To Tempt a Troubled Earl

Regency Rossingley #1

by Fearne Hill

A chancer and a rogue, Kit Angel is down on his luck. Presenting himself at Rossingley Hall in the dead of night, he begs an audience with the eleventh earl, the most enigmatic nobleman in Regency England.

The visit has purpose. Kit, hungry to ruin the baronet who ruined his sister, believes Rossingley is the only man who can help him.

Lando Duchamps-Avery, Eleventh Earl of Rossingley, doesn’t trust the sinfully handsome stranger one bit. He does not care for the tales he spins, his hot temper, or his thick, ebony curls. And, most definitely, he is not in thrall to the delicious golden hoop dangling from Kit Angel’s left ear. Lando has his own motivations to ruin the same lord, and the two men form an uneasy alliance.

As the dangerous plot they hatch unfurls, the suspicious earl and the shady scoundrel are increasingly thrown together. Whilst the wily earl gradually surrenders to his growing attraction, Kit can’t make up his mind if he wants to swive him, declare undying love for him, or throttle him.

Bit by bit, as mutual desire swells between them, Kit wins over the earl’s body, his passion, and his trust.

But in order to win the earl’s elusive heart? The scoundrel must risk losing everything.

This first book in the new Rossingley Regency romance series introduces Lando Duchamps-Avery, nineteenth-century predecessor to Dr Lucian Avery of the contemporary Rossingley romance series. With Lando’s story, we return to southern England and the Rossingley estate. This book can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Historical, M M Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Regency, Historical Fiction

295 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2025

About the author

Fearne Hill resides far from the madding crowds in the county of Dorset, deep in the British countryside. She likes it that way.
Her novel, Oyster, is a 2025 Lambda Literary Award winner. Two Tribes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award finalist..
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.

Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest sales and releases! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...

Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill

She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...

Finally, she also writes straight contemporary romance under the pseudonym Coco Chambers.

Reviews

[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Although this is only my first book by author Fearne Hill, I was quickly struck by the quality of her writing.

Here, the Regency-era world-building is vivid, sharp, and entirely engrossing. In particular, the strength of the dialogue went a long way in fully immersing me in a deep sense of person, place, and time, literally from the opening chapter to the close.

I especially appreciated how deftly drawn and fully developed the characters were. No sooner had they each stepped onto the page and I was instantly riveted and desperate to know more about the lonely and grieving Earl (Lando) and Kit Angel, the rogue young thief (and nephew to the Earl’s deceased lover) who seeks him out for help in a desperate revenge scheme against a mutual foe.

Despite initially giving off potential enemies-to-lovers vibes, Lando and Kit’s dynamic transitioned swiftly from hostile strangers, to plotting partners who shared a fierce attraction neither even tried to deny or abstain from. I personally enjoyed the trajectory of their romance, but I would definitely caution that it has an insta-love feel to it that may not appeal to some readers.

The way Hill managed to blend Lando and Kit’s joint revenge scheme with their sweetly unfolding romance, all within a richly crafted historical setting, was beautifully done and effortless engaging to read. Honestly, the speed of their romance, nor the prevalence of their revenge plotting, overshadowed my enjoyment of this love story.

The resolution of the story worked particularly well for me, giving Lando and Kit a satisfying and fairly realistic conclusion for the times they lived in, leaving me equally heart-happy and very much intrigued to read potential sequels, with new characters, while also increasing my interest in Hill’s earlier series that follows the Rossingley bloodline in a contemporary setting.


***A special thanks to the author for gifting me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poignant and moving on many levels, with truly humorous moments scattered here and there, To Tempt a Troubled Earl sank under the weight of Hill's words and the rather nonsensical revenge plot.

Fearne Hill is a master of the written word, no doubt, but the constant musings and conversations were too much here. I found myself skimming long passages that felt pointless and did nothing to propel the plot forward.

I was disappointed that Lord Lando (the earl of the title) and Christopher Angel (the nephew of Lando's beloved partner gone three years from tuberculosis) got together so quickly. The initial scenes of Lando being an ice prince and Kit pushing to save his sister from certain ruin were exciting.

Unfortunately, the men jumped into bed in the blink of an eye, and the tension fizzled.

The ending proved satisfying, but the story didn't fully keep my interest.

[Iz]

DNF

Ugh, I hate to do this.
I LOVE Fearne Hill's other novels to absolute bits, but this isn't working for me. I think it's absolutely my own fault: I've been so busy with life, and my brain's decided to rebel against me and plunge itself into a horrific reading slump.
Like I said, I usually adore Fearne Hill's writing, but it wasn't working for me this time: a bit too flowery maybe? Idk, I won't even try and understand my reasonings, because I don't think there are any. Right book, wrong time or wrong book, wrong time?

On the other hand, Lando was an absolutely intriguing protagonist: icy, forbidding, gruff with a hidden, hurting heart of gold. His grief felt very palpable and true, and if there's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's ice princes who've been hurt in the past but are slowly learning to love and live again. I thought Kit was the perfect counterpart for him.

Anyway, I might pick this up and try again when I'm the mood, but in the meantime... yep, unfortunately it wasn't working for. If you're a fan of historical romances and Fearne's more elaborate prose, do give this a go though! Like I said, this was WHOLLY my own brain's fault.
A shame, since the premise was absolutely intriguing and gripping.

TWs/CWs: sexual assault of side character, grief and death of a loved one.

