Cover Image: My Kind of Earl

My Kind of Earl

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Member Reviews

I really enjoyed this one. It was equal parts mystery and romance. Jane is a great character. The narrative never spells it out, but she does exhibit some tendencies on the autism spectrum. I appreciated seeing that, as I have a son on the spectrum and it’s heartening to see characters like that in fiction. Raven was great too. They both had great chemistry and I liked the story quite a bit.

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If you want a charming romance somewhere between the quirky humor of Dare and the sanguine drama of Maclean, Lorrett is the one to read. Fabulous follow up to Lord Holt, endearing bookish heroine (yay!), class conflict, tension for daaaays. It was a delight.

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Firstly, I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of the book. This review is based on my personal opinion and enjoyment of the book.

To be continued.

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Vivienne Lorret has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance authors. I was hoping to read Raven's book after reading the last book in the Matchmakers series and I completely forgot that I had received this arc!

The story starts with a brawl in a brothel and I loved every minute of the book from the beginning till the...end, well, not quite. The end was a bit jarring, I was hoping for an epilogue but there was nothing except the announcement for the next book in the series.

Overall, if you're looking for a slow-burn historical romance with lots of charm and excellent chemistry between the leads then I highly recommend you pick this up! This would've been a 4-star story if not for the abrupt ending so I'll rate it 3.5 stars.

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This was my first book by Vivviene Lorret and it definitely won’t be my last! I really enjoyed this one, also THAT COVER! The colors are so pretty! Anyways, this story was very easy to read and I fell into the story immediately. I loved the balance of the gaming hells and ballrooms and this just has everything I love in historicals! Raven and Jane had a lot of chemistry and the ending had me dying in the best way. The mystery element was pretty predictable but I still enjoyed watching it all unfold! I’m excited to pick up more by this author!

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I really liked this one, which is surprising because I’m not a huge fan of reimagining classic stories. I did like Raven though. I know not everyone will be a fan but I found his very swoony.
One of my only complaints (which I think a lot of people will agree on) was the ending. I hate an abrupt ending. I would happily read 5 epilogues if it enabled the author to tie up the story in a nice pretty package.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the arc. All opinions are my own.

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This was pretty good. I really liked Raven. I think he needed to beg forgiveness a bit more there at the end LOL speaking of the end, it was a little abrupt. It wrapped up quickly with questions answered and people forgiven and accepted all within a few pages

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I loved this book. And, wow, the cover!
I got bigger down in details a couple of times, but it was definitely worth it.

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This Tarzan reimagining was unique for historical romance. i.really loved the heroine.and how she supported the hero. This was a fun one.

This book was mentioned in the following podcast episode - Avon book preview.

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Starting a brawl in a brothel is not usually how a respectable young lady should be spending her evenings. However, Jane Pickerington isn’t the usual young miss…and in her defence she didn’t mean to cause the brawl. Nor did she mean to find a long lost peer amoungst the brothel’s customers but the darkly handsome and dangerous Raven has secrets not even he is aware of.

This is only my second Vivienne Lorret book, but I am already a big fan of her light hearted and fun historical romances. My Kind of Earl captivates you immediately with its fantastically slapstick beginning as our heroine Jane causes multiple disasters in a brothel, which ultimately result in a brawl. From there it continues to charm right until (almost) the end.

My Kind of Earl has some of my favourite hero and heroine dynamics: a grumpy, gruff her who doesn’t quite understand or acknowledge his feelings and a smart self-assured, sunshine-y heroine. They were delightful together. Their saucy banter was and slow simmering sexual tension was a real highlight of the book for me. Every touch no matter how innocuous it was, sent sparks and it was delicious. This book does a fantastic job of building up the chemistry and the relationship between Jane and Raven.

Here’s the bit BUT though. The end. As you come towards the end of the book, it started to lose its way. Lots of events are happening far too quickly and the characters acted in a very odd way. As you would expect from a romance, it all ends happily but it was a very inelegant way to get there, especially when compared to the brilliance of the rest of the book.

However, despite a rushed ending I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read the next in the series and getting to Lorret’s back list. If you are a Julia Quinn or Tessa Dare fan and are looking for something with a similar feel, then this is definitely as series to give a try.

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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

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DNF at 61%. My Kind of Earl started really strong for me - I loved how Jane and Raven met. I am always a fan of a strong and feisty heroine and meeting Jane as she climbs in the window of a brothel for research is sure to draw me in!!

Unfortunately, as the story went on it lost me. The pacing felt off to me and ultimately I decided to stop reading for now at this point.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

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A brothel? A dark and handsome stranger? And a sudden brawl? Ah, the makings of a good romance novel!

Jane and Raven are great together and I loved the chemistry and the historical elements. There is a rather abrupt ending so it has me looking forward to the next book in this series.

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It's a little unbelievable in places, but I don't read these kinds of books for that. I read it for the romance, which flourished as expected which is why it still got 3 stars from me. I'll be looking for more in the series.

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Ugh, I loved this book even though I sincerely did not want to. I usually LOATHE bluestocking heroines who are completely unaware of how their actions could be perceived, but damn if Jane didn't win me over! It's a slow, somewhat unbelievable start in a brothel (this is a phrase I never thought I'd write about an opening scene IN A BROTHEL), but it inches into a slow burn that brings our stern, ice block of a hero to his knees, which is pretty much romance catnip for me. I'll read everything in this series for this kind of emotional catharsis!

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My Kind of Earl (The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #2). By Vivienne Lorret. 2020. Avon (ARC eBook).

A group of three bluestocking debutantes aim to write a book to help themselves and other young ladies in discerning whether a man is looking for a wife or if he is a scoundrel looking to avoid marriage. For Jane Pickerington part of their research, she plans to gather information right in the thick of things, a brothel. But a cloak and shadowed alcoves isn’t enough to hide her from Raven, a black-haired, grey-eyed man who is most definitely a rake on the prowl. But from the moment she saw him, she knew he was also more than he seemed.

Raven was an orphan and survived a rough childhood. Now, he is content with a roof over his head, a steady job and a trustworthy friend and employer. He even has a few coin for books and the brothel. But when Jane’s research into his past suggests an aristocratic birthright, Raven wonder’s if he’ll be able to have more, and more importantly, have Jane.

Vivienne Lorret is an author not to miss. I loved Jane and Raven’s story just as much as I loved Winn and Asher’s, and that’s quite a lot! There is humor, charm, chaos, a bit of intrigue and a lot of combustible chemistry between the inquisitive Jane and swoon-worthy Raven. I look forward to Ellie’s foray into the mating habits of scoundrels.

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I definitely enjoyed my first Vivienne Lorret novel! I loved Jane. She’s inquisitive and logical and deadpan. Raven is a scoundrel who is actually a cinnamon roll, but doesn’t quite know it. Together they have the most delicious slow burn romance with tons of chemistry.

Plot wise, it was good. I did enjoy the plot thread about Raven’s background and Jane’s siblings were so freaking cute. My main complaint is that the inevitable break up didn't happen until almost 90%. With the last 10%, it’s a charming (yet very small) grand gesture, the bare minimum of groveling, and a swift reconciliation, which is fiiiiiiiine I guess. The ending was pretty abrupt, though. It was so surprising that I actually set down the e-arc and looked at the finished copy to see if there was more added. Overall, I really liked these two characters, but I feel so cheated out of their HEA.

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4.5 stars

Jane Pickering, the daughter of Viscount Hollybrook, is not your typical society miss. Thanks to her parents’ lack of interest in their own children, and their absorption with each other and the ton, Jane has fallen into being the main caretaker for her ten younger siblings. While Jane loves them and her time spent with them, she also possesses a keen intellect and a desire for knowledge. This has led to some interesting experiments and scenarios, the latest involves Jane sneaking into a brothel for the purpose of observing the behavior there for a book she’s writing. Little does she know that she’s being observed.

Raven is an orphan with a rough upbringing, and a very seedy young adulthood. He’s finally found a decent position at a gaming club, one that has helped him to gain some self respect. When he observes a young woman sneaking into a brothel through a window, his curiosity gets the better of him. Though the young lady attempts to stay hidden, she’s soon accosted and propositioned. When Raven comes to the rescue, he soon learns that Jane had a plan to take care of herself. She looses one of her experiments, which results in Raven being turned pink. Yes. Pink.

Raven soon learns Jane’s identity, as he’s acquainted with her cousin, Duncan, who was waiting for her as she left the brothel. Duncan insists on dropping Raven off at his home, and Jane attempts to de-pink him and attend to the injuries he received at the brothel during the chaos. Jane notices what appears to be a birthmark on Raven’s arm, one that looks like its namesake, and is the reason for Raven’s name. Only, Jane, with her photographic memory, realizes that she’s seen that exact image before. She just has to remember where. When Jane remembers that the raven image was from a family crest, and that Raven’s birthmark may actually be a scar, she’s determined to find the answer. Raven, himself, has always longed to know his origin, and so he and Jane continue to have contact with each other as she researches.

Raven is more than a little intrigued with Jane, as she is with him. He likes her quirkiness, her oddness, and her love for her siblings. He gets to meet them, as he regularly visits, with her parents being too uninvolved to even notice. When the investigation finally appears to show that Raven may indeed be linked to a prominent family, Jane begins to tutor Raven on the fine art of being a gentleman. Raven is torn between wanting to have a family, and wanting to stay safe in the life he’s created for himself. This also sheds light on several mysterious attacks which have happened to Raven. Can it be that someone is determined that he never claim his birthright?

MY KIND OF EARL is a light and engaging read, with plenty of amusing moments to go along with the emotional ones. Jane’s character is odd, but not so much so that she doesn’t desire love and a family of her own. She’s truly selfless with her siblings, and not a bit snobbish. I love her interactions with Raven, how she encourages him, and eventually loves him. Raven, for all his strength and toughness, has a vulnerability that is genuinely touching. He never desired wealth or a title, just a family, and finding out why he was abandoned as an infant. Together Raven and Jane are perfect, as they understand and accept each other, as well as having a steamy chemistry. I loved reading this book, which I just seemed to speed through in no time, and I recommend it for readers who prefer a lighter read, but still one with plenty of heart.

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This is the first book I've read by Vivienne Lorret but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this story and although I missed the first book in the series (I will be going back to pick it up), I don't think it impacted my enjoyment of this one.

This story follows Jane Pickerington who, in order to conduct the research for her book, decides she needs to visit a brothel. When she meets Raven and recognizes the birthmark he has, she embarks on another mission. That is, help Raven claim his birthright.

I enjoyed these characters. There is a difference of class between the two of them but as they work together to solve the mystery of Raven's origins, that doesn't actually matter as they are drawn to one another more and more. I liked how Lorret built their relationship and the romantic tension throughout the book was well done.

If you're looking for a historical romance that has solid characters and a good story, consider picking this one up.

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My Kind of Earl by Vivienne Lorret is book Two in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels Series. This is the story of Jane and Raven. I have read the previous book but did feel this can be a standalone book if you wish to do so. Raven is the mysterious man who was a orphan that had to struggle for everything but now in their preset day find his home the dark world of the Dials. Jane is the bluestocking we love with her mind wanting to be more than what is expected always wanting to learn. This is how she ends up meeting Raven when she is doing research for a book she is working on. Jane recognizes the birthmark he has which leads him to find out who he really is. But Raven doesn't feel that society is his place but has the help of Jane to guide him. Loved their story.

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