I loved this bodice ripper story about an adventurous Lady and a good hearted Laird. The author did a great job challenging novels of the time while writing an empowering romance for modern times.
I loved the narrators for this story. They fit the characters perfectly and brought the story to life.

Scotland, 1803. Clara Vetry (the Honorable Clara Vetry, in fact) needs to leave London, and badly. Prinny, heir to the throne of England, has marked her as a favorite of his. Clara reacts impulsively to an untoward advance, hitting him, and perhaps making her mother shrink in horror. So, she's off to Scotland to live with an aunt she's never met. But another impulsive moment has her on a different coach instead, heading to a castle where there's a young laird in need of a housekeeper. It's extremely clear to the widower Caelan MacCrae that Clara is a lady and not a housekeeper, but her company delights him and he's in need of delighting, and in more desperate need of a woman in his house again than he knew.

A delight to read, this book had me laughing almost from start to finish. I haven't read as many of Eloisa James's newer books (I've read many of her older books though) and I love seeing how she takes her keen eye to character-building and applies humor that works well for a 2025 reader.

When a book has a widowed main character, I often prefer a book where the deceased spouse was loved. Caelan loved his late wife, though the relationship was far more complex than most people understood. It's very easy for Clara to spend intimate moments wondering about comparison. Additionally, the attention Clara has had from Prinny is understandably woven into her reactions to sex and intimacy, but her resilience and interest in Caelan make her embrace her passions rather than shrink.

I particularly liked the author's note from Eloisa James, who approached this novel through the lens of the literature her main characters may have been reading at the time. She imagines Clara and Isla reading similar books of beleaguered heroines and having the opposite effect on them as women, from climbing trees and being adventurous to the rigidly chaste and prudish. I enjoyed reflecting on that dichotomy.

I did not read the first book in the series - I'm waiting for my library hold months later still - and did not find this romance lacking. You can safely start here.

Mary Jane Wells is the perfect narrator for this - her Scottish accents are impeccable, and she brings the humor and romance to Eloisa James's writing.

4.5 Stars Hardly a Gentleman is the perfect historical romance for anyone who loves a Scottish MMC, a brave and feisty FMC, and cheers for the anti-heroes.

After a disastrous end to her Season, with no marriage proposal in sight, the Honorable Miss Clara Vetry boards a carriage bound for Scotland. Since her mother only sees her as a disappointment and she's running from scandal, she might as well become a housekeeper in a Scottish castle. Laird Caelan MacCrae sees no need to marry, despite his sister and his late wife's mother insisting that he still needs an heir. But when he sees his new housekeeper--who surely can't really be a housekeeper with how little she knows how to do--Caelan changes his mind and does everything he can to win Clara's hand. Except, Clara refuses, again and again. When her true identity is revealed and the two must marry to save her reputation, Caelan realizes he must convince his new wife that his feelings are true and try to win over her heart.

Caelan and Clara are a perfect match! Both introverted, well-read thinkers who enjoy solving problems and getting down to work. They prefer the realistic and comfortable to the fantasy and beautiful. Their chemistry leaps off the page and they form a friendship right from the start. It's easy for both Caelan and the reader to see how they fit together so well. Though this book has a few small references to the previous book in the Accidental Brides series, it can be easily read as a standalone. I really feel like I've never read a historical romance quite like this one and really enjoyed it!

Clara is a walking scandal after hitting the prince with her reticule. On her way to Scotland to stay with her aunt, she hitches a ride with another carriage who’s there to pick up a new housekeeper. She’s clearly not a housekeeper and an even worse fake housekeeper, but she’s befriended the driver and she’s on her way. Caelan is the widowed laird who has basically let his estate go to rot because he’s completely apathetic and rustic. But the whole town thinks that he’s heartbroken over the loss of his wife and he doesn’t even have the interest to correct them. When Clara shows up as the new housekeeper, he knows she’s really a lady, but he’s instantly attracted to her and eventually decides he wants to keep her. I loved how delightfully messy these two people are and how they’re able to be fairly direct and honest with each other. It was a lot of fun to read their romance develop and get to know that meddlesome town Caelan oversees.

This was a delightful read. I enjoyed Eloisa James's most recent book, which was full of hijinks and passion. The narrators did a great job with pacing and demonstrating the chemistry between the MCs. I can't resist a Scottish brogue.

Mary Jane Wells delivers a stellar performance in this delightfully wacky historical romance by Eloisa James. Hardly a Gentleman is full of humor, heart, spice and chaos.

Caelan and Clara are refreshingly non-traditional leads, and their quirky chemistry is what makes this story sparkle. Their meet-cute had me grinning, and the witty banter throughout is fab. Bonus points for Caelan’s nephew—and his pet chicken Wilhelmina—who completely stole every scene they were in.

I actually went back and listened to the first book in the series after this one, and while that was enjoyable, Hardly a Gentleman easily tops it for me. My only complaint? A little too much of the "everything could be resolved with one honest conversation" trope. But honestly, the humor and charm more than make up for it.

A fun listen with lovable oddballs and sharp dialogue—can’t wait to dive into the next installment.

Clara needs to get away from a scandal that was completely not her fault and in Scotland Caelan happens to need a housekeeper. Problem is Clara knows nothing about housekeeping and can’t imagine the kind of mess in store for her. Also Caelan’s family keeps pushing him to marry and give up his solitude and he doesn’t really want that. This was such a delightful story with the perfect combination of being narrated by Mary Jane Wells.

Clara is such a kind and utterly sweet character and I loved reading about her. Her playfulness with Caelan was so easy and believable. I loved how Mary Jane Wells voiced her. You could just hear her personality through every laugh and sigh. Clara is sweet and naive about things but she is not dumb and Caelan very much commands the room but he as a character was straightforward, practical and kind. I loved them together. The banter is fun. The found family is amazing.

I think some things could have been cleared up quicker with communication but it didn’t really come to play till the last act so it was not a problem you kept expecting to fall on your head. It didn't ruin the overall enjoyment of their love story. The Accidental Bride series so far have been so good and I'm excited for the next one.

Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult|HarperAudio for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.