Historical Romantic Adventure

Samuel and Patricia are friends. They are missing what is before their eyes. They are in love, so what it will take for them to recognize it?

There is a jewel thief in the ton, and Samuel is on a mission to find this blackguard. He involves Patricia in his scheme, and they pretend to be engaged. Soon, Samuel will face deadly peril.

I enjoyed this story. It is a historical romantic adventure that kept me turning the pages. Patricia and Samuel are both stubborn, but nothing like facing death can make one realize to embrace life with all its glory.

Such a good clean romance, it has you hooked from the start and the characters are so likable. Really recommended

Miss Patricia Leaver, her brother Dominic and Samuel Langford, now the Earl of Bentham, have been a threesome of best friends. What Patricia and Dominic don't know is Samuel does some work for Bow Street. Necklaces are missing and Samuel will need a partner to catch the thief. Patricia volunteers to be his partner in a fake engagement. Only to convince everyone of their engagement, they must pretend to be in love. It's not too difficult because they really are. Tangled emotions and misunderstandings threaten their happiness, when the unexpected happens. Not short on adventure. The second book in the series is my second read by this author.
A clean romance with kisses.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

A really enjoyable friends to lovers romance with great characters and a storyline that will keep you intrigued from the beginning.

There were some lovely secondary characters too who added to the fun of the story.

Although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone,

Please be prepared to loose sleep if you start this book because it keeps you gripped from the start - I couldn’t put it down! I would definitely recommend this historical romance.

A beautiful romance with a touch of mystery and adventure. Not too spicy. So much fun to read! Plan on staying up all night.

I had so much fun reading this book! Patricia is the best female character in all the historical romance books I have read. I love the fact that she is so much more inteligent than her bethroted and that is one of the things that he likes about her. I hope to read more from you.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this novel and this is my freely given opinion.

This is a second story in the series, but can be read as a stand alone story.

Samuel Langford, the Earl of Bentham, has a very poor reputation. Not just because of his mother's antics and affairs, along with the whispers questioning his paternity, but as a rake with many conquests under his belt. He is tolerated by society, but not necessarily welcomed with open arms, despite his good looks, title, and wealth. It doesn't matter though, since he has no intentions of wedding any time soon, having been soured on marriage after witnessing the failure of his parents' union.

But he is very thankful for his two best friends, Dominic and Patricia Leaver. Patricia especially sees and connects with the real Samuel, not just the aloof, uncaring rakish facade he presents to the rest of the world. But despite even the closeness he shares with them, he still has a hidden secret - that he has been working with Bow Street, using his connections to the Ton, to help solve crimes. He is used to working alone, but has just been brought in to investigate jewelry thefts amongst aristocracy, and has to work with a female partner. When he rejects Bow Street's less than worthy options, he turns to his friends to help, revealing his secret to them.

Patricia Leaver loves Samuel, as more than a friend. But she is sure she would never be to his taste, being too told frequently that she is too tall and not attractive. But she does wish him to be happy and wants to help him find a worthy wife, love and happiness. She knows about his uncertainties and fears because of what his parents put him through, not being raised in a loving and stable household like she and her brother were. When she finds out about his work for Bow Street, she also thinks nothing of helping him in that as well. They enact a ruse where they are betrothed and lure the thief with Samuel's extravagant gift of jewelry to Patricia.

During their foray conspiring together, Patricia and Samuel develop a greater closeness, and he realizes that he feels far more for Patricia than friendship, but is uncertain about being worthy of her. Patricia likewise is lacking confidence in being able to attract and keep Samuel. As they unveil the thief, their relationship is thrown into further turmoil as their lives are put in danger.

This is a more sweet story with closed door sensuality, but it has themes I do love, such as friends to lovers, and adding the spice of emotional turmoil/uncertainty and a dash of danger. Again, I quite enjoy the secondary relationships in this story, including the great grandmother character, Enid Leavers, and the brother Dominic. who suffers his own heartbreak.

Very enjoyable story, with likeable well fleshed out main, relatable characters.

