Oh my goodness. This book!

This book was unputdownable! It hooked me right from the beginning and I finished it one evening.

We first met Cal in book one of this series (I highly recommend, it was amazing), and I was so excited that he had his own HEA. He’s definitely a fixer, and with his quick wit and foul language, you’ll be laughing and falling in love with him.

His heroine has one of the best character arcs I’ve read in a long time. Her story is just amazing and heart wrenching at the same time.

This book was emotional at times, and the characters are just written to perfection.

I’m beyond excited for the next book in the series, as this beloved character definitely deserves her HEA.

West End Earl is the first book I’ve read by Bethany Bennett, but it most definitely won’t be my last!

This book had me anxiously flipping the pages from the very first and, despite the well-threaded tension, I had a smile on my face the entire time.

At its core is a heartwarming friends-to-lovers romance between a remarkable woman assuming her deceased brother’s identity, and a charming earl with far more to him than just his golden-boy looks.

Cal and Phee’s relationship was everything I hoped a romance stemming from a deep, two-year friendship would be--and don’t even get me started on the steam, for there was plenty! *fans self*

I will certainly be rectifying the fact that I did not read the first book in the series (Any Rogue Will Do) ASAP.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book (provided by the publisher via NetGalley). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun historical romance with a (gender-nonconforming?) heroine. The hero is pretty enlightened and modern, and explicit consent is a feature. Both lead characters are dealing with abandonment issues and, for the hero, patterns of enabling behavior.

For two love interests with realistically difficult family histories, the histrionics of the breakup felt forced, although the heroine's plan in the aftermath was a point of interest. The tidy wrap-up right at the end, of the nefarious family member, also seemed unnecessary and didn't fit the story flow.

Although the second in a series, I haven't read the first and was able to follow along fine. It's clear that this couple are side characters in the first book, and certain elements of their history were missing, but it's not a major loss.

Ms. Bennett is a talented author and with this one sentence "People see what you want them to see or what they want to see." she sets up the unique idea behind the story. Cal, Earl of Carlyle and Adam Hardwick are the best of friends, only Adam is not really Adam, but his twin Ophelia "Phee" Hardwick. Ms. Bennett pulls off one of the best plot twists I've read in a while. To escape her evil uncle who wants to marry her off, Phee takes on the persona of her dead twin and eventually is hired by Cal. She secretly loves him, but he's clueless to her real identity and so it goes on for more than 2 years.

Without revealing too many other secrets from the book, I loved all the witty banter between Cal and "Adam." It was refreshing to read a story without the insta-love trope. It was so interesting to see how people do only see what you want them to see. I loved this book and can't wait to read Emma's story.

How far would you go to escape a bad situation? Well, Phee definitely goes the extra mile to escape. She meets Cal in her new life and they form a strong bond, but it seems like life enjoys throwing obstacles in their way.

I loved the humor in this story. I also think lavender smells like cat piss! I honestly couldn't ask for more in a book.

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

This story kept me on tenterhooks. The plot may seem unoriginal but the writing definitely is. The twists and turns is just cleverly written. I like how strong the heroine is. She has been through a lot and yet she has survived. I love how the hero recognized that in her and loved her for it. He truly did deserve to win the heart and love of the heroine. Theirs was not an easy journey but it was enjoyable to read. Not melodramatic. It has a balance of humor and light moments as well.

ARC provided by Netgalley

I have been loving this series by Bethany Bennett. I loved the first book, and this book is the story about the first book's hero's best friends.

Calvin, the Earl, has had his steward who is also his best friend for a few years, aka Adam hardwick. But lo and behold, Adam is a woman in disguise, running from potential danger.

This was so interesting to read. Calvin has always relied on Adam for everything, be it putting himself in danger and finding trade secrets for Calvin's business, or just needing a friend to talk in the library over a cup of coffee. Adam has been Calvin's friend. But soon, danger comes knocking Adam's door, or more like Ophelia's door.

And the secret comes out, and changes everything.

Ophelia: I loved her character. We see her as extremely resourceful, brave as well as soft-hearted. She has spent ten years as a man and it is her dream to be free of the danger and finally live as a woman. She dreams of wearing dresses some day. But she still talks and walks like a man. She is bold and brash. I absolutely loved how Ophelia was written. If there is a problem, she tries to find solution and deal with it. She hasn't ever relied on anyone else but Calvin is changing things.

Calvin: I loved his character too. Poor Calvin is always dealing with his family's mistakes, and trying to not follow them or trying to pay for them. Once again, he is stuck trying to resolve his father's mistakes and trying to get his sister married, but Adam aka Ophelia is in danger. And boy, the guy had so much to deal with and he couldn't catch a break. I really liked how he dealt with Ophelia's secrets coming out.

