Dominic, Earl of Redcliffe, has recently inherited his title and a home and tenants he has never met. When Olivia Jenner offers her services as housekeeper, Dominic knows he shouldn't accept. He shouldn't have a woman this beautiful under his roof and care. But he gives in. Then the estate is beset by thieves and attempted murderers. As Olivia and Dominic grow closer, will what society thinks of the pair keep them apart?

Pros:
- Beautiful setting - the home and the land. It felt very gothic romance with a good "before and after" feeling with the cleaning of the space.
- Olivia's backstory is believable. The HEA would have been much harder to believe if she hadn't had a more prestigious background.
- The mystery of the the thief and attempted murder kept the story fresh and interesting and set it apart from other novels like it.
- The side characters were so well done. I loved the ragtag crew they were getting together to help repair the home.

Cons:
- Dominic has very little personality. He seems like a generally nice man who inherited a title... but that's kind of it. I didn't get what drew Olivia to him so much other than how attractive he was.
- The spice was a little strange to me. It set up to be spicy, but then faded to black. I don't quite understand the build up that Dominic spends considering mistresses and then bedding Olivia to not have more detail. And then to have more detail in the epilogue. It felt disjointed.
- Dominic and Olivia never really get to know each other. They spend time together but never talk about anything of consequence except for his uncle.

Overall - the book had good bones but didn't quite live up to what I hoped. If you like historical romance and a little mystery, this might be your cup of tea.

Dominic, having inherited an Earldom along with it's entailed property, Redcliff Park, travels to northern England to view the property amid scandalous allegations in London. Olivia, having lost her own social standing following the death of her father, applies to be housekeeper for Dominic. Although concerned about hiring a young and attractive housekeeper, he hire her for the position. Rumors of Dominic's scandal having reached the area, Dominic finds it difficult to navigate seamlessly as a result. Not to mention his uncle's past neglect. As Dominic and Olivia work to restore the property, they also search for his Uncle's rumored hidden stash. They grow closer as feelings start to materialize between them. Enjoyable, short read. Thank you Maggi Anderson, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

What is not to like about Maggi Andersens' latest book Never Trust an Earl, this is up to her usual standards and although I had not read the previous two books in this series, this works as a stand alone story. I will read these two though because there is mention of characters known to the Earl and I hate not knowing their story! So I recommend reading all three in this series but as mentioned, this is a great story on its own. Thank you to Netgalley and Dragon blade for an ARC of this book

I received Never Trust an Earl from NetGalley as an ARC for my honest opinion. This is the first Maggi Andersen book that I have read, and I really enjoyed it! It is the third installment in this series, but can be read as a standalone and nothing is really missing from it by reading as a standalone. It did pique my curiosity and I will be reading the first couple of books in this series now! I liked Maggi Anderson's writing style. The description was great, the dialogue was good and kept the plot moving. The descriptions of the house, the moods and suspense was also good. It had just enough suspense and angst to keep me interested!
Never Trust an Earl has enough tropes and not too over-the-top with the tropes. The former steward who is revealed to be a villain could have been sussed out more, if I had any quibbles This was a solid read and if you like historical romance this is a good one to add to your list.

Historical Romance with Mystery and Suspense

Dominic was determined to put the estate he inherited in order, but along with the estate, he inherited a mystery or two. Did someone kill his uncle, or was his death really an accident? Did his uncle hide money somewhere, or was it all a rumor? Then, there is his most attractive and puzzling housekeeper. Olivia has her reasons for working for him. Will he trust her when he discovers her secrets? She thinks her uncle cheated her father, which ultimately caused his demise. What is the truth? Along with all the mysteries, someone has murder on their mind, and neither Dominic, nor Olivia is safe. Who is it that wants Dominic out of the way, and why? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like historical romance with mystery and suspense.

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

Inheriting a remote estate in Northumberland was unexpected for Dominic Thorne, the Earl of Redcliffe, and when he arrives to find it run down, without servants, and in need of a lot of TLC, all he wants is to restore it, and sell it off as quickly as possible. But when he arrives in the town, and rumours about his characters, and whether he was like his uncle or not, start to circulate, Dominic realises he needs to stay at Redcliffe, and restore his reputation before it's too late. The beautiful, young housekeeper, Olivia Jenner, complicates matters too, and it seems that she is hiding her own secrets too. As Olivia and Dominic spend more time together, and the sparks fly, will they be able to allow their relationship to flourish, or will the threats against Dominic's life ruin it all?

Never Trust an Earl was a really quick and enjoyable read. I had liked the previous books in the series when I read them, and immediately requested book 3 as soon as it was available, because I needed to know more about this series. The main characters, Dominic and Olivia, have pasts and secrets they want to keep, but it's soon clear that they need to work together, and that their feelings for one another could not be denied. I liked how independent Olivia was, and that she was willing to fight for what she could get, and she believed that was retribution for her father's suffering. The romance was sweet, and they brought out the best in each other, though there were moments where conflict could've just been resolved quicker if they communicated a little more. The mystery was enjoyable, and I feel like this book has tied up all of the loose ends from previous books, and ended the series really well.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook. This is my freely given opinion.

This is a 3rd book in a series and I will admit I have not read the first two in the series, but this story did read as a stand alone. There were some references to Daniel Thorne's two married friends, who I believe are the protagonists from the first two books, but they did not figure enough in the story that you felt that you needed to read the first two books to follow this story.

On saying that, I probably will go back and read the other stories preceding this at some point because I did enjoy reading this one.

Daniel Thorne becomes the Earl of Redcliffe unexpectedly, when his estranged uncle and both his cousins die. He inherits the family estate that he never knew because of a mysterious estrangement between his uncle, the previous earl, and his father. He had no real interest in the estate, until his social life in London becomes rather tainted for him when he is made the center of gossip and scandal, being labelled a licentious rake. He decides to go and spend time on the estate to see what is needed to improve it and figure if he wants to keep it or not. When there, he discovers it is quite run down, neglected, and abandoned, and has been so for years as his uncle became a bit of a paranoid recluse, after an accident and prolonged illness. For various reasons, including rumors of ghosts in the home, the home is neglected and people leery to work there initially, when Daniel comes to take up residence.

Because of his uncle's quirks, including being cheap and not paying for items and services, the people of the local town of Redcliffe are leery of Daniel, and he thinks perhaps also some of the gossip of his reputation may have spread as well. Regardless, as a bachelor earl, there are those who are eager to curry his favor as well, and he is aware of the fact that he would also have to consider a suitable bride to become his countess as well.

Olivia Jenner is a young woman who lost her social standing and must seek work after the death of her father, a local squire and horse breeder, and some of her ills she lays at the feet of the old Earl of Redcliffe. She was forced to seek work as a housekeeper for a member of the local gentry. When Daniel reopens the family home, she seeks to work for him as his housekeeper. Daniel is initially reluctant, worried about how that would affect his reputation, having a young and attractive woman such as Olivia living in his home, but in the end, she comes to work for him, to help him set his family home to rights.

Despite knowing they are far apart in social standing, Daniel and Olivia are drawn to each other. But Olivia has an ulterior motive for working in the house and that is to find proof that the old earl cheated her father, and to get what is due to her so she can secure her future. After a frightening night time Olivia witnesses, Daniel and Olivia investigate the mystery of what has been happening in the house and the rumors of the earl's hidden treasure. Olivia is also hoping to find the proof she is seeking. This forces Daniel and Olivia to spend more time together, and the more they learn about each other the stronger their attraction.

This was a nicely written slow burn romance about two people who fall in love despite significant social barriers. Also, it was an adventure mystery too, as Daniel and Olivia unravel some past mysteries about Daniel's family. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Daniel and Olivia, and the underlying mystery as well. There was a lot of build up in the attraction, and passion, with Daniel and Olivia fighting off their mutual attraction through much of the story, especially as Olivia wanted to maintain her honour and reputation. The mystery was very much in the background, but was a fun element at times, such as with the hidden passages. But I felt that the part of the previous steward as a villain was not developed as much as it could have been.

But still, generally well written and enjoyed

4 stars out of 5.

