3.5 Stars

Odd Earl Out was a delightful read featuring a romance set at a country house party.

Juliet Templeton had no intention of finding love while in London but she hoped to at least find a respectable husband. But when she meets Lord Cross for the first time, her heart is lost and insists he's the one. Juliet is the last woman Miles Winthrop should be falling for and he flees to his country estate in the hope of escaping his feelings for her. But when Juliet arrives from London in the wake of scandal, he discovers distance has done nothing to dissuade him from his feelings for her. With their reputations on the line, will Juliet and Miles take a chance on love or are they doomed to remain apart?

Juliet's character intrigued me in Not Just Any Earl so I was excited to get her romance in this book. She's a bit of an idealist even after some pretty bad scandals in her life and I liked that she didn't let what happened in the past stop her. I also liked that she knew how to have fun which was something Miles certainly needed help with. Miles is very much an opposite of Juliet in temperament but I for the most part found his grumpiness to be charming. He did have his moments where I felt he was a bit rigid about keeping to the path he set out for himself but thankfully Juliet helped with that a lot.

Miles and Juliet's romance begins in Not Just Any Earl so I would recommend reading that first as you get a lot of the background on where the two are at the start of this book. I really liked the connection between Miles and Juliet and the chemistry between them was excellent. There was also a lot of fun teasing and flirting which I enjoyed as well. I did get frustrated at times with Miles' unwillingness to admit his feelings as they were quite obvious. His determination to avoid marriage was another thing that bothered me but I was happy with how it was dealt with in the book.

Overall Odd Earl Out was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be continuing with the series in the future.

This book didn't work for me. Even though I had read the first book in the series, I really didn't remember much about it. This book starts off in the middle of the last book and there wasn't much of an explanation as to what had previously gone on. I felt I was missing something.

I finally got to read Juliet and Cross’s story and I really regret having waited so long! This series is awesome and this book has much more steam than the others (yes, I read them out of order, I’m terribly naughty!). Juliet and Cross are awesome together and their banter and chemistry made this book one of the best I read lately. Anna Bradley never disappoints! She writes such wonderful characters and the emotional connection between them is always very high. I don’t mind short books when they are well written as this one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is no believable transition from frenemies to lovers and the ebb and flow of the narrative is disjointed. However, the dialogue is decent, even though the style is a bit stuffy. The seductive dialogue seems out of step with the overall restrained tone of the rest of the book, which is surprising to me as I normally enjoy a randy tone, The graphicness is out of step with the tender nature of the book.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t the longer length novel I was hoping for but it did feature the delightful Juliet Templeton who we met in her sister’s story in book 1 of the series. Juliet is struggling with living down the society scandal of her mothers behaviour in running away with her lover and is now the victim of another. She has been unfairly blamed for setting her cap at her sisters now husband the previous season. Now it is her turn to find a husband, and with Lady Fosberry’s help she is determined to find a dull and safe husband. However there is a spark between Juliet and Lord Cross. Juliet has been vilified and blamed by Miles, Lord Cross who is determined to fight his inconvenient attraction towards her and this scandal is a convenient stick to fight this off.

Miles has had a lonely and difficult childhood and has determined he doesn’t want a wife and family. He has organised a house party to find his cousin a bride to ensure the succession, but when Juliet and Lady Fosberry have an accident en route and ‘gate crash’ his peace is cut up.

He asks Juliet to help his matchmaking scheme in return for trying to restore her reputation, but can he stay strong and resist his attraction to her…

Loved Juliet and Lady F, Miles was a bit of a dour and unforgiving stick with Juliet for a long time though.

I also felt the action in the second half was very rushed and not as satisfying as I was hoping for.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Juliet Templeton has courted scandal since her entry into society, and all she wants is to find a husband and settle down. However, the only person who sets her heart ablaze is Mile Winthrop, Lord Cross, who seems to be the one man who doesn't want her. But when they are both present at a house party, at Miles' house no less, it's clear that Miles did not leave London because he wanted nothing to do with her, but rather he left because he wanted her too much.

When we met Miles and Juliet in book 1, it was clear they were made for each other, and I was so glad their story was going to be book 2. They had a relationship which was hot and cold, and they bolstered each other, but could be too much at times - or so they thought. I liked that Miles mellowed over the course of the book, and realised that Juliet was not the temptress he thought she was, nor was she to blame for her reputation in society. A quick read, and enjoyable too!

