I loved the setting of this story, 1775, and how some history was brought into the plot. Scarred heroes are my catnip so I was eager to read this story. Even though the mystery was not too mysterious, it was still a good plotline and seeing how it all came together was very enjoyable. The attention to details was the highlight of the book even if the story was a little slow for me and the writing a bit different and a little hard for me to read. All in all, a good story with a nice mystery storyline.

3.5 stars - This one was okay for me. The hero was a little, woe is me, no one will want me because I’m scared a bit too much for my taste in the beginning, but the heroine (mostly) helps him to see reason on that front. He had an evil dad and mom who died young, and a twin who looks exactly like him, minus the scar. The heroine is from America and has been sent to her family in London to try and protect her from the unrest in the colonies. Unfortunately for her, the only thing her uncle is endangering her the most. The heroine and hero work together and find love in the process. I enjoyed it.

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

I found this to be an enjoyable read, especially since it has one of my favorite genre....a scarred hero! I love it when a heroine sees past the scars and truly sees the hero for who he really is. "About an Earl" is Oliver and Jewel's story, a story filled with hope, heartbreak, mystery, drama, humor and love.

Oliver has been a recluse for the last 10 years, ever since the day he showed his scarred face in public causing screaming and fainting and being called a beast. Being the heir to the Earldom, he has his twin brother represent him while he does everything by correspondence. Then, one night at a masquerade party, his life changes forever when he meets Jewel who has her own tragic story to tell. Wanting to help her father who has been imprisoned in Boston and yet wanting to help Oliver prove that he not insane, she is torn as to what she should do. They also have a mystery to solve!!

I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

When helping a recluse Earl leads to her banishment, what are they to do against the forces decided to ruin them

I have awaited a long time for this sequel of How To Train Your Baron, a read I very enjoyed.
But today I felt like I was left somewhat underwhelmed by the story.
While the plot was entertaining and the hero a wounded soul like I love them ready to anything for the love of his life, I never really rooted for the heroine.
There were many times I was upset by the characters courses, their inaptitudes to see what was sitting in front of them, their miscommunications and misconceptions.

JUST READ THOSE LETTERS !

Oliver is the beast in this kind of Beauty and the Beast tale, he was disfigured as a kid by the one person whom should have protected him. Since, because of people’s reactions to his face, he withdrew from society in his father’s estate and lived through his penmanship, using words as means to mingle with his peers.
So when for the first time, a woman looks at him and does not run away screaming, and even better kisses him, how can he not be intrigued by her even if he is often at loss when around her.
His relationship with his twin brother is one of love and confidence, I loved how they interacted, throwing barbs but also having full faith and understanding of the other.
Juliana nicknamed Jewel is so intend in going back to America whatever her father sacrificed to send her in England, she does not see nor understand Oliver, she is drawn to him but refuses to accept it would be more than a mere attraction.
Her obsession to go back when her father wanted to protect her from impending harm because of the war looming was unsettling. I understand a filial devotion but she ranted all along the storyline her father was absentee, that everyone left her behind when Oliver spent their journey to reach for her, penning letter upon letter for her, despite his own dire situation, he always made her his first priority, ready to sacrifice his own happiness if it will mean she will be free.
Yet at the first wrong word, misunderstanding, she leaves and never fights.
Even if I am not a great admirer of the heroine, the hero, the side characters and the plot are entertaining and enjoyable.
Why a 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled and preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

This book started out *really* strong - I was reading it and thinking to myself, this is going to be awesome and one of my favorite reads of the year. And then it just started to go downhill. The story was a lot of mess for seemingly no reason. I didn't understand why communication was so poor between the hero and heroine. They both couldn't talk to each other, which was just weird, because I felt their relationship in the beginning seemed to be really cohesive and natural. Then the author was throwing in conflict that created an "off" feeling between the two of them. The whole "Maiden" conflict set me over the edge - I mean, seriously? We are almost halfway through the book, the relationship is going really well, and all of a sudden, for no reason at all, the heroine assumes the worst and runs away. It was so immature and unnecessary. And then the hero goes after her, they make up, and then he does the same thing when he sees her with her ex-fiance. Assumes the worst and just acts like a whiny little boy. Why can't they just talk to each other? It was so irritating. I felt like I was reading a teenage romance, and I was over it by the end. Never wanted to hear their names ever again.

Would definitely like to read this author again - I just hope the characters start off strong and continue that way next time.

This is book two in the what happens in the ballroom series by Diana Lloyd. This can be read as a standalone.In this one we have an Earl that has been scarred in childhood and hides from society and a woman with the worst family ever. I did enjoy the story except toward the end. The Earl kept being a jerk I just wasn’t a huge fan of him.

Diana Lloyd is an author I found by chance after someone recommended How to Train your Baron. I found it laugh out loud funny and a pleasure to read. I still think about parts of it. I also very much enjoyed About an Earl. I am a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast trope, which must be making a comeback as I have read 3 in the last month! Anyway, this author knows how to make you laugh, cry, and have all the feels! I look forward to her next book and highly recommend both the books in this series.

