The Elusive Earl” by Maddison Michaels, a book with lots and lots of adventures, lovely banter and sweet chemistry. While the title would suggest a story mostly about a mysterious earl, it is also about a rebellious lady, with a neck for trouble. On the search for a treasure her parents were also trying to find, Miss Biranna Penderley ends up in Italy, engaged to two men and trapped at a ball. As usual, her uncle sends Daniel Wolcott (the Earl of Thornton) to save her and bring her back home to England. Little did any of them expect to have all Italian authorities looking for them, including the prince and a mad killer. Is it about the treasure or Bree’s unexpected likeliness to the late principesa?

A beautiful, beautiful story, engaging and oh, so funny. There was no moment of boredom when reading this book, as the plot was so well done. The length of it was perfect to capture all the details and for everything to fall into piece at the right moment. The search for her mother’s journals in order to find the hidden treasure of King Alric leads Bree to find out more about her ties to Italy and even discover a grandfather she knew nothing about. All these while trying to put up with this grumpy Earl that annoys her so much.

Daniel is a vexed with Bree as she is. He is so tired of always trying to save her. Yet not for one moment would he go against his mentor’s (Bree’s uncle) words. So he finds himself married (falsely so, but still married) to the most annoying and stubborn woman he has ever made. Being followed by his past, Daniel only wishes for a wife that can maintain a household. Love has no place in his life.

But if political affairs may have an easier solution, affairs of the heart are difficult to solve. But love gets what it wants, make no mistake, and these two main characters come to realize there may be one small step from hate to love. Their interactions are so well done and their personalities well developed throughout the story. Because of the length, we have plenty of time for the feelings to come into light.

All in all, this was a lovely book, with a lot of action. It has treasure hunt, murder, love, family affairs, politics and so much more. I do hope you’ll give it a try :) Happy Reading!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 2 in the Saints and Scoundrels series. I didn’t really remember book 1 but I still could enjoy the read. Daniel is having to save a damsel that keeps being in distress. Brianna was very annoying to me. I think the author was trying to make her a strong woman character but she kept doing stupid things. She was annoying. I did like the story though.

The Elusive Earl is the second book in the Saints & Scoundrels series by Maddison Michaels. I haven't read the first book in this series yet, but now, I just have to. It was told from multiple point of views. This was such a fun story with super fun characters. That's a lot of fun, right there. I'm a sucker for bantering, and these two were so good at it. They were witty and quick. The chemistry was steamy. They took me on the adventure with them, and you never knew who was going to show up or what was going to happen when, because there was always something happening. I loved this one guys. You will too.

I had not read book one of the series and started with book 2 (this one). The story was very well-written with interesting characters. It was a great adventure story and had some very exciting scenes; however, it seemed a bit wordy at times and I would have liked to have had a little more romance in the story. Overall, this was a very good story, but be prepared because it does get a bit wordy. Still, a good story that I enjoyed reading.

I must say, this book was not one of my favorites. I had expected to love it, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I wasn't a big fan of the dynamic between our hero and heroine, and it took a lot of determination on my part to finish the book.

I like historical romances, although I don't read them as much as I used, but unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me. This was one I would put down for days at a time and took me quite a while to finish it. The "hero" was anything but with his behavior toward the heroine.

Brianna is a self confident heroine, with her own goals but also a tendency to get into trouble. Her father sends his friend after her to help her out, a guy she surely dislikes. Or does she?

This is a hate to love story with a really mean villain thrown in, some murder and mystery.

DNF 25% in...

I'm not the biggest Historical Romance fan, and in order for me to enjoy them they have to catch my attention very early on. This one just couldn't do it. The hero wasn't doing it for me. Not sure how he was doing anything for the heroine. He was an ass. A huge ass. Which can be typical of any book hero, but there wasn't anything endearing about him to keep me turning the pages. Sorry, not sorry.

Hate to say it but this book, as you can tell from my DNF, just wasn't my cuppa.

