I'm a big fan of romance books by Eloisa James. Hardly a Gentleman is quick read about a young British Lady on an adventure who happens finds herself in the Scottish highlands. Upon arriving at a castle where is she posing as a housekeeper, she meets the widowed laird while he is naked fishing. Hijinks ensue as the young lady attempts to pretend she is a married housekeeper and the laird attempts to quickly woo her. While this not my favorite book by James, this was definitely an enjoyable way to spend a snowy afternoon and evening.

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for this ARC.

I've been on a Historical Romance kick recently (very unusual for me) and HARDLY A GENTLEMAN hit just right. A nude fly-fishing Scotsman? Yesssss please.

I absolutely loved Clara and Caelan as they stumbled through a hilarious start with mistaken identity and Clara runs from everything she knows and pretends to be a Housekeeper for a hot Scottish Laird. HARDLY A GENTLEMAN does a great job of blending romance, grief, and personal struggles with both of these characters as they fall in love!

This book was a joy to read. I loved how these two worked side-by-side and I loved their chemistry. And the sweet kindness that this grumpy Scot gave to Clara was so epically swoony.

SPICE LEVEL: Rated PG-13 / non-detailed sex scenes, may have harsh language.
CONTENT WARNING: unwanted sexual advances
FEELS: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.
POV: Dual - M/F - 1st Person

There is a reason that I am such a huge fan of Eloisa James' books however this one that really tested my loyalty... at first. In the Dedication she shares that she ran her abstract idea of a "naked laird fly-fishing in the stream" to friends and readers (please add me to your list Eloisa!) who applauded her. To those who sent inspiring photo's, did you have to use Photoshop? ; ).
All kidding aside, E.J. has a writing style and sense of humor that makes the reader enter the story. Clara is quirky and lovable and challenged... by the quirkiness and a prince who is obsessed with her despite her disinterest and his married state. She is banished to a relative in Scotland but heads into an adventure on her terms. Caelan is at first sight, naked and obviously cold because he is fly-fishing au naturel. (you were warned in the Dedication). Her enthusiastic "Bravo" is not for him per se, but for the technique that he uses to yank a trout out of the water. This is the beginning of more than your usual pursuit of mutual satisfaction. There are obstacles and understanding and respect and an incredible merging of two characters who truly deserve a happily ever after. The timing is perfect. The chemistry undeniable. The support characters are lovable too.
I highly recommend readers to savor this book. I have not been a fan of Scottish romances but would entertain reading any written by Eloisa James!

Who doesn't love an adventure romcom, especially when it's written by Eloisa James?!

Hardly a Gentleman was such a delightfully funny and fun read. Clara is one that I feel a lot of readers will connect to. She's a reader (yay!) and has an impulsive streak. I found her character to be a lot of fun and easy to root for. Caelen was so sweet. I absolutely loved him. These two together were adorable. If you love opposites attract, this is the couple for you. Also if you love a quirky heroine and a hero that owns a castle, and like two shirts, this book is for you lol.

A fun time that historical romance lovers will enjoy!

This is a fun, quick read, a bit different than your typical historical fiction Highland Laird books. There was humor, some drama, and of course love. I did wish that the characters themselves were a bit more developed, especially Caedan, who I felt the reader didn't really get to know well during the first half of the book. Lots of literary mentions, sometimes a bit too many to keep the plot flowing.
Overall, a light, easy read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Funny, sweet historical romance with a bookish heroine who runs away from a most ridiculous predicament straight to an equally bookish Scottish laird who is too wrapped up in fly-fishing and writing to maintain a castle. She’s hardly servant material, he’s hardly a gentleman and the two become friends.

They’re having fun cleaning up the place together until everyone in the village learns she’s been staying in his home without a chaperone and she’s unmarried… will this marriage of convenience become a love match after all?

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the eARC!

I adore Elosia James' books and this is another fantastic story.

Set in the Scottish highlands, Caelan is a widower that has gone back to basics and his estate is falling apart. The village believes its because he's still grieving his lost love - and his sister is trying to help with both the house and his love life. Clara is four seasons out and ostracized by the ton and her mother after an episode. She's being bundled off to an aunt's in Scotland but decides to take her future into her own hands and takes a carriage that was sent for a housekeeper instead of going to the aunt's. Clara and Caelan are wonderful characters, I loved them both and their story is interesting. I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This is a book with plenty of romance, some hot sex (eventually) and a good sense of humor. The heroine, Clara disgraces herself at a party when she hits a drunken, lecherous Prince of Wales with her reticule. Her cold hearted mother sends her off in disgrace to Scotland, where she meets the hunky but hapless widowed Caelan, who's allowed his castle to degenerate into a hovel after his wife died. Clara decides to help him out until she figures out what else to do with her life. From the time Clara meets Caelan fishing in the altogether, it's imediately obvious that these two fit together. The development of their relationship is moving as well as fun and I enjoyed reading it all.

