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Only Earl In The World
Bridgerton Meets Drive Me Crazy in this Taming of the Dukes novella!
Lady Briar Fairview is content with the man her father has chosen for her to wed, considering they were childhood neighbors and he’s the devil she knows. But when her fiancé forbids her from pursuing her suffragette interests and she refuses, he snubs her publicly for another. She’s outraged and embarrassed by the scandal.
The Earl of Lushing, Jasper Lyndhurst, knows it’s high time to marry. His friends have all settled down and his father might be dying, though he suspects it’s all a ruse to get him to tie the knot. He proposes to a perfectly acceptable debutante, whom he has been courting, but she rejects him in favor of a suit of another gentleman—Lady Briar’s former intended.
Briar and Jasper are like oil and water, but that doesn’t stop them from secretly co-managing a social club, which they use to help downtrodden women. Desperate to save face against the gossip, they enact an audacious scheme of fake courtship to win back their previous flames, only to find that falling in love with each other might thwart their plans.
Lady Briar Fairview is content with the man her father has chosen for her to wed, considering they were childhood neighbors and he’s the devil she knows. But when her fiancé forbids her from pursuing her suffragette interests and she refuses, he snubs her publicly for another. She’s outraged and embarrassed by the scandal.
The Earl of Lushing, Jasper Lyndhurst, knows it’s high time to marry. His friends have all settled down and his father might be dying, though he suspects it’s all a ruse to get him to tie the knot. He proposes to a perfectly acceptable debutante, whom he has been courting, but she rejects him in favor of a suit of another gentleman—Lady Briar’s former intended.
Briar and Jasper are like oil and water, but that doesn’t stop them from secretly co-managing a social club, which they use to help downtrodden women. Desperate to save face against the gossip, they enact an audacious scheme of fake courtship to win back their previous flames, only to find that falling in love with each other might thwart their plans.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
70 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Amalie Howard
46 books3,267 followersAMALIE HOWARD is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, most notably of The Beast of Beswick, “a smart, sexy, deliciously feminist romance,” and one of O-The Oprah Magazine’s Top 24 Best Historicals to Read. She is the co-author of the #1 bestsellers in regency romance and Scottish historical romance, My Rogue, My Ruin and What A Scot Wants, and has also penned several young adult novels, critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, School Library Journal, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Kid’s INDIE NEXT selection. Of Indo-Caribbean descent, she has written articles on multicultural fiction for The Portland Book Review and Ravishly magazine. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. Visit her at amaliehoward.com.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 16, 2025
AMALIE HOWARD THE WRITER THAT YOU ARE
i need her to write every single historical romance ever thank you so very much
i’m so emotional this series is over but this conclusion smashed it and i’ll always be here for any historicals amalie howard is cooking up
Bookstagram | Blog
i need her to write every single historical romance ever thank you so very much
i’m so emotional this series is over but this conclusion smashed it and i’ll always be here for any historicals amalie howard is cooking up
Bookstagram | Blog
September 18, 2025
This is my 12th book by Amalie Howard. I have really enjoyed her writing and her stories. Sex is usually super hot. Although she can be super expensive to me (I read over 300 books a year and don't like to spend a ton on my books) I still just love her writing so it's usually worth it. I was shocked this book was KU. But totally excited.
I loved this book. I loved Briar and Jasper. I loved their personalities and their chemistry was freakin' hot and their sex was off the chain hot. Yikes. It read a bit modern for me with the suffragette movement but I don't mind moving out of my normal era with a book this good. I loved their ying and yang and the idea of who they thought were good matches for them. HAHA. Funny how that goes some time. I am definitely adding this book to my favorite books read for September, 2025. Damn good!
I loved this book. I loved Briar and Jasper. I loved their personalities and their chemistry was freakin' hot and their sex was off the chain hot. Yikes. It read a bit modern for me with the suffragette movement but I don't mind moving out of my normal era with a book this good. I loved their ying and yang and the idea of who they thought were good matches for them. HAHA. Funny how that goes some time. I am definitely adding this book to my favorite books read for September, 2025. Damn good!
September 26, 2025
Howard excellently weaves history, romance, and 90s romcoms in this series. I had been waiting for Briar and Jasper’s story since book 1, and I’m so so satisfied with this ending to the series, but I’m also so sad it’s the end! This is book 3.5, but there are 5 friends in the series! Yes, Laila is already married, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still want her romance story. And there was a hint of something between side characters Minthe and Levi there at the end. If this series could never be over, that would be great, thanks! I’ll take more novellas like this one! I had a great time with it and will probably reread at some point!
