I utterly adored this book. It contains one of my favorite tropes in a romance novel, unrequited love. It is difficult to find the right balance in an unrequited love story with the right amount of pain, suffering and romance in between the hero and heroine. The author has got it just right in this story and also written something that I haven’t read before, the love that the hero and heroine have for each other is unrequited. Julian, the Earl of Apthorp and Lady Constance Stonewell have loved each other from first sight but a series of misunderstandings and an effort to protect their own hearts leads to Julian and Constance hurting each other repeatedly over the decade that they have known each other. As they both realize their own feelings, past their hurt, over the scandal, they have to decide whether it will be worth taking the risk for the biggest gamble of their live, their love for each other. The love scenes between them are also really hot and sexy even their first kiss in the powder closet. I would highly recommend this book. This is the second book in the Secrets of Charlotte Street series. I had not liked the first book in the series so I was hesitant to read this book but after loving this story so much, I am going back to read the first book, The Duke I Tempted.

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

I really enjoyed the debut release from Scarlett Peckham but had some grumbles (namely the big change in tone for the two halves of the book and a big is it cheating situation which occurred) but that being said I simply knew I /had to/ read the sequel, The Earl I Ruined. Not only because I'd liked the character of Constance in the first book (you just knew her mouth would get her in trouble one day) but also because fake relationships are absolute favourite romance trope ever seen. I cannot get enough of it and I most definitely wanted to see Constance meet her match with the likes of straight-laced Julian Haywood.

Constance is a bit of a gossip (I can totally relate to that because working in an office has ruined me and made me a total sucker for gossip) and although she promised her brother she would not gossip and spread rumours again (it did cause a little drama for her brother) she cannot help herself as she feels she is doing a favour for others. I did appreciate her sentiments. Women in this age have so little control over their lives. They must simply hope that they chaperoned meetings with a man mean he is who he pretends to be. It's only right and fair that she let others know when she finds that a man is not all that he appears. Her reasoning for it is sound as she herself had a terrible experience with a certain man I shall not name. Anyway, I digress, Constance is a gossip who gets herself into a touch of trouble when the gossip she has given to a few close friends falls into the wrong hands and ends up in a gossip column all can see and ruins the reputation of Julian Haywood. And she feels so guilty she proposes she redeem him by pretending to be engaged to him to enable him to claw back his good name and get everything he wanted (like his bill through parliament).

She though Julian was boring as he was always correcting her on her behaviour and actions and always seemed right and proper. And when she discovered he was a member of Charlotte Street even that she got the wrong impression on as well. Julian has been in love with Constance forever and so when he discovers that she is the one who ruined his rep his dreams are shattered as Constance was never interested in him and now he knows she doesn't care if she had no thought for how her gossip could ruin things for him. He acknowledges her help may be the only way to redeem his rep and get his plans through parliament to finally enable him to achieve his aims. Although he realises Constance may not be by his side as he had originally planned.

The pair fall into a false engagement to convince friends, family and parliament. They pretend they've had a long secret engagement and that the rumours are laughable. Sadly, the rumours are false but there is certainly more to Julian's story. I loved seeing this hate to love fake relationship develop. Julian was in love and now hates Constance and cannot stand this fake show they must out on when this is all he ever wanted. And for Constance Lord Bore is nothing like she expected and I loved her gradually learning more about what a kind and wonderful man he is.

Sparks flew throughout this romance and who can help but love Julian when he gifts Constance a dog who gets called Shrimpy (cute right) but not only that the man gifted her a dildo! And helped guide her to an orgasm. A man who cares for female pleasure above his own is always a win in my book. So I was utterly charmed by Julian as snippets of him came out. I already loved Constance but Julian was a slow burn love and I adored him.

This book did not suffer from the sophomore slump. It was more sophomore smashed it out the park. It was addictive and sexy and a stand out in the historical romance genre. Definitely check this out and I'll be sat here hoping we'll be seeing more of Charlotte Street soon

I read Scarlett Peckham's first book, The Duke I Tempted and ever since then I have placed this author on my authors to watch. That book was quite surprising and wonderful and eventhough its historical romance, very apt for modern times. So when I learned that a second book was coming, I didn't hesitate to put it on my TBR pile and quite ecstatic to be getting an ARC. The Earl I Ruined did not disappoint me because like her first book, the author has once again managed to craft a romance that appears simple in plot but quite complicated in its intricacy. There is also once again a role reversal, with the damsel in distress facing ruined played by the male lead while the female lead plays the savior. And like the first book, it features a BDSM element that is more implied this time around and although it plays as a plot device it did not really dominate the romance between Constance and Julian. What makes this romance different is the way this couple continues making mistakes and continues still to trust what they are feeling to get to their happy ever after, despite their flaws, politics and society in the way. I basically just loved it and could not put it down. Even if I break it down to what elements in the story makes it special, in the end its how its all put together by the talented Ms. Peckham that makes The Earl I Ruined a book truly worth reading. Its simply fantastic.

