She’d been afraid he’d take one look at her with those piercing blue eyes of his and see right through the demure wallflower she played in public, to the reckless criminal beneath.

Second in the Bow Street Bachelors series about three men that went to war together and now own a gambling club, To Catch an Earl, features Alexander Harland and Emmy Danvers. You could easily pick up this story without reading the first (The Earl is Mine), as this has a pretty narrow focus on Alex and Emmy. The hero from the first barely makes an appearance and in fact, I kept wishing for more scenes between the three friends as they are supposed to be the connecting thread within the series. Their gambling club doesn't get much screen time, which could be a blessing as the Regency sub-genre is over-saturated with that setting, but I missed a lodestone to feel like I was grounded in this series' world.

They were truly on opposite sides of the law now, the Runner and the thief.

This starts off with a prologue introducing us to our heroine Emmy and her crush on Alex. She knows he's about to go off and fight Napoleon so she decides to dance with him at a masquerade ball and they end up kissing and having that instant attraction/connection that has her (and her scent) lingering in Alex's mind even four years later when the story continues in chapter one. Our hero Alex's role as a Bow Street Runner has been given the mission to find the Nightjar, a thief that stole jewels and left a black feather. Nightjar hadn't been active for four years and then suddenly they commit another theft. Emmy's father was the Nightjar, as a displaced French aristocrat he wanted to steal all the stolen French crown jewels and give them back to the Bourbon monarchy when it is restored in France. He ends up dying, hence the four year inactivity, but then a man named Danton begins to blackmail Emmy's remaining family, her grandmother and brother Luc, claiming he will ruin the family's reputation by naming her father as the Nightjar unless they steal three jewels for him and give him the French royal jewels. Emmy's brother Luc lost his foot in the war, so it's up to Emmy to steal the jewels.

He couldn’t allow himself to feel anything for her. She was a criminal and he was sworn to uphold the law.

I was all in for this dynamic but the cat and mouse game I anticipated was instead muted in favor of a focus more on Emmy and Alex's sensual feel. For the most part, Alex knows Emmy is the Nightjar from just about the beginning of his investigation, she's “caught” at the midway point of the story. Emmy also is a very reluctant thief, she sometimes thinks about how she likes the adrenaline junkie emotions of stealing but she's pushed into it and doesn't want to be doing it. The villain Danton blackmailing them barely gets any screen time until the end, which makes any danger feelings that angle could have provoked nonexistent. Alex has some angst about being attracted to Emmy, he knows she's the mystery masked woman he kissed and she's the Nightjar, because a moment in the war had him hesitating to kill a woman and she ended up killing people because of his hesitation. Emmy's angst should obviously come from Alex is trying to arrest her but that's, for the most part, ignored and she even does things to get his attention.

“I want you again, Emmy Danvers. And I want to take my time.”

I can't say I ever really felt their roles as runner and thief but they did have some hot potato moments. As I mentioned earlier, I felt like the action plot was pushed to the side in favor of sensuality and this couple definitely had some of those moments. I did feel the crackle, tension, and heat between them but it was hard for that to support the whole story. I enjoyed Emmy's grandmother pushing her towards Alex, the secondary romance between brother Luc and Sally, and the brief glances at Alex's friendship with Sebastien. I thought Emmy's love of feelings and words from other languages that can't be translated to English could have been a fun quirk but it was interjected awkwardly (not to mention all the smelling/sniffing going on) and sometimes used as the only building friendship interaction between her and Alex. The ending also had some ungainly feel to it with Alex wanting to marry Emmy to give her protection and then the sudden “I love her” moment. This didn't quite deliver on what I was looking for but if you're looking for a couple that strings their sensuality throughout the story, Emmy and Alex will give that to you.

Alex is one of the "Bow Street Bachelors" who has returned from war and is now investigating criminal activity. When he's asked to find a famous jewel thief, his path leads to Emmy Danvers, who intrigues him in every way.
I liked Emmy - she is unconventional, skilled and well, just cute. She and her family work well together and the things they do are very clever. I liked Alex too, although I was definitely team Emmy.

A jewel thief and the Bow Street runners? Say no more. I dug my teeth in for this book and it was enjoyable. Alex was kissed by a woman but never found who it was. Emily, also known as Nightjar, may have that woman, however, Emily is not telling and Alex is intrigued. This was a great read. It took a bit of time but eventually, everything comes to light and some work needs to be done for them to stay together. I really liked it. 4 solid stars

I was hopeful that this would be a bit like the movie with Cary Grant BUT for some reason, though the prologue did catch my interest, I could not get into the story, relate to the characters or the story line and though I skimmed to get the gist do not feel I read enough to give a comprehensive review. Thank you for the ARC - sorry I was not able to finish and write the usual review.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

I love the first book in this series as the plot was so different from the typical historical romance and this novel in this series does not disappoint.

Emmy is the daughter of a thief and has learned well from her Father, including learning all of the tricks of the trade. She is determined, strong but reserved in society because of her family history. The one man she does fall in love with (Alex) at a ball during a dance, is someone she knows she can never be with especially given her family history. She never does forget the special moment they shared at the ball and carries it with her for four years.

While her Father was a thief (the Nightjar), he did so for a noble cause – returning the French jewels to the French (not at a price but to ensure the jewels return to their real home) and his calling card? A black feather. With four years of no thefts, the sudden return of the black feather has many people wondering has the thief returned? What does the thief now have their eye on? How will they stop the thefts from happening?

Alex is determined to catch the Nightjar and he prides himself on his skills to solve cases that no one else can. He does not hesitate to take on this case and begins to plan to capture the Nightjar in the act. Alex is a hard man, he does not open easily but there was something special about a woman that he met at a ball four years ago. He never learns her name and his only memory of that moment is a special scent that she wore. Alex’s beliefs are sent spinning as he begins to investigate the Nightjar case and he has to question everything that he has believed his whole life. Can he look past her history in order to accept love? Can he even keep her alive as the plot begins to thicken?

This was an excellent, exciting novel with great twists that I did not see coming. I loved our characters that were full of personality and humour even as they face great obstacles (including bribery and murder!). The novel develops well and at a great pace, where you do not feel as though you are missing anything but not too slow either. This novel is a great summer read.

Ohhh, a female jewel thief…FUN. This story is a fun ride, with a great cast of characters behind the mains, lots of disguises and ensuing craziness. Lots of humor, wit and a bit of smokin’ hot chemistry too. Toss in a dash of cat-and-mouse between our romantic leads…a very enjoyable read ensues. Kate Bateman has done it again with her Bow Street Bachelors series.

I have received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 (4 books)
Romance: 💞💞 (2 hearts)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 (3 hearts)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ (3 lightnings)
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (3 hearts)
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4 fires)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (4 peaches)
Number of Sex Scenes: 🍆🍆🍆 (3 eggplants)

You would be fine reading this book out of order. The 3 heroes of the series are connected - friends from the war and own a club together - but there is not much cross over with this book. However, I adored book 1 so I think you SHOULD read it, even if you don't HAVE to :P

The prologue gives us Alex and Emmy’s first meeting, and with that, a mysterious first kiss. She knows who he is, but her identity is unknown to him. They meet again when Alex is working as a Bow Street agent and attempting to uncover the identity of, and stop, the Nightjar. The Nightjar has been stealing jewels all over London and has gone so far as to anger the Regent.

Give this book a try if you are in the mood for
- A regency time period – 1816
- Masquerade ball
- Moderate steam – Multiple kisses and intimate scenes
- Unrequited love trope – heroine has been obsessed with hero for a number of years
-Soldier hero with scars and lasting partial blindness
- A dash of dirty talk – Alex has a bit of a naughty mouth and I rather loved it! If you abhor the f word then pass this one (though it’s not excessive)

Loved that there were characters with disabilities – Luc has a prosthetic leg, and our hero has a scar on his face and damaged eye sight from the war.

This book was okay to me. I really liked Alex. But Emmy I just could not get into. And this is just personal preference. I usually struggle when there’s some type of falsehood, or secret that is a huge problem between the characters. I just was not a fan of Emmy. Her actions bothered me, I felt like Alex deserved so much better than her. And that is what really lowered my enjoyment of the book.

