In Who’s That Earl, Jane Quayle is well-bred lady who secretly writes scandalous gothic novels from behind the walls of an ominous old castle. Thomas Sutherland is a former spy who’s inherited and earldom. Along with a castle. And, yep, Jane’s inside it. She also just so happens to be the girl he’s never forgotten. But their reignited spark might not get the chance to burn because someone is targeting the voice behind Jane’s infamous novels…

The premise of this novel had me super excited. Dark and stormy castles and gothic novelists and first loves…yay. And while I can’t say I didn’t enjoy this book (I did) I also wanted a little…more? Jane and Thomas’s backstory together could have been more developed and emotional. I wanted there to be a stronger, more visceral connection. I also thought this book would be more mysterious and high-stakes and I just didn’t quite feel that.

But I liked this book. The banter is very satisfying. And I loved the parts where we got to read the book Jane was writing. I also adore this gorgeous cover.

Thank you Kensington and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Isn’t that cover eye-catching? I have to say, I’m still not sure whether I love it or hate it, but it definitely made me take a closer look. A second chance romance with a dual hidden identity? Set in Scotland? Heck yes!

“Subsequent events ought to have driven Thomas from her mind. Instead, she could recall those golden weeks with him in perfect clarity, when she’d still been naïve, prone to believing in love at first sight, as told in tales of romance. But since the night of the assembly, she’d been forced to confront reality. Now she knew exactly how such fictions were made. She understood the source of their power, and she used it for her own ends.”


Jane is a popular gothic novel author, though she pretends to be just the secretary (ok, actually amanuensis) while Thomas is the new Earl of Magnus, owner of the somewhat rundown castle she’s renting. Seven years ago, when he was a newly minted officer and she was a young debutante, they had a brief whirlwind romance, culminating in a kiss. Both had hopes for more, but circumstances conspired to separate them. Now older and wiser – or perhaps jus more cynical – both are wrapped in secrets they’re reluctant to share with a virtual stranger. For Jane, she’s receiving death threats due to the salaciousness of the “author’s” writing, not to mention the secret that caused her family to cut her off in the first place. For Thomas, his career as a spy is his life, and he has no time for dealing with an obviously neglected earldom. He also worries how the townspeople – who he once viewed as friends – will treat him when they find out about his newly elevated station.

“Mrs. Higginbotham, if I’m going to resolve this matter, I’ll need your cooperation and honesty.”
She tipped her head to the side to acknowledge his point and gave a sweet smile. “Of course. What possible good could come of being dishonest with one another?”


From the moment they meet again, Jane and Thomas’ banter was excellent. While I initially had a hard time believing they’d both be pining over the other based on a few weeks’ acquaintance and one kiss, their banter revealed a depth of connection between them that sold me on it. They also both realize that their unrequited feelings might be better as fantasies than reality – Thomas, at least, realizes how he’s held up Jane and their one kiss as an example of everything good in his life, an antidote to his sometimes soul-destroying spying career. Attempting to revive that relationship might just fail entirely and leave that memory tainted. Jane for her part likes to pretend that she hasn’t spent much time thinking about Thomas. But their whirlwind romance – and the fallout – have formed the basis for her popular books.

“First was the simple fact that she was lying too. Lying to him—to everyone. Not that one person’s lies excused another’s, or that hers made him somehow trustworthy. But it felt hypocritical to fault him for fabricating an answer without knowing why. She, of all people, understood that one might have a perfectly good reason for doing it. She, of all people, knew how risky the truth could be.”


I loved how their secrets were handled. Both characters realize fairly quickly that the other is, if not outright lying, at least keeping secrets, but both are also acutely aware that there are plenty of good reasons why someone would do that. I also loved the bits of Jane’s writing, which were delightfully gothic and overwrought. I honestly wish there had been more, as I’d probably read The Necromancer’s Bride in a heartbeat if it were a real book!