Take one stuffy Earl with some decidely non-stuffy pastimes, add one plucky Lady who's best intentions often land in her trouble and what you get is the best slow-burn, sensual, and beautiful historical romance I've readin 2018. Phew.

Lady Constance Stonewell is abashed to discover her attempt to protect a friend from marrying the uptight Julian Haywood, the Earl of Apthorp, a man who's vexed her and entranced her for over eight years, has actually ruined him on the eve of the political triumph he needs to finally drag himself out of debt and ruin. Julian is doubly ruined by the poem accusing him of enjoying have his "arsethorpe" whipped at a notorious local pleasure house.

Chagrined that her attempt to secretly warn her small set of female followers has become public and caused Julian real harm, Constance is intent on fixing her wrong. But Julian has secretly loved Constance for years and was finally about to gain the courage to tell her. Now that she's propsing they fake an engagement until she can help reclaim his place in society and get his bill passed, Julian doens't know whether he should be thrilled the beauty could finally be his or whether he can ever forgive her.

And while Constance's poem wasn't exactly right, it wasn't exactly wrong either. Lies and secret desires draw these two lovers together and tear them apart, and watching their dance to a completely fulfilling happily ever after was the best way to spend a day sick on the couch.

Also, I'll never look at an apple the same way again. Deliciously naughty.

I loved this book!! Such a great historical with a witty heroine. I look forward to reading more from this author. 4 stars.

Loved it, far more than I did The Duke I Tempted, for so many reasons. Too many reasons, so I will just list them in no particular order:

Loves
- Unrequited love: One of my favorites tropes that isn't done enough or well enough. Maybe I should call this "unknown" love as Julian has been quietly, thoroughly, completely in love with Constance for years while she imagines that he despises her. *shiver*
Because he’d been in love with her so long that it felt as unremarkable as breathing. Because he’d dreamt of the day when he could finally tell her he adored her.

- Longing: See above. Still, once Constance joins this dance, she and Julian heatedly vie for Who Yearns More For The Other. It is so good.
“I know you will find a man who treasures you and deserves you,” he went on. “And I, Lady Constance, will be extremely jealous of him.”

She had her answer. She’d been so hoping for a clue that the risk of revealing how she felt might be worthwhile. Instead, he’d kindly given her a clue it wouldn’t.

- A beta hero that isn't so beta after all (turns out Lord Apthorp, aka "Lord Bore" or the "most boring man in England" is quite as dull as Constance believed.
What Lady Constance Stonewell could not imagine, because she was far more innocent than she knew herself to be, was that dullness had never been among the traits he coveted in ladies. His tastes ran to naughty women. And if she called him Lord Bore one more time, he might set about teaching her in vivid detail the many, many other things she had misjudged about him.

- Grand Gesture: I love a grand gesture, and here we have not one but two! The equality between Constance and Julian is gorgeous. He wishes to be worthy of her and she yearns to earn him as well. They each throw caution and propriety to the wind in reckless efforts to protect and support the other. Fist pumping good.
“You thought attempting to cross the English Channel in a squall would be enough to throw me off?”

- Slow burnnnn: Constance once thought Julian a dull bore. Then she discovers his secret sexual history and that the man is the master of anticipation. "
Julian, the distress is getting worse,” she gasped, curling her toes into his leg.

“I know, sweetheart,” she heard a smile in his voice. “It gets worse before it gets better. But it’s worth it, I promise.”

- Sex Positivity: Constance thinks Julian is involved in something "perverse" until Julian opens her eyes.
“I am perfectly capable of regulating my desires. But Constance?”

“Yes?” she said, glaring.

He leaned in and inhaled the singed vanilla of her perfume from the bare curve of her pale throat. “Don’t call them unnatural until you try them.”

