The Untamed Earl

by Valerie Bowman

Overview

Bestselling author Valerie Bowman sets the stage in Regency England for her Playful Brides series, where couples' misadventures on the way to the altar are witty, romantic romps based on some of the world's most beloved plays. The fifth volume, The Untamed Earl, is inspired by William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

AN INDECENT PROPOSAL

Lady Alexandra Hobbs, the daughter of the Duke of Huntley, has intended to marry Lord Owen Monroe since she first glimpsed him from the window of her bedchamber, back when she was just a girl. But the duke has already chosen Alex's infamously spoiled elder sister, Lavinia, for Owen. And now there's no turning back.

Owen has spent most of his bachelor years drinking, gambling, and skirt-chasing. He won't see another pound from his parents, however, until he's engaged to Lavinia. Desperate, he accepts an offer from her innocent and spirited--and absolutely beautiful--sister Alex: She will turn him into a perfectly tamed suitor, and show him how to woo the shrew. But when Alex's true motives come to light, will their bargain lead to recriminations--or to a romance that defies everyone's expectations?

Award-winning author Valerie Bowman once again delivers romance and wit in The Untamed Earl!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250770868
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/03/2016
Series:	Playful Brides Series , #5
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	4.25(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Valerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes Regency-set historical romance novels aka Racy Regency Romps! Since her debut in 2012, Valerie's books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She's been an RT Reviewers' Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas calls them, "Too delightful to miss!"

Valerie has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in history from Smith College. By day, she is a technical editor at a computer software company. By night, she combines her love of writing, history, and romance to craft stories about people falling in love.

Originally from Rantoul, Illinois, Valerie lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her family including her two rascally dogs. When she's not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV or PBS.

Editorial Reviews

03/07/2016
Bowman’s Playful Brides Regency series (after The Irresistible Rogue) is inspired by classic works of literature; this charming fifth episode draws on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Lord Owen Monroe, heir to the Earl of Moreland, is one of London’s most well-known rakes until his father orders him to settle down. The earl expects him to woo Lady Lavinia Hobbs, eldest daughter of the Duke of Huntley, a woman who, though beautiful, has a reputation for being somewhat of a shrew. Lady Alexandra, Lavinia’s younger sister, has been in love with Owen for years and fears that he will be forced to wed her sister. In an effort to spend more time with Owen, she asks him to help make her a success in London’s ballrooms, and in exchange, she will help him win Lavinia’s heart. But some of the suggestions she gives to Owen will cause Lavinia to dislike him more, and Alexandra hopes that he will turn to her instead. The cleverly executed reappearance of characters from earlier installments adds allure to the innocent romance and carefully orchestrated seduction. Readers will be especially drawn to Alexandra, a refreshingly open and honest woman. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Charming" - Publishers Weekly

"Bowman delights with a humorous tale that could come straight out of a Shakespearean play. The charming characters are well developed, their cock-eyed motivations are clear and the plot moves quickly, wrapping readers in an enchanting romance." - RT Book Reviews

“Another exciting and wicked addition to The Playful Brides series.” —The Reading Wench

“Valerie Bowman’s stories sparkle with humor and her characters are absolutely adorable. The Untamed Earl is an engaging and romantic love story.” — Fresh Fiction

From the Publisher

2016-03-03
In love with one sister, betrothed to the other—what's an earl to do? Usually when sisters fight over a beau, they're both mad for him, but that's not the case for the Hobbs sisters. Lady Alexandra has quietly carried a torch for the roguish Lord Owen Monroe since her teens; her older sister, Lady Lavinia, can't stand him, but her father has arranged for them to marry. Owen has no interest in marrying either, but his father tells him he must not only marry Lavinia, but woo her—or else lose his allowance. After a case of mistaken identity, Owen stumbles into an agreement with Alexandra: she'll tell him how to win Lavinia, and he'll help raise her profile on the marriage market. Soon, Owen is as besotted with Alexandra as she has been with him, but the arranged marriage looms—unless Owen can find a way to marry the sister he truly loves. In the fifth book in The Playful Brides series, Bowman's characters are a bit flat, with spoiled Lavinia barely kinder than Cinderella's stepsisters and Owen bearing the tight breeches and confusion of the average Regency hero, but they're still endearing. Luckily, the plot and ending are satisfying, and Alex earns her place among the ranks of perfectly awkward romance heroines. A sweet and simple Regency story of unrequited love, requited.

Kirkus Reviews