To All the Earls I've Loved Before: A BRAND NEW sizzling second chance Regency romance from Emma Orchard for 2026

by Emma Orchard

The BRAND NEW gorgeously spicy, Regency romance from Emma Orchard Praise for Emma

'An exciting new talent' - KATIE FFORDE

'Hot stuff. I loved it!' - FERN BRITTON

'Absolutely glorious' - SOPHIE IRWIN

'A delicious Regency romp' - ALAN TITCHMARSH

'Sensual and exciting' - HEIDI SWAIN

'Heyer with spice!' - LIZ FENWICK

'Witty, heartfelt, deeply emotionally authentic and incredibly sexy' - KATY MORAN

'Sexy, seductive and swoon worthy' - SARAH BENNETT

'Witty, spicy, seductive' - HANNAH DOLBY

'Perfect for fans of Bridgerton' - DARCIE BOLEYN

'Fans of Heyer and Bridgerton rejoice!' - CHARLOTTE BUTTERFIELD

'The bonking was hot' – KJ CHARLES

'A delicious slice of escapism' - LAURA WOOD

'Heart-thumping romance' - JENNI KEER

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 30, 2026

About the author

Emma Orchard was born in Salford. She studied English Literature at the Universities of Edinburgh and York, before working behind the scenes in publishing and television for many years. Her first job was at Mills & Boon, where she met her husband in a classic enemies-to-lovers romance. She now lives in North London.

Reviews

[_boundbytales]

╰► 3.5/5 ⭐️(rounding down)

To All the Earl's I've Loved Before:

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookwood Books for offering me an Advanced Reader Copy of To All the Earls I've Loved Before in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first page, we are thrown into Bianca Constantine's world of art, desire, passion, and independence. Bianca is a woman who refuses to fit neatly into the expectations placed upon women of her time. While society might expect her to settle down, find a suitable husband, and follow the path that has been laid out for her, Bianca has other ambitions. She wants to expand her artistic abilities, learn from some of the greatest artists in the world, and pursue a life that is of her own making.

So when she meets a stranger while traveling alone, she never expects for her life to change.

This was my first introduction to Emma Orchard's work, and I was pleasantly surprised. I found myself enjoying her writing. There is something very immersive about her prose, particularly in the regency language that made it into every scene. I enjoyed reading the moments from the past and seeing how the connection played out between Zan and Bianca. I enjoyed the odd friendship with Lady Deborah, and who could forget little Lord Dawbney who stole my heart from the first moment we met him.

While I enjoyed the second-chance romance, the banter, the characters, and the world-building, I did feel as though something was missing. My biggest issue was the pacing. The chapters are quite short, which can work incredibly well in a romance because it keeps the story moving and makes the book easy to read. However, in this case, I occasionally felt as though the story moved forward before certain moments had the opportunity to fully develop. There was room to expand on the side characters, room to expand scenes with more dialogue and flesh the characters out a bit more.

The story wasn't bad, I just wanted more details, more emotions behind each scene.

From what I understand, this is a later book in a bigger series. Perhaps if I had read the previous stories, I might have felt like I knew the side characters a bit more. However, not having read the previous books was not an issue in terms of following along with this story. I would definitely be interested in reading more of Emma Orchard's work in the future. For my first introduction to her writing, To All the Earl's I've Loved Before was an enjoyable historical romance with a strong-willed heroine, a second-chance love story, plenty of banter, and some memorable supporting characters.

My rating system:
⭐️: Not my vibe at all.
⭐️⭐️: I finished it, but I didn't have a good time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Yeah, that was fun. I enjoyed myself. I probably won't reread it, but it was fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: I loved it and want to read more from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Perfect, amazing, everything I love in a novel!