- One Ballsy Broad: Constance was a force of nature and Julian (and I) loved her for it.
She’d never nursed anyone in her life but by God she would learn to save a life by simply doing it.

- Family: I loved Julian's quiet devotion to his sister and mother and Constance's louder but just as steadfast devotion to her brother.

- Language: Scarlett Peckham knows how to craft gorgeous sentences full of romance and wit. I think I must have highlighted almost the entire book on my Kindle.

I really hope this isn't the end of the Charlotte Street adventures.

4.5 stars

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

London - 1754

Lady Constance Stonewell, daughter of the Duke of Westmead, lives with her cousin, Hilary and Lord James Rosecroft, Hilary’s husband. Constance has anonymously written a poem about Julian Haywood, the Earl of Apthorp, which was meant only for her few girlfriends to see. The poem is rather hurtful and alludes to his involvement in immoral behavior. Unfortunately, the poem gets out and now there is a terrible scandal. Julian is very embarrassed and hurt by Constance. Constance is horrified that the poem has gotten out as she meant it only as a joke. Now, she must find a way to stop the gossip. Therefore, she proposes a fake engagement to Julian until everything settles back down. They will spend a month trying to prove they are in love. Unbeknownst to her, Julian has been in love with her for many years.

The story continues as Constance and Julian meet with various people in an effort to charm them in hopes of getting a bill passed that Julian is supporting. As they spend more time together, they fall more and more in love.

This was a very difficult book to read. The dialogue was hard to follow. The innuendo of Julian participating in certain sexual encounters are a huge turnoff to me. I felt Constance was a bit flighty and her comments didn’t seem to be those that would come from a person of her youth. I did not read the first book and am certainly not interested in doing so.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am so into this author's style and voice - that's the area that tends to be my biggest struggle for historical romances, but I was completely sold on the tone & writing almost from the jump. That alone will keep me coming back for more. I liked it so much that she even managed to sell me on the more BDSM/erotic aspects that tend to not work that well for me in romance. But was fine with those trope elements, and I really enjoyed how she combined those threads with hate-to-love and fake relationship tropes. All in all? One of my favorite historicals of the year. Would definitely recommend

I have been breathlessly recommending Scarlett Peckham’s writing from the moment I first discovered her magnificent prose in The Duke I Tempted, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting her second novel ever since. A mix of tropes that are essentially my catnip—a marriage of convenience between two people who appear to hate one another, with an unrequited love twist thrown in to up the angst—this Regency-era romance continues the Secrets of Charlotte Street series with a story that is so much more than the sum of its tropes. Brimming with emotion, passion, and plenty of pining, Scarlett Peckham’s latest offering is a touching portrayal of two people finding out what they mean to themselves and to each other by pretending to be something they are not. It’s by far one of my favourite reads of the year.

Continue reading review » https://natashaisabookjunkie.com/2018/12/12/review-the-earl-i-ruined-by-scarlett-peckham/

This is my first book from this author and definitely not my last.I was in mood for a historical romance and this has exactly what I needed.

The plot was interesting from the beginning.I like the characters especially Constance . Julian was an interesting character too.There is a lot of back and forth between these two.They are full of angst and there are some funny moments too.

Overall it was a great read.I'm excited to read more books from this author!

THE EARL I RUINED by Scarlett Peckham is book Two in The Secrets of Charlotte Street. This is the story of Julian Haywood, the Earl of Apthorp and Constance Stonewell. I have read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Constance created a poem that played Julian in a bad light. The poem was not to be for the public's eye but that is what ended up happening. Julian who isn't well off but does work hard, which is what he was doing to get a vote passed in Parliament when the scandal broke for him. When Constance comes to make things right he is taken back by her being the one that wrote this about him. But with no choices but to help each other, they go forward to do a pretend engagement. Which leads them to slowly start to deal with their feelings. Julian and Constance have been dancing around their feelings for a while so I was glad to see them working through to their happy ending.
Both are characters are not perfect but together they made a perfect match.

The Earl I Ruined is the second book in Scarlett Peckham’s The Secrets of Charlotte Street series of Georgian-era historical romance novels. I have to admit that this book was not really on my radar until someone in one of my book groups gave a teaser review. After that, two things happened: I made an ARC request over at Netgalley because I needed this book in my life, and I realized that I already owned a copy of The Duke I Tempted- the first book in the series. Don’t judge- my TBR pile is practically sentient. Anyway, I tore threw the first book while waiting for my request to be approved, and that only made me want this book even more. Needless to say, I was thrilled when my request was approved.

Readers first encountered Lady Constance in The Duke I Tempted, and the little schemer has not stopped manipulating people. When her machinations lead to destroying the reputation of the Earl of Apthorp, she does what any reasonable person would do: she persuades him to enter into a fake engagement to repair his image.

Julian has always loved Constance, and he has mixed feelings about the charade, but he doesn’t have much of a choice. He doesn’t know what will happen once he and Constance part ways, but he’s determined to make the most of their time together.

There’s just one factor Constance failed to consider: the man that she once dubbed “Lord Bore” has secrets that make him anything but boring.

Constance was a standout secondary character in The Duke I Tempted, so I was very excited to see her cast as heroine in this book. Having her perspective provides a level of depth, and she proves that she’s not as vapid as people might think. Likewise, Julian tries to fight his baser instincts, but being around Constance is a constant struggle (pardon the horrible pun). Constance and Julian have delightful chemistry, and although Julian is reluctant at first, he is more than happy to share some of his more eclectic tastes with her.

I would recommend The Earl I Ruined. I would suggest that readers begin with The Duke I Tempted. This book functions well enough as a standalone, but having familiarity with Constance (and Julian!) provides a richer reading experience. This book is full of surprises, and the big revelations are satisfying. Scarlett Peckham has quickly become one of my favorite new authors, and I can’t wait to read her next book.





I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

How can a Lady ruin an Earl? Well by printing writing a poem about said Earl that was not complimentary and somehow it gets in the paper for all the Ton to see. So how to repair it? Lady Constance is a matchmaker and thinks that Julian, Earl Apthorp is a very boring man (or so it seems!) and after her missive, his reputation is ruined. She is such a fun, outgoing person who really has a good heart and tries her best to fix the mess she made! So she suggests a fake engagement to help his reputation and save his bill in parliament.
But the funny thing is Julian has been in love with Constance for many years. What? There is a lot of back and forth between these two with a lot of angst and sometimes humor. Secrets come out about Julian's source of earnings that is totally unexpected!
Can the two come together or will they pull apart? With well written characters that were very likable, rounded out his tale and kept my attention until the end. Although part of a series, this can be read as a standalone But you really want to read the first book!

This was an entertaining and enjoyable historical romance. The engaging plots offers some unique twists that really separate this book for others in this category. As the warning suggest at the start of this book there is some steam here but I think most readers will find it at a level that is less than the warning would lead you to anticipate. I liked the characters. Constance and Julian's story had a good level of emotional turmoil in it which is something I like. There were a few things that I wish had been done differently by the author but for the most part this was a very good read.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Earl I Ruined is Scarlett Peckham’s second book. I would recommend reading the Duke I Tempted first as it is the story of heroine’s brother. Lady Constance Stonewell awakes one morning to discover that a risqué poem she wrote meant to be shared privately has been published in a scandal sheet and that Julian Haywood, Earl of Apthorp subject of the poem is facing ruin because of that. Constance, sure that she can solve everything proposes to Julian telling him that marriage to her will help to restore his reputation. Julian, secretly in love with Charlotte for 8 years but afraid to approach her until he could support a wife is devastated because his life is in ruins and Charlotte has blithely destroyed it and at this point in the story appears not to understand that her behaviour was unacceptable and it can’t all be waved away because she wishes it so. Charlotte reminds me of a swan a gorgeous creature floating gracefully down the river all the while paddling madly beneath the water. As we come to know her in the story we realize that she does feel things deeply and that her larger than life persona was created to protect her from being hurt again. I loved this story. I liked that the author let us see the people beneath the surfaces they presented to the outside world and she didn’t make it easy for them making their HEA hard won and well deserved. Quite steamy. Publishing Date December 11, 2018. #NetGalley #TheEarlIRuined #inscribedigital @scarlettpeckham

4.5 Stars ~ Top Pick

What an absolute joy it was for me to discover a historical romance author whose writing surpassed all my expectations. After reading The Earl I Ruined, I immediately put Scarlett Peckham on my author-to-watch list. Watch this space. She is definitely going places.

Okay, let’s get to the story, which is just as amazing as the prose. The story is set in 1754, a century I’m not used to reading about. The heroine is Lady Constance Stonewell, the sister of the Duke of Westmead and the unfortunate victim of some untoward things she wrote about him in a poem which ended up in a gazette is Julian Haywood, the Earl of Apthorp.