Many thanks to GRR for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Rossingley! A comfort series, especially book 1 (Lucien, the present-day earl, and Jay) and book 3 (Guillaume and Marcel's book). This new spinoff is essentially Fearne Hill Bridgerton-ing her own books, minus the sweet sweet netflix cash (and Jonathan Bailey, my beloved). As in, we are going back to the oldy-timey days but with self-consciously modern touches (the loyal staff with unusually relaxed manners towards their noble employer; the half-brother, Robert, who Lando (and others) treat as his equal). Lando, our earl, is very Lucien-coded; Kit, our beleaguered ruffian with a heart of gold, is prickly, suspicious, and maybe not overly endowed with the ability to read the room. This is not really enemies-to-lovers -- the extreme inequality of their circumstances prevents them from approaching enemy footing, which implies some potential for mutual destruction -- but it is definitely haughty disdain-to-lovers (Lando) and "oh shit I fucked that up"-to-lovers (really, Kit: read the room). This against the backdrop of Lando's paralyzing grief for his deceased lover, Charles, who -- twist! -- happens to have been Kit's uncle. (For info: Charles passed approximately three years before the story opens; Kit and Lando had never previously met; and Charles is referred to as Lando's "older" lover, while there is an approximately 11-12 year age gap between Lando (mid-30s) and Kit (early 20s).)

More than most historicals, this is very much a suspend your disbelief-type deal, not just in the complicated-verging-on-nonsensical revenge plot but also, and probably more resonantly, in the teasing, almost familial relationship between Lando and his key (male) staff: his valet, butler, and one of the footmen, as well as his actual, but status-wise illegitimate, half-brother. I quite liked these relationships, as Lando would have been an island entirely unto himself without them; but you just have to decide to go with it, rather than get hung up on the plausibility of that kind of informal, jokey intimacy between master and servant. This is also, like most Fearne Hill books, very stylized. While her contemporaries tend to be (sometimes forcibly) breezy in tone, even when the themes and circumstances are quite heavy, this one is going more, well, Bridgerton-y: modern playing at oldy-timey. If I never see the word "gadzooks" again, it will be too soon.

Beyond the stylized language, though, the fact that this is earls and rogues set in the Regency era means it simply hits differently than the OG Rossingleys. There, Lucien being an earl is seen by pretty much all the other characters (and, to some degree, Lucien himself) as super weird and sort of low-key embarrassing: Lucien is an odd duck anyway, and his earliness only makes him odder, because really, EARLS??? In this economy??? Whereas, as every dedicated histrom reader knows, earls and dukes and viscounts and marquises grew on trees back then. Dime a dozen. Couldn't swing a dead cat, etc etc. Which is to say that the aristocrat trope functions entirely differently in a histrom than a contemporary. See above, re: the staff. Maybe there really were these kinds of frank familial relationships between employer and staff back then, at least in some cases; I'm hardly one to know. But that's not really the way the trope works, where subversion of master-servant relationship, if done at all, is usually done in the service of the main romantic relationship, rather than as substitute for the found family trope. So it makes for a different reading experience: not bad, but sometimes jolting.

Yet -- complicated revenge scheme and anachronistic style and somewhat implausible servant/found family set-up aside --there is an emotional authenticity at the heart of this that I found compelling. Lando's grief over Charles has been compounded by the secrecy around it, the fact that -- beyond a select circle of servants and Robert -- no one knows about it and acknowledges his loss. This added heartbreak of unacknowledged loss was the reality for so many queer couples for so long (and for many, probably still is); here it is especially poignant because the first person outside Lando's circle to speak the truth of Lando's relationship with Charles does so in precisely the way they always feared (seriously, Kit: read the room!!!). But Lando himself admits that, at some fuzzy undefined point, his intense grief shaded into ennui; that while he still mourned Charles's loss, he was also just stuck. This makes his decision to go along with Kit's desire for vengeance, and his eventual susceptibility to Kit's charms, more comprehensible: at some level, he is ready to move forward again, provided the right push and the right person. I also really liked how Charles's importance to Lando was not downgraded or pushed aside or, conversely, made into a source of conflict as his relationship with Kit deepened. Lando doesn't forget Charles or try to lessen Charles's centrality in his life to spare Kit's feelings; nor does Kit show jealousy towards the relationship they had, or try to assert his own precedence. The main conflict between Lando and Kit centers on their unequal status, where Kit in particular mistrusts Lando's motives and is disbelieving that they can properly be together, given all the obstacles thrown in their way by the world outside Rossingley; this, too, feels appropriate in a story where the privileged Lando is less concerned about the judgement of other, less elevated, mortals.

So after all that, what this really boils down to is my standard Fearne Hill-related advice: if her books, especially the Rossingleys, have worked for you before, this probably will too; if her tone or writing style isn't generally your jam, this won't be the exception. This kind of decisive commentary is why they pay me the big bucks, friends.

I got an ARC from GRR in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

DNF at 40%- no rating

I usually love Fearne Hill, and I love historical romance, but I struggled with this one. I don't love romances where the attraction and the couple get together early on, and though we had a *moment* of "enemies" here, they get together fairly early in the story. I found it to be challenging to get through, and I kept delaying reading this one in favor of some other books. Unfortunately, a DNF for me.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

B / 4 stars

I was pleased when I learned that Fearne Hill would be returning to Rossingley – this time for a series of historical romances set in the early nineteenth century. To Tempt a Troubled Earl is the first of a four book set, and tells the story of how Henry Orlando Fitzwilliam Albert Duchamps-Avery, eleventh Earl of Rossingley and the ancestor of Lucien, the sixteenth earl ( To Hold a Hidden Pearl ) finds love again after heartcrushing loss.

Lando is still grieving the death, some three years earlier, of the man he loved. Unable to be at his bedside at the end and unable to grieve him publicly, Lando has eschewed society, preferring to remain in isolation at his country estate. His solitude on this particular evening is interrupted by an unexpected and unwanted caller who introduces himself as Christopher Angel - the nephew of the late Captain Charles Prosser. Hearing his lover’s name spoken aloud after so long is something of a shock, but Lando agrees to see the young man and his sister, Anne.