September 21, 2025
I’m going to miss the Hellfire Kitties!
September 17, 2025
Jasper is a deep sigh in a waistcoat. Briar is everything. But mostly I cannot believe this is the first historical romance I’ve ever read that has used the phrase “visc*nt”.
October 3, 2025
Smart and SPICY!
Briar and the Earl of Lushing are super sexy, smart, and SO MUCH FUN!! I absolutely ADORED the scene at the beginning where he corners her coming from somewhere late at night, just when she's doing in the two icky men that had cornered her before him. She is so much fun in that scene, and the language they use toward each other is FABULOUS!! Let alone her getting in her carriage and throwing a shoe at him. It is indicative of their relationship throughout the book ~ funny, smart, and sexy as hell!
I hated that she was in a bad way with Viscount Prescott Sackley, but she gave as good as she got almost every single time, basically telling him she wouldn't be told what to do by anyone. Even as she worried it over in her head, she's afraid to disappoint her father by losing something very special to both of them, but there's not really anything she can actually do about it in the end. I love that she works in what has basically been transformed into a women's shelter, helping keep them safe while Lushing keeps up appearances that Lethe is still just a men's club (no women allowed of course.)
For all that there are some HOT, sexy little scenes as Lushing reads Lady Ivy's books, or Briar gets stuck in a particularly naughty part imagining it's her and Lushing, this is a SLOOOOOW Burn, and there are only a couple scenes between Briar and Lushing after the first kiss - and by the time they got there I was about ready to throw my kindle across the room! But that's ok, Amalie Howard more than makes up for it in a scene that combines "good girl" and has Briar crawling for him!🥵
If you like Historical Romance - especially those that are based in a lot of fact, then you'll be sat for Only Earl In The World because Amalie Howard mixes Fiction with facts like the Garrett sisters , Millicent Garrett who wrote for the Suffragette movement, and Dr. Elizabeth Garrett who was England's only licensed female physician during the time period. I, of course, have started this series at the end - but you can be sure I'll be reading all of Amalie Howard's blacklist as I get the chance, and you should too!
Briar and the Earl of Lushing are super sexy, smart, and SO MUCH FUN!! I absolutely ADORED the scene at the beginning where he corners her coming from somewhere late at night, just when she's doing in the two icky men that had cornered her before him. She is so much fun in that scene, and the language they use toward each other is FABULOUS!! Let alone her getting in her carriage and throwing a shoe at him. It is indicative of their relationship throughout the book ~ funny, smart, and sexy as hell!
I hated that she was in a bad way with Viscount Prescott Sackley, but she gave as good as she got almost every single time, basically telling him she wouldn't be told what to do by anyone. Even as she worried it over in her head, she's afraid to disappoint her father by losing something very special to both of them, but there's not really anything she can actually do about it in the end. I love that she works in what has basically been transformed into a women's shelter, helping keep them safe while Lushing keeps up appearances that Lethe is still just a men's club (no women allowed of course.)
For all that there are some HOT, sexy little scenes as Lushing reads Lady Ivy's books, or Briar gets stuck in a particularly naughty part imagining it's her and Lushing, this is a SLOOOOOW Burn, and there are only a couple scenes between Briar and Lushing after the first kiss - and by the time they got there I was about ready to throw my kindle across the room! But that's ok, Amalie Howard more than makes up for it in a scene that combines "good girl" and has Briar crawling for him!🥵
If you like Historical Romance - especially those that are based in a lot of fact, then you'll be sat for Only Earl In The World because Amalie Howard mixes Fiction with facts like the Garrett sisters , Millicent Garrett who wrote for the Suffragette movement, and Dr. Elizabeth Garrett who was England's only licensed female physician during the time period. I, of course, have started this series at the end - but you can be sure I'll be reading all of Amalie Howard's blacklist as I get the chance, and you should too!
October 1, 2025
4.5/5 Briar is involved with Jasper’s club, Lethe, while also being part of a suffragist club and a secret author of erotic novels. She’s recently engaged to a childhood neighbor as she thinks it’ll allow her to keep working with her causes after marriage. While it’s to be a marriage of convenience, Briar begins to realize that reality is getting further away from her expectations. So when Briar’s fiancé breaks things off to become engaged to the woman Jasper was courting - Jasper convinces Briar they should fake a courtship in order to make both of their ex-suitors jealous.
This book wasn’t what I was expecting when I started it but what it turned out to be was really great. An enemies to lovers with a lot of pent up sexual frustration. You could tell they cared about one another but were also too busy arguing to share those feelings. It’s a shorter story than the rest of the series so it was fast paced and easy to forgive that some details that we’d normally see in a longer story was breezed over, as the heart of the story was there. An enjoyable quick read that invoked the right balance between feminine rage and high heat.
A lot of the book focuses on women’s rights, autonomy, and sex positivity. It was a great use of events and laws from the 19th century to connect them to how it’s relevant to today’s issues.
I really liked Jasper, sharing the same views as Briar and backing her every step of the way. Briar writes under a secret pen name and uses it to not only educate and normalize a woman’s desire and pleasure but to also put her deepest fantasies on paper as well. And because Jasper pays attention to everything, a scene from one of her books is played out on page.
I’m so glad we got a story for Jasper and Briar and closure to such a fun series.
Only Earl in the World is the fourth book in the Taming of the Dukes series. It could be read as a standalone but was fun having the buildup from the previous books.
There is only one encounter but it is fire!
This book wasn’t what I was expecting when I started it but what it turned out to be was really great. An enemies to lovers with a lot of pent up sexual frustration. You could tell they cared about one another but were also too busy arguing to share those feelings. It’s a shorter story than the rest of the series so it was fast paced and easy to forgive that some details that we’d normally see in a longer story was breezed over, as the heart of the story was there. An enjoyable quick read that invoked the right balance between feminine rage and high heat.
A lot of the book focuses on women’s rights, autonomy, and sex positivity. It was a great use of events and laws from the 19th century to connect them to how it’s relevant to today’s issues.
I really liked Jasper, sharing the same views as Briar and backing her every step of the way. Briar writes under a secret pen name and uses it to not only educate and normalize a woman’s desire and pleasure but to also put her deepest fantasies on paper as well. And because Jasper pays attention to everything, a scene from one of her books is played out on page.
I’m so glad we got a story for Jasper and Briar and closure to such a fun series.
Only Earl in the World is the fourth book in the Taming of the Dukes series. It could be read as a standalone but was fun having the buildup from the previous books.
There is only one encounter but it is fire!
September 27, 2025
How is the last book of the series, which makes me so sad and I feel like I need more of "The Taming of a Duke" novels! This book was based on the movie Drive Me Crazy and it was perfect! I absolutely loved it and was sad that it was the last book! This book was enemies, to friends to lovers trope! I loved Lady Briar, she was a spitfire and her character was just full of life. I loved her relationship with her girlfriends and how they were real! Her best friend Ves' brother Lushing(Jasper Lyndhurst) is annoyingly good-looking and always starts fights with Briar knowing it rattles her up! I loved Briar and Jasper's banter and how they are perfect for each other! This was the perfect book for the last book!
November 4, 2025
Was I the only one a little bummed that this book was a little shorter than the others and didn't get narrated as an audiobook? I'm guessing the fact that the genre in general is going through a rough patch right now might have had something to do with that. No, I'm not a lazy reader, but I take a lot of long road trips for work, so I like to listen to audiobooks along the way. Regardless of the length, I enjoyed the book, and I love pretty much all of Amalie Howard's historical romances. Considering how many of the historical romance authors seem to be taking a break from writing lately, I was really grateful to see this book released, and Amalie Howard, as usual, didn't disappoint!
September 18, 2025
This was made for me. And I usually dislike novellas, but this was so enjoyable. Good enemies to lovers banter cannot be beat and this one does it really well. You do not have to have read the previous books to enjoy this, however the tension in the other books only added to my enjoyment. Was the ending kinda dramatic and ridiculous? Absolutely. Did that add to my enjoyment of this book? I believe so. If you enjoy historical romance, suffragist history and/or a quick spicy enemies to lovers romp, I recommend this book.
December 13, 2025
I enjoyed this book very much!
Briar is an interesting character and Jasper was such a gem. I loved their banter and how they were always annoying each other, but we knew from the first moment that they were secretly admiring one another.
Briar is an anonymous writer of gothic smut novels. Through this storyline we get a representation of female desires and education about BDSM, which was well introduced and integrated into the book.
The romance was executed very well. I was totally rooting for this couple. They are such green flags
Briar is an interesting character and Jasper was such a gem. I loved their banter and how they were always annoying each other, but we knew from the first moment that they were secretly admiring one another.
Briar is an anonymous writer of gothic smut novels. Through this storyline we get a representation of female desires and education about BDSM, which was well introduced and integrated into the book.
The romance was executed very well. I was totally rooting for this couple. They are such green flags
September 18, 2025
Absolutely fabulous!
Charming banter, lust and longing well-done by an author who knows the business. Amalie Howard books are an automatic pre-order for me. This one is especially carefully written with a heroine who could easily fall into caricature but does not because Howard writes layered characters even in novella.
Charming banter, lust and longing well-done by an author who knows the business. Amalie Howard books are an automatic pre-order for me. This one is especially carefully written with a heroine who could easily fall into caricature but does not because Howard writes layered characters even in novella.
November 1, 2025
Great English (no for real I've learned new words from this), very horny characters. Maybe I am too used to 1000+ pages books nowadays, but it felt like things happened way too fast. This could have easily been twice this long, with a lot more depth. I guess the plot is not the main point of this book, so on this regard I guess it was fine? No reread for this one, but for one time it was fine.
September 23, 2025
Enemies to lovers slay thanks to Fiona who recommended and loaned me the book xoxo
September 28, 2025
Paperback
Briar and Jasper
Briar and Jasper
October 3, 2025
Would give 0 stars if possible
October 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
November 11, 2025
Loved seeing all the hellfire kitties find a love match. Briar and Lushing were perfect for each other even if they couldn’t admit to it.
November 14, 2025
it’s ok
Not much to say about the book.. not accurate for the time period. I know this book is a work of ficción but it was so
Extreme that it looks more like a modern story..
Not much to say about the book.. not accurate for the time period. I know this book is a work of ficción but it was so
Extreme that it looks more like a modern story..
November 20, 2025
“Briar Fairview was indisputably a beautiful woman, but this wasn’t just a beautiful woman. This was a fucking queen in crimson, and like everyone else, all he could do was gasp and stare. He drank her in like a man stuck in the desert dying of thirst. She hadn’t come to make anyone jealous; she’d come here to make them kneel.”
OMG, I loved this one! I haven’t read this series but I will definitively go back and start from the beginning. This book had a lot of things that are my total catnip: bickering to lovers, he loves her body and brain and it’s been you all along.
OMG, I loved this one! I haven’t read this series but I will definitively go back and start from the beginning. This book had a lot of things that are my total catnip: bickering to lovers, he loves her body and brain and it’s been you all along.
October 2, 2025
Very easy to read novella. I enjoyed Briar and Lushing’s story a lot. Been looking forward to their story since book one in the series :)
December 11, 2025
This is the second time this year that Amalie Howard got me out of a reading slump! I devoured this one, and was absolutely giggling and kicking my feet all the way through. We’ve seen Briar and Jasper in the other three Taming of the Dukes books, so you may want to start at the beginning with Always Be My Duchess. Each book retells a classic 90s romcom, set in a historical setting!
Only Earl in the World starts with both Briar and Jasper engaged to other people, but their fiances dump them and become engaged to each other. Naturally, Briar and Jasper decide that they should fake an engagement to make their exes jealous.
I absolutely adore fake dating in a romcom. I love when the couple is SO into each other but are fighting it so hard. Every time they fake feelings but wonder how fake it really is??? I eat it up every time.
This is a relatively short novella and available on kindle unlimited. It is an interconnected novella, and the plot is fully contained to just this story. You’ll see a bit of the friend group and couples from previous books, so some readers may want to start at the beginning!
Only Earl in the World starts with both Briar and Jasper engaged to other people, but their fiances dump them and become engaged to each other. Naturally, Briar and Jasper decide that they should fake an engagement to make their exes jealous.
I absolutely adore fake dating in a romcom. I love when the couple is SO into each other but are fighting it so hard. Every time they fake feelings but wonder how fake it really is??? I eat it up every time.
This is a relatively short novella and available on kindle unlimited. It is an interconnected novella, and the plot is fully contained to just this story. You’ll see a bit of the friend group and couples from previous books, so some readers may want to start at the beginning!
December 18, 2025
FINALLY!!! I had been waiting for this story ever since the first interactions between these characters and this DID NOT DISAPPOINT!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews