This was an enjoyable read and is a radiant triumph not to be missed. The story was clever and kept me engaged. The characters were fun and had their sexy moments.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

To Catch an Earl
Series: Book 2 in the Bow Street Bachelors
Rating: 3 stars

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This book had a very interesting concept. We have an Earl who works as a Bow Street runner who's been assigned the case of some missing jewels. Unfortunately for him the culprit is none other than the woman who he finds himself very attracted to. He was able to find out who it was early on because something gives her away. Though her father, a professional thief, had told her to avoid doing it to not get caught. Alex's pursuit of her had him all twisted. He was very attracted to her and knew that she had to pay for her crimes.

I liked how the story started with a very sweet and romantic prologue. It is the first chapters that I had a hard time getting into the story. I actually found it a little boring. I really didn't care to know who the jewels belonged to or who the rightful owners were. I wanted more of Alex and Emmy. They spend most of the story evading each other, since they are both ends of the law. I did like that Emmy outsmarts Alex for most of the story. She was good at what she did. She did have help from her family. Their plans were always very detailed and intricate.
For me the story didn't take off until she was caught red handed by Alex. This is where we get to see them play out their feelings for each other and how they knew that being together was not in their future. This was such an interesting plot in the story. I really wanted to know how the author was going to resolve this conflict. I'm glad how it was done. That final chapter where we see his proposal was very sweet.

I will continue with the series, because I want to see Sebastian fall in love!

Whew. I loved the first book in this series but I have to say the second is just as good. Emmy is such a fun and sassy historical romance heroine. I love how she does not fit within any cookie cutter expectations, and that's exactly what attracts Alex to her. Their cat and mouse romance was a blissful chase which I thoroughly enjoyed! I already can't wait for the third book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Oh my goodness, did I just love these two!! The game of cat and mouse between Emmy and Alex was simply perfection and hilarious to boot. I love a good slow burn and Bateman gave it to me in this story. Alex turned out to be so swoony and that mouth...oh my. I loved the spitfire in Emmy and her amazing tenacity. She balanced out Alex’s seriousness so well. This was such an entertaining and feel good read. I’ve been enjoying this series so much and I can’t wait to meet the woman that’s going to bring down our dear Seb!!

Every once in a while, you start reading a book and cannot decide whether you should finish it in one sitting or drag it out because you don’t want it to end. This is one such book. Delightful characters, intriguing cat and mouse game between Emmeline and Harland and some steam to heat things up. 5 glittering stars!

To Catch an Earl is the second in the Bow Street Bachelors series by Kate Bateman. I enjoyed the first novel in the series, but this second one left me a little flat. The romance between Emmy and Alex seemed forced, the search for that one "scent" that enthralled Alex was a bit much and Emmy seemed to do some things that I just wanted to smack her upside the head for! I was sure that they would wind up together in the end, even though I wasn't quite sure how they would get there. If you're looking for a quick beach read this summer, but one that won't take much energy, this is the book for you. A quick Regency mystery that won't exactly have you on the edge of your seat, but should keep you well enough entertained.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel for my honest review.

To Catch a Thief, Regency style.

I thought this was just a fun book. It was more mystery than the norm, but I was down for it.

Thief returns after four years of not stealing called Nightjar (leaves a black feather in the place of the jewel). It just happens to be the daughter of the thief taking on the role due to being blackmail into using the name and steal some jewels. For Emmy Davers, it was not what she wanted to do. She tried to live a healthy life and maybe settle down. But for her, stealing as brought back a man that she has loved from a distance, Alex Harland, Earl of Melton, is the Bow Street Agent on the case. This development makes her excited because she has an equal player, and she can get to interact with him.

It was a fun cat and mouse, and then cat protects mouse story. There was one thing that drove me crazy was that Emmy would wear perfume and for someone who is a top Bow Street agent, that would be an important clue when he finds the feathers, and they smell familiar. But at the same time, I think once she realizes he is on the case, she wants to get out of this profession, so she is leaving clues on purpose. But that might be deep for a romance novel.

It was a fun read. I would recommend it.

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Cat/Mouse, mystery

I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's for an honest review.

I loved this book! A lovely game of cat and mouse for Alex Harland, Earl of Melton, a Bow Street agent asked to find the Nightjar, a famous jewel thief. As he begins his search, he catches a scent that takes him back to the night before he left to fight Napoleon, when a masked beauty kissed him. He'd been trying to find her since his return. Little does he know they are one and the same. The question is how does an upstanding law-abiding earl make it work with a thief? Read the book to find out, you won't be disappointed.

