What do you think?
Rate this book
Wayward in Wessex #2
Unmasking the Earl
Oxfordshire, England, 1821
Devastated by the disappearance of his sister, the Earl of Stranraer has gone to extraordinary lengths to find the notorious rake responsible, and enters his household incognito to wreak his vengeance. But his enemy has an unexpected protector--the innocent but headstrong Miss Cassandra Blythe.
Cassie is determined to learn the art of seduction. But she is blindsided by her body's thrilling response to the wrong man--a mysterious servant who shows up at the most inauspicious moments to spoil her lessons in love with warnings of her imminent ruin. When she learns the handsome servant's identity and the reason for his deception, she resolves to help Stranraer, but only if he abandons his vow to destroy his enemy.
The earl is sorely tempted to give the meddlesome beauty a lesson in seduction she'll never forget. But she turns the tables, and he gets his own lesson in forgiveness...and love.
Each book in the Wayward in Wessex series is
* Distracting the Duke* Unmasking the Earl* Vanquishing the Viscount
Devastated by the disappearance of his sister, the Earl of Stranraer has gone to extraordinary lengths to find the notorious rake responsible, and enters his household incognito to wreak his vengeance. But his enemy has an unexpected protector--the innocent but headstrong Miss Cassandra Blythe.
Cassie is determined to learn the art of seduction. But she is blindsided by her body's thrilling response to the wrong man--a mysterious servant who shows up at the most inauspicious moments to spoil her lessons in love with warnings of her imminent ruin. When she learns the handsome servant's identity and the reason for his deception, she resolves to help Stranraer, but only if he abandons his vow to destroy his enemy.
The earl is sorely tempted to give the meddlesome beauty a lesson in seduction she'll never forget. But she turns the tables, and he gets his own lesson in forgiveness...and love.
Each book in the Wayward in Wessex series is
* Distracting the Duke* Unmasking the Earl* Vanquishing the Viscount
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2015
31 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Keysian
33 books306 followersElizabeth Keysian is a multi-award winning, USA Today bestselling author of heart-pounding Regency romances, set mostly in the West of England. She has completed a unique series for Dragonblade Publishing called Trysts and Treachery, which is set in the Tudor era. Though primarily a writer of romance, she loves to put a bit of mystery, adventure, and suspense into her stories, and refuses to let her characters take themselves too seriously.
Elizabeth likes to write from experience, not easy when her works range from the medieval to the Victorian eras. However, her passion for re-enactment has helped, as have the many years she spent working in museums and British archaeology. If you find some detail in her work you’ve never come across before, you can bet she either dug it up, quite literally, or found it on a museum shelf.
Social media/web links
Newsletter http://eepurl.com/cxe369
Amazon page https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Keys...
Twitter https://twitter.com/EKeysian
Facebook https://m.facebook.com/LizKeysian
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/eliza...
Elizabeth likes to write from experience, not easy when her works range from the medieval to the Victorian eras. However, her passion for re-enactment has helped, as have the many years she spent working in museums and British archaeology. If you find some detail in her work you’ve never come across before, you can bet she either dug it up, quite literally, or found it on a museum shelf.
Social media/web links
Newsletter http://eepurl.com/cxe369
Amazon page https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Keys...
Twitter https://twitter.com/EKeysian
Facebook https://m.facebook.com/LizKeysian
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/eliza...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 13, 2017
Book Review For: Unmasking the Earl by Elizabeth Keysian 'Unmasking the Earl' by Elizabeth Keysian is book Two in the "Wayward in Wessex" series. This is the story of Lord Edmund Talbot, the Earl of Stranraer 'Ned" and Miss Cassandra Blythe 'Cassie". I have read the other book but feel this is easily a standalone book. Cassie thinks she is in love with Julian Carnforth. Julian just thinks of her as a little sister. So Cassie wants to learn to seduce him. When Cassie sees Julian going off with a lady named Lucy at a party she feels she needs to save him from this women. Captain Francis Wycherley is who brought Lucy to the party and who has a relationship with her. So Cassie and the Captain go off to confront the two wayward couple. Ned is pretending to be a servant to be in the Captain's house hold to look for clues about what happened to his sister. Ned's sister went missing after a fire happened Ned feels that the Captain has something to do with his missing sister. Ned intervenes when Cassie tries to get the Captain to help her learning how to seduce Julian. But they both find that they can't help fighting their feelings. I enjoyed this story and their banter. Ned was frustrating a few times but overall really loved this book!"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/ https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
April 24, 2017
Completely Captivated.
I received this ARC in return for an ho est unbiased review.
Id class it as a number 2 in the naughty scale 😉
I was completely captivated by this book and enjoyed it very much indeed , every aspect of this book I loved from the settings described to each character and how the book itself unfolds.
I will not give any plot away as it would be unfair to do so though I will say this any who enjoy historical romance that has everything from humour to mystery will adore this story, and I for one will be collecting more books by Elizabeth a this is the first I have read and am determined to read more.
I highly recommend this book thank you Elizabeth for writing it 😊
I received this ARC in return for an ho est unbiased review.
Id class it as a number 2 in the naughty scale 😉
I was completely captivated by this book and enjoyed it very much indeed , every aspect of this book I loved from the settings described to each character and how the book itself unfolds.
I will not give any plot away as it would be unfair to do so though I will say this any who enjoy historical romance that has everything from humour to mystery will adore this story, and I for one will be collecting more books by Elizabeth a this is the first I have read and am determined to read more.