Mr. Angel is dressed soberly but cheaply, in the manner of a secretary or clerk – and Lando can’t fail to notice that he cuts a striking figure, with his dark hair and eyes, his sulky mouth and single gold earring. Lando extends a distinctly chilly welcome, and listens as Mr. Angel explains that Anne – who was Captain Prosser’s ward - has recently been forced to leave her position as a lady’s companion due to the unwelcome attentions of a so-called gentleman – who happens to be Lando’s closest neighbour - and asks for his help in finding her another situation. Angel drops Charles’ name into the conversation frequently – too frequently for Lando’s comfort – and when he outright talks about the closeness of their relationship, Lando has had enough. If Christopher Angel has come to him with the idea of blackmailing him, he can think again.

Kit finds it hard to believe that the frosty, bloodless creature who’d confronted him is the man his gregarious, kind Uncle Charles described as the love of his life. His uncle hadn’t warned him the Earl had been carved from a block of ice – but neither had he told Kit how beautiful the man is. At least the Earl has allowed Anne to remain at Rossingley for the time being, placing her into the capable hands of his housekeeper before having Kit forcibly ejected from the house.

Kit returns to Rossingley the next day, and is allowed another audience with the Earl in order to present the full facts of the situation. Anne had travelled to the neighbouring Gartside Manor with her employer, but had been summarily dismissed when Sir Ambrose Gartside, a known lecher, had attempted to force himself upon her. Things didn’t get too far, but she was seen in his embrace and her mistress informed – and Anne was thrown out with nothing but the clothes on her back and a ruined name. Lando admits to Kit that Anne isn’t the first young woman to have suffered Gartside’s unwanted attentions and that she’s unlikely to be the last. But his condolences and offer for Anne to remain at Rossingley until she is well enough to leave aren’t enough for Kit. He’s furious that a man like Gartside can do whatever he pleases and get away with it simply because of his rank – and he wants revenge of the only sort readily available to him. He can’t challenge Gartside and he doesn’t have the clout to bring the law down upon his head, which leaves only one course of action open to him. Trickery. But for that, Kit needs the help of someone with wealth, someone of high moral standing… and in possession of a singularly sharp mind.

Although angry at Kit’s constant references to his uncle and what Lando believes to be a veiled threat to reveal the nature of their relationship, the younger man’s words about Gartside prompt Lando to take a more thorough look at his neighbour’s land – and what he sees is worrying. The fields are overgrown, many of the tenant cottages are in a poor state of repair, and Lando’s man of business has learned that the estate is being run into the ground. The tenants are being squeezed dry and many are being forced to leave and enter the workhouse as the crops fail and they can no longer support themselves. Lando decides it’s time something was done, and hatches an elaborate plan to do just that while also finding out more about the irritating – and dangerously attractive – Christoper Angel.

I do enjoy a clever, well-executed revenge plot, and I have a soft spot for the clever, sharp-tongued ruthless bastard with a heart of gold character-type, so To Tempt a Troubled Earl worked pretty well for me. Kit is a charming rogue who, after the sudden death of his elderly employer, was forced to find other ways of making a living, turning to petty thievery and card-sharping because finding another situation proved impossible without references. He’s kind and funny and clever; he tries hard to do the best for his sister, and he hates having to turn to someone else for help. Having to beg the icy Earl of Rossingley for help is bad enough; that the man is gorgeous and devious and all kinds of fascinating is just plain unfair. Kit can’t help slowly falling under Lando’s spell – even if he can’t help wondering if he can fully trust him.

Readers of To Hold a Hidden Pearl will immediately note the similarities in looks, personality and situation between the sixteenth earl and his illustrious ancestor. Like Lucien, Lando has suffered a weighty loss that has mired him in grief for years and hasn’t been dealing with it well. He’s just starting to think that perhaps it’s time to get back to living rather than existing when he’s presented with exactly the kind of thing he needs, a project that captures his interest – and a man who does the same.

The romance between Lando and Kit is nicely done, with the two of them growing closer as they work on Lando’s plan to deliver a comeuppance to his leery oaf of a neighbour. The scheme is deviously clever and really well thought-out, but I have to admit that I was sometimes more invested in that than I was in the romance. I liked the characters individually and they’re good for each other as a couple, but Lando is such a larger-than-life character that Kit suffers by comparison and comes off as a little bland. There’s a small but well-crafted secondary cast, most notably Lando’s half-brother, Robert (who has a very intriguing past), his long-suffering, sardonic valet, and Jasper, the bruiser-turned-footman assigned to keep an eye on Kit, who are afforded a greater freedom to speak their minds than others of their ilk while not being overly chummy with their employer. There are a couple of things in the story that don’t really reflect the societal mores of the time and the period feel isn't strong. The ending is a little too pat; finding an HEA for a same-sex couple in historical romance is always difficult as they can’t be a couple openly, so in stories where one man is of higher rank, the other often becomes his secretary or man of business or somesuch, which provides the reason for them to live in the same house. Something similar happens here, but the solution arrived at feels somewhat unlikely to me.

Fearne Hill is one of my go-to authors, and while this book isn’t going onto my keeper shelf, it is, like all her her stories, intelligently crafted, well-written and infused with warmth and humour. I enjoyed To Tempt a Troubled Earl and will be back for the next in the series.

[Kazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable Reg-Rom. It took me a while to get into Lando's character. Kit was interesting enough. The writing transports the reader to another place in time, always important when you read historical stories of any persuasion.
It had a satisfying ending, it can never be like a contemporary romance, but I left with a sense that their future was going to be loving and solid. There is a game that goes on within the story that affects Kit and another lord, oh, and a Bow Street runner. I'm glad how that played out in the end.
Blog review-

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Henry Orlando Fitzwilliam Albert Duchamps-Avery, Eleventh Earl of Rossingley, is one of the richest men in England. He’s moping for three years over his dead lover. He should move one. But Charles the man question, is imprinted in his heart and soul.

