An easy flowing and exciting romance. Clarissa Lockhart was raised to only be a perfect Lady and that it is her duty to marry and save her family. Roderick Stratford has always thought love was instant and he would know immediately. When the Earl of Kirkwood, Roderick, arrives uninvited to Clarisa's gathering meant to find a rich husband she is furious at his impropriety behavior. Especially when he keeps giving her that wink! He is attracted from the start and when he carelessly goes to help her when she is upset they are found in a not-so proper position. Now they are forced to marry, not what either one expected, but can they make it work? Can he help Clarisa overcome the need for proper behavior? "wink wink"
I was so excited to find this author again. She is one of the most exciting historical romance authors I have read. Her stories are unputdownable. I love how complex her characters are with detailed backstories that bring even more to the storyline. This story is packed with action, danger, family, chemistry and the most exciting passion. I love that she doesn't have to rely on passion alone to make the best stories. You are hooked on the conversations and the action. You won't expect the twists and turns. It's part of a series but can be enjoyed all on its own. This is one I'll read again and again. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to enjoy the ebook. Now I have to have it for my own shelf. A Million stars. Enjoy this adventure!

Clarissa’s parents are desperate for her to marry and have arranged a house party to help her find a husband. Roderick tags along to the party with her cousin. Clarissa lives by a book of “rules” thinking it will help her find a husband so she finds Roderick’s crashing of the party rude. They do not start off on the right foot, but her parents are ecstatic because they consider him a catch.

Clarissa’s following of the rules of her book was a little over the top. It was hard for me to like her and see her as a good match for Roderick. This romance was a real slow burn for me, but picks up in the second half of the book. This wasn’t my favorite of the series, but still an overall good read and I look forward to the next one.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jess Michaels is so good at spicy historical romance, and "The Accidental Countess" is a decent example. FMC Clarissa is proprietary personified, her parents' key to more money and social status, and completely miserable. MMC Roderick is a mild rake who is looking for true love, and who ends up at Clarissa's parents' match-making house party. He and Clarissa do not seem to click - or do they? Thanks to their actual mutual attraction and some machinations of her parents, Roderick and Clarissa end up married - and eventually falling in love.

Roderick is a lovely MMC. He is not staid or boring but he is also not mean or overly dramatic. He genuinely wants Clarissa to be happy and to act as her advocate. It is nice to watch Clarissa find female friendships and to understand that she is no longer trapped in the ways she once was. And the spice is lovely, though I would say a bit light for Jess Michaels.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

Author Jess Michaels has another hit with her book The Accidental Countess. Clarissa's character is a demure daughter to society with a hidden feisty side that Roderick accidentally sees. The reader will be drawn into her struggle with her parents and I felt this relationship was well written and believable. Her relationship with Roderick is like oil and vinegar and I really enjoyed reading the development between her and Roderick.

Roderick is a rake of the first degree and yet he believes in true love at first sight. I was delighted that the author was able to show both aspects of his personality and keep his character believable.

A character worth keeping one's eye on in future books is Viscount George Lockhart, Clarissa's cousin. An adorable rascal worthy of his own book.

Pull up a chair for a delightful read on a snowy afternoon.

4.5
I read this book in almost one sitting!
Even though I’m not a fan of enemies to lovers without a rational cause, in this particular case it was absolutely clear that Clarissa has suffered a lot during her life and her rigid expectations about propriety are the only thing she thinks could be control. Roderick is a beautiful character and my heart broke for him when he thought he had lost his life time opportunity to fall in love. They learn so much about love and commitment during their journey, and they were an amazing inspiration for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Roderick does, having faith that his love will strike like lightning when he first meets his other half. Unfortunate then that he's trapped in a marriage not of his choice. This is a story about love appearing when not expected, and challenging ingrained behaviours and beliefs.

Clarissa is Very Proper. She has been told all her life that she has a duty to her parents to make a society match, and that the way to do so is via behaving with Utmost Propriety. As such, she finds herself discombobulated when Roderick appears at their house party unannounced (how rude!). She finds herself in deeper turmoil when they are trapped in a marriage neither wants.

In a society where it was the norm for women to be beholden to their parents and then husbands, it's plain to see how they suffer through impossible standards and unrelenting criticism while maintaining an eternal duty to their families. Clarissa's journey sees her challenging her internal belief systems, and showing remarkable growth of character (supported by surprising ally Roderick). Roderick's story follows a similar theme, although his challenged ideology is that of what it means to fall in love, and the forms it can take.