As for cons, the mystery portion of the book was fairly weak. It was extremely obvious who the villain was, and honestly besides giving Thomas an excuse for staying at Dunnock Castle, I thought it detracted from the overall storyline. Also, while I found Dunnock and its neighboring village well described, the secondary characters were flat. I did enjoy General Scott, the matchmaking spymaster, but did find it a bit unbelievable and silly.

Overall, while there were some issues, I’d give this a solid 4 stars. If you’re looking for a historical with a touch of gothic and a great second chance romance plot, I’d definitely recommend this book!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Susanna Craig brings to readers a charming and clever story in Who's That Earl.

A second chance romance with a touch of mystery this author gave her leads some interesting hurdles to overcome. Jane stood out as a heroine in that while having had her share of misfortunes she was not a victim but triumphant in her ability to overcome the obstacles thrown at her in a period appropriate way. Thomas was exactly how one might picture a career soldier and spy in his demeanor. His astute observations and his willingness to take on responsibilities showed him to be a man of integrity as well as his loyalty to his connection to Jane. This couple had a strong bond made fragile with time yet it endured and it was believably reignited when they were reunited. As secrets unfolded this story picked up and by the end it was hard not to be captivated by this pair and buy into their love for each other.

With subtle historical details this work's time period felt organically authentic. Ms. Craig's focus on her character's relationship using the time period they were depicted in as a back-drop kept her story from falling into the trap of being a retelling of history versus a historical romance. At times this work lagged but this author's prose was as lovely as the story she was telling and enabled her to keep interest in her work to its conclusion. Susanna Craig brings another thoughtful and richly detailed historical romance to her readers in Who's That Earl.

Called back to England from his post on Dominica when he unexpectedly inherits a Scottish earldom, Dunnock Castle is the last place Thomas Sutherland wants to be. Discovering the castle is rented by reclusive gothic novel author Robin Ratliff, Thomas wants only to ensure his tenants are in good hands before returning to his army career. He’s shocked to discover the castle inhabited by Jane Higginbotham, formerly Jane Quayle, a young woman with whom he was once briefly infatuated.

Jane’s hiding several secrets… she’s not a widow and she is actually Robin Ratliff. She’s also dealing with threatening letters targeting her author persona. When Thomas reappears in her life and astonishingly claims to have been hired by Robin Ratliff to deal with the letters, she knows he’s lying… but she can’t reveal how she knows without exposing her own secrets.

I really loved this… I actually thought it would have been more interesting if the pair had never met in the past; it seemed pretty incidental to the main story. Thomas would still have been intrigued enough to stay on discovering Ratliff’s assistant was a woman. The chemistry between him and Jane was fantastic, and there were so many wonderful little touches, like Jane’s two cute dogs and the excerpts of her gothic novel. Susanna Craig is one of my favourite historical romance authors at the moment and she definitely doesn’t disappoint with the first in this new series. Five stars for a wonderful read!

Thomas Sutherland has been a spy on Dominica for nearly 7 years. He is recalled to England when he inherits an earldom in Scotland. His rundown castle has a tenant who turns out to be his lady love from early in his military experience.
Jane has more than one secret. Thomas would like to discover them all.
This book drew me in and kept me reading to see how Jane and Thomas would deal with their secrets and find love.
There were moments I wanted to shout don’t be stupid and moments when I held my breath wondering if Jane would come through the threats unscathed.
Content warning: sex prior to marriage, described. I wasn’t quite expecting this, but you sometimes don’t know with romances how far things will go.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to to review this fun story.

✍🏼

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy o this book for review, all opinions are my own*

This is a very quick book to read and the story also takes place in a short time making the plot happen quickly so you get stuck in the story.
I loved the author's writing, she made me feel with her writing as if it were at the time the book is set.
The main characters are very well developed and I loved their romance.
This is a quick, cute, and very well written book that I highly recommend.

'Miss Jane Quayle excels at invention. How else could the sheltered daughter of an English gentleman create lurid gothic novels so infamous someone wants their author silenced forever? Fortunately, Jane has taken steps to protect herself, first by assuming a pen name, and second, by taking up residence at remote Dunnock Castle, surrounded by rugged scenery that might have been ripped from the pages of one of her books. Her true identity remains a secret, until one dark and stormy night...

After years of spying for the British army, Thomas Sutherland doubts the Highlands will ever feel like home again. Nevertheless, thanks to a quirk of Scottish inheritance law, he's now the Earl of Magnus, complete with a crumbling castle currently inhabited by a notorious novelist. When the writer turns out to be the woman Thomas once wooed, suspicions rise even as mutual sparks reignite. As danger closes in, can Jane and Thomas overcome their pasts to forge a future together?'
___________________________________

4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.

Who's That Earl is the first book in Susanna Craig's new Love and Let Spy series and is a historical romance.

Despite finding the book to be a little slow to start while the characters and their current circumstances are introduced, I really enjoyed reading this book. It a great start to a new series that I will be looking forward to reading more of.

At the start of the book, I felt largely ambivalent to Thomas' character as I found him to a bit gruff and aloof, as he was meant to be due to his time serving in isolation on an island. I wasn't sure that I would find him to be likable enough to follow through the entirety of the book. But despite his unwillingness to be there, he really started to grow on me once he made his way into Scotland to explore he reversal of fortunes.

I really like Jane's independent nature, even if it was largely born out of unfortunate circumstances. This isn't the first book I've read  with the heroine a beloved author writing under a male nom de plume, but I loved the ruise that Jane devized in order to allow her to write in plain sight, yet still enjoy the fruit of her labors and to bask in others' adoration of her work, all without any the wiser. Jane is a talented storyteller both within both her books and her own life, which earned her the both strength and independence.

I loved the characters and especilly the twists and spots of dangert hich they encountered over the course of the story. The next book of the series is lightly introduced in the epilogue of this book and I am entruiged by what we know of the premise and will be looking out for the next book.
_____

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for sharing an eARC of Who's That Earl by Susanna Craig. This is my honest review.

This started a bit slow but I really loved Jane. Tossed by her parents, after they found one of her novels, she was smart enough to figure out how to survive and make a living. The passion between them has a nice heat level. There's enough suspense to keep things moving too. The secondary characters are well written and multi-cultural. Somehow I didn't get enough of an impression of Thomas. He didn't have as much of a presence but this could be because he's a spy and trying to be low-key. His attraction to her is definitely there and I love that she's always been somewhat plus-size and self-sufficient. She's a bit closed-off, but that's understandable given her history.
Series: Love and Let Spy #1
Type: Regency/Scotland
Heat: 7/10
Tropes: Appearance vs Reality (She's pretending to be a widow who transcribes for a popular gothic writer, he's working for the crown as an investigator and hasn't revealed he just inherited an Earldom), Second Chance Romance, Mystery, Suspense.
Premise: Thomas Sutherland, while on military-intelligence assignment in Dominica (West Indies), finds out he's inherited an Earldom back home in Scotland so he returns to find he has a tenant - Jane Quayle, or rather that's how he knew her. She's now Mrs. Higginbotham, a plump widow and the amanuensis (author's assistant/transcriptionist) of the famous gothic suspense novelist Robin Ratliff. Thomas has always been drawn to her and offered for her before he was called away in the army (her father said "I have no daughter"). Will they trust each other with their secrets? Will Thomas find out who's been sending threatening letters to Ratliff? Will Thomas continue to be jealous of her dearly departed husband? Will they admit that they've loved each other for years? Will General Scott keep trying to matchmake his men? How can Thomas - Lord Magnus, afford to take care of his castle and the families that live on his land?
The Good: Strong heroine who knows what she wants and a man who lets her make her own choices. Love it.
The Bad: I thought the very beginning could have been shortened, maybe started when they first saw each other.

**Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in order to write this unbiased review.**

Summoned home from Dominica, career soldier and spymaster, Thomas Sutherland, is in for a surprise... two of them actually. One, due to Scottish inheritance laws, he's now the Earl of Magnus and that his family seat has been rented out to the mysterious gothic novelist, Robin Ratliff. And Two, that Ratliff's secretary and scribe is none other than the woman Thomas thought he'd lost. Except she's now wearing widow's weeds and is decidedly silent about the exact whereabouts of her employer. Thomas smells a mystery and he's determined to get to the bottom of it.

Jane Quayle has a secret. She's not simply a secretary. She's actually Robin Ratliff, the famous gothic novelist who pens delightfully wicked stories to scandalize the moral guardians and titillate the masses. Unfortunately she's run into a problem... Two actually. The first is a series of threatening letters regarding Ratliff's (read hers) stories. And second is the lanky Scotsman from her past. The man she'd once given her heart to. The man she'd thought she'd never see again.

Can Jane and Thomas reconnect fully when both of them are hiding huge secrets? And just what is up with this mysterious letter writer?

---

This is my first book by Susanna Craig, and quite frankly I loved it. From the immediate immersion into the world of spies and gothic novelists to the sweet spaniels who weren't quite the best behaved but were, and this is true, the best girls.

Jane is a plain, plus-sized heroine who doesn't come from a noble family so her prospects, if she were on the marriage mart, would be limited. Except she's not. She's not interested in being some man's ornament. She has a dream of being a writer and she's realized it. It makes her happy. She's good at it. And she's smart. Super smart. And capable. Very capable. I love competency in our heroines, more of this please.

Thomas is a former soldier who'd never expected to be an Earl. He hasn't trained for it, knows nothing about it, and honestly wants nothing to do with it. He's a soldier and a spy. That's what he's good at. It's what he likes. He has no intention of sticking around until he sees Jane. He too is competent and quick-witted. He's take charge, but he's not a misogynistic mule about it. It's refreshing. Thomas is not a beta hero...but he's not fully an alpha hero either. He's both.

The story is sweet with a hint of mystery running through it. The breadcrumbs are there for those who like to follow the plot, but it's still a very satisfying conclusion. It's more a matter of how, not who... at least for me. I loved how rich the rest of the characters and the Scottish Highlands were. The sex, and there is sex, was hot. I didn't feel like it was overwhelming.

Frankly, I enjoyed this book. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

Five stars

Title: Who's That Earl
Author: Susanna Craig
Publisher: Kensington Books
Series: Love and Let Spy, #1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Who's That Earl" by Susanna Craig

My Speculation:

What will happen when Thomas Sutherland, who was a spy for the British, finds out that he has received an inheritance from his hometown in Scotland. Will he take up his title as an Earl? What will happen when a Gothic writer [Jane Quayle][Mrs. Higginbotham], who was writing under the name Robin Ratliff has taken up residency at Thomas's Dunnock castle? And what will happen when Thomas notices as well as Jane that they had once courted some seven years ago? Ok, now that Thomas as come back to Dunnock castle when will all of the secrets start to come out that both of these two held from each other and especially finding out that Jane is receiving threatening letters? Why will Thomas want to stay to protect Jane even though aren't these threats again the novelist? Also, what was all of the strangeness that was involved with Jane's parents?

Alright, you will have to keep up because I found the story a little bit hard to follow, but yet it did keep my interest in wanting to know what in the heck was going on. What will happen when Thomas and Jane began to fall again for each other? Yes, I will say it was steamy! Add all this with the threat that Jane has received, and you have a good mystery. I was somewhat surprised that it took Thomas a minute to figure all of this out, especially since he was a spy.