[Jan Mawdesley]

Get set for real treat from Emma Orchard as we return to the somewhat extraordinary world of the Constantine family, in To All The Earl’s I’ve Loved Before, as we join Bianca in Vienna in 1817, thoroughly enjoying her life as a painter and Widow, a guise created to allow her to move freely about the Town as a single woman.
Xan Challender has come to Vienna to see the sights. He is a widower still mourning his wife, their relationship one that was fraught with issues and his young son, left in England with a beloved Aunt. He is somewhat overwhelmed by the immense beauty that is Vienna. A chance meeting between the two leads to a short-lived affair of the heart, which while deeply passionate, is cut short by Bianca.
The next time the two meet is in London at the home of the now Lord Fairmount as she has been commissioned to paint the portrait of his son Adrian. Master Adrian is a delightful child and the two build a friendship valued on both sides.
A day like any other day turned out to be anything but as Xan, now Lord Fairmount, upon the death of his dissolute brother, and Bianca meet unexpectedly in his townhouse, shocking them both, bringing back memories that still have the power to hurt deeply.
The old saying comes true, as what a tangled web they both did weave in Vienna, which is now forcing them both to not only face themselves, but sort through the mess they have made of their romance.
As the days pass, they dance around each other, until young Adrian becomes seriously unwell, calling for his friend Bianca. Being in daily proximity is a small torture, but also makes the benighted lovers realise that they may be, could be, are almost surely in love. But what to do about it is the real question. She wants her freedom to paint, and he simply wants to marry her!
Join in the chaos that ensues as you turn the pages of To All The Earl’s I’ve Loved Before and enjoy every moment of this most enjoyable Regency Romp.

[Moira]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

2.5ish stars. I really wanted to love this one. The premise is fun—a second-chance Regency romance that brings Bianca and Xan back together after their summer in Venice—and whenever the story returned to their Venice interactions, I was completely on board. Their chemistry and the push-and-pull between them were delightful, and those Venice scenes were easily my favorite parts of the book.

Unfortunately, I struggled with the London timeline. There was a lot of narration and explanation without enough action or character interaction to keep the story moving for me. At times, it felt like I was being told about what was happening rather than getting to experience it alongside the characters.

I also found the number of names and titles used for the same characters tedious. Moving between nicknames, first names, surnames, and society titles made it harder than necessary to keep track of some of the supporting characters and the surrounding world-building. I found myself having to stop and remind myself who was who more often than I would have liked.

Overall, there were definitely elements I enjoyed, particularly Bianca and Xan’s Venice scenes and their unresolved feelings for each other, but the London portion made for a more uneven reading experience. For me, this landed around 2.5 stars.

[Carolina CHC]

I sometimes forget about Emma Orchard's stories, caught up in discovering new author, and in life itself, but then, an ARC of hers comes along, and it's the perfect reminder of just how much I enjoy her writing.

This is the story of the youngest Constantine sister, Bianca: an independent artist who, beyond her talent, is deeply devoted to her craft. Being an heiress in her own right makes many things easier for her, so when she meets an English stranger while traveling alone, she never imagines just how much her life will change a year later.

Alexander, Xan, is trying to survive his own grief when he decides to take time off to travel the continent. In Venice, he meets an enigmatic woman who changes the way he sees life, love, and passion for the rest of his life. That fate would later rearrange a meeting with the woman he never forgot is something he never expected. But discovering that she isn't quite who he remembers feels like a betrayal he can hardly forgive.

This story is charming, even if it isn't quite the typical regency fiction you might expect. It has that same inclusive, modern spin Bridgerton brought to the genre. I enjoyed it thoroughly, just as I have the other books in Bianca's sisters' series. 4.5 / 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[Dieuwke]

To All the Earls I've loved Before is another enjoyable read by Emma Orchard whose "A most unsuitable Suitor" and "How to NOT marry a Lord" I love with a passion.
Talking of passion: Bianca, the youngest of the Constantine sisters has a few. None as burning as the passion she feels for Xan Challender whom she meets in his own house, whilst she is painting his son, little Lord Dawnbey, not two years later, he now an Earl, and she no longer under an assumed name.

We need both time lines as gradually it is revealed what has transpired between them and why. The early longing and passion and the laying eyes on each other again are amongst the best parts. (the cafe in Venice scene is fabulous) The range of emotions both characters go through are well fleshed out.

I can't say anything about the plot, but will admit there's no shortage of cunning women and I read it on one lovely autumnal Sunday, having a blast.
Why three stars and not the solid four of the other two mentioned here in the first sentence? For me the ending was too constructed and too prolongued/drawn out.

