For a shameless libertine and a wily smuggler in the London Underground, marriage is more than convenience—it’s strategy . . .Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers . . . until a wealthy mentor leaves him a sizeable fortune. The only stipulation? … sizeable fortune. The only stipulation? He must marry within one month to inherit the money. Kit needs a bride and the bold, mysterious Miss Tamsyn Pearce seems perfect.
Husband hunting isn’t Tamsyn’s top priority—she’s in London to sell her new shipment of illicit goods—but she’s desperate for funds to keep her smuggling operation afloat. When a handsome earl offers to wed her and send her back to Cornwall with a hefty allowance, Tamsyn agrees. After all, her secrets could land her in prison and an attentive, love-struck spouse could destroy everything.
But when an unexpected proviso in the will grants Tamsyn control of the inheritance, their arrangement becomes anything but convenient. Now, Kit’s counting on his countess to make his wildest dreams a reality and he plans to convince her, one pleasurable seduction at a time.
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“What a tangled web we weave” should be the mantra of Tamsyn and Kit for the lies they tell themselves and each other. However, the premise of the story is unusual and the characters are well-rounded. This second installment in the London Underground series is well worth reading.
A veteran of the Peninsula War, Kit is now an Earl who needs to marry within a month to obtain money bequeathed by a mentor. Tamsyn needs to marry to obtain money to keep her smuggling operation. After they marry only she will have control of the money. Despite his anger at her control of the money, their sizzling attraction turns into love. Now her secret of smuggling puts their marriage at risk and her fear of imprisonment. Constantly on the edge, Leigh’s book will keep you rooting for a happy ending.
I just adored this book. I was a bit nervous going into it because we have characters entering into a marriage of convenience with a ton of secrets that they need to keep from each other (well, one out of fear the other out of near necessity). The continued deception made me nervous but didn’t make me not root for them as a couple, because the raw emotion of being torn was so real. I certainly didn’t know how to resolve everything, but the way it was done was masterful. The ending and the epilogue are totally worth it. Just really well done and well written and hitting all the right notes.
The premise and set up for this book is very ‘romance genre crazy sauce’, but in a great way. The hero, an Earl, must marry to gain his fortune, but once he’s signed the documents with Tamsyn, he discovers that she controls the new fortune. I mean, I doubt that is historically accurate given the complete lack of agency women had back then and how the law made them property of their husbands, but too bad. It’s fun as a premise because it shifts the power towards the heroine.
There is a smuggling plot (the heroine marries the Earl as a strategic move) and the Earl also has to unlearn some assumptions about his class and the war and his believe in the government.
And when everything is unveiled, the hero demonstrates how much he has learned by backing the heroine in the most wonderful ‘grand gesture’ way.
I am absolutely LOVING this series! Although, I feel duty bound to point out that each book can be read as a standalone *coughs* but trust me, you won’t be able to stop at just the one *winks*
Right, so where were we? *taps chin* Ah yes, I am absolutely LOVING this series – crap! – I’ve already said that, haven’t I? Sorry! Let’s continue…
One of things I love most about this series is the juxtaposition of the characters. These are no meek and mild females *shakes head* Ooh no! These ladies won’t be constrained by the societal norms of their era.
And, Tamsyn Pearce is no exception. She dares to lift her head above the parapet, and put her very freedom, nay, her life, on the line to do what needs to be done for the greater good. I dare any of you to quibble with her reasons. Morally correct: yes. Legally? Well… I plead the fifth *whistles*
Given all she has already done, a little marriage of convenience is neither here, nor there when the survival of her village is at stake. Plus, if her betrothed is a little easy on the eye all the better, eh? *snorts*
And, Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth is most definitely easy on the eye *winks* Furthermore, he is *clears throat* very knowledgeable when it comes to bed sports…
Phew!
Is it hot in here? *wafts top* No? Huh, must just be me then.
Following a distinguished career in the military, Kit has returned home to his old life amongst the ton. However, he has been forever changed by his experiences of war. Those experiences have given way to a dream. To all the world, he may look like (and have the behaviour of) a rake, but there is so much more to this man. The shadows are there to see for those that look closely enough. Now all he needs is the funds to make his dream a reality.
Recently awarded an earldom for his heroism, it doesn’t do much to change his fiscal situation until a bequest from an old friend readies to change all that. There is only one small snag… he needs a wife. Nothing really needs to change, does it? *smirks* Silly, delusional man.
Only, what starts as a marriage of convenience for both Kit and Tamsyn quickly changes as those pesky things called feelings rear their heads.
With secrets on both sides, will they both get their heart’s desires?
Let the games begin…
Oh my days. See what I mean? It’s just everything you could want in a read: romance, suspense, and sizzling hot chemistry. And I don’t say sizzling hot lightly! Overheating in 3, 2, 1…
Although, I have to say, with Kit’s exploits you would’ve thought it would have fallen off by now… whaaa? Apologies, I really need to learn to not say everything I think *giggles*
Okay, signing off now – Thomas is up next *mini fist pump* and I, for one, can’t wait.
3.5 Stars
Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers until a wealthy mentor Lord Somerby leaves him a sizeable fortune. The only stipulation being that he must marry within one month to inherit the money. Kit needs a bride and the bold, mysterious Miss Tamsyn Pearce seems perfect. Husband hunting isn’t Tamsyn’s top priority she’s in London to sell her new shipment of illicit goods but she’s desperate for funds . When a handsome earl offers to wed her and send her back to Cornwall with a hefty allowance, Tamsyn agrees.
Once they are married an unexpected proviso in the will grants Tamsyn control of the inheritance, their arrangement becomes anything but convenient. Now, Kit’s counting on his countess to make his wildest dreams a reality and he plans to convince her, one pleasurable seduction at a time.
This is the second book in the series however it could easily be read on its own. It was a slightly different twist on a marriage of convenience. I really liked Kit who was battling to mentally recover from his experiences as a soldier & he’d held onto a dream for so long & wanted to make it a reality. I found Tamsyn to be selfish & she wanted every single thing on her terms, I couldn’t quite make myself believe she actually loved Kit. The pace of the story was good & it held my interest all the way through. I look forward to Langdon’s story.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Lighthearted Regency Romp.
Kit needs to marry in haste to fulfill the conditions of his inheritance and Tamsyn needs funds to purchase her family home. Both go into the marriage with secrets but Tamsyn’s are very much the bigger and more dangerous. Engaging love story and characters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found the story very entertaining and a wonderful read!
Not a stinker and not a shiny star either. These books are all based on a handful of themes, but at least in this one the heroine was a smuggler. Only from the very most altruistic motives of course.
One more aristocratic male that did not want to marry, but must… same old same old.
Counting on a Countess is the second book in Eva Leigh’s London Underground series, which features noble heroes who become entangled with less-than-lawful women of the commoner class.
Our hero in this second installment is Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, who has returned home a war hero and been awarded an earldom for his service in the fight against Napoleon. Kit has the reputation of being a spendthrift and womanizer, and his new title hasn’t added a penny to his coffers. But Kit’s laissez faire lifestyle is really his way of coping with the horrors of war, and this vulnerability drew me into Kit’s character and created a good emotional connection with his character. When Kit’s mentor, Lord Somersby, dies and leaves him a fortune with some very unusual conditions, Kit’s dreams are within reach if he can only find a willing and supportive wife.
Tamsyn Pearce has grown up in the wilds of Cornwall, and hasn’t had the best life since the death of her parents when she was young. Tamsyn took up the mantle of responsibility at a young age, becoming a smuggler to support her impoverished fishing village. Now she’s in London to sell her illicit wares and find herself a rich husband that will leave her to her own devices in the country. I really struggled with Tamsyn’s character.
So this is where my heroine hater tendencies come out I suppose. I was definitely more forgiving of Kit’s behavior than I was Tamsyn’s. Because I had a connection to him, and I knew what was going on in his head, I didn’t view his behavior to be as bad as Tamsyn’s deception. I also didn’t like how Tamsyn reacted and was somewhat sanctimonious given her own behavior, particularly when she knew how her war veteran husband could be impacted by her illegal activity.
The romance between these two was a fairly slow burn. While they married very quickly, the courtship began after the marriage and carried throughout most of the book. I felt like Tamsyn’s secrets were a bigger obstacle to the relationship, and Kit was more invested in the relationship. I felt like this in the last book, From Duke Til Dawn, as well. So I think this series/trope may not necessarily be for me… but I am so dang interested in Langdon and Amina that I am sure I will keep reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Avon.
Counting on a Countess by Eva Leigh is book Two in The London Underground series. This is the story of Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth The Earl of Blakemere and Tamsyn Pearce. I have read the previous book but feel this is easily a standalone book.
Tamsyn is in the smuggling business to help her Village and to try to buy the house that her Uncle is wanting to sell. The house is the best location for her smuggling business and doesn’t want to loose it.
But she hasn’t been able to sell her goods to get the money for the down payment for the house. Kit has been on a goal since getting out of the War to enjoy the pleasure of life to try and help him forget the pain. With an ideal to do a pleasure garden to help others he is at a lost of how to get the money when he is giving the chance to marry to inherit the much needed funds. Kit and Tamsyn come together to meet the goal of marrying to get the inheritance but they soon look learn that Tamsyn is the one put in charge of the money..which puts Kt to wooing her to try to get her to fund her dream garden. Tamsyn hasn’t told law-biding Kit what she actually does nor that she wants some of that money to help her goal with her smuggling scene.
But along the way of them trying to get to their own personal goals they seem to have started to fall in love.
Really enjoyed this story!! This is a hard to put down book for sure!