Yeah, that guy wasn't it AT ALL! He was annoying, arrogant and just an ass for no reason other than he's a man and he can. the plot was fun but if the love interest in a romance book sucks then it failed its main purpose. 2 stars

Audrey Harrison never disappoints in writing great stories. The main characters could not be more different but as a result of a few machinations, they find themselves bound together in solving a mystery and learning that love comes creeping when least expected. A very enjoyable story and I look forward to more in this series. Thanks as always to Dragonblade publishers and Netgalley for an ARC of Persuading the Earl.

Historical Romance with Mystery

Amelia had come to terms with being a spinster, so she was annoyed when she was invited to a house party. She knew no one invited wallflowers, so she and her friends were there to even out the numbers. Little did she know that the hostess had a scheme up her sleeve—she intended her to marry her wayward son. Then, Amelia met the nephew of the hostess, an earl she thought she would dislike. However, her heart and curiosity had other plans. Amelia found herself attracted to Richard, but she did not think anything would come of her attraction. An accident in her past scarred her, so she did not think any man would want her. Then, in an attempt to solve the mystery of thefts at the house party, she was caught in a compromising position with the earl. The two would have challenging times ahead. Richard thought he repulsed Amelia, but Amelia was afraid for anyone to see her scars. Could the two finally share their fear and let love into their hearts?

As the two navigate their tumultuous relationship, Richard's old flame would come on the scene. Then, someone gets murdered, and danger comes to their doorstep. This is an entertaining story. I recommend it to lovers of historical romance with mystery.

This is the first installment of a new series, The Country House Romantic Mysteries, and also my first book by this author and I am glad I picked this up as I enjoyed the writing very much. Richard has no plans to fall in love, as he has been burned once before. The woman he loved left him and married someone else. But his aunt cannot help but meddle and would be happy to see her son, Claude, and Richard both married and hosts a house party in hopes to speed things along. Amelia and her wallflower friends arrive at the party and express some rather unpleasant viewpoints. Richard overhears and is ready to confront them, but when he meets Amelia, he is rattled by her courage and spirit. When Claude and his mean-spirited ways hurt Amelia, she and Richard become close, but are ultimately forced into marriage because of Claude's tricks. Though they are both drawn to each other, they are wary of risking their hearts. But when a crime occurs at the house party and Claude is the suspect, they work together to uncover the mystery, and inevitably the romance between them begins to grow and flourish.
This is a fast-paced story with romance and a little mystery which added intrigue and excitement. I found this to be an entertaining story with wonderfully delightful characters. It captured my attention right from the start. The characters were nicely developed and there was no question as to how strong their chemistry was. I enjoyed the build-up of the romance between Amelia and Richard and also really enjoyed their banter. A very well-written and captivating story!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is my first time reading something from this author and I found I rather enjoyed this story. This story occurs in the context of a house party organized by a Society mama with the hopes of manipulating her wastrel son into marrying a woman who can manage him. Mrs. Marie Greenwood invites a variety of women to her house party, and included amongst the expected young debs are a trio of wallflowers chaperoned by her friend Enid Leaver. She is hoping to steer her son, Claude, towards one of the more mature women in the hopes that she would be able to stand to his bullying and keep him from decimating his inheritance. She includes her nephew, Richard Fox, the Earl of Douglas, in the house party to oversee, and also with the faint hope that Richard would also search for a wife. But Richard had given away his heart to Bea, to have to broken when she decides to leave him after everything was arranged for their marriage, to marry another a month later. But Bea still strings Richard along, despite being married, and Richard has determined he will never marry, and deep inside, does not believe he is worthy of being loved by another.

But he loves his aunt and agrees to attend the house party. He overhears some rather unpleasant viewpoints expressed by the wallflowers and is ready to confront them with disdain when he is rather struck by one of the trio, Amelia Beckett. She is beautiful, spirited, and intelligent, and Richard cannot understand why she is wallflower, and on finding out that his aunt has targeted her to be Claude's intended bride, objects as he feels she is not deserving of suffering his bullying and having her spirit broken by Claude. At least that is what he is telling himself is behind his inexplicable feelings for Amelia.

Claude, on discovering his mother's plans, acts out and bullies the wallflowers and Amelia in general, and takes actions that ultimately hurts Amelia, in light of a previous injury she has suffered. Rather than repenting his actions, he behaves even more egregiously, and forces a situation that forces Richard and Amelia into an unwanted marriage. Because of their forced circumstances, Richard and Amelia are stymied in their growing affection for each other, and agree to a marriage of convenience. Richard, because he is afraid to risk his heart again, and Amelia because she was resigned to being a spinster because of her previous illness and injury, and is afraid of being rejected because of her scars.

Their relationship is further impeded by continued family drama from cousin Claude, whose chaotic romantic path has ended with him being a suspect in the death of another one of the previous house guests, drawing Richard and Amelia into the investigation. Then Richard's romantic past interferes also, as Bea decides that she wants to continue being Richard's number one love interest.

There is a lot of drama thrown in by the secondary sidelines, all designed to throw barriers in the way of Richard and Amelia finding their HEA. They were doing a fine job themselves, straying off the path of love through their own fears, insecurities, and lack of communication, without the external forces exerted by the selfish and narcissistic Claude, and Bea. But I actually liked Richard and Amelia, and their rather sweet and convoluted growing romance with each other. Richard did seem to put on a cold and intimidating front, which seemed at odds later to how he allowed his ex to treat himself and Amelia. But I did like how Amelia showed strength and stood up for herself against Bea, and how she perceived Richard was treating her. This story was a bit cluttered by too many characters at times who did not seem to really add much to the story itself. Also some of them seemed a bit overblown and one dimensional. But otherwise, this was a fun, if over the top story to read. I presume the surplus of characters was to introduce them for the future of the series?

3.75 stars out of 5

I LOVED this book!

Great plot, great character, great pacing, and the love story was perfection.

They MC"s were mature and had well developed character arc. It definitely left me wanting more of their story.

I enjoyed it so much that I messaged my friends right away to tell them that they need to read it too!

Highly recommend!

This story was actually pretty good. I read every word of the story, I did not skip like I do in some books.
This review may contain spoilers.
This story started out at a house party. An older lady is hosting a house party in order to marry off her son and her nephew. The lady is not happy with her son, who seemed to inherit every one of her deceased husband's bad habits. Her sister died young and she was the mother figure for her nephew, who did pay attention to her life lessons and was more a man of values and responsibilities that her son would ever be. The lady is bemoaning her son's latest escapade and how she is going to leave all her money in trust and he can only get it out by asking the nephew. But the lady has invited one of her friends daughters, who has a friend that she thinks will be able to control her son.
The heroine was invited to a house party by her friend. Her friends are a unusually close group of five wallflowers who met at various society events and became fast friends. The heroine is older, about 25 years old, because during her first Season, she was attacked by a horse. She was warned away, but felt she could handle him. She does not remember the attack, but it took her about a year to recover and be in a chair with wheels, and she has spent the pst two years moving from a wheel chair to crutches to canes to being able to walk by herself. She has horrible scars on her legs and they prevent her from moving freely and from dancing. She can't stand for extended periods of time and still needs to rest often. She and her friends wonder why they were invited when there were plenty of pretty, younger girls and their mamas already there at the party.
The hero is the titled nephew of the older lady. He is about 26 years of age and his cousin is in his 30"'s. The cousin has always bullied the hero, but that stopped when the hero grew old enough to protect himself. The hero had fallen in love when he was younger. He asked the love of his life to marry him and she did not want to be trapped by his title. She wanted freedom to do as she wanted as a married woman. But even though she married someone else, she acted as if the hero was her husband, touching him and calling him darling, just to see his response. The hero said that he was not over the woman and she had free reign to his home. Every time he saw her, he was reminded that they would never be together. And as many times as she was suggestive in her requests, the hero never acted on the impulse to the feelings he still had. He felt he would never be over her and so was agreeable to marry, but not for love.
The hero hears the heroine with her friends, talking about him and his quizzing glass and making fun of his stilted attitude. He is prepared to not like her on that alone, until he walks in the room after they do and he gets his first look at the tall, elegant auburn-haired lady. She is strikingly attractive and he has a visceral reaction. He drops the quizzing glass and goes to be introduced to her. He wants to talk to her and learn more about her. It was not just her looks or body, but something in her appealed to his soul. He is surprised at how he feels and since he is seated next to her, he accidentally touches her leg with his and her hand with his and they are both surprised at the level of attraction they have.
When the older lady has a chance, she speaks to her nephew, the hero. She asks about the heroine and states that she is the woman she has picked for her son to marry. The hero is shocked that such a lively woman is going to be stuck with his cousin and when the heroine is approached by the older lady and told the plans., the heroine refuses. The older lady tries to bribe her into marrying her son. The cousin is appalled at his mother's choice. This was an engaging tale that I enjoyed.
I am giving this book 4 stars. Even though I really liked the story, it was a little slow and it was not a comfortable read to me. I felt that the story could have been helped by a deeper character development. I felt that it could have been more descriptive. I liked the characters, but they just didn't quite reach out to me. I recommend reading, but be aware of the lack of depth of the characters.

