"How To Train Your Earl" was a fun story. Zane Browning is a notorious rake and the black sheep of the family. He would gladly continue his life of drinking, gambling, carousing with women, and ignoring "Society" protocols. However, the Earl of Blacknight and the next two heirs died in an accident, leaving Zane as the Earl of Blacknight, a role he never expected or wanted to have. His family is very concerned about his ability to fill the role of Earl, especially as to how it will affect their circumstances and the lifestyles to which they are accustomed. His uncles and sisters are pushing him to get married, in the hopes that marriage will force him to settle down and be more responsible.

Brina Feld is a confirmed widow. Her husband died in a shipwreck five years ago, sacrificing his life to save others, and the loss was so great that she never wants to risk experiencing another loss such as that. Brina is happy with her life assisting the Sisters at the local abbey and helping fund a school for the sisters and daughters of the men who lost their lives in the shipwreck and who did not have the benefit of Society wealth and influence to ensure a quality education and occupation.

Brina and Zane had a brief but intense chance meeting in Paris, though it was at a masquerade ball, so they did not know the identity of the other. Back in London, Zane sees Brina out walking with her students, recognizes her, and asks his uncles her identity. They quickly inform him that Brina Feld is not an option -- men much better than him had failed in their efforts to court her.

Zane decides Brina would be the perfect choice to marry and to teach him to be respectable. To get her attention, he places a bet at a gentleman's club that by the end of the Season, Brina Feld will accept his proposal of marriage. He then proceeds to go to Brina's home, introduce himself, and inform her of the wager. Brina is incensed at his outrageous behavior and wants nothing to do with his plan. However, he continues his pursuit, and while dancing at a Society ball, Brina impulsively makes a counter-wager, and as Zane accepts one condition, she adds more until finally Zane has agreed that for the next four weeks (until the Season is over), he cannot drink, gamble, swear, or be intimate with a woman and if he fails, he has to publicly apologize for his wager. No one, least of all Brina, thinks Zane has any chance of winning the wager, with many people actively betting against Zane.

Of course, Brina has to spend time with Zane in order to teach him how to be respectable, which brings them into more frequent contact than she intended or wanted (especially as there is a definite attraction between them that Brina cannot allow to develop further). The interaction between Brina and Zane is quite enjoyable, especially as Zane often confounds Brina, doing things he knows are improper but also showing her an unexpected degree of caring, interest in what is important to her, and insight into her wants and needs. In their private moments, and sometimes in not so private moments, Brina shows a boldness that surprises her. She also comes to regret the most impulsive condition she placed on Zane.

It is inevitable that something will happen to force Zane to violate the terms of the wager, and that somehow this violation will be overlooked or gotten around. The author was creative in how she went about setting up the forced violation and how she crafted the happily ever after. A book well worth reading.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is a really great story. Loved the development of Brina and Zane. No spoiler here, but we have two basically nice people, one punishing herself for being human, one a rogue turned earl lost in responsibility! Their journey is delightful and also heartbreaking. So glad I got to spend time with this wonderful couple.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you.

How To Train Your Earl
by Amelia Grey
St. Martin's Press
Pub Date 27 Apr 2021  

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.

This is third installment in the book series, First Comes Love Series
Amelia Gray finishes out this delightful series with a strong conclusion.

Brina Feld, has been a widow for five year since the death of her husband with the sinking of Salty Dove. Her time spent is devoted to helping others less fortunate. Along with two other widows they have started a school to accommodate the daughters of the crew members lost at sea.

Zane, the Earl of Blacknight, is in search of a proper wife. His recent acquired earldom has forced him to leave his rakish ways. He struggles at his new position and when a bet is cast he finds himself smitten with the vibrant young lady Briana Field.
The two challenge each other, every step of the way, in this engaging romantic fiction.
I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommended it to readers who love to be swept away in delightful historical romance.

Good first book by this author that I've read. The heroine was good but hero left a little something to be desired. The story was good. I'll try this author again and maybe it'll be more to my liking.

Brina is a widow, a paragon of virtue that all widows should be ( cue the eye roll), who is trying to keep a quiet life until one ball in France where she finds a restrained gentleman, Zane (literally he’s tied up). Zane was never destined to be anything, and enjoyed a life of leisure and privilege as a lower son, until the day he ends up the eight earl of Blacknight. His rakish and free lifestyle have not prepared him for the duties that have been thrust upon him. On day he meets up again with Brina and decides that she will be the lucky one he’s going to marry, but what happens when he finds out this gentle lady has no desire to remarry? Why he places a bet that she’ll marry him. Desiring to get revenge Brina counters his bet with her own, knowing that there’s no way that Zane will give up the things that he loves, like gambling, drinking, etc, in order to beat her. Along the way both characters start to see how they compliment each other perfectly, but who will come out on top with this bet? This is the third book in the series and you will see familiar characters but you don’t need to read the others to enjoy this one. It’s a nice historical romance with a bit of humor that starts with a bang, has a little slow second quarter, but builds up quickly there after. 4 stars. I received an arc copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.

I was sad that when I finished this book because it meant it was the end of the series. I enjoyed this last installment with Brina’s story. Zane was a great match for her. Their story is well worth reading. If you do read this first before the others, I highly suggest going back to read those. Great series!

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

3.5 rounded to 4

This was an entertaining romance. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and the ending had a good twist. I did lose a little interest in the middle though and skimmed the chapters. I wasn't convinced that Zane Blacknight would know without a doubt he'd marry Brina Feld, a woman he briefly met her given his reputation as a rake so for him to agree to all her conditions seemed so out of character for him. But, this was a romance so all things are possible.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

I found the pacing to be very slow. I only made it to chapter 15 before I finally gave up. Although I really liked the characters I found them to not have enough connection. Zane was multidimensional but Brina I had trouble belieiving her so indifferent to Zane then all of sudden wanting him. There seemed to be something missing. Maybe will finish it at a later date, but for now the plot didn't hold my interest.

I enjoyed this romance as I was reading it, but then I started to think about the behavior of Zane, the roguish hero. The first time he meets Brina, in admittedly very odd circumstances, he grabs her and kisses her. Then he sees her again and finds out that she is a very well-regarded, virtuous widow who has stayed loyal to her husband’s memory while helping others. She is a genuinely good person. Zane has unexpectedly become an earl and has to find a wife. So he makes a public bet that Brina will agree to marry him. Then he just shows up out of the blue and tells her he’s done this.

So now all of society is talking about them and watching her every move. Who does that to a woman he supposedly admires? What sort of guy would make her a public sensation when she is clearly someone who enjoys living out of the limelight?

Of course, she’s wildly attracted to him from the beginning, because it’s a romance and that’s what has to happen. The hero and heroine have to be struck with insta-lust. But once I started thinking about his behavior, I didn’t like him at all.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I'm admittedly a huge fan of historical romance, so it was not surprising that I enjoyed this so much. I really liked it and the author did a good job of pulling me into the story.

Absolutely delightful! Brina has stated she will never marry again. The pain of losing her husband was overwhelming and she never wants to go through it again. She has felt no attraction to any gentlemen since until she meets Zane, the brand new Earl of Blacknight, under very unusual circumstances. When he sees her again he decides to court her. He places an infamous wager at White's that she will accept his proposal before the last ball of the season. That gets her attention! Their interactions are such fun! His huge extended family are bonkers. There is also a thread of a mystery in this book that surrounds two young cousins of our couple.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of How to Train Your Earl by Amelia Grey.

This is an enjoyable read. The interaction between Brina and Zane when they first meet was great. I loved that we get insight into Brina and the reasons behind why she was doing things. I felt how the secondary story tied into the main plot was cleverly done. Both characters are kind and likeable, and it was satisfying to see them get their happily ever after.

“I want to make you happy about your past, your present, and your future with me. You are my life.”

Brina Feld has embraced her life as a widow after losing her husband in a tragic accident at sea. With two of her very best friends, Brina immerses herself into the running of the school for girls they opened and goes about her days doing good deeds for those less fortunate in the community. But when her aunt convinces her to attend a masque ball, Brina never dreams she would literally stumble upon a man that makes her feel like maybe her life is ready to change course…maybe her heart is ready to love again…if only she can forgive herself long enough to allow love a second chance…

Zane is known in the ton as an expert when it comes to wagering on cards and most likely found in the gambling hells rather than at a family dinner. After an accident leaving the current Earl and his heirs dead, Zane suddenly finds himself the new Earl of Blacknight, and he has no earthly idea how he will change his rakish ways. After a chance encounter at a ball with a woman he thought never to see again, he can’t believe his good fortune to spy her walking across the street. Now Zane sets a monumental task for himself as he endeavors to make the elusive Mrs. Feld his future bride. He’s so convinced of his abilities to woo the fair widow, he places a bet that she will accept his proposal by Midnight at the last ball of the season. But Mrs. Feld has counter terms to his wager…ones that Zone is determined to uphold, because he’s never been one to lose…

How to Train Your Earl is the final in Amelia Grey’s First Comes Love trilogy, but may be read stand alone. This was an enjoyable read. The beginning and ending were the best, but unfortunately, it kinda dragged a wee bit for me in the middle, and I found myself skimming the pages. Overall, this is sweet romance with an interesting twist at the end, and if you are a fan of regency/historical romances, I would recommend giving it a try.


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

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Brina meets Zane the earl of Bkacknight at a masquerade ball. He stirred feelings within her that she hasn't felt since she lost her previous husband. This book was an enjoyable read.

This is book three in the First Comes Loves trilogy, and even though I had not read the previous two books this book reads fine as a standalone story.

Zane has an earldom thrust on him he never wanted and Brina is pretty much a professional widow of five years doing charitable acts. They meet by chance one night at a masked ball for just a few minutes but each makes an impression on the other. When Zane sees Brina again after returning to London and assuming his title, in an effort to appease his family, he decides that she's the only one he wants to marry. Thus, he makes a bet at White's to get her attention. And ended up getting the attention of everyone in London.

I enjoyed this story. The beginning started off with a bang when Zane and Brina meet for the first time in Paris. When the story picks back up when they are both London it continues with an original and fun idea of the bet. Brina decides to make her own wager and soon all of London is watching them for the duration of the season to see who will win and who will lose, and all the gentlemen have money riding on the outcome.

Although I did like both characters, I was a bit disappointed when Brina assumed the worst of Zane near the end, without even giving him a chance to explain the events that caused her to believe he had betrayed her. However, she did redeem herself masterfully at the last ball of the Season. As for Zane, I genuinely liked the way he didn't really care what anyone thought of him except, of course, for Brina. His family was annoying at times, particularly the sister. But Zane didn't let them bother him, although he did chafe throughout the book at some of society's ridiculous rules. He just dealt with them and his new responsibilities all while trying to win the bet that would gain him Brina's hand in marriage.

I did feel the connection between the main characters, but not a whole lot happens during the book. Just them getting to know each other and the bet. But that doesn't mean it wasn't fun, just slower paced. This was a sweet, easy read.

The last book of the series, we now gage Brian’s story. Widow Brina, who catches the eye of a rake. It’s an unlikely pairing and Zane (the rake) has his work cut out for him. But Zane is determined. Unfortunately so is Brina.

I like the story, and I did wonder who’d get Brina’s attention. Zane was good for her for sure. And she to him. Unlikely but they do fit.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Just the book to while away a dreary afternoon - a delightful historical romance .

Zane , Earl of Blacknight , never expected to become the Earl , it was only after an accident
took all the other heirs out of the equation that the title came his way ....... he had always seen
his life as a gamester and rogue . He needed to change if he was to fulfil his role properly
and it is with that in mind he lays a bet in White's book that a young lady he had met by
accident would marry him before the last ball of the season .
Brina , a young widow , had settled to a life of helping others , setting up a school for young girls
with two friends and helping a group of Nuns feed the poor .
After her accidental meeting with Zane she had put him out of her mind but when he approaches her
with an offer ............. will she help him with the ways of the Ton and he will help her ........... can she resist ?

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

4.5 stars - What a delightful read, and wonderful conclusion to this series. How to Train Your Earl stars a hero, who is honorable, but unconcerned with society’s rules. The heroine is a widow, and while not a member of the ton, very well regarded by all of society. He places a wager to get her attention and gets much more than he bargained for. It’s a delight from start to finish.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What a delightful story! I really enjoyed the banter between Zane and Brina.

While the plot is nothing new for a romance (a staid member of society teaching another how to act appropriate), and at parts things were a bit draggy, however the author certainly adds lots of wit and flavor between this widow and a veritable rake!

Worth a read, and certainly had its moments of hilarity if you're looking for a romantic historical comedy!

I received a free ARC for my honest review of this story.