"Girls Before Earls" is a cute story with a fun title. Hazel Lively is the headmistress of the Bellehaven Academy of Deportment, a finishing school for girls. After her parents died, she was fortunate to be accepted into a finishing school and enabled to finish her education, instead of going to the foundling home. With her school, she wants to ensure other orphan girls have the opportunity for a proper education. However, in order to provide a home and education for the less fortunate, she needs paying students as well. Enter the Earl of Bladenton (Blade). Following the death of his brother and his wife, Blade finds himself the guardian of his fifteen-year-old niece, Kitty. However, because Blade and his brother were estranged, he has no prior relationship with his niece. Kitty is grieving her parents and being removed from the life she had known. She is rebellious, having been kicked out of two London finishing schools. Recognizing that Kitty has no desire to be at the school and not wanting her to create a scandal that will compromise the success of the school, but also recognizing that Kitty needs someone to believe in her, Hazel strikes a bargain with Blade that requires him to visit his niece every two weeks. This has the unintended effect of bring Hazel and Blade into regular contact, which is problematic because there is an undeniable attraction between them, but Blade has made it clear that he has no interest in being part of a family, while Hazel will settle for nothing less than love and family. Hijinks ensue.

The author has created strong female characters in Hazel, Kitty, and Poppy (whom the reader will meet later in the story). The author has crafted some very descriptive intimate scenes between Hazel and Blade. It is fun to see Hazel experience and put into practice what she has only read about before; because, of course, she has studied the erotic arts. I enjoyed watching/reading about the transformation in Hazel, Kitty, and Blade as they each begin to open up and trust others, and allow more of their personalities, and therefore, their vulnerabilities, show. "Girls Before Earls" is well worth reading.

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

Having grown up alone in a school for girls, Miss Hazel Lively knows how beneficial the experience can be for young girls - especially those with no where else to turn. She has finally found the means to open Bellehaven Academy, a school for girls, a place where the wealthy are willing to pay dearly for their daughters to learn the necessary skills for their coming out season . . . and a place where Hazel plans to take in less fortunate girls and offer them a safe haven like she received. Admittedly, she's off to a slow start with only five girls, but Hazel's ever hopeful business will pick up as her school's flawless reputation builds and word spreads. She needs wealthy students - so why does she turn down the Earl of Bladenton's request to enroll his orphaned, belligerent niece Kittie when he drags her into Hazel's office . . . mostly in an effort to get the girl out of his hair?

Hazel Lively is a strong woman surrounded by a protective shell about as hard as the Earl's head. While she's puzzled by the strange feelings stirred within her by Earl Gabriel Beckett aka Blade, she brushes them aside having learned long ago that love, lust and other such non-sense wasn't for her. Why at twenty-eight years of age, she's practically a spinster, the respected headmistress of a school for girls. Blade is a man at wit's end left to raise an orphaned niece he'd never met before her parents deaths - a girl who's been kicked out of at least three other finishing schools for her foolish pranks. In other words, he's desperate to park his niece at Bellehaven and return to his bachelor life in London including his soon-to-be fiance. He's dumbfounded when Hazel turns him down cold. How dare she refuse him! Let the games begin.

Girls Before Earls is a delightfully sweet, funny and touching historical romance story. Hazel was everything I love in an heroine - strong, sassy, smart and fighting her attraction to a man tooth and nail. Blade is damaged goods and knows it. Having been devastated by a woman who loved another, he's closed his heart to love, vowing he'll never let another woman close enough to hurt him again. Blade's willing to play, but he'll never stay. The author does a great job presenting characters that are authentic and well-fleshed out. I loved Hazel's interactions with her girls. The plot line is original and well-written with a few twists thrown in to keep characters and readers off-kilter. I read this book from cover to cover mostly in one sitting. Fans of historical romance will love this one. Highly recommended.

Girls Before Earls is a phenomenal start to a new historical romance series by Anna Bennett. Ms. Bennett has provided readers with a well-written book populated with a stellar cast of characters. I love the characters in this book! Hazel became an orphan and a neighbor took her to a school for girls. She didn't have enough funds to stay, but the headmistress was impressed with her and allowed her to stay anyway. Now she's the headmistress of her own school in Bellehaven Bay. Blade didn't know his niece when he became her guardian and is trying to place her in Hazel's school after things didn't work out in the last two schools. Blade and Hazel's story is a fun read but full of feels. There's plenty of drama, humor, steam, action and suspense to keep readers glued to this story. I loved reading this book and look forward to reading more from Anna Bennett soon. Girls Before Earls is book 1 of the Rogues to Lovers Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

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

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Hazel is happy to open a school for girls. She is surprised to see an earl who brings his niece, who has been kicked out of a few schools. She decides to take a chance with the girl. The more she sees the earl, the more she likes him. I enjoyed the chemistry between the earl and Hazel.

3.5-star read!

Hazel Lively was the headmistress of a newly found Bellehaven Academy of Deportment. As someone who lost her parents at a young age and was offered shelter at a boarding school, she dedicated her life to providing other girls from similar background with education and a family. To support this cause, she was in desperate need of funds from other wealthy families to help sustain the school.

