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
What a lovely story especially at Christmas time. A story of love and forgiveness — both timely and appropriate.
Nice to read about someone not born handsome, strong and tall but who grows into his real self!
Too much sex for my taste. Didn’t finish the book.
Cute , short story
There is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end about what will happen with the party. Hence 4 stars – but I loved that the Hero was not Mr. Perfect – he suffered from what appeared to be Tourette’s Syndrome based on the description, but he was very sweet – I thought the heroine slept with him a trifle too easily. His mother did not seem to think it strange that she would show up at their estate with nothing but a maid as chaperone. But they are both endearing characters. The bullies turned around rather quickly too, but that was fine. Cute read.
A good story about the effects of Turrets Syndrome and how a person is teased and tormented by other children and adults
A fun read! Great characters and entertaining story
Warning to those who want something without immorality. I get so weary of writers who ruin the story as well as the characters they have spent time to develop into appealing, moral person only to have them desecrate the women they supposedly love the first chance they get. Love doesn’t do that. Love honors the whole person–the body as well as the brain and personality. In Regency England, I doubt woman to be admired jumped into bed out of wedlock or provoked a man until he ruined her.
A lovely romance. I’ll look our for this author again.
Really enjoyed this book.
Bullies have not changed much in 200 years. They still torment those who are different. Ashton Rutleigh is now the Earl of Buckleigh, but once he was a young boy affected with Tourette syndrome. His schoolmates, including his cousin teased him mercifully. After spending the past ten years in London, establishing his law career, his self confidence, and changing his physic; Ash is back in County Durham. Fortunately, while attending a house party he reconnect with Lady Bianca Stafford, his childhood only friend. Unfortunately, the house party is being given by Viscount Thornaby, Ash’s main tormentor. Also unfortunately Thornaby and his friends are not done bullying Ash. The underlying issue in this story is finding a place for the annual St. Stephen’s Day party to be held. Traditionally, the Duke of Hartwell, now Bianca’s brother hosts the party, but the Duke is being real Scrooge, refusing anything to do with the party. (His story is book three in the series). Do Bianca and Ash rediscover each other? Will Bianca find a way to hold the St. Stephen’s Day party? Will Ash’s belittles finally get taken down? Somehow I ended up reading this book after I read the other two in the series. Although I still enjoyed it, I think it would have her better to read them in order. He sure to read the whole series, they fit together very well. I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review.
The Red Hot Earl
Love is All Around book 1
by Darcy Burke
I just love Christmas themed love stories, and Darcy Burke’s newest series is full of emotions and the Christmas spirit of love.
Loved getting to know Ash and Bianca, two people that had known each other from the time they were children, they new each other’s strengths and weaknesses, their love for each other has always been present but it took them by surprise when they meet at a house party. Both are struggling with their own issues, Bianca with her brothers churlish mood swings and Ash with his body tics which has tormented him since childhood being the butt of many school jokes and bulling. The house party isn’t going well for Ash it’s bring him back to his school days, thanks to the same boys now men that were in attendance at the house party. The only thing that came out of it was Bianca and the attraction just took fire. This is so much story and doesn’t read like a novella, so many emotions and just the right amount of sizzle in one compact beautiful love story. Great new Christmas inspired series!
This is my unbiased opinion.
Sweet short story for the holidays. I’m looking forward to reading about the rest of the cast of characters.
Just the absolute best story. Everything I like to read about and more. Such a great story I will read again and again. A keeper!!
An amazing story, entertaining, enlightening, heartfelt and lots of emotional conflict and soul searching with unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises and misunderstandings. loved reading this and look forward to the rest in this series. Has some steam.
What a sweet and fun story. I found the premise to be interesting, original and entertaining. Bianca is fantastic. She is determined to carry on family traditions despite her brother. Ashton is a new Earl and working to make his way despite society’s view of him. I really enjoyed their story and the message is carries.
Lady Bianca Stafford is the younger sister of an earl. She and her sister are not really happy with their older brother as of late, because he’s decided not to continue traditions long held by the earls before him, including their father. One of these is an annual Christmas event that involves their entire village and is eagerly anticipated by all each year.
But Bianca is not one to just accept his decision. She’ll find a way to make everyone happy. She intends to enlist the assistance of her childhood friend, “Ash”, Ashton Rutledge, the new Earl of Buckleigh. Ash never expected to be an earl, but as his cousin died unexpectedly, he inherited the title.
As a younger boy at school, Ash was not treated well by his cruel cousin or his obnoxious friends. They were all rather torturous. Those same ‘friends’ are now equally ugly adults.
Bianca is invited to a houseparty in which a particular lord hopes to court her as a possible marital prospect. But Bianca becomes reacquainted with her friend Ash and the two cannot stop the attraction between them, despite attempts from others to do so.
This is a lovely holiday tale, reminiscent of another I enjoyed as a child, but a grown up version, with some heat.
I recommend it for an afternoon.
Although this was a quick read, novella, I did not want it to end. I must say that this brought out feelings in me that I had not expected. I felt truly angry on behalf of the main characters. I felt disgust for some of the secondary characters. The characters have realistic emotions and feelings that I think many will relate to. But I fell in love with the main characters. Bianca/Bee is a gutsy outspoken individual. When she speaks, it is clearly with purpose and never fails to hit its mark. She is free spirited and delightful. When she puts her mind to something, she does not let go for anything or anyone. Ashton is a childhood friend of Bianca and they were very close then. Now years later they pick up where they left off. Ashton’s life has not been easy. When he was younger and at school neither his father nor his classmates respected him. They ridiculed him, taunted him and bullied him. He was too small to defend himself. Now ten years later he runs into three of his nemesis hoping they have matured as he has. Nope they have not and in polite company continued where they left off. Bee witnessed all of it and put the bullies in their place. It did not work. They are as pompous as ever and looked down upon her because she was a female. Ashton was able to work through his difficulties. He increased his body strength and that in turn helped him control other aspects of his life. Ashton is a good man, thoughtful kind and willing to give the benefit of the doubt whether it was deserved or not. He was a man of peace. When he re-encountered Bianca again something passed between them. I loved this story. Ashton accepted Bianca as she was and she did the same to him. They were two misfits that happen to fit together. I was so happy how the story ended. I now look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Red Hot Earl, by Darcy Burke, is available at booksellers on 9-24-19. Book 1 in the Love Is All Around trilogy, it sets the stage for our dysfunctional family. There’s Calder, the new duke, Poppy, older sister who’s sad who knows why, and our heroine Bianca (Bee). She’s an upbeat, loyal, optimistic lady, a nice balance to her beau. Our hero is Ashton “Ash” Rutledge, new Earl of Buckleigh. He and Bee are childhood friends who’ve met up again all these years later. Ash suffers from a disease that sounds much like Tourette’s Syndrome. He’s been bullied by almost everyone all his life. It’s taken years but he worked and worked to find way to control his symptoms. He’s brave for not retiring to the country to hide away. His journey is most interesting. Bee, in her happy way, never noticed anything amiss with Ash, acceptance is everything. The story moves them along by way of the upcoming holiday and a snow storm. I just love that trope.
The story is supposed to be loosely based on Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. Loosely is right, it’s hard to see until you’re done. My biggest problem with Red Hot Earl was the school bullies. All grown up now, they’re still emotionally 12 years old. School pranks instead of grown men nastiness? They also changed their tune too quickly and easily for me to find it believable.
Research into St. Stephen’s Day proved interesting. He was the first Christian martyr, in AD36, still celebrated today. His feast is usually celebrated on Dec 26th, also Boxing Day. Ms Burke taught me a new tidbit of information. Thank you.
I’m not sure how Ms Burke is going to pull Calder, the duke, into a story that redeems him. He’s awful. I am interested in what the heck is wrong with sister Poppy. She doesn’t share a dang morsel of information & it’s killing me. Hurry and put me out of my misery.
#NetGalley #DarcyBurke #RedHotEarl #LoveisAllAround #HistoricalRomance
Lady Bianca Stafford (Bee) and Ashton Rutledge, the newly minted Earl of Buckleigh, haven’t seen each other since she was a child and he went away to school. They meet and become reacquainted at Thornaby’s house party. It is Ash’s first foray into society since inheriting the title. Bee is looking for help for the annual St. Stephen’s Day celebration for the villagers. It doesn’t take long to see that their friendship could become so much more. Things do not go entirely well at the party. When an unpleasant incident causes Ash to leave, Bee follows. A few days later, she goes to his estate to ask him to host the village celebration. Thanks to a snowstorm, they start a brief and happy courtship. Smooth sailing from there out? No. There is a contrary brother, a bad joke turned tragic, and a lot of excitement for them once the snowstorm passes. How will all of this work out for Ash and Bee?
Ash Rutledge is a fantastic hero. His strength of character shows in the way he worked to control the tics and outbursts that made him the target of bullies in school. He had not expected to gain the title, but was working to become a barrister. He has staunch allies in Bee and his mother. Bee is feisty and stubborn. She is also kind hearted and caring. She never noticed Ash’s idiosyncrasies when they were younger. He was her friend and she liked him. Bee loves and is concerned for her siblings. Her sister Poppy is sad, and her brother Caulder, the current Duke, is angry. Red Hot Earl is quick, cute, exciting, and a bit spicy. It is an enjoyable beginning to a series that promises the Stafford siblings will learn that Love is All Around.
Rudolph would be proud of Ash.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.