I highly recommend this book thank you Elizabeth for writing it 😊
January 29, 2019
Unmasking the Earl, is without a doubt my favourite book by Elizabeth Keysian. It is a remarkable, witty, captivating, exciting and incredibly romantic story that grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I flew through this book! The characters are amazing, I loved them all. Cassie is a sassy, troublesome, strong willed, temptress and Ned is a very enticing, very alpha male, totally swoon worthy hero! I loved every minute of their complicated relationship! Their chemistry was amazing and even their frequent misunderstandings couldn’t throw me off. Love the characters, love the story and love the writing! I highly recommend this book! I can’t praise it enough!
May 23, 2017
I LOVED the heroine of this book. Cassie was full of sass and bravery, occasionally reckless but never stupid. Yes, her decision to ask a notorious rake to teach her how to seduce a man might seem a little on the dimwitted side, but she really is desperate.
Cassie is in love with her childhood friend Julian, who unfortunately views her as his aggravating little sister. Desperate to get his attention, she is willing to try any means necessary.
I started the book thinking 'yeah, yeah, I've read this one before... she winds up falling for the rake and reforming him' and then the book threw a complete curve ball, because that's not what happens AT ALL. Said rake's manservant Ned Ganstridge appears bound and determined to stop Cassie from getting herself into a scrape she can't get out of, and really, he is awfully bossy for a servant... as well as far too handsome for his own good.
Of course, Ned turns out to be the titular Earl, masquerading as a servant to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his sister. Cassie is a distraction he doesn't need, but he can't just leave her to ruination. For her own good, he has to help her out. Falling for her really wasn't part of his plan.
I really enjoyed Unmasking The Earl. Ned can be autocratic, but the worst of his excesses are actually understandable when you bear in mind his anxiety about his sister, and Cassie didn't just meekly sit back and take his orders. One of my favourite scenes was when Ned desperately needed her help and Cassie quite firmly laid down the law and told him that she'd leave him in the mess of his own making if he didn't behave himself. I just about applauded.
However, the book did fall into a trap I particularly hate in historicals; when the supposedly 'honourable' hero takes the innocent heroine's virginity before proposing marriage, and then fails to immediately do so. That is not honourable. It doesn't fit the definition, and it made Ned look like a massive hypocrite. Because of that, I can't give the book any more than four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
Cassie is in love with her childhood friend Julian, who unfortunately views her as his aggravating little sister. Desperate to get his attention, she is willing to try any means necessary.
I started the book thinking 'yeah, yeah, I've read this one before... she winds up falling for the rake and reforming him' and then the book threw a complete curve ball, because that's not what happens AT ALL. Said rake's manservant Ned Ganstridge appears bound and determined to stop Cassie from getting herself into a scrape she can't get out of, and really, he is awfully bossy for a servant... as well as far too handsome for his own good.
Of course, Ned turns out to be the titular Earl, masquerading as a servant to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his sister. Cassie is a distraction he doesn't need, but he can't just leave her to ruination. For her own good, he has to help her out. Falling for her really wasn't part of his plan.
I really enjoyed Unmasking The Earl. Ned can be autocratic, but the worst of his excesses are actually understandable when you bear in mind his anxiety about his sister, and Cassie didn't just meekly sit back and take his orders. One of my favourite scenes was when Ned desperately needed her help and Cassie quite firmly laid down the law and told him that she'd leave him in the mess of his own making if he didn't behave himself. I just about applauded.
However, the book did fall into a trap I particularly hate in historicals; when the supposedly 'honourable' hero takes the innocent heroine's virginity before proposing marriage, and then fails to immediately do so. That is not honourable. It doesn't fit the definition, and it made Ned look like a massive hypocrite. Because of that, I can't give the book any more than four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
May 18, 2017
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
When a woman's smart mouth leads to scandalous kisses...
Ned is undercover. He's left his titled life behind to take up the identity of a servant in hopes of discovering the whereabouts of his missing sister. He suspects his new employer to be the guilty party and Ned will stop at nothing to learn the truth. One thing he isn't prepared for, however, is a lovely young woman to come barreling into the situation, threatening to reveal him and destroy his plan.
Cassie knows there is something different about this servant, despite the strange accent he wields or the common clothing he wears. And when she begins to visit a known rake's home, Ned takes it upon himself to save her from a ruined reputation. But Cassie is determined to ignore the brute's commands and solve the puzzle of the earl-in-servant-clothing.
Unfortunately for the both of them, their bickering turns to stolen kisses and their attraction is hard to ignore. The mystery surrounding Ned's sister is still unsolved but the pair stand a chance of figuring it out if they work together. Miscommunication, untimely interruptions, and a pesky constable add to the adventure.
This book! Ahhhh... I loved it. Okay. Let's start with the characters. Wow. Ned was domineering and pure alpha male in every sense of the word. Even under the guise of a servant, his presence was that of a titled gentleman. I knew from the moment I met him that I could like this guy. He was hot-headed and his jealous bone was downright adorable.
And Cassie was a young woman with guts and a dream to wed another. She was oblivious and naive in many ways, but once she saw the light, I was glad to see that she didn't revert back to ignorance. She matured a lot throughout the story. I wish she had given a certain idiotic gentleman a piece of her mind, but karma seems to have taken care of that.
The plot was rather interesting because it definitely kept me guessing. Even when I thought I had figured it out, there were a few twists thrown in. And the churchyard scene? I gasped at least three times within five minutes. My children thought I was going nuts!
