This was not very well written and the story was more disturbing than sexy. It was not the indulgent escape I was expecting. ( )

My rating is a solid 3.5 but I bumped it up to a 4 because this book really impressed me with the overall plot.

I think that potiential readers should be warned that the main focus of this book is the mystery behind the secret society and not on the battle for custody of Jessica's brother. And in my opinion this is a good thing to focus on. The mystery made me want to keep reading and it is a very interesting and complex one at that. I also enjoy the fact that parts of it will continue on to the next book (though don't worry, a good portion is revealed in this book so you won't be completely disappointed by the fact you are left hanging) so that they will be linked together by something other than the fact that they follow the 4 siblings.

I also enjoyed the characters in this as well. The Redgrave family is entertaining and funny--your typical "go-against-the-ton" type of family but not in an annoying way. Jessica is a strong heroine who isn't annoying or stupid. I really liked the team her and Gideon formed and I could see the connection between them

I think the reason that this is just a 3.5 to me is the writing style. It took me awhile to get into it and I'm not sure if it is because I haven't read a historical regency romance in a bit or if it was the style itself. But, like riding a bicycle, I soon got with the flow of things. Kasey's writing is very similar to the novels and works you would find in the time this novel is set, wordy and often with a different word order than we would use in everyday language.

Needless to say, I am looking forward to the rest of the series. It's a refreshing approach rich with the history of the time and with great characters to boot! If you enjoy a little mystery with your historical romance, this is a must-read!

(Find more book recaps and book series reviews on my blog: http://seriesousbookreviews.wordpress.com/) ( )

Jessica Linton is worried when Gideon Redgrave becomes the new guardian of her half-brother. Gideon is fascinated by the beautiful redhead. Together they try to solve the mystery of The Society, the Hellfire club started by Gideon's grandfather and father. Members have been dying in mysterious accidents, among them Jessica's father and stepmother.
I like Kasey Michael's writing and I actually read the 2nd and 3rd books in the series earlier. I just found this one on my reader. Jessica and Gideon are a good match, intelligent and caring. Gideon is definitely an alpha hero, but Jessica stands up for herself in her own way. Together they smooth the other's rough edges and make a wonderful whole. ( )

I'm sad to say this one bored me immensely. it took me over a week to finish, when most historical romances take a day or two. normally I like Kasey Michaels too. the main reason is there was too much going on, with not enough to hold my interest. she focused to much on the cloak and dagger shenanigans, and not enough on actual plot.
I liked jessica at first, but she quickly fell into the typical heroine roll. she started out feisty and knowing what she wanted and ended up a helpless female. ( )

It says a lot when the first thing I do after finishing a book is to check if there’s another, and I was delighted to find the words “introduces a delicious new series” on the back cover.

I picked this book out of one of my many TBR piles because I was in the mood for a story about times when the social structures were a little more rigid and the focus on repartee more than body parts. Well, I both got what I wanted and a lot more.

Sure, there is sex in the book (much more than I was expecting), but there’s tart tongues and women refusing the place society has consigned for them as well. What made this book a powerful read, though, was the twin themes of sordid mystery and innocent characters.

Now anyone who has read this book would laugh at the idea of Gideon laying claim to innocence of any form, and the life Jessica lived before crossing figurative swords with Gideon would put a widow to blush. And yet, they are both innocent not necessarily in the ways of the world, but neither has any experience to speak of where the heart is concerned.

As they work together to solve the past that haunts them both, they learn more about love of friends, family, and most especially each other. But don’t think for a minute their journey is simple. The past they fight has its coils wrapped around more than just the dead, threatening those they seek to protect and even more.

It’s a multi-layered story filled with complex characters who have been through a lot, yet keep an admirable integrity and a sense of humor that makes for brilliant moments. Some characters might seem there only for comic relief at times, but all but one get a serious moment to enhance their roles, the one having been delayed to later books…or so I expect.

While not exactly what I was looking for when I grabbed it, What an Earl Wants handily filled my reading time with enjoyable characters, a compelling story, and moments of humor to keep me smiling. ( )