4.25 stars out of 5

This is the second book in The Country House Romantic Mysteries. Samuel, Patricia, and Dominic are best friends and allies. The trio have been close for years and have a very unique bond. A bond which allows Samuel and Patricia to carry on a ruse of a fake engagement in order for Samuel to catch a jewel thief. As the ruse plays out, they begin to realize they have deep feelings for each other
But Samuel is a well-known rake, so how can Patricia trust him with her heart. Samuel will have to find a way to convince Patricia he and his heart belong only to her, and he must do that while trying to stay alive.
The story pulled me in from the start and kept my interest till the end. Filled with danger, intrigue, and romance, the story kept me engaged all the way through. The romance between Samuel and Patricia was lovely and they had amazing chemistry. Although the book is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. A captivating addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Great book with endearing characters who start as friends and end up falling in love while solving some mysteries.

I loved this book! I liked that Samuel appreciated Patricia wasn't a simpering airhead like most other Ton women. Friendship, intrigue, danger and romance. This one has it all. Would definitely recommend.
Thank you Audrey Harrison, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

I do not feel as if the description gives this book justice it is so much more. Two life long friends, lady Patricia Leaver and Samuel Langford, decide to find a jewel theif, only they need to fake an engagement to pull it off. Long buried feeling tend to bubble to the top as the their gets closer than anyone knows.
I enjoyed the intrigue and the romance. Good plot, and kept me wondering what's gonna happen next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.

Samuel Langford, Earl of Bentham has a reputation as a rake. Many in the "Ton" believe he is too much like his mother. Luckily he has two very good friends, who know him better.

Our hero is working with the Bow Street runners . Unfortunately his latest mission needs a partner.

Miss Patricia Leaver is not interested in marriage. Her height and intelligence make her undesirable. Luckily her brother and his best friend have always included her in their adventures. This one looks to be very exciting.

This historical romance has a good mystery to solve and even takes us on an adventure and battle on the high seas. Lots of fun with unusual characters. Although this is part of a series, each book can be read on it's own.

Great fun.

A fun story with great banter and wit between the main characters. When you know someone most of your life like Patricia and Samuel have, the bond of friendship while strong can be broken if one person developed more intense feelings for the other person. Will this happen between the two friends? You will have to read it to find out and while you are doing this enjoy the sub plot related to subterfuge. Good character development and a truly lovely story.

Samuel Langford, Earl of Bentham, enjoys his poor reputation as a rake. Miss Patricia Leaver finds him exasperating, although he is as good a friend both her & her brother Dominic. The three of them have been allies for years, and their closeness allows them a freedom of expression that is rare between men and women of the ton. So when Samuel, who is working with Bow Street is called upon to apprehend a jewel thief, he embroils Patricia in his cunning ruse, which she’s happy to do. Dominic is less than overjoyed at the proposal, especially as it requires a fake engagement that could leave Patricia at the mercy of society gossips. When the escapade rapidly escalates into danger on the high seas, all three have reason to question the wisdom of this undertaking.
A well written interesting & enjoyable romance. The characters have depth & I really liked the trio. I really liked both Sam & Patricia & enjoyed their escapades, which included pirates. A good mix of mystery & romance, which I always enjoy. Patricia had loved Sam for years but he had to convince her he could be the husband she deserved especially when he had such a bad reputation. The second book in the series & it’s easily read on its own
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Fun romp between the best of friends, Patricia and Samuel have known each throughout their lives as Samuel is her brother’s best friend. Patricia is madly in love with him but does not want to destroy their friendship although she is afraid he will marry another and that friendship will cease. Samuel has been a rake but does work on cases for the government from time to time and enlists Patricia in his latest endeavor to catch a jewel thief.
A fake engagement ensues to lend them cover with the jewels. Samuel very slowly comes to realize Patricia’s worth but can he convince her of his love and fidelity?
Exciting banter keeps the reader involved.

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the series . I noticed I liked the first one. This one is nice as well. Patricia and her brother, Dominic are good friends with Sam. He has a poor reputation as a rake probably because his mother was always having affairs and let Sam's father down badly. Sam is also working for Bow St on the side, trying to sort out who is stealing jewels. Two new people turn up. Julia who Dominic falls for and Frederick who says he's a relative of Patricia's family. Patricia and Sam decide to have a fake engagement in the hope of luring the theif out with an opulent Diamond necklace. Sam starts to realise that he really liked Patricia. Patricia has always been in love with Sam but willing to sacrifice her feelings if he can find a HEA with someone else.