Oliver, the Earl of Winchcombe, has been a recluse for years doing estate business by strictly by post. Bearing a horrific scar across his face from his tyrannical father, has left Oliver weary of socializing with people. His nickname of Lord Scar has only reinforced his belief that it's not worth it to socialize with the ton. For the first time in over ten years, Oliver and his twin Penry attend a masquerade party and Oliver is surprised when he receives a mysterious note to meet in the garden. There he meets Miss Jewel Latham who warns him of a plot to trap him or his brother into a marriage by her horrible cousin. Oliver reaches his brother in time, but is caught kissing Jewel. When he attends Jewel's uncle to offer for her, he's shocked to be told that Jewel has been sent to Scotland. There's more going on than a slight scandal and when Oliver rescues Jewel, they try to figure out who's trying to destroy Oliver while making Jewel disappear.

There was a lot going on in this book with the mystery surrounding who is trying to discredit Oliver. Could Jewel's cruel uncle be at the center of the mystery? I enjoyed the mystery as it unraveled throughout the book, but I wish a bit more time had been spent on Oliver and Jewel's love story. I can understand Oliver falling for Jewel quickly especially since he thought of himself as a beast, but it would have elevated the book to 5 stars in my opinion if more time had been spent on the relationship especially Jewel falling for Oliver. Ms. Lloyd has written another intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable story. I look forward to the next book in the series.

This is another take on "Beauty and the beast" slightly where a scarred earl, Oliver, is stuck inside his house and finally meets a woman who doesn't run away on seeing him. Jewel is a spirited, smart heroine who is kind-hearted and takes life as it comes. In addition to the whole love match plot going on, there is a treasure hunt kind of investigation with several buried secrets keeps it interesting till the end.

3.5 Stars

Julianna is a Boston native who has traveled to England to run away from and get over a broken heart. She now resides with her aunt and uncle.

Oliver Chalford is the earl of Winchcombe. He has not set foot in town in several years due to a prominent scar on his face. A scar that sentences him to be ridiculed and feared.

When Julianna realizes her aunt and cousin have hatched a plan to nab an earl and force him into marriage, she sends an urgent message to said earl.

This sets off a set of unforeseen events that none are prepared for. Julianna must fight for her independence and freedom while Oliver must fight to protect his and title prove his sanity.

Together, they set out to solve a mystery and set each other free. How will Oliver prove his sanity and how can Julianna ever be truly free?

I enjoyed the mystery in this novel tremendously. It kept my undivided attention and had twists and turns until the very end. It was invigorating and engaging.

Julianna and Oliver’s first meeting is sweet and romantic. I couldn’t help but sigh. Their interlude felt whimsical. I felt the spark of their first kiss

With that being said, however, I had a hard time believing in their relationship. For me they fell into to love too hard and too fast. There was no relationship building or getting to know each other before the notion of love was thrown about. Not to mention the misconceptions and mistrusts that abound between them during the story.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved both characters. I just wanted them to love each other on a deeper more meaningful level than shortly after a first kiss.

The heat level is low but the mystery abounds.

I received an ARC via NetGalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About An Earl is book 2 in What Happens in the Ballroom Novel series by Diana Lloyd. I really enjoyed this book. I think it is witty and extremely creative. The plot was unpredictable and kept me reading late into the night. Set in England in 1775, this story briefly touches on the American War for independence.The heroine Julianna Latham is sent from the Colonies by her father to England to escape the Revolution. When she overhears a plot against a lord, she does what she can to rescue him. I liked Jewel’s character. She is young and naive but she develops into a mature young woman by the end of the book. Oliver Chalford is not a typical hero. Scarred as a child, he earns the name Lord Scar by those who disdain him. There is a small resemblance to Beauty and the Beast here. I thought the pace was good. There were a few confusing moments in the middle of the story, when some history was introduced. But overall, a very good read. There are several steamy sex scenes. I am looking forward to more by Lloyd. I was given a copy of this book.

People often judge others by appearances, where they are from, or listen to gossip. Such is that of Juliana, called Jewel. Jewel is English but grew up in Boston and was sent away due to the war. Jewel expected to come to a welcoming family but was disappointed with how they treated her. When she discovers devious plans to trap a lord into marriage, she intervenes which results in her being sent to Scotland. Oliver, Earl of Winchcombe, also called Lord Scar, is fascinated by Jewel, but who could care for a man with disfigurements. Oliver owes Jewel for what she did to help him and his brother, but he is dealing with his own troubles, for someone wants to ruin him. The past has a way of affecting those in the present, even if they had no involvement. Jewel and Oliver have a fake engagement to help with Oliver's situation and her own. Jewel and Oliver's troubles stem from the same source, and they will have to outwit this enemy and society, which is already against them. Neither expected the passion that would ignite between them nor the love they would have for each other. To prevent their ruins, they need to work together and trust each other.

A quote (from ARC):
“Men, for the most part, reacted to his scarred face with more curiosity than revulsion. They wanted to know how he’d gotten it; imagining a duel, battlefield bravado, or piracy. He’d been asked more than once, which was part of the reason why he avoided people. No one wanted the sad, mundane truth of it. They wanted a fantastic story.”

An historical romance filled with adventures and family secrets, “About an Earl”, by Diana Lloyd (Entangled: Amara), features a wounded hero and a bold, independent, yet compassionate heroine.
Oliver and Jewell are likable characters and have great chemistry. There’s a steadiness and warmness about these two characters that I really appreciated.
The beginning of “Lord Scar” and Jewell’s romance was great to read. The heroine’s conduct and mindset seemed a bit too modern to be totally convincing, but are consistent with her personality and the plot. She’s the ideal heroine to pull the recluse hero out of his den.
There are some strange coincidences and sudden friendships; a somewhat convoluted plot and excessive dialogue made the story drag a little.

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