This is a fun historical set in a sea-side village with a heroine determined to have her own finishing school for girls. Hazel Lively is clever and desperately wants a family after losing hers as a young girl. The hero, Blade, thinks he has to avoid love because of pain from his past. The two come together because Blade wants to find a school for his ward, and Hazel desperately wants to make her school successful. But they two have a chemistry that they find hard to ignore.

One thing I really liked in the plot was how Hazel got Blade to connect with his niece. This leads to lots of hijinks and fun. The characters are well developed and enjoyable, and there is some potential set up of future novels as well.

It was also nice to be in a different sort of setting than the typical historical romance.

I definitely think it is worth reading.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

The start of what looks to be a thoroughly enjoyable new series, this historical romance pairs a young headmistress with an earl whose troublesome teenage niece has become his ward. When Gabriel chooses Hazel's school to hopefully be the one not to quickly expel her, the condition that he stay engaged and visit his niece regularly is a requirement he is forced to meet. Soon however he finds himself wanting to be involved with not only his niece but her very engaging teacher. Recommended.

This was a delight from start to finish!! I loved the romance between Hazel, a seemingly prim headmistress of a school for girls, and Blade, a rakish Earl with a tragic backstory. This struck the perfect balance of sweet, angsty, and sexy. I also adored how Blade’s relationship with his niece/ward Kitty was mended because of Hazel and Bellehaven Academy. So good!

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!**

A little twist on the regency romance in that Hazel Lively is a headmistress who is tasked with the education of Kitty, the Earl’s niece. With Hazel’s focused ways and Blade’s roguish ways, their chemistry is blocked by a few obstacles. I did find the ending a bit rushed and would have liked that to be a little more developed. But overall I liked the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s for the arc.

Anna Bennett is well known for her historical romance novels and her newest novel only solidifies her place as a masterful writer of the genre. Girls Before Earls, which kicks off her newest series and comes out on December 28th, features a rogue-turned-guardian and a strict headmistress who, despite their initial dislike for one another, grow to care for one another as well as grow as characters.

I really loved this book! It’s not a shocker that I’m a fan of historical romance novels, but this one just filled me with so many emotions. Watching Hazel and Blade fall in love, Hazel’s interactions with the girls of Bellehaven Academy, the girls becoming friends, and all of the drama that ensues made me laugh, cry, and just fall in love with this book.

I am very excited to continue reading this series when the next book comes out and I will definitely be checking out the rest of Bennett’s books in the future.

*I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an enjoyable book that kept me engaged throughout the story for this reason I give it 5 stars. I enjoyed all of the characters and especially liked Kitty, the ward/niece of Blade.

Miss Hazel Lively had decided that she would open a finishing school for girls because of what happened to her in the past. She hoped that the well off customers could help provide extra money so Hazel could provide schooling for less fortunate girls. Now with the school finally open, Hazel is hoping for more girls to attend. When the handsome Gabriel Beckett, Earl of Bladenton, shows up wanting to enroll his niece, Kitty Beckett, whom is now his ward, Hazel is a little apprehensive. Hazel and Blade come to an agreement and she takes Kitty in. When Blade has to come and visit with Kitty every two weeks, he finds he is enjoying seeing Hazel more and more. While Kitty is proving to be a handful, Hazel understands where she is coming from and the two form a close bond. As their relationship develops, things between Hazel and Blade become more interesting until they take things to next level. Just when it looks like Blade may have found his happiness in Hazel, things from his past come back to haunt him. It will take a lot of self reflection before Blade can realize what will really make him happy, which of course is Hazel.

I just adored this fun, enjoyable story. Hazel was out to prove herself that she can survive on her own because of her past while Blade never wanted to settle down because of his past. Problem is is that these two are just so drawn to the other they can't help but fall in love. It was wonderful watching these two fall hard. This was a great start to a new series by Anna Bennett.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the chance to read an early copy of this book!

This was a delightfully fluffy and feel-good historical romance. It is chock-full of tropes and archetypes: the bookish schoolmarm who's not as uptight as she pretends to be, the guarded aristocrat who's sworn never to love again, the coldly practical intended fiancée, the charming students who make mischief but loveably so --and it unfolds in a slightly predictable but completely satisfying manner. It is never the least bit stressful and will leave you with the warm fuzzies. An excellent comfort read to pull out on a cold winter's night and let yourself be transported to a seaside summer.

It’s a sweet tale of redemption, change, and forging new paths.

Blade, the Earl of Bladenton, is struggling to manage his 15-year-old niece, Kitty. She became his ward after the untimely death of Blade’s brother and his wife. The estrangement between the two brothers, Blade’s guilt, and Kitty’s unruliness all combined to drive him crazy. That is how he found himself on the doorstep of Bellehaven Academy. This brand-new school could be their salvation, if he can get past the stubborn headmistress, Hazel Lively.

Hazel had only one goal, to make her school a success. She didn’t want to take Kitty in because she was afraid that a scandal will ruin her school before it even had a chance to begin properly. But Blade persisted and Kitty resisted, and Hazel’s soft heart couldn’t say no.

I loved Hazel’s outlook on teaching and her attitude towards her students. She didn’t let some of the locals’ hesitation about her school get her down. All the encounters between Hazel and Blade completely charmed me, although they did have their share of head-butting. Completely unnecessary, of course, but I suppose it’s what you get when two stubborn set-in-their-ways individuals come together.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable read. There did seem to be a lot of fabricated obstacles, but all’s well that end well, in the end. This is the first book in a new series, Rogues to Lovers, and I would definitely like to read the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is also posted on my blog: https://hookedbythatbook.com and Goodreads.

This was an enjoyable book!! I found the book to be a fun read. I enjoyed the characters. I would recommend this book to others.

This is the first book I've read from Anna Bennett and I can't say it will be the last. She managed to write a novel that tugs at your heart strings and leaves you with a contented sigh.

First, we have Hazel who has had a less than posh life but manages to find the bright side in what appears to be every situation. As she grows up, she realizes she wants to give back and opens a school for girls. I really appreciated that from her, that she could have looked at her upbringing and played more "woe is me" but instead, she bucked up - even if she did it with a bit of a hardened heart.

Then we have Gabriel Beckett, Earl of Bladenton or "Blade", he also had hardened his heart and it was just about to crack in half due to a niece he'd taken in as a ward. A niece that had been kicked out of other schools, only to land at Hazel's school. With her help, his ward starts to fit in, and he starts to thaw.

While there wasn't much in the way of sexual tension, as I stated there was a level of contentment you don't see that often. Sure, there were hurdles to cross but somehow you knew these two, so well matched, would work it out.

One of my favorite parts is all the women, this book does seem to put girls before earls! They all were real characters with drives and personalities which I loved.

Great book from Anna Bennett!

My opinion is freely given and all my own.

I voluntarily received a copy of Girls Before Earls by Anna Bennett via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Anna Bennett weaves a sweet love story of two people too guarded for their own good but beyond all odds fall in love with each other.

Miss Hazel Lively was orphaned at the age of nine years old, but thanks to a kind school mistress who saw potential in her she was able to make a life for herself. Armed with with the need to do good in the world, her love of books and a tough exterior she opens her own school for girls. Here she hopes to be able to do what her headmistress did for her. On the opposite side is Blade, or rather Gabriel Beckett the Earl of Bladenton. Blade doesn't believe in love, and that unfortunately extends to his teenaged niece turned ward. He does not know what to do with her but he does want to do right by her. After being expelled multiple times he brings her to Bellehaven Academy and meets Hazel. Here his niece finds a home, and Blade learns to open his heart to true love.

This is one of the sweetest reads I have read in a long time. Everything from the romance to the coastal setting was absolutely perfect. The author added just enough angst to balance it out. But not too much. I would consider it rather low angst, and this does factor in he has a potential fiancé already. I think the angst remained low to me do to the fact the heroine and hero were obviously made for each other so even when trouble was ahead I felt that everything was going to turn out for them.

The true stars of this novel were every female character. They all were so different and animated. Each character had their own story, likes and dislikes. It made me incredibly excited for more books in the Rogues to Lovers series. I especially can't wait for books about Poppy and Kitty. I adored them so much.

4.5 But rounding up to 5!

Girls before Earls is about the love affair between a headmistress and an earl who never thought they could truly share their vulnerabilities with someone else. Hazel was an orphan who taught herself to stand strong in the face of adversity, and Blade closed himself off from deeper connections after a wounding betrayal from those he loved most.

