Review & Tour ~ This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman

This Earl of Mine

 by

Kate Bateman

Summary:

Introducing the Bow Street Bachelors—men who work undercover for London’s first official police force—and the women they serve to protect. . .and wed?

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is done with men who covet her purse more than her person. Even worse than the ton’s lecherous fortune hunters, however, is the cruel cousin determined to force Georgie into marriage. If only she could find a way to be . . . widowed? Georgie hatches a madcap scheme to wed a condemned criminal before he’s set to be executed. All she has to do is find an eligible bachelor in prison to marry her, and she’ll be free. What could possibly go wrong?

Benedict William Henry Wylde, scapegrace second son of the late Earl of Morcott and well-known rake, is in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. Georgie doesn’t realize who he is when she marries him—and she most certainly never expects to bump into her very-much-alive, and very handsome, husband of convenience at a society gathering weeks later. Soon Wylde finds himself courting his own wife, hoping to win her heart since he already has her hand. But how can this seductive rogue convince brazen, beautiful Georgie that he wants to be together…until actual death do they part?

I give this 5 Teacups, you will need some big cups of steamy tea to stay up for this one! If you enjoy a historical with a strong, independent, businesswoman in her own right than this is the book for you. This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman had me engrossed from the very beginning. 

It is spring of 1816 when on a cold, rainy night, we see a carriage pull up to Newgate prison. Outsteps Lady Georgiana Caversteed, one of London's most wealthy women. A Prison is certainly not a place for a lady but she has a plan to escape a marriage to her cousin, Josiah. She's planning to marry a prisoner who is set to be hanged tomorrow morning. Her manservant has set it up for her. There's only one problem when they meet the prison guard, they learn the man has already died; however, he has another prison waiting for them. When the prisoner is led out into the small chapel, Georgiana is surprised to see that before her stands, although a bit scruffy and dirty, a very handsome man. She's quite taken aback but regardless, she's here for marriage, to keep her money safe and to escape marriage to Josiah. The prisoner is actually one of the Benedict  William Henry Wylde, but Ben Wylde to Georgiana. He was formerly in the Napoleonic wars and now served missions for Bow Street. Here he was undercover in the confines of this dank and dingy prison in order to snuff out smugglers. To his surprise, he had no idea he'd end up married. Georgiana is very protective of her money and makes Ben sign a contract that her money is safe and that he will get a lump sum of 500 pounds which he has sent to his friend at the Tricorn Gaming Hell. To Georgiana, Ben is set to sail the next day to do hard time and never be seen from or heard from again, so even though she sought a man on death row, this one would do and with her being legally married there is nothing cousin Josiah could do.

In the end, Ben leaves Georgiana with a parting kiss, one that will haunt her nights. She is now free and thinks she's rid of Ben for good. A few weeks later at her 25th birthday, she's at a ball celebrating and her sister who is one of the most beautiful women in London is informing her of the two men across the room who are some of the top rogues in the city, but yet dashingly handsome. At this point, Georgiana looks and up and to her surprise, there stands her husband. He soon approaches her and invites her to dance. She's taken aback as she thought he was a true prisoner but here is one of London's most penniless Lord's and she wanted to do everything to avoid a man after her for nothing but her money. Well, she does rest a little assured that he did sign the contract, but now she's stuck in a marriage to him. He then invites her to meet him the next day at the Tricorn to discuss their marriage. So, will Georgiana and Ben remain married? Can they learn to truly love one another? Or will their marriage end up in shambles and both lose everything in the end?

This book just drew me in right from the beginning. Yes, I've read many arranged marriages or marriages of convenience but never one quite like this where the heroine seeks out her mate at a prison and then what a surprise she is awakened too. Batemans' writing is brilliant, the plot is so thick and with so many surprises. The characters are full-developed, which deeply unique personalities. Both are very headstrong and go-getters and if you love a strong heroine, you will love that Georgiana is a businesswoman in her own right which in 1816 England was almost unheard of. So, I feel a lot of women from today's society will be able to relate to Georgiana as even today in near 2020 we still struggle in many fields to gain the same equality as men and to be seen as strong, independent, and successful business owners. I also really liked Benedict's character, he's one who comes from a rough past and has a heart of gold, he's fighting for his country, trying to help his brother rebuild the estates and get out of the debt left by their father, and his heart also opens up to Georgiana in such a way that one would not expect from such a strong, independent man. I most highly recommend this book!

Author Bio:

Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the
#1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England. Follow her on Twitter to learn more.

This Earl of Mine Blog Tour Q&A

Q: What inspired you to write This Earl of Mine?

A:  Most of my books are inspired by real historical events, but for the adventure subplot in This Earl of Mine I was looking up something completely different, fell down a research rabbit hole, and stumbled upon an outlandish plot to rescue Napoleon from exile on Saint Helena using a submarine! I’d had no idea submersibles were even in use in the Regency, but a little digging soon revealed a tale far stranger than fiction—with plenty of smugglers, spies, and underhand skullduggery thrown in. Of course, then my writer brain couldn’t help but wonder WHAT IF . . .?

What if someone loyal to Napoleon stole the plans for the submarine from the Admiralty? And what if London’s fledgling police force, The Bow Street Runners, were tasked with finding the vessel and foiling the scheme?

The main plot, of course, is the romantic one between shipping heiress Georgie Caversteed and Bow Street Runner Benedict Wylde. They try to piece together the clues, while trying to ignore the inconvenient attraction that sparks between them. (Spoiler alert: they succeed at the former, and fail miserably at the latter!)

Q: Is there one thing you would like readers to take away from this story?

A: You mean apart from a new appreciation of early19^th century submarine development?! Why, yes! I firmly believe in happy-ever-afters for everyone, and while none of my characters may be perfect, they’re certainly perfect for each other. A successful romance should be a true partnership between equals, with love, respect, humor, and kindness. I hope that’s what readers see develop between Georgie and Benedict.

Q: Where do you go or what resources do you use to make sure your novels are historically correct? 

A: I have quite a bit of overall historical knowledge from my life as an antiques appraiser and auctioneer; I’ve handled plenty of Regency-era artifacts, like scent bottles, reticules, clothes, letters, furniture etc. And I’ve visited (and lived in) plenty of historic houses when I lived in England. So I have a pretty good idea what that world is like when I’m describing it. I do lots of random research online too, though. I suspect I’m on a secret CIA watchlist because of my weird internet browsing history, which currently includes such gems as: ‘does Prussic acid smell like almonds?’ ‘18^th century jewel heists,’ and ‘chloroform, first use.’

Q: Did you learn anything surprising while researching for this novel?

A: Apart from the crazy submarine plot, I found out what the chapel of Newgate prison looked like in 1816, discovered more about the founding of London’s first true police force, the Bow Street Runners, and found a new book boyfriend in the wonderfully roguish Benedict Wylde!

Q: Describe the hero and heroine of This Earl of Mine in three words each.

A:  Georgie is resourceful, determined, and curious. Benedict is amusing, loyal and scoundrelly!

Q: What was the hardest scene to write in This Earl of Mine? Your favorite?

A: My favorite scene was the sexy banter between Benedict and Georgie as they listen to the terrible poetry written by Juliet’s fiancé. Almost every sentence is a double entendre, and Benedict is shameless in trying to say something utterly inappropriate to make Georgie laugh, and I just giggle every time I think of it. I hope readers can feel the ridiculously flirtatious, slow-burn teasing in that scene. Yum!

The hardest was the sexy scene inside the tiny submarine. It’s a confined space, and I had to think about the technicalities of which body part was where, and whether they had enough space to do the scandalous things I wanted them to do. (Of course they did!)

Q: Why do you write historical romance? 

A: Because it can be total escapism. A reader can travel back in time to a different world and encounter situations that just don’t happen today. As a writer I like the challenge presented by the historical parameters; lots of great conflicts arise because of social, cultural, or economic factors. Plus, there are so many real historical adventures out there just waiting to be discovered. . .

Q: Is there another particular author that inspires you or that you enjoy reading? 

A: SO MANY AUTHORS! Laura Kinsale, Connie Brockway (As you Desire is a favorite), Loretta Chase, Judith McNaught, Anne Stuart, Joanna Bourne, Tessa Dare, Eloisa James, Suzan Elizabeth Philips, Julie Garwood, Galen Foley, Kerrigan Byrne, Julia Quinn, Beverly Jenkins, Alyssa Cole, Joanna Shupe, Johanna Lindsey, J.R Ward, Janet Evanovich, Georgette Heyer, Mary Renault, Jane Austen, E.M Forster, Leo Tolstoy, P.G. Wodehouse, Antoine de Saint Exupery, Jean M. Auel, Gabriel Garcia Marquez,  . . . Ok. I’ll stop now. But there are plenty more.

Q: What’s next for the Bow Street Bachelors?

A: Two more books! Those bad boys Alex Harland and Sebastien Wolff each get their own adventure and I can’t wait for everyone to read them! Alex meets his match in half-French jewel thief Emmy Danvers –AKA The Nightjar­– in To Catch an Earl, (Bow Street Bachelors #2). And Seb gets a sexy cat-and-mouse game of his own when he’s forced to protect the infuriating Anya Denisova – a feisty Russian Princess who’s faked her own death in The Princess and The Rogue, (Bow Street Bachelors #3).

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

A: Only that if you haven’t already preordered This Earl Of Mine, the paperback is currently at a special preorder price of $6.79, so snap it up in time for the release day, October 29^th! Happy reading everyone!

Book-buy link: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250305961