Ultimately I was not sold on her reason for doing the things she did in the book and was just left feeling not much empathy for her.

Another thing that made me struggle with this book was it seemed like I was waiting forever for the hero and heroine to have page time together. I think it was 20% in and they had only had a short interaction other than the prologue. I was bored and had to force myself to continue reading. (Again, this is something I’ve also struggled with over the past year, so again, purely personal.)

I actually really enjoyed this one! Emmy was such a unique character and I couldn't get enough of what was coming in this. Honestly one of my fave HR's i've read in a long time.

Totally different, super fun, and well paced!

A game of cat and mouse as Emmy Danvers has taken over her father's (a thief) Nightjar mantle to get back the crown jewels of France and Lord Alex Harland - a Bow Street Runner determined to catch the famous Nightjar.

I was surprised that he figured out who Emmy is about the middle of the book. I thought it wouldn't happen until more towards the end. But then he decides to play a game and seduce her as he lays a trap with one of the jewels she was after. This begins an affair where she knows he's going to have to turn her in and he knows it too, so the romance seemed a little weird to me.

Emmy has loved Alex for years, even going so far as to kiss him one night at masked ball. Several years have now passed and she is fulfilling her father's wish of stealing all the jewels belonging to the French monarchy. The only problem is that Alex is the investigator trying to hunt her down.

Alex has never forgotten the woman that so intrigued him before going off to war. When he meets Emmy when he is in pursuit of the Nightjar, he feels that same intrigue. But what will happen when he learns that the woman he is starting to fall for is the same person he has been tracking?

I really enjoyed Alex and Emmy's story! I loved the intrigue of it all. Alex hinting the Nightjar and Emmy trying to elude him. Who would win in the end?? This was a great addition to the Bow Street Bachelors series and I can't wait for the next one!

2nd in the Bow Street Bachelor's Series and it is a worthy addition.
Alex meets Emmeline when she intrigues him at a ton event. While masked, she bravely approaches him, finagles a dance with him, flirts with him and then shares a memorable kiss with him. He is smitten; as is he, but he is off to war and so he struggles to forget her.
Flash forward, war is done, Alex has been wounded and recovered mostly from his injuries, and he now works with his friends assisting in the solving of crimes for Bow Street. Emmy has been busy fulfilling the legacy of her father who as The NightJar, was tasked by honor with retrieving the Crown Jewels of France and returning them to their royal owners. Emmy and Alex's paths cross when he is asked to solve the mystery of the NightJar and retrieve the jewels and return them to the people who have claimed ownership.
She, along with Luc; her brother, Sally, their housekeeper and costumer par excellence, and their irrepressible Grandmere, plot to evade capture and complete the recovery of the jewels. Their plot is complicated by a treasonous Frenchman who blackmails them into stealing the remaining jewels for him. He plans to take those, as well as the other pilfered stones, and sell them for his own enrichment.
Richly plotted, with wonderful vivid dialogue and strong characterizations Ms. Bateman's story was a delight to read. I hesitate to add more descriptions to the plot summary as I feel it needs to unfold for each new reader. Read and enjoy.

As much as I enjoyed the first book in this series, I completely fell in love with this one. I just love how strong and independent the women in this series are. I'm so excited to jump into book 3 soon and hopefully love it as much as the first two.

In this book we meet the second of the Bow Street Bachelors, Alex. He's hunting a jewel thief meanwhile falling in love with the woman behind the black feathers. I loved their banter and I loved how he knew who she was but couldn't help but fall in love with her. The elements of her sneaking around to plan the robberies were fun. I also loved watching him foil her plans and her find ways to escape him once again.

This was a fun, fast paced, read and I enjoyed it so much!

Why did I wait so long to read this? I LOVED this story! I read this story with a smile on my face and a pinch in my heart. What a beautiful and engaging story! I can't wait for Seb's book. Kate Bowman writes amazing intrigue and romance and I love the series now more than I did at book #1

Fast-paced plot, intrigue and secrecy galore, and sweet romance - this one had so much going for it! Emmy and Alex were the perfect match at cat and mouse and as a romantic pair.

Normally, I prefer the thief to be the antagonist, but the heroine pulled it off. The main characters have sizzling chemistry and end up kissing each other silly whenever they find a moment alone.
I was entertained and would read this again.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC from Netgalley.