To get all of the questions answered, you will have to pick up this good read to see how well this author brings it all out to the readers. I did enjoy the novel "Who's That Earl," which turns out to be a fantastic historical romance. I found many characters from a hero and heroine who were relatable, the housekeeper, Agnes, gatekeeper, Dougan, the villagers [Thomas's boyhood friends], with all of their witty banter and let's not leave out Jane's endearing dogs [Athena & Aphrodite].
So, was this a second chance at romance for Thomas and Jane after all is said and done? Be ready for a read of the 'Scottish Highland, and its beautiful community.'

I thank NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Second chance romance, a Gothic novel writer, a former soldier/spy turned Earl, a crumbly castle, and two adorable spaniels. If any (or all) of these things interest you, definitely pick up Who’s That Earl. Our heroine, Jane, is a quick-witted, creative, strong woman who happens to write scandalous Gothic tales under a pen name while renting out a crumbly Scottish castle. Our Hero, Thomas, is an intelligent, adventurous, respectful man who is a former spy turned Earl and just happens to own the castle rented by a certain novelist and his amanuensis (which is basically a literary assistant who takes dictation and/or transcribes/copies manuscripts).

This book was the last one I read during the Historical Romance Readathon (*weekend edition*) and one of my favorites! I adore historical romances with characters who are writers, and this was no exception. I also love when the reader gets snippets of the book/stories within the story AND the snippets relate to the main story.

This book also features, from what I understood during my reading, a more full figured/fat heroine (despite the woman in the cover art). She is described as “plump” and “sturdy” and Rubenesque with a round belly and dimpled thighs. I enjoyed this little bit of body diversity as a lot of historical romances tend to have very slender, petite heroines (I understand why this is, in a historical context, but it is always nice to have differing body types as well).

Probably my favorite part of this book is how respectful Thomas is of everyone, but especially of Jane. I’ve read quite a few historical romances (and romances in general) that have a Hero who disrespects the heroine’s wishes or her explicit nos or body language that clearly shows discomfort. It is always refreshing to have a Hero who is respectful of the boundaries of the heroine, and also just respectful to people altogether.

I absolutely loved the second chance romance aspect of this book. For me, the chemistry was still there and the sparks were still flying. It was sweet, it was cute, and it was steamy.

One last thing before I close out this review, THERE WERE DOGGOS! I love dogs, and I was so excited about the dogs in this book that I screamed and woke up my dog lol.

I’m trying to keep this review very spoiler free. So, basically, what I’m saying is that I highly recommend Who’s That Earl by Susanna Craig! It is an excellent beginning to the Love and Let Spy series, and I truly can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series when they release!

A big thank you to Lyrical Press and NetGalley for the eARC of Who’s That Earl in exchange for an honest review!

Who’s That Earl by Susanna Craig
Love and Let Spy #1

From the West Indies where Lieutenant Thomas Sutherland hid his spying as a rummy beach bum to England then sent on by his commander to take up his new post as the Earl of Magnus he is not sure what to think or whether he will remain the earl or head back to spying. That said, seeing the woman he fell hard for seven years before does make him think it is worth staying awhile at the castle. That she might be in danger calls to his need to protect. The two still feel a spark but can they get it right this time?

What I liked:
* Thomas: a good soldier, spy, and man – he knows he wants Jane but isn’t one to push or order and lets her realize she wants him, too.
* Jane: a woman w ho was treated badly by her family – I liked her ability to make a life for herself under difficult circumstances
* The supporting characters in the village – would like to know more about some of them.
* General Zebediah Scott – a great commander with an interest in matchmaking
* Aphrodite and Athena: two dogs that deserved to be happy, too.
* The second chance for Thomas and Jane – though I didn’t really feel their connection as much as I would have liked to.
* The comeuppance of Jane’s father
* Knowing that there will be another match made by General Scott in book two of the series

What I did not like:
* Jane’s parents – especially her father
* The person sending threatening letters

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Lyrical Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Susanna Craig starts her Love and Let Spy series on a high note. Who’s That Earl is a lot of fun to read and Jane and Thomas were easy characters to root for.