Eloisa James is always so good at balancing strong heroes and strong heroines. Her characters never lack depth and nuance.

I somehow always seem to be reading new Eloisa James books on redeye flights! Which means I always end up at my destination bleary-eyed from staying up the whole time reading. Another delightful romance from James who for me always balances swoony heroes with strong willed heroines.

Eloisa James is a treasure! I've loved every one of her books.

Clara Vetry is having a difficult time. She is short, plump and has a very noticeable bosom which the Crown Prince admires too much. After a scandalous incident caused by the Crown Prince - which involved having her bodice ripped and her bosom exposed at a ball - her mother decides to send her to Scotland to live with an aunt. Her mother intends for her aunt to find her a husband - any husband.

Clara does not like her mother's plans for her. She is supposed to be chaperoned by her dresser to the aunt's house but they each go their separate ways. A carriage is waiting for a housekeeper - Clara tells the driver that she is the housekeeper, and eventually arrives at a somewhat dilapidated castle in Scotland. Her first meeting with her new employer is when he is at the loch, wearing nothing. Unless holding a net or a fishing pole counts.

Caelen is the Laird and he is a widower. Caelen quickly figures out - as does the rest of the staff - that Clara has no idea of how to keep a house. They each had misunderstandings to overcome; while Clara thought that Caelen was grieving his deceased wife, Caelen thought that Clara was married since she wore a wedding ring. It took a while for the two of them to figure everything out.

I received an e-arc from Avon and Harper Voyager, and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

Oh, Eloisa James, how I adore you! She’s hands down one of my all-time favorite authors, and whenever I spot one of her books on NetGalley, I practically break into a sprint to request the ARC. Fingers crossed, right? (It’s always a bit like hoping for a lottery win.)

Now, onto the book at hand… What a treat! This one was a total gem. It had such a sweet vibe to it, even though there were some deeper, more serious themes woven in. Honestly, it felt like the perfect balance—a delightful, easy read with just enough substance to keep things interesting. I could totally imagine curling up with this one after a long day, feeling the weight of the world just melt away.

The two main characters were a joy, but I have to say, the female lead really stole the show for me. She gave off major Lady Xenobia vibes (one of my all-time favorites from Eloisa’s other works), with her wit, charm, and that little spark of independence that I just can’t resist. If you’ve read any of her other books, you’ll know exactly what I mean—James has a knack for crafting unforgettable heroines.

That said, I did have one tiny hiccup, which is why I knocked off a star. The way the deceased ex-wife was portrayed didn’t sit perfectly with me. I get that her character served a narrative purpose, but the way she was painted felt a bit one-dimensional and, dare I say, unfair. I would have loved to see a bit more depth there. Still, this was such a satisfying read overall, and I couldn’t help but enjoy it despite that small quibble!

I devoured this book...and then went back to read the first in the series. Eloisa James does a great job of just writing a fun historical romance - this one is a head-empty one (not at all a comment on our protagonist). Our heroine, Clara, sees the world through the lenses of fairytales and somehow, is spontaneous enough to find a Scottish laird who sees her for who she is. I gotta say this tragic backstory of the first wife and how he always compared the two - I don't even know how I'd feel about that, but it's certainly in his POV too. I think if you have a thing about that, this book will rub you the wrong way. But, it's clear that our Scot prefers Clara (again, could rub you the wrong way!) and she kind of creates a bit of a found family (missing the cozy element) and we lean heavily into our MMC thinking first with lust before his heart. Fun & lighter-hearted than some of her other series!

Eloisa James is either hit or miss for me. Mainly because I think her humor when done well is SO GOOD. But when it’s not done well, it kinda tanks the whole book for me. Case in point: Hardly a Gentleman. The first 70% of this book is so zany and so ridiculous. And usually? I love zany and ridiculous. The more bonkers, the better! But Caelan and Clara had almost no depth to them (or really knew anything about each other) until the last little bit of the book.

I think at a certain point, it went from zany and fun to just kind of silly? The humor was holding up the whole story valiantly but it just wasn’t strong enough on its own to really invest me in either character. They felt extremely shallow and immature and I just wasn’t vibing.

That being said, the last 25% was incredibly good! We finally got more than the surface level silliness between Caelan and Clara and there was some solid heart to heart talk + a sick bed scene which always slaps for me. I just wish we’d gotten a bit more of that emotional depth earlier in the book. There was ample opportunity! Clara is SA’d by Prince George! We see a bit of PTSD from her needing to wash daily to get rid of the feeling of his hands on her. But it tapered off into nonexistence and I was a bit disappointed.

After smacking the prince with her reticule for getting grabby with her, Clara escapes London and embarks on an adventure away from London to Scotland. Her perfect dream home is a castle with many books. impersonating a housekeeper, she lands on the doorstep of a Scottish laird who owns a castle with many books. The laird, Caelan, is a widower, and the attraction between Clara and him is amusing to read. The humor is delightful and quirky / fun.

Rating a 4 out of 5 stars. There were references to things that didn't seem to fit with the time period, plus I expected some of Clara's issues to be tied up by the end of the story. Other than that, good read.

“Hardly a Gentleman “ by Eloisa James, is a witty and charming book. It has adventure, romance and humor all rolled into one.
Clara Vetry has to leave London after a scandalous incident with the Crown Prince. Her mother sends her to live with an elderly aunt in Scotland. Clara impulsively gets into a carriage meant for a housekeeper hoping to o go on an adventure. She ends up at CaerLaven Castle where the Laird, Caelan, is fly-fishing naked in the loch.
I loved our MCs. Clara and Caelan are really lovely people.
Clara is quirky, spunky and kind and open to a variety of friendships. She reads a lot of novels and has a fanciful mind. It was funny how literally no one was fooled into believing her lies about her background and how she became a housekeeper. Caelan, the gruff Scottish laird, is a widow and his castle has been in disrepair ever since the death of his wife. He feels an attraction to Clara, but Clara thinks that he is still in love with his first wife so she doesn't want to pursue a serious relationship with him.
The side characters are well-developed and add to the fabric of the novel. Clara’s interactions with the town folks are quite funny.
But this book depends heavily on the miscommunication trope and the MCs inner dialogues feel repetitive. The MCs are terrible at communicating with each other, they could have solved the problem easily by talking to each other. Caelan doesn't tell Clara the full story of his late wife till around 90%.

“Hardly a Gentleman” is a well-written book, with a fun plot, likeable characters, witty banter and deep emotions.
I enjoyed clara and Caelan’s story and recommend “Hardly a Gentleman “ to all fans of historical romance. This is the second installment in the Accidental Brides Series, but it can be read as a standalone. 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Another brilliant book by Eloisa James. I received an ARC through NetGalley. This book is a standalone, though characters from the previous book show up. I read this in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Now, even days later, this book is still rent free un my head. I wished it hadn't ended.

Always down for a burly Scottish MMC! Eloisa James is a favorite author of mine, and she keeps putting out hits. She writes a great misfit heroine and I especially love that she often does so without the FMC being a wallflower. Clara is so fun and eccentric and it was great to see her matched with reclusive Caelen. Bonus points for some “bonkers historical romance” vibes (she decides to go under cover as his housekeeper on a whim) and the many times this book had me laughing out loud.

I just loved this book!! I rarely give 5 stars but boy does this book deserve it. I was laughing out loud throughout the book.
Clara, a well endowed debutante has been hounded by the Prince Regent through her 3 seasons, but she has finally had it when he uses his handkerchief to wipe bird poop off of her and grabs her breast and rips her dress and no one comes to her aide, so she hits him with her homemade mouse face reticule. You will have to read this book just for this scene a lone. Of course her mother (a horrible mother by the way) chastises her and sends her off to Scotland to live with a great aunt.
Clara is a reader of romances, particularly The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (which serendipitously I am reading right now for a book club). She believes in fairy tales and since her mother has signed her huge dowry over to her, Clara takes matters into her own hands. I do not want to give too much away, but she ends up in Scotland at a small castle pretending to be a housekeeper. Her first sight of the owner is seeing him naked, fly fishing.
Caelin is a widower who everyone things is still grieving for his dead wife Isla, for the past 2 years.
His first sight of Clara is her covering her eyes as he turns to face her. He is as stunned as she is.
Suffice to say, their interactions are funny and also full of misunderstandings, the worst of which is finally explained at the end. I did not want this book to end.
I received an EARC from Netgalley and the publisher for review. I was so excited I read it immediately. I want everyone to read this book??

Long story short: if you enjoy abundant chemistry in your leading couple, excellent writing, and stories that make you laugh and cry in quick succession, this novel is for you.

It felt like it took forever to get Clara and Caelen together at his castle in Scotland, where she has decided (on a bit of a lark) to become his housekeeper. Normally, having the romantic leads go a good 20% of the book before meeting isn't a recipe for success. It worked here (despite me yelling "when are they getting together already?!") because you'll fall in love with each individually before they have their first encounter--her, a bit disheveled and alight with adventure following her road trip from London; him, naked as the day he was born as he fly-fishes in the cold loch.

He's incredibly sexy and a little absent-minded. She's singular in her impulsiveness, whimsy, and gentle caring. And if the plot is a bit nonsensical at times from their first meet-cute, it's bananas in the best ways possible. Her crazy matches his, and it's obvious they should be in love. Their whole relationship is a vibe, and a delightful one at that.

Eloisa James is a wonderful writer. She's thoughtful at every level of the story (plot, characters, dialogue, setting), and the whole narrative sparkles with humor and passion. She builds a rich community, and by the end, you will love the little Scottish town in which Clara ends up as much as she does.

The central hang-up between the characters started to irk me a bit near the end, but mostly because I liked Clara and Caelen enough to want them to just get over the obstacle already! I read this as an advance reader copy, but I will definitely be getting a copy of this for my shelf for a future re-read.