This was Earl & Juliet’s book. A battle of wits, and wills… The passion that began in London soon flares to life again, sparking a battle of wits and wills that has them balanced on the brink of heartbreak, or happily-ever-after. Will their dangerous game of seduction end in ruin, or will two people who were never meant to be together, find they can’t bear to be apart? This was a fun read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I've read books by Anna Bradley in the past and I have enjoyed them. However Odd Earl Out was the first book I read in the Games Earls Play series. Juliet Templeton in the heroine in this story and her name is riddled in scandal after her mother left her and her sister behind to be with her lover. Miles Winthrop is the hero, and he leaves London and Juliet behind after rumors start circulating about her. Believing Juliet's flirtation was fickle Miles retreats to his country estate to lick his wounds and throw a house party. Juliet shows up as an unexpected guest and the rest you will have to read for yourself. This story was a light and fun read it made me want to pick up the first book of the series.

Anna Bradley is one of my favorite historical romance authors and this book is a good example of why. It's a novella but didn't feel like one. Odd Earl Out picks up from book 1 with Juliet and Miles. Miles has retreated to his estate believing that Juliet is the lady in lavender and will marry his friend. When Juliet shows up on his doorstep in the middle of the night for his weeks-long house party, he tries to kick her out. She ends up staying to help play matchmaker to Mile's cousin Lord Barnaby and the woman he is pursuing.

Having grown up with a hard father, Miles believes he's unlovable and destined to be alone forever. Juliet is from a scandalous family and her boldness attracts Miles. Their attraction was a slow build from the first book and we got to see more of both characters' internal dialogue which was really nice. I loved them together and especially Miles' transformation after realizing he's in love with Juliet.

There's a bit more steam in this book than in the first. This series is just a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to the next one!

Heroine was greet, the romance was just ok. Juliet was lovely from the downbeat and I enjoyed her. The romance itself lacked sparks and heat and I wasn’t overly convinced by the earl. Fine, just nothing special.

This book was mostly about one’s emotions, passions and ways to keep them inside or... not being able to do so. Because of that, you could quickly find yourself reading on. When you read about an emotion for 100 pages or so, you’re bound to do just that, but trust me when I say - stick around for the ending. It was perfect..

Odd Earl Out is a short and winsome story that is not only delightful but fun to read. The dialogue is engaging and at times quite witty. The MCs along with the supporting cast are well written and delightful. Unfortunately, because the book is so abbreviated, we don’t really get a lot of time with the two MCs to truly appreciate their relationship. What we do see, however, is sweet and heartwarming. I would have loved to see more of their time together in London to better understand the undercurrent that is there when they’re together in the country. That said, the book was overall enjoyable and a nice introduction to this author.

Juliet Templeton is a walking scandal at no fault of her own. Scandal seems to follow her family and resulting calamity ensues. She’s beautiful, witty and almost on the shelf. When a scandal erupts in London during her quest to find a husband, she escapes to the country to beg the one man she trusts to help repair the damage.

Miles Winthrop, Earl of Cross is boring. Staid…not the kind of man that women gravitate to. Yet, from the moment he and Juliet met …there’s been something sweet and fiery between them. She’s totally wrong for him. He knows this…but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. When Juliet appears uninvited to his house party, the need and desire he’s been fighting rears its head…and there’s nothing he can do but surrender.

This was my first-time reading Anna Bradley…it won’t be my last.

It's those sisters again , and still no news about their mother but their father is dead, so each needs to find a way of surviving with no money.
One has an aristo chasing after her in London, so our heroine is notmatchmaking her but going to a houseparty in a very wet and miserable Oxfordshire. With a host who does not welcome her!
What had she done wrong? Been herself if seems. Friendly. Witty. Warm. And attractive. And the Earl believed he would make the worst husband ever, he took afted his father too much, and his father was well explained in his manor - strict, buttoned-up, colourless, unable to find joy, and very very obsessive about tidyness.
Naturally, there is a HEA.
I like this author very much, and these sisters make an excellent series. Well written with good grammar and style. And fun to read.

