4.5 stars

Lady Phoebe Maitland doesn’t foresee any problems with marrying her long time instructor and friend, George, but she is very much mistaken. Her father, the Duke of Salop, has no intention of permitting his daughter to marry a nobody. When George is bought off, right in front of Phoebe, she is crushed. She is also desperate to find another husband, someone other than the elderly widower her parents have selected. Phoebe has been corresponding with a mysterious gentleman who advertised in the newspaper for a wife with certain specific qualifications. Since the mystery man sought a businesslike marriage, Phoebe decides to travel to Scotland to propose marriage in person.

Hugh Winthrop, heir to the Earl of Albury, wants to marry to please his dying father. Hugh’s mother deserted them, leaving both men leery of love. With his father urging him to make a sensible choice, Hugh decided to advertise. His original rather cold advertisement caused Phoebe to reply, not as an applicant, but as a critic. She chastised Hugh for not seeking love, and they began a correspondence which evolved into a strange kind of friendship. When Phoebe shows up unexpectedly, and more startlingly, proposes, Hugh takes her in. They agree to marry, each knowing the truth about the other. Hugh doesn’t want love, and Phoebe is suffering the consequences of loving a man unwisely.

Hugh has been mute since birth, though his family and servants have learned much of the sign language he uses to communicate. Phoebe is very willing to learn, and hopes to make their marriage a good one, maybe even leading to love down the road. Despite his own resolve, Hugh is becoming very fond of Phoebe, as she is of him. Their passion for each other and their genuine affection have laid the foundation for a solid future. Then her family intrudes in a most horrible way, bringing back all the feelings of betrayal that Hugh felt as a boy when his mother left. It now seems that their promising future has become the cold, businesslike marriage Hugh originally wanted.

Hugh is a dear man, one trying only to protect his own heart. He’s always kind, and treats Phoebe with respect and generosity. Though he has heard himself ridiculed over the years, mocked for being unable to speak, he didn’t let that define him. I would have liked to see some genuine interaction with his wayward mother, who still is apparently a darling of Scottish society. Phoebe is only nineteen, and her early actions really showed her youth and naivete, but I love how she matured and became steadfast in her actions. WHEN THE EARL MET HIS MATCH is extremely well written, with great lead characters and a warm and touching romance. It’s listed as part of the Wedded By Scandal series, but easily reads as a standalone. Recommended for all historical romance fans.

What a beautiful read!
Phoebe is a headstrong, independent heroine who has a robust joie de vivre. In fact, this is what has gotten her in a pickle. Hugh is a strong, silent hero who has withdrawn from the ton because of family circumstances. But he is needing to marry to please his ailing father, hence the marriage of convenience trope. My catnip!
Phoebe and Hugh are each other’s ying and yang. Watching how these two navigate a new relationship and all its emotions was a joy and bought some tears. I am all about the angst which is why I would have liked to have seen a LITTLE more torture for Hugh at the end but there was enough to keep me happy.

Phoebe wax such a strong and bright heroine who ends up
In a marriage of convenience with Hugh. Hugh is such a great cutie patootie... I loved this duke!!!! Stacey Reid knows how I like my historical romances and this was no exception!! Bantery, brazen and beautiful story!!

Pheobe doesn't want the marriage arrangement that her parents made for her. She's strong, independent, and wants to follow her own path. Hugh decides to advertise for a wife in the London paper instead of courting someone at the ton events. He's tough on the outside but is unaware that he's actually a cinnamon roll. They have a marriage of convenience that ends up meaning so much more.

This was a wonderful and refreshing historical romance. It was a page-turner with characters that you instantly fell in love with. I adore Stacy Reid's books. This is only my second of her books but she has become an auto-buy author for me and I intend to read all of her backlists.

Review excerpted from my blog post at The Titillated Termagant (https://titillatedtermagant.wordpress.com/2020/10/05/when-the-earl-met-his-match-by-stacy-reid/)

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.


___________________


Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Slowish burn

Relationship dynamics: The Mute Lord (H) / The Disgraced Lady on the Run (h)

Physical descriptions: Phoebe: 5’3″ tall, brown eyes, light brown hair, petite; Hugh: black hair and blue eyes

Sexual content: Some; on-page and explicit

Triggers: Parental abandonment (of H)

Grammar/Editing: This ARC had many omitted words, some typos and word choice issues; there was also confusion regarding peerage titles for one character – I hope that all of these are cleared up in the final release because there are enough errors in the ARC that it was distracting.

