Not the Kind of Earl You Marry

by Kate Pembrooke

Overview

Fans of Netflix's Bridgerton series will adore this stunning historical romance debut, where a wary wallflower enters a fake engagement with one of London's most eligible bachelors.

The one woman in London who doesn’t want to marry him is now his fiancée.

William Atherton, Earl of Norwood, is as shocked as the rest of London to discover his betrothal via an announcement in the morning paper. Furious at what appears to be a shrewd marriage trap, William tracks down his alleged fiancée before her plans can affect his campaign for a coveted political post. But then William realizes an engagement, however fake, may benefit them both . . .

Miss Charlotte Hurst may be a wallflower, but she’s no shrinking violet. She would never attempt such an underhanded scheme, especially not with a man as haughty or sought-after as Norwood. Yet his suggestion to play along with the betrothal has its merits . . . and the longer they pretend, the more undeniably real their feelings become. But when the true culprit behind their engagement is revealed, can their newfound happiness survive the scandal?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538703762
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	07/27/2021
Series:	The Unconventional Ladies of Mayfair , #1
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	37,743
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Kate Pembrooke is a lifelong reader whose path to becoming an author of Regency romance was forged when she first read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Kate lives with her family in the Midwest. She loves puttering amongst her flowerbeds, taking beach vacations, and adding to her already extensive collection of cookbooks.

You can learn more at: 
katepembrooke.com
Twitter @KatePembrooke
Facebook.com/Kate.Pembrooke
Instagram.com/katepembrooke/

Editorial Reviews

05/03/2021

This cozy slice-of-life set in 1817 London makes a promising start to Pembrooke’s debut Regency series. William Atherton, the Earl of Norwood, barges in on stranger Charlotte Hurst’s breakfast one morning brandishing a newspaper announcing their betrothal. He assumes the piece is Charlotte’s attempt to entrap him into marriage. Innocent Charlotte is livid at the accusation and dresses him down magnificently. William, realizing the lie could easily have come from a political rival hoping to cause a scandal and damage his chances at a chairmanship, apologizes and proposes that he and Charlotte go along with a temporary engagement until Charlotte can quietly jilt him without damaging both their reputations. Charlotte reluctantly agrees in exchange for curricle driving lessons. The more time they spend together publicly, the more William is charmed by Charlotte, and he soon longs to make their arrangement permanent. But shy, bookish Charlotte is adamant she’d make an unsuitable wife for a sociable politician—even after she and William share a passionate kiss that cements their considerable attraction. Pembrooke skillfully weaves subtle political subplots throughout the sweet, slow burn romance. Complete with genuine, endearing characters, this charming novel positions Pembrooke as an author to watch. Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore and Co. (July)

Publishers Weekly

A terrific debut with one of my favorite tropes done brilliantly. Lovely, lively, and lots of fun!”—Grace Burrowes, New York Times bestselling author

"Delicious! Kate Pembrooke is joining the list of my favorite authors.”—Cathy Maxwell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"Romance fans will be charmed by this sweet Regency tale!"—Kate Bateman, author of The Princess and the Rogue

"A beautifully written regency of the highest caliber."—Elizabeth Everett, author of A Lady’s Formula for Love

"A perfectly executed Regency historical with an engagingly nuanced cast of characters, graceful writing leavened with droll wit, and a surfeit of sophisticated sensuality."—Booklist

From the Publisher

2021-07-28
When an ambitious earl and a reticent bluestocking are forced together, they discover that opposites can, indeed, attract.

William Atherton, Earl of Norwood, is jolted by a newspaper announcement pronouncing him engaged to Charlotte Hurst, a lady he has never even formally met. Presuming that she wants to trap him into matrimony, William confronts Charlotte angrily. But when he sees that she is as puzzled as he is by the announcement, William comes to suspect it's the work of a rival trying to puncture his political aspirations. Until the culprit can be found, the two are forced to pretend they are engaged to save her reputation and his career. Although Charlotte is initially put off by William’s arrogance and dislikes the social events he frequently attends, she begins to look forward to William’s company. She also builds lasting friendships with the indomitable women she meets through William. But before they can even consider turning a pretend engagement into reality, William and Charlotte must not only reconcile internal differences, but also confront an external enemy. Pembrooke’s debut inaugurates the Unconventional Ladies of Mayfair trilogy and is replete with secondary characters who charm and entertain. The relationship between William and Charlotte develops with gradual ease, and their interactions evolve in emotional depth. While the camaraderie between the couple and their respective families and friends is unmistakably sweet, the mystery driving William and Charlotte’s plight reaches a distinctly insipid resolution.

An uncomplicated and endearing story that will appeal to romance fans.

Kirkus Reviews