I liked the write up of the book but not so much the book itself. Two damaged character's who can't seem to stop kissing and drop into bed very quickly at the expense of the story and character development. Also uses term's not in use during the era. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

OMG What a Story! I simply loved it! Kathleen just gets better and better with her stories!

I have to say I’ve been a part of Kathleen’s ARC team for a while and this is one of her books I’ll never forget. It’s full of brimming passion, steam and lots of hilarity. I loved the episode with the pea, I still laugh about it now but you’ll have to read the book to find out more.

This is Emmagene Stitch (a renown spinster) and the Earl of Huntley (a rude, ill mannered, self absorbed man’s) story into love. Thrown together at a house party hosted by Lady Trent for her cousin Honora and the Earl of Southwell, both Emmie and Henry cannot stand each other until they find a passion they can’t ignore. If you’re not laughing at the antics going on (check out Peony), you’re feeling the passion every time they meet, it’s brimming on nearly every page.

If there is any one book you must read, this is the one

I love Kathleen Ayers and have read most of her works, including The Beautiful Barringtons series (which she loved) and The Wickeds series (also loved). This is the second book in the new series, the Arrogant Earls series (isn’t that the best series name?). Our H and h are Henry Eldrick, Earl of Huntly and Emmagene Stitch.
So, Huntly. I ain’t gonna lie; I have had a bit of a tendre for him since I read the previous book, Forgetting the Earl. I don’t know why because he actually sounds loathsome. Not his appearance, of course, but he really just seems like a sarcastic, rude, jerk.

His appearance, to me, brings me in mind of a blue-eyed Jared Padalecki. So that was absolutely lovely to visualize while reading. Jared really is a handsome man. So the entire time I am reading about Huntley, I am remembering evil Sam on Supernatural. That may be why I’ve loved him since he was checking out women’s bodies and spilling wine down his front in the previous book.

So what about Emmagene? There’s a whole lot going on with her. We met her in the previous book as well, and she figured in prominently there. The first book was about cousin Honora, who was mistreated by the Ton (TW/CW: bullying), and Honora’s retribution. In that book we learned that something has happened in Emmie’s past that is the reason she is angry and bitter and unmarried. Emmie does not trust men. “[Emmagene] was known for her scathing remarks, her low tolerance for those she considered tedious—which was nearly everyone save Honora—and the severity of her person. She kept everyone at arm’s length, especially gentlemen. Not that there were any who would brave the armor of Emmie’s harsh personality. It saddened Honora because the Emmie she knew was loyal. Fiercely protective. Funny, even, when she chose to be.” (Forgetting the Earl, p. 57). So yeah, there’s going to be a rough road to HEA here.

So Kathleen Ayers definitely worked some magic in this one, because I could not STAND Emmie in the previous book. I came to like her a lot in this one.

The book is short, under 200 pages, and a lot is happening. These two are thrust together as they are both attending the wedding of their respective cousins, who got their HEA in the previous book. I definitely suggest reading the first one before you go to this one. Because it’s short, you may need that background info in the previous book to get you up to speed quickly. And the previous book explains a lot more about Emmie’s character.

I can’t tell you a lot without spoiling, but it was an engaging read. I didn’t like it as much as I liked the previous one, but I did find it interesting and it definitely kept me reading. What I really loved: the fact that neither the H or h are perfect (not physically and definitely not character-wise—they both have major character flaws, which is refreshing). There was a description of Huntly that made me sit back and say, “YES!” and nod approvingly. To all my Romance author folks: more books with folks who are not perfect, please!

I give this a 3-1/2, rounded up to a Netgalley 4.