Never Trust an Earl is book 3 in author Maggi Anderson’s “The Never Series” and it’s an entertaining story that I enjoyed reading. The tropes include romance between social classes - a noble and a commoner, along with some mystery and intrigue. The MCs are Dominic Thorne, the Earl of Redcliffe, and Olivia Jenner who is the independent and practical housekeeper at the Earl’s residence Redcliffe Park. These two become acquainted when Dominic arrives at Redcliffe Park to view the estate and start the renovations and restorations that are desperately needed. He begins to hire the requisite staff to run his estate which is how Olivia enters his world when she applies for the position of housekeeper. Dominic is attracted to Olivia and can think of a few positions he wants Olivia in…housekeeper, lover, maybe even a wife. ❤️‍🔥 Olivia is likewise attracted to Dominic; however, she has another motive for seeking out the job at Redcliffe Park, she intends to locate information regarding her father and previous allegations made against him. In short, she wants to clear her late father’s name. 👀

This story has a lot of character growth as both Dominic and Olivia discover that previously assumed traits about the other are untrue. For instance, Olivia starts out believing that Dominic is like every other aristocrat, someone who is afraid to get his hands dirty or afraid of performing any type of labor due to it being thought of as “beneath” him. Instead Olivia finds a devoted, hard working man, who jumps in to help wherever it is needed and he enjoys it!

I loved watching Olivia discover that Dominic was not only nothing like the previous Earl and instead he was someone she could respect and admire. The author unfortunately didn’t really play up the angst throughout the story and self-revelations (I love angsty reads), however there was still enough to cause the reader to wonder if the characters would truly ever fall in love. The characters and their personalities definitely grow on you as you read their story.

I also enjoyed the inclusion of characters from previous stories - I always love “revisiting” old friends 😉 and the author does a great job of their inclusion.

Overall I enjoyed this story with its mixture of romance, mystery, intrigue, and of course passion. If you are looking for a romance story then I encourage you to give this a try! A story that nicely wraps the series up, yet can be read as a standalone.

Make sure you check out the other books in The Never Series 📚

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 3.5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥



Review Copy of Never Trust an Earl provided by Dragonblade Publishing for an honest Review.

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(¸.•´ (¸.•`*More Reviews by Jaime can be found at Alpha Book Club and via Goodreads.

This is the third book of the Ms. Andersen's Never series and it is the first time for me reading something by this author. Dominic, having recently come into his title, Earl of Redcliffe, decides to go to his family estate. He has gained somewhat of a rakish reputation and time away from London would do him good. Arriving at his estate he realizes it is in need of much cleaning and repair. He sets about hiring staff and is desperate need of a housekeeper. Olivia has been working as a housekeeper since the death of her father. When she hears of the new position available, she applies. She has ulterior motives for taking this job, and hopes it will help her find proof to redeem her father's reputation. The attraction between them is strong and a romance begins to blossom. But danger from different sources comes at Dominic and they work together to solve the mystery of who wants to cause him harm. Mystery, romance, and danger definitely made this an intriguing read and kept me turning the pages anxious to see what happens next. I found this to be a very entertaining and enjoyable read and the story captured my attention from the start. The characters were nicely developed and there was no question as to how strong their chemistry was. A very well-written story and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Fabulous story! I loved reading Dominic and Olivia's journey to a HEA. This story has it all - danger, secrets, villains, murder attempts, and a wonderful love story!
If you haven't already, I encourage you to read the first two books in this series!

Never Trust an Earl by Maggi Andersen is the third book in the Never series. Dominic Thorne, the Earl of Redcliffe, has arrived in the village of Redcliffe to see his inherited Redcliffe Park estate in need of repair. Rumors that Dominic is a rake have spread. The former earl, who was his uncle, was not very well liked because he failed to pay his debts, so Dominic has a lot of work to do to prove he is not like him. His uncle is rumored to have stashed his wealth in a secret place on the estate. Dominic has plans to fix up the estate and lease or sell, returning to London. Miss Olivia Jenner is Dominic’s housekeeper. Dominic is attracted to her. Olivia doesn’t trust him, as her family was done wrong by his uncle. She has her own reasons for becoming the housekeeper. It becomes more and more difficult for Olivia to despise Dominic the more she gets to know him. When the house is broken into by someone in search of the money, it is quickly revealed that someone wants Dominic dead.

This book is a fun mix of mystery and romance. It definitely went in a direction I didn’t see coming.

4 stars

I enjoyed this story. The Earl, Dominic returns to his uncle's house to see if he can renovate or sell the property. Olivia, who has always lived in the area is working as a housekeeper for a horrible woman. She became impoverished on the death of her father. Her Father sold some horses to Dominic's uncle and he never got paid. The uncle was suffering for mental health problems but was also convinced someone was out to get him and had hidden his treasure.