One night there was a visitor, one Mr. Christopher Angel, aka Kit, a nephew of… his dead lover.
Kit’s sister's name was ruined by an awful Baronet. Landon is afraid to be blackmailed because of his secret love affair with Charles. He throws Kit out on the streets.

In short, Landon has his reasons to ruin de baronet. So Landon and Kit team up to bring the baronet down.

The vocabulary of this read was excellent, it did go above my (not English native) head. Still, it felt extraordinary and authentic to the historical context. The slow-paced romance was delightful, and the humor was marvelous. 
The author crafted some fabulous characters!

If you have read the Rossingley series, you will be thrilled to meet Lucien’s ancestors!!
What a great idea for a new series!
I loved this story very much!!

[Mal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Lando and Kit were stupendous. I absolutely adore the way Fearne Hill writes. She brings her characters story to life by immersing you in their world till you almost feel a part of the story. This one was my first regency romance in a long while and I loved the speech and detailed interesting descriptions and the quirks of the period.

There was so much to love about this story, a dash of enemies to lovers, tons of forbidden vibes, loads of found family, complete opposites attract. There is also this thread of mystery and discovery running through the whole plot. At first in the way Kit himself is introduced to the Earl and the. The dastardly scheme that is hatched by Lando to right wrongs. The way Hill unfolds everything so organically is fantastic to read. Also Kit and Lando will both make room for themselves in any readers hearts, while quite different on the surface - Kit more rugged, rough hewn and hot headed and Lando, the epitome of class and coolness covering a heart of gold - they both have a compass directing them to justice and fairness, by less than moral but more than honourable means.

I also loved the motley crew of the rest of the cast from Tommy to Robert to Pritchard and Jasper. They really brought heart and warmth to the whole story. At first Lando’s grief and loneliness was heartbreaking but it was also quite moving to see how he healed as the story progressed. A lot of that came from the spark and then inferno between the earl and Kit and it was wonderful to see it grow into this strong love. I also loved how all was resolved and comeuppance was had.

All in all, if you’re in the mood for a historical romance, I definitely recommend giving this one a go.

Expect:
* Regency romance
* Opposites attract
* A scheme to gain justice
* Found family
* Animosity to love
* Touch of the forbidden

[Jen (Fae_Princess_in_Space) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, if slightly silly, story get in regency England. A love story between down-on-his-luck gentleman thief Christopher ‘Kit’ Angel and the Earl of Rossingley, Lando.

Kit is the nephew of Lando’s late lover, Charles (which… from the start made me cringe a little. But the age gap isn’t too wild, Lando is 34 and Kit is 23). Kit appeals to Lando for help when Kit’s sister is sexually assaulted(off page) by a Baron who owns the lands next to Lando’s. Kit demands Lando’s help, insinuating knowledge of Lando and his uncle’s affair, making a complete mess of it in the process… why on earth didn’t he just ask nicely?

Anyhow, taken with the charming young man and his connection to his late lover (again, eeep) Lando reluctantly agrees to help, as he also has beef with the baron next door.

Lando cooks up a (very convoluted) plan to disgrace the baron involving a fake cotton mill business proposal and luring the baron into bribing Kit, who is impersonating a member of the government. Although I appreciate the nefariousness of the plan, it just felt so comedically over the top that I felt it detracted from what was actually a really good story.

There were some elements however that I loved; the intimate scenes of the two of them together were scorching hot and I loved the side cast of queer servants (especially Pritchard the sassy valet and Jasper the gruff footman). I also appreciated how Lando’s family were portrayed - he’s father to two sons, from a marriage in his early 20s, his wife (who was also queer) unfortunately dying in childbirth. The children were at Eaton for the whole story, so didn’t feature in the book, but I appreciated that Lando spoke of them and went to visit them; they weren’t just forgotten.

So overall a book that I did enjoy reading, but not one that hugely stood out to me. That being said, I look forward to reading the second in the series as I enjoy this author’s writing and I am a sucker for queer regency romance.

[Jaye Ellice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lando, Eleventh Earl of Rossingley: Recovering from the loss of a lover, icy and composed on the outside
Kit Angel: Hot-tempered and desperate to avenge his sister

This moody Regency-era historical drama will have you reaching for your snifter of brandy so you, too, can brood as well as Lando, the Earl of Rossingley. He does it quite well, though, so maybe it's best not to compete. Lando and Kit start in bitter conflict and I enjoyed their journey from enemies to lovers. The story of their quest for revenge is clever, moody, and threaded with lots of heart.

They start as an unlikely pair with a seemingly insurmountable power gap. On the surface, Lando is a cold, tragic dandy and Kit is an angry young commoner, but they eventually reveal themselves to be much more nuanced than that. I was often charmed by their private, internal thoughts about each other. They can be quite sweet and admiring. They also have plenty of chemistry, from the moment they encounter each other as volatile enemies, right through to the end of their story.

The man who ruined Kit's sister is easy to dislike, and the plot surrounding his attempted take-down (no spoilers here!) is intelligent and gutsy. You'll be cheering for his downfall and a little tense the whole time, because the stakes are high.

It's worth noting that this is a historically accurate Regency novel and being gay is a crime. This also means there are, at times, expressions of homophobia by some characters.

This is a smart, immersive story. Lando and Kit are unlikely but extremely likable together. You'll be rooting for them to get together and thirsty for their revenge to succeed. This is the first in the Regency Rossingley series and I'll be watching for the next installment.