This is the second book in the "Arrogant Earls " series. You can read either book as a standalone but better if read in order. Book two takes up where the first one ends. Characters from book one is also in this book. The Earl of Huntley, Henry is a Hugh, Bear of a man. He is rude, outspoken and nasty, but that doesn't keep the mothers of the ton at bay, due to the fact he is also wealthy.
Miss Emmagene Stitch is a spinster who is known for having a sharp tongue while saying what she thinks no matter where she is at. She wears very dull colored high neck dresses to keep men away.
She has learned the hard way man are not to be trusted. When her cousin, Honora decides to marry Henry's cousin, Gideon they are thrown together at the wedding house party. Neither one wants to be there. The hostess doesn't want either them there either. Neither Emmagene or Henry like the other, but events, accidents, a skunk and peas being thrown at dinner seem to bring them together. An unlikely very passionate affair. With secrets, and misunderstanding can they find a happy ever after ?
This is a really fun read, it has sad part, laugh out loud funny parts, and a couple you will not forget.
This is steamy story for those who want to know. I hope the next book is about Montieth.
I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

This was a speedy, entertaining read. At first Emmie and Henry didn't really enchant me, but about 25% in I started to like both of them. And a skunk in the story! I really liked this book, read it straight through and I didn't put it down.
If I had one complaint it was the drab clothes on Emmie! It was personally hard as someone who loves clothes to read descriptions of terrible dresses and haphazard men. But I get it, part of the story and Emmie's shell of protection! It is a very insignificant complaint.
Emmie and Henry are both vulnerable, charming and their banter was entertaining. This was a good book and I'll be reading the first in the series now (it could also be a standalone, in no way was I missing anything by not reading the first book in the series first). Can't wait to see who Monteith ends up with in what I assume will be the next book in the series.
I received this as an ARC and my opinion is my own, if you like an enemies to lovers theme you'll appreciate this one. I am glad to have had an entertaining evening reading this one!

This is a quick steamy “Taming of the Shrew-ish” read. Almost too quick as I would have liked more development and interaction between the MC’s (other than the sexy times) and with the secondary characters. I enjoyed both characters – Emmagene as a shrewish spinster who disparages love after giving away her heart to an underserving cad and Henry, an underappreciated second son who lives up to the low expectations of his parents. I liked how well suited they were for each other as each could see the diamond beneath the rough/prickly exterior. It seemed their friends and close relatives could also see this but there was little opportunity given to explore from their point of view.

My only problem with this novel is that I didn’t want it to end! I really liked the prickly characters of both Emmie and Huntley and yes, they definitely belong together. This is one story I wanted an extended epilogue for as I’d love to see this marriage in 4-5 years with the rough abrasive edges of both characters smoothed by the power of love.

Love, love, love Emmagene and Henry! Two unlovable people find each other. It was a good, quick read and very sexy too. Loved all of it! 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Two black sheep from different worlds are thrown together at a house party for their relatives' upcoming wedding. Miss Emmagene Stich is a serious spinster sworn off love after a past relationship. A carriage is sent for her by her cousin Honora to take her to her betrothed's estate. On the way there, the carriage driver informs her they will be making a stop to pick up another passenger who is a relative of the groom: Henry Eldrick, the Earl of Huntly. He is disheveled and smells "like a brothel" and sports a wine stain on his waistcoat. He's big, burly, and not well mannered. Which offends all of Miss Emmagene's sensibilities while stirring up feelings of attraction. "Emmie" and Henry keep getting thrown into each other's company due to everyone else thinking them unpleasant. They bicker and throw insults at each other, all the while growing closer together. Without giving too much away: there is a rescue from a thorn bush, someone gets pelted in the head with peas, someone gets sprayed by a skunk, and there's a tumble down a hill. There's also a few delightful spicy scenes, one of which includes a mirror.🌶

What I liked About the Book:
1) I love the two main characters and how they were so different from each other. Opposites really do attract in this story.
2) The story is moderately spicy as far as the love scenes go, while still maintaining a good story
3) So many tropes!
4) There was discussion of traumatic events for both characters but plenty of comic relief as well. Both characters were respectful of each other's baggage.

What I disliked:
Nothing! It was a delightful read.

***Do not continue to read this review from here if you want to avoid spoilers***

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers, Damsel in distress, Dude in distress, Sworn off Relationships, Rejected by parents, Opposites attract, Stuck together, Emotional scars, Trauma, Sunny vs. Grumpy, Love/Hate, Fling/One Night Stand, Destiny, Second Chance Romance, Playboy/Rake in Love, Lovable Rogue, Fell in love with the "wrong person", Spinster/Wallflower, Lovers in denial, Can't spit it out/Say "I Love You"

Miss Emmagene Stitch is a prickly self-proclaimed spinster who dresses in a drab way to avoid male attention. She doesn't trust any of them after an unfortunate affair in her youth but she needs to attend her cousin's wedding. She shares a carriage with Henry, the Earl of Huntly, who was always the black sheep of his family, and continues to behave badly because he feels that's what everyone always expects of him. He never expected to inherit the title but his perfect elder brother died suddenly. At their initial meeting, Henry has wine stains on his clothing and his behavior comes across rather off-putting. I wasn't sure he would be able to redeem himself, and neither was Emmagene. But their hostess keeps throwing them together, apart from the rest of the party in a rather rude way, apparently so they would only annoy each other and not the other guests. Some people might have left in a huff but Henry and Emmagene stay long enough to trade several insults, to find some humor in their situation, to deal with some unlikely mishaps and to find each other very desirable beneath their outward shells. In the end I can report that Henry did achieve a likeable status with me as he never did anything really bad and wasn't out to hurt anyone, he was just honest to a fault and disregarded social niceties that he deemed stupid. His childhood was oppressive and I'm glad his parents are dead.

Series status: There are a lot of references to another book that I have not read (Honora's story) so if you're planning to read both maybe read that one before this book.
Steam level: Lots of quiet lusting and some premarital testing.

Overall it was an OK, easy read. I enjoy stories in which outcasts end up happy after all.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is a voluntary review.

The repeating thought I had throughout this book was "I want more" - more moments between Emmie and Henry (that didn't involve sex, actual bonding/falling in love scenes), more between Emmie and Honora (they are supposed to be best friends and there's only like two scenes where they actually interact and one is told after the fact so we don't get to find out what happened), and more between Henry and South (to see them get back on good terms completely). I also really wanted to get to read the conversation between Henry and Honora - she was such a force of nature when confronting South at the end of that book that I would have loved to have seen her go off on Henry. This book also left me wondering if Lady Trent was just an awful person for the way she treated Henry (which was somewhat justified) and Emmie (which was not justified) or if she was playing matchmaker. My romantic side wants her to have been playing matchmaking, but I have a feeling she was just being bitchy. Despite all of that, I did really enjoy reading this book. I loved Emmie and Henry as a couple and enjoyed that neither of them tries to change the other, they really do just accept the other for who they are.

Are they too set on their path to let someone in …

It is not a grumpy meets sunshine tale, it was much more of a killjoy meets shrew story.

Emmagene and Huntly are rude, ill mannered, bitter person, and while Emmie hides it better under a veneer of society’s polish like most women, Hunt is like a bull in a china shop, they both dislike ton’s games and polite discourse, bored senseless among their peers.
Of course they were not born this way but life and experience altered their persona. The present Emmie, self proclaimed spinster, is the bitter jaded result of a heartbreak while Henry was taught from his tender age he was a disappointment in his parents’ restricted lenses, a kind of cuckoo in the nest.
So they mingle with their peers but are keep on the fringes of the parties, two beings everyone would like to avoid.
Why by some fate trick, they find themselves in each other company and what began as a game of quips and barbs turned into something deeper, stronger as both see beyond the other’s facade.

I was looking for a light amusing read this evening and I did choose well. You won’t be disappointed with Mrs Ayers’ witty writing, her heroes are unconventional, not sweet pretty all shining characters, they do not suddenly morph from Scrooge to Goldilocks, they stay their cranky moody self but they make efforts to please one another.
Hunt is a dirty talker who has his equal in Emmie.

« Huntly reminded her of a shaggy, poorly behaved dog that tracked dirt all over the furniture and slobbered before dropping a duck at his master’s feet. »

« She was dressed like a wren about to molt for the winter. Had her hair pulled back so tightly from her temples it stretched her eyes into slits. Possessed features that were permanently twisted as if she’d bitten into an unripe plum. »

5 stars for this entertaining humor loaded read.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

