I felt like this book was pretty slow at the beginning. I liked the premise very much. It just took me awhile to get into the story.

Emmy Danvers is a lady by all accounts with a secret...she is a thief. Her father was the infamous "Nightjar",
having stolen many of the crown jewels that once belonged to the French.

Alex Harland is an Earl, who also happens to work in apprehending criminals. The problem is that
4 years ago he met Emmy at a masked ball. He didn't know her name or ever see her entire face...but he
couldn't get her or her perfume out of his mind.

It has been 4 long years since he met Emmy and all of a sudden jewels have begun going missing again. Alex
has returned from war and is on the hunt for the thief...but what will happen when he finds out that Emmy is involved?

This story picked up the pace about 25% of the way through. It turned out to be quite an enjoyable read.
I loved Emmy's independent and determined spirit. Alex was very much the typical hero with his tall handsome and masculine good looks. However, he's a self made man and his attraction to a woman that was adventerous and spritied made him even more likeable.

I liked the ending of this book it tied things up in a satisfying way. It also paved the way for the next installment
of books. I would recommend this book to my friends that enjoy
historical romance!

I enjoyed this book so much I went back and purchased the first book in the Bow Street Bachelor series. Such a fun, sweet read. Highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the series and the second book I've read by this author I really enjoyed this book and hace enjoyed the series so far can't wait for book 3 and will definitely look into reading more books by this author so if you enjoyed book 1 definitely read book 2

This is a fabulous read with great characters and story line. Alex is a former military man and now works on special cases for Bowstreet Runners. The head of Bowstreet comes to him regarding the theft of a Royal diamond. He is to find theo find the their and bring them to justice. He and his two friends are known to solve mysteries but there is one from four years ago he has yet to solve and that is the mysterious women in a mask who left him wanting more.. Emmy and her family are being blackmailed into stealing the remaining four gems of France. Now she has the man she is secretly kissed at a masked ball notion her heels and must avoid at all cost, but that is easier said than done in this cat and mouse chase..

This was a fun read and enjoyed ever page. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

A good blend of romance and mystery! Alex Harland helps Bow Street with cases and he is put on the case of the thief called Nightjar. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Nightjar is now a woman - Emmy whom Alex kissed at a masquerade years earlier. His investigation leads him back into her life and he finds himself torn between loyalty to the law and love.

I enjoyed this book more than the first. The cat and mouse antics of Emmy and Alex are very entertaining and their romance despite their best efforts is sweet.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This was just a wonderful book to read and it was just easy to lose yourself in the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman was extraordinarily phenomenal!

When I started reading To Catch an Earl I had a feeling it was going to be similar to a lot of the historical romance books I read, oh how I was so wrong (in a good way).

When we start the book off you are sent in the past where you see Alex Harland with his friends and a mystery girl who is obsessively in love with him. She knows that she will never be able to have him so on the night of the masquerade ball she disguises herself very well and approaches Alex with the intent on just one dance.

Once enticing him to dance they have a somewhat odd exchange in conversation where she feels emboldened to speak however she may like to Alex where this grabs Alex's attention. When the dance is over he asks her out to the garden terrace where they exchange one beautifully magical kiss.

Fast forward 4 years later and you learn that Alex went off for the War and our mystery girl is actually a Thief. You learn that her father use to be called the "NightJar" and that he only stole property that was already stolen. They never took more than what they originally came for.

I won't mention the rest of the book because I don't want to give away any spoilers. I do, however, what to urge you to read this book if you are into the Historical Romances but want a new fresh take on it.

I have never read a Kate Bateman book before and now I do not intend to stop! She captivated me from the first chapter and I couldn't put this book down. Definitely 5 Stars!!

#netgalley #tocatchanearl

This is my first Kate Bateman book and I didn't have any expectations going in. I know this is book 2, but I've been one to read series out of order before so I dived in. You can definitely read this book without having read book 1. It's fine as a standalone.

Here's where I run into issues. Emmy was unlikable. I won't go into it further than that as I don't want to give spoilers, but basically she's a jewel thief with a questionable moral compass. I just couldn't get past that. Plus, she does a lot of "eyeroll" inducing things which defy logic to me (again, won't spoil what). If you can get past that, (I couldn't) then you might like this book because it is well written.

You might like this if you're into a mystery/suspense, but there are so many other romantic suspense/historical crossovers out there that do it better.

Overall, this was a disappointing read.

