This book is a fun and fast paced read. The characters are well developed, though the villain is mostly just a villain. This book make me smile and I couldn’t put it down. My only criticism is that the ending had too much. I could have been condensed into a shorter epilogue.

My review: When Georgie decides to end her cousin’s manhandling with a marriage to a prisoner facing execution at dawn, all sorts of things go wrong. For one, the “prisoner” is a spy as well as the brother of a duke. He is also known is circles as a rogue. When the two decide to “court” and then marry and go their separate ways, nothing goes as planned. It was a charming, well-written book, imo.

Enjoyed it
This is my first book by Kate Bateman.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Bow Street Bachelors
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading the next book in this series

loved, loVED, LOVED!!!!! I've been seeing Kate pop up so much in my fb groups and on top of learning about her awesome work background, I'm especially intrigued! This is my first full length read of hers and I can't say enough of how awesome this read was. The imagery Kate painted was perfect, especially the first chapters and the first meeting of Ben and Georgiana! I suggest going in blind because with the way how the story flowed, its a book you don't want to put down.

I would put this as if you loved The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne, then you'll love this one too. It just had a similar feel for both of them in my opinion. I can't wait for the next one in this series!

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sweet, predictable story. I thought the premise sounded very interesting and original, but it played out rather unbelievably. (I know, it was an unbelievable situation but I was willing to buy it!) Tell me again why Benedict didn't speak up for himself when he knew he was getting out of prison in a few hours? Tell me again why Georgiana thought getting married would solve all her problems but then she didn't tell anyone and set herself up to be blackmailed? I enjoyed the development of the relationship b/t the H/h, but it also seemed thoroughly unbelievable that neither one was married or even being pursued by anyone else. The hero is gorgeous, sensitive, and a war veteran (though poor). The heroine is filthy rich and gorgeous but no suitors besides her gross cousin? The ending (heroine in danger) felt totally farcical. Overall, I had to suspend more than the usual amount of disbelief to read this story, but I did and I ended up still enjoying it. It was a decent piece of chocolate: mostly enjoyable at the time, but quickly consumed and forgotten.

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"This Earl of Mine" by Kate Bateman
Yes, I loved this story… It is loaded with romance and suspenseful adventures, too. You really do not want to miss this read. I was lucky enough to be gifted an ARC of this story by the publisher with the hope of a review from me. And, honestly, I truly enjoyed my time spent within these pages. If the blurb for this story caught your eye, I am sure you will be Happy Reading this story. Oh, there are a few pages that might be considered steamy, if they are not your cup of tea… you can easily skip those pages and still have a great time spent with Georgie and the rest of the cast of characters. Live dangerously and enjoy this story!!

It has been A LONG WHILE since I last read or reviewed a historical romance book so I wasn't sure how my reaction was to be when reading this book and honestly first few pages I was already annoyed by how fast Benedict, the hero of the book got a boner for the heroine. 

Really? Like, really? Makes you seem a tad bit caveman-ish to immediately get turned on by Georgiana just because she is beautiful female and smelled nice. 

But the more I read, the more I warmed up to the plot and hope started to blossom in the pit of the abyss I call my heart.

Eventually I started to really enjoy reading the plot of this book and how Benedict and Georgiana will carry out their secret missions and the like but in all honesty the book for me was forgettable. 

Even as I am writing this review now, I keep getting the plot of the book confused with another historical romance book I had just recently finished.

There is nothing wrong per say with this book, it ticked all the right boxes of:

- Strong independent heroine
- Understanding gentleman lover
- Some nefarious plot
- Having either the hero or heroine be injured to illicit some sort of emotion

But that's the thing that made the book quite forgettable for me, it is due to the book following a set template that is set for the historical romance genre. There was nothing new nor unique that this book can offer that might make it stand out to me.

Hence, why this review is not as in depth as I would like it to be because there's nothing much to say that while it is an enjoyable read it is still a forgettable book.

A unique approach by a young
heiress, to retaining her wealth and obtaining her independence, leads to an interesting marriage. However her new husband, whom she believes is to be transported the next day, is not the seemingly character of I'll repute she believes she is marrying. He is the second son of an broke and destitute Earl, whose brother has become the Earl, following the old Earl's death. As things become clearer and budding love begins to blossom will both parties to this hidden and sham marriage realize the truth of the matter.