Blade, the Earl of Bladenton, brought his orphaned niece Kitty to Bellehaven, hoping to get his troublesome ward out of his hands after she got kicked out school after school. Realizing Kitty's situation was somewhat similar to her past, Hazel only accepted his generous offer with a condition that he had to visit Kitty every other month.

While I enjoy the setting of a small beach town with some fun local events, I didn't feel invested in Blade and Hazel's love story. They got together, then decided their relationship would never work because Hazel wanted a family full of love while Blade wanted nothing to do with love, and so they said goodbye... Until the next time they saw each other again and felt their irresistible attraction, and the cycle repeated. Both Blade and Hazel were just okay characters for me, they're nice people and didn't make me want to strangle them, but at the same time, they didn't charm the pants off me either. If you're looking for a low angst read, this might be for you.

*Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Release date: December 28, 2021.

I received "Girls Before Earls" from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Anna Bennett is a wonderful author, and she never fails to amaze me with her beautiful stories. A 6 out of 5 stars for this beautiful journey of love. Hazel Lively, headmistress of Bellehaven Academy of Deportment needs more students to make her dream school come true. Beck Blade, Earl of Bladenton, is trying to find a boarding school for his 15 yr old, orphaned, troublesome niece, Kitty. Miss Lively accepts to take on Kitty on the condition that Blade will visit his niece every two weeks. He reluctantly agrees but what ensues then is a blooming attraction between Beck and Hazel, two lonely broken souls  who need each other more than they realize. A lovely romantic story.

I enjoyed this book very much. Hazel is the kind of heroine I love; tough on the outside but a marshmallow on the inside. She is an orphan who had no one and resigned herself to being alone. Blade had loved and lost and been betrayed. Now he is saddled with a grief-stricken niece who cause trouble. I loved how both MC opened themselves to love even though they thought they couldn't be together. The supporting cast of villagers and school-girls was nice too. The only thing that would have made the story better was an epilogue.

Girls Before Earls is a fast-paced, enjoyable historical romance. We've got an earl with a difficult ward, a headmistress with a heart of gold, and a cast of supporting characters who all add some flavor to the novel. That said, it can be frustrating when our main characters don't act in their own best interests. What exactly was keeping Hazel and Blade apart once they both determined they wanted to spend their lives together? Especially considering Hazel's commitment to her young students, her refusal of his suit was a bit baffling.

All in all, though, if you're looking for a light read without too much angst, this is a good candidate.

The story was OK but I couldn't get past the anachronistic language and attitudes. This was supposed to be a historical romance but it could just as easily be a contemporary. Nobody seemed to behave or speak true to their times. The hero, Blade, came off as a shallow player while the heroine seemed like a modern day teacher. She was nice enough but I didn't connect with them as a couple.

Such a waste of time, please save yourself some $ and get something else.
Unfortunately, I found myself absolutely bored 1/3 of the way through wondering when anything interesting or new would happen for this genre. If I hadn't received this as an ARC from Netgalley I would have DNF'd this as I couldn't see any reason why these two people should be together and when you include the bratty teenager and a cartoon character-mean girl Villainess that I just wanted to vomit. The number of bad tropes without any fresh twist or original thought was astounding. Let's list them, shall we?

Heroine's background is orphan-turned-boarding school girl because she can Marie-Kondo some books, who then become a headmistress of her own school without any financial support, or experience. Forgiving, or flat out ignoring that in this time period women were not allowed to own their business without being married (or by way of close male relatives), there was little information on this journey and the hardships she must have overcome to get there.

Hero's a snob and cold-feeling, and that is typical and done to death as a trope since his backstory also includes cheating and lack of communication with a dearly-departed brother that he is now left with a brat of a teenager to care for. I swear I've read this same character in about a dozen other books, and they were all done with more subtlety and depth than this one-dimensional figure.

Heroine cannot seem to attract more students (imagine that?) to her tiny school and is in danger of losing the ones she has due to her inexperience and lack of connections. But, you know a handsome gentleman comes along and solves all her problems so all is well.

Hero falls for this book-worm schoolmarm with surprising swiftness and she seems to have read enough porn manuals to instantly agree with rolling into bed with him. The age-old trope of using their class difference and the "we can't be together so let's just end this" was a snooze to read.

Let's not forget the over-the-top Fiance Lady who tries using blackmail against her future spouse to get him to marry her? This is supposed to be the main conflict and it just read so flat that when the villainess walked away with another gentleman as her future potential husband I was just "meh" on the whole situation.

And did I mention the annoying bratty teenager that shows up (or is mentioned) every single chapter and is so unlikeable with a lackluster side-story of her own with the trope of "naughty girl turns good because of friends influence"? Just stop.

I can't wait for the details of this book to leave my brain.....nothing about this was memorable.

Enemy to lover, different class romance starring a bold intellectual and a dashing aristocrat. I loved Hazel. She's the heroine I envision myself being if I were cast as a character. The Earl, Blade, on the other hand fell a bit flat for me.

A decent historical.

