After I read this, I read the reviews. I'm a little surprised by all of the bad reviews as I found this charming and relatively novel in its approach. I was especially happy that the characters weren't cookie cutter-in so many of romances you could slot one character in for another and that wasn't the case here. Ok, the plot is a little far-fetched but not so much more than any other typical regency plot.

So, to sum up in positive terms: great characters, cool plot, kept you reading far past your bedtime.

This was my first Kate Bateman novel, and it didn't disappoint! The heroine and hero are unique. The period descriptions are believable.

Great, fast read.
Georgiana is a wealthy heiress who is being sought after by eligible men simply for her wealth, the most persistent being her cousin. In order to maintain control of her money and property, she decides to go to the local prison and marry a criminal about to be executed. Then she will be a widow and can control her own fortune.
But, marrying Benedict Wylde doesn't go as planned, and soon Georgie is faced with the hard truth that her husband is not only alive, but handsome and full of adventure. Can the two find a way to join their very different worlds and live happily ever after, or will they be forced to deny their attraction? Enjoyed this book, kept me engaged from cover to cover.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book. Georgie and Ben had so much chemistry between them. I could feel the crackle as I read. I loved the fact that he had no money and she had more than she knew what to do with. A true tale of love conquers all. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved the two main characters, Georgie and Benedick. I loved their relationship and how it developed. I loved how Georgie was a strong woman, running her own company. And I loved that Benedict wasn't afraid to work in order to get out from beneath his father's debts.
What I didn't like was there were too many story lines. There was too much going on: Georgie and Benedick with her cousin Josiah, Georgie and Benedick and the submarine and then there was her sister Julia and Simon. As a result the book got bogged down a little bit in the middle.
Also the title confused me until the last page. I felt like that was thrown in there and totally unnecessary.
I thank netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Heat Factor: Warm
Character Chemistry: Have you heard? He’s not romantic, and that makes him extra desirable
Plot: Convoluted
Overall: A promising beginning, but there was too much going on for me to really settle in

Georgie is extraordinarily wealthy. When her father died, he left her his fleet of merchant ships; instead of resting on her laurels, she has spent the last 5 years running the business and fighting off fortune hunters. After her odious cousin attempts to compromise her, she decides that what she needs is a husband. Preferably a dead one, so that he won’t gain control of her money and run the business into the ground. Widows can’t be compromised and no one blinks an eye if they do things like live alone.

The solution? Marry a condemned convict. Due to a confluence of circumstances, she ends up getting married to one Benedict Wilde, who is scheduled to be transported to Australia the next morning.

Imagine Georgie’s surprise, then, when she runs into her husband at a ball. Because, as it turns out, Benedick Wilde is not a petty criminal at all, but was actually in prison while working to uncover a nefarious plot. He’s actually an impoverished second son - the biggest fortune hunter of them all. An aristocrat, if a slightly scandalous one.

Benedict needs money. Georgie still needs a husband who can’t access her money. They both want to avoid a scandal. What’s a secretly-married couple to do? Why, have a fake relationship, obviously. Here’s the plan they hatch: Georgie will pay Benedict to court her during the season. They will get married (again), and then live separate lives. Everyone gets what they want. What could go wrong?

Well…the first thing that goes wrong is that there’s a bunch of extra plot beyond the fake relationship.

There’s a bit where they decide it’s also a good idea for Benedict to teach Georgie about sex. They’re already married, after all.

But also, there’s the nefarious plot that he’s working to uncover. Georgie helps because she wants adventure in her life.

But also, Georgie gets kidnapped, in a side adventure unrelated to Benedict’s sleuthing.

But also, Georgie and Benedict steal a submarine and bring it to the Royal Navy, so that it can’t be used to rescue Napoleon.

But also, both Georgie and Benedict have tons of angst about whether or not the other person cares for them, because this relationship is obviously fake and the other person deserves better.

As you can see, it’s a lot. Because there’s so much plot, I felt that the characters didn’t really settle into themselves or a consistent dynamic. For example, the idea that Georgie wanted adventure in her life was introduced about a third of the way into the book; this component of her character is necessary to explain some of the later decisions she makes, but it seemed to come out of nowhere based on the way she is portrayed early in the story. It was really too bad, because the opening sequence was particularly well done, and Georgie and Benedict have excellent banter as well as several thoughtful conversations about gender and wealth.

