Book Review: The Red Hot Earl by Darcy Burke

Love is All Around Book 1

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 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

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My Review:

Managing heroines drive me mental, and yet, the way Bianca goes about it didn’t bother me at all. It’s the sense of manipulation that I don’t like. Bianca is simply forthright. Rather than steering other people to see her way in order to help her, she does it herself She’s such a force of nature that the people around her can’t help but bend to her will. Ash isn’t quite a full-on gothic hero, he’s just too sweet, but he does share many of their defining traits. He’s a bit of a loner with a tragic backstory and the love of the right woman makes him even greater than he already was. I enjoyed reading about this group of characters and I’m looking forward to learning more about them in the next book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley.