An Earl Unmasked
Series: Ladies of Risk #1
Author: Rachel Ann Smith
Published January 20th 2022 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Lady Diana Malbury is known for her charm and intelligence, why else would she rather solve another one of the late Earl of Chestwick’s word puzzles than entertain potential suitors for the Season?

The old earl presents her with the highest-stake challenge yet…

If she remains unwed for the Season, she can return to his estate next summer and solve the latest puzzle by way of his extensive library, her favorite place in England…

But Randal Wilson, the new Earl of Chestwick, has returned from the war a decorated hero but also wounded and angry. His estate is off-limits to everyone. Why would the Beast of Chestwick allow the mindless fools of society to infiltrate his private world when he has greater things to worry about, like getting back to the war front.

But Diana doesn’t give up easily, and when she meets the earl after trespassing on his land—the two share a brief but soul-awakening kiss.

Suddenly Diana and Randal are forced to rethink their solitary ambitions...love is a riddle that only two hearts can solve together.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After promising the old Earl of Chestwick that she would return from her first season unmarried, ready to solve the riddle he left her, Lady Diana Malbury is ready to seek out the clues in his library. However, the late Earl's son, Randal, has newly inherited the title, and has no intention of letting a debutante invade his privacy. Diana does not give up easily, and though Randal does just about everything to turn her away, neither can deny the urge to be together.

I honestly could not remember anything about this book when I decided to check by kindle TBR, and saw that I had this trilogy to read. Thinking it was probably easiest to go in blind, I started An Earl Unmasked and was drawn to Diana's story instantly. The youngest daughter of an Earl, Diana is about to embark on her debut season, but would rather be with her family, and her neighbour the Earl of Chestwick, than in a London ballroom. Her elder sisters are yet to marry, and she promised the earl she would return to solve his riddle. The relationship between Diana and the old earl was lovely, and I know he fully intended for her and Randal to meet and fall in love. Randal returned from the battlefield on the death of his father, and his injuries mean he wants solitude and to not be disturbed, particularly not by a bluestocking such as Diana. He orders that anyone on his land is to be shot on sight, and the house to be shut up, but Diana is tenacious, and when she comes across him on the estate injured, she won't stop returning. I enjoyed the way Diana and Randal grew on each other, and how they started by respecting the other's mind, and then acting on their feelings. The added plot line of Minerva's plan to only marry whoever bests her at chess has definitely set the series up for a fun tale, and the extended Malbury clan are a family I hope we see more of in the sequels.

Dates Read:
December 23, 2022

Rating
3 Stars