Oh well, on to the next one. :)

I have to admit, this one wasn't badly done, and will in all likelihood appeal to a lot of people who enjoy historical romances, however I found it very hard to get interested in (and stay interested in).

The characters were strong when independent of one another, and there is no doubt that they had chemistry, but the constant back and forth between acting on that chemistry, then calling it a mistake, swearing it would never happen again, and then going back to sniping at each other killed the vibe for me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good friemies to lovers story as much as the next person, but this boarded on tedious. I also feel as though the ending seemed rushed considering the build up. From the way the story began, I expected more - even though as stated previously - I do think this book will be well received.

I would read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

The Elusive Earl is the second book in Ms. Michael’s Saints and Scoundrels series. Some of the characters from The Devilish Duke also appear here. A cute, slow-burn type romance blossoms between a head-strong young orphan, Briana (Bree) and an earl nine years her elder, Daniel. The antagonism between these childhood frenemies seems a bit forced even for a hate-to-love romance trope. Underlying the love story is a search for King Aleric’s long-lost treasure and a murder mystery (who killed Bree’s parents). The killer is heading Bree’s way as are the local mafiosi. There are numerous plot twists including a fake marriage followed by a “real” marriage plus the usual wronged feelings/heartaches caused when couples don’t communicate well.

I did enjoy the incorporation of Visigoth/Italian history into the story in the form of an archeological search for King Aleric’s treasure. The setting of most of the book, Calabria, was also interesting and refreshing. However, I found the depiction of English dialogue by some Italians in the book offensive. Dis and de and other such “eye dialect” is used instead of this and the, thus marking lowerer classes as less intelligent. John Dufresne, In The Lie That Tells a Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction states that eye dialect distracts the reader, and trick spellings and lexical gimmicks are the easy way out. When an author uses unusual spellings, she/he draws the reader’s attention away from the dialogue itself and onto the means of getting it across. He suggests that dialect be rendered by "rhythm of the prose, by the syntax, the diction, idioms and figures of speech, by the vocabulary indigenous to the locale” rather than in aberrant spellings.

This is a fabulous story, a story filled with witty banter, a romance that will have you smiling and laughing as Brianna and Daniel go after a treasure that has already been the cause of many deaths, there is danger and lots going on in this fast paced story, a story I loved from start to finish, this is one that you are not going to want to put down once you pick it up.

Brianna Penderley has grown up with her aunt and uncle in England after being orphaned as a toddler, talking about her parents murder is not something that she likes and she is always chasing after some sort of antiquity and forever getting herself in scrapes that her uncle needs to send someone to get her out of and that is The Earl of Thornton Daniel Wolcott and their relationship is pretty fiery, she thinks he is stuffy, but he has shown up in Italy to rescue her again and this time the stakes are high her life in is danger and Daniel is in full protection mode and Brianna is not too keen on it, talk about clash of strong personalities.

Daniel is determined to never turn out like his father a scoundrel and is not going to get married till it is absolutely necessary and when his mentor asks him again to go and rescue his niece Brianna after getting herself engaged to two Italians no less, he is far from happy this woman does his head in. But this time the situation turns ugly and Daniel is hard pressed to keep her safe and his heart safe as well.

This story has everything in it that a romance should there is emotion a plenty there is humour in such dangerous situations a sensual pull and kisses to make a reader swoon and honestly the banter is awesome MS Michaels you rock this story is awesome, I loved Daniel and Brianna so much, this is an exhilarating story that ticks all of the boxes for a romance that I highly recommend it, the ending is just so gorgeous I was smiling so much, and I look forward to many more thank you so much.

This book was not a good book. I could only get to around 12%. It was tedious and I just could not finish it.

