I liked this one better than the first book. Lucy is considered shy and gets tongue tied around people. Get her talking about botanical life and poisons, then she can be confident. William is their new coachman, or is there more to him? I liked that he loved Lucy for who she is and that Lucy believed in herself more. I liked that William wasn’t just another rich man, There was more depth to his character. I enjoyed the mystery of the story. Overall, much more interesting than the first in the trilogy.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

I read an ebook obtained from #NetGalley. The hero portrayed a groomsman as he was a spy and inquiry agent for the Crown. The heroine was a bluestocking who helped her father in his botanical studies. The hero is investigating poisoning and threats to a botanical society and to Darwin. The book does have sex in it and does mention LQBTQ+ scenario with the heroine's brother which was a crime. The book is an ok read

When Lucy Bertram's conveyance gets stuck in the mud heading into a storm, she's nearly moved to swear. Alone, there's only so much she can do. It seems a stroke of luck when Will Armstrong, the new groom hired by her father, comes along and lends a helping hand. They have an initial attraction, one that leaves Lucy a bit tongue-tied, and Will is determined to ignore it. For Will isn't who he seems. Scottish, sure, but an Earl employed as a covert "inquiry agent" by the crown. His latest mission is to investigate Sir Oswald Bertram, Lucy's father. The man's dire financial straits and specialization in poisonous plants make him a suspect in the murder of a fellow botanist and an ongoing threat against others in his society. What Will doesn't know is that all of Oswald's research may have his name on it, but it truly comes from the brilliant mind of Lucy, who not only conducts and writes the research but also runs her father's household on limited funds. As if she doesn't have enough going on, Lucy worries for her brother Monty, cast off by their father after some sort of argument.

I ended up with great love and respect for both protagonists. It's nearly inevitable that I'm going to be obsessed with a lady botanist, especially if she's a certified spinster. On her journey, Lucy has to face the indignity of being called a research assistant and the mental trap of a "nervous disposition." When it comes to Will, there's a bit of an info dump up front, re: his job and secrets. Despite this rocky start, he's too much of a delight for me to hold it against him. As a Scotsman, we see him struggle with the accent bias of his English peers, but that was ~not~ a problem for this reader 😉. In addition, he's open and non-pressuring about his feelings for Lucy, a rare and refreshing combination.

Although Will's investigation is front and center, it's not much of a mystery when there's an obvious villain in our midst, and boy, does he deliver on easy-to-detest qualities. Said villain is Zachariah Thorne, a man of fire and brimstone persuasion. He thinks dinosaurs weren't real and has a philosophical opposition to Charles Darwin that should date him, but sadly... doesn't. Other marks against his character are later revealed, such as the fact that he owns a coffee plantation in Sri Lanka and is violently homophobic. It all checks out. His heaps of money make Sir Oswald hopeful he can marry off his daughter for a good sum, and Thorne hopes he can save Lucy from her wickedness in the bargain. You know, because she doesn't want children. Or might dare to tell a man no. This spot of danger galvanizes our romance, sending it in an entirely satisfying direction.

To start, the romance isn't quite instalove, but Will's desperation not to give into his interest in Lucy feels a bit overdone.  While early on, I feared how Will's spying might lead to overblown conflict between them, I was instead delighted to receive a) secrets that don't linger past their usefulness and b) heart-to-hearts that actually bring people closer. In the face of Thorne's threat, the love story has the good taste to become a courtship of convenience aka ye olde fake dating. Ok, ok, it's the Victorian era, so not exactly ye olde. Will and Lucy are already a thing (with feelings and everything) but don't want to be a ~thing~ because they're both kind of workaholics who don't want to be held back by an attachment. Despite this reticence, they hope putting up the public front of a courtship that's headed to the altar will put our villain off. Once they're Society Official™, I love how little they can stand to be apart. They seize on any excuse to be reunited after even brief separations and have all this delicious, pent-up desperation. These interactions also offer up evidence that best friends make the worst chaperones and thank goodness for that small mercy.

This is a romance that gets better as it goes, which is my preferred direction. My main complaint has to do with the balance of when and how much background is provided about our characters-- sometimes all in a rush and other times largely ignored. While a whirlwind romance isn't quite my taste, this one is hot without sacrificing on feelings, so it's one of the better ones. I especially appreciated how a fast pace early on didn't necessitate huge steps backward later on to compensate. No final act breakup is the cherry on top.

As a quick comment for my fellow queer readers, know that there's some queer rep in a bi side character. As a content warning, the book includes homophobia on the page, but our protagonists are quick to denounce it, and it's not a prolonged experience.

