This was an enjoyable book - the characters were interesting, and the story moved along very well. Some characters from the prior book pop up, and while this will stand alone, you may want to read the first one for some additional background.

I'd recommend this as a 'rainy day' book - one that you can snuggle up under a blanket and read in an afternoon.

I liked the writing and the story itself. However, I thought that the ending felt rushed. The conflict was too easily resolved. Rating: 3.5 stars.

Jack, the new Earl of Ferrington, has no desire to be a duke and resents his great-grandmother's negative remarks. Growing up in America, he has his own plans to return. On his way to visit Ferrington Hall he runs into Travelers and decides to hide in their camp. Life gets more complicated when he meets Harriet from an adjoining estate. He protrays a rogue with no ties. She is looking for escape from her dominanting grandfather and is attracted to his spirit. Once his identity is revealed, Harriet's anger turns him away. Only she cannot seem to stop kissing him.
A rollercoaster relationship with interfering friends.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Now why would an earl run?

This is very much a Jane Ashford book. I have no problems with that.
Harriet is trying to spread her wings.
Jack is in full flight.
A quick pace and an enjoyable read.
Recommend.


4.5

Shipping company owner, Jack Merrill is a happy American, but an urgent summons from a great grandmother he has never met, has him coming to London. He discovers a life filled with new responsibilities that he apparently doesn't measure up to. This is not the life he wants.

Miss Harriet Finch has lived in genteel poverty because her grandfather cut her mother off when she married without his approval. Now the same man is determined that Harriet will do what his daughter wouldn't, marry a title. The man is a terrible bully.

Both our lead characters just want an ordinary simple life, but family pressure and responsibility are hard to defy.

This is a fun filled, sweet ,historical romance with good characters. It's part of a series but each book can be read on it's own.

Good fun.

A delightfully sweet romance!

Jack is the most reluctant earl I've ever read about. Raised in America after his father was practically disowned by his family, Jack isn't even sure his father's tales of being an earl's son were true. Until fate deposits the title in his lap, and he's forced by a sense of duty to see it through. His great-grandmother's uncensored disapproval of everything about him sends him on the road. The seat of his earldom being his eventual destination, he takes up with a group of Irish Travelers, where he finds camaraderie and the freedom to be himself.

Harriet's parents were forced to scrape by on next to nothing after her vindictive grandfather sought to ruin his daughter and son-in-law for daring to make such an unsuitable match. After her father's death, Harriet and her mother are at her grandfather's mercy, and he's determined that Harriet should make a better match, one that will help elevate his own position in society. After meeting Jack as she happened upon the Travelers, she is most attracted to the fact that he's completely unsuitable by her grandfather's standards.

As their friendship deepens and the secrets come to light, Harriet struggles with the need to protect her mother by giving in to her grandfather's demands as well as her own sense of self-respect that insists she thwart him in every way possible. Caught in the middle is Jack, who is falling for Harriet but feels she would agree with his great-grandmother that his barbaric background makes him entirely unsuitable for Polite Society.

This is a sweet and tender story about what makes up a family, what makes for good manners and true friendship, and how what divides people is more likely to be their actions and attitudes rather than their social positions. I enjoyed seeing Charlotte and Sarah, Harriet's remaining single friends, and loved their contribution to her decision-making process. I adored the gentle friendship between Jack and Harriet's mother, how he gave her the respect she deserved and she was able to regain her emotional strength because of it.

This author has a true gift for crafting intelligent, thoughtful characters with genuine emotional depth. This romance was captivating from the start, and I loved the way that Jack and Harriet secured their HEA. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites by her yet. This is an author that I enjoy her writing style as well as her attention to details making her stories realistic. She pulls me into the story from the beginning. This book is no different.. This is a well written historical romance story that has characters that pop off the pages and truly made the story for me. The characters are not only connectable but they kept me coming back for more. This is a story about Harriet who wants nothing more to be free but her Grandfather wants something else. Than you have Jack who wants to go to America but is he willing to pay the price for nobility. Will he change his mind and stay in England? I really enjoyed these two characters. They are strong and I enjoyed their chemistry. Their grwoth throughout the story was great to see and I found myself wanting them to get together in the end. What happens to them you will have to read to find out. It truly is a great story that was hard to put down. I highy recommend this book to find out what happens with Harriet and Jack.

Jane Ashford can do no wrong, and Earl on the Run is the latest must read regency romance. Aristocrats disguised as commoners is a trope that is underrated. The hero and heroine of Earl on the Run are absolutely sizzling - highly recommended read.

