Wicked Earls’ Christmas anthology – book review

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

I have received a free e-copy of the book Wicked Earls’ Christmas to review. This is a collection of romantic Regency novellas by 10 authors.

Here is the book blurb.

Christmastide has never been more wicked. Join the Wicked Earls’ Club as they celebrate the holidays in a most debacherous fashion and manage to find true love along the way…

Earl of Dryden: A Dangerous lord and a desperate debutante…The Earl of Dryden knows all about the debutante who refuses to speak a word to anyone but he never expected she’d be so lovely, nor did he anticipate that he’d catch her confiding her secrets to a marble statue. Even more surprising, he wants to help her. Which is a mistake. A man like him shouldn’t go anywhere near a woman as lovely as Miss Chloe Finch.

Earl of Kent: A lady is determined to woo a brooding and reclusive earl out of his home for Christmas, only to get snowed in with him.

Earl of Kinross: Marcus Brayden, Earl of Kinross, thought fighting Napoleon on the battlefield was dangerous. But it is nothing to the upheaval caused by Lara Le Brecque, his best friend’s sister, when she climbs over his townhouse wall shortly before Christmas and attempts to sneak into his London home.

Earl of Bergen: Thomas, Earl of Bergen gets delayed on his trip home for Christmastide when he finds an abandoned, cross-eyed donkey who is believed cursed, and meets a lovely widow while trying to find the animal a home. Widowed Lady Elizabeth Newton enjoys her life caring for three children from her late husband’s mistress, as well as helpless animals of every description that have no home. Sparks fly between Bergen and the widow, but can a romance survive the danger that follows the donkey?

Earl of Charm: The Earl of Charm has it all–the title, the wealth, the land. The only one thing he doesn’t have? Charm. Luckily, his great aunt has brought her companion along to celebrate Christmastide. The lovely Miss Lovelace might be plagued by scandal and notoriety, thanks to her family’s downfall, but she knows more than anyone about the art of charm and flirtation. His new instructor makes the ideal practice partner for conversation, and dancing, and…kissing?

Earl of Woodcliffe: What begins as a silly game between girlfriends becomes a dangerous distraction for William, Earl of Woodcliffe. Indulging Lady Mercy’s desire for a kiss could lead to a duel with her brother, or at the very least, the loss of his glorious, hedonistic ways.

The Earl of Edgemore, Blake Fox, does as he pleases and he would not dream of apologizing for it. His only weak spot is his sister, Lady Minerva. Little does he know the minx has matchmaking on her mind and Christmas provides the perfect opportunity.

Earl of Oakhurst: James MacKenzie must face London as the new Earl of Oakhurst. Once there, he discovers an ailing grandmother, cause for a hurried marriage and a beauty who defies convention and sets his passion on fire. Caution: this story contains a meddling grandmother, a match-making mother and a marriage of convenience that goes wildly awry!

Earl of Darby: Miss Hannah Pendleton, nursing her pride after a childhood crush falls for another, hurls herself into the excitement of a first season. Since his wife’s tragic death, the Earl of Darby has cultivated his rakish reputation to deter the matchmaking mamas away. But when Nicholas sees a lovely newcomer being courted by the devil himself, her innocence and candor revive the chivalry buried deep in his soul.

Earl of Scarborough: When a woman desperate for a job saves the life of an earl, both of their plans for the future are thwarted. Neither Ansley, Earl of Scarborough, or Willow Harwood are prepared for the upheaval to their lives when she reluctantly accepts his offer of employment… as his housekeeper. Nor can either predict the mayhem that follows when a lord who disdains society and a country miss with no experience plan a haut ton Christmastide gathering.

The authors are as follows…

Tammy Andresen
Collette Cameron
Lauren Smith
Meara Platt
Maggie Dallen
Amanda Mariel
Madeline Martin
Aubrey Wynne
Anna St. Claire
Aileen Fish

I have previously read, reviewed and enjoyed Earl of Dryden by Tammy Andresen, when it was originally published, so I skipped that one and started with the second story in the anthology, Earl of Kent by Lauren Smith. This is the first story I’ve read by Lauren Smith, but apparently it is also the 11th book in her League of Rogues series. However it worked fine as a stand-alone read.

Phillip, the Earl of Kent was almost killed in a violent attack, but he is nursed back to health by an angel in his delerious dreams. Once conscious again, he discovers this is actually his best friend’s sister, Ella Humphrey. When he can walk again, he runs away from his heart’s desire to become a recluse, as who could love a broken man. Meanwhile Ella who has secretly loved Phillip for years is heart-broken.

A year later Ella is determined to persuade reclusive Phillip to leave his country home to escort her to a Christmas party. She won’t take no for an answer, but they get snowed in at a village inn en-route. Can broken bodies and broken hearts be healed?

A delightful Christmas tale and I’m looking forward to reading the eight other stories. Except for Tammy Andresen, they will mostly be new authors for me, apart from I have read the very short prologue to the original Wicked Earls Club which Maggie Dallen wrote jointly with Tammy.

Wicked Earls’ Christmas is available on Amazon in Kindle format. I believe some of the individual titles are also available in paperback.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram