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.

A lot of information in the first few pages.

One: Ew, her cousin. Two: You know it's bad when a dirty criminal is the better option.

I learned something new.

The first time a man has been disqualified as a suitor because he's too healthy.

I hope this marriage is legal.

Yikes, is that true? It's much easier to get an annulment now.

Ha, "squashy lumps"...

Is he above umbrellas?

Poor Simeon. Yeesh.

I hear you, Ben.

This is so cool! And I love how she appreciates it.

Shoot, she should get a medal.

For the love of Pete! She knows about scurvy prevention but can't figure out that her husband's handwriting has changed?

Revenge is hers!

Hopefully her mother will calm down when there are grandchildren.

Poor couple keeps getting cock-blocked.

Take that, ton!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

THIS EARL OF MINE – Kate Bateman
Bow Street Bachelors – Book 1
Perfect 10
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN-10: 1250305950
ISBN-13: 978-1250305954
ASIN: B07NCW262R
October 29, 2019
Historical Romance

London – 1816

At twenty-five, Georgiana Caversteed, a very rich woman who inherited her tradesman father’s business and used her own business acumen to accrue more money, needs a husband. Her cousin Josiah is trying to force her into marriage to get control of her wealth. Many men in the ton do the same. To escape this, she plans to marry a prisoner due to be hanged at Newgate Prison. Then she will legally be a widow who can control her own life. Pieter Smith, one of her family’s retainers, once her father’s right-hand man, drives her in a nondescript carriage and protects her in this effort. At the prison she finds the intended man has already died. The jailer she has paid to help her find a husband tells her others are available. She finds the one selected both compelling and disgusting, but he will leave for Australia tomorrow. She promises the prisoner, Ben Wylde, five-hundred pounds to marry her. He accepts.

Benedict William Henry Wylde is the younger brother of John Wylde, the Earl of Morcott. Their father died leaving them in heavy debt. Ben tries to help his brother keep the estate together by working. He and friends Seb and Alex have opened a gambling establishment. Their friendship was cemented during the war with Napoleon in Spain and France, which left its mark on all three men. They also now work for Alex’s uncle, the Magistrate of Bow Street, as runners. Ben is in Newgate on the magistrate’s orders and will ‘disappear’ tomorrow before the assigned prisoners board a ship to the prison colony. By stealth he investigates a rumor that a group of smugglers are planning to rescue Napoleon from the island of St. Helena. Ben never expected to end up married but sends the five-hundred pounds to help relieve his brother’s debt.

THIS EARL OF MINE follows the course of Georgiana and Benedict’s relationship once they meet again at a ball given for the ton. The story is filled with great description and quippy dialogue as the two fight their growing attraction. Georgiana insists on helping Benedict capture the traitorous men. Ben thinks the bold, smart, and attractive Georgiana believes him more interested in her money than in her as a desirable woman. Georgiana worries what will happen if news of how her marriage took place leaks to the ton and how the gossip might affect her mother’s attempts to find her younger sister a titled man to marry. While Ben is not an earl and does not want his brother’s title, the story’s title creates another interesting facet. It is an intriguing story filled with bits of mystery, danger, romance, and suspense about how everything works out.

Georgiana Caversteed goes to Newgate to find a husband. Yes, that's right. She's looking to avoid the advances of her overeager, penniless cousin. She thinks if she marries someone who is about to be hanged, she can live out her days as a widow, continue to run the very lucrative shipping company her father taught her to run and not be bothered by societal conventions. Newgate is fresh out of men about to be hanged, though, so she has to settle for a prisoner destined for the next ship to Australia. However, he's not really a prisoner, he's Benedict Wylde, a spy working for the crown.
As soon as he is able after his release, Ben meets with Georgie and tries to get out of the marriage, but it turns out to be harder than he thought. So, they hatch a plan to have a fake courtship and part ways to live separate lives after the wedding. Somewhere along the way, though, they fall in love!
I haven't read a historical romance that was this much fun in a long time. There are swords, pistols, knives, an escape in a submarine and a kidnapping! Georgie continues to be her practical self through all of it. Her expectations to be included in all of Ben's adventures made this book very enjoyable!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author for my reading enjoyment!

One point I want to mention is he doesn’t become and Earl until the end and his older brother is still alive and titled. That said it was a great story with adventure, drama, romance and mystery. Can’t wait for more from this author and more of this series.

I really enjoyed this book the story plot was different and it made the book more interesting. This book definitely had twist and turns. I can’t wait to see what the next book will entail. I will have to look for more books by Kate Bateman.