Curled Up With an Earl is a delightful entry in the historical romance genre. Even when I was bothered by the pacing, I became increasingly committed to the characters and their love story as it progressed. As one might expect given the genre, the mystery is not the most intriguing, but you can at least anticipate the delicious experience of a heinous villain getting his just desserts. Meanwhile, the romance keeps heating up, and that's the real thing we came for. Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for my copy to read and review!

"Curled up with an Earl" is the second book in the Byronic Book series by Amy Rose Bennett takes us through the journey of Miss Lucy Bertram finding her chance of love and happiness. Lucy's fathers financial straits have become more and more strained recently, with Lucy having no knowledge whatsoever about it.

With her father hiring a new head groom, Will, at a lower salary, Lucy's feminine instincts are suddenly awakened and she is unable to stop her fascination with him. Little does she know that Will is not actually who he purports to be and that she and her family are at far more danger than she had originally imagined. How will Lucy and Will be able to get through these tough times and their own chance of happiness?

This story started off well and the intrigue element was woven throughout the story seamlessly. I liked the way both Lucy and Will have been written; particularly I love how smart Lucy is. I also liked the way Will is always supportive of Lucy. Their romantic relationship felt very organic and believable. And the epilogue was a perfect ending to the story. I also felt there are pacing issues in the narrative at some places and that is the reason for the 4 stars. This is otherwise an engaging and entertaining book which I enjoyed very much.

Ahh yeah; everything thing this author touches turns to something that resembles a pot of gold.
This particular story was engaging, expectedly steamy and all round fun; all formulas for just what I needed.

Wanted to like this, especially after the strong opening which showcased the main protagonists perfectly. But then it went downhill from there. 25% in, and nothing yet had happened, the same things were being rehashed every which way, and the chemistry between the hero and heroine had just disappeared. In its place was the mystery, which felt convoluted, and the search for heroine's missing brother, which felt even more convoluted. Add the two together and everything takes over what is supposed to be a romance, at the heart of it.
The heroine's constant fudging of her expletives also got tiring quickly, I'm afraid, and when she suddenly decides to 'flirt' with the hero despite harping on and on about being a virgin, unexperienced, never been kissed - the character just didn't feel the same anymore, like, who are we really reading about?
All in all, this had great potential, but it dragged on way too much for me to have been truly entertaining and enjoyable

Amy Rose Bennett's "Curled Up with an Earl," the second installment in The Byronic Book Club series, is an enchanting blend of romance, mystery, and character depth.
What sets this book apart is its skillful balance of low angst and captivating murder-solving intrigue. The mystery aspect had me glued to the pages, keeping me glued to the pages, and relishing the sensation of being on the edge of my seat. Furthermore, who can resist the allure of a well-crafted bodyguard story, artfully interwoven into the plot?
Bennett's portrayal of realistic characters is commendable, particularly the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals and their imperfections and capacity for growth. The story tackles the inherent humanity of making mistakes and accepting them, weaving a tapestry of depth and authenticity.
One of the book's remarkable achievements is its portrayal of a likable bluestocking character, a feat that often poses a challenge. In the character of Lucy, Bennett masterfully walks the fine line between endearingly eccentric and condescending, showcasing a compelling blend of intelligence, independence, and love. Her internal struggle to reconcile her desire for independence with her love for Will is portrayed with remarkable authenticity. Lucy's age, a bit older than the typical romance protagonist, adds depth and relatability to her character.
Will's character shines through his unwavering support for Lucy's scientific pursuits, regardless of her intelligence surpassing his. The way he divulges his true identity mid-story is both endearing and laugh-out-loud funny, as evidenced by the memorable warm milk incident.
"Curled Up with an Earl" presents a captivating blend of romance and mystery, adorned with well-drawn characters and meticulous attention to character depth. Amy Rose Bennett's portrayal of Lucy and Will's relationship, with its intellectual equality and unwavering support, adds an extra layer of charm to this delightful historical romance. I can't wait to read more books by this author!

A super smart and sassy heroine is being forced into a marriage she doesn't want- oh whatever shall she do! Enter an undercover agent who pretends to be a groom in her house. I enjoyed the subterfuge in this one and the botanical bend to the book was fun.

Lucy and William are two characters who will draw you into their story. Lucy’s indignation at William thinking her father had anything to do with shenanigans leads her to stick with William to prove her father did not do it. A great mystery and read!

Honestly this book didn't do it for me. I thought it was clunky and cheesy in not a good way. Also the mystery felt one dimensional. Book 1 will always be incredible, but this wasn't it.

Will and Lucy have met before at a ball but now Will is at her home as a spy to help uncover a murder within the ranks of the science society. Lucy is an excellent botanist and does so much to help her father, a famous one- including taking care of their garden full of poisonous plants. We have chemistry with these two as they have to figure out a couple mysteries - threats- a horrible man with his eye on Lucy- plants- and good old London society.
I loved this one so much! Lucy is a lady after my heart with her nerdy plant loving self! Love this series so much

Curled up with an earl? More like curled up with a nice warm mug of hot chocolate whilst reading this delightful second installment in the Byronic Book Club series!

William Lockhart, the Earl of Kyle, is sent undercover by Scotland Yard as a groom in the household of Sir Oswald Bertram. He is tasked with finding out who is killing several members of the Linnean Society and threatening Charles Darwin. He suspects Sir Oswald and his friend Mr. Thorne have something to do with it, so he should be focused on them. However, he wasn't counting on falling for Lucy Bertram, the studious spinster daughter that Sir Oswald is planning to marry off to Mr. Thorne. Lucy, wanting nothing more than to be rid of Thorne, teams up with William. But they're doing more than just finding evidence to uncover a murderer.

A thrilling mystery and a beautiful romance all rolled into one fantastic story. This is a solid read for anyone looking for more than just your typical historical romance. Bring on book # 3!

Who is murdering the Linnean Society members? I liked the story line, the characters and the banter between them. Blackmail and caricature villain who puts them all in danger add to the intrigue.

William Douglas Lockhart, the Earl of Kyle, former officer in the British Army, alias Scotsman Will Armstrong is an investigator for Scotland Yard and is hunting for a murderer who hates Charles Darwin and threatens to kill all the members of the Linnean Society if they do not throw Darwin out. One of the suspects is Sir Oswald, an expert of botanical poisons. So Will poses as a groom and coachman to get the goods on Oswald. He didn't count on falling under the enchantment of Sir Oswald's daughter Miss Lucille Bertram , who is as much a biological expert as her father and is actually the pen behind his writings. But she has her own problems. Her brother, Monty, had a falling out with their father and has disappeared and her father is pushing her to marry a man she detests and she can not figure out why. Will ends up putting his investigation second to trying to help Lucy and eventually confines in her, because he trusts her and she does him. I like that there are no coy games between Lucy and Will, but they behave like mature adults.

I read an ARC that I received from the publisher via NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Bennett never disappoints and book two in her Byronic Book Club was fabulous. I LOVE an undercover aristocrat spy so loving William Lockhart was a no brainer but throw in a strong scientific woman and ultimate swoon. Reading their relationship develop was so enjoyable even as Lucy struggled with thinking she was taking advantage of the groom. It was easy to read and I found it hard to put down. Equally as good to find a HEA with a bit of intrigue.

Will read anything Bennett writes at this point!

I devoured this book. I think Amy Rose Bennett plays to their strengths as an author and Curled Up With an Earl is definitely a book that would be a good recommendation for those wanting to branch out into historical romance.

Curled Up with an Earl is an okay Historical Romance. In my opinion, its biggest problem is the lack of sparks between the main characters and even the overall lack of sparks within the story itself. Besides, I never felt like we actually got to know Will.
It suffers especially when in comparison to the first installment of the Byronic Book Club trilogy, Up All Night With a Good Duke, which had humor, passion and sparks to spare. Not even the good amount of steam can make up for a lack of humor and, maybe, even charm.
3.4 stars.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me through NetGalley. This book was just absolutely wonderful. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just couldn’t put it down. I just lost myself within this amazing story. I most definitely will read more by this author.

1858. After he helps to push her gig out of a muddy ditch, Miss Lucy Bertram decides
that her father’s new Scottish groom has an attractively muscular physique. Not that she is swayed from her dedication to scientific research, but might a brief affair not qualify as such? Especially since the attraction seems mutual?

In the finest romance tradition, Will is actually no low-born groom but the Earl of Kyle,
working undercover with the authorities to find the murderer who is threatening members of the scientific community. The rather gothic villain is not difficult to spot, but proof is required.

This is second in the Byronic Book Club series and, like Up All Night with a Good Duke
(2022), follows the formula of independent-minded heroines struggling against barriers faced by women in a patriarchal society. The answer is to find a strongly supportive partner, but dare they commit to a marriage which deprives a wife of power? Other interesting 19th-century issues are raised, notably the criminalization of homosexuality and religious opposition to scientific progress; and the research into poisons is
informative. Readers who appreciate spice in a sentimental romance with gothic overtones will not be disappointed.

A wonderful second novel in The Byronic Book Club Series by Amy Rose Bennett!

If you love an intelligent heroine and a mysterious hero then this is the story for you! Our hero, William Lockhart, Earl of Kyle is undercover and looking for a Killer. Our heroine, Lucy Bertram, is just the person to help him!

And who knows? Maybe they will fall in love in the process.