A refreshingly unconventional regency romance, where neither the hero nor heroine are from the haut ton. I adored everything about this book, from the wry humour to the trying, cantankerous relatives doing their best to interfere. Despite being raised in different worlds, Jack and Harriet have a surprising amount in common and an instant connection. It was a joy to read about their blossoming relationship, despite the inevitable misunderstandings and problems that arose along the way. I can’t wait wait to read more in this series!

Jack just found out that he is the heir to an earldom back in England while Harriet has been named the heir to her grandfather's fortune, which sounds great except for a few details. Jack's parents were ostracized from the family and he grew up not knowing any of his father's kin. Growing up and making a name for himself in Boston, he has no interest in becoming an earl, but goes back anyway in the hopes of family. Unfortunately, his great-grandmother is a horrible, hypercritical snob whose comments drive Jack away to the countryside. Meanwhile, Harriet's grandfather is just about as horrible as Jack's great-grandmother and insists on controlling every aspect of Harriet and her mother's lives in exchange for his financial support. Oh, and Harriet has to marry into the aristocracy if she wants the fortune he "gifted" to her. Neither Jack nor Harriet are particularly happy with their situations, but they find each other in the countryside and start to fall in love... but there are some omissions on both sides that lead to conflict and misunderstanding (of course).

This romance was sweet (not spicy) and light, even with the emotional trauma both of the main characters suffer from their families. There was a nice dose of humor and culture in the form of the Travelers (not Roma) that gave the story some more depth and also set up potential storylines in future books of the series through fortune-telling. I felt that Harriet's mother was a little inconsistent in her portrayal, but enjoyed some of the other supporting characters like the duke and duchess and the Travelers. Harriet and Jack were enjoyable to read and they (thankfully) didn't mess up their own happiness for too long (as sometimes happens in historical romances). I very much want to read more of Ashford's work, especially in this series, and want to see more of the mystery-solving powers of Harriet and her friends!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Earl on the Run early in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jonathan “Jack” Merrill is the new Earl of Ferrington. Jack is an American dragged to England and rejected by his family. Hurt, Jack leaves London, embarking on an adventure to see his ancestral home. Harriet Finch lives under the control of her tyrannical grandfather. When Harriet meets Jack under the guise of a drifter, she is smitten. However, all the lies come crashing down when Harriet discovers Jack’s duplicity.

I enjoyed Jack’s character immensely. Jack is a free spirit, not shackled to English society’s rules. Jack is out of this depth and relatable. I liked Harriet. However, I felt she held onto her anger too long. Harriet had her motives that hurt Jack, yet she couldn’t forgive him. The couple’s reconciliation took too much of the content of the book.

I enjoyed the parts of the book when Jack and Harriet got to know each other without all the pretense of society. The couple’s bond was strong, and their attraction was believable. I would have liked more passion in their interactions, not the physical but the emotional sense.

The plot moved well, and the characters were strong, including the many secondary characters. These secondary characters gave depth and added strength to the story. Earl On The Run is the second book in The Duke Estates series. I liked this book. However, I felt the first book was more substantial. I still think this was an good addition to the series, and I enjoy Jane Ashford’s writing style. I will happily read more of this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my first experience reading something by Ms. Ashford and I can tell you it won't be my last. I realized after picking this up, it is the second installment of The Duke's Estates series, but I had no trouble following the story despite not having read the first book. Ms. Ashford does a really nice job of setting the scenes up and creating a clear image of the story and what is happening, I have no trouble picturing it in my mind. She has created an intriguing and engaging story that had me captivated from the very start. Harriet is a kind, selfless young lady and she would do anything to protect her mother. They live with her grandfather who is a sour and mean soul. Henrietta is expected to marry for wealth and title, but she dreams of marrying for love. She meets Jack with a group of Travelers and is quite taken with him and doesn't realize how he could truly change her life. Jack and Harriet have an instant connection, but he is hiding his true identity from her. Both are unhappy with their lives, but when they are together, it's as if it were meant to be. The two seemed perfect for each other and I really enjoyed their witty banter and interactions. This was a lovely, clean historical romance with an engaging plot that kept my interest all the way through. I enjoyed this book and very much look forward to reading more of this series.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Jonathan (Jack) Frederick Merrill, Ninth Earl of Ferrington, had met an English gentleman. He had come to Boston, to let Jack know he was an Earl. But he had the same bad attitude that his Great Grandmother had. According to them he should be glad he was the new Earl, and she would train him, so no one knew who he really was.
He found what they had to say about his parents insulting and he was very angry. He left them without telling them, he traveled around and headed west. He spent some time with travelers and ended at his seat, Ferrington Hall. He met Harriett Finch. She was a lovely girl with hair as red as his mother's.

Of course, she had problems, too. Her mother had fallen in love with her father and her grandfather hounded them until her father died. Then he showed up and offered to bring them back under his roof. But he was cruel, and he had no title. He had the stain of trade on him. He tried to act like he was a big shot but wasn't. Her mother had become a nervous wreck. It was so sad.

When the author first started writing, I was lucky enough to find her novel. She always has wonderful books that are fresh and engaging. The characters have so much going for them. This tale is just as good as the very first one I read. I very much enjoyed the love between the characters. The way the couples supported each other. The excitement and the courage needed to keep it all coordinated.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Jack, born and raised in America has been brought back to England to inherit an earldom. He and his parents had been banished because his father married his ‘inappropriate’ mother. Neither he nor society are happy about this. Harriet and her parents had been banished, hounded and impoverished by rumors spread by her grandfather because Harriet’s mother dared defy him by marry an ‘inappropriate’ man.
Suddenly, after the death of his heir, Harriet’s grandfather wants to rehabilitate her mother and her so he can marry Harriet off to nobility to gain influence.
The trio head off to the grandfather’s estate but who should own the adjoining land but Jack. Jack, unsure of whether he wants to assume the earldom, is in disguise staying with a band of Travelers, a sort of gypsy troupe. Harriet and Jack meet but he doesn’t tell her who he is. As they fall in love he still keeps his secret until it is almost too late. Harriet concocts a sham engagement to keep her grandfather off her back and to give her time to figure out a way to get her and her mother out from under his thumb. But will Jack be willing to keep the engagement as a sham?
Jane Ashford does it again in this latest addition to the series. We are pleased as punch to see the Duke and Duchess from an earlier book show up to observe and even help the romance along.
Jack and Harriet are fully realized characters. You can understand the logic of their thoughts and feelings. So often a character against a marriage seems so out of pique and stubbornness. You can’t really support their reasons for being so within the context of their character. But both Jack and Harriet have interesting and well told back-stories that make them and their decisions seem human and real. I look forward to recommending this book in romance book talks soon.

Jack Merrill has come to london to meet his father's family. He finds out that he is the lost Earl of Ferrington but his grandmother criticizes him. He decides to run away. He finds a kind of gypsy troop which is heading toward his ancestral home. The leader of the troop let's Jack hang with them. Harriet Finch is coming to her grandfather's estate but she can't stand her grandfather he is an overbearing ogre.. He wants her to marry and earl or a peer he is not but he is rich. To get away from him at times she takes walk which leads to the earl's ancestral home where she meets Jack but she doesn't know he is the earl of Ferrington. These two are a cute couple. A friend of Harriet's who is married and just happens to be Jack cousin's wife comes with her husband to see if they can find the earl which they find right on his ancestral land. Jack cousin's and his wife help jack learn how to be an earl and the rest is history.

Whenever a romance involves a hidden identity, I am excited to read more, so as soon as I heard this book's hero meets the heroine disguised as a Traveler? Yes, please! I enjoyed the subtle education we received in this story regarding what a Traveler really means, as well as how women were often controlled during that time period. We also see the effects of laudanum and its addictive properties, lending to the fact that it was often over-prescribed. The heroine's mother suffers from that throughout the story, as it was her way of dealing with the awful fate life had dealt her after her husband's death. It was interesting to see such a strong young woman come from an awful grandfather and a mother who had completely fallen apart. Her backbone was made of steel, I am certain.

Having lived in America until quite recently, Jonathan Merrill, the son of a British nobleman-turned-tradesman, has absolutely zero interest in the aristocracy of British society. Learning he is an earl, which would have been a boon to many, is his worst nightmare. Running away until he can decide what to do seems the best solution, and so he lives with a group of Travelers who have now parked themselves on his land. While the world thinks he is missing, he is quite content living a simple life with people who are of his mother's background, an Irish woman born to the walking people in America. His plan begins to unravel, however, when he makes the acquaintance of his neighbor's granddaughter, Harriet Finch. They meet accidentally at first, then more frequently as she becomes enamored with him and he with her in return. One problem though - she thinks he is who he is disguised as, Jack the Rogue, a Traveler entirely unsuitable to her grandfather's plan to marry her off. He is the answer to her problems...if only he can find a way to reveal the truth without losing her forever.

Ah, young love and the wish that someone falls in love with who you are, not what you are. Such seems to be a common theme in romance novels where one or both main characters are wealthy, royal, etc. The world wants you for what you can give them, so you want to find the person who wants you just for you. No strings attached. Harriet was such a strong woman, dealing with a villainous grandfather with a heart made of money and a mother who had utterly given up on life in general. I was amazed at her tenacity and her willingness to defy her grandfather in little ways, that allowed her to see Jack without getting caught. Poor Jack had gotten himself in a pickle with his deception, and so when all was revealed, I enjoyed seeing them put things to rights. It was a little rocky, naturally, and some return deception on the part of Harriet muddied the waters. However, love is love, no matter what lies in its path, if only those who feel it are willing to do whatever they can to keep it. While I would have liked a little bit more background on Jack's heritage, his time in America, etc., I appreciated that the focus was more on Harriet's situation and how they could work together to help her family out of a bad spot.

Highly recommend if you enjoy low-angst romance, though be warned that if you want steam, this book is closed door. There are several passionate embraces, though, so you still feel their love for each other, you just don't get to peek into their bedroom. Don't worry - you won't miss it, I didn't even realize it never happened until the book ended! I was still very satisfied.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

Earl on the Run by Jane Ashford

This slow burn romance describes Jack, the new Earl of Ferrington, and Harriett Finch, a gentlewoman.

Jack has come from America after learning he is the new Earl. His grandmother, who disowned her son, Jack’s dad, has given Jack a sour taste when it comes to Society. He decides to ‘run away’ to one of his newly inherited estates, giving him time to think about his new station. Jack stumbles upon some Travelers, where a soft place in his heart lies, and he decides to stay with them temporarily.

While they settle on the Earl’s land, Jack is still in hiding, and he meets the beautiful Harriet Finch.

When Harriet’s father dies, her grandfather offers to settle his inheritance on Harriet, IF she marries a title and not a Mister. She longs for freedom, but doesn’t want to upset her loving mother by going against her grandfather.

When Harriet meets Jack, she’s unaware of his title and falls for his laid back, Devil may care, lifestyle.

The beginning was a little slow, but the banter was great! Jack’s identity is revealed and Harriet feels betrayed. It takes her friends and a few stolen kisses to help soften Harriet’s heart.

My favorite part of the story is when Harriet takes charge of her life. I don’t want to describe the scene because it is pivotal to the story, but it’s like a ‘heck yes! - such a GIRL POWER! moment.

If you like a slow burn romance, this book is for you!

A really fast, entertaining read if you enjoy historical romance (which I do). It was character driven but I would have liked to see more of the secondary characters, like Lady Wilton who was spoken of frequently but was only present for a tiny portion. This definitely isn't my favorite book by Jane Ashford but it was well worth the read.

Earl on the run by Jane Ashford

Jack Merrill has recently become the new Earl of Ferrington after being estranged from his titled family all his life. As his father had married beneath him and cast out from his family. He is currently on the run from his cruel snobbish Great- grandmother after her rejection about his American upbringing. He travels to his new estate incognito meeting with a band of travellers to take a look at his new home. He meets wealthy socialite Miss Harriet Finch who is visiting her grandfather’s estate after finishing her London season. His rules for her about who she should marry cause her to rebelling and looking for way to escape and meets “Jack the Rogue’ by chance whilst out walking.

A pleasant easy read following the journey of people trying to out wit/run cruel controlling members of their respective families and finding help on unexpected places. 3.5/5

Earl on the Run by Jane Ashford is the second book in the Duke Estates series. This particular novel focuses on Jack and Harriet. Two young people determined not to fit a specific role forced on them by their families.

Jonathan Frederick Merrill is the new Earl of Ferrington. Surprise, Surprise. A businessman from Boston, ripped from the colonies to England to claim his title and a cruel grandmother to boot. Jack (to his friends) wants nothing to do with this new life, however he does at least want to check things out. So he joins a group of travelers to see his home.

Harriet Finch is not happy. Not only has she been dragged into the country by her wealthy but cruel grandfather, he expects her to meet and marry some new Earl that she doesn’t know. After all, it is what he paid for her season to do.

Harriet and Jack meet under different circumstances and find a friendship and maybe more away from the eyes of their respective grandparents. Harriet is trying to manage her mother’s growing depression to find her way. Jack is just what she needs. Only to find out - he lied to her and he is an Earl. It is hard to get past the lies and give up your dreams, but Harriet is forced.

I enjoyed Earl on the Run by Jane Ashford. This was a new series for me to read and I jumped right into book number 2 without a problem. It is an interesting, quick and fun book to read.