A lively historical romance with lots of humour and a dash of suspense.
I loved the characters and couldn't wait to see Gray and Fiona get their happily ever after.
A blackmailer has be dispatched with first which leading to all sorts of antics.
I enjoyed the house party setting. The cast cast of characters assembled were quirky and interesting. And Gray and Fiona's romance topped it off. A lovely read.
I couldn't put the book down.

First Earl I See Tonight is my first read by Anna Bennett. I received this arc from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

The story starts off with an interesting premise. A heiress, who’s family earned their wealth, is being blackmailed with a secret about her sister. The only way she can payoff the blackmailer is to propose marriage to an English earl who’s in desperate need of money.

I enjoy a woman who takes the less conventional path and goes after what she wants. I also enjoy a man who is devoted to his family and only wants what’s best for them. However, to read this story, you need to just go with the flow and not ask too many questions.

The first half of the book was ok, but by the time I figured out who the blackmailer was, I was over it. The reasoning behind the blackmail, the way they figured out the secret and the hero’s dealing with the blackmailer were all disappointing.

First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett started so strong. The first page was perfection, and the plot drew me in immediately. Fiona, our heroine, is being blackmailed and needs access to her dowry to pay it. She develops the bold plan of proposing to the Gray, the Earl of Ravenport.

I loved the heroine taking control of her destiny. Her proposal to the grouchy Earl delighted me. I was really enjoying the impoverished Earl and desperate heiress figuring out their attraction in a short amount of time. Fiona was cute and clumsy, Gray was grumpy and sarcastic, they really seemed to work, for a while.

Unfortunately, around 60% I began to lose interest in the story. I was pretty sure I knew who the villain was and I wasn't too delighted about it. Fiona and Gray were still adorable, but I didn't really see why Fiona was so in love with Gray. He was great though I feel like I only understood how great he was because I could see through his eyes and knew his motivations. Fiona didn't have that luxury, and I don't think Gray was actually that outwardly wonderful.

What really bugged me was all the unresolved plot points. I hope they're resolved in the second book. We still don't really know what is going to happen to Fiona's sister in regards to her secret. Fiona's dad just came in and out of the story when it was convenient to add emotional depth, and I wasn't content with the villein's end.

Overall, this was a decent historical romance. I wasn't over the moon in love with it, but I didn't mind finishing it either. I think Anna Bennett's writing shows promise and I feel like Fiona's sister will have an exciting book with the secret hanging over her head.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

Fiona Hartley needs a husband immediately and she knows who she wants. It's the Earl of Ravenport. He doesn't know what hit him when he receives her proposal. She offers him her large dowry and gives no reason as to why they should marry. What happens next is an unusual courtship filled with romance and bad poetry. I enjoyed First Earl I See Tonight. Fiona is intelligent and resourceful. Her charming writing and witty dialogue made me smile. Gray is a grumpy loaner who has been burned by love. Can Fiona bring him out of his shell? These characters make the story come alive. I loved seeing Fiona and Gray together. It was so romantic watching them fall in love. The story is well written. It combines romance with a touch of mystery as Fiona struggles to deal with a blackmailer who is a threat to her sister, Lily. Anna Bennett made me care for Fiona and Gray. I wanted them to get their well deserved HEA.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

This was a solid addition to the romance genre, but did not have much originality. I found myself thinking "this plot device was done better in that other novel" etc. Also, some of the historical inaccuracies pulled me out of the narrative. I am glad I read it and will probably read others by Anna Bennett, but based on this novel, I don't think she will become one of my favorite authors.

This is a charming period romance, complete with a kick-ass heroine, Miss Fiona Hartley. Fiona is determined to find a husband to access her dowry money and marital purse to protect her family's darkest secret. This is a bold plan, and Bennett's writing makes it shine. There is great character development, a handsome Earl, and an ending that will have you awww.

I loved this story, it was an enchanting read with a healthy dose of suspense and great character development.

Fiona Hartley is an endearing heroine. She needs a husband to access her marriage settlement and pay a blackmailer, to protect her sister from scandal and humiliation. David Gray, the Earl of Ravenport, is the perfect candidate, due to his lack of fortune and brooding personality that keeps the competition at bay. Despite his financial difficulties, he is not easily going along with Fiona’s bold plan. He tries to scare her off, but without success. I loved Fiona’s honesty and her determination to wiggle past the earl’s defenses. She is willing to go to great lengths to protect her sister.

