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THIS EARL OF MINE – Kate Bateman
The Bow Street Bachelors
St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN: 9781250305954
ISBN: 9781250305961 (Ebook)
October 2019

Regency Romance

London – 1816

 Georgiana Caversteed is not the typical London socialite. She has inherited her father's shipping business and is capably running it and making it even more lucrative. This does, however, make her the target of all the impoverished young bucks in London determined to get their hands on her fortune. Her own cousin, Josiah, a profligate gambler, has his sights set on forcing her into marriage with him, by hook or by crook. To settle it once and for all, and since it's frowned upon for single women to be business owners, Georgie plots a unique solution. She will find a condemned prisoner in Newgate prison, wed him, then, once he's hanged, she will claim widowhood, which makes her independent. What could go wrong?

Benedict Wylde, a veteran of Waterloo and other battles, works for Bow Street and he is undercover in Newgate to find the man who knows about a plot to free Napoleon. He is near to discovering his answer when the man he is questioning dies. A few minutes later, jailors open the door, haul him out and tell him that he and the well-dressed young woman with them is marrying him! Bemused, but unable to do otherwise, Ben agrees to the deal (£500 sent to whomever he chooses, but he must sign a contract forbidding him or his family from touching her fortune) and he and Miss Caversteed are wed. She is none the wiser as to who he is and assumes that what the jailors told her of the prisoner being sent to Australia is true. Bow Street makes sure he is freed the next morning.

Imagine Georgie's surprise to discover that her legal husband is not in Australia, but right across the ballroom at a soiree. So, he's not a criminal, he's the younger brother of an impoverished earl. And he's strikingly handsome. They meet officially, and Georgie reminds him of the contract he signed at their wedding. Ben assures her that he is honorable even though he secretly wants to woo her. Georgie is stunned by her own feelings for this rogue of a husband, and they come to a tentative truce.

 Readers will love this first book in The Bow Street Bachelors series. THIS EARL OF MINE has a unique and well thought out premise, along with realistic characters. I especially enjoyed the humor, particularly the banter between Georgie and Ben as they get to know each other. A dark presence lurks in the background, and Ben's work with Bow Street plays out in an exciting event along the Thames.

Start your autumn off with a delightful tale. THIS EARL OF MINE is fun and entertaining.

Jani Brooks

 
   
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