What a splendid historical romance. It was an intriguing storyline and solid writing. Good characters. First I've read by Ms. Bateman

Sizzling hot! What a read, I absolutely love it. I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end and even then I was looking for more. Everything about this book is great, great characters great storyline, just great. A must-read, folks, it's sweet and I don’t mean simply sweet no it is sexy sweet and highly sensual decadent even, yes, that’s it. A memorable and delicious story.

This Earl of Mine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Kate Bateman

When Georgiana Caversteed plans to enter a clandestine marriage with a death row prisoner from Newgate thinking he would be dead in 24 hours, she thought her plan was perfect. She needed to be married to protect her fortunes from her cousin.

As luck would have it, she marries a man she thinks to be on his way to prison colonies. This man, however, turns out to be an undercover spy for the Bow Street.

Some time passes, she thinks her plan worked perfectly but she spots him across a ballroom and learns he is a rogue named Benedict Wylde.
This begins your roller coaster ride with Ms Bateman. Wylde is penniless but sparks an interest in Georgie. The witty conversations are priceless and make this an enjoyable read.

A good light read. A clever shipping heiress getting caught in her own plot to remain unattached.

I congratulate the author coming up with a different plot line of marrying a condemned man and also where the woman takes the lead in a historical novel.

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed marries a man condemned to death so that she control her shipping empire an save from her wastrel of a cousin. Her plot turns on her as she finds the husband is not a criminal but an undercover agent.

The story has lot witty dialogue and the author keeps the story interesting. I would definitely recommend this book for a light fun read

This Earl of Mine is an enjoyable and modern read which turns the marriage of convenience trope on its head a little. The case that Benedict was working on and pulled Georgie into was interesting and kept the story moving along. However, there were a few parts that felt like they dragged or added little to the overall story. Benedict and Georgie were interesting characters that had a relationship which felt genuine. I especially loved Georgie, she was smart and talented. She was also instrumental to helping close the case and it was clear Benedict appreciated her intelligence.

4.5 Stars

“He craved her when he’d never craved anyone or anything before…”

Shipping heiress Georgiana “Georgie” Caversteed was raised by her father to be strong, independent, and to not settle for anything less than marry for love. After the tragic passing of her father, Georgiana knows that when a suiter looks at her, he sees nothing beyond the wealth she brings, but flees the second he sees that her father has a marriage contract clause that allows her the bulk of control of her finances. If that wasn’t enough, Georgiana has a devious cousin that will stop at nothing to gain control of her fortune. Taking matters into her own hands, Georgiana heads to Newgate prison with a plan to thwart her cousin and any other would be fortune hunter…marry a man sentenced to hang and become a widow. What could possibly go wrong?

Benedict Wylde, second son of the late Earl of Morcott, is part of the Bow Street investigators and currently undercover as a prisoner at Newgate. When brought before a beautiful woman with an offer he can’t refuse, Wylde finds himself newly married to one of the richest women in the ton...and her left thinking he is one of the soon to be exiled prisoners.

When a lie to protect becomes a lie to possess, Georgie and Wylde find themselves partners in a cat and mouse game of seduction…one where the winner gets something far greater than gold.

This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman is a delightful historical romance I devoured! Look forward to reading more of this series and highly recommend!


**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

This is a good introduction to the Bow Street Bachelors. It has a pull that invites to see what happens next.

Benedict has fought in the war against Napoleon. Being a spare heir, he has to earn a living. Not that there is much to be add in the Earldom. In fact quite the contrary.

Georgiana is quite the opposite. She is the heiress to a shipping company and is fed up of would be suitors who are more interested to get their hands on her money instead of her.

After her cousin tried to put her in a compromising position, she takes matters into her own hands. She marries a convict who is facing a death sentence or being sent to Australia. There, just what she wanted. Being a widow or having an absent husband. She is rather shocked to see him at one of the ton's soirée and he shamelessly approaches her because he doesn't want to be married either, and intends to do something about it. The thing is that he enjoys her company, and feelings start to materialise on both parts. Can she trust that he is not a fortune hunter? Being out of her league, can he convince her that they can have a life together?

Benedict might be a rogue, but compared to other members of the ton, he is quite the gentleman. After all, he abandons his mission to save a damsel in distress. Georgiana is a capable business woman and very supportive of her family despite their quirks. There are some danger and suspense in the story, but it quite rightly focuses on the romance. The interactions between Benedict and Georgiana kept me guessing. It's an entertaining read.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

I thought this was great! A very well written, witty historical. I loved all of the characters and especially the twist in the book! Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!