4 1/2 stars. I adore this author and the stories she crafts from her unique set of characters. Jane, over looked by her parents and society, is a wallflower in every sense. She is smart, loves science and research and is currently working on (with her 2 closest friends) a book titled The Mating Habits of Scoundrels. This lovely trio was first introduced in book 1 of the series. My only complaint is that the hero and heroine from book 1 are non-existent. But anyway, during Janes research she sneaks into a brothel and stumbles upon our hero Raven, an orphan who has overcome a hard past and is doing pretty well for himself working in a gambling club (for a hero from a previous book!). Jane decides Raven is a perfect specimen to study, but as she gets to know him more, she begins to help him unravel the threads of his past as they both become entangled in their attraction, and eventual love for each other.

Entertaining and witty and just lovely. Jane and Raven are my favorite kind of romantic couple. She's intelligent and determined and not what the ton values but Raven recognizes how special she is. Well done!

A bizarre and unlikely meeting in a brothel brings bluestocking Jane Pickerington and blue-collar Raven into the same orbit. When Jane sees an unusual mark on Raven’s arm, she’s positive she’s seen it before and just can’t let it go. Raven grudgingly follows Jane down the rabbit hole, searching for clues to his past. Neither Raven nor Jane is quite prepared for where the truth, and their attraction, takes them.

This is the second book in the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. While I think this works as a stand alone, some of the details in the conclusion seemed like an “info dump” and I had to read it twice. I haven’t read the first book, so I’m not sure if there might have been a reference I missed or if the author was trying to wrap the story up quickly. This brought the rating down for me…otherwise I might have given it five stars.

I really enjoyed the main characters. Jane and Raven were fun and flirtatious, and I loved how he liked to whisper naughty things in her ear. I thought there was a good balance between their building relationship and chemistry, and the mystery of Raven’s mark and family history. The background characters were great, too! Jane has a large, odd family and there were some extremely funny scenes with her siblings, parents, and the staff.

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #MyKindOfEarl #NetGalley

A man by the name of Raven lives in the darkness of life. He meets Jane Pickerington, a scientific bluestocking in a brothel doing research on the mating habits of scoundrels. A birthmark on his shoulder will trigger her memory and lead to a missing heir. Lessons in mating habits will bring them closer together. Society will test their love for each other. Kept me on the edge of my seat! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Jane and her friends are writing a book about scoundrels. She decides to enter a brothel to observe for research. Raven is there pretending to be a man of a higher class in order to be accepted there. Trouble arises which leads Jane to see a bird birthmark on Raven's arm. Sure she's seen it before, Jane investigates leading her to believe Raven is the grandson of an Earl. She decides to help him learn the ways of the ton hoping she's found his true identity. Jane is very scientific and is considered odd by many. Raven enjoys her quirky way of thinking. He had an horrific childhood. Left at an orphanage as an infant, sold to a workhouse, and at the age a fifteen a widow took him into her home and sexually molested him and prostituted him to her friends. This is what I found most disturbing in the book. It was glossed over that he must have enjoyed it, wasn't it what every boy would want, it's how he got to be such a good lover, wink, wink. One other thing I thought was odd. Why didn't Raven have a lower class accent as the other men he grew up with? As I'm writing this review I'm starting to wonder why I gave it four stars. It must be because Jane gets is some fun and amusing scrapes. She's the oldest of eleven siblings and is basically their caretaker. You feel for Raven. Deep down he just wants to know who he is and have a family of his own. Overall I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to Ellie's story.

This was such an interesting read. Jane is a bluestocking with a serious B. She is smart, scientifically minded, and extremely independent. She has had to be - because she takes care of her 10 younger siblings and is all but ignored by her parents. Jane and her friends are writing a book about men to aid young ladies - and as part of that she is extending her research to a brothel. While at the brothel she runs in to Raven. Raven is an extremely observant man who hasn't had an easy life. He was brought up in a foundling home and work house. Ultimately, "rescued' by a woman who used him for sex from a very young age. He doesn't trust anyone. Raven is a puzzle for Jane - especially with the mark on his arm. She can't let go of unanswered questions - and as she looks into it further she finds links to Raven's past.

I really liked both Raven and Jane - though at first I found both of them to be judgmental and I disliked Jane's total lack of sensitivity. As I got to know both of them - I liked how well they meshed with each other. Raven loves and needs the family that comes with knowing Jane. Jane needs the attention and care that Raven has for her.

Overall - I loved the story! The only thing that kept it from being a five star read for me was the end. A lot of things in the very last pages seemed very rushed and off to me. The author had to find some way to salvage things - and it worked - but it felt too fast.

A great read!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

'Raven' has lived through Hell and survived. Taken from an orphanage and placed in a workhouse at an early age, he and the others suffered unspeakable abuse. Now he's made his own life and is living quite well working at a gaming hall. That is, until one night on his visit to a brothel, he comes across a high society chit sneaking in a window talking to someone about 'her study' and a book.
Intrigued he follows and manages to save her from a drunken patron creating chaos in doing so.
They get to know each other, he already knows her cousin, her accomplice, and she becomes intrigued with him. He also with her.
He has a mark on him she is sure she recognizes, but can't remember where for sure....but she won't give up until she remembers.
Jane Pickerington is determined to discover his ancestry, he saved her, it's the least she could do. They are both fascinated with each other and she uncovers more they they imagined.
Ms.Lorret's tale of intrigue and romance is addictive. Peppered with humor, love and sensual passages, it's hard to put down. Recommend it highly for the perfect escape from the stress of the day.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC.

Enjoyable story. Moved a bit slowly for me in the very beginning, but the characters, especially the hero grew on me. I like the story and the characters - will be hand selling.

Vivienne Lorret’s books are automatically on my-must purchase list, and My Kind of Earl shows yet again why that is. Her books are consistently amazingly well-crafted stories with tight plots and well-developed characters.

My Kind of Earl features Jane Pickerington, plain, wallflower, bluestocking, eldest of eleven children. She and her friends are writing a book on how to determine a gentleman from a scoundrel, and in her research Jane meets Raven. Black-haired and silver-eyed, Raven is the second-in-command at a very successful gambling club, and he’s fought his way to be there. Abandoned as a baby at an orphanage then sold to a workhouse, Raven has learned the hard way that you can’t rely on anyone. When Jane learns about Raven’s odd birthmark, however, she believes he could be connected to a family of aristocrats with a mysterious past, and together they search for the truth.

I loved both of these characters so much. Jane is so refreshingly different. Her quirks, which set her apart from society endear her to Raven, who is himself so different from your garden-variety rogue. Both are outsiders, which is relatable to almost anyone, as is the longing they both feel to belong and to be valued. This is a truly heartwarming story that packs just enough heat!

Overall this book is amazing. I’m loving the Rules of Scoundrels series, and I can’t wait to see what Vivienne Lorret comes up with next!

Thanks to Avon Romance, HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book!

This saddens me. This book was so well written, the heroine is a spinster-ish bluestocking who is writing a book with her friends about scoundrels and how to avoid them. They are doing this because one of their dear friends was ruined by a scoundrel. The hero is an orphan from a foundling home who has worked his way into what he has. They meet when be is at a brotherly, he for pleasure and she for research. And what follows is such a comedic, touching, believable story about missing babies and scandal and trying to keep from becoming ruined. This is such a well written story, with appropriate grammar and spelling. I liked this story so much and the good feelings that it left me.
And then it happened. I ask myself, how can an author go through so much agony and angst to write such a lovely book and then kill it.
There was no ending. The hero is with his heroine as they are about to go to Gretna Green and elope. They are in shame because he was presented to society as a missing aristocrat. His grandfather has visited people in prison, done his research with letters written and talked to people alive at the time and the hero is the true Earl. And he can raise his head in pride and marry the heroine who had been mired is shame because it was reported that they both were in a brothel. But the hero had taken care of the rumors. The story was ending so nicely. It needed a couple more chapters about how they were living together and how they were in society and with her family like she wanted. And that she was finishing up her book.
But nothing. All of a sudden there was a wonderful story and then it ended WITHOUT AN END!!! How can you write a story and not give it an ending. It just stops abruptly as if the author doesn't care or doesn't care about the reader. This type of ending is so gut'wrenching, it makes me feel like I wasted my time reading the book. I do not recommend this book in any shape or form. ZERO stars. Do not but or waste your time reading.

I love Jane. I love Raven. I love this story! I couldn't put the book down. What I love the most are the great emotions that we feel from our two characters. They are so different, but also so much alike. The story flows beautifully and I found myself cheering for them to find their HEA. Hope you love it too.

Jane Pickerington is a bluestocking who spends her time helping to raise her younger siblings and she never plans to marry due to her negligent, awful parents. She never planned to start a brawl in a brothel, because she was only trying to research for a book she is writing. When her observations of scoundrels goes awry, she finds herself coming to the rescue of an enigmatic stranger.

Raven grew up an orphan and has made a successful life for himself in spite of his humble beginnings. He is emotionally distant with everyone due to his upbringing and life experiences, but he is draw to Jane even when she gets him in trouble through her observant personality when she recognizes his unusual birth mark and wants to find his family.

Great story. Jane has a very likable personality with who knows what in her purse. Poof! Enter Raven. Keeps to himself. Doesn't trust anyone. Their lifestyles collide. Let the story begin. Had me in tears and then laughing. Can't wait for the next one!

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although this latest novel by the author Lorret wasn't as good as her other ones it still had moments of fun and sweet romance. Raven meets Jane by chance at the most unexpected place, a brothel. The moment he hears her he is intrigued by her determination and attracted to her allure. Jane is a vibrant, intelligent young woman whose inquisitive nature leads her to study the wicked ways of scoundrels in a brothel. She sees Raven and their interactions is filled with witty banter that leads to further mayhem.
While I enjoyed the characters, I did find the author was a bit heavy on the description and flowerly language. It made the story drag a bit.
Overall, enjoyable and romantic

This review will be live on the blog, One Way Or An Author, on September 21, 2020!

I originally was super excited for this book because 1) I really enjoyed the first book in this series where we first met Jane, who was spectacularly spunky and curious, and 2) We met the hero Raven in the author’s previous book trilogy (in The Rogue to Ruin) and he was so mysterious yet loyal. I loved seeing familiar characters while learning more about Jane and Raven. The dialogue was full of wit, and the chemistry was utterly delectable. Lorret has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance writers, and her books keep getting better. If you’re looking for a quirky heroine who values research and discovery, look no further, because Jane has got you covered.

“‘I knew from the moment we met that your curiosity would be my undoing.’”

As part of her research for her book, The Mating Habits of Scoundrels (what this series name is based on), Jane visits a brothel in secret to see what exactly sets scoundrels apart from gentlemen. Nobody notices her… except for Raven, who considers himself a simple man. Despite being an orphan, he worked hard to get to his comfortable state of life now, where he has a place he owns and a decent job at Sterling’s gaming hell. He’s content - or so he thinks - until he meets Jane, with all her questions and spunk and energy and relentless curiosity. From there, Jane and Raven get involved with each other - for research purposes, of course!

While the majority of their relationship is light-hearted and full of flirtatious moments and dialogue, things get more serious when Jane finds evidence that Raven might be of noble birth. It’s exciting, but also daunting. Raven wants to find his family, but he’s not sure he fits in with the opulent lives that nobility have. (Good thing Jane’s there to help him with mannerisms and decorum!) Jane, on the other hand, only wants the best for Raven, even if it means putting her all in helping him with his birthright. She’s naturally curious and loves to ask questions and understand the world around her, despite having a bit of a naive air. While Raven struggles to let people in and truly accept his birthright, Jane seeks someone who sees her as she is, and not just another sibling in a horde of 11 who is often overlooked. They were both precious and vulnerable characters that pulled at my heartstrings. I love how Jane accepted Raven even without a noble background because she truly admired the way he paved a life for himself, while Raven appreciates Jane’s inquisitiveness and oddities.

“‘Thus far, I haven’t met anyone who wants to return to my house after the first visit, let alone one who is eager to bestow his heart and soul to me.’
‘Heart AND soul, hmm? Is that all you want?’
‘It is all I demand,’ she clarified after a sip and primly dabbed a bead of moisture from the corner of her mouth.’”

Eep, the dialogue in this book was absolutely everything. I can’t gush enough about how Jane and Raven interacted, first with veiled attraction and hesitation, and then with careless flirtations that led to deeper feelings. It was a wonderful development, set with an intriguing backdrop of Raven’s past and mysterious murder attempts. I loved the small bits of female friendships as well, as Jane’s biggest supporters are her girl friends who are co-writing The Mating Habits of Scoundrel with her, and I’m excited to see the rest of their stories!

Overall, MY KIND OF EARL was my kind of historical romance - witty, sugary sweet, and filled with delicious dialogue that brings out the best of both characters. There’s a bit of a found family dynamic for Raven, while also appreciating Jane’s role of being a quasi-mother to her younger siblings. Finally, I’m here for the healthy friendships going on in both of their lives. Lorret’s romances are always a hit for me, and MY KIND OF EARL was no different. Brooding hero + inquisitive heroine + surprise birthright/mysterious past = an exciting adventure (and romance!) you don’t want to miss.

“Within a matter of seconds, Jane had figured out how they would fit into each other’s lives.
PERFECTLY, she thought.”

Trigger/Content Warnings: mention of child abuse, mention of underaged sex, negligent parents

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for the review copy!

Who couldn’t love a heroine like Jane? She is intelligent, caring and protective of her eccentric family. Raven, the hero, loves her originality. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait to read Ellie’s story next! I received an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for my honest review.

I really loved this book – it’s an enthralling story, haunting in its every detail, so beautifully written. The character development is quite exceptional – and the whole book had an unforgettable impact. Highly, highly recommended.'

What a sweet story! Jane Pinkerington has a curious nature. She wonders how everything works and functions. She s a chemist trying out new potions. She is an engineer trying to make a snow making machine. She also takes care of her many siblings. Her parents are uninvolved in their lives, too busy being part of the social scene and traveling.
Raven is an orphan who has worked hard to be successful, well read, owns his own home, and has an interesting birthmark on his shoulder.
Jane and Raven meet quite by accident as she is sneaking into a brothel to do research for her book. Raven is amused and interested. Thus begins their story of mystery, intrigue, and love. Great read!

I love smart and refreshing heroines. Jane is one of them. Smart, not so proper, curious and not afraid to love. It was pretty amusing to think of her silently mumbling as she process things. What he did to Raven at the beginning of the book was hilarious!

Raven was our brooding hero that little by little found his way into Janes heart and put his trust completely into her hands. It was really hard not to say no to her, her curiosity and her willingness to help him find the answers to his past. To help him accept and want to fight for what he deserves.

These two had a good chemistry, making you enjoy the ride even more. The love that Jane has for her siblings, how much of a surrogate mother she is to them. It was pretty incredible and sad to learn of how her parents just went about their lives not caring for their children.

The mystery of Ravens past was also pretty intriguing, and kept you flipping the pages.

It was a good story and I look forward to the next in the series.

This novel was a great read by Ms. Lorret, weaving romance with mystery. Jane is a bluestocking and is ignored by her parents. She helps to raise her younger siblings with no plans to marry. One day she decides to do "research" on book she is working on with her friends and due to her curious and observant nature, gives Raven away. Raven grew up an orphan and has made himself successful. He pushes everyone away from him and have survived more than a few scrapes. He is intrigued by Jane, even though her observant nature causes him a bit of trouble. Upon seeing Raven's birthmark, Jane goes on the hunt to discover what it means and hopefully get answers about Raven's family. Jane and Raven learn from each other, Raven's family history and passion. Neither expected feelings to develop and Jane's parents would never let her marry someone with no title. Jane wants to give Raven something he has always wanted without realizing it, a family.
I received this novel as an ARC from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.