This book was unexpectedly intriguing and totally exciting.

The whole story kept me full of anticipation until the very end. It was an extremely enjoyable hunt after the clever theft of crown jewels.

Except the thief wasn't a man, it was lady Emmeline Louise d’Anvers, daughter of Europe late most elusive jewel thief. She was a challenge and one step ahead of Bow Street Runner Alexander Harland also known as Lord Melton.

She was not only clever, but she also was beautiful and Alexander couldn't stay away from her. He was still hoping to catch her and bring her to justice but as the time went he wasn't as sure he can keep his promise to serve the rightness. He couldn't forget or stop thinking about her. The attraction was on both sides.

Would Alexander catch Emmeline and turn her to justice or would he think of another way how to save what's to save?

I loved every second of this amazing book.

I loved the characters in this book, even the secondary ones. Emmy is forced into continuing her father's legacy of a renowned jewel thief and Alex, Lord Melton has been assigned to capture the jewel thief known as The NightJar. It is a great cat and mouse chase right up to the end. The story was well crafted and had plenty of excitement to keep the reader interested, and the romance had just the right amount of tension and heat to be believable in spite of the fact that Alex was determined to put the NightJar behind bars. The ending was a very satisfying happily ever after.

3.5/5⭐️

Second in series from a new-to-me author. A bit different as the heroine had been swooning after the hero from a distance for awhile before they met. She’s a jewel thief, he’s an aristocrat who helps out Bow Street. While not earth shattering, it was fun, with good cat-and-mouse byplay/banter/chemistry between the leads and some sizzling bedroom moments. And I would definitely read more from this author.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

4.5* steamy stars!

This is a fun and fan yourself Regency read!

The Nightjar, a notorious thief, has baffled the most scrupulous Bow Street investigators for years. Hell bent on returning France's crown jewels, the heat is turned high on the Nightjar by investigator Alex Harland, Earl of Melton.

Filling in her deceased father's footsteps, Emmy Danvers takes her thievery as seriously as protecting her family.

Loving Earl Melton from afar, is all Emmy could do after that one kiss many years ago. Likewise, Earl Melton is always on alert for the masked woman who has never left his mind.

When events put these two dangerously close time after time, something is bound to sizzle between them in the most delicious way.

This historical romance was an absolute joy to read. I couldn't stop turning the pages. I loved both main characters and the spark that sent them down a path to love. I loved how their differences gave them a respect for one another. The plot was full of twists and turns and the ending was thoroughly satisfying. I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Emmy, her brother Luc and their Grandmother Camille are part of a family which emigrated from France to England. Emmy and Luc’s late father had set himself a task. The plan was to recover all the stolen French crown jewels. He would then return them to France. But, he died before his task was complete. There are a few jewels left to recover.

Emmy, Luc and Camille have set themselves to complete his work. They are doing it because they are under a threat. If they do not finish the work and give the jewels to a villain, they will be exposed as thieves.

Emmy has had a crush on Alex Harland.for many years. He is now working as a consultant for the Bow Street Runners. Since the Prince Regent planned to own the most recent jewel stolen, Alex feels he must find the “Nightjar”. That is the name the thief has given himself.

Emmy is tiny and lovely and able to be charming. She wears a distinct scent which is memorable for Alex and after one kiss years ago, he has never forgotten her.

Emmy grew up in a family which is well aware of being cautious in order to go unnoticed. At times she puts herself in places which are going to make her noticed. It seemed at times she made more than one decision which was not based on common sense.

Alex has become an earl because he did a service for the crown. He owns a gambling house. He has a reputation for being a rake. But, what influences him a great deal is the fact he has an injury to his right eye. There is a blind spot. He was too close to a canon when it was fired. He feels sure the injury makes him less than he once was.

The reader gets to know Emmy and Alex and who they are. There are also secondary characters who add depth to the story. Luc and his attraction to Sally is a sweet note about a long time simmering attraction. Ms Bateman does a good job of developing interesting characters.

I simply did not feel heat between Emmy and Alex. It seemed rather improbable to me that there were strong feelings between the two.

Their dialog was entertaining but it did not seem to me to be filled with intense emotions. I would have liked a stronger sense of attraction.

This is the second book in a series, but it works as a stand alone read. Ms Bateman is a talented author and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

It's been a long time since I've read a regency historical romance and I loved it! Will be recommending it and I am looking forward to future installments.

I was quite intrigued by the Night shade and was definitely anxious for Emmy and her family during her pursuits. Alex was perfect for her and the game of cat and mouse added so much fun!

I've determined that Kate Bateman can do no wrong. After reading This Earl of Mine, I knew I would be invested in this amazing series. The secondary characters were incredible and to dive deeper into those stories is everything I love about a series of standalones.

The constant push and pull between Alex and Emmy is tangible. I loved the game of cat and mouse, excited yet nervous to see how this impossible situation turned out. I loved Alex, a man of convictions with a roguish streak that made him both appealing and relatable. Emmy was a unique heroine. She was unassuming, yet full of grit and tenacity. She was given the worst situation to find her way through, but her choices and the way she protects those around her, was everything in this story.

Alex and Emmy were the epitome of opposites attract. It was a beautiful story filled with danger, deception, and true love. If you haven't read the Bow Street Bachelors series, you are missing out. Alex and Emmy's romance is a bit unconventional and that made all the difference.

This story was such a pleasure to read. The story-line was a little different (in a wonderful way) than I am used to seeing in the historical romance genre. Emmeline "Emmy" Danvers is a jewel thief. Right?! Not what you would expect when you begin this book. While she is a member of the ton ; she is also a lithe, elegant, female thief. Emmy has been crushing on Alexander Harland, Earl of Melton, since before he went off to fight in the war. Lord Metlon is the hero of the story and has returned from war with scars; both physical and emotional. He and his friends are now part of the Bow Street to help solve crimes in England. Bow Street now has their sights set on The Nightjar thief since they have stolen the Prince Regent's diamond on loan to the museum. Now, Emmy and Harland are enemies; on opposite sides of the law. We can already assume that these opposites attract; but, will they be able to find common ground too?

This is a review for To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman. There are numerous spoilers contained within this review.
Let me start with saying this is the first book I’ve read by Kate Bateman, but I loved it so much that I’m now hunting down every other book she’s written, If I could give this 10-stars over 5, I would!
This is the story of Emmeline (Emmy) Danvers, daughter of a French aristocrat who fled to London when Napoleon came to power. Her father, outraged at the theft of France’s crown jewels, set out to steal each piece back to restore them to the people of France. Before obtaining all of them, he dies (with four to go). Emmy, her brother Luc, and her grandmother Camille live relatively peaceful and law-abiding lives after his death in London. Shortly after his death, Emmy is at a masquerade and is quite bold as she approaches Alexander (Alex) Harland, pretends they are to dance and then kisses him passionately in the garden before disappearing (he’s heading to fight Bonaparte in a few days).
Fast forward four years: Emmy and her family are being blackmailed by another Frenchman who figured out her father was the Nightjar (her father’s thief name). Alex is back from the war in mostly one piece; he did take cannon fire that left him blind in one eye. He is working for Bow Street now and was given an Earldom by Prinny for services provided to the crown. As Emmy begins stealing the remaining jewels, Alex is assigned to her case.
I will not go into the details of the rest of the plot, but I will say it was refreshingly different. Both Emmy and Alex are immensely likeable characters with a sizzling chemistry between them. I liked that there was strife in finding their happily ever after, but not to the extent that seems common in today’s historical romances (I don’t like conflict going on for an extended period; this is just my personal preference). It was nice and steamy, without being overpowering; it added to the story in a fun way.
As I mentioned before, I would give this book 10-stars if it could and have already purchased the first book in this series, This Earl of Mine. Sadly, The Princess and the Rogue (book #3) won’t be out until the end of 2020 (Any way to speed this up?! Desperate times people!).
I received a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book has an intriguing premise--a romance between a jewel thief and the Bow Street Runner who is hunting her. Alex is one of the three Bow Street Runners introduced in the first book of this series, and Emmy is an unwilling jewel thief, who is being blackmailed into continuing her late father's crimes (though she does take pleasure in a job well done.) Overall, I thought this was enjoyable, but I didn't love it. I wasn't wowed by the chemistry between Alex and Emmy, and there were several times where she behaved so stupidly that I wanted to yell at her to stop. The perfume bit was the worst, plus wearing the very feathers she is about to leave as her signature at the scene of a crime at a ball that Alex is also attending. But it was a fun story with lots of suspense as Alex begins to zero in on Emmy as a suspect.

This was a fun, sexy and interesting historical romance. I enjoyed the game between Alex and Emmaline - how they challenged each other and wanted each other. Brava!