**I received an ARC and chose to leave a review.**

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big fan of historical romances, add in rogues, adventure, wit and cads that get their just desserts, then I'm doubly hooked.
This Rossingley ancestor, Lando, reminds me of Lucien (present day earl), yet he is his own person. He has loved and lost, only to be brought out of his self-imposed exile from life by the Kit, nephew to the lost love.
The story has an underlying thread of wit and humour, overlayed with the danger of the plan to bring about the downfall of a cad and dodging a Bow Street runner. I enjoyed the authenticity of the society of that era woven around the fantasy of having an accepting found 'family' of household help (valet, housekeeper, etc.). This is a fictional historical romance to be enjoyed, not a historical treatise to be fact checked.
This will be a reread for me, up there with some of my other favourite rereads, including a few Georgette Heyer capers. Loved it!

[Daje1968 · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw this offering from GRR, I was intrigued. The only other Fearne Hill book I’ve read was Two Tribes, which was contemporary (or at least 1990s contemporary, where no one was wearing waistcoats or eating syllabub.) Turns out Fearne can absolutely write historical. The prose feels authentic without being anachronistic, and the story itself is solid.

There were a few things that felt a little disjointed to me. For example, when Lando was drunk and Kit kissed him, it almost read like a hallucination. And I struggled a bit with the fact that Lando was still grieving (three years later) the uncle of the man he’s now falling for. Also unclear why Lando needed to have children, but maybe that’s my modern brain talking.

Overall, though, a well-done historical.

However, and this is shallow of me, but I own that I am deeply shallow. Can we talk about the cover? Who is that? It looks nothing like either main character. Is it one of Lando’s sons? Because to me it looks like some Italian kid whose nonna just twisted his ear for eating three cannoli off the tray before company arrived. How does this happen? Who approved “naughty little Giuseppe” as the face of this book?

ARC provided through GRR in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars

To Tempt a Troubled Earl goes back to the year 1821. If you are familiar with Fearne Hill’s present day Rossingley series, you may recognize that Lando is one of Lucien’s ancestors from To Hold a Hidden Pearl. Lando is a well respected as a kind land owner, but he has been a recluse for the past three years since the love of his life died. Of course, that relationship was secret and only those in Lando’s employ that he trusts the most know where Lando’s heart and preferences lie.

I never did fight the right footing with this book. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the men as much as it was stated it was there. The scheme was basic and didn’t keep me entertained or engaged much. Besides the horses and the ballroom events in certain homes, the atmosphere also never captured the feel of 1821 for me either.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dee's Grade: A

This was what you expect in a regency romance. A little caper. Some romance and a hard won HEA.

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful characters and wonderful tale telling. A rattling good yarn with memorable heroes, I was unable to resist. It took me back to the days when I first discovered Georgette Heyer, the Queen of Regency Romance, and then devoured all of her books. The story will also be of particular joy, to fans of Fearne's To Hold A Hidden Pearl. In this story we are introduced to the charming but somewhat troubled Earl of Rossingley, Lando, (he's obviously very lonely), who encounters the captivating Kit, a young man living on the fringes of society.

Fearne goes on to weave a lovely romance, with vivid descriptions of Regency London and its colourful inhabitants. The Earl and Kit's story is filled with twists and turns, until the very end. As Lando gets to know Kit, his emotions flip flop, as he wars with his own demons. Then, as the two men work together, in an attempt to right a grave wrong, they fall in love, leading to some great moments of laughter, mostly caused by Kit's stubbornness, tenderness, and sweet love.

It really is an enjoyable read! With two very strong characters (although Kit's no match for Lando), and a great plot. It had a little spice and lots of emotion, and the infamous pearls make an appearance. It's a great story to lose yourself in, especially if you love Ms Hill's Rossingley series.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Tempt a Troubled Earl (Regency Rossingley 1)
By Fearne Hill
NineStar Press, 2025
Five stars

This is Fearne Hill at her best. I have to say, the leap backwards two centuries from the contemporary Rossingley series to the world of Regency England is a brave move. Historical novels set in this period evoke the huge success of Georgette Heyer (whose work I read as a teenager in the 1960s and 70s). She sets a standard for all modern writers who attempt historical fiction. Hill succeeds at this time travel because she manages the language and the period character of the people and the settings very well.

It’s a marvelous idea to imagine that the earl of Rossingley we know from the contemporary series is part of a legacy of same-sex love going back two centuries—and, if you believe the eleventh earl, even farther back than that. This book, however, focuses on Orlando Duchamps-Avery, known to his few close friends as Lando, in 1821. The eleventh earl lives in near-seclusion, as he has for some three years. Most people don’t understand that he is in mourning over the death of his beloved friend Captain Charles Prosser.

When Christopher Angel bursts into his life, claiming to be Captain Prosser’s nephew and demanding that the earl help him avenge his sister’s dishonor at the hands of a neighboring baronet, Lando’s first reaction is to have him physically thrown out of Rossingley’s front doors.

Kit Angel is a hothead and has lived a less-than-honorable life in London simply to survive. His sister’s disgrace at the hands of an arrogant and heartless nobleman drives him; but it is his connection to the late Charles Prosser that finally gets the aloof and lonely earl to pay attention.

The author moves the plot forward carefully, looking at the aristocracy of Regency England with a sometimes jaundiced eye. It’s fascinating that Hill takes the time to let the reader understand how a great English estate works, even touching on things like diversifying investments as technology begins to emerge in the early 19th century. It is in this context that the author places the mercurial young earl, whose own arrogance hides a generous heart and a sense of duty worthy of his family’s legacy.

The unexpected romance between the London nobody and the reclusive earl is at the center of the story, but Hill sets this relationship against a richly-painted backdrop that allows the reader to step out of the present and into the past.

There are a few little anachronisms here and there; and the notion presented that a South Carolina cotton planter would not use slave labor is completely impossible for the 1820s—an idea rooted in today’s profound discomfort with the economic realities of the United States at the time (and the parallel idea that many English nobleman quietly made lots of money from slavery far away from the British Isles, even though slavery was illegal in the UK itself).