Enjoyed this one from Anna Bradley. Miles, Lord Cross is a bit of a funny fish. Had a terrible cold father and that means he doesn't think he's good for anyone and can't marry (I always find this logic in HRs slightly odd but... there it is). Juliet is chatty, beautiful and warm and Miles spends much of the book being rather dense. Some great secondary characters in Barnaby, Lady Cora and Ladies Fosberry and Drummond. House party setting which is always a giggle . I'll read the others in this series I think!

A reluctant Juliet meets temptation in the form of Miles. The story flowed quite nicely and the romance was very good. Enjoyed the book.

Want a will they won't they chemistry filled short historical romance? Ding! Ding! We have ourselves a winner.

The scorching hot tension between Juliet and Miles can be felt page by page. Though I would have preferred it to be longer and little bit more plot, overall, it was a pleasant read and hope to see more of this couple in future series releases.

This is book 2 in the Games Earls Play series and the story takes place simultaneously as the happenings of book 1. Scandal seems to plague the Templeton sisters. Their mother ran off with her lover years ago and the Ton can't seem to get over it. Now that their father died the sisters are in dire straights financially. A matchmaking wager brings them to London where they cause a scandal of their own. Now, Juliet escapes to Miles's country house party, tagging along with an invited guest. Miles had retreated to his country estate to avoid the tempting Juliet and he orders her out of his house! Even after having almost died in a carriage accident! Miles is a curmudgeon, surly, and stern. He doesn't want Juliet stuck with his terrible personality like he was stuck with his awful father. Juliet of course sees behind this wall to the kindness within. He wants his cousin to marry to carry on the family line while he'll stay a hermit on his bleak country estate. They strike a bargain. If Juliet plays matchmaker for his cousin, Miles will help to quell the scandalous rumors about the Templeton sisters in London. Scandal, a house party, with a villain thrown in. What more could you ask for?

As the second book in her Games Earls Play series, the author relies on the fact that we have read and remember the events of the first book a little too much. We are thrown right into a house party being thrown by Miles (the ML) who has convinced himself that he will never marry and therefore wants to match his cousin, who is his heir, with a wife. Enter Juliet who Miles apparently had a tendre for (albeit a grudging one) and hijinks ensue.

Anna Bradley is an author I enjoy and I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately I ended up not really enjoying it. I think dropping us in the story without enough background or buildup ended up hurting it. Eventually it lead to a story that was quite forgettable.

I have high hopes for Juliets' sister and her employer though.

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed Miles and Juliet's story. I really enjoyed Juliet in her sister's book and was really excited for her's. Bradley did not disappoint! I just loved all the bantering between these two! Such a great addition to the Games Earls Play series!

Simple, strait-laced Earl of Cross, Miles Winthrop never wears anything extravagant like his cousin who actually has the audacity to wear a gold silk waistcoat embroidered with an array of green and blue something-birds, butterflies, flowers or feathers? It was out of the norm though and not something Miles would ever stoop to wear though, he sticks with reliable colors like unfussy plain blue, brown or black with nothing embroidered on his clothing. Lord Barnaby tells Miles, that someday soon he might want to get married and maybe just maybe he can meet someone at his house party. Juliet Templeton on her way via carriage is on her way to the house party. Unfortunately, the carriage gets stuck, and Juliet decides that she’ll walk to get help. Miles sees Juliet walking looking quite a mess. Still, Miles couldn’t help but admire Juliet’s pluckiness. As Miles gets to know Juliet she starts to get under his skin and he slowly falls for her, while Juliet falls for him as well. Miles can’t help but think Juliet is all wrong for him, she’s turning his entire world upside down but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing.
What a delightful funny historical romance that is definitely a joy to read! The plot never slows down taking you on such a pleasant trek to Oxfordshire. So, the place shimmers even though it is covered in rain or it seems to rain a lot there. The characters whether they be major or minor characters also seem so real. The language doesn’t seem out of place either. Everyone acts like they are supposed as well. Juliet, the spirited humorous heroine is quite good-hearted and no matter what happens to her manages to always seem positive no matter the situation, which makes her so likable! Miles, the stiff staid hero at first is hard to break seemingly always following rules and decorum; that yes, he needed to be shook up or shaken so he can let loose. In a sense you kind of feel sorry for him because he is so dour and never seems to have fun. Of course, there is always hope. This is a wonderful book that is well worth the read too!