When spinster Emmagene Stitch meets the Earl of Huntly, the two do not see eye to eye. She finds him rude and impolite whilst he finds her to be opinionated and sharp tongued. Yet their attraction to each other is intense, and soon an affair begins between them, with their friends completely unaware.
This was a quick read, with two entertaining main characters, who seem at odds with each other. Yet the more time they spend together, the more I began to appreciate their attraction to each. Not quite fitting into society, together they make a couple, who don’t need the approval of anyone else, so long as they are happy. Two flawed characters who are ultimately perfect together. Whilst this is is the second book of The Arrogant Earls series, it is a stand-alone book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am really enjoying this new series so much and definitely will need more Arrogant Earls!
This had me hooked from the start, a no holds back feisty spinster and an arrogant Earl in close proximity disliking each other but lusting for each other at the same time. The dialogue is exceptional, loved the banter and absolutely loved their steamy scenes together. Emmie and Henry are both jaded by love and have built walls around their hearts but they are so perfect for each other and I loved how they slipped effortlessly into each others arms and hearts. A gorgeous romance that starts out with a sexy steamy affair and ends in a glorious and passionate happily ever after.

Emmagene is the starchiest spinster ever and Henry is boorish and unrefined. They get thrown together at a house party and despite their combative nature, they are terribly attracted to each other. Quick read with minimal angst. Great banter.

I really enjoy Kathleen Ayers books, and have read all her other series. This book was light, and felt almost more novella like compared with some of her other books. It was a light, quick read but I didn't enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed some of her other books. The main characters, Emmagene and Henry are flawed and prickly and perfect for each other, but it all sort of felt over before I'd started reading! I'd have appreciated a bit more depth, but it was still a nice read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Overall thoughts/summary
I really enjoyed this book. It was a short read at less than 200 pages and was well paced. At 28, Emmagene is a self-proclaimed spinster who is known to be quite piercing in her critiques of society. She has very pointed opinions about everything, does not like being out in society and despite that finds herself at her cousins wedding along with the Earl of Huntly. Huntly is a bit of a brute and not at all refined or polished in the eyes of society. Of course, these two, find themselves put together quite often as the wedding festivities play out and romance ensues. From not quite enemies to lovers this book was a lot steamier then I thought it was going to be for this genre of book, but it was written very well.
I find the cover a little lack luster. It screams early 90’s bodice rippers and at least for me, isn’t a cover that draws me in and makes me instantly want to buy it.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a quick historical romance with a lot of spice.

***Trigger Warnings***
Major Sexual Content, Minor Death of a Loved One, Minor Child Abuse

***Tropes***
Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Enemies(ish) to Lovers

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. #ChasingtheEarl #NetGalley #DragonbladePublishing

Chasing the Earl by Kathleen Ayers is the second book of The Arrogant Earls series. Miss Emmagene Stitch, self-proclaimed spinster has a sharp tongue. Henry, the Earl of Huntly is considered rude and blunt. Emmagene and Henry can agree on one thing—they both dislike the house party they are attending. Emmagene finds herself forced into the Earl’s company by the hostess of the party. They are soon unexpectedly attracted to each other despite everything.

This book is a quick, steamy, totally enjoyable read. I found myself quickly attached to the characters. I couldn’t get enough!

Huntly is kind of a dick but not to the extent that he’s irredeemable. This has some good enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity content, and these are two tropes that I seek out a lot. It’s really short and a quick read, so people into witty banter and regency romance should check it out. The only problem is that I wanted to read more!

The only thing that Miss Emmagene Stitch and Henry Eldrick, Earl of Huntly, can agree on is their dislike for the house party they are forced to attend. The hostess doesn't care for them either and frequently throws them together, away from the other guests. From peas being flung to getting sprayed by a skunk, this improbable pair find themselves completely overcome. Can they leave their baggage behind and fall in love?

This is the second book in the Arrogant Earls series. It can be read alone, but it picks up right after the events of the first book and refers to characters and events from the previous story.

I really enjoyed this story of two rather disagreeable characters who come together and find that they fit like puzzle pieces. Emmagene describes them as "a carriage accident in the middle of Bond Street. Unlikely but disastrous." She's been hurt by a man before and wraps herself in a steely, severe persona. Henry is considered boorish, gruff, and just plain rude...and he is! But he starts to show his vulnerable side to Emmagene. There were also a lot of really funny moments that made this a really enjoyable read!

Tropes: Spinster, Ruined, House Party/Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract

Steam: 3

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