This was a lovely spy story in the style of Celeste Bradley. There was love and action and mystery. I personally would have loved to have seen as much committment to Sally and Luc's story. This was a story about a female theif who meets an aristocrat male who is looking to solve her crimes. Lot's of conflict But, I very much enjoyed Emmy and Alex's story. This story was so well written my eyes fairly flew along the page. I had a hard time putting this story down once I started and had a great feeling when it was done. Would I recommend this book? Yes.

DNF

It's... okay? I can't quite figure out why I didn't love it (since the premise is up my alley) but I was never fully invested in the characters and didn't feel the chemistry. After a certain point, I decided to give up since I wasn't enjoying myself. YMMV.

Alex Harland, Earl of Melton and dedicated rake, never pictured himself as an agent of inquiry. But the thrill of investigation is a challenge he now embraces. When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Kate Bateman is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book

To Catch An Earl is book two in A Bow Street Bachelors series by Kate Bateman. I enjoy Bateman’s writing. She has a talent for hooking the reader’s attention and then pulling you along at a frantic and frenzied pace. I was mesmerized and couldn’t put the book down. Alex Harland is a magnificent hero - a man torn between his attraction to a thief and doing his job helping Bow Street investigate sensitive cases. I liked the heroine Emmeline Louise d’Anvers. She has enough humor and wit to keep the story interesting. “Her heart almost stopped when he bent his head and kissed her. A light, almost questioning touch. He repeated the action, his lips soft yet firm, and Emmy closed her eyes, determined to savor the experience. This might be her one and only kiss with Alex Harland, ever.” There are a number of steamy sex scenes. I also enjoyed the references to words not found in the English language. One lovely example is a word Ms. Bateman mentions at the end of her book - Koi No Yokan means the sense of inevitability upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall in love. Bravo Ms. Bateman. Another masterpiece!

this is the story of a woman who has to take on the persona of Nightjar, an infamous jewel thief. It turns out the thief was her father, and she and her brother were just going to let Nightjar go after their dad died. Unfortunately, a blackmailer comes along and tells Emmy and her family that he wants the jewels her father stole plus he wants them to steal several more. Luc is injured and Emmy must become the thief. This puts her on a collision course with Alex Harland, the investigator hired to find her. Even though I thought it would be really exciting, Alex figures out who she is so fast that there wasn't much drama or suspense--which I kind of expected from a book about. a jewel thief falling in love with the detective who is trying to catch her.

stolen jewels and a sensual game of cat and mouse!

Emmy Danvers has no choice but to carry out her fathers mission and steal back France’s Crown Jewels. The only thing standing in her way is the runner assigned to the case, who she’s loved for years.
Alex Harland is a cynic who has been disillusioned by war, but soon finds himself in the middle of a case that has him questioning if love is real.

This book was so great. The relationship between the Hero and Heroine was wonderful and developed perfectly. I loved that they were themselves and complete opposites but were so drawn to each other. The intrigue was the perfect amount and didn’t take over the book.
I honestly didn’t know how it would end, and I loved that I was questioning what would happen.

Rating: 💍💍💍💍💍/5

2.5 stars

I just couldn't get into this one unfortunately—I'm not sure if it was the concept or the lack of grounded attraction between the two love interests, but this was a miss for me.

Characters: ★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★

To Catch an Earl comes out on June 30, 2020.

To Catch an Earl is the second book in the Bow Street Bachelors series, but as with many romance series this can be read as a standalone.

Alex Harland, the Earl of Melton, is on the case: a notorious jewel thief, the Nightjar, is stealing certain prized jewels from around Europe and in London. He's determined to find the thief, and to find the mystery woman who enticed him at a masked ball years ago. He thinks he's looking for two different people, but his path might have only one finish line...

Emmy Danvers is the Nightjar, the jewel thief of London. She's also been hopelessly in love with Alex for years, but given his role on the side of the law she knows that they can never be together. But the heart does what it wants...

Overall, this story was...okay for me. I feel like it might have been my mindset, or maybe just a lack of focus, but I spent almost the entirety of this book attempting to keep myself engaged and not mentally wander somewhere else. The characters didn't stick in my brain, and even in the process of writing this review I'm really struggling to remember a lot of details.

However, for those who love Regency-era romances, do check this one out! I think my review might be a one-off in this case.

