I have been looking forward to reading Ida's story since we were given the preview of it at the end of The Forgotten Duke and it did not disappoint! I loved Ida as a character especially when she was standing up for herself when either Simon or someone else insulted or put her down. It was great when she not only turned down Simon's multiple offers to be his mistress but also explained to him why she was turning him down and how his offer would isolate her further from the rest of the world. The mystery into who framed her father was good for keeping any connection between the two of them. There were times when I thought she was a little too forthcoming with her true identity considering she knew someone was trying to kill her. At times I did not understand why she remained with Simon rather than going to Blayne for assistance (mostly at the beginning when Simon was being rather rude to her), but I'm glad she didn't since it meant she had more time to make Simon fall in love with her. Simon is a frustrating character throughout much of the story due to his need to fall within the expectations of society, but it's worth sticking with him to see his transformation. His grand gesture may not go as he planned, but when he does make its proposal it's heartfelt and sweet. And then when he has to race to save her from being shipped off you fully fall in love with him.

3.5 stars

Sophie Barnes is an author that all romance readers will love. Her characters come to have a life on the page and The Formidable Earl is no different. Simon and Ida are from two different worlds. Simon soon learns you cannot judge a book by its cover. Ida knows she can never fit into Simon's world and must let him go as soon as they have accomplished finding the person who has framed her father. But it won't be easy.....

I started reading historical books again. This is what I love about that era store style of writing. Read it

Part of series, I had read first 2 in series wish I had read others before reading this one. Just for background on secondary characters.
I wanted to smack Simon, his haughtiness towards Ida. He did attempt to help her though.
I liked that Ida had several people who had her back.

I don't feel it with this book. I mean, man accidentally exposes woman in hiding from bad men. Man marries/engages woman to protect her. Bad men get woman and man daringly rescues woman then HEA. There was nothing to add to this. It is part of a series of books and it kinda depends on the other stories to carry it. The characters hasaid, "Duke of Wyndham use to be the Scourge of St. Giles" repeatedly, which refers to a previous story. I don't care who Wyndham is, I want to read a story about the main characters. Also, the hero's previous betrothed married someone else, which was also a previous story. This series isn't a spy master with his group of spies or a band of pirates or a military group where it naturally has references to previous stories. It is just random people who happen to be in the same place at the same time. Some are friends and some are enemies. And the way everything falls in place is a little too forced.
But it is written with correct grammar and spelling. It could have been more, but I don't feel I wanted my time. I give it 2.5 stars with guarded recommendation to read.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. I have read books by Ms Barnes prior to this and enjoyed them. While I was able to finish this book, I did find myself skipping much that seemed to me to be just filler. The story idea is a good one, unfortunately, I did not find it to live up to my expectations.

The Formidable Earl by Sophie Barnes

Ida Strong’s father is wrongly executed as a traitor and the haughty Earl of fielding is trying to help her clear his name after he accidentally almost got her killed.

Another great historical romance by Sophie Barnes with mystery and suspense thrown in. A story with many twists and action - great read.

I have always enjoyed reading Sophie Barnes' books. She is a terrific writer. This book is romantic, engaging and sweet. I like the mystery and the characters too. Another fun read! :)

This is one of a series but has the potential to be read as a standalone from Sophie Barnes, whom I usually love. Her characters are charming and oftentimes pop of the page which I appreciate! That is no different for Ida Strong, our heroine and orphan. She's had a hard upbringing, one that found her declaring to out the true criminal after her father's execution for his being an alleged traitor. I found Ida to be appropriately paranoid given what she was up against, but also kind hearted and deserving of a romance.

However when Simon her supposed hero came in, I wasn't sold... He find's Ida at a brothel, and knowing who she is, and WHY she's hiding, he manages to tell all of London by morning! What? I get that she needed to be out of the brothel for the two of them to interact, but why did he do that? That made me less interested in him as a love interest for sure.

But despite that his friends believe him to be so prim and proper, he sets Ida up in a house to help hide her from the damage he's caused. Truly magnanimous... He also offers to help her find the true criminal because he was in the military with her father years ago.. So they start off and in hiding her, he takes her to a ball? It was all very confusing.

Eventually, I could see the sparks between these two, but I think it was too late for me, We learn some pretty horrible things from his past and then the option he chooses before our happy H/h couple gets there happily ever after really soured me unfortunately. I feel like they're good together but Ida had to forgive a lot, even by regency romance novel standards.

I'll naturally keep reading Sophie Barnes, but this was a miss for me..

My opinions are freely given and my own. Posted here, goodreads, B&N, Amazon(when live) and on my instagram.

I really enjoyed this book. Simon, the Earl of Fielding, cares too much about what society thinks. Of course, he falls in love with someone no one in society will ever approve of. Ida, the main character, is smart and headstrong. I like that she doesn't wait around, and tries to solve the mystery of her father's betrayal on her own. She also doesn't have any interest in being merely a mistress. I'm not sure that I needed such a detailed plot about England and France and Napolean, but the main characters kept me reading. For folx looking for romance and some steaminess without being super explicit, this is the perfect read.

This book didn't do it for me. The thing about a series is - the books have to work both in order and as standalone, because not everyone will read the previous books in a series. I haven't read any in this series and I felt like I was jumping into an in-flight story. There was no prologue, no setting the scene.

At the opening, Ida Strong - the daughter of a former soldier executed as a traitor to the crown - has been exposed as living in a brothel in St. Giles by Simon Nugent, Earl of Fielding. As she runs from the brothel trying to maintain her cover, she's attacked and Simon saves her. Then the plot is set in motion: he knew her father when they fought together, and they team up to solve who framed him... with her being installed as his (fake) mistress.

I didn't understand Ida's backstory, and we later learn she was in a previous book (The Forgotten Duke). Simon was apparently featured in the first book (A Most Unlikely Duke), where he lost his fiancé to the duke.

I just found the book boring, rambling, and a bit ridiculous. Simon takes her to the Huntley's ball, even though she doesn't think it's a good idea. Because <i>what if someone recognizes her as the traitor's daughter???</i> Valid. However... she goes... and then IMMEDIATELY TELLS EVERYONE THEY'RE INVESTIGATING WHO SHE IS!!

Simon was annoying. He was supposed to be a prim and proper dandy I think... but he just came off as an uptight prig. And I guess we were supposed to think that him having an affair (and refusing to marry Ida) made him... less uptight? Or because he eventually wants to marry her... that's what makes him less uptight? Also there was a very brief mention of his younger brother. He had gotten a duke's daughter pregnant, refused to marry her; her brother had called him out, but Simon gave him a ticket to escape to America; the girl died in childbirth, and the boy was raised as her brother's child... and Ida says "it's not your fault what happened". Uh... YES IT IS! Or at least, letting your brother escape instead of forcing him to make right what he'd done?? And then it's just... never mentioned again. Saved for a future book, maybe? Yikes.

Like I said, this book just wasn't for me. I think it could have been edited heavily and the plot/pacing could have been restructured to make it more smooth.

*ARC provided by Netgalley

I always love a good “haughty lord gets his comeuppance” regency story, and The Formidable Earl delivers this trope in spades. Simon, Earl of Fielding, is discriminating, snobby, and above fray. He won’t muddy his boots with anything that falls beneath is exacting standards, which is why it’s shocking when Simon encounters a friend’s daughter, Ida, and feels compelled to come to her aid. As Simon’s adventures with Ida develop, his heart begins to learn that the loveliest things in life cannot be held to his cold, unemotional standards. A solid romance set in my favorite time period of Regency love.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Decent premise for the conflict/adventure, but felt a bit rushed. The characters (male, particularly) didn't really get to evolve over time, and the progression of the story was similar. It just jumped from this extreme to that one. People did 180s in what they thought and how they acted, instead of developing. Same with the action. It all gave a bit of a moustache-twirling villainy feel to the bad guys, and a near-deus ex machina feel to the resolution.

I have very mixed feelings about this book.
Ida Strong's father was wrongfully sentenced to death as a traitor, and Ida has been in hiding ever since. When Simon sees her, he is shocked to learn she is alive, as he knew her father. Simon feels he in indebted to Ida's father for saving his life, and in turn must help Ida find justice for her father's death.
The basic plot was fine, had some action, some romance. I loved Ida's strong character and determination. I was not too crazy about Simon. I found him to be very pompous and cold, and even when he tried to be warm and caring it didn't quit work.
All in all not a bad read just not one of my favorites by this author.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Formidable Earl is a fantastic read filled with mystery, action and sizzling romance. Highly recommend this read. Although, it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading Sophie Barnes previous books in the series.

Thank You Netgalley for the ARC.

An interesting story about the daughter of a wrongly convicted traitor and a stuffy earl who worries more about appearances than people. I enjoyed the romance and Ida, but just did not care for Simon. I think the author intended for him to be unlike able at first and then transition into a caring person but maybe it just took too long to happen for me.

This book has a lot of potential, but because it has so many filler scenes and isn't straight-to-the point in terms of narration, it lessens my overall enjoyment of the books. I skimmed a lot of pages because there's too much unimportant detail, some phrases are reiterated over and over again, and the narration always segues to another thought instead of finishing one conversation first before starting the next. There's a chunk of scenes in here that serves no purpose and could've been removed to make the book more concise and not annoying to read. The characters also lack depth and chemistry, and throughout the whole reading experience, I'm just waiting for the book to end to end my misery.

An Earl who worries about doing what society dictates as proper behavior finds his world turned upside down. The daughter of a soldier who saved his life is in danger. She wants to prove her father wasn't a traitor, he wants to help. As they look for answers, he becomes more compassionate and understanding. He'll do anything for love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book. I thought the character development was good and the plot moved along nicely. I thought it was a nice twist on a historical romance.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Orphaned Ida Strong knows she needs to keep hidden. Her father proclaimed a traitor and executed four years ago, she's got a target on her back for her very public proclamation for finding the true traitor. So when Simon Nugent, the Earl of Fielding, identifies her while she's hiding in a brothel, she's know even more at risk. Simon knew Matthew during their army days, and never believed the rumours of his treachery, but his wouldn't do anything to harm his reputation and speak up. Feeling guilty, he needs to help Ida, and working together, they try and discover the truth about the plot to free Napoleon. However, when people discover Ida the daughter of Matthew Strong, and is living in Simon's other London home, they assume the worse, and thought Simon is growing more and more in love with her, he won't harm his reputation by marrying her.

I haven't read the other books in this series, so probably missed a little of the backstory of the characters, especially Simon's jilting by Gabriella, and how Ida met Guthrie and was rescued by him, but I didn't think that was a real hindrance. Ida was such a strong and headstrong character, and she definitely stood by her morals and her aspirations. Being with Simon, opening up to him, was hard, as she's struggled to trust people since her father's execution, and knowing that the best she can hope for is to become his mistress is very difficult. Simon is definitely set in his ways, and his flawless reputation is everything, but little by little the shell is broken, and we see the real man underneath. Him and Ida together had a lovely relationship, and one that definitely developed naturally for the situation they were in. I enjoyed the secondary characters, such as the Duke of Huntley and Guthrie becoming involved in the investigation, and though I'd worked out who was the true traitor quite early on, the reveal was still enjoyable to read. Some parts of the book, such as the ending, was a little contrived, but all in all, a good read.