It’s rare that I don’t thoroughly absorb myself in a historical romance. I usually find them so well-researched, emotive and relevant in a modern way. I was really looking forward to reading this as the storyline was right up my alley. Strong female heroine and intelligent, slightly stuffy gentleman find love and solve a mystery together. But the characters seemed a little too stereotypical and, although the storyline was interesting, ultimately the book seemed a little too contrived. Maybe I was just expecting more, as the standard of historical romance fiction appears to improve all the time. I will give this author another try though - as it may be that this story just wasn’t what I was in the mood for.

I am usually hesitant to read romances that could just as easy be categorized as an adventure novel as most authors have a difficult time weaving the two elements seamlessly into the story. Treasure hunts in far off places tend to be a bit too unbelievable. Luckily for me, I enjoyed Michaels' debut "The Devil Duke* enough to take a chance on this one.

I loved that, Brianna Penderley, was headstrong and independent but that her vulnerable nature still came through. She may have bickered a lot with Daniel Wolcott, the Earl of Thornton, but it was never obnoxious and it was clearly used to protect her heart.

Brianna and Daniel were such equals. I appreciate when both characters are given strong personality traits and one isn't written as less than the otber. These two were an excellent pairing and it seems from the secondary characters, that there is more to come. I look forward to the upcoming installments.

This book is filled with nail biting adventure and a love hate romance between the hero, Daniel, Earl of Thornton and the heroine, Brianna Penderley. The chemistry between the two characters is sizzling hot and the treasure hunting storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seats through the book. The villain gave me goosebumps as I was reading about him. This is book two in the Saints and Scoundrels series but can be read as a standalone. Some of the characters from the first book are seen again in this book but the first book doesn't need to be read for continuity.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Loved this book I know it is only Maddison's second book but I am so in love with her as a writer that I will be following her closely so I dont miss anything. Was a little confused as I thought that Daniel was married in the first book but I could be wrong and thinking of a different book. Other than that this book was phenomenal.

Brianna Penderley always manages to get herself into situations that she needs someone to help her get out of. However, this time, she's managed to get herself into a situation she might not be able to get out of when she becomes engaged to two men. Luckily, her fix-it man Daniel Wolcott is a man that knows what it takes to get a job done. Then again, he's always been her knight in shining armor. It's just too bad they don't like each other, otherwise they'd be perfect together. But with trouble brewing; trouble that leads back to the death of her parents, will Daniel be able to keep Brianna safe or will they lose their chance at happy ever after?

Having absolutely loved the first book of this series, I couldn't wait to read more by this wonderful author and this second book of Ms. Michaels Saints and Scoundrels series is a highly entertaining, fast-paced, captivating read that takes readers on quite the journey delving deep into the greed of evil people, discovering the whereabouts of a treasure that many want and learning what got the heroine's parents killed and who was responsible. Will Brianna and Daniel be able to solve the mystery? Will Daniel be able to protect Brianna from the danger they face?

The way this story started was absolutely brilliant because the heroine does manage to get herself into some tricky situations and it's understandable why she needs someone to help her get out of them. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story really takes off and made this story an absolute page turner, as the two rub each other the wrong way. Will they ever be able to get along long enough to have a shot at a future together?

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and everything these two go through on their journey to happy ever after including the danger they face and the shocks the heroine gets when it comes to her heritage. Moreover, both the main characters were utterly compelling and had me reading quickly, determined to discover whether they'd come out on top against the bad guys.

With the heroine, she's strong; brave; stubborn; feisty; persistent in her pursuit to find someone she loves before something bad happens to them; and I liked that she didn't give up on getting to the bottom of the mystery and do all she can for someone she loves. Really, she's an absolute challenge for the hero and I could understand why Daniel finds her so exasperating at times. While Daniel, he was a wonderful hero in the way he's confident in his skills in getting the heroine out of trouble; smart; driven; and I liked how he would do anything for the heroine's family because he considers them family. Really, they've been so good to him over the years. However, I couldn't help but sympathize with the hero when it comes to his reasons for not wanting a relationship because he doesn't want to hurt a woman the way his father hurt his mother. Will he realize that he's not his father before he loses Brianna for good?

Overall, Ms. Michaels has delivered a marvellous read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was powerful; the romance was engrossing and had me liking these two together; and the ending had me worried for the main characters because of the danger they face, but had me liking what the hero does to win back the heroine after their relationship goes awry. Certainly, he knows how to woo a woman, even if his skills with an instrument aren't all that impressive according to the heroine's aunt. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as the hero and heroine certainly get a good surprise. I would recommend The Elusive Earl by Maddison Michaels, if you enjoy Historical Romance, the enemy to lovers trope or books by authors Stacy Reid, Jess Michaels, Pamela Mingle and Callie Hutton.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley.

I love historical romance but this was very difficult to like. I started and stopped a few times and still was unable to finish it. This author may not be for me.

What a ride! Bree is a character who seems to never sit still, and is constantly getting into situations! Enter Daniel, the earl of Thorne. He is the one who grudgingly rescues Bree time after time. Their path to an HEA takes time but well worth it. A different locale from regency England adds a different feel to this book. While I read an ARC, I would recommend this book!

~~Reviewed by Barbara~~

This is an exciting, action-packed, and romantic addition to the Saints and Scoundrels series by Maddison Michaels. This new author seems to be off to a great start. The writing is intelligent and witty and the two main characters are very interesting. At times you want to kiss them and at other times you want to spank them. Especially our hero because he is one of the most pig-headed and stubborn characters I’ve ever read. I was actually beginning to wonder if he was ever going to have his grand epiphany. But, when he finally did, it was a great one! I couldn’t put the book down because it was so fast-paced and exciting that I just had to see what happened next.

One thing that impressed me thoroughly is that the author actually got the name right for someone marrying a peer. Yes, she plainly spelled it out and I loved it! She’s obviously done her research. When Bree has to pretend to be married to Daniel, her name would be Brianna Thornton – NOT Brianna Wolcott.

It seems that Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton, has been rescuing Brianna Penderley her entire life. She is high-spirited, self-assured, adventure-loving and has a real talent for getting herself into trouble. Isn’t it lucky that her uncle is the head spy-master for England and he can send someone to extricate her from whatever it is she has gotten into? Unfortunately for Daniel, he is the one his boss always sends. When Bree was really young she had romantic notions about her best friend’s older brother, Daniel. That is until she got to know how very stodgy and boring he really was.

Bree’s latest adventure is one of the best yet. Somehow, she has managed to get herself engaged to two, yes two, different Italian men – all without being able to speak the language. Once again Daniel is sent to rescue her only to find her climbing out an upper floor window at the ball she is attending. Then they get word that Bree’s cousin has been kidnapped. To free him, she must bring her mother’s journals to a location several days away from where they are. Thus begins the journey that will have betrayal, friendships, frustration and lots of danger and in the end – finding an exciting treasure.

Bree’s family history is a fascinating one and it involves murder and rescue as well as a loving family life with an aunt, uncle and two cousins. Her aunt and uncle treat her just like their daughter and love her unconditionally. You’ll love her entire family when you meet them. Her aunt is an absolute hoot!

Daniel’s family was dysfunctional, to say the least. His father was a philandering wastrel who almost left the earldom in financial ruin before he died. His mother was a weak-willed lady who loved his father unconditionally and was hurt by him over and over and over. Daniel grew up observing his family dynamic and vowed never to be like his father and never to marry for love because he might hurt and/or be hurt. So, when he finally has to marry to produce an heir his bride will be very biddable – you know – dull. It was fun to watch Daniel fight his attraction to Bree throughout the entire book – and to finally witness his acceptance of his fate. There were so many times I just wanted to kick him in the rear. Bree was as stubborn as he was, but she recognized the attraction early on and didn’t really fight it – except when he’d say or do something hurtful.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but it definitely won’t be the last. I really need to go back and get the first one and read it because I’m sure it is just as interesting and exciting.

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”