While I was reading the book "post-revelation", I did find some parts frustrating but after reading the book, I realize that the character's responses were realistic. They are not perfect characters. And assumptions and mistakes are made. There is some miscommunication. Once Calvin realizes that Adam is Ophelia, he sort of starts treating her like a woman. Trying to take care of her, not asking for help, and not treating her the way he treated Adam.

And I liked how this plus some other miscommunications were dealt as a conflict.

Romance: These two were such great lovers. And their love stems from lifelong friendship, and that is evident in their romance. I liked that the identity of Adam wasn't a secret for very long. And I enjoyed how those two dealt with her secret. I loved that he didn't care if people thought he was with a guy (if he had to hide Ophelia's identity). He just wanted Ophelia. And Calvin certainly got bonus points for that. They were friends and lovers, and I enjoyed it.

The female friendship that developed was really endearing and I can't wait to read Calvin's sister's book..She is such a great character.

Overall, a fun read. A little slow pace here and there. And I love how the hero was miserable at the third act conflict, and wish he groveled a tad more. But I was thoroughly invested in the story. Looking forward to the next book.

This story has so many twists and turns in it I am afraid to spoil it by saying anything! The main characters are endearing and resilient. Their supporters and friends are top notch. And the villains are villains! I loved how this tale unfolded and marveled at how it is resolved. Can't wait for the next one!

West End Earl by Bethany Bennett is book 2 of her Misfits of Mayfair Series and it was WONDERFUL!
When I read the blurb I just KNEW I would love this book as much as I loved the first book of this series! ❤
Ophelia (Phee) pretends to be a man for her own safety... but working as a land steward for Calvin, Earl of Carlyle, doesn't make her life any easier. When he finds out that his land steward is actually a woman both can't deny their attraction to each other... and there's so much more to come!

Awwwww!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED West End Earl so much! I'm so full of happiness now that I finished it. Of course I'm kinda sad that it's over but... I'm more happy that I experienced the amazing love story of Phee and Cal!
Right from the beginning I was in love with both main characters! And it was so nice to see Lord and Lady Amesbury (from book 1) as well! ❤
Pretending to be a man for a few years must be such a tough challenge and I was impressed by Phee! She's such a special, strong and inspiring young woman! WOW!
And Cal as he partner in crime was the perfect fit! I loved how they had to deal with all those secrets and chemistry!
I couldn't stop myself from reading! When reality kept me away from this book I really got frustrated and couldn't wait to go back to them!
I felt with them every step of their whole story! From the beginning to some drama to more drama and some looooove scenes back to laughter and emotions and so on!
It'd be definitely movie material for sure! ❤
Well what's more to say about this great story?
I LOVED IT WITH EVERY PIECE OF MY HEART! And I can't wait for the next book of this series!
Thank you so much to Bethany Bennett and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC via Netgalley.

This is my honest review with my own words.

Ophelia Hardwick has spent more than a decade living as her deceased twin brother, Adam, avoiding her odious uncle, and waiting to claim an inheritance. She's hiding in plain sight as land steward and friend to Calvin, Earl of Carlyle. Cal has been focused on finding a husband for his younger sister; but when he discovers that his friend "Adam" is really a woman, he starts having trouble focusing on anything but his growing attraction.

This is second book in the Misfits of Mayfair series. It can be read as a stand alone, although the characters cross over. It's worth getting to know Cal in book one!

This is the most original character in disguise story that I've read! I'm a sucker for this trope and I think Bennett does a good job explaining how Ophelia came to take over Adam's identity and fool people for so long. I've never read a story in which the events after the identity reveal unfold in such an unexpected fashion! Cal went from entirely in the dark to completely-in-lust a bit quickly, however it did allow more time for their romantic relationship to develop.

It's easy to immerse oneself in Bennett's writing. The characters are lively, the storytelling is compelling, and the romance is sexy! 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Tropes: Disguised, Secret Crush, Friends to Lovers

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #WestEndEarl #NetGalley

Wow, where to even begin with West End Earl by Bethany Bennett? Bennett's first book, Any Rogue Will Do, was phenomenal and I fell in love with it immediately, but you never know if a second book will live up to a first. Let me tell you, she knocks it out of the park with West End Earl.

Ophelia Hardwick has been masquerading as her dead twin brother for over a decade. If she can last until "Adam" comes of age, she'll receive the inheritance that is her due, but she has to steer clear of her grasping uncle until then. As Adam, Phee works as a steward/assistant to Calvin, the Earl of Carlyle, who is always having to clean up his father's messes, and must give his sister a grand debut, not to mention manage the finances of himself, his father, and several friends who come to him for investment advice. He couldn't function without Adam Hardwick, aka Puppy, who is also one of his closest friends and confidants. When Cal finds out that Puppy is actually a girl, he also realizes he's wildly attracted to her. Of course, she's been in love with him for years, so everything should be fine and dandy, except of course it isn't - between his wayward sister, her terrible uncle, and his father's meddling, it seems like they'll never find their happy-ever-after.

