This was an engaging story around mistaken identity which leads to marriage. The mystery story seems to overpower to romance a little. Over all a solid and fun read.

Loved Kate Bateman's first book in the Bow Street Bachelors series. Great dialogue, lots of adventure and romance.

This was an absolute pleasure to read from start to finish. When heiress Georgie Caversteed takes measures to prevent her low life cousin from forcing her into marriage, it had to be desperation to marry a convict fixing to hang. A convict who isn't a convict, a marriage that is really real and a plot to free Napoleon from St. Helena, create non-stop adventure and unending amusement.

I was impressed by this new to me author. Her heroine, Georgie, is an heiress who would rather marry a condemned criminal then her nefarious cousin. The hero, Benedict, is an ex-soldier who helps investigate crime. Together they find in each other someone who wants them for themselves. Can’t wait for the next in the series! I received an ARC for my honest review.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Pretty steamy, the romance is pretty basic, but I’m assuming you don’t read these for the plot. Solid three

New author, new series, couldn’t put it down.

The familiar trope of strangers marrying in order to get around an unwanted suitor is done in a new way with Kate Bateman’s This Earl of Mine. Finding a husband in Newgate Prison to marry and then assuming the convict will be hanged making her an instant widow and therefore independent, is the desperate plan of Georgiana Caversteed.

Unfortunately for Georgie, Benedict Wylde is not a condemned prisoner but an undercover agent, only a temporary resident of Newgate.

Another twist is to the traditional rich/poor story. Ben is the impoverished second son of an penniless Earl and Georgiana is extremely wealthy.

There is adventure, romance and humor in this book. An example is Ben and Georgie’s reactions to Georgie’s sister’s suitor’s “poetry” were so much fun to read.

Bateman has created so many great characters to choose from to continue this series. I greatly look forward to the stories of Ben’s brothers in arms Alex and Sebastien, along with Ben’s brother John.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

Rating 3.5

Georgiana Caversteed is a very wealthy heiress, that runs her deceased Father shipping company. She's been pursued by many gent's of the ton, as well as her cousin who's not a gent at all. She's very aware and skeptical of these men, believing they are pursuing her only for her great fortune. Georgie wants to be an independent woman in charge of her own life. She comes up with a plan to find a criminal on death row to marry, that way she is free to live her independent life as she pleases.

She ends up marrying Benedict Wylde. He wasn't on death row but was suppose to be put on a ship far that was being sent away allowing her to live her life with a husband that's not in her crosshair.

Little did Georige know that Benedict was a veteran of Waterloo, fought in other battles, and now works for Bow Street. Benedict was working undercover while in Newgate and couldn't really not marry Georgie as it would blow his cover. He decides once he's out they would somehow dissolve their marriage. He was very intrigued and attracted to Georgie.

Well Georgie was attending a ball not long after her marriage when she gets the surprise of her life. Georgie discovers her husband is not on a ship sailing far away but is attending the ball as well.

What takes place is two people who have issues they are trying to navigate through find each other and a possibitly of true happiness and love.

Georgie finds a man in Benedict that is honorable, trust worthy and though a scoundrel, he's also a true gentleman. But she will have to figure out whether its her or her money he's after. Benedict is younger brother of an impoverished earl, seeking to work for money to help his brother improve their estates.

Benedict didn't have the best example of love, with his parents barely tolerating each other during their marriage. But yet he finds his wife to be intelligent, fun and adventurous. He's very attracted to her and love her mind and thinking.

There is a small mystery that Benedict is working on as a Bow Street runner and Georgie decides she can help him. The two work well together and that just adds to their attraction.

The two learn to trust what their heart is telling them and find love and true happiness with each other.

The romance was steady in certain parts of the book and others times I found it lagging and slow. The mystery seemed to at times overpower the love story in my opinion. The storyline was okay but felt again the push of a more modern theme and heroine in a historical romance. Which sadly wasn't what I was looking for when I pick up a historical. I look for character, story line and actions to be approiate for the time period.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this historical romance with a modern heroine determined to take control of her life by marrying a prisoner so that her cousin would not force her into marriage and take her family fortune. Georgie is smart, independent and adventurous. Everything you want in a heroine. Ben is poor but with an old aristocratic name. I loved that he didn't let his status to get in the way of his desire for Georgie and that he comes to care for her because of her personality and not her money. Well written and engaging.

This novel was an enjoyable read for the start to a new series by Ms. Bateman. Instead of a man being rich and falling in love with a poor woman, it is the opposite, which brings a new level of intrigue and plot. Georgiana Caversteed runs and owns her father's shipping company, making her an heiress. Heiress equals a magnet for fortune hunters, unwanted suitors, and in Georgie's case, an annoying cousin. How to get rid of all these unwanted men? Get a husband. How to keep her fortune under her control? Get them to sign a document. Where to find a husband? Go to the jail and find someone on death row so one becomes a widow. The unexpected twist. Discovering your husband is still alive and is a member of the peerage. Benedict Wylde has a reputation around the ladies, but his wastrel father spend all the money and he is helping his brother by giving him his earnings. Benedict works undercover with Bow Street to earn additional income, feeling he should give back for surviving the war and lives each day to its fullest. Benedict never expected to meet and fall for a woman like Georgie. Each has their own plan, but never added love into the the equation. Now they have to decide if that love is worth more than their initial plans as well as stopping those who want to free Napoleon.