But these are minor considerations in a story that is beautifully written, emotionally engaging, and filled with characters you love from the moment you get to know them. I’ve already ordered the second book in the series.

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I overall enjoyed this book, which did its best to be a fun frothy historical romp, but I do think some pretty serious things were handwaved or included without any interrogation.

The fun parts were quite fun. It's a fast paced romp where a truly terrible man is tricked out of his fortune and it was cathartic to see his downfall. I did like the relationship between Lando and Kit, and it was also nice to read about a household that truly did feel secure for them to be together behind closed doors without fear of discovery.

I've read from the author before, including a few from the modern day Rossingley-verse, and generally get on with their writing. However, some things that gave me pause (literally stopped me reading for a bit before continuing and thought about whether I would): unnecessary fat shaming of a side character (along with a very cavalier attitude/wish for his premature death for convenience's sake?) -- this is a brief moment in the book, but it was a bit of a record scratch for me.

Then there is the scheme to divest Gartside of his assets, which includes a cotton mill (of course Lando pays his workers more than the average mill owner). When he sets up the ruse, it is passingly mentioned that his American supplier of cotton doesn't use slave labor. Uh, really? You're confident of that? I know this might be nitpicking, but I'm picking at nits the author included in the story.

Lando's wife died while giving birth many years ago, which is spoken of pretty lightly. I would have liked to have some more about how they were good friends and he missed her, but it felt very 'I've got my heir and spare off her, moving on!' If the point was meant to be that life was very fragile and precarious and many women died in childbirth back then, I feel like a moment could have been spent on extrapolating that idea. Instead, her death was contrasted for me by Lando's three years of uninterrupted mourning for his male lover.

There's also a passing mention of Kit having Rom(ani) heritage, which accounts for his 'olive' complexion, and it feels like it didn't need to be mentioned if it wasn't going to be explored beyond a reason for their differing skin tones?

I feel like a lot of the things that pulled me out of the book could have been interrogated a bit more deeply, possibly a few lines of dialogue or paragraph of inner thoughts could have integrated them more naturally into the book and it would have elevated my rating.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you who have read the brilliant Rossingley series with Lucien the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley this book takes us back to 1621 and Regency times, when Lando was the eleventh Earl. I loved reading about Lando and couldn’t help but make comparisons, the physical characteristics and his personality and picture in my mind Lucien, who has definitely inherited so much from his ancestor and not just his white blond hair and preference for men but a kindness, sharp brain and a quick and devilish wit.

Lando was existing not living and had been grieving at Rossingley for three years, since his beloved Charles had died, until one day Christopher Angel, a petty thief and a bit of a rogue, although well educated and a gentleman but without means, turns up on his doorstep and turns his world upside down.

Kit has his distraught sister Anne with him and he is full of revenge for a certain Lord whom Lando also has a very poor opinion of. We see them join an uneasy alliance with the plan to discredit the Lord.

The more time they spend together the harder it is to deny their attraction. Kit is tall, broad and very attractive and although Lando is not quick to trust his character he can’t keep his hands off him. Kit finds Lando beautiful but when Lando declares his feelings he is scared. They are from a different social class and although Kit is a chancer he has his pride. Will they be able to work towards a future that will suit them both bearing in mind the need for secrecy.

Fearne has written this story with interesting, complex and loveable characters, lots of clever banter and most of the best lines go to Lando’s amazingly loyal and funny servants, who are like family to him. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read all about Benedict Fitzsimmons, the fourteenth Duke of Ashington in book two.

Highly recommend.

[Kiki Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Tempt a Troubled Earl, the new book by Fearne Hill lies at the intersection of two things I adore: Regency romance and Rossingley.
The first meeting between the 11th Earl of Rossingley, Lando, and Kit Angel does not go well. Thinking the young man is trying to blackmail him, Kit is unceremoniously booted from Rossingley. The second meeting isn’t much better. But the third time is the charm, when Kit is able to explain his inelegant introduction, their surprising connection, and his mission to destroy the man who ruined his sister’s reputation. Who just happens to be Lando’s despised neighbor.
Kit stirs something in Lando, and he finds himself enlivened by their shared quest to bring down the despicable Gartside. And the attraction they feel is delicious. What fun to watch the controlled but passionate Lando and younger, sometimes sulky Kit dance around and finally give in to their feelings.
TTATE proves the Duchamp-Avery bloodline is strong. Lucien’s ancestor has the same white blond hair, silvery eyes, and a penchant for silky nightclothes and binding lovers in pearls. The air of grieving that initially clings to Lando is reminiscent of the modern day anesthesiologist who falls for his own dark haired charmer. I loved Lando - his icy beauty, sense of style, and clever mind made this book so much fun.
And what a treat to see Rob Langford’s ancestor having such a prominent and vital role in the proceedings.
Expect plenty of adventure, romance, and swoony prose. There’s a passage near the end that’s pure poetry. And this:
“Waltz with me, Lando.” Gadzooks!
A Regency romp with a rake bent on avenging his sister’s honor, the haughty, eccentric earl who helps him, and a whomping good adventure transporting you through the glorious English countryside and mingling with the ton in London. I loved it! Highly recommended. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of historical romances, but this book makes me think I need to be more open to them! I found both Kit and Lando to be interesting, well-rounded, lovable lead characters and I absolutely adored their romantic relationship. They hatched quite the intricate plot to ruin the baronet who'd wronged Kit's sister, and I had a ton of fun working my way through the layers and unexpected surprises along the way. Lando was grieving the death of his former lover when Kit showed up at his door, and to say he was not receptive to his pleas feels like an understatement. I have to admire Kit for his persistence, and it really paid off when I saw the teasing, affectionate chemistry spring to life between them. As Kit and Lando plotted, they grew closer and closer, and I learned so much about how each of them had grown into their present-day versions of themselves. Kit had some secrets from his past that he was ashamed to admit out loud, and Lando needed time to heal his heart and open himself back up to love again. Their time in London felt sometimes tense with anticipation and sometimes like a luxurious retreat. I basked in the sweetness of their stolen kisses and nights together, and I have a newfound appreciation for silky nightgowns. Things took a bit of a nasty turn towards the end, but that only served as a wake-up call for how deeply in love Lando and Kit were with each other. Lando's staff were a riot -- not afraid to snark at the earl and hold him accountable when he was being silly. They ended up being pivotal in executing the plot against the baronet and sequestering Kit back to Rossingly to build a life with Lando. All in all I had a lot of fun with this book and I loved how happily the romance worked out.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Historical romance
- New series
- Slow Burn
- Antagonists to lovers