The romance here was full of passion. From the first kiss to the scandalous last scene, I loved every moment of it. This was one of those pairings where the couple tried their best to avoid their lust for each other but couldn't deny it in the end. I love those couplings because they're always intense and exciting. It's not really enemy-to-lovers but definitely nuisance-to-lovers. Great pairing, indeed.
In closing...
I have to get my hands on the first book in this series and those to come. Five scandalous suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-unmasking-earl-by-elizabeth.html
April 25, 2017
3.5 stars
Several months earlier there was a fire at the home of Edmund Talbot, Earl of Stranraer’s Aunt Claudette’s & it was feared that Edmund’s sister Georgiana had died, but when no trace of her was found Ned went to extraordinary lengths to find the notorious rake responsible, Captain Francis Wycherley and enters his household incognito as a servant, Ganstridge, to wreak his vengeance. There he meets the innocent but headstrong Miss Cassandra Blythe who wants Wycherley to teach her how to seduce Julian the childhood friend she loves.
Cassie is determined to learn the art of seduction. But she is blindsided by her body's thrilling response to the wrong man—a mysterious servant, Ganstridge who shows up at the most inauspicious moments to spoil her lessons in love with warnings of her imminent ruin.
I enjoyed the book but until about half way through I disliked Ned, he was just so angry all of the time. He did gradually change & began to learn to rein in his anger. Cassie although likeable was headstrong & was way too modern for a Regency young lady. Julian was also a revelation in not minding that the woman he loved wasn’t chaste in fact anything but. However the characterisation is good & any changes in character are gradual & well written. The pace of the story was good & kept me reading. The book had lots of humour especially Ned’s attempts at being a servant, there’s the mystery of a missing sister & plenty of romance. I look forward to more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Several months earlier there was a fire at the home of Edmund Talbot, Earl of Stranraer’s Aunt Claudette’s & it was feared that Edmund’s sister Georgiana had died, but when no trace of her was found Ned went to extraordinary lengths to find the notorious rake responsible, Captain Francis Wycherley and enters his household incognito as a servant, Ganstridge, to wreak his vengeance. There he meets the innocent but headstrong Miss Cassandra Blythe who wants Wycherley to teach her how to seduce Julian the childhood friend she loves.
Cassie is determined to learn the art of seduction. But she is blindsided by her body's thrilling response to the wrong man—a mysterious servant, Ganstridge who shows up at the most inauspicious moments to spoil her lessons in love with warnings of her imminent ruin.
I enjoyed the book but until about half way through I disliked Ned, he was just so angry all of the time. He did gradually change & began to learn to rein in his anger. Cassie although likeable was headstrong & was way too modern for a Regency young lady. Julian was also a revelation in not minding that the woman he loved wasn’t chaste in fact anything but. However the characterisation is good & any changes in character are gradual & well written. The pace of the story was good & kept me reading. The book had lots of humour especially Ned’s attempts at being a servant, there’s the mystery of a missing sister & plenty of romance. I look forward to more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
May 21, 2017
This book was quite the adventure!
I really enjoyed getting lost in this story! (Not lost as in I couldn't follow along, but lost as in I read for three hours before I realized how long I had been reading for!) While I'm not that well-versed in historical romances, I found this one easy enough to understand and really liked all of the "scandalous" things that took place.
Aside from Ned, what I liked most about this book was that I didn't have to wait until the end for the mysteries and conflicts to be resolved. Yes, one conflict held out until the last page, but I felt Elizabeth did a wonderful job of "tugging me along" by resolving one mystery, then hyping up the next one, then resolving that one, etc. I seriously couldn't put this down!
I wasn't so sure about Cassie at first, but as the story went on, I really liked how, in spite of the aforementioned scandalous behavior, she didn't take any guff from anyone. I would even call her downright sassy at some points, which I got a kick out of.
I really liked Ned. I especially liked his relentlessly protective streak when it came to Cassie. The final scene was absolutely adorable!
This was my first Elizabeth book, but I very much like her characters and writing style and I can't wait to catch up with Ned and Cassie in subsequent books and maybe read a certain Captain's story next? ;)
(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)
I really enjoyed getting lost in this story! (Not lost as in I couldn't follow along, but lost as in I read for three hours before I realized how long I had been reading for!) While I'm not that well-versed in historical romances, I found this one easy enough to understand and really liked all of the "scandalous" things that took place.
Aside from Ned, what I liked most about this book was that I didn't have to wait until the end for the mysteries and conflicts to be resolved. Yes, one conflict held out until the last page, but I felt Elizabeth did a wonderful job of "tugging me along" by resolving one mystery, then hyping up the next one, then resolving that one, etc. I seriously couldn't put this down!
I wasn't so sure about Cassie at first, but as the story went on, I really liked how, in spite of the aforementioned scandalous behavior, she didn't take any guff from anyone. I would even call her downright sassy at some points, which I got a kick out of.
I really liked Ned. I especially liked his relentlessly protective streak when it came to Cassie. The final scene was absolutely adorable!
This was my first Elizabeth book, but I very much like her characters and writing style and I can't wait to catch up with Ned and Cassie in subsequent books and maybe read a certain Captain's story next? ;)
(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)
April 27, 2017
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Loved the book. The love story between Cassie and Ned is well written and a good read. The disappearance of his sister plays a big part in the book. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a good romance book which ends in a HEA.
May 15, 2018
New-to-me-author Elizabeth Keysian charmed my socks off with Unmasking The Earl. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Cassie and Ned. Cassie was hilarious. In spite of how smart and perceptive she was, she seemed to make choices at times that were risky yet she always managed to land on her feet. Ned was adorable. He endured a lot for the sake of Cassie. I loved his devotion to finding his sister and to protecting Cassie. The latter often got him into some of the funniest predicaments. The sparks really flew as these two collided and bantered their way to love.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Keysian’s writing style. This story was humorous and even silly at times without sacrificing genuine emotion, great character development, and an imaginative plot. This was a sweet, funny, and totally romantic read and I can’t wait for more of this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Keysian’s writing style. This story was humorous and even silly at times without sacrificing genuine emotion, great character development, and an imaginative plot. This was a sweet, funny, and totally romantic read and I can’t wait for more of this series.
June 23, 2017
This is the second book I've read from Ms. Keysian and I loved it just as much as the first. As always, great characters and a story that kept me turning my Kindle pages. And if you're wondering, you don't need to read book 1 to read book 2, but you should probably read book 1 anyway because it was awesome too!
May 13, 2017
'Unmasking the Earl' by Elizabeth Keysian is book Two in the "Wayward in Wessex" series. This is the story of Lord Edmund Talbot, the Earl of Stranraer 'Ned" and Miss Cassandra Blythe 'Cassie". I have read the other book but feel this is easily a standalone book.
Cassie thinks she is in love with Julian Carnforth. Julian just thinks of her as a little sister. So Cassie wants to learn to seduce him. When Cassie sees Julian going off with a lady named Lucy at a party she feels she needs to save him from this women. Captain Francis Wycherley is who brought Lucy to the party and who has a relationship with her. So Cassie and the Captain go off to confront the two wayward couple. Ned is pretending to be a servant to be in the Captain's house hold to look for clues about what happened to his sister. Ned's sister went missing after a fire happened Ned feels that the Captain has something to do with his missing sister.
Ned intervenes when Cassie tries to get the Captain to help her learning how to seduce Julian.
But they both find that they can't help fighting their feelings.
I enjoyed this story and their banter. Ned was frustrating a few times but overall really loved this book!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H...
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
http://booklikes.com/blog
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
https://plus.google.com/+SissyHicks
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
Cassie thinks she is in love with Julian Carnforth. Julian just thinks of her as a little sister. So Cassie wants to learn to seduce him. When Cassie sees Julian going off with a lady named Lucy at a party she feels she needs to save him from this women. Captain Francis Wycherley is who brought Lucy to the party and who has a relationship with her. So Cassie and the Captain go off to confront the two wayward couple. Ned is pretending to be a servant to be in the Captain's house hold to look for clues about what happened to his sister. Ned's sister went missing after a fire happened Ned feels that the Captain has something to do with his missing sister.
Ned intervenes when Cassie tries to get the Captain to help her learning how to seduce Julian.
But they both find that they can't help fighting their feelings.
I enjoyed this story and their banter. Ned was frustrating a few times but overall really loved this book!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H...
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
http://booklikes.com/blog
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
https://plus.google.com/+SissyHicks
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
May 14, 2017
I think I need to take a break from historical romances, because this one did absolutely nothing for me. Mostly because of the characters. Cassandra kicks things off by acting in a very unlikely way, running around in the dark with two men and not expecting that to ruin her reputation, then meeting in secret with a rake. She’s supposed to be smart, but there were times when I wondered if she had a brain at all.
Then there’s Ned, our earl-in-disguise, looking for his lost sister. His motives may be good, but he has serious anger issues. He has arrogant and condescending moments and can be rather judgemental too, but he is an earl, so while I didn’t like those character traits they weren’t entirely unexpected. His temper, however, was a bit too nasty for me to ever like him much.
Then there are the other men. One, the object of Cassie’s affections, seems to have a refreshing view of female sexuality – until it comes to Cassie, then he’s an idiot. As for the captain… nope. I didn’t like him, at all. Both he and his lady love are welcome to each other, pretending to be noble when really they’re both being selfish.
The plot has plenty of farcical moments that I think were supposed to be funny, turning the mystery into a bit of a romp at times, but the behaviour of all involved and the modern reactions sadly didn’t work for me.
I did, however, love the sense of place and time and all the little touches that brought the English countryside in late spring/early summer to life. The birds and the wildflowers and everything that made it feel like home. That was lovely.
Sadly, that wasn’t enough to win me over. This one wasn’t for me, and I’m starting to think a break from the whole genre might be needed.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
Then there’s Ned, our earl-in-disguise, looking for his lost sister. His motives may be good, but he has serious anger issues. He has arrogant and condescending moments and can be rather judgemental too, but he is an earl, so while I didn’t like those character traits they weren’t entirely unexpected. His temper, however, was a bit too nasty for me to ever like him much.
Then there are the other men. One, the object of Cassie’s affections, seems to have a refreshing view of female sexuality – until it comes to Cassie, then he’s an idiot. As for the captain… nope. I didn’t like him, at all. Both he and his lady love are welcome to each other, pretending to be noble when really they’re both being selfish.
The plot has plenty of farcical moments that I think were supposed to be funny, turning the mystery into a bit of a romp at times, but the behaviour of all involved and the modern reactions sadly didn’t work for me.
I did, however, love the sense of place and time and all the little touches that brought the English countryside in late spring/early summer to life. The birds and the wildflowers and everything that made it feel like home. That was lovely.
Sadly, that wasn’t enough to win me over. This one wasn’t for me, and I’m starting to think a break from the whole genre might be needed.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
May 16, 2017
the second book in the wayward in wessex series, unmasking the earl, follows miss cassandra blythe and her quest to get her childhood crush, julian carnforth, to notice her as a woman instead of the little sister he treats her like. after joining forces with captain francis wycherly to prevent julian and captain wycherly's current lover from indulging in a dalliance, cassie has the idea that wycherly might be the perfect person to help her attract julian's attentions.
if only his pesky manservant, ned ganstridge weren't around all the time and interrupting at the most inopportune moments. the thing is, cassie can't stop thinking about him. she's never felt this odd magnetic attraction with anyone. and suddenly she finds that she has to work hard to remember that she wants to kiss julian, because ned is all she thinks about.
but ned isn't really a lowly manservant. he's on a quest to discover the whereabouts of his missing sister and he believes that wycherly is connected to it somehow. and considering his opinion of wycherly, he is doing his best to protect cassie without blowing his cover.
but because he can't stop himself from interfering, it's only a matter of time before cassie learns who he is, and what he is up to. and then she can't stop herself from getting involved.
the chemistry between cassie and ned is intense. whenever they are in the same scene together they can't stay apart from each other. and it's only a matter of time before cassie admits that she may not be as in love with julian as she thought she was. cassie and ned just need to stop focusing on the nonsense around them and start communicating with one another honestly.
**unmasking the earl will publish on may 15, 2017. i received an advance reviewer copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (scandalous) in exchange for my honest review.
if only his pesky manservant, ned ganstridge weren't around all the time and interrupting at the most inopportune moments. the thing is, cassie can't stop thinking about him. she's never felt this odd magnetic attraction with anyone. and suddenly she finds that she has to work hard to remember that she wants to kiss julian, because ned is all she thinks about.
but ned isn't really a lowly manservant. he's on a quest to discover the whereabouts of his missing sister and he believes that wycherly is connected to it somehow. and considering his opinion of wycherly, he is doing his best to protect cassie without blowing his cover.
but because he can't stop himself from interfering, it's only a matter of time before cassie learns who he is, and what he is up to. and then she can't stop herself from getting involved.
the chemistry between cassie and ned is intense. whenever they are in the same scene together they can't stay apart from each other. and it's only a matter of time before cassie admits that she may not be as in love with julian as she thought she was. cassie and ned just need to stop focusing on the nonsense around them and start communicating with one another honestly.
**unmasking the earl will publish on may 15, 2017. i received an advance reviewer copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (scandalous) in exchange for my honest review.
May 23, 2017
Fantastic; a comedy of manners with flashes of seriousness and depth. Following the likeable characters through this story felt like watching a light opera. I loved the author’s period-appropriate use of colloquialisms and metaphor. Keysian wove them into the story in ways that felt completely natural. Early in the novel, both the heroine and the hero sometimes behave in ways (class snobbery and sexism) that are repellent to modern society, but are entirely natural for their times. No one would have questioned the way that the heroine dismisses romantic possibilities with the servant played by the disguised Earl. That she’s attracted to him despite his presumed status only heightens the considerable sexual tension. Although the hero develops some empathy for the servant class, he’s no social reformer. This, too feels realistic. When the heroine makes some errors in judgment by asking a noted rake to offer her lessons in seduction, she is believably naive in a way fitting young women of her class and family situation. Such characterization works because of Keysian’s ability to show, not tell, how social restrictions would have shaped a woman of her age and moderately advantaged status.
The author’s plotting, research, and engaging style produce a satisfying story. I appreciated her humor, attention to research, and the frank acknowledgement of the way women’s social currency was controlled by beauty and wealth. All of this combines to make a balanced, enjoyable historical romance that will make readers seek out more work by this writer. Recommended for romance genre fans that like a bit of sly humor.
The author’s plotting, research, and engaging style produce a satisfying story. I appreciated her humor, attention to research, and the frank acknowledgement of the way women’s social currency was controlled by beauty and wealth. All of this combines to make a balanced, enjoyable historical romance that will make readers seek out more work by this writer. Recommended for romance genre fans that like a bit of sly humor.
May 18, 2017
Cassie has been infatuated & thinks herself in love with Julian, her childhood friend since she was 13. Now grown up, she is determined to win his heart even though he only sees her as a sister. Thinking that the way to win him & change his perception of her would be to learn how to flirt and seduce him, she persuades a known rake whose paramour Julian appears to be besotted with to teach her seductive arts.
There were several parts of the story that did not sit well with me. Cassie starts off a bit silly in her pursuit of Julian & her scheme of how to win him. Risking her own reputation and heaven only knows what else, putting herself in such a compromising situation alone with a rake seemed the height of stupidity. Her excuse of visiting said rake was even lamer & I cannot imagine a chaperone of any worth, or a parent allowing such a thing of an unmarried young, innocent lady.
When she finds herself attracted to Ned (the hero) & later on learning his true identity she is the one to insist on him making love to her. Right. Hello? Aren’t you supposed to be wildly in love with Mr Julian Carnforth?
Ned, the hero was ok but forgettable.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
There were several parts of the story that did not sit well with me. Cassie starts off a bit silly in her pursuit of Julian & her scheme of how to win him. Risking her own reputation and heaven only knows what else, putting herself in such a compromising situation alone with a rake seemed the height of stupidity. Her excuse of visiting said rake was even lamer & I cannot imagine a chaperone of any worth, or a parent allowing such a thing of an unmarried young, innocent lady.
When she finds herself attracted to Ned (the hero) & later on learning his true identity she is the one to insist on him making love to her. Right. Hello? Aren’t you supposed to be wildly in love with Mr Julian Carnforth?
Ned, the hero was ok but forgettable.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
May 19, 2017
Edmund Talbot, the Earl of Stranraer is devastated by his sister’s disappearance and plans to go to any lengths to find the notorious rogue responsible. He feels Captain Francis Wycherley knows something about his sister and he enters household incognito as a servant, Ganstridge, to wreak his vengeance on him. Cassandra Blythe is in love with Julian, her childhood friend, but he doesn’t seem to notice her so who better to teach the art of seduction than the notorious rake, Captain Wycherley. Ganstridge keeps intruding Cassie’s lessons he shows up at inauspicious moments to spoil her lessons in love with warnings of her imminent ruin. She knows she loves Julian, but she’s is blindsided by her body's thrilling response to the wrong man. Cassie discoveries who Ganstridge the servant really is and she decides to help Ned, the Earl of Stranraer’s uncover the mystery surrounding, sister’s disappearance, but only if he abandons his vow to destroy his enemy. The book is humorous, intriguing with a mystery to solve as two head strong people fight their mutual attraction and sexual tension to find their HEA!!!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher.
May 24, 2017
Amount of sex 1 / 5
How explicit 3 / 5
Story 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Review:
I really enjoyed Unmasking the Earl. Cassie and Ned were so much fun to read! While searching for his sister, Ned goes undercover as a servant named Ganstridge to find out if the scandalous man, Captain Wycherley, has done something to Ned's sister, Ned suspects the Captain is hiding his sister with child, leaving her alone and ruined or even worse dead.
Cassie pines for a man, Julian, who thinks of her as a child. She decides to take matters into her own hands and uses the willing Captain to teach her the ways of seduction, 1821 style. Fearing Cassie is falling victim to the Captain's less than scrupulous manner, Ned oversteps his undercover role to try to keep the head-strong Cassie's reputation out of danger.
The characters in Unmasking the Earl are fun and engaging. While as a Behind Closed Doors Book Review book it is mild on the spicy side of things, the physical romance is satisfying and fairly detailed (I always want more, though). The story moves along and offers a romp like atmosphere of who is fooling whom. Keysian is a new author for me and a look forward to her next book!
** Voluntarily reviewed from an advanced copy **
How explicit 3 / 5
Story 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Review:
I really enjoyed Unmasking the Earl. Cassie and Ned were so much fun to read! While searching for his sister, Ned goes undercover as a servant named Ganstridge to find out if the scandalous man, Captain Wycherley, has done something to Ned's sister, Ned suspects the Captain is hiding his sister with child, leaving her alone and ruined or even worse dead.
Cassie pines for a man, Julian, who thinks of her as a child. She decides to take matters into her own hands and uses the willing Captain to teach her the ways of seduction, 1821 style. Fearing Cassie is falling victim to the Captain's less than scrupulous manner, Ned oversteps his undercover role to try to keep the head-strong Cassie's reputation out of danger.
The characters in Unmasking the Earl are fun and engaging. While as a Behind Closed Doors Book Review book it is mild on the spicy side of things, the physical romance is satisfying and fairly detailed (I always want more, though). The story moves along and offers a romp like atmosphere of who is fooling whom. Keysian is a new author for me and a look forward to her next book!
** Voluntarily reviewed from an advanced copy **
May 15, 2017
Cassie has her hands full: She thinks she is in love with man #1 (Julian), thinks man #2 (the Captain) can teach her how to seduce man #1 (Julian), and finds herself fighting the chemistry with man #3 (Ned), who is the presumed servant of man #2 (the Captain).
Ned (man #3) is working undercover as a servant in the household of the Captain (man #2), because he feels like he may have had something to do with the disappearance of his beloved sister. Now: Enter Cassie and her unconventional notions, and let the fireworks begin!
This book was a combination of all the best things in a storyline: romance, suspense, mystery, unexpected chemistry, humorous banter, quirky characters and sparks galore all rolled into a wonderfully-written tale with a distinctively-historical flavor and Regency feel combined.
Even though this is the second novel in the Wayward in Wessex series, it can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone. I am eagerly looking forward to the next offering from the uber-talented Keysian!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Entangled Publishing, LLC in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Ned (man #3) is working undercover as a servant in the household of the Captain (man #2), because he feels like he may have had something to do with the disappearance of his beloved sister. Now: Enter Cassie and her unconventional notions, and let the fireworks begin!
This book was a combination of all the best things in a storyline: romance, suspense, mystery, unexpected chemistry, humorous banter, quirky characters and sparks galore all rolled into a wonderfully-written tale with a distinctively-historical flavor and Regency feel combined.
Even though this is the second novel in the Wayward in Wessex series, it can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone. I am eagerly looking forward to the next offering from the uber-talented Keysian!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Entangled Publishing, LLC in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
May 29, 2017
Posted on What I'm Reading
I have to say that Unmasking the Earl was an interesting read. Cassie's kind of silly. Some the things she does to try to get the guy she's "in love" attention. At least she has one friend who was like dude you need to look at other options, because I don't think he's all that into you. However, she's a stubborn chit. However, she's also tenacious, and fearless in some aspect.
Now Ned. He's in big brother mode. I didn't mind him being a jerk at times, he was looking out for Cassie even though she didn't see it that way. He did make some excellent points to Cassie. All he wanted to do was find his sister.
Overall, Unmasking the Earl was an all right read. There some silliness to the story with Cassie being to stubborn to realize she was being kind of dumb in some the situations she puts herself in. I did like Cassie and Ned together, because they balance one another out. She's a bit impulsive and he need someone like her to help him.
Copy provided by Entangled via NetGalley
I have to say that Unmasking the Earl was an interesting read. Cassie's kind of silly. Some the things she does to try to get the guy she's "in love" attention. At least she has one friend who was like dude you need to look at other options, because I don't think he's all that into you. However, she's a stubborn chit. However, she's also tenacious, and fearless in some aspect.
Now Ned. He's in big brother mode. I didn't mind him being a jerk at times, he was looking out for Cassie even though she didn't see it that way. He did make some excellent points to Cassie. All he wanted to do was find his sister.
Overall, Unmasking the Earl was an all right read. There some silliness to the story with Cassie being to stubborn to realize she was being kind of dumb in some the situations she puts herself in. I did like Cassie and Ned together, because they balance one another out. She's a bit impulsive and he need someone like her to help him.
Copy provided by Entangled via NetGalley
May 14, 2017
Ned, the Earl of Stranraer, takes a position as a servant in the house of Captain Francis Wycherley, the man he believes was in a secret relationship with his sister before she disappeared during a fire months ago, in order to try to find out what happened to his sister.
Cassie Blythe has been in love with a childhood friend Julian, but he has taken no romantic interest in her, so Cassie seeks out the Captain to get advice on capturing Julian's notice. However, during her lessons from the Captain, she begins to feel an attraction to the insubordination servant who acts in a protective manner towards her.
The story relies on the aristocrat disguised as a servant trope, but it does it very well and it doesn't overdue it. There is witty banter between the main characters, several humorous interactions when different sets of characters interact, as well as a mild level of mystery. I found the story quickly pulls the reader along, and was an enjoyable read.
I received a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cassie Blythe has been in love with a childhood friend Julian, but he has taken no romantic interest in her, so Cassie seeks out the Captain to get advice on capturing Julian's notice. However, during her lessons from the Captain, she begins to feel an attraction to the insubordination servant who acts in a protective manner towards her.
The story relies on the aristocrat disguised as a servant trope, but it does it very well and it doesn't overdue it. There is witty banter between the main characters, several humorous interactions when different sets of characters interact, as well as a mild level of mystery. I found the story quickly pulls the reader along, and was an enjoyable read.
I received a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2017
What struck me first about this book is the diction. The word choice draws you into the era and the mindsets of the characters. The author enlivens the era further with small snatches of description that lends an authenticity to the setting. Robins eating young green plums off the tree, that sort of thing. If you know (as I do) that Elizabeth Keysian lives in Wessex, you'll know to trust those little descriptions as a true taste of the area. I love reading that in a book because it transports you to that place.
On the whole, this book is a serious one, but from time to time there were moments of levity that had me smiling and chuckling to myself. The draw about this book is the incredible tension between the characters. The chemistry crackles off the page and kept me reading on. The ending was a bit bizarre...I would not be pleased if a man did that to me...but I am happy they got their HEA because Ned and Cassie were made for each other!
On the whole, this book is a serious one, but from time to time there were moments of levity that had me smiling and chuckling to myself. The draw about this book is the incredible tension between the characters. The chemistry crackles off the page and kept me reading on. The ending was a bit bizarre...I would not be pleased if a man did that to me...but I am happy they got their HEA because Ned and Cassie were made for each other!
February 18, 2019
Unmasking The Earl is an outstanding historical romance by Elizabeth Keysian. Ms. Keysian has again delivered a book that is a joy to read. The characters are phenomenal and the book is well-written and a nice smooth read. Cassandra has been in love with Julian for years. When Julian slips away from the ball with another woman, Cassandra enlists the aid of Captain Wycherley, a rake. Ned has been searching for his sister since she went missing after a fire. He gets a job working for Captain Wycherley believing he has something to do with his sister's disappearance. Cassandra and Ned's story is loaded with drama, humor, sexy bits, action and suspense. This book hooked me on the first page and held me hostage until the end. I enjoyed every page of Unmasking The Earl and look forward to my next book by Elizabeth Keysian. Unmasking The Earl is book 2 of the Wayward In Wessex Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
May 5, 2017
(3.5) Everything is not always as it seems. A definite theme in this story. What I like about this story is that it has the witty banter and quirky characters found in the first book in the series (at least through the first third of the book). The middle kind of drug a bit for me but it did pick up again at the end of the story. I loved Ned and Cassie’s interactions (especially Ned’s constant busting in and under the breath remarks). Very funny. Good characters and situations. A nice read.
I would have liked more story on the Captain and the woman he loves. It was a great side story that I think could have been expanded more.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
I would have liked more story on the Captain and the woman he loves. It was a great side story that I think could have been expanded more.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 20, 2017
*I received a copy in exchange for my honest review
This is my first time reading a book by Elizabeth Keysian and I'm hooked! I loved how they were at odds at all times but drawn to each other at the same time. There are a couple twists surrounding his sister and what happened that I didn't seeing coming. I loved the ending and how I never was sure what was going to happen.
