I started this many times and I really like the narrator. But I found it to silly to emjoy. It felt overly comical and I just didn’t care for it. I will not be leaving a review anywhere but here because I love this author and narrator. I simply did not care for this audiobook.
Thanks, HarperAudio via NetGalley
2.5⭐️

MJW is the GOAT.

If you are wondering if there’s anything Mary Jane Wells can’t do, “Hardly a Gentlemen” proves that answer is No.

Here we have the voice of:
- The young, bright English ingenue
- The creepy bombastic monarch
- The hot Scottish Laird
- The heartless match-obsessed mother
- Even the “accent” that is having a sore throat while ill is perfection.

This is easily the most impressive Historical Romance audiobook production I’ve ever listened to (and I’ve loved this genre on audio for 15+ years).

If she’s reading it, I’m listening to it.

Thank you to HarperAudio for an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I am so glad I got around to reading this one! It's been far too long since I have enjoyed an Eloisa James. It's my own fault as Historical Romance has gotten a bit pushed to the wayside for me lately. But this was surely worth the listen.

I loved the spunky heroine and I felt for her so much when the disgusting monarch kept putting his slimy hands all over her. Her adventure to the Highlands was much needed.

I also enjoyed our hero and his quiet life so much. He is a good, if absent-minded Laird to his people. When our heroine falls into his path, he knows good fortune when he sees it.

This was clever, funny, and well worth the read or listen. Great narration and excellent read!

Clara makes a headstrong decision that ends up with her at a castle in the highlands pretending to be a housekeeper for a Scottish laird. Caelan just wants to spend his days fishing in the loch, that is until a fiery housekeeper shows up and turns his world on its head.
I really enjoyed this book and that Caelan and Clara talked through things, they got each other because they were willing to open up to the other through actions and words. I also loved their banter and the ease with which the couple laughed and interacted.

Story rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 4/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥☄️(0-5) I bump up for public-ish places/outdoor spaces.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Mary Jane Wells is so fun to listen to—she’s brilliant at changing accents and voices for conversations and POV.
🤩 Runaway lady. To a Scottish castle!
🤩 N@ked fishing laird. And then he only has a kilt on. ❤️‍🔥🫠
🤩 I’ve always wanted to live in a castle too!
🤩 So darn cute and lol funny!
🤩 We love a bookish FMC & MMC.
🤩 Those kisses.
🤩 So much desire and chemistry!! And sneaking peeks—fabulous descriptions!
🤩 All my senses are so very piqued.
🤩 Drunk Clara is fabulous!
🤩 The first and second time Clara sees Caelan. “Frankly it will never work.” 🍆💁🏼‍♀️🤣
🤩 Puppies & a special chicken. 🐶🐔
🤩 “There’s my good girl.”
🤩 Slow burn that was so worth it!
🤩 So much dirty talk!

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 I’m not sure I knew going in that it was a widow trope.
💫 Miscommunication that goes on and on. I wish Caelan would have opened up sooner.

This book was an utter delight. A Regency romp set in Scotland with a bookish heroine and an untamed laird for a hero. The premise along with Mary Jane Wells’ excellent narration made this a hilarious read/listen for me and I loved it. Caelan was a surprisingly layered character, and I loved seeing more of him revealed as he grew increasingly comfortable with Clara and showed her more of himself. I really enjoyed Clara’s growth as well as being able to seek the life she wanted for herself. I loved the Scottish setting and the fact that Clara is somewhat of an unconventional heroine and that Caelan is completely mad for her from the start even if it takes him an age to admit it. This has been one of my favorite reads of the month.

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

This was absolutely ridiculous, and I loved every second of it. Clara and Caelan were such a great couple. There was boat loads of chemistry and honest conversation between them. Their relationship was so sweet and easy to be invested in.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio, for the audio ARC!

This book was so fun and the narrator was top notch. She got into each of the characters and their different feelings and tones.
The overall feeling was very lighted hearted and funny. Caelan is exactly what you expect in a manly Scottish MMC, but I enjoyed every second of it. Clara was also very funny and not a typical herione for a historical romance.
I found myself not wanting to turn of this audiobook and looked forward to cleaning so I could listen.

Oh how I do enjoy a historical romance and a Scottish to boot! The narrator was so good at the British and Scottish accents! And it was easy to distinguish between female and male. Mary Jane Wells did a wonderful job!

I really enjoyed this silly fun story! Clara is absolutely and delightfully a damsel in distress! Oh I would never want to have been in her position, what this poor girl had to endure! But Cealan sure did show her what a true man in love would do for her.

