Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl

by Hanna Hamilton

Robert, the young and handsome Earl of Donnelly, has a great passion for writing novels but as part of the nobility, it is socially impossible for him to openly publish fiction in his own name.

After much searching, he finds the young Diana Browning, a charming and well-established romance writer, who agrees to publish the book under her name.

As Diana and Robert begin to work together, they find they are becoming increasingly attracted to each other. But, Diana is engaged and unavailable.

However, circumstances contrive to bring many surprises, and nothing comes out as anyone quite expected.

♥ A historical romance novel full of twists that'll keep you turning the pages ♥

*Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke is a historical standalone romantic story of 80,000 words (around 350 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.

Get this book for free with Kindle Unlimited!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2017

About the author

Hanna Hamilton has been fascinated with the Regency era ever since she was a young teen, first discovering historical romance novels by famous authors such as Jane Austen and Lisa Kleypas. She believes that love was just so much more magical back then, more like a fairy tale. She always daydreamed about finding love herself that way, but since that is impossible in the twenty-first century, she decided to write about it instead!

Born in Texas, Hanna Hamilton obtained a degree in Creative Writing and has worked as a literature teacher before becoming a novelist. When she isn’t writing, Hanna likes to explore the countryside with her husband and two children, gaining inspiration from the natural world around her.

So, come on a journey into love, confusion, and redemption all within the Regency era. Hanna hopes that you will enjoy immersing yourself into her novels and that you too will find a love for old-fashioned romance, just as she has. 


Facebook page: http://facebook.com/hannahamiltonauthor

Reviews

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading Annabelle Enchants thr Rejected earl. But Annabelle was not able to enchant me, so I quit reading. When the author offered me an ARC of Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl, I decided to give it a chance. And I'm so glad I did!
I really adore Diana! She is smart, kind and adores her parents. And she is not the only interesting character. There is, of course, the earl, the big sister, the viscount and the fiance. And don't forget the parents, the sisters and, the very funny, twins.
Bonus 1: there is a story, written by Diana, in the book.
Bonus 2: we get to meet queen Victoria.
Bonus 3: on Hanna Hamilton's website you can read an extended epilogue.
Wonderful story, I couldn't put it down!
Thank you, Hanna Hamilton, for giving me another chance, by letting me read this!
I received a copy and chose to review it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is romantic, interesting, amusing and entertaining. Robert is charming, romantic and engaging. Diana is loyal, stubborn, kind, sweet and generous. Geoffrey and Miriam are hilarious. Amelia and Ludlow are both stubborn and self-centered. The storyline is intriguing and the characters interact well with each other. It's a thoroughly enjoyable story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It started off a bit slowly, introducing various characters as it built up to the story, but the more I read, the more I liked it and did not want to put it down.

It is not a fast-paced book, but as it meanders its way through the story, it introduces some quirky characters and a side to English life in the late 1800s not often portrayed in historical romance. Yes, there is an earl, and even a visit from the queen, but most of the characters are just common folk. They don't live in poverty, but they don't employ staff either. There were not debut balls or interactions with the ton, and it was refreshing.

Speaking of quirky characters, I would be remiss not to mention Diana's friends, the Sinclair twins. They defy description, but they were indisputably unusual. A couple of times, I rolled my eyes at their outrageous behavior and even felt they were a bit contrived to add some je ne sais quoi, but ultimately, they did add something (I don’t know what) to the story and it was hard not to love them - even if they would drive you crazy in real life. There was also male writer, briefly introduced, who all but admitted he was gay. I found it surprising someone would not be more secretive about that at that time in history, but since the theme of this book was about societal gender-based role expectations, it was fitting. It was well done and presented a compelling case for being true to yourself. I highly recommend this book.

FYI - This book never gets more steamy than a kiss (or two).