This is the first of a new series, a regency romance set on the Rossingley estate. Lando is an ancestor of the current-day Earl of Rossingley, and shares more than a few similarities with Lucian. When we meet him, he's grieving the loss of his long term lover and is deep in depression. Kit is the nephew of said lover and comes to Lando for help, but perhaps doesn't go about it very well at the start. They both have their different reasons to want to get even with the odious neighbour of Rossingley, and once we're past the initial hostility and misunderstanding, things move along between the two.

What follows is Lando's brilliant and devious mind hatching a plan to ruin said neighbour and take his land, while Kit gets to avenge his sister. I liked both men very much. Lando does share much with the modern day Earl, including his pearls and a fondness for nightwear, along with some food issues and a loss so great it's devastating. These two together though are wonderful. I loved finding out more about Kit and his story too, and Kit's antagonistic relationship with his bodyguard/valet Jasper was hilarious too. I loved the cast of supporting characters too and wouldn't be averse to seeing some of them again in future books.

Although the plan is a bit convoluted it of course all comes good in the end and even though I wanted the odious Gartside to pay a bit more, I'm satisfied with the outcome. Though this is a slow burn, there's plenty of heat and the story does move along so the book itself isn't slow. I loved being back at Rossingley, even in the past and I'm definitely keen for more. I adore historical romance.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pearls! The string of pearls. I guess technically it wasn't a reappearance of the pearls, but rather the first appearance in the hands and around the neck of a Rossingly Earl. Their presence in the novel draws a direct line from Lando, the 11th Earl of Rossingly, who appears in this book, and Lucien who is the 16th Earl and appears in the contemporary Rousingly series. In addition, both men enjoy lounging in silky nightgowns or robes, and can turn on icy demeanor at will. As soon as I finished this book, I went back to To Hold a Hidden Pearl to see what else echoed.

Lando is visited by a hotheaded and righteous young man named Kit. Kit is the nephew of Lando's late lover, Charles, and comes to seek his help because his sister has been "ruined" by the Lord of an adjacent estate. Sensibly, Lando suspects Kit of possibly attempting to blackmail him. But he is not immune to the fact that his neighbor is an unmitigated ass, ruining women, ruining his family name, and driving his estate into the ground. Lando sets out to plot his neighbor's downfall and while the action of the novel follows the steps related to ruining the Lord, the novel also follows the Earl coming to life again after years of despond and finding delight in becoming Kit's lover.

For Kit, he can't help himself but to love Lando. Lando, on there hand, has to believe again that he can love. The dual point of view is so rewarding in this book because Lando and Kit have such different temperaments.

[Ana Nimity · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been years—probably about 40—since I last read a Regency romance, and I only picked this one up because it’s Fearne Hill, whose storytelling skills I trust implicitly.

It was fun to be back with the ton, especially in Rossingley with the 11th Earl, Lando. An ancestor of the modern-day earl, he shares more than a few traits with his descendant, Lucien, from the contemporary series—his love of pearls, his taste for luxurious nightwear, and his sharp mind hiding deep heartbreak. Lando has been stuck in grief since losing his longtime lover, Charles, when Christopher (Kit)—Charles’s nephew—shows up seeking help. Kit doesn’t exactly make the best first impression, but once they move past their initial tension, they realize they share a goal: taking down their repugnant neighbor, Gartside.

What follows is a mix of romance, humor, and revenge—think Dangerous Liaisons meets Bridgerton. The slow-burn romance between Lando and Kit has plenty of heat, and their interactions—along with Kit’s banter with his bodyguard/valet, Jasper—keep things entertaining. The supporting cast makes Regency-era Rossingley feel just as lively and full of personality as its modern counterpart, though this book works perfectly as a standalone.

However, if historical romance isn’t your thing, and especially if you’re from the U.S., proceed with caution—the language is stylized and mostly period-appropriate, so you may find yourself looking up unfamiliar terms. Personally, I love that sort of thing in novels set in England, and the historical setting made it even more fun.

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Such a beautiful story, it gave me all the feelings! There was grief for a lost love, hope for a new life, a bashful love declaration, tender intimacy, an intense physical connection and the challenges of a forbidden relationship. I really really loved all of it.
Kit and Lando don't meet under the most favourable circumstances and it took them a while to start trusting each other and work together for a noble cause, but then they fell into each other's arms and they cannot stay apart anymore. Their connections is pure and strong despite their personal insecurities and the uncertainty of their relationship because of the times they live in, they find a way to stay together.
I adored how they yearn for one another, their intimate touches and kisses, their first time and all their furtive glances. Lando reminded me very much of Lucien and I liked all the connections that the author made between them.

What prevented me from giving 5 full stars:
I struggled a bit with the language, sometimes I had to look for the meaning of specific words, but I still liked this writing style very much, it helped me to lose myself into that world.
I also would have loved to see Kit meeting the twins.