If you like a story with supportive spouses, women spreading their proverbial wings, and a subtle but sweet love story, this is it. This was my first time reading this book and I'd read it again 📚

I received this ARC via Netgalley and The Passionate Pen LLC and all opinions are my own.

Jess Michaels never disappoints. The story is well thought out and doesn’t just rely on clichés. I like the style and the characters.

I really enjoyed An Accidental Countess. Ms. Clarissa Lockhart has had three seasons without a match and now she is forced to withstand a house party thrown by her parents in the hopes she will find a match. Lord Roderick, the Earl of Kirkwood attends the party at the invitation of his best friend, George, Clarissa’s cousin. The pair start off at odds with each other but are soon forced into a betrothal after a compromising situation. A well written story of how two people with different thoughts on marriage can find their way to happiness.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.

Jess Michaels has become one of my must-read authors because I enjoy how she writes steamy, romantic historicals and this one really hit the mark for me. This has the themes of enemies to lovers, forced marriage

We have a reputed rake in the MMC, Roderick, Earl of Kirkwood, who also deep down believes in true love and hopes one day to have a love match in his marriage, like his parents. He firmly believes that when he meets the right woman, that he will be struck by his love as if by lightening.

Miss Clarissa Lockhart is a bit of a shy woman who has been browbeaten by her parents into being a dutiful daughter who must do whatever she can to help her family. In their latest endeavour to find the best match for her, namely one that will benefit them the most, they are hosting a house party filled with eligible bachelors. Kirkwood, brought along by Clarissa's beloved, but rather thoughtless cousin, unknowing crashes the party as an uninvited guest. The Lockhart parents are delighted to have another wealthy man in the marital blend for their daughter, but Clarissa takes him into firm dislike for his intrusion, and her obvious ire and hostility strikes sparks off Roderick.

Of course many would argue that love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and the sparks of ire also are sparks of attraction as they interact during the party. Things come to a head though when they are caught by the conniving parents in a compromising position and Clarissa and Roderick are forced to wed. Roderick and Clarissa come to an agreement to try to be friends and work on a comfortable marriage. Things between them are decidedly off to a good start for a happy marriage, except in the background we still have the meddling, conniving parents seeking to gain as much for themselves as possible, even if it causes strife between the newlyweds, as well as Roderick thinking that he lost his chance for that thunderbolt love match, and Clarissa feeling all kinds of guilt over not being the perfect daughter, perfect wife, and ruining Roderick's chances of finding the love of his life.

An inadvertent forced marriage, with execrable in-laws who need to be tossed in a crate and into the sea, but Roderick comes to realize after his marriage that love can slowly develop into something fine and wonderful, like a fine aged scotch, rather than strike like lightening. And he seems determined to teach Clarissa that she is worthy and deserving of all the love that her selfish parents never showed her. Be still my heart.

4.5 stars out of 5

The Accidental Countess by Jess Michaels
About an Earl #3

Was it worth staying up till 2am to finish this book? Definitely!

What I liked:
* Roderick Stratfor, Earl of Kirkwood: believes in love at first sight, waiting to experience his personal coup de foudre, attends a house party that chages his life, a good friend, honest, reliable, keeps his word, grows a lot as he navigates being married suddenly, I liked him for and with Clarissa
* Miss Clarissa Lockhart: focused on propriety, rigid, conflicted, has difficult parents, obedient, determined, tries to meet expectations, suppresses her emotions, ladylike, makes the best of situations, drawn to Roderick, begins to see in a new healthier way
* The development of the relationship between Roderick and Clarissa and their ability to communicate openly and maturely
* Esme & Marianne: helpful, caring, open, friends there for Clarissa – much preferred their version of wedding nights to the version Clarissa’s mother offered
* Delacourt and Ramsbury: friends of Roderick, supportive, helpful, gave wise counsel
* George Lockhart: Clarissa’s cousin, doesn’t believe in love, cares for Clarissa, wondering when his book will show up
* Being able to dislike Clarissa’s parents and wish them put it their place
* The pink dress and what it stood for
* That I could see this couple happy together
* Knowing who is up next in this series…Ripley and Jane :)

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The selfishness of Clarissa’s parents
* Thinking about how difficult it must have been to live up to societies rules

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen LLC for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

How her parents shackled her to the last man she ever wanted to marry. Or is he?