There were also so many funny moments that literally made me LOL! Oh man, this was such a fun listen! I hope you go listen too!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
🎣Historial Scottish Romance
💙Hidden Identity
🎣He Falls First
💙Second Chance at love
🎣Forced Marriage
💙Single POV
🎣Open Door

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Hardly a Gentleman is not your typical historical romance. I really need to see Clara’s reticule collection as that sounded delightful. The miscommunication between Clara and Caelen was frustrating at times but it’s hard to put yourself out there so I got it. If he had been up front with her about his feelings for his late wife it would have saved a lot of heartache but the story wouldn’t have been as great.

Mary Jane Wells is one of my favorite narrators and she once again nailed the performance. I’m pretty sure I could listen to her talk about absolutely nothing and be perfectly happy though.

Of course who wouldn’t love the start? A naked Laird fishing in the Loch! And a beautiful maiden, undercover as the new housekeeper. Except she can’t hide her upbringing and has decided since her mother has sent her away in disgrace she will make her fantasy come true. Live in a castle and read to her hearts content, but preferably her own castle. When she enters the Laird’s castle she is appalled at the state of total filth and disarray, definitely a challenge. Since she is stuck there for a few days till her transportation returns she starts to scrub and makes Caelan help….it is his castle after all.
Caelan sees the maid acting innocent but still peeking through her fingers at his naked body. He hates getting his kilt wet. When she states she is Mrs. Potts his new housekeeper he finds that hard to believe. He also is rethinking his vow to never remarry once he gets to know his bookish housekeeper. When out of the blue he proposes and she says no, it becomes a challenge to win her heart.
I just love the humor and banter between the characters. The narrator did such an amazing job between the Scottish brogue and English accent. I actually preferred listening to the audiobook over reading. Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I truly enjoyed reading and listening to this wonderful book. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

I was nervous about this book at first because the audiobook narrators Scottish accent was atrocious. But, as the story moved forward, I quickly got over that. This book is whimsical, fun, and deliciously spicy. The FMC was a lovable bookworm, and the MMC was clearly smitten with her from the start. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an easy read with sexy Scottish lairds, castles, adventurous women, and witty banter.

⭐️: 4
🌶: 4

The writing was fine. everything about it was kind of mid but the voice actor. oh my God. this fucking narrator blew it out of the park. I fucking thought that she was Caelan cuz like damn! And the accents?!? the range?!?!? good Lord I want to see more of this narrator Mary Jane.
I had to listen to this book a little slower because there are so many accents but they hit it out of the park.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for providing access to "Hardly a Gentleman," a novel by Eloisa James and narrated by the incomparable Mary Jane Wells.

I jumped at the chance to listen early because I’ve enjoyed several of Eloisa James’ books, and Mary Jane Wells is one of my all-time favorite narrators. I would’ve finished this in two days if that pesky thing called work hadn’t gotten in the way, but I zipped through it in three.

Mary Jane Wells doesn’t just narrate; she performs. Her work brings stories to life, and "Hardly a Gentleman" was no exception. Her talent makes the words shimmer and bounce. She’s the reason I’ve discovered many new authors—if she’s the narrator, I’m in. I did have a bit of trouble with the Scottish accent at first, but my ears adjusted quickly.

The story itself was a lot of fun. One highlight for me was the author's note at the end, where James explains why she wrote about hygiene the way she did. Like many readers, I often wonder about that when I’m knee-deep in historical fiction or watching yet another Jane Austen adaptation. I’m all for escaping into the past, but I wouldn’t trade modern plumbing or medicine for anything—antibiotics and vaccines for the win.

The hero and heroine were delightfully over the top, and the supporting characters—Caelan’s sister, nephew, mother-in-law, and more—made the story especially rich. I don’t love romances where it’s just the two leads in a vacuum. This book had a full, warm world of people who genuinely care about the laird and lass, and that was a joy to experience.

I also really enjoyed the epilogue. To me, epilogues are like frosting on a cake—delicious and expected.

Caelan’s “big secret” dragged out a bit longer than I would’ve liked, with lots of teasing and not enough clues. And Clara frustrated me at times when she shut down emotionally just as Caelan was starting to open up—but alas, conflict is the road to a satisfying HEA.

One of the reasons I keep coming back to Eloisa James is her gift for blending humor, heart, and history. I’m not interested in damsels in distress, mysteries, or suspense—I want engaging characters, clever dialogue, and a good time. And if you’re looking for spice, this one has it—equal parts funny and frank.

Eloisa James and Tessa Dare are my go-to authors for historical romance with a sense of humor. Lucky for me, James is wonderfully prolific!

