This is the third installment of the series, The Country House Romantic Mysteries. Isabelle possesses a unique beauty, not quite fitting in with the norms and expectations of the ton. But when Henry makes her acquaintance, he is utterly captivated by her beauty, both inner and outer. He is determined to convince her that her beauty is unparalleled, despite the cruel treatment and judgment of the ton. A mystery brings them closer together when someone is murdered at an event he is hosting and he turns to Isabelle for assistance. But Isabelle still hasn't let go of her insecurities and Henry's past catches up with him, which creates some obstacles for them to overcome.
A beautiful story showcasing that beauty is more than skin deep and a person's heart and inner strength and compassion is where the true beauty lies. The story had the perfect combination of intrigue, mystery, and romance. The characters were well-crafted and endearing and I enjoyed following their story. A very delightful addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

One delightful read of a heroine with insecurities. The hero has some too. A bit unusual for a historical romance novel, but I like it. They both struggle with their own problems and yet kept being attracted to one another. A good read, and a refreshing one at that. The mystery behind made the story more appealing.

Verbal and physical abuse are a central part of the story. A house party at Gosforth House, includes the excitement of the launch of a balloon. Lord Henry Gosforth has much on his shoulders and worries about his young brother's latest obsession with balloons. Isabelle's grandfather, Mr.Carrington, was close friends with the grandfather of Henry, his sister Ruth and brother Sydney. The disappearance of their mother and the abuse they all suffered by the old Earl brings painful memories and questions. It's all reenforced by one of the guest who abuses his young wife. Unexpectedly he dies. It wasn't natural causes. In the middle of all this chaos is the budding romance between Isabelle and Henry. Verbal abuse has taken away any self-confidence she may have had. Henry sees the real Isabelle and wants her to see herself through his eyes. Kisses only.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I LOVED this book! I love historical romances where the heroine knows she's hot, but oh, boy are books like this one infinitely more relatable and lovely. I settled into this book like a warm dressing gown, and felt equally as cosy reading it. What a delight!

A new author for me and someone to look out for in future. Audrey Harrison has written a romance with depth and sensitivity that kept me engaged till the end. Isabelle Carrington, the only daughter of her mother, is a disappointment to her as she is very plump. Her grandfather loves her dearly and makes up for her mother's harsh treatment. Added to this, everyone around Isabelle feels that if she curtailed her appetite, she would lose weight and be more acceptable by society. This leads to Isabelle’s withdrawn and wallflower-like personality.

Henry, the Earl of Gosford with his siblings, Ruth, and Sidney, were abused by their father - physically and emotionally. Their mother, after a particularly severe beating, is saved by her father, who was unable to take his grandchildren away as well. Now adults, they are riddled with insecurities and continue to be affected by it.

Isabelle and Henry meet at the house party hosted by Henry’s sister Ruth at the Earl’s home. Both Ruth and Mr Carrington, Isabelle’s grandfather, see a potential match between Henry and Isabelle. The house party is also hosting the demonstration of the launch of the hot air balloon venture that Sidney has been involved with, along with Mr Daniels’ and another partner.

While at the house party, Isabelle overhears Mrs Daniels’ husband verbally abusing her, which sparks a new determination in her to stand up and confront Mr Daniels’ with his poor behaviour. Gaining confidence, Isabelle continues to stand up for herself when bullied by her cousin, Eliza, also there at the party.

While at the launch party, Mr Daniels is murdered. Henry is tasked with trying to solve the mystery, acting as magistrate in the interim.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend it wholeheartedly. I was invited to read Captivating the Earl by Dragonblade Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #AudreyHarrison #CaptivatingTheEarl

Captivating the Earl by Audrey Harrison is the compelling story of a family who lived with abuse; abuse so bad that their mother’s family had taken her from the home, beaten and bruised, but had not been allowed to take their grandchildren, instead, leaving them to suffer with their father. It was not only physical abuse but emotional, as well, as he held firm to the story that he had not fathered his second son. That left Sidney adrift and Henry, the Earl of Gosford, overly indulgent as he knew how much his brother had been hurt. He was determined not to continue down this pathway, and indeed, the house party his sister was planning would be Sidney’s last as an irresponsible youth. He had been indulged long enough. The focus of the party was to allow Sidney and his partners to showcase their work with hot air balloons. For Ruth, their sister, the main goal was to find Henry a wife. He had thus far avoided such an entanglement based on his fear that he would turn into his father. Isabelle Carrington was was a spinster: five and twenty and fat. She knew it. The world knew it. Her grandfather indulged her and it was within this framework she appeared at the Gosford house party. She was enthralled with the idea of the balloon and hoped to be able to obtain a ride.

Henry, Earl of Gosford was a patient man who loved his siblings and missed his mother. He was sad she had not disappeared when their father had died, as it was he she ran from. He was respected by all, including his servants, and was an excellent steward of the holdings he’d been left. Isabelle was a kind and generous soul, who tired of people telling her that she would be more slender if she would just stop eating. She was always available to assist and had recently acquired a taste for standing up for herself. It was a heady feeling. She stood up for others as well, and she like that just as much. She rarely spoke negatively of anyone. She was a truly generous character. Both of these people were written using the writer’s heart as much as her talent. It was a good story, including a bit of a mystery, with plenty of interesting things happening, as would at any good house party. Harrison has caught the essence of love in this very pleasant romance. Thank you!

I was invited to read Captivating the Earl by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #AudreyHarrison #CaptivatingTheEarl

A fun & touching spot of escapism!

A breaking down walls, confidence boosting, romance with a dash of engaging mystery! What's not to like?
Haunting demons that hold them back. Both entirely riddled with self doubt. One damaged and living in fear he'll turn into his abusive, manipulative father. While, the second so heartachingly believes the negative body shaming and ridiculing setdowns cast her way and can't possibly believe anyone would find her attractive. Yet, a chance encounter awakens a new perspective and slowly lights a match to gently ignite a slow burn romance with the promise of so much more. With a mystery entangled up in their fates and haunting detrimental visceral to overcome, can the attraction, that so quietly smoulders and pulls them so delightfully together, ever truly be ignited? I had loads of fun finding out!
I've been really enjoying this series, though the chemistry between these two wasn't as dazzlingly impacting as book 1 and 2, I thoroughly enjoyed and longed for their moments of interaction as they attempted to decipher hopeful signals, protect themselves and wearily accept they are perfect for each other.
Henry and Isabelle - and the array of intriguing subcharacters - really pulled me into the plot and added a layer of colour to the rising drama, suspense and heartaching vulnerabilities and uncertainties. I Really wanted to champion and cheer the chinks they achieved in depleting the armoured shields they erected. A wonderful addition to a fabulously engaging series....looking forward to the next!

A very interesting story, and I encourage everyone to read it. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Bravo Audrey Harrison for tackling two subjects that most don't want to talk about or acknowledge.
The main focus of this story is the romance between Henry and Isabelle, and the body shaming that Isabelle is subjected to her entire life, especially by the people who should have loved and encouraged her. Isabelle had heard derogatory comments about her body her entire life, many of the comments were extremely cruel.
Personally I felt Audrey Harrison also tackled the issue of physical abuse. Henry, Ruth, and Sidney were greatly impacted from childhood into adults by the abuse and cruelty they experienced at the hands of their father. We do not read of the actual abuse these three suffered by their father, just how it has impacted their childhood and especially their lives as adults.
There is a wonderful HEA to this romantic story for Henry and Isabella, as well as some closure for Henry, Ruth, and Sidney.
I received an ARC of this story.

"Captivating the Earl" did not, unfortunately, captivate me. The writing felt clunkier than Harrison's previous books in this series, and it felt like there was almost too much going on, between the maybe murder mystery, missing mother, cruel cousin, and instalove romance. The closed door love scene felt. like a throwaway (though the morning after scene was the best in the book) and the runaway hot air balloon felt contrived. The FMC seemed all too willing to only see herself through the lenses of others, including the MMC. I could not connect with the MMC as his worries seemed far-fetched and unnecessary. And Harrison just couldn't let the idea of a fat heroine go - even into the epilogue, people were still surprised that the FMC landed a decent looking man because look at her! Not my cup of tea,

2 stars, Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

She's plump and he's afraid of turning into his father...

Henry is a kind man with a real fear of turning into a tyrant like his father. He overindulges his youinger brother (who he is basically raising) and avoids marriage.

Isabelle is plump with plenty of ample curves and all the hurts that go along with being large. She does however, stand up to bulies when a man is hitting his wife at Henry's house party.

There's a hot air baloon, a death and a sweet unexpected romance between the perfectly matched Henry and Isabelle.
Recommend.

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book. Our heroine is a bigger lady. She has suffered from the way her mother has treated her about her weight. She's heard the snarky comments from the ton so when the hero finds her attractive and enjoys her company she diesn't really believe it. Her grandfather is keen for Isabelle to get a husband who loves her. Henry's sister Ruth think they will make a great match so with the grandfather has organised that Isabelle turns up at the house party. There's other stories about Henry's brother and his desire to go ballooning, Isabelle's cousin's horrible attitudes and then the death of the balloon sponser, Mr Daniels. The moral seems to be, even though a person is a victim of abuse, it doesn't make them all sweetness and light. Good series.

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

Isabelle Carrington bears the weight of society’s harshest judgments, her ample curves and gentle nature make her a target of ridicule in a world obsessed with superficial beauty. But when Henry, Lord Gosforth, crosses paths with this resilient young woman, his heart is captivated by her beauty, inside and out. Henry, a man of privilege and position, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Isabelle’s warmth and intelligence. Determined to breach the walls society has built around her, he embarks on a journey to prove that true love knows no boundaries. When a man dies in full view of his guests attending a hot air balloon demonstration, Henry is forced to investigate, and it is Isabelle he turns to for assistance.
The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I liked both Henry & Isabelle but didn’t love them no matter how hard I tried. Isabelle’s self esteem & self worth were at rock bottom & she found it hard to believe Henry could be attracted to her especially as overhearing him. Henry is attracted to Isabelle & gradually falls for her as he sees her true self. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery & how Isabelle came into her own. An interesting & enjoyable book
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The 3rd book in the series deals alot with self image. For girls, if they are shamed by their plus size as young girls it carries through their lives impacting relationships in all aspects. Bravo to this author who has written a book that addresses this topic and includes others with the foresight to see past the expectations, into the true person inside. Well written, moves at a reasonable pace and includes enough growth for all characters to find a hea.

Historical Romances take me away on a trip. You get to follow the couple's romance and it's beautiful. I loved this book, it was so good. I love books with titled heroes. I will be reading more from this author.

I requested this book from the Dragonblade catalog despite it being the third in a series. I didn't know anything about it, but I liked the cover art and description. Captivating the Earl didn't live up to its title and I was left thoroughly uncaptivated. The heroine was angry at the hero for taking an interest in her. I can understand a character experiencing self doubt, but this was ridiculous. Isabelle kept staving off Henry's attention throughout the entire novel. What's the point of writing a romance novel if a character denies every attempt of romance?

The writing in Captivating the Earl was also overwhelmingly juvenile. It felt like I was rereading the Gossip Girl books back in middle school. There was no logic to Isabelle's actions and she was constantly whining over her situation. In the end the romance was closed door, which some authors do prefer. I like to live vicariously through my books and read the romance I'm currently not experiencing. Captivating the Earl was a severe disappointment and I'll require several more attempts to become somewhat captivated.

When I saw the cover, and then the title, it was a no-brainer for me. Instant gratification for my regenca romance addiction. I devoured this story, enjoying every second of the experience, sighing with satisfaction as I turned the final page.

Somewhat melodramatic. I found the heroine engaging, but the hero a little stiff. The villain was way over the top. Suspension of belief just left after that.

Isabelle's character, as a plus-size queen, adds a refreshing layer to the narrative. However, she grapples with self-acceptance and the opinions of those who seek to bring her down. It would have been satisfying to see her embrace her uniqueness more fully and not be swayed by external judgments. Nevertheless, her relationships with friends and godfather bring a heartwarming element to the story, showcasing the importance of her chosen family.

The central mystery is a standout feature, surprising and engaging readers throughout the narrative. The blend of intrigue and the unfolding of the mystery kept me hooked, making it a satisfying aspect of the book. The ending, which brought resolution to the mystery, left me content and intrigued about the possibilities for future installments in the series.

While the overall tone is positive, there's room for improvement in Isabelle's self-esteem and trust in those close to her. A stronger emphasis on her self-empowerment would enhance the narrative's impact.

In conclusion, this book is a charming addition to the series, introducing readers to a plus-size queen with a captivating personality and an intriguing mystery to solve. Isabelle's relationships and the well-executed mystery make this a worthwhile read. As I eagerly await the next installment, I'm motivated to explore the previous books in the series to fully immerse myself in this enchanting world crafted by the author.

With romance, suspense, and a mystery to be solved, this novel hits out at a common problem that is just as prevalent today as it was two hundred years ago. The harsh words we hear growing up influence one's outlook on life and when they are reinforced into adulthood, it is hard to break the pattern of negative thought patterns. Invited to a house party, Isabelle's initial interaction with Lord Gosforth does not go well, and although Henry is acutely embarrassed that she has overheard his careless words, he is nevertheless taken with her and her courage in rebuking him. He is further surprised when he sees her taking charge in an awkward situation and although he has vowed never to marry, he nevertheless feels protective towards her. However, when the unexpected happens during a demonstration of a hot air balloon, it is Isabelle whom Henry turns to as he recognizes in her a woman of intelligence and perceptiveness. Whilst Isabelle is struggling with her own family members, Henry's family also has skeletons that need to be aired and the truth when it is exposed astounds them all. It is when Isabelle's life is threatened that Henry finally realizes that he has to leave his past behind and embrace the future with her. The novel is a standalone and comes to a sweet conclusion. I received a copy of this romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Isabelle has been emotionally abused by her mother for her natural body and curves so she has lost all confidence in herself. Henry was physically and emotionally abused by his father so he is withdrawn with walls built to protect himself from others.
As they meet and interact, they have much in common but their baggage keeps them apart.
An unusual happening draws them together and communication improves with sweet kisses.
A lovely romance with a happy and fun ending.