Unfortunately for Constance and Julian, the things she wrote about him not only have the ability to ruin his “Lord Bore” reputation of moral rectitude but also derail the bill he has coming to a vote in Parliament. This vote about waterways is extremely important to him for the sake of the citizenry and one he hopes will help restore his fortunes. The fact is Julian is broke and hasn’t been good with his family finances. You’ll see that when you meet his mother and sister. Now with rumors painting him a veritable sexual degenerate, his future is bleak. No decent woman will have anything to do with him now.

That’s where Constance comes in; and is she ever a joy. I say that with fondness. I adored Constance as flawed a woman and heroine as she is. She doesn’t mean to do and say horrible things, she’s simply forthright to an agonizing degree. And when she realizes the damage her poem has wrought, she’s determined to rectify the situation—by offering her hand in marriage. You can imagine how Julian responds to that after she has just confessed to being the author of the poem that’s dragging his reputation through the mud. But alas, this is a romance so in an effort to save Julian’s reputation and his bill, a faux romance you will get.

Constance and Julian are one of those couples who are imperfectly perfect for each other. She’s a mass of contradictions whose emotions runs deep. On the surface she’s this in your face English beauty, unwilling to back down from any fight or crumble under the weight of a slight, but underneath she feels the nick of the cuts and the pain of rejection. The way she treats Julian, whom she nicknamed ‘Lord Bore’, has everything to do with the pain of rejection. What she discovers about herself is that she’s not nearly as smart as she thinks she is. Certainly not when it comes to Julian.

I loved Julian. He’s another one whose emotions run deep and who reveals only his superficial self to the people around him (society people). The fun in this story is watching as the real Julian is revealed, especially to Constance. It’s the peeling of an onion, layer after layer is stripped away and the man she thought she knew turns out to be not what she thought at all and her opinion and feelings about him change (or maybe they don’t). Julian in turn discovers the Constance (I believe) he dare believed existed. The one he yearned for for years and years. Now if only he can bring himself to trust her.

As I stated in the beginning, the writing is a dream. I devoured every word and ended up with a wicked case of prose envy at the end of the book. The pacing is pitch perfect, the story is engaging and exquisitely plotted and each and every one of the characters are as fully rounded and complex as they need to be. For instance, Julian’s sister’s backstory is one I was both delighted and surprised by and I appreciated the way it tied seamlessly into another storyline.

And you may think that because the entire story is based on Julian’s alleged licentious behavior, you get examples of it in spades. Not precisely, although the love scenes are fan flutteringly hot as is the buildup. I certainly could have stood another one of them. 😉 All in all, The Earl I Ruined was a lovely introduction to the writing and storytelling talent that is Scarlett Peckham and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

~ Beverley

When Lady Constance Stonewell accidentally ruins the Earl of Apthorp’s entire future with her gossip column, she does what any honourable young lady must: offer her hand in marriage. Or, at the very least, stage a whirlwind fake engagement to repair his reputation. Never mind that it means spending a month with the dullest man in England, Lord Bore
Julian Haywood, the Earl of Apthorp, is on the cusp of finally proving himself to be the man he’s always wanted to be when his future is destroyed in a single afternoon. When the woman he’s secretly in love with confesses she’s at fault, it isn’t just his life that is shattered: it’s his heart.
Constance discovers her faux-intended is decidedly more than meets the eye not to mention adept at shocking forms of wickedness she finds herself falling for him.
An entertaining, enjoyable read, the second book in the series but easily read on its own. The book is well written & the characters have depth. I liked Constance but at times she grated on me & I must admit I found her very immature at times. I did love Julian, a strong man who had lost everything but had done whatever he could to try to restore the earldom, he was also hopelessly in love with Constance & had been for several years. The pace was good & it held my attention all the way through.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Duke I Tempted was the first book I read by Scarlett Peckham, and I absolutely loved it. I was extremely excited when I saw this, the second book in The Secrets of Charlotte Street series. I was a bit nervous....could this book be anywhere near as wonderful as the first, or was that one a fluke? Nope, not a fluke! This book kept me enthralled from start to finish. Ms. Peckham is now officially one of my favorite authors.

I'm not going to explain the plot; you can read the synopsis yourself. I will share the "feels" with you. This story was a fabulous mix of wit, heartbreak, embarrassment, sexual delights, love and yearning. Lots of yearning. It started out at a slow simmer and ended up in a burst of flame. Julian and Constance were complicated, marvelous leads. They were not as they appeared on the surface. They made me laugh, snicker, tear up and outright cry. I was swept into their Georgian period romance and didn't want to leave their world when the story ended. Am I gushing? I can't help it. It touched me that much. I want much more from this author.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

The best way to make me devour a book is to have characters that absolutely pine for each other. Even better if they have some kind of history between them that means they’re hiding their feelings, afraid to get hurt, or have been secretly in love for years. The Earl I Ruined checked all my boxes and them some, and made me lose sleep more than one night to stay up reading.

Peckham’s début, The Duke I Tempted, was very different to other historical romances I’ve read recently because the hero had a submissive side he exercised through visiting a sex club. From reviews I’ve seen, this didn’t work for some readers because the issue of whipping put people off, and there were also concerns as to whether the hero was being faithful to the heroine by pursuing those proclivities with someone other than her. I hope those readers might give the author another shot because The Earl I Ruined is very different to its predecessor, while still having the wallop of emotion and lush writing that Peckham displayed in that first book. If you loved The Duke I Tempted, I think you’ll be delighted with this second installment as well.

If you’re used to ladies getting their reputation ruined and being forced to marry, Lady Constance Stonewell turns that trope on its head. She writes a scathing poem about the Earl of Apthorp, revealing his Wednesday visits to the Charlotte Street sex club. Now that she’s gained the stodgy earl the nickname Arsethorp, she sets out to save his reputation by offering to marry him. Or at least, to fake an engagement.

Julian Haywood, Earl of Apthorp has loved Constance for years, but has hidden it behind a veil of disapproval for her outrageous demeanor. However, by telling his sexual secrets to the world and jeopardizing the Charlotte Street club and all involved, she has gone a step too far. He would have loved to marry her before, but her offer of a hasty engagement now only makes him angry and hurt.

Still, they agree to convince society that they’re hopelessly in love for a short time, then break it off before the wedding. For Constance, being tied to a man she calls Lord Bore and who constantly looks down on her won’t be easy. For Julian, the hurt of the sham engagement to a woman he wanted to marry is often too much. The more time they spend together feigning romance however, the more they come to understand each other and what hides behind each of their outward façades,

I adored Constance more than I ever would have expected from her appearance in The Duke I Tempted. She seems to be someone who loves attention and drama, but once we get to see the weight of the insecurity she conceals, I found myself relating to her. She is so worried that the world wants her only for fun and parties, and that she doesn’t have any true friends. That makes her particularly defensive towards Julian, who doesn’t seem to care at all about frivolity. It’s as though she thinks she has one weapon in her arsenal, and he’s immune. Little does she know, the earl is far more than he seems, and once they started to get to know each other, and Julian lets her see his wild side, these two set off sparks like a bonfire.

The sex club has a really small role in this book, besides being part of the impetus for Julian and Constance’s connection, which worked for me. I’m not big on sex clubs in books, to be honest, so I liked that The Earl I Ruined was more about how Julian was affected by people’s knowledge of his proclivities, than about him really visiting there. That said, the scenes between Julian and Constance are hot! She’s so innocent, which I normally don’t love, but in this case it let Julian step out of his ‘Lord Bore’ shell and take control.

Far and away, though, the best part of this book is how rich the history is between Constance and Julian. That’s what tugged at my heart and kept me turning (digital) page after page. I really believed that they had years of knowing each other behind them, including times of attraction and missteps and friendship. That foundation added something to the story that you don’t get from the average meet-cute scenario, and I fawned over both of these poor little damaged characters and how much they struggled to see what was in front of them.

I've been completely impressed by both The Duke I Tempted and The Earl I Ruined; Scarlett Peckham is so strong right out of the gate with this fabulous series. I have no clue if there will be more but I’ve already heard buzz of a new series from her and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. Truly, she’s got a fabulous talent for emotional writing and I’m excited to read what comes next.

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This is my first book from this author and definitely not my last.I was in mood for a historical romance and this has exactly what I needed.

The plot was interesting from the beginning.I like the characters especially Constance . Julian was an interesting character too.There is a lot of back and forth between these two.They are full of angst and there are some funny moments too.

Overall it was a great read.I'm excited to read more books from this author!