The Duke and Duchess from the previous book in the series appeared in this story as well. I haven't read their story but they seem to be much more interesting people than Jack and Harriet in this book.
When Harriet first meets Jack, he is living with a group of Irish Travelers. She has no idea that he is an Earl. Jack is hiding from his Great-grandmother. He became the Earl only recently and his Great-grandmother has been very cruel and unaccepting of him, so he is basically running away from his problems.
Harriet has similar problems dealing with her wealthy Grandfather. The Grandfather made his money in trade and he is insisting that Harriet make an advantageous match with a member of the nobility. If Harriet fails, he will throw her and her mother out and leave them destitute.
So, one would think that Harriet ought to be pleased when she learns that Jack is really an Earl and not some simple guy that lives out in the woods. But no! Of course not! Yes, she is allowed to be upset that Jack lied to her but her behavior at this point puts her squarely in the TSTL category for me. Luckily for her, Jack wants to win her back.
I wish that Jack's Great-grandmother was featured more in this book. She is constantly mentioned but only appears once. It would have been interesting if she could have been paired with Harriet's Grandfather. Their interactions could have been running parallel to Jack and Harriet adding some comic relief. I also think that this story would have benefited from some steam. It is squeaky clean and I wasn't able to see the attraction between the two characters.
If one is going to read this book, I recommend reading the first book of the series, since those characters feature heavily in this story.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2nd book of a series but works well as a standalone. Harriet is caught between her grandfather's and mother's unreasonable demands and expectations. Jack is an American who inherited an English title but finds the title comes with a hateful grandmother and few allies. When the meet, a friendship is forged without the expectations of society but is threatened when Jack's position is revealed.

ARC via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

This is in an interesting read becuase though I liked the hero, Jack especially his back story and his general attitude to life, the heroine, Harriet was a bit nebulous and IMO not so finely drawn.

Other characters were super: The travellers, Linny her mother and especially Cecilia and James who I find were the protaganists from the first book. I'll have to grab that one. As the series is called the Duke's estates I expect to see Cecilia and James in book 3 as well?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

I found I really enjoyed this follow up to The Duke Who Loved Me. There were some familiar characters too, as both the main characters from book one were written into this story as well, which I enjoyed.

The main hero is Jack Merrill, the missing Earl of Ferrington. He is the American born of a disgraced younger sent that was banished to America, and the heir to the Earldom. He goes to England hoping to find some family connection, but is treated terribly by his snobbish great-grandmother, the same woman who is the grandmother of the Duke from book 1. She is so offensive and rude to him, that Jack leaves London, and joins up with a group of Travelers, hiding his identity, to see some of England, and some of the estates of his Earldom, before deciding if he would return to the US.

The heroine, Harriet Finch, is the granddaughter of a tradesman. She likewise grew up estranged from him, because her mother married for love, rather than be used to further his endeavours for status and power. This grandfather, Mr. Winstead, is a horribly spiteful, vicious man who not only turned out his daughter, but did everything possible to ensure her husband failed at any business endeavour, forcing the family to live in poverty. He ended up with no heirs, and decided to take his widowed daughter and granddaughter back into the fold, so long as she would marry a titled nobleman to further the grandfather's desire for influence and power. He is vulgar, and abusive to everyone, including his family, bullying the mother into a state of constant fear and nervousness. Harriet hates him, but she stifles a lot of her feelings about him because of her mother's fears and anxieties of being impoverished again.

The two meet when the Travelers camp out on the land belonging to the Earl, with Jack continuing to mask his true identity, and Harriet ventures away from her grandfather's property, which borders the Earls, to get some breathing room. They come to know each other, with Harriet believing that Jack is a roaming rogue, and they fall for each other. Jack intends to tell her the truth about himself, but as with many lies, he is found out before he can clear the air.

It was very interesting that both the hero and heroine share such a similar background of familial estrangement and connect through that. I enjoyed seeing the Duke and Duchess of Tereford again, and some continuation of their romance, and how they become supporting characters to Jack, and giving him that sense of family that Lady Wilton, his great grandmother, does not. Winstead is a truly awful character and I can't help but feel that he and the great-grandmother are characters who are very similar and sympathetic with each other - except for the fact that the Lady Wilton would probably rather die than associate with such a vulgar tradesman! I could sympathize with the sense of frustration, rejection, and anger that both Harriet and Jack must feel towards their awful relations, and found the story of the two rejects finding each other very heartening.

Four out of 5 stars and looking forward to the third book in this series!

Jack, Merrill, the next Earl of Ferrington, never dreamed he would be the earl. He had a thriving shipping business in Boston and had no intention of ever seeing his English relations after they treated his father so horribly. Jack decides to go to London to meet his relatives are and he receives nothing but criticism from the moment he meets them. He flees the city and decides to wander the countryside before he checks out his ancestral home where he meets Harriet Finch. Harriett has no idea that Jack the Rogue as she calls him is actually the Earl of Ferrington. They form an attachment, but when she finds out he lied to her, she wants nothing to do with him. Can Jack win back her trust and her heart?

This was a different type of regency romance and parts of it were enjoyable. I liked learning about the Travelers and Jack's friendship with them, but I didn't really warm up to Harriet. She refused to listen to Jack's explanation about why he kept his identity secret. Harriet's mother was annoying after a while with all her issues and Mr. Winstead, Harriet's grandfather, was an arrogant and insufferable beast. I was disappointed when he did not get his comeuppance at the end of the book. That would have been much more satisfying.

I enjoyed the basic story in this book, I liked our H/H, but the story had more angst than I can deal with, which is a personal thing, if you love angst there is plenty for you! Harriett's mother really got on my nerves too, which is why I am giving this a 3.5 star review. Overall it's an easy read.

4.5 Stars! This book is SO GOOD! It is engaging, romantic, intriguing, witty, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Earl on the Run", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.

This is the first book I have read by Jane Ashford, and it certainly will not be my last. This is the second book in her "The Duke's Estates" series, but I think it can work as a stand-alone novel too! I look forward to going back to read the first book in the series as well, and I hope there will be many more! Ms. Ashford's writing style is visceral, vivid, detailed, and full of heart. Her storytelling is spectacular, and she brilliantly brings the past to life. Each and every character feels so real...some characters I absolutely loved...and some, I absolutely despised. As the reader, I was hooked from the first page to the last, and had such a difficult time putting this book down.

Harriet is a young woman who has such a big heart, is selfless, and puts the needs of others before her own. She currently lives with her mother and her grandfather in her grandfather's house, which is near the estate of the Earl of Ferrington. Her grandfather is very mean, and treats both Harriet and her mother horribly. Many expectations have been placed on Harriet, including that she must marry wealth and title. Harriet wants to marry for love, but knows she must protect and take care of her mother. When Harriet meets Jack, never could she have imagined who he really is, or how that chance meeting will forever change her life.

Jack, the Earl of Ferrington, is such a kind, caring, and loving man. He has been made to feel that he doesn't belong anywhere, and has been treated awfully by his great-grandmother. He does not want to be there Earl of Ferrington, but knows he must soon take up residence at his estate. He is taken in by a group of Travelers, and truly enjoys being with them, and working alongside them. He is able to repay their kindness, and does not allow anyone to tell him otherwise. Never could he have imagined how meeting Harriet will change his life, and how she will make him feel.

Will Harriet and Jack be able to follow their hearts? Will they find their happily-ever-after with one another? You will just have to read to find out!

(Possible Spoilers!)
I found myself pulling for Harriet and Jack from the beginning. They understand one another, truly bring out the best in each other, and watching their love develop and grow was so special to read. Each of them has a heart of gold, and the love for those they care about and wish to protect is so beautiful.

Furthermore, I loved the scenes with the Travelers, and loved learning about aspects of this specific group's culture. I also absolutely love James and Cecilia.