Review: This is a medium-paced book set in 1817 Scotland and Derbyshire. There are geographical factual errors, such as the use of the modern name for China that only came into being in 1912 (People’s Republic of China). We don’t see enough of society or setting outside of estates to really get a sense of the level of research for the setting, otherwise.

Hugh (potentially called Ambrose at some point, based on one significant typo) and Phoebe are the main characters of this novel. At the risk of violating my usual “minimal spoiler” review policy, this plot includes a pregnancy and parenthood narrative where the hero isn’t the biological father of the baby – if this trope isn’t your thing, this isn’t the book for you because it is central to the narrative, and it’s not mentioned in the book’s blurb. It seems cheeky to mention that much of the tension in the plot can be attributed to problems with communication, but it is a significant problem that does not stem from the characters’ inability to do so. The characters just do not communicate some things well to one another. That being said, the author does an admirable job of pulling at the heartstrings of the reader when the characters just can’t seem to meet in the middle. I did enjoy the concept and development of the hero – I just wish that we had encountered him in a different scenario – because I am one of those individuals who wouldn’t have read the book if I know about the pregnancy plot.

The supporting characters are mostly peripheral in this novel. I get the feeling that we may have been expected to know more about them because this is book 4 in the series. However, you can still read this as a standalone. I just think that you sacrifice some character depth, rather than plot points, if you pick this up without reading the others. That being said, I think that I can see who will be featured in Book 5, if this series should continue, and I was sufficiently invested in those characters to pick up their book, should their story be written.



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Lady Phoebe Maitland's expectation of marrying for love is shattered by the object of her affections (and her parents), she turns to the mysterious author of an advertisement for a wife in the paper. What starts as a series of letters questioning each other's integrity turns to a marriage of convenience that neither Phoebe, nor the Earl, Hugh Winthrop, could have imagined.

Earlier in the year I read my first Stacy Reid historical romance, My Darling Duke, and enjoyed it enough that I wanted to try some more of her writing, so I was very excited to receive this review copy from Netgalley.

Lady Phoebe Maitland comes from a prominent family and has always had hopes of marrying the man that she loves - her music tutor. But when he comes to ask for her hand in marriage, her parents are quick to dismiss him as below her station and completely disregard any affection between them and pay him off (to which the man in question accepts). This completely disabuses Phoebe of the notion of love and in need of protection from her family, she runs away to the home of the author of an advertisement she'd seen in the paper, one seeking a wife. She'd previously exchanged correspondence with the man, calling into question his integrity for such an advert, but realises that she could possibly call upon him for protection and so she does.

What she discovers is not what she expected - the man in question, Hugh Winthrop, is the son of an Earl and about to inherit. Not only that, he's been unable to speak since birth and communicates through sign language and letters. Intrigued by the headstrong Lady Phoebe, Hugh accepts her proposal of a marriage of convenience - it'll keep his dying father off his back and keep her (and her secret) safe.

The story was entertaining and kept my attention, especially as Phoebe and Hugh have to learn how to communicate with one another - and not just in a regular miscommunication trope fashion, they have the physical barrier of Hugh not being able to speak, and being fairly isolated as a result. The tension is built up not only by this need to learn about each other, but also by Phoebe's secret and the building tension that maybe this marriage of convenience might actually have the groundings for a solid relationship, too.

Throw in Hugh's cantankerous, aging father and free-spirited younger sister you have an enjoyable cast of characters who all need to learn to grow and be sympathetic to one another.

If you're looking for your next historical romance, this is worth checking out.

Hugh & Phoebe are refreshing and addictive!!!
Stacy Reid is phenomenal with her stories!


***I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.***

sadly I have picked up another book that was part of a series that is midway through the series.
However, I still read and found myself really enjoying the story. The hero is loveable and depicted in a beautiful way with his love interest that will make me swoon. I read about half and then couldn't take it and got the first three books! Love it and was so excited to find a period romance that didn't make me roll my eyes too often and still made me swoon!

This story of a hero who loves deeply but doesn’t realize that is what he does from the start is such a wonderful story. Stacy wrote a story with a hero who is not perfect being mute and a strong heroine who loves wholeheartedly. While reading this story I wanted to scream laugh cry at both Hugh and Phoebe. I was engaged from page 1 till the last page. The ups and downs, the smolder then fire between these two characters who complete each other made me wonder what life will be like for them years to come. I received an advanced reader copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

What a refreshingly delightful story. A page turner with really likeable characters and a well developed story.

Lady Phoebe Maitland, afraid of the marriage arrangement her parents secured for her, decided to forge her own path. Hugh Winthrop, the future Earl of Albury, who had fallen ill and now tends a sick father, decided to advertise for a wife in the London paper instead of spending the time courting someone at the ton's gatherings.
A marriage of convenience that was supposed to meet both parties needs ends up being so much more.

I loved this story even without reading the prior books. Initially, I didn't know this was part of a series, but I started to suspect it was because I could tell there were a few things that would enhance my understanding of the side characters. It is clear that Lady Phoebe's decisions were spurred on by actions that occurred with her siblings in their own stories that came before this one. Lady Phoebe and Lord Hugh had enough of their own issues that I was engrossed in their journey together

The main characters were very unique in that Lady Phoebe was independent, strong willed and unrestrained in a way that went against propriety. Lord Hugh was a mute and there were rumors about his legitimacy which made his family very defensive.

What stood out to me was the amount of empathy that Lord Hugh's family had as well as how inclusive they appeared to be. I admired how passionate and unreserved Lady Phoebe was especially as Lord Hugh seemed stoic. But they were alike in their kindness and loyalty to family. Lady Phoebe and LordHugh were so good together as friends as well as lovers. This story was so endearing and somewhat full of angst that I wanted to know how it ended but didn't want it to end either.

There were many things to love and enjoy about this story, but how the characters were written tops my list. The pace of the story, the care for those less fortunate and for protection offered to Lady Phoebe despite the manner in which she arrived to Lord Hugh etc. This story is one of the best stories I have read this year and I now plan to read the prior books.

<i>*Special Thanks to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for the e-ARC given in exchange for an honest review.

WHEN THE EARL MET HIS MATCH is the fourth book in Stacy Reid’s “Wedded by Scandal” series. There is an element of kismet in this romance. Lady Phoebe Maitland stumbles upon a dog in need of some serious TLC. She finds out later that Wolf was owned by the man she ends up marrying. Phoebe has a common problem for a woman of her time – not much in the way of autonomy. Her duke and duchess parents are trying to marry her off to a man she doesn’t care for, while the boy-next-door she does have feelings for disappoints her in the worst way. Enter Hugh Winthrop, the future Earl of Albury. The romance between this hero and heroine begins in an unconventional way, but it delivers big time in the end.

When Phoebe initially sees Hugh’s advertisement for a wife, and his subsequent response to her replies, she is alternately outraged and amused. His advertising for a wife is everything that offends her romantic sensibilities. However, when she finds herself pregnant and in a tough situation, he seems like the lifeline she needs. Hugh is not your ordinary viscount. His circumstances and his environment leave him wary of expressing any kind of tender feelings. He has a lot of baggage from his mother’s philandering ways and absence from his life. Rather than a hatred of women, it has left him overly cautious and with a few defense mechanisms. Romantic love is something Hugh eschews and doesn’t entirely believes in. Despite this great divide in their thinking, Phoebe and Hugh marry - with him taking on her unborn child. The bulk of WHEN THE EARL MET HIS MATCH is about the sizzling attraction and the courtship (after the wedding) between this couple at their home in Scotland. The wooing is delicious and a delightful mix of sweet and sexy. Stacy Reid expertly balances the character development and emotional punch with the red-hot encounters. Eventually, the other shoe drops, and Hugh is forced to come to terms with his deeper feelings for Phoebe. It’s a good thing that this story is told from alternating perspectives, since Hugh keeps most of what he truly feels hidden. I like both characters. They are both flawed but they have a great chemistry together.

WHEN THE EARL MET HIS MATCH is gothic masterpiece and full of passion. This is a book that will make you cry one moment and sigh the next. Stacy Reid’s books are the only ones, other than Lorraine Heath’s books, that bring me to tears but lift me back up and make the emotional payoff worth the angst. I look forward to Stacy Reid’s next book.

Stacy Reid blends humor, passion, emotion and intrigue in her enchanting new historical romance, When the Earl Met His Match.

Lady Phoebe Maitland feels the heavy weight of her parents’ expectations on her shoulders. Her parents have pinned all of their hopes on Phoebe so she feels duty-bound to make an advantageous marriage and they have selected a suitable candidate for this position: a man who is many years her senior, but whose lineage is impeccable and distinguished. Phoebe yearns to be the mistress of her own destiny and to make her own choices. She is adamant that she will not wed the man her parents have chosen for her having fallen madly in love with George Hastings, the second son of a viscount who is also her piano tutor, whom her parents do not deem to be their social equal. Despite all of this, Phoebe is sure that her parents will give their blessing to this union when they see just how much they love one another. Unfortunately though when George chooses to line his own pockets over her, she is left crushed, broken-hearted and desperate to find a way out of the betrothal which her parents had arranged for her.

When Phoebe comes across an advert in the local newspaper by a man looking for a wife, she is intrigued. Putting pen to paper, Phoebe writes to this mysterious man and they soon begin a regular correspondence where they match wit for wit with ease and alacrity. Phoebe begins to look forward to her mysterious pen pal’s letters and the more letters she writes to him, the more she starts to wonder whether she might have just inadvertently found the perfect way out of the marriage her parents are insisting upon…

Hugh Winthrop, the future Marquess of Albury, is in need of a wife. But when he had decided to advertise for a bride, he never imagined that he would end up receiving letters from a woman who would not hold back in voicing her opinion and would have no hesitation in disagreeing with him whilst simultaneously making him laugh with her sharp wit. His correspondent is no shrinking violet but an intelligent and forthright woman who always surprises him with each new missive she sends. But even Hugh was shocked when she turned up on his doorstep and proceeded to offer a marriage of convenience in exchange for his protection! Sparks immediately begin to fly between the two of them as passions flare and temptation becomes absolutely impossible to resist.

Although there is no denying the fact that they are drawn to each other, Phoebe can sense that while Hugh has no qualms about sharing his body, his heart is off limits. Will Phoebe and Hugh’s relationship be one of convenience alone? Can they triumph over all the obstacles standing in their way? Or is theirs a love that is simply not meant to be?

Stacy Reid’s When the Earl Met His Match is a witty, sensuous and captivating historical romance with two fantastic lead characters that kept me eagerly turning the pages. Phoebe was a fantastic heroine. She was strong, resourceful, resilient and had the courage to fight for what she wanted even when all the odds seemed to be stacked against her. Hugh is a delectable hero who is sure to have historical romance readers swooning over him.

Emotional, dramatic and wonderfully romantic, Stacy Reid’s When the Earl Met His Match is an engaging read that is simply delightful.

"'How I wish she could hear my voice, even if once. How I wish I could sing for you.. laugh with you"

Name: When The Earl Met His Match
Author: Stacy Reid
Series: Book 4 of Wedded by Scandal Series
Genre: Romance, New Adult, Historical Romance

Historical fiction and romance have always interested me. I was always a junky for history, and you throw some romance into the mix and I thought I would be a goner. Although I am always intrigued by it, I don't seem to pick up any historical romances, until I stumbled upon When The Earl Met His Match. With no expectations whatsoever, I entered this regency piece and was amazed by the settings and character development that our author describes. I found the story to be appealing and unique, something that is hard to achieve in any subplot of romance.

When The Earl Met His Match, is a story that can be basically be described as the series names " wedded by scandal" indeed. In this era, we have our two main characters who, our hero writes an ad in a newspaper to find a wife to whom our heroine responds declining the offer and stating how rude she found it. Lady Phoebe, is still enamored by the idea of love, and this rich fellow seems to be throwing it out the window. Something she vows never to do, that is until she falls pregnant over a stupid night and finds herself running away from her family and all she knows to the arms of Hugh, a future Earl who is also mute.

Hugh decides to take both her and the unborn child into his castle, and raise the baby as his own, a feat that is honorable. However, when their relationship turns more than amicable Hugh backs away. This back and forth continues, creating a hot and cold relationship that is exciting and nerve-racking at the same time.

Since I haven't read a lot of historical romances I don't have anything to base this piece on, but I did enjoy the experience. It was a warm read, filled with angst and very sweet moments. My biggest concern was the transitions between important scenes. It seems that we spent a lot of time inside our character's minds, which was good because they were interesting to follow, however when actual good plot elements were going on they were addressed fairly quickly and without emphasis. Making this a very character heavy story and lacking in plot elements.


* I Received this ebook through Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

-- 3 stars --

It has been a while that I have read from this author, and they seem to be hit or miss with me, sometimes I loove it and some I am.h,mmm, meh I could do without. So we meet Lady Phoebe Maitland who ends up pregnant fom an someone her parents bribed to walk away from her since he was just not "suitable" enough from her, and apparently he really was since he had gotten her pregnant and in that era that was a nono, which makes Phoebe also unsuitable but know one knows about her. She sets out to find someone to hurry up and marry her. She finds that in Viscount Hugh Winthrop. Hugh is cynical and insistent on falling in love due to something in his past, He agrees to marry her but I didn't the connection, and I would have loved to know more about the baby and Phoebe's pregnancy but all that was rushed, all in all it did have its sweet moment.

I wish I could give this 10 Stars. I truly loved everything about this read. I was so enraptured by Hugh and Phoebe’s love story. Ooohhh, and the smack down he gave her brother and Sparrow in the study, it was SO GOOD! I had to re-read that part three times, before I could make myself move on. Honestly, I can’t recommend When the Earl Met His Match highly enough. This has sealed the deal for me, I’m devouring everything Stacy Reid writes from here on out.

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

"Love has a way of creeping upon you when it is least expected," the old earl said..."you must be on your guard at all times." Yes that was the advice Hugh's father gave him. To not bring love into a marriage. His mother had shown how a woman can break the hearts of those around her.

But Hugh promised his father, who was very ill, that he would marry and had put an ad in the paper for his countess! Lady Phoebe Maitland, a Duke's daughter started a correspondence with him chastising him on advertising for a wife... That is until she needed to be that wife due to her sudden circumstances.

This was a powerful, a little dark at times, full of hope and passion, when least expected, of two people who needed each other, but had a journey to bring it all together. Perfect

Phoebe Maitland believes that marriage should have love before all else. But Hugh Winthrop. future Earl of Albery. believes that it is his duty to further his family's line and coffers but little else. They exchange letters, secretly of course, both trying to make the other see their point of view. But when Phoebe finds herself ruined, even if know one knows of the ruination yet, she turns to Hugh. He immediately steps in, and it was nice to see their love slowly grow after the marriage. There were some slow spots but ultimately was a good book and would recommend.

I received an ebook ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review:

When Phoebe Maitland sees and advertisement in the London paper for an anonymous man, seemingly well-off, looking for a wife, she has no choice but to write an anonymous letter herself to the address listed so she can speak her mind about such an unorthodox way of seeking a partner. Phoebe believes one should marry for love, not convenience.

Hugh Winthrop, future Earl of Albury, did not expect such a response to his advertisement. Curiosity takes hold and the two begin exchanging anonymous letter trying to argue on their own view toward relationships. Hugh believes in a marriage of convenience and social connections, not love. But when Phoebe shows up on his doorstep in a situation that demands his help, she may have to put aside her wants for love. She now needs the convenience a marriage to Hugh could offer her.

Hugh's past prevents him from opening up to Phoebe while her own past threatens to tear apart their growing connection.

I give this book a solid 4 stars!

It was the type of story that left me smirking after so many shared moments between Phoebe and Hugh. Phoebe goes through a tough situation that leaves her desperate and heart broken and you feel for her. Her position in society is threatened and Hugh, without hesitation, takes her into his home and his life. You get to see them grow as a couple and unite on more than one front. The only thing I felt lacking was the ending seemed a bit abrupt. I would have liked just a little bit more, maybe a little further forward in the timeline, to see where the story could have gone. Overall though, it was a great read and i really enjoyed it.

Stacy Reid writes lively characters that bring the reader into the book and Phoebe and Hugh are no exception. Phoebe sees an ad for a wife and responds. How dare someone place an advertisement for a wife? A correspondence forms and when Phoebe finds herself in trouble it is to Hugh she turns. These two make a wonderful couple and readers will enjoy their story.

DNF’d at 20%. I’m not sure if it was the writing style that kind of dragged a bit or the characters that didn’t pull me in, but sadly this one just didn’t work out for me.