Hazel is a school headmistress who lost her parents at an early age. Blade has become the guardian to a niece he never knew about. Hazel and Blade each struggle with deep emotional wounds that together they can overcome with the help of his lively niece. I loved the growth each character had as they learned to navigate their relationship. The story pace was perfect and engaging with wonderful dialogue and setting. You immediately connect with the Hazel and Blade and don't want the story to end. Great start to a series!

I got invited to read this book and it turned out to be an enjoyable, Regency era easy read.

Hazel Lively is now starting a school for young women. She was orphaned young and loves books, so this is just the kind of thing she’s looking forward to. When she only has a few students, the Earl of Bladenton arrives with his mischief making niece, Kitty, wanting her to board at the school. Ultimately Hazel agrees, which ends up leading to her spending for time with Blade.

As the story progresses, we get to learn more about Hazel and Blade and their need to feel loved and have a family. They slowly start to trust each other as their feelings grow and they realize that they complete each other. What I ultimately liked about Hazel and Blade was the sense that they brought out the best in each other.

That being said, I think my favorite part of the books was learning and Hazel’s pupils, along with one and Hazel’s teachers and a local girl who does some work around the school. I loved that they were secretly cheering Blade and Hazel on and were plotting by the end of the book to get them together. I Ioved Kitty’s character and seeing her growth was rewarding as a reader.

I hope we get more books with these characters!

Great story until the pseudo fiancée got in the way of things and turned it into a soap opera!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect scenario for these two wonderful characters to fall in love but that's the easy part. Their hearts are in a whirlwind as they are challenged by their attraction yet dogmatic on their wants and needs directives. Inspirational, entertaining, unpredictable and steamy. There's a lot going on and that all connects well, I do wish there had been more romantic opportunities however my heart was warmed and my smile was wide, in the end. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to read and leave a review.

Girls Before Earls (love the title) is a sweet story of two rather lost people finding their way to each other. I was invited to read an ARC of this novel by the author and Netgalley, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

Hazel is the headmistress of a fledgling school for girls located in a seaside community outside of London. Her school and its handful of students mean everything to her; a similar school was a salvation for her after it took her in upon the unexpected death of her parents when she was young. When the Earl of Bladenton arrives with his wayward teenaged niece and begs Hazel to admit her as a boarding student, Hazel agrees on one condition: Blade must agree to visit Kitty every other weekend.

Blade's relationships with both Hazel and Kitty grow during these visits, but he continues to cling to his belief that, after a youthful heartbreak, his heart is stone. He fully intends to marry Penelope, a society belle who herself puts no stock in romance. When a mild scandal threatens Hazel's school, he asks Penelope to help in exchange for an immediate engagement announcement.

Hazel and Blade are lovely characters that you cannot help but root for, though I confess that the "my heart is stone" hero trope is not a favorite of mine (and is way overused). The supporting characters are also fun: the students, various townspeople, an overly dramatic society matron, etc. I'm curious about what the next book in the series could possibly be about.

I do think that more time could have been spent showing Blade and Kitty growing closer (Blade was estranged from her parents since before she was born). Hazel and Blade's relationship too seemed to be on warp speed. We're to believe that Hazel had a difficult childhood, but while losing her parents so young was awful, she was ensconced in a boarding school without much fuss, and the only other hardship described was when that school's headmistress retired and she was on her own. Not an easy childhood, but it wasn't clear to me how it was fraught with difficulty. As for her being hard, that too did not seem true of the character I read. Hazel was fairly prim of dress, but she was also affectionate with her students and was a calm and confident force in their lives. The physical side to her relationship with Blade happens way too fast as well; she throws herself into it quite happily if not recklessly.

It was a fun and fast read though, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read and review it. I would also read more from this series and author without hesitation.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

This was a classic romance read that offers all the tropes, settings and characters that historical romance readers love. Bookish heroine who thinks outside of societal norms? Check. Emotionally stunted hero who reforms for true love? Check. A delightful cast of supporting characters that provide humor and atmosphere? Check. Sticking it to the ton? Check. In short: this one will hit the spot if you are looking for a classic historical romance book to cozy up with this winter.

Anna Bennett creates a great new series in Girls Before Earls. Miss Hazel Lively is the perfect heroine who just wants to create a family with the school for young ladies that she is creating. When the Earl of Bladenton shows up at her school to enroll his troublesome niece, things soon heat up. Love the chemistry between Blade and Hazel. Can't wait for book 2 in the series.

Plot: It was so good! I thought the idea of Hazel being headmistress of an academy for girls and falling in love with an earl was a unique premise for a historical romance. Reading about Hazel and Blade falling in love was delightful!

Characters: I loved all the characters in the book! Hazel was a fantastic main character, and Blade was a great love interest (even if he was a little oblivious). And the family Hazel and the girls created was so sweet.

The Cover: I like it!

Overall: This was one of my most anticipated romances, and I was so thrilled when I got an e-ARC from the publisher! I'm happy to write that this book lived up to my high expectations! I loved it! I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, and I have ideas for who the characters will be, I'm wondering if I'm right? Overall, I would highly recommend this historical romance novel!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Loved Hazel from page one. This book, with its engaging plot and truly likeable characters, is a gem. Can't wait to see what comes next from this author.