In Lady Meets Earl, Lucy is ever the dutiful middle child, a fixer and planner who almost can't help but step in when someone else flounders. Without realizing it, Lucy's falling into a role too small for her. So it's lucky indeed she has an eccentric aunt in Scotland who doesn't wish to see her spirit squashed. She invites Lucy to come for a holiday, where she can enjoy her art and live for her own whims. On her journey to Edinburgh, Lucy meets James. The two have an easy rapport and regret parting at the end of their train journey. An opportunity for continuing their acquaintance comes from an unlikely source: James just inherited Aunt Cassandra's home and means to sell it. While Lucy understands James' position, she fears her aunt's reaction to the news.

James' shock at inheriting his uncle's title was chased by relief that he'd be able to settle a debt hanging around his neck. Unfortunately, the estate isn't the lucrative lifesaver he'd briefly imagined. Selling the Scottish manor is his last desperate gambit to keep his lender's thugs at bay, so he'll follow through even if he regrets evicting his Uncle's erstwhile mistress. James has long been a loner responsible for caring for himself. It will take the cheerful meddling of others to make him realize he might be able to safely share his burdens.

I love that this series' premise of being on holiday makes me feel more relaxed, too -- a priceless windfall. This book offers the little joys of sightseeing in an unfamiliar city, seeking comfort in casual physical touch, and the bonds formed through sharing experiences with others. It's unusual for me to so wholeheartedly get behind a whirlwind romance, but I was swept up in the ease of James and Lucy's time together. And though there's definitely trouble to overcome, it's not in the form of a final act breakup, which made the whole affair that much more soothing.

Beyond the romance and the overall vibes, I now consider myself an Aunt Cassandra devotee for the way she ignores conventions and looks out for her niece in her own way. I also appreciate Lucy's positive relationships with her parents and siblings, which feel like a rarity in the genre. Though she needs some time away for herself, Lucy gets on the train secure in the knowledge she has familial support.

All around, this is a sweet, relaxing historical romance that I recommend as an act of self-care. Thanks to Avon for my copy to read and review!

Lady Lucy Westmont wants to do something for herself for once, for once not to make sure every one else is taken care of. So off to her aunt's place in Scotland she goes. James Pembroke inherits a title he doesn't want and lots of debts he can't afford. As the new Earl of Rossbury things are not going his way and he needs to make cash quick so off to Scotland he goes to sell a property he doesn't want. Along the way the two meet and the adventure begins. I enjoyed the location and the characters in this story. I enjoyed the adventures the two have with not much chaperoning from anyone while getting to know each other.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

I found this book to be ok. At times I felt the writing was a bit choppy and things weren't explained well. The romance was a bit lackluster but I did read the book to the end.

I had read the previous book in this series and liked the sound of this one too.

I liked Lucy and James. They're both good people who have a very cute meet cute. From there, there's light chemistry, serious interest, and a meandering towards a new relationship. There are a few other characters, but they're all peripheral.

Plot wise, it was okay. It took me some time to get invested in these two. I expected some tension or urgency due to the situation James was it, but the entire story is basically fluff. There's no real conflict and they're together almost the entire story.

Overall, it was sweet story and one that was easy to read once I was really interested. I'm eager to see what book three has in store.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Wow! This book is SO GOOD! It is romantic, witty, heartwarming, heartbreaking, suspenseful, full of heart, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Lady Meets Early", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.

Firstly, this cover is absolutely stunning oh my goodness!

This is the second book is Christy Carlyle's "Love on Holiday" series. Ms. Carlyle's writing is vivid and visceral, and full of heart. Her characters feel like such real people, and they jump right off of the page. I felt immersed in the world of this book from the very first page to the last, and Ms. Carlyle's storytelling is incredibly gripping and poignant.

(Possible Spoilers!)
As both Lucy and James share a train car heading to Scotland, neither could either have imagined how the other will change each of their lives. These two truly bring out the best in each other and watching them fall in love throughout the book was so special. Their relationship continues to build, deepen, and strengthen throughout as they get to know each other better, and they truly help, support, and respect each other.

If you enjoy Historical Romance, I highly recommend this book! I so look forward to reading what Ms. Carlyle writes next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC of this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

this story didn't quite connect with me, I liked the independent heroine and the set up, but couldn't get into the pair

CW: sexual assault; death of parents; anxiety; violence

Lady Meets Earl was a delightful second installment in Christy Carlyle’s Love on Holiday series. Despite being love at first sight, the romance was charming, with fantastic banter between James and Lucy. I enjoyed these characters and loved the journey the book takes you on.

This was also the perfect book to read as I was about to head out on my trip to the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh last November. While I was there, I got to visit some of the exact sites that James and Lucy went to, which made it extra special!

When Lady Lucy Westmont gets an invitation to visit her free-spirited and scandalous aunt in the Scottish countryside, she jumps at the chance to escape from society, have a little adventure, and find herself. Meanwhile, Jams Pembroke just learned he’s the new Earl of Rossbury, which feels like a stroke of luck after owing money to some unsavory men after a business deal goes awry. However, the earldom just piles on more debt as the only thing worth any money is a property up in Scotland, which he’s determined to sell to pay off all the debt. On the ride to Scotland, he meets Lucy, and they have an instant connection. Little do either of them know they’ll see a lot more of each other very soon as he’s the new owner of her aunt’s house.

As I said, the romance in this book is based on love at first sight. I’m not always the biggest fan of this trope, but it worked well in this book because these characters were well-defined and had fantastic chemistry. They first meet on a train to Scotland, and there is an instant connection, a sense of comfort and rightness, between them. They both have their struggles on that train ride – he’s dealing with anxiety over being on a train again, and she’s dealing with an attempted sexual assault on the train – but they find comfort in each other. That first journey does a lot to set up their relationship, and it does so perfectly.

James and Lucy also had fantastic banter and chemistry, which helped me buy their romance. They only know each other for a week before they have serious feelings, which is very quickly, but it felt like longer, given their chemistry and how well they understood each other. I really liked that they both could recognize and admire the other’s strengths yet didn’t fault the other for their flaws. That brought a level of maturity to the romance that I think is needed when it’s love at first sight. I also adore how SMITTEN James was with Lucy after such a short period – it was really sweet!

As I said, James and Lucy made this story work. James starts the book by discovering he’s an Earl, which seems like a boon as he’s in some money trouble after a failed business venture. However, the earldom he inherits is essentially broke, except for a few pieces of property, including one in Scotland that belongs to the ex-mistress of the late Earl. James is determined to sell it off to deal with his debts, but fate has other plans. I liked that he isn’t as ruthless and cutthroat as he thinks he needs to be – he softens pretty quickly once he meets the ladies living in the house. He’s also had some trauma in his past – his parents died in a train accident – which helps make him feel more real to me. I found him a charming and engaging male lead.

I also really loved Lucy. She’s a bookworm and independent thinker. She’s using the trip to visit her aunt in Scotland as a way just to be herself without the constraints of society and maybe have an adventure or two. Her personality isn’t that traditionally strong, feisty, independent woman you find in historical romance. However, she still projects that sort of energy as she’s confident in herself and her abilities, plus she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I think she was being a bit pigheaded towards the end as she wanted to take on a known street thug and criminal single-handedly, but she proved me wrong as everything worked out how she planned it.

Speaking of the ending, it went way more according to plan than I was expecting. Everything wrapped up very neatly, almost too neatly, as I expected more drama given the type of people they were dealing with. However, nothing is wrong with that as it made this book relatively low-angst. I also loved the epilogue – it was totally not what I expected, and I’m always a fan of a baby-free conclusion!

Even knowing where the story was heading with its premise, I still enjoyed the journey and experiencing it with these characters. The story was fun, and the pacing was spot on. I also loved the secondary characters, particularly Lady Cassandra and Angus Blackwood, who helped round out the story.

