My Kind of Earl
Series: The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #2
Author: Vivienne Lorret
Published September 29th 2020 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret continues her charming new trilogy with a bluestocking whose search for information on the mating habits of scoundrels has her stumbling upon the missing heir to an earldom... in the London underworld.

Jane Pickerington never intended to start a brawl in a brothel. She only wanted to research her book. Yet when her simple study of scoundrels goes awry, she finds herself coming to the rescue of a dark, enigmatic stranger… who turns out to be far more than an average rake out for a night of pleasure. He’s positively wild!

Only the most feral and cunning could have survived foundling homes and work houses. Orphaned as an infant, Raven never had another name. At least… not until he meets her. Now he’s face-to-face with the one person who recognizes the strange birthmark on his arm and can reinstate him to his blue-blooded birthright.

All at once, Raven’s life takes a turn. His knowledge of dark alleys and gaming hells never prepared him for gilded ballrooms. So Jane becomes his tutor. Yet, the more lessons in decorum she offers, the more this untamed scoundrel wants to teach her all the ways to be wicked.
Goodreads

Review
In My Kind of Earl, Jane Pickering may be the eldest daughter in the family full of raucous little boys, and an unblemished debutante, but in the name of research, she secretes herself into a brothel, and unexpectedly starts a brawl. Only the mysterious Raven is there to rescue her, and she helps him in turn. Raven has only even known life as an orphan, in awful conditions in foundling homes and work houses, but the strange raven birthmark he has may just prove he is the long lost heir of the Earl of Warrister. Needing help to be able to prepare himself for upper class society, Jane agrees to be his guide, as long as he helps her with her sections of the book.

I think I liked this book even more than the first. Both Jane and Raven were fantastic people, and their characters were so original, energetic, and vibrant. They truly made the story come alive. Their attraction to each other grows slowly, with them both knowing that they're from different places in society, at least for the minute. Jane has her reputation to protect, and also needs to look after her many siblings - as her parents are a bit handsoff for the most part. All of the brothers and sisters make appearances, and their interactions as a family, and with Raven, really showed off both Jane and Raven's softer sides. Once their feelings for each other came to a head, they were sweet together, and the chemistry was unreal. Again, we see the inevitable angst period, which I really didn't like in this book - with Raven being cruel to try and get Jane to 'see sense', but the reconciliation was perfect. The plot surrounding why Raven ended up on a orphanage, and without knowing his heritage was unexpected, but enjoyable. I can't wait to read my copy of The Wrong Marquess, because this book has definitely set that one up!

Dates Read:
January 8-10, 2021

Rating
4 Stars