David was everything I love in a hero. He was protective, loyal, charming, attentive, honest. He has been deeply hurt in a previous relationship, and he has good cause to be wary of others, but Fiona brings out his tender, carefree side. He is charmed by her thoughtfulness and her honesty. He finds that he’s being irresistibly drawn to her and he can’t keep her at arm’s length.

I loved watching Fiona and David’s transformation. As soon as they meet, there is some serious tension building between them. The relationship is slow building and completely sweet, their connection is tangible. This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed! 4.5 Stars

Fiona is in need of money to keep a secret from coming to light. The Blackmailer hasn't given her much time. She decides a marriage of convenience would be the easiest way to get money quickly and sets her sights on Gray, an earl in serious need of money.

Gray doesn't want marriage, but he would love to restore the estate for his grandmother. In his attempt to ward off Fiona by showing her his estate, seemingly falling apart around them, she doesn't give up.

Spending time together brings forth emotions neither is prepared for, but is it enough for a marriage, and will Fiona make the deadline before the truth comes to light?

a good start to a new series.

**received an ARC from NetGalley**

First Earl I See Tonight - Anna Bennett
I love reading historical romance where the hero or heroine are so much more than society dictates. During this time, we'd see many ladies trying to gain a title or secure a higher title. Appearances are more important than what's on the inside. Yet the First Earl I See Tonight takes that notion and spins it on its head with Fiona Hartley. What starts out as a marriage of convenience turns into the perfect love match. Only they don't know it.

And thawing the Earl of Ravenport will take time. And authenticity. Which Fiona has in spades. They both have their reasons for marriage, none of which are love. Though in the end, it's love that keeps them together. (awwww...)

The first of a new series (Debutante Diaries) leaves me quite excited for the next coupling. If you're looking for good fun with unique characters, Anna Bennett is an excellent bet.

Steam level: 3.5
Subgenre: Historical Romance
First in Series

First Earl I See Tonight

**received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This was my first book of Anna Bennett’s and it will not be my last. This book had it all intrigue, mystery, and romance. I love that Fiona is the one to approach Gray with her idea and that she is not afraid to save those she loves. She is fierce, independent but also vulnerable and when she lets Gray in she lets him see all of her. Gray will also grab your attention because he is unyielding, stern, but loves his grandmother and when he lets Fiona in just a little he realizes that maybe he can have a happy ever after. They will learn just what it means to love and wheat they have to do to keep that love alive. Travel through time and fall in love with Fiona and Gray.

Fiona is desperate, someone is blackmailing her and she needs money right away otherwise the secrets about her sister will be known to all. The only problem is while she is from a wealthy family she cannot get the money she needs unless she marries. But she thinks she has found someone who would be willing to marry her, she just needs to convince him that she is the right one for him before it’s too late. Hopefully he is as desperate as she is for money otherwise she is out of ideas.

When Gray receives a letter from Fiona asking him to marry her, he is surprised and annoyed. After his failed engagement he no longer wishes to marry and unfortunately cannot help her. But when he tries to tell her this, she somehow works her way into his home in the country and into his grandmother’s heart. He tries to offer other suggestions of gentlemen who might work out, but Fiona is adamant that he has to be the one. And when he sees the way she interacts with his grandmother he decides why not help her out, because maybe she has made an impression on his heart also.

Just when Fiona thinks she will finally be able to save her family, the blackmailer changes everything and Fiona will have to give up the love she has for Gray. Will he let her go without a fight? Or will he finally see that somethings are worth fighting for?

Gray and Fiona are lovely and it was a joy getting to know them and watching them get to know each other. Although I really enjoyed this story, it was not perfect. The biggest flaw for me was THE VILLAIN! Why is it that these types of stories usually have such lame villains? Is it because the authors don't really understand how to envision a bad guy? I do wish more time was taken to develop a better villain. Overall, I did like this although, I think an epilogue would have been nice.


**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

If you enjoy Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare, Cathy Maxwell, or any other regency romance author, you'll love Anna Bennett's work. First Earl I see Tonight is a warm, witty romantic romp. I loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fans of Julia Quinn and Tessa Dare are simply going to love Anna Bennett and her latest novel, First Earl I See Tonight. Charming, witty, warm-hearted and wonderfully romantic, First Earl I See Tonight is a captivating tale that will draw readers in from the very first page and keep them engrossed until the final sentence.

Miss Fiona Hartley is a talented artist who would anything for her family – including contemplating matrimony. When she receives a letter from a ruthless blackmailer who is threatening to ruin her sister Lily, Fiona finds herself having to get her hands on a huge sum of money. Not wanting to worry her father or risk endless questions by her stepmother, Fiona realizes that the only way she can get the capital to pay off the blackmailer is if she marries for convenience, and having recently been rescued from embarrassment by David Gray, Earl of Ravenport, during a ball, she thinks that she has found the perfect candidate for the job. But will David concede to her proposal to be her convenient husband?

The Earl of Ravenport is going through a rather difficult time at the moment. Not only does he have his dilapidated ancestral home to restore to its former glory, but he is also mourning the end of his relationship after he had been jilted by the woman he thought he was going to be spending the rest of his life with. Gray’s heart hasn’t broken, but it’s completely and utterly frozen. However, he is completely and utterly flabbergasted when he receives a letter from Miss Fiona Hartley proposing a marriage of convenience! Gray had made the mistake of trusting somebody with his heart once before and he is adamant that he will not make the same mistake twice. Besides, even if he were to take a wife, one look at his derelict home, and any sensible woman would run for the hills. Yet, despite his protests, Fiona will not be so easily deterred…

Gray is determined to find Fiona a far more suitable man than him to marry and a house party would be the perfect opportunity for Fiona to realize just how absurd the idea of the two of them marrying actually is. But, as they find themselves getting closer and closer and giving in to an attraction that simply cannot be denied, Gray and Fiona soon realize that there is nothing convenient about their feelings for one another!

Is true love on the cards for Fiona and Gray? Or will shocking secrets and dangerous deceptions end up tearing them apart for good?

An enchanting historical romance from an outstanding writer, First Earl I See Tonight will charm readers from the very beginning and keep them smiling all the way through. Deliciously spiced with humor, passion, pathos and drama, First Earl I See Tonight is a spellbinding romance featuring a brooding and charismatic hero who will make readers swoon and a strong, selfless and caring heroine who is simply adorable.

Anna Bennett is a very gifted author of historical romance who writes books that are simply irresistible. First Earl I See Tonight is a wonderful tale of second chances, impossible obstacles and forbidden love that I just could not put down. Magical, engrossing and mesmerizing, First Earl I See Tonight is another keeper by Anna Bennett!

First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett
Debutante Diaries #1

Blackmail is a dirty business and Fiona Hartley needs a way to pay off the blackmailer to keep her family happily as it is. Her decision to access her inheritance through marriage sees her writing a wedding proposal to a man she believes might be interested in her money little knowing that what she expects and what will happen will be quite different. David Gray, Earl of Ravenport, thinks that Fiona is mad at first but does meet and talk to her. The two grow closer to one another at a house party on his crumbling estate but there is always the blackmailer lurking in the background to cause turmoil in Fiona’s mind…and life.

My thoughts:
*Well written if somewhat predictable
*Storyline highly unlikely
*Liked the characters
*Enjoyed the interactions between Gray and Fiona
*Some will find this book highly entertaining while others will want more substance

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

What a delightful read! Fiona needs a marriage of convenience, David needs money, but is too honourable to take part in Fiona's harebrained scheme. He's sure hosting her at his estate will scare her off - as it did his previous fiancee - but somehow sharp-eyed Fiona sees beyond the cracks to what's really important.

I loved the attention to little things in this book - Fiona's love of drawing, David's perceptive grandmother, the sisterly bond between Fiona and Lily, the realisation on both sides that this was a marriage that both wanted for more than the convenience. I especially loved the lack of unnecessary angst - yes, there are some tense moments, but these are two wonderfully practical people who, upon further machinations of the blackmailer, independently realise this and don't blame the other.

An extremely enjoyable historical romance.

I enjoyed reading this story about Fiona, a warm-hearted and desperate heiress and Gray, the jilted, disillusioned and slightly frustrated Earl of Ravenport! Fiona has to fight to protect her sister from ruin and if that means proposing to some stranger, well, Fiona is willing to do almost about everything in order to protect those that she loves!

The problem is that such a business arrangement as the one they agreed upon may look very different if you spend time with someone as warm and lively as Fiona every day..is it a problem? Well, it might become one if there are other forces conspiring against them and when former lovers and blackmail join in the fun.

A warm and compassionate heroine and a hero who tries to hold himself back and fails, a mysterious blackmailer whose identity remains unknown almost to the end - and I never even guessed who it was. I took me as well as our hero and our heroine completely by surprise when we recognized the blackmailer because, well, ...
There were parts of the story that were a bit bumpy but on the whole, I really enjoyed this first book in Anna Bennett's new series. I loved the writing and the characters a lot and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Miss Fiona Hartley desperately needs her dowry money to pay off a blackmailer and her only way is to marry within a fortnight. David Gray, Earl of Ravenport was all set to marry an heiress until she jilted him after she seen his rundown estate. Fiona sets out to proposition the Earl of Ravenport for a marriage of convenience where he has access to her money to restore his coffers and his estates, but with certain conditions. Gray is confident that spending a week at his ramshackle estate will change her mind about marriage. Gray is drawn to her beauty and genuine warmth especially when she’s very protective of those she loves. Fiona is attracted to Gray, even though at first he comes off as a very defensive and gruff. He thinks once she see his estate she’ll run off like his fiancé. She knows she’ll never have a marriage built on love and she’ll do what is necessary to protect her family no matter the cost to herself. An enchanting story of two people trying to take care of their families anyway they know how, but will they eventually comes to realize happiness is just waiting if they have the courage to reach out and grab it to have their HEA! I have read this book with no obligation to leave a review.

David Gray, Earl of Ravenport, just wants to fix the family home and restore his life. Miss Fiona Hartley needs to get her hands on her dowry to pay off a blackmailer set on ruining her dear younger sister. A daring proposal just might solve both of their problems.

Anna Bennett starts her new series with a bang! Fiona, while a little too headstrong at times, is a dynamic heroine with a compassionate heart. Ravenport grew on me as the novel progressed. The last thing he wants after a jilting is to jump into another relationship. Even though his mind was telling him to run away from Fiona, his heart had a different idea.

I am a sucker for mystery thrown in with my romance. The villainous blackmailer caused havoc on Fiona and Ravenport’s lives as well as their relationship. What I love the most about mysteries? That would be the fact that I can’t figure out who it is before the big reveal. I hate that I can’t give you any clues! I will say you won’t see this one coming and I love how Bennett kept me guessing on every page.

I can’t wait to see how Bennett tops The Ravenport’s love story as this series continues!

I received this book for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read , new series with a great beginning.I loved Fiona and Gray. She’s sassy and he’s stoic , they have a great chemistry.I enjoyed them together.It was romantic but also it has the mystery of the blackmailer which kept me turning the pages.

Maybe 3.5 stars

Honestly, Anna Bennett is hit or miss for me and this book is closer to miss than hit for me.

Fiona Hartley needs to marry so she can gain access to her impressive dowry and pay off the blackmailer intent on ruining her sister. She decides David Gray, the Earl of Ravenport, is perfect for her needs. He is in need of funds and was kind to her. She has no desire for anything more than a marriage of convenience and sends him her proposal.

David is not interested in marriage - he has learned the hard way that love is not worth the pain. His live has not been easy for him and his tragic past has left him slightly bitter, broody and moody. He refuses Fiona's proposal and concentrates on trying to restore "the Fortress" to it's former glory for his grandmother, who is the only person he loves and who is losing her sight.


No is not an option for Fiona and she persists. David decides to invite her along with her family to visit - that should scare her off just as it did his former betrothed. But as he gets to know her he is no longer certain he wants to push her away.

The book is well written and after a little bit of a choppy start, settles into a smooth pace. I will admit that I have a soft spot for grumpy heroes and David certainly falls into that category. I liked Fiona and admired her devotion to her family, but the story was just so implausible and at times ludicrous and contrived. There is a lot going on before these two get a HEA, including blackmail, drama, lies, betrayal, good friends, sacrifice and a villain who gets off way to easily (IMO).

This is the first book in a new series and I will read the next installment but I am not sure I would recommend this book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*