This book could have gone in so many ways. The main female character has been parading as a man - and continues to as well. Bennett is so careful, though, and handles this whole situation with such ease and aplomb, it's astounding. It never feels condescending or insensitive. Cal is a great character, and so is Phee. She's not afraid of telling him like it is, and is utterly unapologetic about who she is. The whole book is so matter-of-fact and it's just a joy to read.

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Bethany Bennett is one of my auto-buy authors, and I can't wait to get this one on my shelf, too.

First off, I want to say that I normally do NOT like the "disguise" trope. I personally want the hero and heroine to fall in love immediately, and the disguise trope can be cumbersome and awkward. However, in Ms. Bennett's hand, I found someone who could actually do this trope justice.

There is a lot going on in this novel--death, a villian, a secret identity, a pregnancy. So many different plots. And while they aren't difficult to keep up with, I still felt a little scattered while I read it. Here's the thing, though: I can tell that the author wants her historical romances to be very unique, and as a writing/literature professor, I very much value that. Originality should always be praised, no matter what. Luckily, Bennett's novel delivers a very unique plot. Our hero is Cal (from the first book), and our heroine in Phee (in disguise as her dead brother and steward to Cal). The special thing about this novel, for me, was the insta-love. It's my absolute favorite trope. The instant connection between Cal and Phee is palpable and real. She's already in love, and as soon as he discovers her secret, he's head-over-heels--fast.

While the actual story was interesting, the two parts of this book that stood out to me were completely character-related. Here's what I mean:

1. Cal isn't a complicated character, but he has some unique situations in his life, especially since he just found out that one of his best friends is a woman. I really liked Cal, especially when he wants her completely, from the very beginning. I also thought the author---and I could be completely wrong on this---hinted at Cal being bisexual. He makes subtle comments along these lines many times throughout the book. If that was the author's intention, I applaud it. I think if he is bisexual, it would explain his ease with which he took the surprising news. I think his sexuality is represented in such a positive light, and I hope other readers sense the same thing. It was a refreshing thing to see in a historical romance.

2. I adored Phee for many reason, but my big one is this: SHE WAS 100% SEX POSITIVE. That was BEYOND refreshing coming from a historical romance. She begins the story in love with Cal. When he figures out who she is and is attracted to her and proposes a relationship right off the bat, she's all in. And by all in, I mean she immediately wants sex--just like him. There's no freaking out about it, no tenderness. And I don't mean that in a bad way. She wants it however she can get it, and isn't afraid to tell Cal. Phee is so sexual that it took me by surprise, and I thought about it through the entire novel. It was a brilliant move by Ms. Bennett.

I also liked the way the author explained Cal's obliviousness to Phee by literally one phrase, which is repeated more than once (I'm paraphrasing): "People see what you want them to see or what they want to see." That's it. That line pretty much explains every situation in this novel. I liked it because of it's simplicity. However, it might have been TOO simple. There a lot going on in this book. Overall, though, I liked it.

The only critique I have of this novel--and it's a small one--is that towards the end, Cal came across like an ass. This surprised me because his attitude from the very beginning is pretty much "I want you and love you and nothing else in the world matters." That's why the main conflict at the end was kind of irritating. However, Bennett definitely makes up for it in the end.

Overall, I really liked this book! Ms. Bennett's words are clever, funny, and emotional. Her plot was unique, and her characters are real and relatable. I've already read the first book in this series and loved it, so I can wait to read the third one!

I got this book from the publisher, through NetGalley in return for an honest review. I loved the main characters and their story - yes, it took a lot of suspended disbelief and was wacky at times but they were both lovely people, the chemistry was great and it was very refreshing to see a relationship that also had a lot of friendship. That being said, a lot of the book sounded anachronistic as heck. Not necessarily in the vocabulary used but in the way the characters acted and thought. My personal opinion is that Bethany Bennet could write kick-ass contemporary. This book could have been at least one third shorter but being extra wordy is a trademark of this author, I guess. What bothered me, however, and the reason why this is not a five star read is that while we have those wonderful main characters with their complex storyline, the rest seems to be clumsily built to give them a background. For most of the book Emma is just too stupid to live and her paramour is like this cardboard figure with no depth. He makes absolutely no sense at all - why go after the diamond of the season and go that far when there are so many options out there? If he had come back and demanded a huge dowry I would have totally understood his actions. Then there were the little allegedly subtleties dropped in the text that were supposed to make the reader go "oooh, that makes sense now" at some point but they are nothing but subtle. I saw the solution to Emma's problem as soon as it vas obvious she was going to have a problem because apparently one looked hard enough and there was sufficient lighting in the bush at Vauxhall to notice the absence of French letters. I'm not even starting on Milton who again has absolutely no motive (other than to act as a threat so there is some sort of predicament) and turns out is the world's most incompetent villain. I will not expand on how he ends because I'll be tempted to take off another star. Basically some parts of this book were so wonderful and well written I chose to overlook the choppy parts and the plot devices that were sometimes thrown in there with zero finesse. I gave this a four star rating and, again, I think this author would do so much better writing contemporary hot romance.