It all gets a bit complicated, including the east india company, pirates, sailors, hard done bu londoners. I was disappointed that at the last moment Patricia seemed to be getting cold feet again. IMO this was a bit unnecesary. It's a clean read and this might put me off continuing with the series as I like a bit more passion.

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

In the quest for family, acceptance & belonging!

BEGUILING THE EARL enticed with the excitement of being taken to places I didn't expect to go, intrigued with a mystery to unpick and thief to outsmart and captivated with a blossoming romance and the awakening of an unconscious love to get lost in. All under the fun filled cloak of a meddling grandmama, an interfering self-centred mother and a dash of character defining spying that evoked an air of lingering danger, ready to strike from the shadows and up the ante.
I loved the relationship between the three best friends, Samuel, Patricia and her happy-go-lucky brother, Dominic, that the romance evolved around. The dependency and teasing comraderie that was bartered between them coupled with the protective support and instinctual devotion that made façades crumble and unwarranted. That added joy, wit, an absorbing warmth and the suspense of a charged element hanging over their friendship, the closely guarded secret that Patricia longed to reveal, but was fearful she would lose the one person who was receptive to her needs as she was for his, her love for Samuel.
So, by the time it became clear, in order to solve a spate of high-value necklace thefts, a fake engagement was needed to be their cover...I was already hooked, invested and ever hopeful Samuel would awaken to a mutual longing of delicious portions...and I wasn't disappointed.
I do love a fake engagement especially when close proximity and new found intimacy breeds a whole torment of swirling emotions that spark jealousy, alters perspectives, shifts affections into fascination and love and just plain confuses the sanity out of them, in so many fun and emotionally character changing ways. As a maelstrom of intense emotions from the ache of rejection and the insecurity of not being good enough conflicts with the bubbling of desire and heady yearning, which not only had the power to make me laugh, smile and blush with the sweetness of their infatuation but made me come to care about their fate and happiness too. As I too panged with frustration, missed chances and the want of them to be courageous enough to take the risk to confess all and face their vulnerabilities.
A well written tale unfolds with well rounded characters at its heart, that have me eager to see where we will be taken next...a fun, engaging and witty read! I'm really enjoying this series so far!

A fake engagement/relationship is at the heart of so many romance novels that I was worried there would be very little new Audrey Harrison could bring to it, but thankfully that was not the case. I liked that the fake engagement wasn't to put off married-minded mothers and their daughters, but actually served the purpose of helping to solve the case Samuel had been assigned. I also liked that here it was used as the kick-in-the-pants Samuel needed in order to realize that the perfect woman for him was right in front of him (and had been for some time). I did get frustrated with him when his feelings were hurt by something Patricia had said and he refused to let her explain and apologize. But I did like that Patricia wouldn't let it drop and continued to try to talk to him. And I will say that I was with Patricia in how she had interpreted what he had said to his mother about marriage not being just about looks. I get where he was coming from, but his mother had just said Patricia wasn't attractive so that comment could only have hurt her feelings. As a side note, I would have liked just a little more of a resolution between Samuel and his mother. She kind of redeems herself (a tiny little bit) with her actions at the end, but then he just ships her off to the dower house and she is never spoken of again. As for the mystery part of the story, although it is solved several chapters from the end it did add some extra drama with the ship-chase scenes and rescue. Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining read! So far the author is 2/2 on writing fantastic books for this series, I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Beguiling the Earl is a fun if completely implausible story about an earl who works for the Crown and the woman he loves (though he doesn't quite realize it), whom he brings into an undercover operation to try and catch a jewel thief. The story carries the duo through ballrooms and pirate ships as their fake engagement becomes all too real for each of them. It is easy to read and enjoyable in that certain fluffy way.

3.5 stars rounded to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

Beguiling the Earl is a cute, funny regency romance. I couldn't put it down. Literally, I read it in one sitting. It is a really sweet story along with the two fanstic personalities matching each other wit for wit in banter. Their snarky back and forth brings so much lightness to some of the heavier topics that comeup. Simply wonderful.