If you’re looking for a relatively low-angst, charming romance, look no further than Lady Meets Earl. The banter and chemistry make this love-at-first-sight historical romance work perfectly, and I enjoyed it! Plus, that cover is gorgeous, and I cannot help looking at it. Christy Carlyle is an often-overlooked historical romance author, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed her works over the years, and I cannot wait to read the next installment in the Love on Holiday series.

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I reviewed this title for All About Romance. My review can be found at the following link: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/lady-meets-earl-by-christy-carlyle/

Lady Meets Earl is a fun, witty, and sexy romance with the added bonus of being set in fabulous Scotland - I was hooked right from the beginning!! This is the second book in the A Love on Holiday series and it can totally be enjoyed as a standalone romance, The MCs are Lady Lucy Westmont and James Pembroke, the new Earl of Rossbury, an earldom left with quite a bit of debt and drama by his late uncle. The tropes included in this story include forced proximity, reluctant new aristocrat, road trip, and damaged hero. Lucy and James find themselves sharing a journey to Scotland in the same train car - I mean what could possibly happen! 😉 I really enjoyed the witty meet cute between the two MCs there are immediate sparks between them that continue to grow as they get to know each other, the author does an excellent job of portraying the yearning experienced between them. Let’s just say, James has a thirst and only one person can slake it! 🔥😍❤️‍🔥 Loved. Every. Word!

Overall, I found this story to be a refreshingly easy to enjoy romance with fun characters, low angst, lots of feels, explosive chemistry and of course it includes interesting secondary characters. I encourage you to give this book a try, author Christy Carlyle has definitely captured my interest and at this point I would be up to reading any of her work.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Avon and Harper Voyager publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are cross-posted to social media, goodreads, and blog. 🦄

I really liked book one, but found this one uninteresting by comparison. The characters didn’t grab me, and the story wasn’t compelling either.

This book was so great and I instantly went to look at the other book in this series and what was coming out after because I want more! I really enjoyed the slow burn, the chemistry, and banter. There was great setting and such sweet quiet scenes in this book. I cannot wait to chat up patrons who have read more of Carlyle's work and I cannot wait to get my hands on another of her books.

This was a cute romance, it was the first of the series that I have read but I would pick up others in the series. The romance was a slow burn but I loved the interactions between Lucy and James. Overall I enjoyed this read and I would recommend anyone to pick it up. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I really liked this one! I had gone through a historical romance kick a few months ago, but I hadn't read another in quite a while. I could feel myself slumping though, so I decided to pick this up. I'm super happy I did, because I really enjoyed it!

I loved how Lady Meets Earl didn't include as much third-act nonsense as so many other historical romances. Sure, it still had some of it, but it was easily resolved and not a major obstacle. So refreshing!

Also, I loved to see a couple that had boundaries and clearly communicated them. There was a moment at the end where one of the characters needed a moment to cool down before continuing the conversation, and it was so nice to see that respected. Again, refreshing.

I really enjoyed reading this one, and I'd definitely recommend it!

This review contains spoilers!

This is the second book in a series although it can be read as a standalone. I personally had never read the first one. I was drawn into this story by Lucy’s tenacity and was really enjoying the cute chemistry between the two love interests in the beginning. I found James’ adoration of Lucy to be so heart warming and I was really buying the angst but I became a bit irritated towards the end. I found their intimacy to be rushed, both in the sense of when it happens and in the actual scenes. It also seemed the plot went a little awry in the last quarter of the book and not really in a good way. The characters made some choices I found a bit unbelievable and out of character. I did enjoy the book up until then though. Not really something I would recommend.

*Thanks to netgalley for the free ebook in exchange for an open and honest review*

I adored Christy Carlyle's newest release!
If you like the tropes of mistaken identity, rivals, star-crossed lovers and forced proximity, this is for you!
Full review to come on my blog when the HCP strike has been resolved.

There were several things that I loved about this story. First of all the setting; the train and the Scottish countryside both were different and interesting. Secondly I enjoy stories with strong women and this one had two.
And third, I like a story where the man has to earn his fortune, not inherit it. These items add up to an interesting book with strong characters and a great love story as well!

LADY MEETS EARL by Christy Carlyle is book 2 in the Love on Holiday Series. This is the story of James Pembroke, new Earl of Rossbury and Lucy Westmon. James is out to settle the debts that he has with the thought of selling the land in Scotland. Lucy has plans to not marry if she can't find love which is why she been through three season on the market. Now she is headed to Scotland to see her Aunt and to think things through. While traveling she meets James who they both feel a connection but James has no plans for a wife due to the money troubles he is having. Enjoyed their story. I highly recommend Ms. Carlyle writing.

Lady Meets Earl is such a fun novel that takes the action out of the London Ball Room into the wilds of Scotland. I loved being outside of London, on a train and into the Scottish highlands for a more isolated romance to build, especially because a lot of the action happens with a week. This is such a charming, road trippy, forced proximity romance. Christy Carlyle does a lovely job balancing humor, care, family dynamics, inheritances and independence in this quick paced romance. Carlyle's writing is swiftly engaging drawing the reader in with ease and interesting characters. This Love on Holiday series by Carlyle has been such a wonderful historical romance series that give a delight look into other sides of the Victorian time period that feels fresh and fun.

From the meet cute through their growing interactions, Lucy and James are instantly intrigued with the other. Carlyle builds up the chemistry and tension and interest between them subtle throughout each interaction that creates a really lovely and solid depth to their feelings for each other. I love that Lucy has been given the freedom to travel by herself, I love that she has been made aware of the world around her and how she can defend and protect herself. I love that Lucy's family only wants the best for her and what she wants, so she is never forced to enter into a relationship that she is not wholeheartedly ready for. I love that when it comes to James and learning how they are more inner connected when it comes to her aunt's residence, that she is open to both sides. Lucy knows how to listen and not jump to conclusions. I feel like throughout this novel, Carlyle does a really lovely job of show who Lucy and James learn to communicate with each other and learn to work with each other. They both have agency and desires, and they both want the best for the other, and they try not to overstep. This romance is charming and sexy, I love that their relationship does not crumble under any misunderstanding, and that they are able to stand side by side with each other when it comes to the important things.

I highly recommend Christy Carlyle, she is a wonderful author, and this is such a delightful edition to her body of work.

Lucy Westmont is not ready for marriage and when she receives an invitation from her aunt to come visit her in Scotland she jumps at the chance. On her way to Scotland she bumps into the newly minted Earl of Rossbury, James Pembroke. They are mutually attacted to each other and James invites Lucy and the other female occupants of her car to join him in his care as they have to shaire theirs an unsavory character. They meet up again at the home of Lucy's aunt and James informs her that he now owns the home and has intentions to sale it because he needs the money from the sale to pay the debts of the former Earl and also salvage his shipping company. Lucy is upset that her aunt's home may be taken away from her and also upset that the aunt isn't there when she arrived. Lucy and James spend several days together before her aunt shows up and they try to come up with a way that her aunt can keep her home and James can locate the finances he needs to pay his debts and keep his company afloat.

I received this story as an ARC from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is a more relaxed read than expected, but I enjoyed it overall. I felt the chemistry between Lucy and James was sweet rather than racy, so the slow-burn scenes were more effective than the steamier ones, which seemed a bit forced. I liked how Lucy and James met at the beginning and their rapport on the train, but what have been more of an enemies-to-lovers relationship mellowed very quickly. This led to a bit of a lag in the middle portion of the storyline, punctuated only by the threat of violence that ended up fizzling because the main conflict was resolved rapidly and off-page (one of my pet peeves).

I never really had the sense that Lucy was "wild", just conflicted between devotion to family and her independence. I did have a problem with the silly, impulsive decision she made to go back to London and the reason why. Instead of upping the tension, this just made me cringe. James was more cautious and haunted than rude, and had potential to be interesting, with the memories of his dark past lurking. However, I felt I was being held at a bit of a distance from him.

Bottom line: this is sweet and smoothly written, with likable main characters, but conflicts are glossed over. Steam level: 3. Language is mild.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, Avon/Harper Voyager, and Net Galley. Reviews will be left on Goodreads and Bookbub in the month of publication, and on Amazon near the date of publication.