This was the second book in a Series and I had not read the first book, but this book worked as a standalone. The story line was an original one, to me, and I found it quite enjoyable. Phee is one smart, strong and determined woman and Cal is a kind and caring man. The friendship between the two of them is heartwarming. There is plenty of action and steam to keep you turning pages.

This was a lovely follow up to Bethany Bennett's debut "Any Rogue Will Do" and can be read as a stand alone. This was sweet and hot and funny with a clever plot.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Adam Hardwick has been the land steward for Calvin, Earl of Carlyle, for the past two years. Adam has a huge secret that he is actually a she, and has been in hiding for the last ten years from her scheming uncle who wants to get his hand on Adam and Ophelia's inheritance and the life insurance policy he took out on him.

This story was so unique. I've literally never read anything like it, and I think that's a very good thing. It started a little slow with the build up, but once it got going all the twists and turns really kept this a page turner. The thing I enjoyed the most? The characters! Phee was awesome, a totally capable and self reliant woman making her way in the world, and Calvin while sometimes a little misguided was a very sweet beta hero. I especially enjoyed the romance, and thought it was extremely sweet while also still being very hot. Phee is also whip smart. Her and Cal have some of the best banter I've ever read. Also, I loved Lottie in this book. Her character really shined through.

The only thing keeping this from a 5 star for me is that Emma drove me crazy the first half of this book, and some of the mystery elements got cleaned up a little too easily. Still a super fun read!

4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Ten years ago, after the tragic death of her brother, Ophelia Hardwick made a choice. She was to become Adam and live as a man until she came of age and was free to make her own choices. That time is nearing, her greedy Uncle is circling and she is hopelessly drawn to her employer, Calvin, the Earl of Carlyle. Cal wants to see his sister married and out of trouble, but after finding out his friend and confidant is actually a woman and her life is in danger, his priorities shift dramatically.

Two things about this book caught my eye, that cover {I cannot resist a yellow gown} and the main character’s name, Ophelia, which is also the name of my daughter. So, I was thrilled when I was approved for this ARC of West End Earl by Bethany Bennett.

This book has a dramatic backstory, and interesting narratives outside the romantic element. There’s family drama, women supporting women and engaging side characters. While not as steamy as my usual historical romance choices, this particular story may interest someone who is looking for more of a storyline than just romance or is new to the genre and wants to ease into it. Although the ending felt a little rushed, it did feel complete.

I plan to go back and read the first instalment in this series, Any Rogue Will Do in the future.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @ReadForeverPub for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting story! Phew has assumed the persona of her dead brother in order to escape the clutches of her uncle Milton. She is employed as Cal's man of affairs. When Phee is threatened by her uncle, who wants her inheritance, her identity comes to light to Cal. Thus begins their journey on the way to their HEA!

West End Earl, the sequel to the delightful Any Rogue Will Do, follows Cal and Ophelia as they turn their friendship into an unexpected romance. From wicked uncles to the ballroom of Almack’s, West End Earl, is a pure Regency confection, but it’s Phee, the red-headed spitfire of a heroine, and Cal, the deeply caring and gorgeous Earl, who bring the story to life. The love of Phee and Cal, fueled by friendship and respect, made West End Earl a refreshing and addictive page-turner. With steam, adventure, and clever twists this is a must read. I gobbled down the entire thing in one day and then was sad I didn’t have the next one in my hands RIGHT NOW. My (spoiler free) favorite parts included the baking scene that was clearly written by someone who understands the importance of pie during both pregnancy and heartbreak, and the clever solution to the problems of both Mr. Hardwick and Uncle Milton had me grinning. Bring on book three!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the second in series called Misfits of Mayfair. I was not a huge fan of the characters. In this book we have a girl pretending to be a guy. Phee is trying to take care of herself but ends up relying on her friend Cal. I understand the author wanted her to be a strong character but she was really annoying and awful to her friend. Cal tries his best to help his family and just cannot do anything right. The story was well done and I am looking forward to the next ones in the series.