Thank you to St Martin's Press via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

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Last week, I read my first historical romance in a long time. I loved it so much that I literally went to my @netgalley and searched for the first historical romance on my shelf. Enter this book. So I read it, I love it and I go to @goodreads to leave my star rating and review. And see that it’s the SECOND book in a series. Which is fine as they can read as standalones. BUT- I realize that I HAVE THE FIRST BOOK 🤦🏼‍♀️. So, I am now reading book one in this series but I wanted to tell you about To Catch an Earl because it releases in June. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To Catch an Earl follows Emmy, a girl who has taken over the family business of thieving and Alex - an Earl who runs a gambling club. These two have a bit of a past, although it was one of hidden identities. In present day, Emmy is trying to get her family out of trouble by becoming The Nightjar- her fathers old alias when he was a thief. And Alex not only runs a gambling club, but is a Bow Street agent determined on catching the Nightjar. Obviously things get interesting and there is a bit of everything in this book. Intrigue, mystery and romance. I really really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed To Catch an Earl. This was my first book by Kate Bateman (read: I, unfortunately, didn't have a chance to read the first in the series, -yet-... for which, I am bummed)

The book kind of reminded me of that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery movie.... Entrapment, I think (there I go with my 90's showing again)... and kind of a mix of Ocean's 11-ish. Emmy is the daughter of the infamous 'Nightjar', a gentleman thief who is set on stealing and restoring the lost/stolen French crown jewels. When her brother is injured in the war, she must take up the mantle of thief's apprentice in his sted. She becomes the master of hiding in plain sight.

When Emmy discovers her secret fantasy man is about to go off to serve in the war against Napoleon, she indulges herself at a masked ball by scandalously asking him to dance. Intrigued by this mystery woman, Alex Harland, takes the bait. They share a dance and a very heady kiss. He is left with the mystery of who she is. Years later, after the war is won and Alex has returned, he is tasked by Bow Street to help discover the Nightjar's true identity and bring him in.

Oh, how I love a good cat and mouse plot. I enjoyed the story and the unfolding mystery/drama. The secondary characters are really unique and fun. Emmy's grand-mère, Camille is just too much! I really would have loved to read more about Emmy's brother and Sally. We get a snippet of Benedict (from This Earl of Mine) in the story but not much. I love the world Bateman has created and am really amped to read more about Sebastian. He sounds fun!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.*

At the best of times the main characters have a "Catwoman vs Batman" dynamic that is at once engaging and sexy. At the worst of times, it is silly. Not a bad thing to be, but one description in particular had me thinking of yaoi hands and I could not stop laughing.

Thankfully, you do not need to read the other books to understand and relationships or plot relevant information which makes this great for readers like myself who may have grabbed this based on the cover and book description.

On a random note, I really appreciate the "return stolen antiquities to their nation/culture of origin" motif.

I struggled ridiculously so to get into this book! When it was all said and done, I just didn’t feel Alex and Emmy had that ‘zing’ if you will, to make me believe they were meant to be with each other. I was really disappointed, especially after enjoying the first book of the series so much, but three stars for the storyline and other characters.

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley/St. Martins and this is my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up
Not perfect but a good entry. Kate Bateman has woven a well written story with interesting and flavorful characters. This book is a good addition to the Bow Street Bachelors series. I quite enjoyed it. The story of To Catch an Earl was good, I really enjoyed the characters of Emmy and Alex almost from the start and I enjoyed how they fought themselves and each other. I liked the rapport between them very much. I just wish the love between them was more obvious. I didn't really feel it. There was attraction and lust for sure, but I'm not so sure about love. Otherwise I really enjoyed this story but also I felt the ending was rushed and it took away from the story. I had an issue with the epilogue as well. It felt lacking. This book had all the makings of a great book but it got lost somewhere in there for some reason. I don't know what special spark was missing, but this story was just ok. Still worth reading though, it was far from bad, just not as good as I hoped for.

“I want you again, Emmy Danvers. And I want to take my time…”
“How on earth was a woman supposed to resist that?”

A kiss from a mysterious stranger at a masquerade ball is what kept Alex Harland, the Earl of Melton, going long after the war is over. After all this time, he still cannot forget the scent and feel of the beautifully bold woman that asked him to dance and stole a kiss in the moonlight. Now an agent for the Bow Street Runners, Alex has been given a task of apprehending the infamous Nightjar—a jewel thief that has been stealing the French Crown Jewels. While investigating the latest crime scene, Alex is jolted to awareness by a familiar scent…one that kept him awake many a night dreaming of the woman that got away before he even got her name. Realizing his fantasy is close at hand, Alex is determined to solve not only the case of the stolen crown jewels, but also that of his stolen heart…

Emmy Danvers has helped her father, the Nightjar, steal back the crown jewels for the French. But when her father dies, the Nightjar’s thieving ways are laid to rest with him. That is until a blackmailer threatens the Danvers family with bodily harm if they do not finish the job and collect the remaining jewels. Left with no choice, Emmy plots to steal the last of the jewels, but as fate would have it, the one man she both loves and fears has been assigned the job of tracking down the Nightjar. Now she will have to walk a fine line between saving her family as well as her heart…

To Catch an Earl is what most would refer to as an enemies to lovers trope. While I prefer friends to lovers, I did enjoy the cat and mouse games Alex and Emmy played, and found this an enjoyable read. To Catch an Earl is the second in Kate Bateman’s Bow Street Bachelors series, but may be read standalone. Would recommend to fans of this genre.


**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Very good read! I love Alex Harland, Earl of Melton, hero of the Napoleonic Wars, part owner of the Tricorn Club, Bow Street Runner! He is out to catch the infamous jewel their "Nightjar." The problem is Emma is the daughter of the Nightjar, and after his death, has taken up the cause, for this it what it is, a patriotic cause, to return the Crown Jewels of France back to the House of Bourbon. Can Alex put aside his quest for justice, in order to protect the woman he loves? Emma, her perfume, her witty attitude towards life, her kindness, her loyalty to family, make her too lovely to give up without a fight.
I highly recommend! Thank you.
carolintallahassee.com

"To Catch and Earl" was a nice story and I'd love how she had the H/h as adversaries and later lovers in the story. I have become a fan of Kate Bateman and her novels. Loved this trope and how Ms. Bateman plots a story of a jewel thief who steals what has already been stolen.and staying out of dodge of a Bow Street royal.

The start of the story with the masquerade ball was okay but I felt that it was under developed a bit not getting more into the two characters. From that point, we have the pursuit by the Bow runner and memories of their first meeting. Although there were some parts where the characters connected, there were others where I felt they were not cohesive. The story ends with the couple wedding and having their HEA

The story was not as good as others that I've read by Ms. Bateman. I think it is still a good comfy read. Will I continue to read her novels..."YES". This one just didnt hit the mark for me but was just okay.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3-Stars

Just like the first book in the series, this was a romantic and adventurous story. I loved Emmy for her kind heart, her sense of humor and adventurous. Harland of course, has a sense of right and wrong, kind and a reluctant knight in shining armor. I highly recommend this book.

Me, after finishing it:

[shrug gif]

It wasn't bad? I didn't exactly like it, either? But I feel like I should? Am I going to do this whole review in question marks? Maybe?

✔s: One of my favoritest of all-time favorite tropes! I loved Emmy's family ((view spoiler on GR)), I liked Alex friend/partner Seb's little asides, and maybe 1-2 to 2/3 of the smooth criminal/cop plots.

✘s: a big case of "maybe it's not you, it's me" with the main characters, where I couldn't tell if they seemed inconsistent (and kind of annoying) or it was just me. I wasn't really digging the chemistry (despite all the factors). Plus, while I liked most of the criminal plot, it sort of sad trombone-d in the end and I wasn't into the romantic plot.

±s: Was I my own worst enemy on this? I don't know. I took longer than usual to read it than I usually do, but I had problems getting into the book and kept getting distracted. I had higher expectations than usual because I looked forward this after Book #1 and I loved A Counterfeit Heart, but I also tend to be more forgiving of flaws when factors like that are involved. Hence the shrug .gif


tl;dr: I don't even know. Maybe I'll try reading it again and I might love it or I might dislike it for sure? I would definitely reread A Counterfeit Heart, though, and I'll keep an eye out for #3 in this series.


Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the free ARC, with no incentive or coercion on your parts.

Hmm. I like it but isn’t as enjoyable as the first in this series. It doesn’t help that this book is like one of her previous works in the secrets and spies series. That one was great. This book felt like a washed down version of it.

And even though Alex and Emmy were great, my reading of this book was colored by the knowledge of the other book.

Still, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you St Martin’s Press, St Martin’s Paperbacks fior the copy of this book. And NetGalley too

I loved this book! Plenty of twists and turns and chemistry! I love seeing a smart heroine, and Emmy was intelligent in spades. Similarly, the supporting cast was just as interesting. I would definitely read more from this author.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to read and review.

A fun and enjoyable read. This book didn't quite live up to its predecessor for me, but it did still leave my interested in reading the next book in the series.