To Catch and Earl was the perfect follow up to the first book in this Bow Street Series. I have spent so much time lately explaining to non-romance readers how strong and feminist these historical romance books actually are and this series just proves my point. What doesn't get more exciting and strong than a female jewel thief? The heroine is unique and strong while still caring deeply for her family. The heroes are actually the connection between the books instead of it being based on a group of female friends. There are just enough twists and turns to keep you invested. I can't wait for Seb's story!

Thank you, SMP, for letting me read early!

WOW!!! I loved, loved, loved Emmy and Alex’s story in To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman, book two in her Bow Street Bachelors series. This fantastic Regency romance of a jewel thief and a rake who helps Bow Street catch criminals is a chase that warms one’s heart. Alex Harland never planned to become an agent of inquiry but the excitement of an investigation is the challenge he needs in his life. Being asked to track down the Nightjar, a famous thief who has been collecting France’s crown jewels has him crossing paths with the beautiful and elusive Emmy Danvers. Being around Emmy allows him to solve his one unsolved curiosity; that of the mysterious woman who once stole a kiss from him and left him wanting so much more. Emmy is the daughter of the notorious thief, Nightjar, and learned long ago how to safeguard her secrets; her love for Alex being one of those secrets. Alex knows Emmy is the Nightjar but needs proof before he can arrest her. It is the perfect excuse for him to follow and stay close to her. When Emmy’s life and her family are threatened, Alex is determined to keep her safe. Keeping Emmy safe takes Alex on a different path, one of falling in love.

Ms. Bateman wrote a wonderful, amazing, and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, endearing character, twists and turns, as well as a swoon worthy romance giving Emmy and Alex a chance at love, happiness, and a future neither expected. I highly recommend To Catch an Earl to other readers and look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I loved this story. Emmy and Alex have electric chemistry. They're Polar Opposites yet it works. There are also a wonderful assortment of supporting characters.
I definitely recommend reading this book.
Thank you Kate Bateman, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Emmy, a reluctant jewel thief vs. Alex, Bow Street agent/ War hero/Earl. Intrigue, blackmail, and murder are all involved in this clever story of the infamous Nightjar returning to outwit the authorities. Alex returns from war still thinking about the mysterious woman he met at a ball right before he left four years earlier. He can’t forget the scent of her perfume, and when the same fragrance is left on a black feather left by the jewel thief the trouble begins.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a first time author for me and I really enjoyed this
I look forward to reading more from her

This was a quick, fun read - I devoured this in 1 sitting
Loved the characters and the story - a real mix of romance / adventure

Loved it

An jewel thief and an agent tasked finding said Jewel thief, what could go wrong? I will say that I really liked the uniqueness of this story, Having two people on opposite sides of the law, made from some funny moments, as Emmy and Alex tried to outwit each other.

After her father’s death, Emmy has taken up the mantel of the Nightjar, a jewel thief who’s been stealing priceless jewels that once belonged to France. She gets help from her brother, grandmother and friend, as the four of them help continue her father’s quest. However, someone has found out their secret, and threatens them to steal three more jewels for them, or else he will give the authorities their identities. Alex a Bow Street Agent is attempting to track down the elusive Nightjar, and when stumbling upon Emmy, who he suspects is the thief, he also realizes that she’s none other than the woman who he shared a passionate kiss with at a masquerade ball four years ago, and who never left his thoughts. It’s a game of cat and mouse as he tries to catch her and she does her best to evade him. But the sparks that are between them can’t be avoided for long.

As much as I liked the concept of the book and the book overall for the most part, I just didn’t find the romance and love between Alex and Emmy as convincing as in the previous book. Don’t get me wrong there’s definitely a lot of chemistry between them, but I just didn’t find romance as intriguing, and sometimes is all felt forced. . I don’t know, I just couldn’t really get on board with Emmy being in love with Alex for years after never really getting to know him, and just having that kiss between them. And same for Alex, who seemed to be hung on Emmy for years when he never really knew who she was.
It’s not a bad book, and for the most part I enjoyed reading it,

I received this arc from NetGalley. All opinions stated here are my own.

This book was a bit flat for me. It had its ups and it had its downs. On average it was defiantly an ok read, I just wish it was more.

A criminal and Bow Street Runner, who are both part of the ton, is defiantly appealing, and made for refreshing scenery. The banter and cat-and-mouse game was amusing, and it was clear they both enjoy it.

The sexual chemistry sizzled, but the lack of romance and tenderness made it a bit disappointing. At times the sexy times crossed into coarse and my rose-tinted balloon would deflate.

I expected more.