Surprisingly, I wasn't completely turned off by the school elements of this story. As a teacher, it's hard to find enjoyment in that location during my free time. I think the historical setting helped. Also, the story is naturally mostly about a romance, so the students and school felt more like window dressing than the focus.

There wasn't anything wrong with this book; I just didn't find it particularly engaging or unique. The first half is a romantic whirlwind, while the second half is lovesick and unnecessary. Blade himself remarks that all their encounters feel like a series of good-byes because of the lovelorn way they keep trying to commit to parting even though neither really wants to. I can be convinced that a character's emotional baggage causes them to make decisions that are self-destructive, but I've found that I prefer pining on the front end of a romance rather than dragging on through the end. The drama felt contrived rather than genuine, the challenges only in the minds of our protagonists, particularly Blade. He spends much of the book deeply in denial over his feelings. Go to therapy, I beg of you.

Miss Hazel Lively has finally really realized her dream. She is now the headmistress of her own girl's school. All she needs to do is increase her enrollment numbers. Out of nowhere appears Blade, Earl of Bladenton, and Kitty, his rebellious niece. After much negotiation, Miss Lively agrees to take the niece on as a student. From then on, life begins to change for all involved. Can she tame Kitty and shove her attraction to Blade aside? Blade's life is complicated enough, but Hazel Lively is unwittingly making it more so. Where will these newly founded relationships go?
This story is populated with delightful characters, witty dialogue and passion. It is well plotted, engrossing and moves quickly. I found it to be a well written, delightful story. Highly recommended.

Fun historical romance with main characters from different circles in society. Blade and Hazel's interactions were the best kind of banter. Hazel didn't back down from Blade's attempts to manipulate her. Loved Hazel was a bit of a rebel of society. Story was steady paced and featured some little seen scenes in the story.

This was a bit of a slow start for me but once it started to pick up I enjoyed it.. Hazels dedication to her student and school is admirable. I wasn't a huge fan of Blade in the beginning but he grew on me. A great story of overcoming heartache and making something that yourself. A good read all in all

I think this author is really wonderful & her books are sweet! I enjoyed this book! It was nice to have a different setting for the story. It was set on the seaside plus our heroine has a school for girls! It was certainly different from most I read. Hazel is the school owner. Her school is for the wealthy to pay & bring their daughters to get them ready for their season. Hazel believes in offering a safe haven….she grew up alone in a school for girls. She’s not looking for love. Our hero Blade, is in charge of his orphaned niece. He’s trying to get a marriage of confidence not love. So he brings his niece to Hazel’s school hoping to leave her there…..Hazel doesn’t agree until he agrees to visit and be apart of Kitty’s life. These two have lots of attraction. They are different classes & do become friends. This was a sweet read with low angst. There should be more to come in this series!

Anna Bennett has written a witty and romantic start to a new series! Hazel, our heroine, is a school headmistress who lost her parents at an early age. Blade has become the guardian to a niece he never knew about. This sets up the emotional relationship between the two as they learn to overcome their past with the help of Blades mischievous and lively niece. The pace of the story was perfect with wonderful dialogue and characters. You immediately connect with the Hazel and Blade and don't want the story to end. Such a great start to a series! I cant wait to read more!

This was my first Anna Bennett book and won’t be my last! Her HR storytelling is so much fun!

Hazel and Blade’s love story felt so original. Fantastic character development, slow burn chemistry and plenty of wit. I really loved it and was sad when it ended. I will definitely be looking for more stories from this author.

Hazel Lively is totally dedicated to her new school, Bellehaven Academy of Deportment, not far from London. The Earl of Bladenton makes a bargain with Hazel to accept his neice, Kitty, as a student. She's already been expelled from two other schools. Besides, what does he know about taking care of his niece? Enamored of Hazel, Blade realizes he could be more content with her as his wife, rather than a marriage of convenience with Lady Penelope. Unfortunately, Lady Penelope is determined to be his countess.
A leaky row boat, a cricket game, a regatta, a ball and nights on the beach are breaking the ice around Blade's frozen heart and teaching Hazel that love comes first.
I enjoyed this book so much. A charming Earl and young ladies always up to something.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.