After being cast out by her family, Jane has become a famous and wealthy author of gothic novels. Only she writes under a pen name Robin Ratliff and rents a remote Scottish castle, all the better to protect her true identity. That doesn’t stop danger from appearing on her doorstep in the form of threats from someone angered by her lurid novels. Assistance and protection comes in the form of Thomas Sutherland, the man she once fell for as a young woman. Like her, Thomas has changed in the years since their blossoming romance was crushed. The British spy has inherited an earldom thanks to a quirk of Scottish law and the mantle of the earldom sits ill on his shoulders. Both have secrets and each of them is suspicious yet still attracted to the other.

Jane and Thomas’s romance is, in a word, entertaining. They are likeable characters with pasts that have shaped them into interesting protagonists. I particularly enjoyed that Jane was a writer of salacious gothic tales. Her writing was such fun to read about and the way she has embraced her career and freedom made her an engaging heroine. The banter between Jane and Thomas was fun and made Who’s That Earl move at a quick clip. I also enjoyed watching Thomas learn to accept the curveball life has thrown at him. The mystery of who wants to harm Robin Ratliff was a good way to keep Thomas and Jane together at the beginning, but on its own it was just a so-so plotline. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed Who’s That Earl. The atmosphere was fantastic, the romance entertaining, and I finished the book looking forward to the next Love and Let Spy story.

Lieutenant Thomas Sutherland has been stationed in Dominica for 7 years working as a spy looking for French trying to come ashore. He now has been called back to England and learns that he is now the Earl of Magnus and Laird of Dunnock Castle.

Thomas learns that the castle has a resident author who is said to be a recluse because no one has ever seen him. Upon arrival, he finds Jane Quayle, whom he had once romanced before being called for service. She says that she is just the secretary to the author who is away at the time. She also says she is a widow and her last name is Higgenbotham.

When she was young, her father found a manuscript that she had written. He was livid, threw it into the fire, and kicked her out of the house, disowning her. Luckily, she had kept a copy of the manuscript. Now, some books later, she is a successful author using a nom de plume.

They spend time catching up with one another and realizing their love has never waned. But, when she receives a threatening letter, she wonders who is after her and why. Thomas is determined to find out and protect her.

This story did not grab me. I found it dull. The setting of the castle sounded cold and dreary. The chemistry between Thomas and Jane lacked spark, but was just sex. I rolled my eyes at how she came to be at HIS castle. Too convenient. The holier-than-thou men in the story is a real turnoff. What is the time setting for goodness sake. I’m sorry, but this was not a book I can say I cared for.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Who's That Earl is an engaging historical romance with a bit of danger and mystery. It's the first of a new series by Susanna Craig. Jane and Thomas met years ago when they were very young but circumstances forced them apart. Their paths to the future were very different. Thomas becomes a military officer and Jane assumes a pen name and becomes a famous gothic romance novelist. She lives in secret solitude at Dunnock Castle in Scotland. When Thomas begrudgingly inherits the Earldom that includes the Castle he travels there to get the lay of the land...so to speak...and they meet again. Jane has gotten a couple of threatening letters and when she asks Thomas to stay at the castle he readily agrees. Their secrets are revealed and sparks ignite as danger approaches.
I happily recommend this book in what promises to be an enjoyable new series. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In her 2016 debut, To Kiss a Thief, Susanna Craig captured me with her richly drawn characters, vividly portrayed settings, and captivating storytelling skill. Each subsequent book over the past four years has only solidified her position on my author auto-buy list.

With Who's That Earl, Craig once again takes readers out of London with a lively story that's sure to entertain. Set in rural Scotland, with characters that leap from the page, she immersed me Dunnock Castle, the small village that surrounds it, and the lives, and loves, of the people who live therein. The story moves at a speedy clip, with witty banter, a delicious push and pull between hero and heroine, and a dangerous mystery to be solved. Craig has a knack for bringing it all to life, making me feel as if I know these characters, am invested in their lives, and have a stake in their happiness. I was right there with Thomas and Jane, cheering them on the entire way, and finishing their story with a happy smile and sigh.

Who's That Earl launches Susanna Craig's new Love and Let Spy series where military spies meet the women destined to capture their hearts with the assistance of a most unlikely matchmaker. I adored Jane and Thomas's story and am already looking forward to the next match!

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Great new Regency spy romance series!

Now this is something different! An unlikely combination but it works. A lady writer of scandalous gothic novels, a government intelligence officer and a castle in the Scottish highlands hiding secrets.
When Lieutenant Thomas Sutherland comes back to England after seven years in Jamaica he doesn't expect his spy master, General Zebadiah Scott, to send him off to check out an inheritance that seems to have come his way. That inheritance is a title, castle and land in Scotland. A place Thomas grew up in. Now he's returning to Balisaig as the lord, the Earl of Magnus, albeit with that information hidden for the moment.
Miss Jane Quale, a figure from his past, the woman he'd longed for and was spurned by, is the writer hiding out in the castle Thomas has inherited. It turns out she's also the recipient of death threats. Something Thomas is not going to take lightly, even if Jane does.
All this and it worked! Sure there's some racy moments but the storyline delivers.
It seems Thomas' commander, spymaster Scott has a soft spot for his officers who have worked diligently and if he can set their feet on another path, he gives them that chance. Like some benevolent Pan figure he thought not only to train up intelligence officers but he considered that he might have "a parallel duty to his men? A duty to ensure their health and welfare and even happiness?" Not that this seeming altruism doesn't also bring side benefits for the Intelligence Service.
I'm definitely looking to read the next in this rather different series.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Who's That Earl is a historical romantic suspense (more romance than suspense) with an independent, plus-size heroine and a hero reluctant to become an earl with a career in military intelligence. I had such a good time with this one and I'm excited to read more from the author!

Jayne Quayle is secretly the author of pulpy novels, written under a male nome de plume. She is renting a castle in the remote Scottish Highlands as she pens her very successful novels and hides her identity by pretending to be a widow who works for this elusive author. And she has just received her first death threat.

Thomas Sutherland has been recalled from his post in the military because he has unexpectedly become heir to a Scottish Earldom. In fact, the very one that Jayne is currently inhabiting! And they have a history. Not to mention plenty of secrets.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this. I will say, don't go expecting a heavy emphasis on suspense or an elaborate mystery plot, as I see some readers disappointed with that element. But I loved the characters! Jayne is curvy, smart, and fiercely independent. Thomas might want to save her, but quite often she can save herself. Thomas appreciates and respects her work as an author and doesn't need her to fit inside a box. I was a fan. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Who's That Earl by Susanna Craig is the first book in the Love and Let Spy series.
It presents the story of Jane Quayle, an author, who publishes under a male name. She lives alone in a small town. She rents from an Earl, who passes away, That's when the new Earl, Thomas Sutherland, comes into the story, It turns out that they knew each other from 7 years ago.
The story wasn't that bad, but I really liked what Susanna Craig with the male author vs female author. People from the town where Jane lives have never seen the suspected male author, but they never suspects that Jane could be the one writing the books. As we all know, many women were writing under a male name, because women could not write. So I really liked that Susanna Craig went with that subject in her story.
Jane is what I would call a bad-ass. She had to start her life alone without any help at a time where women were under male authority. Thomas is everything you would expect in a gentleman.
There's nothing amazing about that book, but it's pretty good.

Who's That Earl is a great comfort read. Jane Quayle is writing scandalous novels under a male pen name. She rents a Scottish castle to hide away in. Everything changes when the new earl comes to take possession of his inheritance. Thomas Sutherland, the new Earl of Magnus and former spy, is surprised to find that his tenant is the woman he lost track of years before.

This book was a little predictable but in all the best ways. I'm a sucker for a second chance story. I loved the characters of the village and the matchmaking spymaster. The way Jane's Gothic novel was woven in with the story was great too. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.