How to Catch an Errant Earl, book two in The Disreputable Debutantes, makes wicked proper as only Amy Rose Bennett can!

This author brought to her work two vastly different characters yet their shared traits of innate goodness and underestimating their personal value bonded them in a unique way. Gabriel Holmes Fitzgerald, the Earl of Langdale very much personified the role of "rake" with his unrepentant escapades and lack of commitment to anything but his next bout of decadence. With adept writing this author was able allow his honor to breakthrough while still maintaining glimmers of his incorrigible behavior for a captivating hero. Arabella Jardine while having dabbled in naughty actions was wrongly labeled as a woman of loose morals. Her bluestocking tendencies and her parent’s poor choices further isolated her. Ms. Bennett did an admirable job of showing the struggles of an intellectual woman in Regency England in her portrayal of Arabella in a realistic and poignant manner making her character one that modern readers will easily form a kinship with even as their historic sensibilities are appeased. The unease and emotional grappling between Gabriel and Arabella felt real and the sparks that ignited between this couple were spicy but never gratuitous. Their angst and fears were brought to the pages with a clarity and logic that defied the turmoil of their feelings.

Finding the perfect balance of edgy and risqué without disparaging her characters in the eyes of her audience is a strength of this writer. Amy Rose Bennett's stories are full of details and wonderfully descriptive, from her portrayal’s feelings to the historic period they are living in. She creates very real characters that while derived from the past feel close enough to engage directly with her readers in the present with their emotional experiences and timeless behaviors. This author's writing is fluid, never lagging and ever evolving, engaging her audience's interest throughout her work. Her attention to details is exemplary and she goes to great lengths to bring an understanding of the times she is showing and the rational of her characters choices and concerns without detracting from her story. Amy Rose Bennett's How to Catch an Errant Earl adds another quality historical romance to her growing list of engaging works!

I didn't love the first book in this series, but I really liked How to Catch an Errant Earl.. I am a sucker for the compromised with a marriage of convenience trope and Bennett did an excellent job of that here. Arabella and Gabriel were great characters - I love that they were opposites and fell in love despite their differences.

The only thing I didn't love was that I found this was too racy. Which is a weird thing to say as an avid romance reader. I supposed what I really mean is that I found the explicit love scenes didn't wholly match the tone of the novel. It wasn't bad, it just seemed a bit jarring for the overall tone.

I fell into this story and didn’t want to put it down, getting to know Arabella Jardine, one of the Disreputable Debutantes was a lot of fun, seeing her and rake Lord Langdale, Gabriel Holmes-Fitzgerald fall in love is a journey that I would highly recommend, one that is sensual, moving and a must read.

Miss Arabella Jardine and her three friends caused a scandal three years before and finding a husband is not what Arabella wants, she is more interested in caring for orphans and reading medical books, she is a bluestocking through and through, but when her aunt takes her on a Grand Tour she meets the man who will turn her life upside down in Switzerland, a rake when they get caught in a situation marriage is the only way to stop another scandal, it takes a bit before Arabella agrees and then she is starting a new life as Lady Langdale and opening up to a sensual world.

Gabriel is in exile and searching for some answers on the continent, when he meets the most beautiful woman in a dungeon would you believe but when a good deed and a storm bring them together in flagrante, he might be a rake but he is a gentleman and married they will be, but he will never love that is not him and he has a past that he would rather her not know, but he finds her alluring and captivating, but she is strong and puts some restrictions on their marriage which push him.

This is really a fabulous story, I loved Arabella her strength and personality shine, she stands up for what she thinks and the love and caring she shows is beautiful and Gabriel what a rake but hat a lover he truly is, there is a lot going on in this story, family secret’s that need to be uncovered, but the sensual pull and love that grows throughout the book had me cheering this couple on. MS Bennett has taken me on a journey that is filled with romance, suspense, characters that come to life, they feel like friends, it is beautifully written. I am loving this series and am eagerly awaiting the next story, this story has everything that a romance wants in a story, it is a keeper, I loved it thank you MS Bennett.

Miss Arabella Jardine has yet to live down the scandal that saw her expelled from finishing school three years ago. She's not too bothered by her lack of marriage prospects as she'd rather pursue medical practice and her dream of opening an orphanage. On a trip with her family to Switzerland, Arabella meets rakish Gabriel, the Earl of Langdale, and is rather surprised by the strong pull she feels toward the enigmatic man.