A house party arranged by Richard's aunt, is really organized to make a match for him and her son. Richard isn't interested. He's still in love with the woman who left him and married someone else. All that changes when he meets Amelia. He doesn't understand why he's drawn to her and these unexpected feelings. One kiss between them leads to another. To complicate the house party, items start missing. Could it be the maid, or is it Richard's cousin? Then a house guest is murdered. It's a guess who done it and a romance combined into one. Well done! Recommended read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book.

The perfect blend of crippling insecurities, stubborn meddling & mystery interwoven romance!
I loved my first foray into a Harrison tale. Full of conflicting romance, infuriatingly misguided - if well meant - meddling, mishaps and misunderstandings, and a dollop of unforseen mystery tinged turns. That took me to places I never expected to go, tangled me up in knots and even had the power to flip and reverse first impressions, to make the repulsively unredeemable tip over the border to likeable... and if that's not a sign of an absorbingly well written read, I don't know what is.
Amelia and Richard's battle of wills and gumption versus stubbornness and fragility, had this ability to draw me in and make me like them. Providing this entertaining maelstrom of mixed emotions that found me screaming at them to be open and honest one minute, almost close to tears the next with how easy it was to identify with their vulnerabilities and fears of rejection, whilst having me smiling and sighing at the tenderness of the romance, happiness and love they were capable of drawing out of each other. Making the believability all the more heartachingly raw. Especially when this spark and rightness radiated so brightly when they were at their most teasingly playful and unguarded. Allowing you to glimpse beneath slipped masks as they glowed with an I can't take my eyes or mind of you stare of fascination and longing, that emitted a charged chemistry of befuddled frustration meets heady attraction that charged the air around them. Providing an enjoyable conflict of mixed signals that bounced from the possibility of love flourishing so vividly between them and the insecurities that resurfaced, crept, lingered and rose to the forefront to erect a wall of self-doubt time and time again.
With a host of intriguing subcharacters, in the straight talking, don't mess with the ones I love, Mrs Leaver, not to mention, many I'm eager to learn more about in devoted friends and wallflowers, Patricia and Isabelle, and dare I even say Claude and Freddie too, who added colour, depth, warmth and stumbling blocks along the way.
All in all creating a wonderfully compelling story that above all else focuses on the healing power of love to conquer crippling insecurities, crumble facades and empower self-worth and esteem, in this well put together, ebb and flow of twists and turns, wit interlaced humour and heartaching vulnerability that has me yawning with the sleep I sacrificed as I just couldn't pull away. Looking forward to the next!

This book has an odd premise - a woman who was almost pecked to death by a horse. Which ... well I had horses for years and while hooves, kicks, barging and nips are indeed occupational hazard, I've never heard of a fatal biting horse attack. Maybe I hung out with a different crowd of horse...

Anyway! Amelia is a fun character and it's a nice read, watching her get her happily ever after. Some of the plotting and pace of this book felt a little uneven but all in all its worth a read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this unique and passionate book. Wallflowers who are spinsters, and a grumpy earl. The story leading upto the main event (not climax) was interesting. The the main climax was not foreseeable for me which made the book even better. There was only one bedroom scene per se. But it was essential to the story. I enjoyed how it ended and the epilogue. Can't wait to see more on this series.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

Persuading the Earl by Audrey Harrison is the story about a matchmaking mama/aunt who got more than she bargained for. Marie held a house party, overburdened by women, with the expressed purpose of finding matches for her son, Claude, and her nephew, Robert. She included young debutantes as well as older women, on the shelf in the eyes of society. She had one earmarked for Claude who was a self-centered, lazy clod, but redeemable. Amelia Beckett was perfect: 26 and on the shelf but spirited, with a mind of her own. She could make something of Claude. Sadly, the moment Robert and Amelia met, that hope was not to be. Mrs. Evans, with her two marriage-aged daughters, as well as Amelia’s chaperone and two friends. It was a congenial party, mostly. Until things started disappearing. Then Claude caught Amelia and Robert kissing and raised the alarm. She was ruined. He left to get a special license. She was distraught. She could not allow anyone to see her legs. Claude eloped, not with a young lady but with one of their mothers: Mrs. Evans. Marie was now bed-ridden. The carriage ride to London was silence between Amelia and Robert.

Robert was cranky. He had every right to be. He had had a miserable father and his life had changed only when Marie entered it. He would never marry. He would not let that propensity for cruelty pass to another generation. Amelia had lost a battle with a horse. The horse used its teeth and she had extensive scarring on her legs. Not only were they unattractive, but they caused her pain and fatigue. Both interesting characters. There was a mystery (murder) involved as well. The plot was not contrived but well thought out. The supporting characters were varied and many, including the woman to whom Robert had been betrothed, Bea. Both Amelia and Robert came into their own in this story. It was fun to read. The mood was subdued but turned joyful and the pacing was good. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Persuading the Duke by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #AudreyHarrison#PersuadingTheEarl

Lord Douglas, Richard Fox, finds himself trying to escape his Aunt’s intentions to find him a suitable bride. Miss Amelia Becket finds herself wishing she could escape the house party, believing it all to be a pretence around suitable numbers. Yet when Amelia and Richard meet, their connection is immediate. Soon they find themselves working together to uncover a crime and fighting their feelings for each other.
An entertaining read, with plenty of twists and turns. Whilst I found Richard, not an easy character to warm to, Amelia was a strong minded, likeable character.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I can only say that this was a great book. The writing was engaging for me as the reader. The plot was intriguing and believable, the story was fast paced with a few quirky turns I didn't see coming and most of the characters are fun and intriguing. The story is romantic and charming. The scenes are so strikingly detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that makes you feel like you are one with the story and with a plot that bring this read together perfectly. I can't wait for the next in the series!

This was the first time I have read a book from this author. It was a slow start and it took awhile for me to get into the book but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely can’t wait for the next in the series.

I can only say that this was a great book. The writing was engaging for me as the reader. Richard and Amelia are beautiful. The house party that both attended certainly was a crazy one. Marie and Claud are the ones that brought the excitement of the entertainment to the guests. The story is a page turner for you. The plot was intriguing and believable. The story moved fast, but that is ok. Most of the characters a fun and intriguing, while the others you hope that they get theirs in the end. The story is romantic and charming. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic start to The Country House Romantic Mystery series. Persuading the Earl will keep you guessing until the very end.

Audrey Harrison has written a story that's filled with characters that weave a story that will hold you spellbound as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you in, the book flowed well from one subject to another without being forced, passion and brimming with suspenseful twist and turns. The scenes are so strikingly detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that makes you feel like you are one with the story and with a plot that bring this read together perfectly. I can't wait for the next in the series!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

When things go wrong, they can go horribly wrong as portrayed in this enjoyable mystery romance. Lord Douglas is severely put out that his beloved aunt has arranged a house party with a gaggle of wallflowers as potential brides to choose from for him and his obnoxious cousin. Having faced a dreadful injury and survived it, Amelia Beckett is quite happy to sit amongst the wallflowers and is therefore surprised that she is invited to the house party. With Lady Marie continuously stirring and scheming to get the young men in her family settled into marriage, she makes rather a mess of things and raises the hackles of everyone concerned. When the plot turns sinister, everyone's motives are exposed and the truth is rather shocking. Fortunately, although there is some sorrow, the novel does come to a lovely conclusion. I received a copy of this standalone and well-written romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Lord Douglas, Richard Fox, has been spurned once, and he is not planning to repeat that painful experience. His meddling aunt, however, is intent on marrying off her wayward son, and if she can achieve the same for her nephew, Richard, then so be it. Miss Amelia Beckett is convinced that she and her friends were invited to this house party to make up the numbers. Richard is disconcerted by Amelia’s spirit and courage, while Amelia is delighted to prick the earl’s disdainful bubble only to find an honourable gentleman underneath. Bound together by a series of scandalous events, Richard and Amelia must uncover a crime whilst navigating a relationship fraught with unspoken fears and hidden passions.
The first book in the series & the first book I’ve read by the author & it certainly won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed it & read it in a sitting. I really liked both Richard & Amelia, the chemistry between them sizzled. The characters had depth & the secondary characters were an odd bunch. The pace was good & never lagged, I loved the mix of romance & mystery. I look forward to the rest of the series
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Persuading the Earl starts of as a house-party extended blind date situation. Our MMC enters the party resenting the fact that most of the candidates are wallflowers and spinsters but of course immediately finds one of them appealing just by first glance. This happens to be our FMC who is scarred (no-where obvious) spinster Amelia.

I didn't love the MMC he was arrogant and dismissive to most people but the chick who left him at the alter. Towards her he was a baby chicken. I liked Amelia, she was strong and I enjoyed the part where she stood up to the ex very much.

All in all enjoyable, just not amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.