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 … 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. Be sure to check out the Red Hot Earl version of the song on my website at darcyburke.com!
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Untouchables comes a Christmas Regency series! Don’t miss these holiday classics retold with love, passion, and heart.
Book One: The Red Hot Earl
Book Two: The Gift of the Marquess
Book Three: Joy to the Duke
more
“The Red Hot Earl” by Darcy Burke
A light Regency romance with a bit of spice. I received a free ARC from the author. Read the story description, if you like what you read, then I think you will find this a worthy read. It is the 1st of 3 stories in this Regency holiday series, “Love is All Around”.
I truly enjoyed my time with Ash & Bee in this light easy reading story. Happy reading !!
I enjoyed reading this quick story from beginning to end.
Ash is a true gentleman and Lady Bianca is a bit of a tigress to fight for him. Some readers question the petty childishness of his former Oxford classmates, but that is quite believable. Just look in the White House.
A hint of a fairy tale including the quick regret of one of Ash’s tormentors and the ready acceptance of this apology, thus culminating in the HEA ending. At least for Ash, Bianca and the villagers.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I am a huge fan of Darcy’s and let me say she did not disappoint with this one. The characters, Bianca, “Bee” and Ashton, “Ash” are childhood friends that reunite after years apart. The story centers around the St. Stephen’s Day celebration. If you want a book that is easy to read but hard to put down, this is it. There is suspense, drama, passion, and heroism. Just don’t start it at bedtime!
Darcy Burke has given us a wonderful new book & series to start us in to the holiday season with a bang. This was a quick moving story that you could just sit back & enjoy with any drama being solved in a few pages rather than chapters.
Our hero, Ashton Rutledge, Earl of Buckleigh has been tormented by three men due to an affliction that caused him to experience tics & vocal outbursts. They began teasing & pulling pranks on Ash when he was a young boy & continued through his years they all attended Oxford. Ash then left school & went to London for 10 years to learn ways to control his body & gain strength by training & becoming part time pugilist. He has now returned to his country estate & is no longer the skinny, nervous boy; he has grown strong & has managed basic control of his disease. Upon reuniting with Ash at a house party, the three men immediately start the cutting remarks & immature pranks.
Lady Bianca Stafford is a fun-loving, vivacious & forthright lady who loves the Christmas Season & particularly the St. Stephen’s Day celebration that her family has provided for the town’s people, neighbors & tenants since the time of the first duke. That is, until this year, her brother Calder, is now the Eighth Duke of Hartwell, due to the death of their father, & he will not be hosting the celebration – she will not let this go & will not disappoint all the people who look forward to it every year.
Ash & Bianca grew up in the same area & were friends when they were young. What a surprise to meet again at a house party & they spend time reminiscing about the past & learning new things about one another.
The romance is such fun – with some bad men, an awful brother, great sister, Ash’s wonderful Mother & a little bit of bedroom spice thrown in to warm things up. I highly recommend this book & I can’t wait to see what happens in the two upcoming books.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
It’s getting a little cooler and the Christmas books/novellas are coming out. Time to sit down with an apple cider/tea/coffee and dig into delicious Christmas stories. A lovely story with an Earl who has a little problem and a woman who finally sees “him”. The way he deals with his problem for me in quite unique and special. Ash is special and how everyone could not love him is beyond me. A romance where you might not think they work well together but they do. I know Thornaby is the leader of the men who tormented Ash during their school years but I would like to see him as a hero down the road – redemption rules!
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
This was a lovely introduction to the Love Is All Around series. The series is set around three siblings and the local Christmas celebrations. The book didn’t feel too Christmasy, but I believe that is because it took place earlier than the other books – thus the lack of Christmas feel. Maybe we’ll get some decorations in the upcoming books.
This book features Lady Bianca Stafford and Ashton Rutledge, Earl of Buckleigh. Bianca is free-spirited, bright, fun, and she absolutely adores Christmas – particularly the St. Stephen’s Day celebration. Her family has hosted that celebration since the very first Duke – and now, her brother is ending it. He won’t budge and absolutely refuses to have any part in or sponsorship of the celebration. Bianca doesn’t know what to make of her brother, Calder, eighth Duke of Hartwell. He’s certainly not the brother who left them ten years ago and didn’t return until their father died. Now, he’s cold, unfeeling, uncaring, and cruel.
Ash has been persecuted most of his life – especially by three men who are now certainly old enough to know better and now pull the same childish tricks and torments they did while they were at school. The persecution is because of an affliction (sounds like Tourette’s Syndrome). He’s spent years in London figuring out techniques to deal to help alleviate the worst of the symptoms, but when he is stressed they manifest themselves.
Ash and Bianca were childhood friends and each was delighted to see the other at a house party at the home of Lord Thornaby. As they spend time together Bianca admires Ash more and more and it is the same for him. When events occurred and Ash left the party early – and Bianca left shortly after – Bianca knew she had to see him to tell him that she supported him.
It was fun to watch Bianca and Ash get their HEA and it was also good to meet the ‘stars’ of the upcoming books. I have to say, I’m not sure what the author can do to redeem Calder in my eyes. Yes, I understand what his issue is and why he intends to do away with the celebration – but – what I don’t understand is how he can treat his sister so coldly and cruelly – without a blink of remorse and caring.
I also didn’t understand the three villains. These were three men who were in their mid-to-late twenties — certainly old enough to know better than to act like immature schoolboys.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of
The Earl of Buckleigh, Ash, was once an untitled misfit. Tormented at Oxford, he overcame his challenges. He is eager for the future, especially when his oldest and dearest friend, Bianca, needs help to save an 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. Lady Bianca is furious when her brother refuses to host the party. In Ash, she sees salvation for their local tradition and perhaps a future she never expected. Her brother has other plans for her, a season and marriage and not to Ash. Everything she cares about is threatened. It will take a miracle or a hero to save the day. –Bianca is opinionated, outspoken and feisty. I loved her. Ash is sweet. He and Bianca bonded as children, and that connection remained. They are both kind and accepting. I enjoyed the romance. Because this is a series, some questions were unanswered.
With the theme being taken from Rudolph the red nose reindeer, this is one fun Christmas romp. So let’s meet the characters.
Playing Rudolph is Ashton Rutledge, Ash, is affliction makes him the target for torture growing up. A way to fix that for him was to turn to boxing. Giving himself the control he desperately wanted and found.
Playing Clarice is Bianca Stafford, outspoken, courageous, and set in her wants. She loves her country home and surrounding area. As a youth she and Ashton were the best of friends.
Just as in the Christmas story these two have their trails and overcame the obstacles out in front of them. They have their fun and the snowball fight, snowman building are a great addition to the story.
Playing the Abominable Snowman are three people, Lords Morley, Keldon, and Thornaby. These three are the ones that torment Ash and Clarice
With warmth and sincerity this story delivers a soul searching heartfelt Christmas tale. The main characters are depicted with compassion and feisty vigor. The story has vivid atmosphere, questionable friendships and intimate eye opening moments. A very pleasant read.
Greatly enjoyed this read and have bought the other 2 in the series.
After a life of hardships and bullying, the Earl some to help his friend. Story of young bullies into older bullies and standing up for yourself, others, and what’s right.
An Adorable Romantic Story
I did enjoy reading this Book, although I had a hard time with the last portion of the Story. The bullies acting like teenagers & then apologizing afterwards was almost like a couple of them didn’t truly want to. The H was way to forgiving for my satisfaction.
Lady Bianca Stafford had been friends with Ashton Rutledge, the new Earl of Buckleigh for years. Ash was always kind and fun to be with, but then he went off to school. Meeting him again years later at a house party, Bianca realizes that Ash has a deeply held secret and she’s determined to find out what it is. Unfortunately, Ash’s tormentors from Oxford continue to taunt him at the house party until he storms out. Bianca is mystified why those three men were so cruel and she sets out to check on Ash the next day. Can Ash reveal his secrets to Bianca and not drive her away?
This was a sweet short read. Ash suffers from a lifelong affliction that causes him to have shivers and tremors as well as shouting out curse words. I felt for Ash. It must have been hard to live with the censor of others especially his father. The more time Bianca spends with Ash, she realizes that his affliction is only one small part of the wonderful man Ash has become. There are a few obstacles in their way, but nothing that is too difficult to overcome. I didn’t get a holiday feel for this story. It was more of how two people can look past imperfections and find love.
I voluntarily read this advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
Cute, quick, simple read.
The authors ability to introduce characters with learning disabilities was particularly of interest to me. Individuals today still face many of the same social obstacles as we see here. Strong personality traits all around.
Good story – tooooo much sex
Just love the book. Couldn’t put it down
Fun to read and enjoyed getting to know Ash and Bianca
Easy read, fun characters, total HEA.
This was a great Christmas novella by Darcy Burke. It was just long enough to get you involved with the characters and short enough you could read in one sitting when your not in the mood or don’t have enough time for a longer story.
Ash, the Earl of Buckleigh and Lady Bianca (Bee) Stafford were a great pair, long ago childhood friends who meet up again after 10 years to work together to save the annual holiday party for the local community and in the process fall in love. I found it interesting that he had an affliction and he came face to face again with his childhood bullies. Bee was very supportive and caring and a little independent and mischievous.