I received an ARC from NetGalley and I'm willingly leaving a review
I noted the bad language in the first book; it comes back again with a revenge, except that sometimes it is funny and I noticed the author talks like that in real life too (see acknowledgments). For the time, I'm really surprised that everyone, including the ladies, are open to discuss anatomy and use the correct nouns. I think the author missed an opportunity of future trouble when Constance dropped one of her lists at a house party. Funnily enough, Oliver seems to have OCD and Constance, ADHD and maybe ASD. I applaud Oliver's schedule and way of life; it was certainly not easy (but so funny!) when the ladies turned his life upside-down. I loved how Hattie met Lord Bixby. Sometimes I felt like everyone was running around in circles and it made for a lot of adventures. Author's note worth reading.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Forever.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A less than straight-laced lady finds herself helping her aristocrat friend disrupt her upcoming nuptials. What follows is a set of antics as the rather earl who ends up more than he chosen. His quiet world is turned upside down as the two collide. What follows is a sweet tale of love between them.

The initial setup included too many antics for me, although I loved the ADHD rep of the heroine. Most of Constance’s ideas would only irritate Oliver and not make him not marry Athena. Once past the flimsy premise and finally on to some character development and page time together, things picked up. If you’re starting to feel bored, give it to %25 before you give up. Oliver is smart and endearing and a perfect match for Constance and her chaotic mind.

I always love a unique pairing and this fits that bill perfectly! I enjoyed the different ways that Connie worked to try and get Oliver to revoke his offer of marriage to her best friend. The kitten scene was probably one of my favorites!

As in all Bennett's books I found myself cheering for the characters and getting their HEA even though I couldn't see how it was going to happen all the time!


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy

I have read Bethany Bennett before and enjoyed her take on Regency romance.

Tied to a betrothal agreement since birth, the Earl of Southwyn has lived a regimented life to keep from falling into the excesses of his father.
Constance is not constant - as her thoughts can go 100 miles per minute.

Each is the balance they've been needing but didn’t know they wanted.

Steamy and liked how she was the experienced one and wasn’t ashamed of it.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars!

We are back in Bethany Bennett’s Bluestocking Booksellers universe with book 2, My Best Friend’s Earl. This time, it is the lovely, lively Constance Martin’s time to find love. The crazy twist? She is recruited to be the matchbreaker of her best friend’s engagement with the Earl of Southwyn, Oliver Vincent.

Constance’s best friend, Althea, wants nothing to do with the man her father wants her to marry. Originally, Oliver was contracted to marry Althea’s older sister, Dorcus. When Dorcus eloped, her fiancé was passed down to Aletha. Neither sister had anything bad to say about Oliver, but he was more of a brother figure than a husband. Oliver wants to go through with the marriage to get back a piece of land with a river that his father had sold to Aletha’s father. That piece of land was important to Oliver who wanted to develop a canal and create new revenue for his estate. Then Constance Martin comes into his life and turns everything in his life upside down.

While Constance’s first inclination is to make Oliver’s life so miserable as Aletha’s fiancé, she actually learns how easy it would be to love him. Step one is to pass off a street cat to him because Aletha wants a lot of cats once married. When Oliver ultimately asks Constance for help, it is her first step to falling in love.

Constance is an interesting character for the time period. She had left a groom at the alter and had a few other relationships, yet she never saw herself getting married. Her parents were contemplating moving away for their retirement, but don’t think Constance would be able to handle the responsibility of the store on her own or with her cousin, Hattie. While some might see Constance as flighty and forgetful, I believe she is a woman with her own human weaknesses. Technically, Constance’s strength as a matchbreaker brings her the greatest joy, the love of Oliver. While Oliver is stuck between marrying Aletha to ultimately help his tenants or following his heart to Constance, he is smart and incredibly endearing.

I loved every step that Oliver and Constance took to secure their future together. There were times I had grave concerns on how Bennett would give us a happy ending, but she pulled all the twists and turns together and got us there. I can’t wait for more stories from this universe!

I received My Best Friend's Earl for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4/5

The latest from historical romance talent Bethany Bennett sees a spirited bookseller attempt anything to get a close friend's fiance to call off their wedding—even forcing him to care for a feral cat, ruining his particular fashions, and unexpectedly having him fall for her instead. Unconventional pairings are the real treat in Bennett’s Bluestocking Booksellers series. Constrained by his duty and his commitment to so called logic, Oliver, the Earl of Southwyn meets his match in Constance Martin, bookish, untitled, and caring not a whit for the rules that have governed his life and most of polite society. These competing personalities are more compatible than these two ever thought, and seeing these two fight feelings with mild degrees of success is half the fun with this one. Reading Constance’s matchbreaking plan in action was an entertaining beginning to this story as it quickly spirals out of control and Bennett builds to their romance. Bennett has a handle on her setups and My Best Friends Earl is the funniest one to date. Wickedly sexy and delightfully entertaining, My Best Friends Earl is the historical romance for every book lover out there and anyone who has ever felt like too much.

Constance “Connie” Martin is the youngest daughter of a bookshop owner. She does not mind the reputation she has earned for jilting her fiancé at the altar. When a friend comes to her shop and asks for a matchbreaker, Connie decides to help. She devises plots to make the stuffy, straightlaced earl to end the engagement. Connie never anticipated in falling for the man herself. Will Connie succeed? Or will this endeavor end in heartbreak?

Oliver Vincent, the Earl of Southwyn, prefers a staid and orderly life. He intends to honor the betrothal agreement his late father made with their neighbor. Unfortunately, his fiancé does not feel the same. Oliver knows the wedding must take place; however, he becomes distracted by her vivacious, chaotic friend. The woman is his complete opposite. Will Oliver allow Connie to disrupt his life? Or will the wedding continue as planned?

In GOOD DUKE GONE WILD, I knew that Connie would be a good match-up for Oliver. Their separate nature benefits the other. Connie’s impulses disrupt Oliver’s organized existence, while his staidness acts as a grounding for her chaotic thoughts. What I like the most is that Connie has ADHD, before it was widely known as in today’s era. The author does a great job of showing the trials that she faces on a day-to-day basis.

Oliver pleasantly surprised me! I do not read many romances where the man is the virgin. It is a nice (and refreshing) change of pace from the usual “experienced” male lead. I also admire his reasons for abstaining. Very noble. What I love the most about Oliver is how he could tell when Connie’s cheerful facade was faked. He hated it, but he never called her out on it.

Series: Yes, it is the second book in Bethany Bennett’s historical romance series, BLUESTOCKING BOOKSELLERS. The story can standalone. There are no on-going problems or controversy that spill over from the first book. Dorian and Caro, the couple from GOOD DUKE GONE WILD, do play helpful, supporting roles in this story.

I have a suspicion that the next book will center around Hattie and Lord Bixby. Perhaps it is my wishful thinking after their interaction near the end of the book. If so, then I eagerly await the next installment. If not, then I hope the author will consider writing a series about the intriguing man and his quest to find suitable partners for his sisters. I would definitely read it!

Oliver and Constance have been thrown together due to a relationship of their closest friends. They have had interactions with each other that seem contentious at times. Everything changes when they start to truly notice each other. Connie ran away from the alter and Oliver is already engaged but their attraction is more powerful. As they work to help friends and each other they find their happiness.

I am a bit on the fence with this one. While I largely enjoyed the characters, particularly Constance and her chaotic mind, the hero and heroine sometimes devolved into crass conversations, especially during "romantic" moments.

Still a quick, fun read.

This scratched the historical romance itch and had me wishing for more. The writing was engaging and I loved the hero!