The Red Hot Earl by Darcy Burke

The Red Hot Earl Series: Love Is All Around series book 1
on September 24, 2019
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 136
Goodreads

The Earl of Buckleigh was once an untitled misfit, tormented at Oxford. Now, he’s overcome his challenges and is eager for the future, especially when his oldest and dearest friend, Bianca, needs help to save the annual holiday party. Ash has a plan to rescue the event, but when the bullies from his youth are up to their old tricks, he must risk everything to put the past behind him and find true love.

Furious when her brother refuses to host the St. Stephen’s Day party, Lady Bianca Stafford is committed to giving the villagers their celebration. In Ash, she sees salvation for their local tradition, and perhaps a future she never expected. But her brother has other plans for her—a Season and marriage, and not to Ash. When disaster strikes, everything she cares about is threatened and it will take a miracle—or a hero—to save the day.

The Red Hot Earl is inspired by the song and story, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

The Red Hot Earl is book one in Darcy Burke’s new series Love Is All Around. I thought this was a magnificent story. Ashton Rutledge is a flawed hero who was bullied as a child. Those scars have left him struggling to conquer not just those who bullied him but to conquer himself. I thought Burke handled Ashton’s “handicap” with sensitivity and wisdom. I loved having a touchable, relatable hero. Bianca Stafford is not the typical Regency miss. She is bold and witty and quite determined to have things her way. There were moments when I didn’t much like Bianca and then she would do something magnificent – like defend Ash and I found myself admiring her. There are several steamy scenes in this book. Overall, a fabulous read.