[Sandy Digger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana adores the puzzled Earl

This was a very nice, clean romance. It involves an Earl, Robert, who has an older sister who has basically raised him and thus can’t seem to let go. She constantly hounds him about getting married and producing an heir and pushes insipid young women at him. But Robert has not found anyone who strikes his fancy until he meets Diana through a publisher. Robert has just finished his first book and wishes his friend (a publisher) to publish it for him. His friend informs him that a titled gentleman cannot write fiction. It just simply isn’t done. The book develops at a steady pace with little obstacles thrown in. He gets to know Diana as she becomes his surrogate writer. Unfortunately he realizes he cares deeply for her after she becomes engaged to another, Adam. Adam is still in university when he and Diana become engaged and is close to finishing, but sadly the reason she accepts his proposal is to save the family home. The story takes on a new note as Diana realizes she has feelings for Robert but is engaged to Adam, what a conundrum. I found it hard to stop reading the book as I kept wanting Diana and Robert to admit how they felt about each other. A well written story with good detail.

[Candy Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definitely delightful story. It is funny in spots and not so much in others. The descriptions were wonderful. Balfour, the earl's country house sounds beautiful in the descriptions. The dialogue matched the action. The characters were great. They were light hearted, fun and supported Diana. Poor Adam, just was not grown up enough. Robert is the Earl of Donnelly, he is an author, as is Diana. His publisher feels they need a surrogate author. He is an earl and the publisher believes it could cause a scandal. So Robert appeals to Diana and offers her a proposition. The plot is a little complex and the author has woven this tale into a well written, even paced and mesmerizing read. I loved it. The crazy twins were so funny, Geoffrey has trouble keeping a job and Miriam is just darling and dramatic, they are exactly alike or seem so. Just an all around great book.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Lokdyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like clean, Regency romance stories, here is another great one by this author. There are so many wonderful characters—Robert, Earl of Donnelly; Diana, a published author with her artist mother and professor father; the Sinclair twins (both so funny); the Goodwin spinster sisters; Robert’s sister Amelia (not always very nice); Viscount Berwick, a kind of villain; Diana’s fiancé, Adam (not really the one for her). I enjoyed all these characters and loved all the twists and turns in the story. I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone, so you’ll have to read it to find out how everything works out for the best. I also liked reading the Extended Epilogue at the end. I would recommend this book to everyone. I received an advance reader copy and this is my honest review of this story.

[Aud · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl" by Hanna Hamilton
A sweet historical romance read.
This is a good story with some interesting stumbling blocks in the paths of the primary characters. I found this to be a slow read for me... but I believe that is a problem with myself not the story. I was gifted with a copy of this story and I truly did enjoy the read, and my hope is that you will also enjoy reading this tale of romance, too.

[Debbie Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Regency Romance

It was slow to get started, but it picked up quick and then things got topsy turvy and they fell in love. Thank you for an engaging story, Danny and Debbie Scott.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl is delightful. The story is uncomplicated for the most part and moves right along taking the reader with it. Diana and Robert are perfect for each other. There is, of course, their shared interest in writing, which is, by the way, how they met. Beyond that, they are comfortable talking to each other and enjoy each other’s company. It is little wonder they fall in love. The cast of secondary characters is great. There are two villains who are more annoying than dangerous, Diana’s happy parents, neighbors, and friends (the twins are loveable and hilarious), a rather whiny fiancé, an enthusiastic publisher, and the Queen of England. I recommend this one; it’s a winner. And…the extended epilogue is not to be missed.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free book and voluntarily chose to review it. My strong woman is here and she keeps her beliefs. This book is somewhat different from other books. Women are working and it seems that this is common for this time. I loved the book.

[🦉Maggie Whitworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️
A fairly slow burning romance , that only really gets going from about half way through, that being said it’s still quite an enjoyable ,clean read .
The story is about an Earl , Robert , who writes a book but needs a surrogate author to publish it , that’s Diana .
Diana is engaged to be married when she starts to fall for the Earl , Robert knows how he feels about Diana , but won’t do anything about it because he respects her feelings and decision to marry Adam .
All goes to pot once the book is published and they are forced into spending more time together .
Well written with great characters, I’d love to give it more stars , if only it had got into the story a little quicker
3.5 Stars
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to submit a review

[Danielle Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story represents how real relationships start. It starts out with friendship and an attraction that simmers and boils before either party decides to act upon it. I loved the idea of the business partnership and how her fiancée used the loan to get her to agree to a marriage. It set conflict on both sides of the relationship, with the Earl's sister badgering him to accept the Viscount's offer, so she could snag a husband at 38 years of age.

I received an Advance Reader Copy for my honest review.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. Hanna Hamilton has become one of my absolute favorite authors. Diana and Robert make the most adorable couple, but my favorite characters were the twins. They are hilarious. If you are feeling down in any way this story will make you laugh out loud and lift your spirits. It is chock full of amazing wit and great use of play on words. The detailed way in which the behaviors and temperaments of the characters are described are so realistic. Hanna always has a way of inviting a reader to get cozy with her book and enjoy the story. As usual she has hit the mark.

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a terrific plot with depths, twists and turns that make it very enjoyable. It is so well written, each character is portrayed so well I felt like I knew them. I feel it is Hanna’s best book yet, if it is possible to better her others! I really enjoyed reading it and thoroughly recommend it.

[D'anah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

Totally enjoyed this book. Loved the twins! Could not understand how she ever considered marrying Adam! The whole situation, twists, and outcome are really good. One of her best!

[Sharon Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

This book by Hanna Hamilton was great!! Well written and romantic. You always feel like you are back in this century. Characters mixed well together.So please don't think twice about reading this book. You will love it as much as I did.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. I enjoy reading Regency romance novels. And this book was a pleasure to read. I like that it has a different storyline from the usual ones of that time period. The characters are well developed and the story flows pretty well. What I didn't like was the fact that the language seemed a little modern at times. And since the story takes place in 1872, I'm wondering if our heroine should not have been chaperoned and should have called the Earl by his title instead of his first name. However, the book is very enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone who likes Regency romance novels. I will definitely read more by this author.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this lovely story of a female writer, Diana and the Earl who she has a business arrangement with to publish his book under her name. Diana is engaged to a man who helped out her family, but feelings start to grow between her and the Earl. With the earls meddling sister, Diana's confused father and other obstacles they will need to persevere and finally admit their feelings to each other. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.

[Annette Drewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the interaction between Diana and Robert from the start. Adam was a character that you feel needs a push to grow up and the twins are great light comedy relief. Fantastic, realistic characters abound in this book. Hanna weaves an intriguing story and I would recommend this to lovers of Historical Romance. Well Done.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Pat Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

The author has the ability to blend the plot and characters into a very interesting story. I enjoy her books.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written book with strong, complex characters. Robert and Diana work together on a novel. He is an Earl and can't publish anything under his name so he gets Diana, a romance writer to agree to work with him and publish it under her name. The more they work together, the more they become attracted to each other. This poses a problem since she is engaged. Lots of turmoil and surprises brings us to a happy ending without a cliffhanger. I read an advance copy and voluntarily chose to write a review.

[Kim F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Very captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong characters. I want to read more from this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A full day read with interesting characters, set in England in 1873, illustrates how the writing life hasn't really changed. I understand the author is changing the title to Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl.
I read an ARC and this voluntary review is my own opinion.

[Anna Beason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Took me longer to read because I lost interest when it seemed to drag thru the story. But I continued reading and it got better.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 've been given a snippet to whet my appetite, the duke is trying to set a new standard, which will cause him problems with his peers, Diana ...hmmm 😊is she the answer ...Will need to read more ...definitely a " need to finish this one "

[Katherine Coble · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of those books where characters have awkward dialogue for equally awkward expository purposes. The writing felt stilted.

In the beginning the main character says “in these progressive times of eighteen hundred and seventy two”. Not only was that the dumbest sentence I’ve read in forever, it clearly places the book in the LATTER VICTORIAN ERA. Calling this a Regency novel would be like calling a book about WWI a Civil War Era novel. Sixty years is a long time, people.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Victorian, not regency

This is a loosely done Victorian era book, not a regency. In addition, The author seems to have taken liberties with the culture and society of the time, as well as speec h, etc. So if you're into true regency and period books this might frustrate you.