One thing that I found particularly interesting while reading This Earl of Mine was the question of romance, and what is and is not “romantic.” Bateman includes a side plot about Georgie’s sister, Juliet, who wants to marry Simeon, a poet; their mother does not approve of the match. Simeon writes really bad poetry, but more importantly, he serves as a foil for Benedict. Benedict and Georgie have an explicit conversation about how he’s not like a hero in a romance - he won’t woo her with courtly (read: chaste) kisses and flowers and poetry, but rather with **manly** things like sweaty animal sex. Benedict will never write Georgie a sonnet, unlike poor, hapless Simeon, who also does things like stand mournfully in the rain making sad puppy eyes at the front door of the townhouse. (Georgie to Simeon: “There is nothing romantic about the ague, I assure you.”)

That “not romantic” stuff got me thinking…romance novel heroes are NEVER what we think of as “romantic” in the sense of reading poetry or sending flowers. That’s what foppish fellows do, and our heroes are different from those foppish fellows. It’s like the romance novel equivalent of the “cool girl.” (Yes, I know that beta heros are a thing. I’m making generalizations here.) There’s this idea in society that women want flowers and poetry and romantic gestures but that’s not what we get at all in this particular medium that is all about feminine wish fulfillment, and Bateman makes this fraught dynamic explicit.


I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I was provided with an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Georgie is trying to escape the grasping marital clutches of her revolting cousin and keep control of the shipping empire her father left behind. She comes to the conclusion that the easiest way to accomplish her goals is to marry a convict sentenced to transportation. She'll then have the protection of her married status with none of the interference or headache.

But her chosen quarry has been imprisoned under false pretenses - and he doesn't disappear. Instead he shows up at the edge of a ballroom, intent on claiming his bride. Georgie is forced to renegotiate their deal.

Together, Georgie and Benedict embark on a grand adventure to rescue England from Napoleon's machinations, and fall in love despite being kidnapped, shot at and subjected to the worst poetry imaginable.

The lightning fast repartee, the hilarious innuendos, the steamy intimate scenes, and the effortless character portrayals reeled me in completely.

4 Stars!! This was a really good book. I enjoyed reading it! It’s the first book in a new series & can be read as a standalone book! I love the main male character, Benedict Wylde. The banter between the main characters is funny and witty and I wish I had witty banter with a man like this! Georgina Caversteed, the main female, is a smart, rich young woman and she runs her family’s shipping company! This was a really good book! I definitely recommend this book!
*I received this book at no charge from the publisher and I voluntarily left a review.*

Book Title: This Earl of Mine (Bow Street Bachelors #1)
Author: Kate Bateman
Pub Date: October 29, 2019

***ARC was provided to me by Net Galley and the Publisher for a fair and honest review***

Overall rating: 5/5 Accidental newlyweds turned lovers

Heroine (Georgiana Caversteed): 5/5 Georgie is the daughter of a wealthy shipping merchant and now runs the company herself. She fears she will never find someone that can look past her bank account from friends to lovers.

Hero (Benedict Wylde): 5/5 Ben is lucky if he has a shilling to his name at any given moment. He was in the army as a sharpshooter and now works cases involving the ton for Bow Street. His father squandered all of their money and Ben ships anything he has to his brother John to pay off debt and keep the estate running.

Plot: 5/5 Ben was not expecting to get married ever, but least of all while undercover working a case for Bow Street.

In an attempt to keep her cousin’s hands off her fortune, Georgie decides she will marry a convict that is to be hanged. The man she was intended to was hanged and so she is left with a man to be sent to Australia the following day.

Once they both become aware of who the other is and what skills they possess they decide they might just be useful in other areas of life. But can these two newly weds keep their hands (and hearts) to themselves as intended?

Personal Review: I really like this book and plan to read more from this author. Both Georgie and Ben were well written and the story kept me turning each page.

I really enjoyed the banter that the two leads share and the trust in the other’s abilities to get the job done.

This is a very good story. Georgina needs a husband to keep her independence and fortune out of the hands of her greedy relative. She heads to Newgate prison and marries what she thinks is a convicted felon. Benedict is the second son of an Earl and undercover at the prison. They bump into each other at society gathering weeks later. the romance and adventure begin. Benedict woos her and there is some adventure and excitement. This was a good regency romance. The story was fresh and well written I really enjoyed it. I voluntarily reviewed this book.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *
I loved Georgiana & Benedict. Their “meeting” was unconventional but when they meet again in the ton, the sparks fly. Both of their personalities are clear and consistent and neither tries to deny the attraction. I love that although there is a mystery and some drama, it is not overwhelming and it’s not based around constant miscommunication. I loved that Georgie is capable and smart without being labeled a wallflower. She runs the family business and is respected by the men she works with. Her knowledge is never minimized or mocked and not only does Ben respect her but his friends do as well.
Simeon’s bad poetry mad me laugh out loud, especially with Ben’s asides.
I really enjoyed this book and hope that other characters get stories if their own.

It was an absolute pleasure to read the sweet romance of Georgie and Ben and totally loved their witty banter. I devoured the book and finished it in one evening. I loved both the lead characters and thankfully they are not the regular stereotypes. It was good that the heroine here is a strong independent and intelligent female and the hero is not annoying/broken kind. I can’t wait for the next in the series! I expect two more for the friends of Ben :)

I received an ARC for my honest review.

This story was so GOOD. It sucked me in right off the bat. I instantly fell in love and shipped so hard for Ben and Georgie. The first time he calls her Georgie Girl, I couldn't stop smiling. This book has it all. Hot romance and adventure kept me going until the story ended. I JUST finished it and I want to start over and read it all again! You can not go wrong with this book!

The blurb gives a good overview of the storyline. When her father dies, Georgiana (Georgie) inherits his shipping line/business, something that she is imminently capable of managing, having grown up living and breathing the business beside her father. Even though their family is in trade, their wealth makes them welcome among the ton. At the ripe old age of almost 25years, G has suffered thru suitors pursuing her for her wealth & who beat a hasty retreat when she brings up that any man she marries will have to sign the equivalent of a pre-nup that would ensure that her wealth stays firmly in her hands. But her disreputable cousin Josiah is intent on getting his hands on her wealth and has been increasing insidious in his schemes to trap her in a compromising position and force a marriage to avoid a scandal.
At her wits end, G concocts a rather desperate scheme to wed a condemned criminal and be made an instant widow but as (mis?)fortune would have it, the man she ends up wed to is Benedict Wylde, a second son of an Earl, incognito and working undercover in Newgate.
A lovely, entertaining story. G makes a wonderful heroine. Capable and ever so savvy when it comes to business, she scares men off with her intelligence. With a younger sister who is the acclaimed beauty of the family, G doesn’t think that any man – and not her husband – could prefer her with her sister around. Ben is her perfect match. A man confident in himself that he finds G’s intelligence attractive.
When G finds out who her husband really is, they strike a bargain for Ben to court her and ultimately ‘marry’ (again! Publicly this time!) and agree to live separate lives; when they find out that annulment or divorce would not be viable for various reasons.
The more time they spend together, of course the inevitable happens. Cousin Josiah is the definite villain of the story but no match for the increasingly protective and possessive Ben :)
Highly recommended.

This Earl of Mine by Kate Baterman was a twist on the usual Regency novel. Georgiana Caversteed is a headstrong young woman who is being forced into marriage by the terms of her inheritance and the times in which she lives. Her cousin feels she should marry him and she Georgie despises him. Her solution? Marry a convict who will hang in the coming hours. The twist? Her convict doesn't hang.

Benedict William Henry Wylde is the gentleman whom she marries, but she doesn't know that he pretending to be a convict...or that he's the second son of a man who left his Earldom in much debt. The hijinks that ensue from this unlikely pairing will keep you turning pages as Ben and Georgie get to know each other. Will they or won't they fall in love and make their marriage legal?

A fun novel, thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Georgiana Caversteed is a wealthy heiress who runs her deceased Father’s shipping company. Georgiana wants to be independent and decides on a marriage of convenience to a criminal on death row.

Benedict Wylde, the man she does marry, is not on death row instead is a veteran of Waterloo and is now working undercover as a Bow Street runner.

There is humor, enjoyed the banter between Georgiana and Benedict. Lots of suspense. A delightful story.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

What can I say, I enjoyed this book. I loved Georgie she’s very modern. She’s a relatable woman, she wants adventure. I really liked the flow of this read. It was easy to read and get caught up in. Thank you Net galley and publishers for the opportunity to read this.

This Earl of Mine is the first book in the Bow Street Bachelors. This is the first book I read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I liked her style of descriptive writing and well developed characters. I liked how the MCs were not perfect, but were perfect for each other.
This first book is about Benedict Wylde, Bow Street Bachelor number one and Georgiana Caversteed. Georgie is a shipping heiress in need of a husband of convenience in order to keep/control her money and business. She was given a shipping business by her late father. Due to her hard work and dedication she has made it a great success. Therefore, Georgie finds herself in Newgate looking for a husband who will soon be hanged. Her plan is to become a widow and therefore be able to have more freedom in society. Especially because her cousin Josiah is intent in marrying her to get his hands on her money. It is while she is there that she ends up getting married to Benedict. While she thinks that he is soon to be sent to another prison far away, he is there working undercover for the Bow Street Runners.
Benedict is a war hero in need of funds due to his late father gambling debts. Though he is a second son he helps out his brother to pay off the debts. I liked this story line. It is usually the other way around. Rich hero, poor heroine. In this story roles were reversed.
When Georgie later realizes that her husband was not sent away they decide to help each other out. Luckily for Georgie she has the funds to help Ben and at the same time gets to go on investigative adventures along with him. I liked how Ben liked to live his live day by day to the fullest and that the most priceless gift he could afford was one that Georgie was in need of...love. That was what she was missing in her life.
I highly recommend this story and really look forwards to the next in the series!!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC provided through NetGalley for review.

Georgiana is loaded and single. And that's the problem. Fortune hunters. Benedict is broke and single. He is a war veteran who picks up extra change as a Bow Street runner. Ben runs a gambling establishment with his two close friends and his earnings go to help his brother who inherited the estate and all the debts. Georgie has a fortune-seeking cousin who wants her money. His attempts to compromise her reputation force her to drastic action: marry and become a widow. Fast. With help Georgie lines up a groom about to be hanged. Unfortunately he is unavailable when she arrives at the prison and Ben, posing as a prisoner, is forced to take his place. All the fun begins when Georgie finds her husband alive and well at a ball. This was a fun story!

Like an overstuffed fruit basket, this first in Bateman's new series is spilling over with crowd-pleasing tropes. There's the sensible, independent-minded heiress, Georgiana Caversteed, who, wishing to escape the distasteful courtship of her worthless cousin Josiah, decides to take herself off the market by marrying, in darkest night, a condemned convict from Newgate Prison. Because that is *exactly* the best strategy for eluding money-grasping kin.

The ruggedly healthy-looking "convict" she marries is Benedict Wylde, war hero, rogue about town, partner in a fashionable new gaming club co-owned by two other handsome war heroes (lending themselves immediately to series potential), and younger brother to the impoverished Earl of Morcott, whose fortunes he is trying to help repair by doing odd jobs for the Bow Street Runners. Thus the reason he is undercover in Newgate, trying to find out about a smuggler he's been tracking. So, just to recap: nobility AND war hero AND rogue AND spy. But not a convict, as Georgiana will find when she spots him across a crowded ballroom and realizes her husband is not in Australia after all. And they are legally, bindingly married.

The tropes are familiar and just keep coming; it feels like Bateman has rifled all my favorite supporting characters from all my favorite Georgette Heyer novels. There's the widowed Mama who obsesses about her daughters' marriages and her nerves. There's the pin-up younger sister who is also funny and smart. There's the weedy young man who produces terrible poetry. There are the loyal sidekicks who are brave and handsome, the clever street rat who bites coins he is given in exchange for information. There is the conventional villain, who violates all sense of family loyalty or morality and proves himself capable of kidnap, burglary, attempted murder, and threats of sexual predation. And there are also ballrooms, nighttime hijinks in libraries to steal blueprints, secret assignations at the club, a submarine, and a secret plan to spring Napoleon from exile. There are so many borrowings from all my favorite romance-spy books that one feels, at some points, breathlessly dragged along by it all.

But it's a fun ride. For all their familiarity, the tropes in Bateman's book feel fresh in their combination. Georgiana is feisty and intelligent, loving and loyal to her family, and doesn't mind being the sensible older sister, though she does mind all the fortune hunters. And she loves being a shipping heiress. The antics at the docks, when Georgiana shows Benedict her boats and warehouses, are one place where the historical setting feels real and vibrant.

And Ben, or Wylde, or Benedict, hits all the right notes as the hero; he's sexy, and he thinks Georgiana's sexy, but he loves her for her mind and her feistiness, not her money or her body. The sex is sensual, consensual, and--it goes without saying--there are showers of stars. All in all, as is characteristic of historical romance these days--and thank goodness for it--the characters are uninhibited by real Regency attitudes about women and sex and are refreshingly, delightfully modern in their equality, respect, and mutual enjoyment of passion. Bateman's book is fast, fun, not too dark, and puts its poignant emotional beats in all the right places. It has all the appeal of a bestseller & I already can't wait for Book 2.