Olivia changes jobs goes to work for the Earl in an effort to clear her fathers name and get enough money to open a haberdashery shop. Dominic is passionately interested in Olivia at the beginning perhaps as a mistress but eventually he realises he wants her in his life in a more meaningful way.

I liked the mystery and the conversations between the main characters.

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

A most enjoyable read! I love mysteries in any shape, form, or fashion; this ticked all the boxes, romantic mystery. I had to use my vivid imagination and suspend it a little, an unmarried Earl hiring a beautiful, available housekeeper? It made an excellent historical romance, though!

Mystery, secrets, hidden treasure, danger including attempted murder, and a budding romance make it hard to put this one down and lead to a late night for me. Dominic and Olivia's chemistry sizzles. from the start although they do not act on this as love develops as a slow burn due to the outside influences keeping things busy. Can be read as a stand alone as I haven't read the other's in this series although the author is a firm favourite. My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

TW/CW: Sex, violence, character death, suicide

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This book is the story of Olivia, a young woman who has fallen socially since the the tragic death of her father. Hoping to restore her father’s honor, she takes a job as the Housekeeper at the Earl of Redcliffe’s estate.

For the first three quarters of this book, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was well written, and the mystery kept me really intrigued. Sadly, the last quarter of the book did not deliver at all. Everything was resolved far too quickly and the writing quality even declined, as the proposal and wedding chapters were, sadly, very cheesy. It’s really sad to me when a book seems to offer so much and then fails in the last quarter, but this one sadly did. It’s not a terrible book, but certainly not the first that I would recommend.

Dominic Thorne, just inherited his title from a "crazy" uncle. He is determined to set things to rights.
Olivia Jenner is a house keeper but was local gentry. She is unhappy and wants what is hers.
I found this an enjoyable read. Engaging and different from other reads that have been along this line. A little intrigue and a little love make this a charming read.
I recieved a free copy so that I can tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

This was an okay read for me and I admit it that it could be a bit of me and a bit of the writing that lent itself towards my mediocre feeling for this story.

The writing style didn't grab my interest and I didn't feel any enthusiasm for the characters. The plot moved slowly and there seemed to be a lot of redundancy and not as much forward movement as I would have liked to see.

I looked at the reviews currently up for this story and it seems that a lot of Maggi Andersen fans highly enjoyed this installment in "The Never Series". So, if you are a fan of Andersen, don't let my review dissuade you from giving this book a try.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this eARC thanks to Dragonsblade Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Danger comes at the Earl of Redcliffe from unexpected sources in this mystery romance. Having inherited a title and the accompanying Redcliffe Estate, initially Deminic thinks to investigate the property, see what needs to be done, and then cast off the burden from his shoulders by selling it. However, once he becomes involved in sorting out the mess left by his late uncle, Dominic discovers that there is more than meets the eye and he in fact has some mysteries to solve, one of which is the enigma of his housekeeper. Miss Olivia Jenner has been left more or less destitute upon the death of her father, but in order to redeem his reputation, she has to find proof of the fact that he was swindled, and that means putting herself in the path of the very attractive new Earl of Redcliffe. Working together at the rundown estate brings Dominic and Olivia into close contact and an attraction that they cannot deny flares into life. It is only when Dominic's life appears to be in danger that he takes the situation seriously, but the question to be answered is just who are the villains threatening his future, and how many of them are there? The novel comes to a successful but fairly sad conclusion, bringing a resolution they never thought possible. I received a copy of this book through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Thanks NetGalley for a good read. A little suspense, a little action and a little more romance. Olivia though young became the housekeeper at Redcliffe for the Earl. She liked him the more she was around Dominic. She helped him put the estate to order and find the mystery about the estate. She finds she loves him and he can't do without her. When someone tries to kill him she takes care of him day and night. Olivia finds that the steward his uncle had stole fro him and probably killed the uncle.

What an interesting situation the new Earl of Redcliffe finds himself in. Enjoying London and finding himself drawn in caricature with not one; but three women in his bed. Guess it is time for him to leave for his run-down estate left to him by his uncle. He needs clean air to breathe and plans to make for his inheritance. Oliva Jenner has her own problems trying to secure her own future. Left with nothing after the death of her father, she finds herself as housekeeper for the nasty cruel Lady Lowry. What a captivating plot that includes mystery, ghosts, and a hidden treasure. Keeps you reading and enjoying the happenings of the Earl of Redcliffe. Well done! The whole series is enjoyable.