Clarissa & Roderick
She’s miss prim and proper, bending over backwards to please her parents and strictly live by the rules her etiquette book dictates. A husband is the only thing left missing, and that’s not to her parents’ liking since they’re counting on the man’s fortune to fund their lavish lifestyle.
He’s a dashing young earl who firmly believes that on the day he meets his future wife, lightning will strike - just like it did for his parents - and until that day, he’s happy to rake around. He’s also a man who believes in courteousness and never crashing a house party uninvited. Until the day he does...

They get off on the wrong foot at first wink, yet there’s electricity in the air… and so their dance begins! What starts as a witty wallflower and the rake battle of wills, ends up in a marriage by compromise.

Theirs is a slow burn - old habits die hard, and sometimes lightning strikes after the storm…
He may have the reputation of a rake, but this man is everything good. Honourable, attentive, patient, protective, warm, loving - in fact, he’s so good it had me wondering if he ever even was a rake - but it’s nice to see a real good guy sometimes.
She’s an acquired taste, and it took me a while to warm to her. So stubborn, so annoyingly demure. Her conviction to stick with those impossible rules and give in to her parents’ every whim was a bit much for me. Especially when her husband is offering the world!
And her parents definitely are a nasty piece of work; conniving, grasping, pompous, manipulative and heartless. In the end these two did not deserve what they got; they deserved so much worse!

This doesn’t mean it wasn’t a lovely read. Interesting MCs with more depth than I expected, growth for the both of them, a solid plot, witty banter, TLC aplenty and a dash of delicious steam. I really enjoyed it!

Roderick believes in love at first sight, while Clarissa prioritizes a financially advantageous marriage. After their initial animosity turns to attraction, a compromising situation forces them to wed. Though passionate together, they struggle with trust. Can Roderick find true love with his unexpected wife, and can Clarissa learn to trust in love over propriety?

This book is outstanding. The characters are unique and well-developed, the story well-paced and engaging. I love how Roderick supports Clarissa emotionally in her struggles with her parents. It was lovely to see her bloom and discover her identity.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Clarissa Lockhart was raised to be a perfect lady, but after 3 three seasons she is still unwed, and her parents are growing impatient. They arrange a house party hoping to find a husband for her who will elevate them socially and support them financially. Clarissa is resigned, she knows it is her duty to honor her parents and to marry well, love is not something she expects or even desires, as strong emotions are not ladylike. In an effort to please her parents, Clarissa has always acted as expected and is a slave to proper etiquette, so when her rakish cousin George, Viscount Lockhart arrives at the house party with an uninvited guest in tow, she is annoyed, but much too polite to say anything to George’s friend and fellow rake, Roderick Stratford, the Earl of Kirkwood. She goes out of her way to avoid him, but he is not content to have her ignore him, which leads to them being caught in a compromising situation by her parents and they are forced to wed. Clarissa begins to fall for her husband but still holds tightly to her perfect comportment and still bends to her parents wishes. Can she let go of her rigid control and believe that she is worthy of love, or will she hold tight to old habits and forfeit the love of a lifetime?

Roderick Stratford, the Earl of Kirkwood, is a rake, but unlike other rakes, he actually believes in true love and is sure that one day he will find the love of his life. He thinks that when he meets the right woman it will be like a bolt of lightning, and he will know immediately that she is “the one”. So far, he hasn’t made that connection and when he is caught with Clarrisa, he believes that he has lost his chance at true love but plans to make the best of this forced union. The more time they spend together, the more he wants to make her happy and tries to help her relax a bit and see her own worth. He likes her and can’t deny his attraction to Clarissa or their compatibility in bed, but will that be enough or will he too learn to change the thinking of a lifetime and find love?

This was a delightful read with very likable characters and fresh plotlines. I liked Clarissa and Roderick, they each have ideals that they have nurtured all their lives and will each have to come to the realization those ideals may not be as absolute as they believed and that given a chance, love will find a way. Overall, this was a good read, with wonderful characters, cameos from previous characters, steamyish love scenes, a truly sigh worthy hero and a sweet heroine, great secondary characters, a forced marriage and finally a happy ending complete with an epilogue. This is the third book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title without any problems. If you are looking for a steamyish historical romance with a storyline that is anything but run of the mill – look no further, you’ve found it!

4.5 stars!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

A wonderful romance, Roderick and Clarissa have an interesting connection, one that turns into something heartfelt and caring with passion flowing throughout. A forced marriage that turns into everything for them.

Roderick Stratford, Earl of Kirkwood has always believed in true and instant love. He expects he’ll be struck by a lightning bolt when the “right” woman comes along. Miss Clarissa Lockhart doesn’t care if she finds love, she knows her destiny in life is to marry well and raise her family’s fallen fortunes. And because of the gift of a strict book of etiquette, she believes if she can only behave exactly correctly, she can make that dream come true. Clarissa’s ire is sparked with Roderick arrives uninvited with her cousin George to a house party. Roderick & Clarissa gradually begin to see each other in a different light. But whatever fragile friendship they’re forming is shattered when her grasping parents catch them in a compromising position and they’re forced to marry.
The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own even though previous characters do make appearances. Oh my Roderick was one toe curlingly gorgeous hero, he was a rake who wanted love, he was caring, observant, considerate & very supportive & gave Clarissa all the room she needed. Clarissa believed she should always act with propriety & never show her emotions – she’s almost been brain washed by her horrid parents. I loved how they fell for each other & also how Clarissa began to believe she could be herself. A slow burn romance which I read straight through, I loved it when lightning did strike
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This is the third book in the series and although the previous couples are in the story it can be read as a stand alone. Clarissa's parents are truly selfish and grasping and are trying to marry Clarissa off for their benefit. Clarissa and Roderick are caught in a comprising position by her parents and they use that to force a marriage. The parents never really get their comeuppance. Clarissa and Roderick have to find their way in a marriage neither wanted to get their happy ending.

God why was Roderick so damn good. So kind, caring, loving, considerate, supportive, and thoughtful. He never rushed Clarissa in her growth or in their relationship. He allowed her to the steps and chances she wanted and was there for her the entire time. He read that stupid book to support her in her growth what a good man. I like Clarissa she wasn’t overly stubborn or mean in her growth just fearful and it was sweet watching him support her. I loved that there was no third act break up. Her parents awful they should have groveled at her feet. I wish that we had been shown real growth with them. Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this next addition to the About an Earl series. I find it refreshing to find a hero that wants to fall in love. Roderick, Earl of Kirkwood is looking for that instant spark with a young lady and wants the love he saw in his parents. Clarissa Lockhart is all about propriety and is doing everything she can to be perfect in her parents’ eyes. I really loved seeing Clarissa slowly let go of the rules and let loose a bit more. Her parents are complete leeches and she is better off without their poking and prodding but she feels she has a duty to them. Kirkwood is also letting go love at first sight feeling and slowly falls for our heroine. The care and support of each other is really lovely to see. I also love a good accidental compromising get together. The support from previous characters is also important for hero and heroine. I was hoping the next book would be about George but maybe later on in the series. Can’t wait for Jane’s book!

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

The wink! That gets me every single time. It is so personal and just for that special person. This is a different read from Jess and I really enjoyed it. Reading about how I am sure most women of the era were taught to act and what parents did to push them along. This slow burn romance shows us the patience of Roderick and the slowly coming to terms of Clarissa’s passion. Lightning strikes at the oddest times, just as Roderick.

I love the thoughts these characters have regarding love and marriage. Roderick, Earl of Kirkwood, believes that love will strike him like lightening and he’ll have that “love at first sight” moment. He’ll know instantly that the woman he sees is his true love. Whereas Clarissa doesn’t care about love and sees marriage more as her duty and wants security for herself and her family. She believes she must behave as etiquette demands to find her perfect savior (suitor).

When Clarissa and Roderick meet it’s an enemies to lovers story. They first fight but over time begin to see each other in a new light and begin a friendship. Of course all good things must come to an end and they’re discovered in a compromising position and are forced by Clarissa’s parents to marry.

Passion is of course present in their relationship but neither trust each other and there isn’t hope that their friendship can turn into anything more. Roderick has to come to terms with the fact that Clarissa isn’t what he expected for his love at first sight woman and Clarissa has to come to terms with her rigid expectations of a society marriage to open her heart to love.

This story was definitely a slow burn, but well worth the read. I feel that the story is well developed over time and by the time you get to the ending you have a perfect concept of who each character is and the story comes together. 8/10 recommend!