I have rated this book 4 stars and must say it was an enjoy read from start to finish.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

An interesting premise but busy execution

While the idea of a marriage of convenience to a criminal is certainly a new one, and enough for me to take a second look, I found the execution a little convoluted and full of holes. What use is a marriage of convenience if one keeps it secret - and if her cousin is willing to force scandal to gain her hand, what makes Georgiana think this would work? The hero also has PTSD, but I felt this was a bit tacked on.

On the other hand, there are some genuinely touching and entertaining moments. Thea is delightful and likeable, even if some of her plans belie her cleverness. I also really liked how Wylde appreciated her for who she was - but would've loved it more if he'd managed to communicate her worth to her in a way which shut down those silly comparisons to her sister.

Wanted to love this book, found it a bit messy.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reading copy of this book via NetGalley but all opinions are my own

One of the best historical romances I have read in a long time. I was hooked from the first few pages. I cannot wait until the second one comes out.

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖

ARC of This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman, provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the first book of The Bow Street Bachelors series featuring three veterans and best friends, returning from Waterloo working as investigators for Bow Street, London’s first official police force.

Benedict Wylde was the second son of the late Earl of Morcott, who left behind a mountain of debts for his sons. Despite his rakish reputation, he was an honorable, loyal, and dependable man. He was working for Bow Street in parts to make extra income to help his older brother relieve some of their father’s debts. While working as undercover in Newgate prison, he met Georgiana Caversteed in a most unexpected circumstance imaginable.

Georgie was a wealthy, smart, independent businesswoman who owned and ran a shipping empire after her father passed away. Being one of the richest people in the ton, Georgie was often approached by fortune hunters, one of which was her very own cousin. To avoid his advance, she came up with a scheme to marry a condemned fellow in hope to become a widow. Fate had it that she ended up marrying the undercover Benedict. Their marriage had turned from convenience to real passion through series of adventures and unexpected events.

A 4-⭐️ read. It starts off a bit slow, sometimes dragging, but gets more exciting toward the end. The story plot is decent, but I’d love to see more chemistry between the main characters. Kate’s writing is pleasant with easy flow.

#ThisEarlofMine #marriageofconvenience #KateBateman #NetGalley #BowStreetBachelors #historicalromance

3.5 stars

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is tired of dodging fortune hunters who want to marry her just for her money including her cousin Josiah. In order to thwart him permanently, she comes up with a plan to marry a criminal who would soon be executed. As a widow, she would have more freedom than as a single young woman. Instead of a death row inmate, she is married to Ben Wylde. What she doesn't know if that Ben is undercover and really is a member of the ton and a Bow Street runner. While nether one of them wanted to be married, can they walk away from each other?

Ms. Bateman writes about strong, independent females and Georgie fits that mode. She's smart, witty and determined to continue managing her deceased father's shipping business. When Ben shows up at a ball, Georgie realizes what she's done and who's she married. I did like Ben although I was puzzled how he got the moniker of "rake" when he didn't really sleep around. Another point is I'm not sure a Bow Street runner would have divulged all his top secret information to a woman, even though she was his wife in name only. While this wasn't an edge of your seat mystery, it was entertaining. I look forward to reading the next book in series.

Intrigue, suspense, steamy sex and love all abound in this story.
I felt like I was right there on the adventure from page one.

I found myself a tiny bit disappointed about one aspect of the concept of the series, thanks to a personal trope love of mine, but the book certainly compensated for it, particularly character-wise. Also, I think it sets up the series nicely for the future. The sequel looks like it hits some of my favorite things.

<b>tl;dr</b>: I think I found a new series/author!

Goodreads shelves: historical-romance, tropes-and-things-i-randomly-love, netgalley, 4-stars, arc-read, i-am-a-little-in-love-with-you-char, i-ship-it-hard, read-in-2019, series-to-continue, trigger-warning-threat-of-rape, you-go-girl

Very engaging right from the start. Well written, good characters, funny in some parts and flowed along nicely. I enjoyed this book much more than expected. Good plotline with some twists and turns. This is the first time I’ve read something by this author and I cannot wait for the others in the series. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced e-book copy in exchange for a review.

This was definitely a fun and enjoyable start to this series. I really enjoyed the characters and all their quirks. I love Benedict! He always seemed to do the right thing. His moral compass wasn’t skewed and I appreciated that. Watching him and Georgie flirt was so exciting. It was almost instant attraction but yet it was a slow burn as well.

I am totally looking forward to what comes next in this series. There’s a few guys I got my eyes on and I can’t wait to watch them fall.

4.5 stars - Ms. Bateman can always be counted on to write an engaging, comprehensive historical romance. This Earl of Mine is just such a romance. It has a detestable villain, and little mystery, and intrigue and a whole lot of two people finding unexpected love, respect and compassion in a marriage. I really enjoyed it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

I normally don't gravitate to historical romances with cliche book covers, but OH. MY. GOD. Where have I been? Is this my new favorite genre? I read this eARC in one sitting and loved every minute of it.

Kate Bateman writes a slew of relatable characters with sly/witty dialogue, and on top of it, her ~smutty~ scenes aren't cringe-worthy like similar books can be.

The secondary plot/mystery was kinda meh, but it still provided excitement~

4 Modern Thinking Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Sometimes when you read a blurb and you decide to snatch the book up, you just have to go with it...Buy into the premise and let the author tell her story. Kate Bateman decided to create a woman who had a lenient father. A father who made his fortune in shipping. He loved this older daughter so, he would teach her everything he knew about the business. By the time she was of age for the marriage mart, Georgiana Caversteed was not some simple mind girl willing to smile and put up with titled men who bored her.

Now her father has passed and as things went, the house and monies were inherited to the mother and younger sister with the bulk of the company and finances going to Georgiana. She had been running the company for a while and loved her independence but a certain cousin has been making advances and plans to force her to marry him. She has no intention of doing so...Everything would then become his...

No, that will not do.

Instead, Georgina has hatched a plan to save her independence and solve the marriage problem. She will marry a convicted felon who has been sentenced to hang or leave to Australia. This way she becomes a Widow and problem solved. Even her father's manservant/bodyguard has agreed to help her.

Georgiana finds herself with her escort down at the prison and the man whom she was supposed to marry died before she could get there. Instead, she is advised to marry another...a man hairy beyond belief, in torn and disgusting clothes and scheduled to take that voyage immediately after they say I do's.

Benedict William Henry Wylde may be hairy, stink to high heaven and be in prison but he is there not to be punished but to find out information for the British government. The one who died was a suspect in an attempt against the government and Wylde was there to get him for his crimes. Now the man is dead and Wylde will have to find another way. The guards have no idea he is working with the government so they pull him to marry Georgiana.

Both of them are put off and the marriage does take place with Wylde not really understanding why a woman as beautiful as Georgiana is...would do all of this. It is only after she has him sign a contract does he understand what exactly is going on...that she is the infamous Georgiana Caversteed, heir to one of the largest fortunes in the Ton.

Despite the surroundings and the awful conditions of Wylde when they married, Georgiana is shocked that she actually has been thinking about this man. She is wondering if he will survive the ocean journey. She wonders how he had such a beautiful scrip and the ability to read when he was a prisoner. Georgiana's mind was full of many thoughts about this man she would never see again and it bothered her.

The mother and younger sister beg Georgiana to take them to a ball so that they can be seen in town. It is time for the sister to consider marriage options. They go and as they tour the floor, Georgiana's eye catches a glimpse of a man who had the same broad shoulders and blackest of black hair...and when he starts to cross the floor towards her, she cannot believe her eyes...it is him...
The man she married, cleaned up, shaved and hair cut. He is the second son of an Earl...known as a rake and a rogue.

Oh, this is not good, not good at all...

Well, Benedict William Henry Wylde isn't thrilled either. He never wished to be married and now he planned to get untethered from this woman. He approaches and soon the mental games begin for he is very interested in her...and she is surprisingly intrigued too. The problem is his reputation as a scoundrel, her sister's need for an appropriate marriage and no scandal to ruin any of them.

This story asked for you to believe Georgiana could do all the things the author had her doing during these specific times...I decided to buy in and enjoyed the ride. With the mindset of forward thinkers through the ages, there had to be women who broke the mold.

The main couple had chemistry and seemed smitten enough for all the pleasure they shared.

This is the beginning of a new series with the secondary characters having their own romances and escapades.

Loved the funny, witty dialogue in this book. Great, fun Regency read.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher. All opinions are my own.