Still, absolutely recommend reading it
Out October 30th

I received an ARC from NetGalley/Boldwood in return for my honest opinion

[Mary Gosse]

This was a good book! I’ve previously read other books in this series, but really they could all stand alone (necessary back-stories of side characters were all well explained).

Bianca and Xan first met in Venice, and I enjoyed learning about their shared past via flashback chapters, and how their experiences shaped their current feelings and decisions. In Venice, we find out that Bianca and Xan both lusted after each other and could barely keep their hands to themselves. Their feelings were reawakened after running into each other back in London, although they had to keep their hands in check while in public, as they weren’t supposed to have known each other well before then. The story spent quite a bit of time on the physical side of their relationship, which I thought turned (too) quickly into love. I would have liked a bit more time spent on developing the emotional and non-physical side of their relationship. However, the characters were well written and the storytelling was smooth and interesting.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Clover]

ARC review.
3.5/5 rounded up

I read this in a couple evenings and didn’t get a chance to pick a quote. So here is a Taylor Swift lyric I think sums up the heroine Bianca pretty well:

You don't have to save me but would you run away with me? (Call It What You Want. Taylor Swift., 2017)

This story focuses on Bianca Constantine, the youngest sister in her family, and a widower with a young son. They unexpectedly meet again after a brief affair in Italy.

Pros:
- the chemistry between FMC and MMC
- feminist characters
- the heroine’s outspoken personality and her hobbies/work that she refuses to give up for society
- unorthodox family structures are represented
- slow burn

Cons
- the second half dragged out so some tension between FMC and MMC was lost

This was my first Emma Orchard novel, and I really enjoyed it. It was an easy low-stakes novel to read in the evening, and I want to read more about the Constantine sisters in the future.

[Andrea]

3 stars – To All the Earls I’ve Loved Before by Emma Orchard. This is book 8 in the series. I love the Constantine family and their stories. This one focused on Bianca and it is a good premise, but I had a hard time staying with it. The book progressed very slowly and was more in the characters’ thoughts rather than their actions. FMC Bianca Constantine meets MMC Xan Challender. They have an affair in Venice. Eventually both are in England at the same time and, unfortunately, run into each other. Bianca would have been quite happy never seeing Xan again, but life doesn’t work the way Bianca wants. Good premise, just a little light on the interaction and dialogue for me. I love the author’s work and this has been a wonderful series overall.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the author and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

[Ridzi]

3.5 rounded to 4. I keep going back to Emma Orchard in hopes of reviving the magic of the Second Lady Silverwood. Alas, like most of the ones that have followed, this one doesn't quite get there.

In all honesty it's been misclassified as an "erotica" which is all honesty it's nowhere close to. Most scenes fades away with a couple that jump between details and abstraction. The story is refreshing for a regency, where the MMC is genuinely questioning what she gets from marriage. The right question to ask for an heiress with relative freedom and ambitions.

The delivery, specially the child character Elliot could have done with more page time. One of the things that was missing was why they connected so deeply in the past beyond just the sex? To this there was no clear answer which leaves the story poorer.

Overall a decent afternoon read.

[R Evans]

Once again an absorbing, readable romance following the fortunes of the six Constantine sisters. In the latest novel, We find Bianca, the youngest, in Venice attempting to pursue an independent lifestyle and build a career as an artist. She assumes a false identity to preserve her reputation so that she can return to London as a respectable heiress while having a bit of fun in Venice. She meets Xan and has a passionate affair hopefully commitment free. Unfortunately they meet up again unexpectedly in London and have to deal with a potential scandal when a notorious gossip from Venice sees Bianca while she is portrait painting, the novel explores the difficulties a woman faces when she desires independence rather than marriage and how she needs to be highly talented to succeed in a man’s world. .

[Sarah]

I enjoyed this one - it’s a continuation of the Constantine sisters’ stories with the youngest Bianca taking the stage. There’s a hidden identity foreign romance plot with the MCs unexpectedly meeting again in London with lots of hurt feelings, miscommunication, sexual tension and uncertainty about what they want from the future. I thought the first half of the book was very tight with excellent dialogue between the two, very visceral sexual repression. Where it fell apart a bit for me was the transition to forgiveness and love which felt a bit unearned, especially after the intensity of the first half. I also felt like the build up to the steam was better than the actual steam?

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

[Kelsey Fredericks]

To All The Earls I've Loved Before is the last book I believe about Bianca, the youngest Constantine sister. Bianca went on a tour of Europe and ended up in Venice chaperoned. She met Xan and then nearly a year later she finds she is painting a portrait of his son. Bianca had left Xan with very little explanation in Venice and they are trying to figure out how to be civil. There is angst, a bit of fake dating, and eccentric female family members.

This was a cute story and I loved revisiting the Constantine women and how they have all ended up. Pacing in general was good, but was not a fan of the pacing at the end. I highly recommend this if you are a regency romance fan and I would read the series in order. Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jessie Crews]

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t quite for me. I ended up DNFing because I struggled with the pacing and writing style. The prose felt very quick and jumpy to me, almost to the point where I felt like I was racing through the book rather than settling into the story. I found myself having to go back and reread sections because I wasn’t fully absorbing what was happening.

There were elements of the story that intrigued me, but I ultimately wasn’t connecting with the characters or story enough to push past the writing style. I think readers who enjoy very fast-moving, energetic prose may have a completely different experience, but for me, it made the book difficult to settle into.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rick Molitor]

This is a spicy Regency romance. It is Bianca and Zan's story. Bianca is the youngest of six sisters and wants to paint and doesn't want a husband. When she goes to Venice, she frees herself from chaperones and creates a story where she is a young widow. She wants to see and feel everything a young lady should including a sexual liaison. Zan, who is a widower with a young son, encounters her there. This is a delightful story of how Bianca takes charge of her life and lives it the way she wants to live it. The book is full of banter and sexual tension as Bianca and Zan try to deal with their feelings for each other. It is an entertaining read.

[Leah]

I really wanted to like this but it didn’t work for me. There was no chemistry at all between the main characters. It was just flat. The story progressed so slowly that I started to lose interest in the characters and plot.

Though I looked up to see if some of the names (Xan [which I know is a nickname], Melissa, and Jessica) existed during that time period, they just didn’t seem to fit. And other character’s names (Lady Wellbeloved and Winterflood) just seemed like caricatures. For some reason, this distracted me.

I liked the premise but couldn’t make it through the story. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[bette perry]

thank you netgalley and Boldwood Books publishing for this arc.

to put it simply this book has bewitched me heart and soul or whatever it was that mr. darcy said. i don’t know if this was supposed to be influenced by pride and prejudice, but i definitely got those vibes from bianca and xan.

this book was such an addicting read that i devoured it in one sitting. from the moments in venice to bianca bonding with xan’s son i ate this book up. it was fast paced, heartwarming, and endlessly funny. lady deborah is exactly who i want to be when i’m older and she stole every scene she was in.

this was my first book by emma that i’ve read, but it definitely won’t be my last.

[Mary Hart]

5 stars

What a great story. I have read the other stories of Bianca's sisters so I was eager to read her story. It was a great mix of feminism in a time when a wife was literally owned by her husband and the self actualisation of a talented person with a passion for art. Thoroughly recommend, just wonder where Emma will take us next !!


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Luisa Jones]

Another lovely, occasionally steamy romance from Emma Orchard - she’s become a must-read for me. This one continues a series but definitely works as a stand-alone. The main characters are charming and I wish more men in real life were like the hero of this book. I like the way the heroine knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it.
Very entertaining.

[Alison]

This was not my favorite Emma Orchard novel. My preferred style is action and shorter dialogue. Much of the story takes place through long internal dialogue and lengthy discussions. I liked the premise of the story and description of Venice. Venice is such a romantic city.

[Kristin]

In To All the Earl's I've Loved Before, we get to return to the Constantine family and follow Bianca's travels in Italy. I liked how setting some of the story in Venice opened a world of more freedom for Bianca. Venice gave her the opportunity she craved to be a woman and an artist. I also enjoyed seeing more of Sabrina and Viola in this story and how adult Bianca's relationships with them evolved. As for her relationship with Xan, we toggle back and forth between the past and present from lust to ridiculous anger and finally to forgiveness and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.