Review: A Beastly Kind of Earl

A Beastly Kind of Earl by Mia Vincy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thea Knight has been an outcast ever since two members of the nobility besmirched her reputation. Estranged from her parents, corresponding with her sister in secret, she plans to restore her reputation by publishing and distributing a thinly veiled account of her troubles amongst the ton. When her sister Helen needs help to elope with the eldest son of Viscount Ventnor, coincidentally the older brother of one of the men who ruined her reputation, Thea doesn't hesitate and willingly agrees to pretend to be her sister to allow them to travel to Gretna Green.

Rafe, the Earl of Luxborough, has been bribed by Viscount Ventor with the promise of rare orchids to keep Helen away from his precious son and heir. Badly scarred by an encounter with a jaguar, Rafe is experimenting with creating medicinal compounds from plants found in his travels overseas. At the same time he needs a significant influx of capital to further his schemes, which could be achieved by marriage as his mother has left him money in trust which can only be accessed when he has married. Rafe knows that Helen and Thea have conspired to swap places and he comes up with a cunning plan - enter into a marriage and get his inheritance then when his wife's real identity is exposed his marriage will be void. He thinks Thea is a scheming social-climbing outcast and has little concerns for her feelings.

Following a clever piece of blackmail by Rafe, Thea and Rafe wed, but at her friend Arabella Larke's request Rafe agrees that they will not consummate the marriage for one month, something that works out well for both of them. They soon repair to Rafe's country home Brinkley End where Thea soon discovers Rafe's secret laboratory and his mysterious servants.

The more I write the more twists and turns in the novel come to mind, so I will stop now. Suffice to say that this is a fun read, both Thea and Rafe and engaging characters there is tons of plotting and counterplotting, dastardly lords and a satisfying comeuppance for all those who did Thea wrong.

Mia Vincy is fast becoming a must-buy author for me, loved this latest historical romance.

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