Cover Image: Unmasking the Earl

Unmasking the Earl

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Member Reviews

I wasn’t a big fan of the pacing in this book. I thought it would take longer for Cassie to discover who the earl was but it only lasted a couple of chapters. Then I thought it would take longer for them to find the truth about what happened to his sister but that was resolved a lot earlier than I expected as well. I also didn’t buy into the romance portion of the book as much as I would have liked. Cassie held onto her childhood infatuation for a long time and it made her appear childish at times and I didn’t feel the sexual tension between her and the earl as much as I expect the author intended.

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New-to-me-author Elizabeth Keysian charmed my socks off with Unmasking The Earl. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Cassie and Ned. Cassie was hilarious. In spite of how smart and perceptive she was, she seemed to make choices at times that were risky yet she always managed to land on her feet. Ned was adorable. He endured a lot for the sake of Cassie. I loved his devotion to finding his sister and to protecting Cassie. The latter often got him into some of the funniest predicaments. The sparks really flew as these two collided and bantered their way to love.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Keysian’s writing style. This story was humorous and even silly at times without sacrificing genuine emotion, great character development, and an imaginative plot. This was a sweet, funny, and totally romantic read and I can’t wait for more of this series.


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This is the second story in Wayward in Wessex series and not reading the first story, I can safely say that I had no trouble following this one. I don’t think it’s necessary for you to read the first one either in order to understand the goings on in here.

If you love lighthearted and romp romances, this one will fit the bill to a tee! There’s a lot going on here with lots and lots of characters that are fun and funny. I enjoyed the characterization of both leads and their interaction was fun. I also found the setting of the countryside appealing and refreshing.

This is a perfect story to lighten the rainy day afternoon.

Melanie for b2b

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This was my 1st book by this author but it sure won't be the last. I feel in love with the characters from the start. I loved the spirit of family that Ned believed in where he would go undercover despite his rank to find his missing sister. I also loved the spunk that Cassandra brought to the story and often found myself laughing out loud. Great story.

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Unfortunately awkward and not really for me. Thank you to the Publisher for the review copy though!

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Unmasking the Earl is just my type of historical romance: a lust-fuelled slow-burn surrounded by mystery, secrets, and intrigue.

Ned Turner, the Earl of Stranrear, has gone undercover as a servant in the household of Captain Francis Wycherley: the man he suspects of having involvement in his sister's disappearance. Installing himself within the household under the name of Mr Ganstridge, he hopes to learn the truth of his sister's wherabouts, and bring the rouge responsible to justice.

Ned's suspicions are well founded. Wycherley is a known rake, with attachments to a number of women. But can he really be as reprehensible as Ned fears? The young, innocent Cassandra Blythe certainly does not think so. Cassie enlists Wycherley's help as a tutor in the art of seduction in order to attract her long-term crush, Julian Carnforth.

Watching in the wings, Ned fears for young Cassie's reputation in the hands of Wycherley, and seeks to warn her off. He may be a servant, but Cassie isn't blind to his broad shoulders, and strong arms, nor to the handsome and determined face behind that reproachful glare. As the tension between them rises, Cassie learns of Ned's disguise, and sets to helping him, and insodoing, places her reputation, and her heart, in more danger than it ever was with Wycherley.

Cassie and Ned's relationship is gorgeously passionate, and absolutely genuine. A scene involving a dripping wet, freshly bathed Ned will in particluar stay with me for a long time! The way that the plot unfolds is hugely satisfying in terms of both the romance, and the mystery, and I loved the subplot involving Ned's sister Georgiana, and the notorious Wycherely. All in all, Unmasking the Earl is an excellent historical romance that is sure to sweep you away!

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This is my first time reading a book by Elizabeth Keysian and I’m hooked! I loved how they were at odds at all times but drawn to each other at the same time. There are a couple twists surrounding his sister and what happened that I didn’t see coming. I loved the ending and how I never was sure what was going to happen.

Cassie is determined to get what she wants no matter what. I loved how she saw things from a calm point of view and defended people. She had to learn about herself and it caused some interesting things.

Ned has a temper but his heart is in the right place. I loved that he would go to such lengths to find out about his sister. He met his match with Cassie and learned to think before acting.

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I have to say that Unmasking the Earl was an interesting read. Cassie's kind of silly. Some the things she does to try to get the guy she's "in love" attention. At least she has one friend who was like dude you need to look at other options, because I don't think he's all that into you. However, she's a stubborn chit. However, she's also tenacious, and fearless in some aspect.

Now Ned. He's in big brother mode. I didn't mind him being a jerk at times, he was looking out for Cassie even though she didn't see it that way. He did make some excellent points to Cassie. All he wanted to do was find his sister.

Overall, Unmasking the Earl was an all right read. There some silliness to the story with Cassie being to stubborn to realize she was being kind of dumb in some the situations she puts herself in. I did like Cassie and Ned together, because they balance one another out. She's a bit impulsive and he need someone like her to help him.

Copy provided by Entangled via NetGalley

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What a pleasant love story. This book had a lot of twists and turns. I enjoyed Ned and cassie with their fun situations him a servant peeking at her and teacher about catching Juliet for a husband funny thank you for the good read

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Amount of sex 1 / 5
How explicit 3 / 5
Story 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Review:
I really enjoyed Unmasking the Earl. Cassie and Ned were so much fun to read! While searching for his sister, Ned goes undercover as a servant named Ganstridge to find out if the scandalous man, Captain Wycherley, has done something to Ned's sister, Ned suspects the Captain is hiding his sister with child, leaving her alone and ruined or even worse dead.

Cassie pines for a man, Julian, who thinks of her as a child. She decides to take matters into her own hands and uses the willing Captain to teach her the ways of seduction, 1821 style. Fearing Cassie is falling victim to the Captain's less than scrupulous manner, Ned oversteps his undercover role to try to keep the head-strong Cassie's reputation out of danger.

The characters in Unmasking the Earl are fun and engaging. While as a Behind Closed Doors Book Review book it is mild on the spicy side of things, the physical romance is satisfying and fairly detailed (I always want more, though). The story moves along and offers a romp like atmosphere of who is fooling whom. Keysian is a new author for me and a look forward to her next book!
** Voluntarily reviewed from an advanced copy **

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Fantastic; a comedy of manners with flashes of seriousness and depth. Following the likeable characters through this story felt like watching a light opera. I loved the author’s period-appropriate use of colloquialisms and metaphor. Keysian wove them into the story in ways that felt completely natural.

Early in the novel, both the heroine and the hero sometimes behave in ways (class snobbery and sexism) that are repellent to modern society, but are entirely natural for their times. No one would have questioned the way that the heroine dismisses romantic possibilities with the servant played by the disguised Earl. That she’s attracted to him despite his presumed status only heightens the considerable sexual tension. Although the hero develops some empathy for the servant class, he’s no social reformer. This, too feels realistic. When the heroine makes some errors in judgment by asking a noted rake to offer her lessons in seduction, she is believably naive in a way fitting young women of her class and family situation. Such characterization works because of Keysian’s ability to show, not tell, how social restrictions would have shaped a woman of her age and moderately advantaged status.

The author’s plotting, research, and engaging style produce a satisfying story. I appreciated her humor, attention to research, and the frank acknowledgement of the way women’s social currency was controlled by beauty and wealth. All of this combines to make a balanced, enjoyable historical romance that will make readers seek out more work by this writer. Recommended for romance genre fans that like a bit of sly humor.

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I LOVED the heroine of this book. Cassie was full of sass and bravery, occasionally reckless but never stupid. Yes, her decision to ask a notorious rake to teach her how to seduce a man might seem a little on the dimwitted side, but she really is desperate.

Cassie is in love with her childhood friend Julian, who unfortunately views her as his aggravating little sister. Desperate to get his attention, she is willing to try any means necessary.

I started the book thinking 'yeah, yeah, I've read this one before... she winds up falling for the rake and reforming him' and then the book threw a complete curve ball, because that's not what happens AT ALL. Said rake's manservant Ned Ganstridge appears bound and determined to stop Cassie from getting herself into a scrape she can't get out of, and really, he is awfully bossy for a servant... as well as far too handsome for his own good.

Of course, Ned turns out to be the titular Earl, masquerading as a servant to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his sister. Cassie is a distraction he doesn't need, but he can't just leave her to ruination. For her own good, he has to help her out. Falling for her really wasn't part of his plan.

I really enjoyed Unmasking The Earl. Ned can be autocratic, but the worst of his excesses are actually understandable when you bear in mind his anxiety about his sister, and Cassie didn't just meekly sit back and take his orders. One of my favourite scenes was when Ned desperately needed her help and Cassie quite firmly laid down the law and told him that she'd leave him in the mess of his own making if he didn't behave himself. I just about applauded.

However, the book did fall into a trap I particularly hate in historicals; when the supposedly 'honourable' hero takes the innocent heroine's virginity before proposing marriage, and then fails to immediately do so. That is not honourable. It doesn't fit the definition, and it made Ned look like a massive hypocrite. Because of that, I can't give the book any more than four stars.

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This book started off great and continued on through the book. The characters had immediate chemistry that made you want to turn the page.

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This book was quite the adventure!

I really enjoyed getting lost in this story! (Not lost as in I couldn't follow along, but lost as in I read for three hours before I realized how long I had been reading for!) While I'm not that well-versed in historical romances, I found this one easy enough to understand and really liked all of the "scandalous" things that took place.

Aside from Ned, what I liked most about this book was that I didn't have to wait until the end for the mysteries and conflicts to be resolved. Yes, one conflict held out until the last page, but I felt Elizabeth did a wonderful job of "tugging me along" by resolving one mystery, then hyping up the next one, then resolving that one, etc. I seriously couldn't put this down!

I wasn't so sure about Cassie at first, but as the story went on, I really liked how, in spite of the aforementioned scandalous behavior, she didn't take any guff from anyone. I would even call her downright sassy at some points, which I got a kick out of.

I really liked Ned. I especially liked his relentlessly protective streak when it came to Cassie. The final scene was absolutely adorable!

This was my first Elizabeth book, but I very much like her characters and writing style and I can't wait to catch up with Ned and Cassie in subsequent books and maybe read a certain Captain's story next? ;)

(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)

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Edmund Talbot, the Earl of Stranraer is devastated by his sister’s disappearance and plans to go to any lengths to find the notorious rogue responsible. He feels Captain Francis Wycherley knows something about his sister and he enters household incognito as a servant, Ganstridge, to wreak his vengeance on him. Cassandra Blythe is in love with Julian, her childhood friend, but he doesn’t seem to notice her so who better to teach the art of seduction than the notorious rake, Captain Wycherley. Ganstridge keeps intruding Cassie’s lessons he shows up at inauspicious moments to spoil her lessons in love with warnings of her imminent ruin. She knows she loves Julian, but she’s is blindsided by her body's thrilling response to the wrong man. Cassie discoveries who Ganstridge the servant really is and she decides to help Ned, the Earl of Stranraer’s uncover the mystery surrounding, sister’s disappearance, but only if he abandons his vow to destroy his enemy. The book is humorous, intriguing with a mystery to solve as two head strong people fight their mutual attraction and sexual tension to find their HEA!!!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher.

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Let me start by saying I loved Ms. Keysian's first book, Distracting the Duke. I found the writing witting and entertaining. I am not making the same connection with Unmasking the Earl. The plot is plausible, but the heroine is a nitwit. Cassie's actions do not fit with what I would picture a heroine as being - intelligent, clear thinking, independent and able to take care of herself. And, Ned just seems taken by her beauty and all that bronze hair. I just do not see the woman I view as a heroine placing herself in the home of a known rake. I am so sorry to be so negative.
And the reasons for Wycherley's amorous pursuits - that is not love. Love is staying by the woman your love until she believes you and trusts you and doesn't blindly accept you tapping anything in skirts so you can tell her about it! He is reminiscent of an ass. Not even Julien's acceptance of Lady Lucy being enamored of Wycherley makes sense to me.
Ms. Keysian, please forgive my lack of understanding for this story as I realize I may be being to picky. Because I do not believe in downgrading a book publicly, I will not be placing a review on Amazon. I believe this book may be very appealing to others.
I do thank you for the opportunity to read it and for allowing me to be honest in my review.

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http://readdayandnight.blogspot.com/2017/05/Unmasking-the-Earl.html

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Miss Cassandra Blythe is most distressed that man who she has loved since she was a child, only looks at her as a sister. She must do something to make him notice her.
Lord Edmund Talbot, the Earl of Stranraer is searching for his sister who vanished several months before. The only clue he has is the name of a well known libertine.
This is a wonderful, crazy adventure. Our mischievous heroine risks all for love, and our bullheaded hero has a problem controlling his temper. Lots of fun and a little mystery to solve. The final scene in particular was vastly entertaining.
I loved ever page.

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Awesome read. This book started out slow but stick with it and it will be worth it. I enjoyed the twists and turns this book took. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

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3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this story and did not feel I was missing anything by not reading the first book in the se­ries.

Cassie is in love wi­th a childhood friend and thinks to catch his eye is to learn how to seduce a ma­n. She begins to see a notorious rake for seduction lessons, but soon realizes the man who makes her heart beat faster is a servant. When she finds out that the servant is actually the missing Earl of Stranraer she is de­termined to help him find his missing si­ster.

Cassie was a fun her­oine to read along her journey of finding love. Ned was perf­ect for her, even th­ough it took them a while to realize it! I was not disappoin­ted by this book at all!

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