Excerpt + Giveaway + Review: "Engaged to the Earl" by Lisa Berne

Today, I am very excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Lisa Berne's latest novel, "Engaged to the Earl," book #4 in the Penhallow Dynasty series. Even though it is the fourth book in a series, it is a complete standalone; while a few characters from the previous book did make brief appearances, readers (like me) who have not yet read the rest of the series will not feel lost at all by starting here.

A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I loved "Engaged to the Earl" and highly recommend it for fans of sweet, humorous historical romances such as the ones written by Eloisa James or Julia Quinn. The main characters, Gwendolyn and Christopher, were very likeable and well-developed, and I enjoyed how adventurous they both were. Even though they had known each other since childhood, their love for each other took them by surprise, and watching their story unfold was a lot of fun.

For a chance to win your own paperback copy of "Engaged to the Earl," click here! (Giveaway ends on April 30, 2020. For additional terms and conditions, click here.)

About "Engaged to the Earl"

A spirited debutante--a brash adventurer--the perfect fiancé--and good intentions gone terribly, deliciously bad. The Penhallow Dynasty continues in this sparkling Regency romp!

Christopher Beck came striding into a glamorous London drawing-room and can’t believe his eyes. The last time he’d seen Gwendolyn Penhallow, she was a dreamy, strong-willed girl with a wild imagination, and now she’s a beautiful and beguiling young lady . . . who’s engaged to Society’s darling the Earl of Westenbury. Christopher had fled England to seek adventure elsewhere. Has he found it here too — the most delightful adventure of his life?

Gwendolyn is sure she’s betrothed to the most wonderful man in the world. But then, shockingly, Christopher Beck shows up. Nobody has heard from him in years — and not only he is very much alive, he’s also sinfully attractive, blithely unconventional, and disturbingly fun to be with. Which wouldn’t be a problem, except for the fact that she’s, well, promised to another. And just what on earth is she going to do about it?

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Check out an excerpt of "Engaged to the Earl" here!

My Review

I very much enjoyed Lisa Berne's "Engaged to the Earl," a delightful Regency romp that reminded me of some of my favorite historical romances by authors such as Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. Ms. Berne has a unique, subtly witty writing style with which I really connected; the book didn't contain any outrageous, over-the-top scenes, but I still found myself chuckling at many of the things the characters said, did, or thought.

The story's main characters, Gwendolyn and Christopher, were quite likeable and well-developed. I especially loved Gwendolyn's curiosity about the world, enthusiasm for life, and spirit of adventure. Christopher had a similar nature, and their mutual love of travel was one of the many things that brought them together. Their connection was complicated by the fact that, when they first met again as adults after years spent apart, Gwendolyn was engaged to another man, the Earl of Westenbury. She and Christopher quickly become friends, however, and love eventually took them by surprise. They were truly perfect for one another, and watching their story unfold was a tremendous amount of fun.

This was the first book I've ever read by Ms. Berne, but it's safe to say that it will not be the last. I look forward to reading the other books in the Penhallow Dynasty series soon.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are my own.