This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman | ARC Review

Series: Bow Street Bachelors, #1
Tropes & Traits: marriage of convenience; damaged, titled hero; law enforcement, suspense
Publication Date: 10.29.19
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England, 1816
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Rating: 5 stars!

Wealthy shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is desperate to keep her business and fortune in her own hands and away from her dreadful cousin who will merely squander it. To do so, she concocts a plan to marry a condemned Newgate prisoner and then never see him again, maintaining her independence as a widow. She's shocked by her body's reaction the the rogue's kiss, but even more so by the sight of her new husband at a crowded ball.

War-toughened rogue and penniless brother to an earl, Benedict Wylde never anticipated marriage. He was no true prisoner, but working in Newgate undercover for Bow Street. When it becomes apparent that their marriage won't be easily dissolved, Benedict and Georgie determine that the best way to maintain their secret is for him to publicly court her, culminating in an end-of-season wedding, after which they can both go their separate ways. It's a solid plan, but as they spend more time together, attraction ignites between them and their marriage becomes more real than either expected, if only Georgie can trust that a man like Benedict could truly want her and not her money.

Georgie is so used to people only seeing her money and only wanting her company for that reason that she's become obsessed with her fortune. The number of time she mentions the obscenity of said fortune did get a bit annoying, but it was also understandable given how she was surrounded by fortune hunters and a ridiculous mother. Said mother, as well as Georgie's younger sister and her suitor also provided great humor and there were some slippery villains for our main characters to contend with together. What really kept my interest and made me not want to put this book down was the sizzling chemistry and emotional development between Georgie and Benedict. He wound up being an adorably sweet hero with a little PTSD and some surprising self-confidence issues, but despite being in need of money, he truly didn't want Georgie's fortune. I loved that it wound up being her convincing him of his worth rather than the other way around.

This was an original plot and all that burn-up-the-pages chemistry between Georgie and Ben makes this one a keeper. I can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes and I'm looking forward to the next book.

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

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