I did like the main characters in this story, Verity was a brave woman who cares deeply for her sister. She doesn’t back down easily and has a tendency to chatter. Verity is desperate to become recognised as a reporter for the newspaper. Not an easy task when women were disparaged for trying to earn a living in a ‘man’s’ world. Malcolm, the lost earl, has to come to terms with his new status. He hates weakness in himself and has become the man he is today through his own efforts. These two characters are so good for each other and certainly bring out the best in each other. The pace of the story fluctuates from quite slow to a quick turn of the pages to find out what happens next. The ending was just perfect! I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Verity Lovelace is the illegitimate daughter of an earl, and has had to work to support herself and her younger sister, Livvie. Both her parents are dead, and the only legacy she received from her father was his using his influence to obtain a job for her at The Londoner, a newspaper. Verity has worked her way up to becoming a reporter in a male dominated field, albeit, only as a gossip reporter. The powers that be at the paper rejected her attempts at serious writing. With a ruthless co-worker stealing her work, Verity is now in the unfortunate position of coming up with a story or losing her job. And the story her boss wants is the one the whole town’s talking about – the lost heir – the Earl of Maxwell.

Malcom North has successfully carved himself out a life as a successful tosher, a treasure hunter in the sewers and tunnels underneath London. It’s recently been discovered that Malcom is indeed Percival Northrop, the true Earl of Maxwell, who was kidnapped as a young boy after the death of his parents. Malcom doesn’t remember that life, and, quite honestly, he doesn’t want it. Though he reluctantly works with his man-of-affairs to handle the business of the earldom, he continues on with his familiar life in London’s underground. Over twenty years of making a living this way has ground all the sweetness and humor from Malcom, leaving him a powerful, but closed off man who has no time for friends, humor, or weakness. Yet, when Verity chases down her story, searching for him in his own world, he can’t deny that she makes him feel things totally new to him.

Once Malcom learns that Verity is a gossip reporter, determined to get his full story, he resolves to avoid any contact with her, no matter how attracted he is. Verity is just as determined to keep her job, and her partial story makes Malcom’s existence a nightmare. Eventually, she will take a desperate action that will set her and Malcom on a totally unexpected path.

Though I came to love Verity as the book progressed, I have to admit that I really disliked her profession and her tenaciousness at the beginning. It seemed to me that she had blinders on, only caring that she needed to print gossip, not caring how her story affected Malcom. Though some of her actions made me cringe, I realize that she was desperate to keep her job, otherwise, she and Livvie would literally be out on the streets. I also enjoyed watching her grow and come to realize that she had perhaps been judging her mother too harshly for the choices she made, as sometimes love and passion can overrule common sense and the straight and narrow path.

Malcom had my heart right from the beginning. If the opening chapter, which takes place when Malcom was still a young boy and the earl’s heir, doesn’t break your heart, you don’t have one to break. It’s so beautifully written, showcasing the loving home he had, and skillfully demonstrating the differences in him as a man today. I love that, as the story developed, little pieces of memories, like treasures, came back to Malcom, and accordingly, little pieces of his walls came down. Even at his hardest, Malcom still showed care for his associates and dependents, though he would never admit they were truly his family and friends.

IN BED WITH THE EARL is a fantastic book, one I couldn’t read quickly enough. Though the attraction is almost instantaneous, the romance builds slowly and believably. Both Malcom and Verity have truths to learn about themselves as they work their way to a very satisfying happy ever after, and to some wonderful family connections neither ever thought to find. I can wholeheartedly recommend IN BED WITH THE EARL to all romance readers who enjoy an emotional and fulfilling story with characters to root for and fall in love with.

Good story about a female reporter determined to make a name for herself, and a lost heir who wants to remain lost and underground. I received an ARC of this book.

Satisfying protagonists held my attentions!

Ok, not a dry eye in the house as the curtain closed on this first Lost Lords tale!
I do like the lost heir trope, and this has been one of the best I've read in a while. Original and refreshing. So all kudos to Ms Caldwell for her super addition to this genre.
I definitely am not going to be lurking in sewers anytime soon. These scenes are too realistic for me to be anything but thankful that I wasn't there. Talk about a heart in mouth scene.
The clash between the determined reporter Verity Lovelace (loved illegitimate daughter of the deceased Earl of Wakefield) and Malcom North, lost heir to the Earl of Maxwell of course Hummed with energy. The back story is that North had been stolen from his family when young, managed to stay alive on the deplorable streets of the slums of London, and became o successful scavenger in the sewers of London. He was king of his patch and no-one with any sense challenged him, except our intrepid Verity. You could just see the electricity sparking between the two.
I was awed by Verity's dedication, and understood her desperation to provide for her young sister and faithful family retainer. That desperation grows out of being sidelined by the current owner of the newspaper that she worked diligently for for many years. The fact that a spurious male reporter kept somehow stealing her stories was both mysterious and dismaying.
North's refusal to take up his inheritance, to leave the Seven Dials and enter society adds frisson to the situation. The flawed hero has a nightmare past and deeply hidden insecurities to overcome. Look there's just so much more happening here!
I was riveted by the all that occurred!

A Montlake Romance ARC via NetGalley

This was an entertaining, well-written book. Verity Lovelace reports the story of Malcom North, lost heir to the Earl of Maxwell. This brings unwanted attention to him, and he strikes a bargain with her to pretend to be his wife and keep the fortune hunters away. Soon Verity and Malcom discover there is more between them than a bargain. I enjoyed this story and would read other books by this author.

Wow, what a jam packed book! This was such a delight from the hero with an unusual background to the brave intrepid reporter heroine. I loved every part of it. I wasn't sure how much I would like Malcolm North considering his background in Poppy and Tristan's book, "Courting Poppy Tidemore". But, boy was I surprised! The chemistry between Malcolm and Verity is amazing. I love a fearless and brave heroine and Verity is that and much more. I thought the hero’s background was unique and brought a different element to the same routine stories of lords and ladies. I really enjoyed how both hero and heroine traverse these two complete different worlds and find their HEA.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed the start of this new series!

Verity Lovelace (what a great name, right?!?) is in a bind. But, that's not exactly new in her life. She's the illegitimate daughter of an Earl, and after her mother's death in childbirth with Verity's baby sister, and her father's death soon after, she's been on her own to raise her sister, with the help of the family nursemaid. She's been working at the local gossip newspaper since she was twelve, doing things around the offices, and 3 years ago she started as a reporter. Her new boss is a sexist jerk, and is looking for any reason to fire her. The story everyone wants to know about now is the missing Earl, who was kidnapped as a child, never to be heard from again. If she can't find him, and convince him to tell his story, she'll lose her job, and the roof over her small family's head.

Malcom North doesn't remember his childhood, before his life as a homeless tosher, a sewer dweller who makes his living collecting treasures from the bowels of the city. When Verity finds him and exposes his true identity, he is FURIOUS. How dare this woman come along and upend his existence, after he fought his whole life to make it for himself. He doesn't even remember his other life, and wants no part of being the Lost Earl of Maxwell. But Verity keeps popping up, and screwing up his plans, and finally they come to an agreement. They'll pretend to be married for one year. That'll keep the fortune hunters (and their marriageable daughters) away from him, and keep a roof over her and her sister's head until she can find another job. But, neither of them expects the connection they form.

Malcom and Verity have instant chemistry, though they both have reasons to fight it. Verity has no interest in being like her mother, and falling in love with a man who can't give her the life she wants. Malcom just wants to be left alone to his sewers, and to not be made to feel all these feelings. He keeps everyone at a distance for a good reason, and has no plans to stop until Verity makes him reassess everything. Their connection was BIG, but they only occasionally gave into a kiss here and there for a long time. So it was a SUPER SLOW BURN, almost up to the end.

Malcom's makeshift family, who he calls "his people", or "associates", not servants, or friends, and certainly not family, were all truly great! I loved how he finally came to accept his love for all of them, as they'd been showing him their love in differing ways all along. Verity's sister was a delight too, and it was great watching how she handled the things that came their way. Wily like a fox, that one! There were also unexpected characters who made impressions on me too, and I hope to see more of all of them in the future, though it appears that book 2 is about 2 totally new characters.

Super slow burns are usually not my favorite, but this was almost more of an enemies to friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, mystery, trope super jam, and I enjoyed it so much! Since it was a historical, I expect to wait longer to get to the sexy times anyway, so that part worked too. I really liked this author's voice, and this world she's created, and the unique awesome characters who inhabit it. Book 2 sounds great too, so it's going on my list. I definitely recommend this one!

This story is full of complex characters facing a dark, depressing world where only love saves them. At first, I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters, but as they grew closer the love that they felt for each other started to shine through. The London setting in this read was different than others because it was dirtier, and grittier. Instead of ladies being waited on, you had a heroine that worked hard for her and her families' survival. I was surprised by this book, and can't wait to read another one by this author. I received an advanced reader's copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book really surprised me! I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel while I was reading because at first I wasn’t really enjoying it but as the book progressed I found myself really invested in the characters and the romance, I couldn’t put it down. It’s not a favorite historical romance but I have to say I really enjoyed reading this and wouldn’t mind picking up something else by this author

Verity Lovelace was working as a reporter to support herself, her young sister, and her nursemaid after her mother died leaving them with nothing. Her father was an Earl never made provisions for them. Verity’s mother was his mistress they were on their own. Malcom was kidnapped as a child and survived on the streets until he became a tosher. Verity and Malcom met when she went into the sewers to find him to write a story about him to save her job and learn what type of man the “lost Earl” was. From there, she found out just what a man he was and he found out what a spitfire she was. Watching their lives progress and find out that she was betrayed and why was so sad. The story holds your interest throughout. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I was super excited for this book and thrilled when I was approved by NetGalley for an early review copy, however I wasn’t thrilled with this one.

The characters felt like they could have been developed a little more. I wanted there to be a little more digging from Verity - she seemed to find out about the Earl far too easily.

Malcolm could have hid his identity a little long and built up the sexual tension with Verity more I think.

I did enjoy the book and will most likely read it again, just thought it could have been done slightly better
3.5 stars

I loved this one! In Bed with the Earl is a fantastic start to the Lost Lords of London series. Caldwell created a intriguing story involving a hero having survived a difficult beginning and a courageous heroine dedicated to her family and career.

From the beginning, the banter between the two main characters was so delightful and fun. They continually argued and made up, then argued some more and it made the romance so much sweeter when they got together. Both characters were so strong and independent, and it was a joy to see their budding relationship balance each other.

A truly captivating story and I can't wait to read more from Caldwell in the future. In fact, I think I own 1 or 2 of her backlist titles and I'm going to have to move those up to the top of my tbr stack!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Montlake Romance and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

In Bed with the Earl features a bad-ass heroine who isn't afraid to fight for what she wants and a surly hero who'd rather brood and spend time in his sewers than face his past and "take his place" in society. They fight, they kiss, they fight some more...and then some more, and then they fall in love!

This book made me feel things. Rage, for Verity being plagiarized (and knowing that every emotion was poured into the pages from Christi Caldwell's own experiences). Loss, for the family and love Malcolm couldn't remember. Mirth. Attraction. Betrayal. Love. Then complete and utter satisfaction. I have yet to finish a book by Christi Caldwell without feeling emotionally wrung out and undone (in the best way possible!!), and In Bed with the Earl was no different.

In Bed with the Earl was a fantastic read with an unconventional hero and heroine and a wonderful cast of secondary characters. It's the perfect antidote for the absolute sh*t-show that is the world right now!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

In Bed with the Earl by Christi Caldwell is the First book in the Lost Lords of London Series. This is the story of Malcom North and Verity Lovelace. This is somewhat of a Spin off of the Wicked Wallflowers Series especially 'The Vixen' book where we learn that Connor Steele is looking for those past children that Diggory kidnapped. With that said, you don't need to have read that book or series (although it is a really good one!!) to enjoy this book. I just wanted to mention it in case you have so that you can also enjoy this book. Of course Malcom is one of the children who is now grown up. Malcom is thriving in the darkness of the streets but he once was Percival Northrup, heir to the Earl of Maxwell. Malcom had made it clear that he didn't want to reclaim that life and was settled into the life he has. Verity has been supporting and taking care of her sister and her nursemaid since she was just a child. Although her father was a Earl her mother was a barmaid and was not fully claimed. So when the Earl died he left her with a job at The Londoner. Now about twenty years later she has worked her way up to report who goes to find stories along with filling a gossip column. Verity goes anywhere to get her stories which has lead her to be saved by Malcom a few times. Malcom ends up taking her home where she finds evidence of who he really is. So now he needs her to pretend to be with him to keep women at bay.
Totally a fan of this author. I always know that I will enjoy her writing and she has the ability to take you into the book/story.

In Bed With The Earl by Christi Caldwell
Lost Earls of London #1

Percival Northrop, only son of an earl, was kidnapped when his parents died. His life became difficult and dirty and nothing like what it was supposed to be. He did find his way and survived and had no real desire to return to the Earldom that was to be his. When Verity Lovelace ended up in the sewers looking for him his life changed...as did hers. She had worked for nearly twenty years at The Londoner gossip rag and had to keep herr job to support her sister and their nursemaid. The way to maintain her income was to find The Lost Earl and tell his story no matter what it might cost both of them. The two did not start off on the right foot but over time that definitely changed.

What I liked:
* Percival/North/Malcolm: an honorable man that took care of those he valued, a survivor, a man among men.
* Verity: a woman dedicated to her job and to her family. She did what she must to keep a roof over their head and food in their bellies.
* The slow burn love story in which the two got to known one another and in so doing fell in love.
* Fowler and Bram: lovable old gents that were there for Northrop
* Gavin & Billy: hope they appear in future books
* Livvie: sister to Verity and much more than first met the eye
* That lost family was found and might eventually become close
* The eventual happy ending for the couple

What I did not like:
* What happened to both North and Verity when they were young
* The baddies
* At times Verity seemed more modern than the time the story took place in

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

‪A Life Restored‬.
‪As a young boy Malcolm was kidnapped, taken from a life of privilege and wealth and ended up on the London streets. When he is found some twenty years later he has no intention of leaving his East End home and the only life he knows, however his anonymity is blown out of the water by Verity Lovelace’s newspaper article. I loved this story, both the feisty and courageous Verity and how Malcolm has survived the hand that he was dealt. The only detractor for me was that I didn’t understand why he had been sought in the first place after so many years - it seemed odd and there was no explanation.‬
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars
Percival Northrop, heir to the Earl of Maxwell went missing twenty years ago now there is a media frenzy, or a much of a frenzy as there could be in the early nineteenth century, to try to find the Lost Earl To solve a mystery that’s become the talk of the ton, no clues run too deep for wilful reporter Verity Lovelace. Not even in the sewers of London & that’s precisely where she finds happily self-sufficient scavenger or tosher Malcom North.
Percy now known as Malcom prefers the grimy spoils of the culverts to the gilded riches of society as he has few memories of his life with his parents. Once it becomes known that he’s the lost earl he's pursued by fortune-hunting matchmakers. So he agrees to Verity writing his story if she pretends to be his wife.
Another well written page turning read that drew me in from the start & kept me enthralled until the end. As always the characters are very well fleshed & love them or hate them they are all well portrayed. I also love that characters from other books make appearances, which for me, adds to the enjoyment. The story flows effortlessly & it is well researched. I loved Malcom who had totally reinvented himself, his life as a child sent chills down my spine. I liked Verity but whilst I admired her for striving to keep her sister safe & a roof over their heads I didn’t love her. She was too forward thinking & modern for the times for my liking. I did love the chemistry between the pair & also loved how their relationship developed. A captivating start to a new series & I look forward to the next book.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Caldwell frequently brings us a story with unexpected, untitled characters, that she sets inside the regency/other historical periods. This is another and it shines just as brightly. Verity is the illegitimate daughter of an earl, who must earn her way in the world. She's trying to do it as a journalist. She's belittled as a woman and belittled as part of the working class. The plagiarism that happens, when her words were stolen, is heartbreaking and infuriating and all too real, having happened to Caldwell herself. Malcolm is the lost Earl of Maxwell, stolen from his home and birthright as a child. He's survived as a scavenger, a tosher, in the London sewer tunnels. So neither character is the bright and shiny aristocrat swirling in ballrooms, and I love that. Both come together in the discovery of Malcolm's true identity and this is their journey.

Both characters are struggling with what it means to be who they are, what others expect, what is means to be true to oneself when everyone else has a different expectation. Each is strong and about doing what is right, so it is incredibly easy to cheer for them individually and together. I did not understand Malcolm's desire to work as a tosher once he knew his true identity, that felt odd. But at the same time, it felt like he was trying to hang onto the one thing he knew, the one place he strangely felt safe, and the one place where his (found) family was present. Verity is determined to care for her sister, and she is willing to jump literally into the sewers, to find a way to survive. She's a strong and inspiring, never say die, type of heroine.

The heat level is just right, sexy times on the page. At the same time, there are great moments of tenderness, such as a scene when Malcolm remembers a snippet of his youth with his mother. The sonnet that accompanies that scene is simply lovely and the scene should catch your heart.

One of my favorite scenes happens at the end, and let's just say, Go Verity.

I loved this one and believe Caldwell's fans will love it, too. I hope all historical romance fans have discovered Christi Caldwell. If not, this first book in her new series is a great place to start. I'm looking foward to the rest of the series.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley from the publisher. I've read the book fully twice and expect it will be on my keeper shelf when it releases. All opinions are my own.

In Bed with the Earl, book 1 of Lost Lords of London series by Christi Caldwell, is not what I thought it was when I first read the blurb 😔. I thought it would be about the investigative process of identifying who the real lost earl was and how our heroine as a reporter went through the sewers and the worst parts of London to find him. But no, the earl had already been identified by a detective from the beginning (without mentioning how 🤔). It’s still a puzzle to me since he was kidnapped as an 8-yo child and lost his memories of who used to be, living on the streets and scavenging wastes underground. Yet, 20 years later, he still kept his perfect noble speech, and maintained his home with an upperclass taste 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Malcom North and Verity Lovelace didn’t encounter each other until ~20% in. I didn’t feel the connection and chemistry between them all the way until the last quarter of the book. For the rest of it, it bore lots of repetitions in the text, Verity was often quite annoying to me, and Malcom was just a weak character that I perhaps will forget tomorrow 😅. Out of desperation to support her sheltered and naïve 17-yo sister and an old nursemaid, Verity betrayed, deceived, and stole from him even though he had saved her a couple of times. Yet, he still cared about her and proposed a fake marriage with win-win benefits for both of them 🤷🏻‍♀️.

The 1/2⭐️ I decided to give the book was solely from its last quarter. It was a rush effort to make them understand each other, where I could start feeling some romance between them, some relatable emotions and sympathies for them. All and all, this is quite a disappointing book to me, given such an interesting premise 😔.

A 3.5⭐️ read for me!

*Special thanks to the publisher for sending me the ARC via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

It took me a while to get invested in the main characters but enjoyed it in the end.
I learned about toshers, which was a new subject for me. Gross but interesting job. I can just imagine what treasures may have been found in the sewers of London.
I really liked that the heroine was wanting to succeed in a job that was male oriented, and not giving up on her dreams.
I absolutely loved the side characters. The old men and his friend. They brought such humour to the story.
I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.