More clever banter, more subterfuge, more romance. But it never really fulfilled its potential.

3 stars

There is a whole lot of stealing going on here!

First off, Emmy flat out stole my heart. What a terrific character! She's not a criminal by any standards except the most stringent application of the law, which is exactly what Harland specializes in. But he's terribly conflicted, because she stole his breath away years before and now it looks like she's stolen his sanity!

"He wanted to both conquer her and protect her. To capture her and keep her safe. He didn’t even begin to understand it."

This is a wicked, flirtatious game of cat and mouse brimming with mistrust and reluctant admiration, and we get to see it from both Harland and Emmy's points of view so we know what they know as well as what they don't know! I love how she challenges his standards of unlawful vs. immoral behavior right from the start. Their exchange at the museum was priceless, succinct and to the point, and made her purpose crystal clear, even if Harland didn't quite have all the facts yet.

Complicating the investigation beyond comprehension is the undeniable connection that Alex and Emmy share, propelling them both towards a HEA neither believes is even remotely possible. Their romance builds slowly with many sweet and tender moments, and I loved every bit of it.

The sophisticated layers of secrets and perceptions keeps everyone on their toes. The compelling storyline kept me glued to each page. There is a real villain involved, of course, and the brilliant conclusion was everything I could have hoped for. We even get a secondary romance that was every bit as enchanting. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves Regency romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I’m adding To Catch an Earl firmly in the “great when reading, but completely unmemorable” category. This was a really entertaining historical romance in the moment but I can’t say it was one I’d remember a week or month from now.

Which I don’t necessarily consider a bad thing because I’m generally not looking to romances for some life-changing story that will stick with me for years to come.

The synopsis promises a cat and mouse game and it delivered! I loved that there was the constant tension of Alex hunting the thief, Emmy, while she’s working to make the biggest steals of her life and battle her longtime crush on the aforementioned Alex. It kept the story moving along and created instant tension. And heat. There was plenty of that.

I hesitate to call this an enemies-to-lovers romance because they’re not quite enemies so much as two individuals with differing opinions of what’s right and wrong. I loved that Emmy was a thief, and not just any thief but an infamous one after treasures for a cause, rather than just for profit. It spoke to who she was as a person, both her goals and motivation and what she stood for. Meanwhile, Alex is clearly opinionated when it comes to what he believes is right and wrong and having that challenged by Emmy made their interactions all the more interesting. Plus there’s the early scene between them that sparks a romance that doesn’t happen for years.

But there’s one element about the entire book that annoyed me to no end, despite how enjoyable I found the rest of it — the perfume. So not a spoiler, you learn Emmy has this favorite perfume she wears made just for her. She’s literally the only person with that scent, and it’s a noticeable fragrance that makes it pretty easy for Alex to start putting pieces of the puzzle together. So why would you wear that perfume to steal things? I’m no thief but I would think the first rule would be to not get caught, and the second to not make it easy to catch you. I had to kind of accept this premise to really love the book but it irked me to no end, even though Alex might have been the only one to make the connection.

So romance was great. Story was entertaining. Just that one plot point that disrupted it all. But at the end of the day, I would still recommend To Catch an Earl as well as the previous book This Earl of Mine. Both have been just the sort of entertaining romances I needed at the time and worth checking out!

This was so good! I loved every second of it. I loved the back and forth/cat and mouse game between Emmy and Alex. The plot was interesting too!

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

I haven't read the first Bow Street Bachelors book, but this did not affect my reading of To Catch An Earl.

I am on a bit of a historical kick at the moment so Kate Bateman had me at Earl.

Alex and Emmy's tale took me probably 25% to really get into - I was tempted to DNF this one, but it did seem to take off from there.

At times, I felt Emmy was just a bit dumb - why wear something very distinct to commit a crime? Dudette? Why?

I just wanted Alex to do what he had to do. Dragging out what would happen just went on too long.

I did feel the attraction between our lovelies, but they didn't really have that "pow" factor. It was like yeah they are in the same circles and just ended up together a lot of the time.

I can see the appeal for lovers of the genre, this one was just flat for me.

I enjoyed the first book of this series, This Earl of Mine, and read this To Catch an Earl on the strength of that. However, I did not enjoy it nearly as much. It was irksome that the main characters spent much of the first half of the book apart. I read romance to see *their* interplay, not their interplay with others. In addition, the writing was not very strong. This was true of the first book of the series as well, but I liked the relationship between the main characters so much that I forgave it. With this book, there wasn't enough interaction between these characters -- but there was good kissing.