Gabriel Holmes-Fitzgerald, the Earl of Langdale, is the subject of many a scandal, but he remains unrepentant in his rakish ways. But when he's caught in a compromising position with the lovely Arabella, h still finds himself trying to do the right thing by offering for her hand. He's determined to keep her at arm's length and away from his dark past and she's equally determined to protect her heart from the man she's sure will break it. Soon the desire between them is nearly too great to resist, but they must also contend with other threats to their future.

I really wound up liking Arabella and Gabriel together, though it did take awhile for him to grow on me. The characters were lovely and complex and the action picked up near the end and kept me engrossed. I think the fact that it took me so long to finish this is down to the strange and stressful nature of life right now and not the book itself. I would've liked to see a bit more of Arabella's developing confidence in the end and a bit less callousness and borderline manipulation from Gabriel at the beginning. Regardless, I think both main characters were well-developed and a good match. I would like to go back and read the first book now and then continue on with this series.

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

4.5 Stars
After being expelled from a young ladies’ academy, it seems Miss Arabella Jardine will never find a well-connected husband. Not that she minds. A bluestocking at heart, she’d rather bury her nose in a medical text than wed. When Arabella is forced to accompany her family on a Grand Tour in Switzerland, she unexpectedly encounters the irresistible rakehell-in-exile, Gabriel, the Earl of Langdale. Arabella soon realizes the only thing worse than getting married to a charismatic but unrepentant rake would be to fall in love with him. Dubbed the Errant Earl by the ton, Gabriel Holmes-Fitzgerald is no stranger to scandal. However, when Gabriel is caught in flagrante with the utterly delectable Arabella Jardine, he’s obliged to offer for her hand. He’ll endeavour to do the right thing even though he’s not a prize catch.
This is the second book in the series, we met Sophie Brightwell, Lady Charlotte (Charlie) Hastings, Arabella Jardine, and Olivia de Vere who were expelled from Mrs. Rathbone’s Academy for Young Ladies of Good Character in the first book, the four of them created a list of rakes they could consider and pursue as husbands – because no respectable peer would deign to marry one of the disgraced quartet. Sophie got her rake, now it is Arabella’s turn. A fun read that had everything romance, a kidnapping, a mystery, I was drawn in from the start & loved Gabriel & Arabella’s road to a HEA, which was strewn with obstacles. Strong characters with plenty of depth added to my enjoyment. There were cameos from previous characters, which I love. A well written captivating read that lifted my mood & made me smile, I look forward to Charlie & Olivia's stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

In the first book of the series, How to Catch a Wicked Viscount, we met Sophie Brightwell, Lady Charlotte (Charlie) Hastings, Arabella Jardine, and Olivia de Vere who were expelled from Mrs. Rathbone’s Academy for Young Ladies of Good Character. In that book, the four of them created a list of rakes they could consider and pursue as husbands – because no respectable peer would deign to marry one of the disgraced quartet. Sophie got her rake, now it is Arabella’s turn.

While she is medically skilled, Arabella Jardine has one of the lowest self-esteems I’ve seen in a long while. Her aunt is a nasty piece of work and has constantly belittled Arabella. The fact that Arabella’s mother abandoned her in an orphanage only adds to that low self-esteem. So, when a most unexpected man compliments her, she believes he is lying. Now, I do have to tell you that Arabella’s constant doubt and neediness got on my last nerve. In general, I liked her, and I could even see a bit of why she thought the way she did – but – her demands were just designed to drive Gabriel away.

Gabriel Holmes-Fritzgerald, Earl of Langdale, is known to the ton as The Errant Earl because of his constant womanizing. Evidently, he is insatiable. His father was a rake and a cad as well and Gabriel is following in many, but not all, of his footsteps. Gabriel’s latest escapade – dallying with a married woman – has landed him in yet another scandal. That isn’t unusual, but maybe he needs to lay low for a while. At the same time, his nasty cousin, Timothy, is threatening to challenge him for his title by saying that Gabriel is illegitimate. Gabriel can kill two birds with one stone. He’ll travel to the continent to track down the mother who abandoned him when he was thirteen because he needs to get proof of his parent's marriage and he can be away from London while the scandal dies down. I really liked Gabriel and the fact that he was always honest with Arabella. He even kept telling her he would always be honest with her.

When Arabella and Gabriel meet on the continent – and Arabella is compromised by Gabriel – they begin their very rocky road to their HEA. Arabella’s low self-esteem won’t let her believe Gabriel could possibly find her attractive and Gabriel’s firm belief that he cannot love anybody dampens his hope that they can make a happy marriage. He is very honest with Arabella and tells her everything before she even agrees to the marriage. But – can they find it within themselves to let go of their insecurities and make their marriage work? They’ll both have their work cut out for them, but maybe with the aid of some very caring friends they can figure it all out.

This was a fun read with lovely characters, fun visits with previous characters, a mystery, kidnapping, rescues– you name it. I hope you enjoy it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From one scandal to another, it seems that Miss Arabella just can’t seem to stay out of trouble since being expelled from a young ladies academy. Now she’s been whisked away to the continent with her Aunt whom she knows does not like her in the least, who continually berates her bemoaning the fact that Arabella will never be able to attract a well-connected husband.

Believe it or not, Arabella, a blue-stocking at heart, would rather have her nose stuck in a medical text then even consider being wed! However, Arabella is forced to accompany her family on the Grand Tour in Switzerland. Rather than follow along Arabella is most anxious to see the dungeons in a castle where she unexpectedly runs into the the most handsomest man she has ever laid eyes on, the rakehell-in-exile, Gabriel, the Earl of Langdale. Knowing what the gossips had told of the man, Arabella realized the only thing worse than getting married to a man like him would be to fall in love with him where his philandering ways would only break her heart.

Nicknamed the Errant-Earl, Gabriel Holmes-Fitzgerald is no stranger to scandal, but when caught in flagrante with the young beauty Arabella Jardine, he’s obliged to offer her his hand. He promised he would do the right thing by her, but he was honest enough to tell her he’s never been in love and probably would never love her.

Now this was not a great beginning precisely because Arabella knew she was partially if not fully in love with him. So a deal was struck. Until Gabriel could completely prove to his vile cousin that he was the true heir to the Earldom, he and Arabella would not have relations until no doubt remained. Until then, they would remain in separate bedchambers.

This was a very charming story and the dialogs, and the sensual innuendoes were highly entertaining. The pace of the story was such that it kept this reader fully engaged until the very end. Definitely a RECOMMENDED Read!

Marilyn Rondeau

Amy Rose Bennett manages to harken back to classic historical romances, yet she gives her writing a fresh spin! Fans of Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels will be pleased with this tale.

As I started How to Catch an Errant Earl, I wasn’t sure what to make of the motley crew… a group of friends expelled from a young ladies’ academy together, but the story quickly picks up speed when the focus narrows in on Miss Arabella as she prepares to leave London with her family for a a grand tour. She is an orphan living off the kindness of her mother’s family (which isn’t so kind!). It’s hard reading how the extended family treats her so poorly based on her mothers action. When she comes across Gabriel Holms-Fitzgerald is known as the Errant Earl, as she explores a dungeon in Switzerland sparks fly. Soon they are found in a compromising position and forced to marry.

Since Arabella has found herself married to one of Londons most notorious rakes, you would expect things to get pretty steamy… but alas, his parents marriage has been put into question by his heir (cousin). Not willing to risk creating a child that will suffer from the consequences they decide to not make a baby… Arabella takes this even further and pushes all intimacy away, fearing that her rake of a husband will only tire of her eventually and pursue passion elsewhere. She must guard her heart.

Too bad that while she trie to guard her heart she is erecting a wall between them. Can they find a way to get back the early intimacy and sparks from the beginning?

The characters both suffer from major trust issues, but are bot h genuine and likeable. There is nothing better than the union of a reformed rake and a bookish spinster to make my heart melt. I loved how the character end up supporting each other in their pursuits and grow together.

How to Catch an Errant Earl by Amy Rose Bennett is scheduled to release April 28th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Blog link: https://pinkcowlandreads.blogspot.com/2020/04/how-to-catch-errant-earl.html

#HowToCatchAnErrantEarl #AmyRoseBennett #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

I loved Gabriel and Arabella's story!

A chance meeting, mutual friends, and a well-placed lightning bolt all conspired to guide Gabriel and Arabella to a love for the ages! I absolutely adored this sweet and tender love story. Gabriel is a resolute rake, a man who has convinced himself that he's not worthy of anything more than sharing pleasurable moments with all manner of women. Arabella considers herself too plain to ever entice a man, which works fine because she'd rather devote herself to caring for the unfortunate sick and poor orphans, following in her physician grandfather's footsteps as much as a woman can be allowed to. When Gabriel needs his dislocated shoulder fixed, her expert care leads to a demonstration of his expert skills and once their exchange is witnessed by her disapproving aunt, a marriage is inevitable.

Theirs is not an easy marriage as Arabella seeks to protect her heart while Gabriel only knows one way to express his feelings. I loved the way the story built up their friendship even while they were at an impasse over their sleeping arrangements, and I nearly cried at the long-awaited reunion with the one person who held the key to saving Gabriel's estate and title. These characters were carefully nuanced and laced with plenty of humor and steam. I enjoyed the inclusion of their circle of friends and how they supported each other throughout all the trials.

Despite its length, this book was an easy read that I couldn't put down. There was just enough action to keep me glued to the page, yet the story never lost its focus on the emotional foundation of the main characters. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves historical romance. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Right now all I can read is historical and this was perfection. I loved the chance encounter. I loved that the heroine had interests outside of the marriage. I love the cousin storyline. This was the perfect escape. Pick this book up.

A good historical romance. What is unique here the marriage happens fast and love develops later. Good storyline. Good writing. Good characters portrayed in this book will make you cheer for them most of the times. 4 solid stars.

ARC Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have another 5 star book for you my fellow readers. Ms. Amy Rose Bennett is a fantastic writer. This book, How To Catch An Errant Earl was awesome. The book was written like a movie with intense drama, enough action and a lot of steamy love action in the bedroom. Gabriel’s character was well thought out and well written for all the females imagination.
The details for this strong irresistible man was very, very hot. As they say in historical times, Gabriel made females sway wantonly toward his distinguished male anatomy. Poor Arabella had no clue what she was getting into when she met him in the dungeon. I would love to have read where Gabriel and Timothy had one good scene together. One could only imagine what happened there, but let’s just say this would be one case where Arabella wouldn’t have brought her medical bag with her.
I also would love to have read a scene, where Gabriel gave a thoroughly good tongue lashing to Arabella’s aunt. Man if someone slapped me and demanded that I marry someone, because of their insecurities, the bleep would have been on in that bedroom. Hair would have been in disarray, corsets torn apart like a bear attacked her butt. And her tale would have been hanging off the balcony with just her chemise on and me saying whose the Queen B around here?
Yes my fellow readers, this book was deliciously good. Please read the book.


<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/04a1aa892de45a361c3f224c01b06b126d3f7c8c" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

This title features a classic and familiar trope of a rake ruining a wallflower. It was a delightful read.

Starring Miss Arabella “Belle” Jardine and Gabriel Holmes-Fitzgerald, the Earl of Langdale. Compromised trope.

I absolutely love Gabriel and Arabella. What a delicious couple with total make-your-toes-curl chemistry. They continuously made me want to fan myself. These two absolutely scorch the pages with their hotness. Arabella and Gabriel made me so giddy and I enjoyed every second I spent reading about their road to HEA.

Gabriel is the perfect kind of alpha hero... totally swoon-worthy!! Aaaand he’s an artist so that puts him over the charts in the hotness scale. He is also a rake of the first water, unrepentant when it comes to his debaucherous ways. But his fascination with Arabella is making him change his views on fidelity and all of a sudden he wants to be a better man for her... I know, right?!?! Le sigh!!

Arabella is a bluestocking who is confident when it comes to her medical knowledge, but is completely at loss that someone like Gabriel would find her beautiful. I love that even though Gabriel turns her insides to mush with his kisses, she stands her ground when it comes to what she wants in their marriage. She’s an absolutely wonderful heroine who is about to bring Gabriel to his knees. You go get your man, Arabella!!!

I totally ugly cried AF in this book.... so much feels for Gabriel and Arabella. Amy Rose Bennett did a fabulous job with this story. She was a “new to me” author in 2019 and I’m so glad I ”discovered” her. I’ve only read a few titles of hers but she’s fast becoming a keeper shelf author. Her books are sensually steamy, with a lot of romance. I absolutely enjoy her writing style and cannot wait to read more of her books!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily review it and the comments are 100% my own.

My star rating: 5 stars
Ugly cried AF. Major book hangover. Characters and storyline were freaken amazeballs. Made me wanna hug the author for writing a book that gave me all the feels!! Will definitely be re-reading this story over and over and over again!!

I am really grateful for nice period romance to help keep my mind off of reality. This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley. 

How to Catch an Errant Earl is book two of a series. I had not read the first book in the series. While there were parts of the storyline I was curious about and was sure to have been explained in the first book, I felt that a reader could still engage with the romance between Gabriel and Arabella as a standalone. 

While I did enjoy the characters of Gabriel and Arabella and their spicy romance, I felt that the pacing of the plot was a bit off. The first third of the story seemed to be telling a backstory of the characters without really revealing much, so I was a bit bored. However, the scene where Gabriel and Arabella meet for the second time, and Arabella fixes Gabriel's dislocated shoulder is a great scene. It truly shows Arabella's strength, which is what I believe is part of the reason that Gabriel is drawn to her. Then there is a crazy amount of action in the last quarter of the book: Gabriel's mom shows up, Gabriel was spotted with an old flame, and Arabella is kidnapped. The kidnapping scene was exciting, but I found it hard to believe that any woman who had just been kidnapped and banged up because of her husband would just ignore the fact that her husband had been spotted with another woman just because he saved her and told her that he loved her, but maybe that is just me. I would have asked more questions. 

I thought it strange that certain characters just disappeared. Gabriel spends half the storyline searching for his mother. When his mother appears, that character gets just a few pages and then we barely hear about her going forward. I would have also enjoyed bringing back Arabella's horrible aunt just to see if someone would put her in her place. 

I would have also been happier if Arabella's "charitable" endeavors had been more defined. On more than one occasion she goes to spend time with an influential doctor to learn how she can move forward with her charitable endeavors, but we never really get to experience that interaction or what she intended to do in any real way that lives up to the character's intelligence and ambition. She couldn't be in charge of a clinic at that time, because she was a woman, but maybe she could have ran an orphanage. In the end it sounds like she more or less just threw some money around.

Though I found some weaknesses in this particular storyline, I believe the characters are strong enough to have a series based on them. I hope Olivia gets her man next...

Such an amazing follow up to How to Catch a Wicked Viscount. I loved both characters and getting so see glimpses of our previous couple as well. I cannot wait to read more about the other girls in their friend group be paired off. The rebeliousness and uniqueness of the girls so far keep me interested and in love until the last page!

There's no trope I love more in a historical romance than a rake falling head over heels in love until they're completely stupid for it. It's my kink, so How to Catch an Errant Earl was perfection. I don't know how I missed the first in this series, but I'll be rectifying that problem immediately.

I am so loving this series! Our second disreputable debutante is perhaps the most practical and least romantic of the group, but that doesn't stop her from being swept off her feet when a rake comes to call. Arabella's sensibility truly only heightens the tension as she fights her heart and physical urges to resist a man who although willing to marry her, has declared no promise to love her or stay faithful. Of course, we know that Gabriel will chnange his rakish ways but it's truly so much fun to watch these two open their hearts to each other.

Gabriel Holmes-Fitzgerald, Earl of Langdale, a known rake has a bigger problem than a furious cockolded husband. His hot-tempered cousin is planning on challenging his right to the earldom based on flimsy evidence that his parents did not have a lawful marriage. Now Gabriel is on the hunt for his mother who he'd not seen for more than two decades. His search takes him to Switzerland where he runs across blue-stocking Arabella Jardine. While trying to deliver a letter to Arabella, he is caught in a violent storm and when his horse throws him not far from the villa where she is staying, Arabella is the one who sets his dislocated shoulder. Impressed with her medical skills, Gabriel kisses her and is soon caught by Arabella's strict aunt. Will he do the honorable thing and marry her?

It seems that challenging legitimacy of a title seems to be a popular trope these days. This is the third book I've read with this issue. I was hoping that there would be some witty banter between Gabriel and Arabella, but that's not the case in this book. As soon as Gabriel kisses Arabella, she becomes unable to form a coherent sentence. I also wasn't fond of Arabella and what she does to Gabriel once they marry. The constant back and forth in her resolve was annoying. I did like the mystery of trying to find Gabriel's mother, but it wasn't enough to carry the book to 4 stars.

A rake who reforms without even realising it, a bluestocking who isn't aware of her allure, passionate kisses, and London Gossip create a fantastic story. This book has so much and more. Gabriel is a stubborn, stubborn man but with Arabella's love he redeemable. Science, mad cousins, and did I say passion? A sexy read!