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
I have missed a good jewel thief historical. One of my favorites ever had a female thief/pirate/lock pick.
This author has such a deft hand with characters. The first meeting was perfection. When they collide again years later, the sparks fly.
I love wit and humor mixed up with great chemistry and steamy sexy times.
These two are solidly on opposite sides. She is trying to finish her fathers dream of reuniting the “stolen” French crown
Jewels. Her brothers injury knocked him out of being the jewel thief so it falls to Emmy to be the Nightjar.
The Earl of Melton had one perfect kiss with a woman at a masquerade before leaving to fight Napoleon. He came back with some injuries but was also given an earldom and work with the bow street runners.
I admit that I loved that Alex knows she’s the nightjar almost from the start. There is no deception. She tries but he knows.
This book is so good. The disguises, the friends, the craziness.
This is historical done right.

Emmy Danvers was the Nightjar, a jewel thief causing fear in the highest circles of London society. She had a storied career, stealing diamonds, with her eye on the collection at the museum. When Special Agent Alex Harland was assigned her case after he returned from the war, Emmy becomes nervous. After all, she and Alex once shared a kiss during a masquerade ball, and she has been secretly in love with him ever since.

Well…I usually enjoy Regency-era romances, even though (or because of) the fairly typical pattern these books follow. This one felt forced and flat. For all the talk about Emmy being a skilled thief, and she forgets that she’s wearing her favorite perfume, which, for Alex, triggers the memory of their kiss, so he knows exactly who to investigate – seems a bit short-sighted on Emmy’s part. This was a difficult book for me to read; the slow start and contrived pairing of Emmy and Alex just didn’t click with me.

OMG! Did I love this book! There's an elusive jewel thief in London and Bow Street agent Alex Harland is going to catch his man! In the meantime, he keeps running into Emmy Danvers who reminds him of someone from a ball years ago that he hasn't been able to stop thinking about. Emmy, however, is already in love with Alex but there are circumstances in which she's unable fully give herself to him. I loved the characters, their cat and mouse game, and especially the fact that Emmy wasn't your typical heroine. I loved everything about this romance!

To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman
Subgenre: historical romance
Release date: 30 Jun 2020
Publisher: St Martin’s
Format: ebook and print
Length: 330 pages
RRP: $8.10 (ebook); $14.25 (print)

It was a momentary meeting but enough to make an impact for both.

Emmaline D’Anvers, or Emmy Danvers, and her family are now in London and she has several encounters with Alexander Harland, Earl of Melton. She was even so bold to ask him to dance during a masked ball before he left for the Peninsula and war. But this is now four years on, and Emmy is on another mission.

Emmy Danvers is a jewel thief. And a quite successful one but she only targets specific items from the French royal family. She is carrying on the family tradition. Her father was the notorious Nightjar. It was expected that her brother would carry on the family legacy but his injuries in battle mean that he was unable to take on the mantel. The thefts are a family concern with Emmy, her brother Luc, grandmother Camille, and their servant. Behind the thefts is a shadowy figure who is desperate and will do whatever it takes to get the French jewels.

Harland has been fighting in the war. He has very fond memories of the woman he danced with even though he does not know her hair colour due to the wig, or the colour of her eyes as they were behind the mask. He was injured during the war and has some weaknesses, but it has not had an impact on his cunning skills as a detective for Bow Street. He is determined to find Nightjar and stop him. Alex enjoys the cat and mouse game he is involved in with Emmy, but when he manages to capture her, he finds the reason behind her desperation to get the jewels.

This book is a fun read as Emmy and Alex battle wits and skill. Emmy determined to steal the jewels and Alex determined to find Nightjar. This couple flirt with each other on two levels. Firstly, as they are attracted to each other and secondly, to best the other over the jewels.

Emmy overlooks his injuries, but they don’t really hold him back for what he wants to achieve. Alex amuses himself with her special interest and provides her with material to add to her collection. What is it? It is something I found interesting but I will leave the reader to discover what Emmy finds fascinating. But when Emmy is in danger, he is there for her and her family.

reviewed by Heather

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

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