Cassie is determined to get what she wants no matter what. I loved how she saw things from a calm point of view and defended people. She had to learn about herself and it caused some interesting things.
Ned has a temper but his heart is in the right place. I loved that he would go to such lengths to find out about his sister. He met his match with Cassie and learned to think before acting.
This is my first time reading a book by Elizabeth Keysian and I'm hooked! I loved how they were at odds at all times but drawn to each other at the same time. There are a couple twists surrounding his sister and what happened that I didn't seeing coming. I loved the ending and how I never was sure what was going to happen.
Cassie is determined to get what she wants no matter what. I loved how she saw things from a calm point of view and defended people. She had to learn about herself and it caused some interesting things.
Ned has a temper but his heart is in the right place. I loved that he would go to such lengths to find out about his sister. He met his match with Cassie and learned to think before acting.
May 25, 2017
This is the second story in Wayward in Wessex series and not reading the first story, I can safely say that I had no trouble following this one. I don't think it's necessary for you to read the first one either in order to understand the goings on in here.
If you love lighthearted and romp romances, this one will fit the bill to a tee! There's a lot going on here with lots and lots of characters that are fun and funny. I enjoyed the characterization of both leads and their interaction was fun. I also found the setting of the countryside appealing and refreshing.
This is a perfect story to lighten the rainy day afternoon.
Melanie for b2b
Gift copy provided by the publisher for an honest review
If you love lighthearted and romp romances, this one will fit the bill to a tee! There's a lot going on here with lots and lots of characters that are fun and funny. I enjoyed the characterization of both leads and their interaction was fun. I also found the setting of the countryside appealing and refreshing.
This is a perfect story to lighten the rainy day afternoon.
Melanie for b2b
Gift copy provided by the publisher for an honest review
May 4, 2017
Definitely a buy book. I in my own opinion down starred it for one reason. The way some of the events were tied up. It was a little too much for me coming to late in the story for some of it so it felt a little rushed. Now for the rest.... I sincerely enjoyed the humor of reading a nobleman acting in a servant capacity. I must say that was a splendid way of putting this plot line together! I liked the hero and the heroine. It is a romance with passion and heart. It had a few places that made it touching emotionally due to the circumstances (sorry not writing a spoiler). So for me it was a totally enjoyable read. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna
May 8, 2017
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this story and did not feel I was missing anything by not reading the first book in the series.
Cassie is in love with a childhood friend and thinks to catch his eye is to learn how to seduce a man. She begins to see a notorious rake for seduction lessons, but soon realizes the man who makes her heart beat faster is a servant. When she finds out that the servant is actually the missing Earl of Stranraer she is determined to help him find his missing sister.
Cassie was a fun heroine to read along her journey of finding love. Ned was perfect for her, even though it took them a while to realize it! I was not disappointed by this book at all!
I enjoyed this story and did not feel I was missing anything by not reading the first book in the series.
Cassie is in love with a childhood friend and thinks to catch his eye is to learn how to seduce a man. She begins to see a notorious rake for seduction lessons, but soon realizes the man who makes her heart beat faster is a servant. When she finds out that the servant is actually the missing Earl of Stranraer she is determined to help him find his missing sister.
Cassie was a fun heroine to read along her journey of finding love. Ned was perfect for her, even though it took them a while to realize it! I was not disappointed by this book at all!
May 10, 2017
Miss Cassandra Blythe is most distressed that man who she has loved since she was a child, only looks at her as a sister. She must do something to make him notice her.
Lord Edmund Talbot, the Earl of Stranraer is searching for his sister who vanished several months before. The only clue he has is the name of a well known libertine.
This is a wonderful, crazy adventure. Our mischievous heroine risks all for love, and our bullheaded hero has a problem controlling his temper. Lots of fun and a little mystery to solve. The final scene in particular was vastly entertaining.
I loved ever page.
Lord Edmund Talbot, the Earl of Stranraer is searching for his sister who vanished several months before. The only clue he has is the name of a well known libertine.
This is a wonderful, crazy adventure. Our mischievous heroine risks all for love, and our bullheaded hero has a problem controlling his temper. Lots of fun and a little mystery to solve. The final scene in particular was vastly entertaining.
I loved ever page.
May 14, 2017
This was the first book I've read by Ms. Keysian and I'm on the fence about it. I felt in Ms. Keysian's attempt to make Edmund Talbot's passion for Cassie seem bottomless, she ended up making him seem more frightening instead. For a gently bred woman like Cassie who had no brothers who rough housed around her, Ned's explosive fury would have been scary. I've read lots of Regency romances and have never seen a gentlemen act this way.
I did love the plot of this story. It was inventive and the writing was well done. However, too many of Edmund's actions seemed too much over the top especially at the Duke's ball.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I did love the plot of this story. It was inventive and the writing was well done. However, too many of Edmund's actions seemed too much over the top especially at the Duke's ball.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 13, 2019
I wasn’t a big fan of the pacing in this book. I thought it would take longer for Cassie to discover who the earl was but it only lasted a couple of chapters. Then I thought it would take longer for them to find the truth about what happened to his sister but that was resolved a lot earlier than I expected as well. I also didn’t buy into the romance portion of the book as much as I would have liked. Cassie held onto her childhood infatuation for a long time and it made her appear childish at times and I didn’t feel the sexual tension between her and the earl as much as I expect the author intended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews