ben and Georgie intrigued me for several reasons. They are both strong, independent, stubborn people. There was no over the top angst nor misunderstandings between them once they were forced by their own choosing into a courtship. You might say marrying a supposed convict due to be shipped out of the country only to discover he was undercover working for the beginnings of a dedicated police force in the Bow Street Runners might qualify as a misunderstanding. But what was Ben supposed to do? Really? Give away his undercover persona? No, not going to happen so I don’t count that first encounter as a misunderstanding, more like circumstances taking over and leading a couple into their future.

There is world-building in THIS EARL OF MINE, there has to be, yet it didn’t overtake the basic story. This is a slow burn romance where Georgie and Benedict might have started off with some secrets between them but they dealt (for the most part) with reality in an adult fashion. They actually talked, got to know each other, made their own opinions of the situation, and began to have feelings that they didn’t fight. That alone is not a typical romance, so I found it refreshing and intriguing. I enjoyed myself – and I can only speak for myself, but there may be readers who feel differently. I found an unusual couple, likable and interesting facing a situation that could have ended quite differently for them both. So, yeah, I enjoyed myself and will definitely be following The Bow Street Bachelors series when TO CATCH AN EARL releases in June of 2020. If you love Historical or Regency Romance then you should be checking out this beginning to a new series and decide for yourself. I had fun, and that’s the whole point of reading.

*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.*

Georgiana Caversteed had arrived at Newgate Prison, she was looking for a felon who would die in the morning. She needed to marry tonite. She could not, would not marry her cousin Josiah she would be miserable with him. When her father died she got a sense of freedom. She kept the manor and property going and also the tenants and the planting. Pieter Smet was her father's right-hand man for twenty years. When her father died five years ago Pieter had dedicated his life to her father's daughters. Georgie loved the gruff manservant like a second father. She had spent the last ten years looking for a husband but all she found was fortune hunters. Benedict William Henry Wylde, a second son of the late Earl of Morcott, reluctant war hero and scourge of the ton. He needed money, actually his brother did. Their father had thrown it away on all kinds of drinking, gambling and womanizing.
So they were deep in debt. He worked with the bow Street Runners when they needed help with a peer.
Loved the story and the characters were wonderful, whimsical, and refreshing. The banter between characters and the way the felt about each other but didn't say anything for fear of being embarassed,
was so like relationships now. The author did an excellent job.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

Oh, what a fun read. Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed, desperate to escape a cousin intent on forcing her into marriage so he can grab her fortune, decides to marry first to escape. She is heads off to Newgate to find a husband — ideally, a condemned man — hoping to become a widow before her wedding morning dawns. It all works well, except for a somewhat surprisingly passionate kiss with the criminal as they wed. She returns to her life, but is shocked to see her "husband" out and about in society a few weeks later. He is rogue Benedict Wylde, who is working for Bow Street — he was undercover in prison. Yet they are married and have to develop a cover story, which includes a faux courtship that turns all-too-real. A really enjoyable book, the first in a series, Bow Street Bachelors that is so well-done we can't wait to see what Kate Bateman will do next. Love the strong heroine and the man who is not intimated by her brains. (ARC from NetGalley. Opinions mine.)

Georgiana Caversteed is tired of all the members of the ton who only want to marry her for fortune, especially her disgusting cousin, Josiah. Georgie comes up with a plan and gets Pieter, her late father's right hand man to help. Georgie will marry a a condemned prisoner who is set to be executed and then she will become a widow and do what she'd like. Too bad the man she actually marries is Benedict William Henry Wylde, the second son of the late Earl of Morcott who is working undercover for Bow Street. When Ben ends up showing up at a ton event, all cleaned up and dressed fancy, Georgie realizes that maybe her husband isn't so bad.

Quickly Ben realizes that he really likes Georgie and wants to court his wife. As these two spend more time together they both quickly realize that they have feelings for the other and maybe a real marriage might actually work. When a case Ben is working on puts Georgie in danger, he then admits that he does indeed love his wife.

I just adored this story. Georgie is such a great female character....strong, persistent and very caring. Ben may have been known as a rake, but he is fiercely loyal, smart and so alpha......basically perfect! Together these two made a perfect match. The story these two go through to get to their happy ending was so fun. This story has some mysteries, some swooning, and even some laughter to it. Great start to this new series! I just adore Kate Bateman's books!

Georgiana Caversteed is a shipping heiress fed up with fortune hunters of the ton and the cousin that wants to force her into marriage. She knows widows have more freedom, so she is determined to marry a condemned man. Unfortunately, the man she winds up marrying is none other than Benedict William Henry Wylde, the Earl of Morcott's second son, who was in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. She never expected to actually see him in Society, and he is determined to court his wife so that they will remain married.

This Earl of Mine is the first of the "Bow Street Bachelors" series. Of course, the set up is utterly ridiculous, but it's laid out in such a fun way it's hard to resist. Georgiana is so disillusioned by the marriage mart that she plays everything like a business venture. Ben is ready to work for Bow Street because he's nearly penniless otherwise. It's actually her idea to pay him to court her when they try to figure out a way to avoid scandal while getting out of the marriage, and it was a challenge he couldn't help but accept. They actually get along very well, with similar views on the world and working, and it's fun watching them get to know each other without meaning to. They work well together on the challenges that face them, including Georgie's cousin and the case that Ben is working on.

The supporting cast of characters is fun as well, with surprising depths as the story goes on. Ben's fellow Bow Street Runners have great senses of humor, and the camaraderie between all of them, and even with Georgie, is a treat to read. I'm sure they'll be the stars in future novels of the series.

Thanks goes to the publisher, via Net-Galley, for the opportunity to read and review This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman prior to publication. A Regency historical romance and the first book in the Bow Street Bachelors series. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

This is the first novel I have read by Ms. Bateman, and I thoroughly enjoy it. The writing is emotionally-charged and the dialogue is realistic for the Regency period. Ms. Bateman gives just enough detailed description of the setting and attire to add an authentic look at this glittering Regency era, a favorite of mine.

Georgianna Caversteed is not your typical Regency heroine. She is feisty, determined and driven. She doesn’t let anything stand in her way. Yet, she’s utterly feminine. I quickly became enmeshed in her character.

When she boldly goes to Newgate, to wed a convicted criminal due for execution, she doesn’t stumble when the convicted man has expired. She changes direction and weds the cellmate, a man who is also bound for the gallows. I admired her tenacity and grit to thwart her obnoxious cousin.

Imagine her surprise when she finds him at a London ball and learns he’s the son of an earl! The banter between the two is titillating, and their attraction is immediate and visceral. What scandal will this misadventure cause and how will she go forward? She expected to be a widow, not a wife.

Benedict Wilde is a delicious rogue of a hero. As a second son of an impoverished late earl, he has to make his own way and help his elder brother rebuild the family fortune. He does this by using the skills he learned from his time as a rifleman in the military and now works for Bow Street.

I loved his energetic character, his zest of life, and his determination to help his brother. He falls hard for Georgie. He aches to pursue her and turn their marriage of convenience into a real union. But how can he do that since he can never support her? Afterall, she’s an heiress and now owns her late father’s shipping enterprise, running it without assistance. I could feel his emotional turmoil as he battles what he believes he should do opposed to what his heart desires.

The chemistry between Georgie and Benedict is combustible and startlingly apparent with each encounter. The sensual tension blazes between them and culminates in vivid sensuality. I loved them as individual characters and as lovers as well. I truly wanted them to find their happy ending against the odds determined to keep them apart.

If you enjoy Regency romance with compelling characters and an intriguing plot, you will love This Earl of Mine as much as I did. I look forward to reading the next book in this exciting new series. Happy reading!

This is a really cute story. The title is a bit spoilery, as Ben only gets his earldom very later on in the book, but it's not really a big deal. The book is charming and funny and I recommend it to all romance novel readers.