The side characters are great: two snarky valets, Pritchard and Jasper, who know no boundaries and are all in their lord's business, and an enigmatic, very charming half-brother who definitely deserve his own story.

Can't wait for the next book!
Highly recommended

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Book Promotions and this is my honest review

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Dear Fearne Hill,

I need you to write regency romances like this, now and forever more, because this was outstanding, and I'm in love with everything Regency Rossingley, and I hope this masterclass of a series will be forever long!

Sincerely,

the biggest fan of this most glorious and breathtaking historical, since my last K.J. Charles.

When i say that this was marvelous, you better believe that!! Like K.J. Charles good! I would be speechless rn, sitting quietly beaming and feeling silly in love in this energy, if i didn't have to write a review about the loveliness i'd just read. I feel like I'm discovering Fearne Hill for the first time and I want more of everything To Tempt A Troubled Earl was!

There's really nothing to break down because this was perfection from start to finish. I was enraptured from page 1, the characterization was brilliant, the loving was radiant, the plot was plotty and the narrative was top tier exquisiteness that i could legit read forever. If you are into mm historicals, and KJC, Cat, et al are your vibe, this will hopefully be a fabulous addition to your list of greats!

So yeah, that's it. That's my review! i'm so happy that i got to discover this side of Fearne Hill's narrative prowess and I absolutely cannot wait for the next impressive installment in the Regency Rossingley series! Stunning!

[Babara-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK NOW I NEED TO READ MORE FROM ROSSINGLEY SERIES-REGENCY AND MODERN!💕

Rossingley Estate, 1821

This was such a blast to read, I love when I can chuckle while reading an engaging book with a good plot line and found family aspect be it friends, family or staff as in this instance!

What can we say about Henry Orlando Fitzwilliam Albert Duchamps-Avery, Eleventh Earl of Rossingley, Lando to his family and close acquaintances, who loves silky night gowns, string pearls and gold hoop earrings, especially situated on a gorgeous specimen of a man’s ear who comes for his assistance- Christopher Angel aka Kit the nephew of his deceased lover, Captain Charles Prosser, but ends up kicked out on the street twice?

Persistence, loyalty and respect which eventually turns to trust, affection and perhaps love?

Who tempted who?…

A cruel clever plot to bring one man down but could send another to the gallows…

“Be prepared to trust me, too,” Lando pleaded. “However it might seem, however dark it might get, I promise I shall not let you hang.”

Will Lando keep his word?
Will Kit accept his apology?
Will they continue as lovers or part as good friends?

I loved the close found family aspect that Lando has with his loyal staff Pritchard and Jasper and their partners and Lando’s half brother. Hopefully Jasper will warm up to Kit…

I look forward to the next book of the series, looks intriguing…

I voluntarily received an ARC to honestly give my opinion on this book.

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Lando has been grieving his dead lover for 3 years. When Kit and Anne, nephew and niece of Charles, turn up on his doorstep in the middle of the night, his hackles are raised. Especially when he hears WHY they are there. But not all is as it first seems, and there is a duke to ruin.

I thoroughly enjoyed this visit to Rossingley!

Lando is grieving, but for the most part, in secret. His staff are wonderful! But Kit throws him for a loop, not least because he is Charles' nephew (sort of) Once reasons are explained, things become clearer. Then there is the neighbour duke, who needs bringing down a peg or three.

I loved the interactions between Lando and Kit, both at the beginning and right through the book. They are well suited to each other! Not especially heavy on the steam, but just the right amount for this book and this time.

I loved the way the duke was brought down. I wasn't fully in on the plan, as to how it was going to work, but that was just my brain not really putting it altogether! I understood why Lando does what he does, I think it was needed to make Kit see just what he means to Lando.

I'm intrigued by Lando's men, his butler and valet. I need their stories now!

I'm looking forward to returning to Rossingley at some point!

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved all of the books I’ve read by Fearne Hill but the Rossingley books have a special place in my heart. It’s partly because To Hold a Hidden Pearl (THAHP), book one of the original contemporary Rossingley series, is the first book I read by her. But it’s also because her writing is just beautiful; the words flow smoothly and the descriptions make me want to visit all of the places she writes about.

In To Tempt a Trouble Earl we see signs of Lucien’s (*THAHP) affinity for pearls and slinky nightwear and that made me smile. While Lando and Kit get off to a very rocky start I enjoyed how their relationship developed over time. The desire to get revenge on the one who brought dishonor to Kit’s niece allowed them to bond and their relationship to grow.

I could go on and on but the blurb already tells you what you need to know about the story. I just want to add that I loved reading this – it made my eyes leak more than once and that means it really touched me – and I’m very happy to know that there is another book coming.

*You do not need to read THAHP to enjoy this new series but it’s wonderful and I highly recommend it.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kit Angel is basically a thief. When his sister is traumatized by her employer’s actions, Kit turns to Lando Duchamps-Avery, Eleventh Earl of Rossingley, for help. Lando was his uncle’s special friend and he is sure he can help him by aiding his sister and ruining the baronet who ruined his sister. At first, Lando wants nothing to do with Kit, but realizes the someone must stop the baronet. The two, with a little help from his unique staff and acquaintances, devise a plot to ruin him. As it comes to fruition, the two men find themselves unable to resist the passion they feel for each other. Lando may be ready to move on but Kit thinks he may strangle him first.

It is always nice to see someone nasty have the tables turned on them. Many individuals helped pull off the scam and each was incredible in their roles. It was beautifully done and it was also good to see that Lando did not always get things his way. There was a perfect touch of humor to the story that made for great reading. This is an excellent book for those of us who enjoy something historical mixed with not ruining your life trying to be who you are. It is after all a crime to love another man during that era.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.