The plot was interesting and the book had entertaining side characters.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl, by Hanna Hamilton.
Robert Donnelly, Earl of Donnelly, has written an adventure novel based on his travels in America. It's good enough to be published. The only problem? Conventions of the time in England (1873) could ruin the reputation of a male author who dabbled in "novels and romance", and would definitely put him beyond the pale with the ton. Why would it matter? Because he would immediately become a pariah in society, and this would seriously harm his chances to find a suitable potential marriage partner.

The solution? Find an established author willing to accept responsibility for writing the book and bringing it into print. And that's how Robert meets Diana Browning, a published romance novelist with a large following.

So begins a tale of literary deceit that leads to all sorts of complications for the adventurous earl, not least of which is his growing love for Diana. What begins as a business proposition very quickly turns into something else and that's a problem, because Dianna, in order to save her family's leasehold home from being sold to someone else, has agreed to marry young scholar Adam if his father will guarantee a loan that will save the family home.

How it all turns out consumes the rest of a book that keeps one reading and hoping that things will turn out for the best. It's an ingenious and fascinating read about authors and their difficulties in publishing in the late 19th century. Not everyone was free to write what he or she wanted, especially a British male aristocrat who was bound to a rigid set of societal rules that were almost guaranteed to stifle initiative.

But Diana is an author with her head screwed on and her heart in the right place. She not only stickhandles her way through a sticky literary situation and a near loveless marriage, but helps the earl solve a difficult business problem into the bargain.

This is not a story full of dramatic occurrences, but one of steady growth both in love, art, and business. It was a pleasure to read and to contemplate not just for the romance, but the interesting look at a slice of life in rural England during the early industrial revolution.

[Tammy Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Adores The Puzzling Earl..
When I was asked to read this I was pleased because I loved Hanna's books. So I found that this was kinda of different then most. It was about an Earl who had written a book but couldn't publish it in is own being the Earl of Donnelly he had to find someone who would do it for him. So in his hunting he couldn't find until he came across the the name that was next one the list. But Diana and her family was having problems. She was seeing a man who she wasn't in love with but agreed to marry him to get the help her family out. But Earl had paid her upfront quite well and they start meeting more often and he was getting feelings for her. Finally he admitted to her after they kissed and she expressed her feeling.
Thing where happening to Robert at his house that he didn't like so he was spending more time with Diana working on the book and talking things out with his publisher and finally on agreeing to doing thing with property after talking with Diana about. That is when his sister saw how he was happy when Diana's name was mentioned so she said ", you should marry her". He took off out of the house to she Diana. When he got there she wasn't at her house so he went to the twin's house they she wasn't there so he went to the meadow a spotted her there with The two elderly ladies from next door. He asked if he could speak to her for For a minute in private. She said yes but she had to walk the ladies home first. So the ladies said they could do it on there own. So Diana and Robert started for there walk he stopped and explain what his sister had said and asked her to marry him she yes but then there was Adam he said break it off. They went and told mother and father. Robert had a gift to The Browning's that set there mind a little more at ease a free leaseland. They owned nothing for there land. Robert gave them the land free. So Diana met with Adam called off the wedding and paid back the loan with interest. Adam said he thought it was because of the Earl.
So I recommend if you want to find out the ending you should definitely read this book.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed sitting down last night and reading "Diana Adores the Puzzled Earl. I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is a squeaky clean read.

The Earl, Robert, wrote A fictionalized account of his travels. He thought it was a great book, his publisher friend thought it was a great book, but there was one great, big, insurmountable problem. There was no way he could publish it under his own name. Why? Because he was a titled aristocrat and such things simply will not done. He would have been ostracized in the House of Lords and by society, as would his sister. The proposed solution? He would hire an already published author and his first and all subsequent works would be published under that author's name while that author adopted a nom de plume.

His publisher provides him a list of names, and Diana is the third and final author he interviews. His story, her story, and their story slowly unfold. I enjoyed the book even though they were almost too many subplots to follow. It seemed as though Diana had too much freedom to come and go as she pleased although that could have been because her father was an academic and her mother an artist. She didn't seem to be overly worried about her reputation and, for a young woman in that era, that bothered me.