If you enjoy historical romance, I highly recommend this book! It kept me turning the pages to see how everything would work out, and I hope we see many of the characters again in future books. I so look forward to reading what Ms. Ashford writes next.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, it is amazing! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Earl on the Run follows Jack, Merrill, the next Earl of Ferrington, and Harriet Finch as they meet and fall for each other. Harriet, who has recently arrived at her grandfather’s country home, is constantly barraged and pressured by her grandfather to marry a man of nobility. He cares nothing for Harriet’s wishes and browbeats her and her mother until Harriet can think of nothing but rebellion. Harriet takes long walks to soothe her frustrations, and it is on one of these walks that she meets a handsome rogue with a group of Travelers.

Jack is the next Earl of Ferrington, but he does not want the role. Insulted and demeaned by his grandmother, Jack decides to return to America and leave his ancestral home. It is while with the Travelers that Jack meets Harriet, and she has no idea that he is the Earl who owns the property next to her grandfather. Harriet and Jack have an instant connection, but with secrets standing between them, can they have a future together?

When they meet each other, Harriet and Jack’s lives are irrevocably changed. They are both very unhappy with their situations in life, and they find happiness when they are together. Jack’s so different from anyone she’s ever met, and she loves his charm, wit, and zest for life. He’s like a breath of fresh air in comparison to the stuffy men she’s met before. Jack makes Harriet feel free and like the world had endless possibilities with him. Plus, time with him is an escape from the pressure and unpleasant life she’s fallen into with an overbearing and hurtful grandfather and an emotionally vulnerable mother. Harriet does the same for Jack, and he begins to feel hopeful about his future for the first time in a long time.

Though Jack and Harriet are very different, they are alike in many ways. They both have jaded feelings and a strong distaste for the social snobbery of the elite. Both also grew up with parents that were rejected by their families, and neither is comfortable with or knowledgeable about their roles in society. Neither had easy lives, and that definitely changed their feelings about and desire to be part of the upper class. This is one of the reasons I like the Duke and Duchess so much.

The Duke and Duchess are two of my favorite characters in the book! They change Jack’s views on the elite of society, as they defy all of the stereotypes. This couple doesn’t bow to the dictates Jack’s grandmother insists upon, and they show Jack that not everyone is like his stuffy and judgmental relative. They have such a wonderful, close relationship, and their chemistry is lovely. I love how they show Jack what his future could be like if he marries for love, and they help both Harriet and Jack deal with the fallout of their secrets and lies.

I enjoyed the slow-building romance between Harriet and Jack. They have great chemistry, and I enjoyed their banter. I also like Harriet’s friends and the lovely friendship that develops between Jack and Harriet’s mother. However, Harriet’s overbearing grandfather was the worst! The story also touches upon topics, including mental health, prejudice, and gender inequalities, which is also interesting.

I think readers who enjoy historical romance will enjoy this story, but keep in mind it is not a fast-paced read. This is very much a character-driven novel with a clean romance and thought-provoking themes. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

At the end of the London season, Harriet Finch reluctantly returns to her wealthy grandfather's country house. His rigid opinions for how she should live and whom she should marry sparks Harriet's rebelliousness. Yearning to reclaim her freedom, Harriet goes for a long walk and a handsome rogue from the nearby Travelers camp catches her eye.

Little does she know, the rugged traveler she's flirting with is Jonathan "Jack" Frederick Merrill, the missing Earl of Ferrington in disguise. Will Jack tell Harriet the truth about who he is for the sake their blossoming relationship? Or will he keep his distance altogether? Time is running out, and the earl can't hide forever...

I have been wondering where is the Earl of Ferrington after reading The Duke who loved me. He is the hero of this book! He is definitely a different sort of Earl. He was raised differently so he has no idea what the ton is like. Jane Ashford is an excellent writer and this is another well-written book..

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc.

I am a bit on the fence with this romance - even though the hero was different, there was just something about it that I couldn’t connect with. 3.5 stars

I loved this Run-A-Way Earl, book. Jack is so refreshing with lack of of knowledge about society and propriety. I think that is what drew Harriet to him in the first place. Plus I enjoyed the parts with the traveling group. It was something different from what I am used to. .