Goodness Mary Jane Well's does it again with a fantastic narration. I adore her voices for her characters, especially the MMC Caelan. Her mastery of accents is phenomenal. And she really brought out the hilarity of Eloisa James's writing! It was also a great narration for listening at varying speeds for the readers who listen at 1x and those who listen at or above 2.5x!

There were so many times I laughed out loud during this book. I loved Clara's character from her animal inspired reticules to taking her future into her own hands in a coaching yard in by assuming the identity of a housekeeper. How Caelen fell first and kept asking for her hand. The whole idea that he was like 'you want a castle and books and I have a castle and books' and Clara is like pass. Until she could not pass any longer. I enjoyed Caelen's slight cluelessness on how to win Clara's heart & how his widower past effected him in ways that he did not foresee.

We've got a hidden identity trope (well Clara's attempt at it...), the elements of forced proximity that only a small town can provide as well as a forced union to avoid scandal.

This was a fun romp of a book. In hardly a gentleman we get Clara, who is best friends with Tori who is on the first book (Viscount in love). Clara is in her third or fourth season but without any luck finding a man because the Prince of England (despite being married) keeps making obscene comments about her and being totally inappropriate. The time comes when Clara has had enough and she hits him with her reticule (omg, the scandal!). Her mom decides that best course of action is to send Clara to Scotland so that hopefully the rumors will soon die down.
On her way to Scotland, Clara decides to take ownership of her live and take an adventure and pose as a housekeeper for a castle. For romance reasons she ends up at Caelan's castle who is in pretty bad shape since he has been a widow for the last 2 years. These two have so much chemistry right away and Caelan quickly discovers that Clara is not housekeeper (not when half of your luggage is fill with books!). Caelan slowly shows Clara that she is awesome as she is and doesn't need to change a thing.
These two were meant to be together and I loved how Clara found a new family that accepted her and loved her the way she is (books and all!)
I listen to the audio and Scottish accents are a little hard for me but still a fun experience.

This was an enjoyable book and very fitting for the historical romance category. Clara insults the prince after she's gropped by him. Due to this, her mother choses to ship her to the Highlands. However, upon arriving there, Clara decides to pretend to be a housekeeper to make her own future.

This story was paced well and I found myself laughing out loud while listening. The narrator does a good job of adapting her voice for all the different characters. Her accents are a touch off-putting at first, but I thoroughly enjoyed her narration. By the end of the book, I don't think I could have imagined a different narrator.

Clara is so sweet and honest that its impossible not to like her. I identified with her love for novels and desire to be able to support herself. It was lovely to see Caelan's character progression throughout the novel. He stayed true to himself, while allowing happiness back into his life. Alfie's appearances were my favorite. He was exactly the lighthearted character the novel needed.

While this isnt my favorite Eloisa James novel, it was very good. I found the plot to be predicatable, but James' writing made it enjoyable to see where the story went.

A solid, historical romance with a burly Scottish widow and an independent English woman. When Clara’s 4th season is sullied after an unfortunate incident at a party, she sets off on an adventure by impersonating a housemaid who never showed for her new job. Caelan begins an adventure of his own when a proper English woman shows up at his door. While I enjoy a forced marriage trope story, I found Clara and Caelan’s story VERY rushed. Kissing within 2 days, him proposing marriage immediately after, etc. I also found the language used in the spicy scenes a bit cringeworthy and unnecessarily vulgar.

Overall I found the audiobook to be an easy listen. The narration was excellent. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!

Eloisa James always delivers and Hardly a Gentleman is no exception! It's safe to say any book where the heroine wants to run away and fill a castle with books is going to be a win for me. I in fact am tempted to follow in her footsteps but unfortunately do not have castle money lying around.

Clara is such a fun heroine with her love of stories and romantic ideals. Calean pretty much adores her immediately and it was really fun to read about! I always love a story that matches the characters. Clara wanted a dramatic love story and she got one. She also got a family which is something I don't think she even knew to hope for but very much deserved.

If you like historical romance and aren't already obsessed with Eloisa James why? However take this as your sign to start now! I really enjoyed the first book in this series as well but this one could undoubtable be read as a standalone.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and loved it! Mary Jane Wells did the narration and she is one of my favorite audiobook narrators of all time. If you listen to historical romance audiobooks you are likely familiar with her work.

Naked fishing? Not something I had considered before, but hey, it was a fairly entertaining plot point! This was the perfect historical romcom, and I absolutely loved Clara and Caelan’s chemistry. Although the book is historical romance, it felt fresh and modern.

Read if you like: Impulsive heroines who like dorky crafts, Jamie Fraser (though this Scottish hottie has much less baggage),

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing me with a copy of the book.