Captivating the Cynical Earl

by Catherine Tinley

The cool, aloof earlAnd the enchanting lady For Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden, emotional entanglements are the path to pain. But when his brother brings his new wife and her best friend to his country home, everything changes. Lady Cecily Thornhill is both vibrant and beautiful, and Jack finds himself increasingly captivated by her sunny nature. Yet he must resist her charms, for in a month she’ll be gone—unless his frozen heart thaws before then…From Harlequin  Your romantic escape to the past.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Regency, Historical

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2021

About the author

Catherine Tinley writes witty, heartwarming Regency love stories for Harlequin Mills & Boon. She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings.

After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, Sure Start, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now manages a maternity hospital. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, and dog and can be reached at www.catherinetinley.com, as well as facebook.com/CatherineTinleyWriter and @CatherineTinley on twitter.

Reviews

[Ivy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.


Grumpy, sexy asshole H vs Beautiful snarky heroine in this enemies to lovers trope, that develops along the lines of traditional regency historical romance.


This is the sort of regency historical that you read, when you want to take a break from all the *heroes with their leaking throbbing c*cks and manly fingers ploughing into heroines' wet folds and weeping quims* à la Scarlett Scott 🤭.


Don't misunderstand me: I love reading Scarlett Scott's erotic historicals, but my favourite will always be the slow burn, traditional regency, that's heavy on plot/character development and light on the sex scenes.


I loved Jack, despite his surliness and unapologetic assholery, because it was so satisfying and wonderful when he finally sees the light, mends his ways, apologizes to everyone and realizes that he doesn't have to continue living like a sexy regency Scrooge who's only interested in expanding his already huge fortune.


This is the H Jack, the Earl of Hawkenden:



Jack's a wealthy Earl who's mad as hell that his younger brother Tom went off and married a penniless debutante, named Nell, without informing him. He thinks that his new sister in law is a money hungry manipulator and he's determined to break up the couple.





Lady Cecily, the heroine, is Nell's best friend and she sets out to stop him from ruining the other couple's newlywed bliss. Cecily's an intelligent heroine who's not a bluestocking/spinster. She's got a keen mind for business/investments ( which she keeps to herself ), is opinionated without being annoying and is the perfect complement to the sourpuss H.


This is the heroine, Lady Cicely:




Cecily meets Jack at a soiree where he assumes that she's Nell - his new, *golddigging* sister in law. He'd seen both women standing together and decided that the heroine has got to be his sister in law, because she's the one who looks beautiful enough to ensnare his brother.


He's also angry because he's now got to fight his inconvenient, sleazy lustful feelings for a woman who's supposedly married to his brother. This leads him to vent the full nasty blast of his temper on the heroine when he tells her he'll pay her to dump his brother.


She thinks he's utterly hateful:




And he's angry because he's unable to stop obsessing about her:




The mistaken identity scenario isn't cleared up until all the characters meet at the H's hunting lodge.


The storyline begins to stagnate at this point, for a couple of chapters because the grumpy, mean H is suddenly a polite teddy bear to the heroine, when he realizes that she's not his sister in law. Now he's fantasizing about her and feeling extreme jealousy whenever the 2 male guests flirt with her.


The storyline loses much of its earlier bite during this section because the H is so preoccupied with the heroine, that he stops scheming to break up his brother's marriage. But, on the plus side, the storyline veers into new territory where the reader's given a chance to understand why the grumpy Earl has become such a cold and bitter man.


It all stems from an abusive childhood at the hands of his cruel father and the fact that he feels betrayed and deserted by everyone he's ever depended upon. His nanny Tilly had inadvertently played a huge role in this, because he believed that she had deserted him and his brother, at a time when they were vulnerable little motherless boys who desperately needed her love and affection.


So, even though he's falling in love with the heroine, he's reluctant to marry her because love is a sign of weakness and a love match has never been part of his plans.


It's the intrepid heroine who sorts it all out, by locating his now elderly nanny Tilly and effecting a reconcilation between the two. The H discovers exactly how cruel his father had been, all those years ago and he's determined to repay poor Tilly for all the suffering she'd had to endure over the last couple of decades.





I liked this heroine a lot, because she's strong willed but still soft and feminine and she doesn't come across as overbearing and shrewish - unlike certain bluestocking spinster types who look like they habitually suck on salt flavoured sour lemons for breakfast. I usually never understand what the fuck their heroes see in them.


This story also has quite a bit of drama and angst towards the end, but obviously everything turns out well for the MC's and I was happy to see Jack get his HEA and stop being so grumpysexy all the time.


I can't remember if there was a long term epilogue or not because it's ages since I finished this book and my lame ass has only just remembered to review it.


I don't think I've read anything by this author, but I'm willing to check out her backlist and upcoming books, based on how much I've enjoyed this novel. I'm definitely planning on reading the earlier novel, The Earl's Runaway Governess where the heroine's guardian fell in love with her governess.


Safety: No OW, 2 wannabe OM who try to court the heroine but the jealous, possessive H gets in there and stops them from spending too much time in her company.

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

He did not believe in love, but life was about to give him a second chance.

Captivating the Cynical Earl is a lovely story about opening up for love after abandonment.

Jack, the Earl of Hawkenden, had a difficult childhood with very little attention and affection. Everyone he had ever loved abandoned him, safe for his younger brother Tom.

When Tom got married in haste without even consulting him, Jack felt angry and bereft. He decided the bride was an unscrupulous gold-digger and that he needed to rescue his brother from her.

Cecily was the best friend of Tom’s wife and got caught in Jack’s fury. They start on the wrong foot but slowly get to know each other and become close.

I loved how Cecily dealt with Jack’s unreasonable opinions; she was strong and a true lady through it all. Jack was an honorable man who needs to face the ghosts in his closet and move on. Cecily was his perfect match. A person that could see deeper than the surface and give him a loving hand.

I’m a fan of slow-burn romance, relationship-focused stories, and Captivating the Cynical Earl was a charming read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden’s brother announces that he has married, Jack is stunned. Tom and Nell married so quickly, and Jack is sure there are nefarious reasons for the nuptials. He can’t imagine that his brother would succumb to love, especially after their tumultuous childhood that was filled with hurt, abandonment, and rejection. Jack determines to help rid his brother of this entanglement. When Tom brings Nell and her best friend Cecily to Jack’s country home for an extended stay, Jack must reconsider his assumptions about marriage and love, especially as his feelings for Cecily grow. Will Jack give in to his feelings for the beautiful and charming Cecily? Will he accept his brother’s marriage and reconcile with him? Can love reach this emotionally withdrawn man? Will Cecily admit to her feelings for the cold and empty earl?

Jack is arrogant and aloof and presents himself as a cold and emotionally vacuous man. Though an extremely successful businessman, he is unsuccessful in maintaining deep and meaningful relationships with the exception of his brother. And Jack even fractures his relationship with Tom because of his harsh feelings about love and marriage. Jack keeps people at a distance, and fear of abandonment compels him to squelch his feelings. Jack had a terrible childhood, and as Cecily gets to know Jack, she begins to see the deep scars and how the past has defined him. She begins to understand his actions and reactions and feels sympathy for this wounded and deeply layered man. I love that Cecily sees past Jack’s defenses! She is one of the few that takes the time to see the wonderful man underneath the cool and composed earl.

Cecily is a wonderful character, and her story is equally interesting. Cecily is a strong and intelligent woman who is frustrated by the limitations put on her because of her gender. She has a great mind for business and tons of potential, but, as the daughter of a duke, she is not allowed to fulfill her dreams. She is so different from what Jack expected, and he can’t help but feel drawn to her intellect, compassion, and kindhearted and fiery spirit. Cecily is also very intuitive, and she always seems to find ways to help others. She understands people and uses this wisdom to help others with sage advice and unlimited support. This goes a long way in helping Jack to heal and learn to open himself up to feeling again.

The slow-building romance between Cecily and Jack is a complicated mix of love and loathe at first sight and contrasts the overly affectionate and loving relationship between Tom and Nell. Jack and Cecily butt heads on several occasions, and they spend much of the story dancing around one another, reluctant to reveal their budding romantic feelings for each other. However, the more time they spend together, the more irrefutable and irresistible their connection becomes. I love the angst and romantic tension throughout the story, as this stubborn and strong-willed pair slowly comes to realize and admit their feelings for each other.

I also love the relationship between Cecily and Tom’s wife Nell. They are both kind, compassionate, and entertaining women, and they have a strong and long-lasting friendship. They are so supportive of each other, and even when they don’t agree, they value each other’s opinions. They are also really honest with each other, even if it makes for a difficult conversation. I think this says a lot about their friendship and how much they like and respect each other. They have such a strong connection, and I adore their unwavering support of one another. They are a bit like Jack and Tom in that they love each other unequivocally. However, the men often let emotions cloud their judgment.

A fun and entertaining story that includes miscommunication, mistaken identity, and more, Catherine Tinley’s Captivating the Cynical Earl is a great historical romance. I think it will appeal to readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers romance with well-developed characters and strong messages about love, healing, and redemption. Thanks so much to Catherine Tinley and Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[ItaPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating the Cynical Earl was a very good read.
Catherine Tinley wrote an intriguing story, the tension among the characters is high and gripping, I couldn't put my book down.

When Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden, finds out that his brother, Tom, married a woman in a very short time without telling him he goes berserk and at the first chance he has he speaks poorly to the wife. Only some time later he finds out he had made a mistake, he has spoken to the wrong woman. Lady Cecily Thornhill is Nell's, Tom's wife, best friend, she is surprised by the Earl bad manners but she gives him another chance when he clarifies the misunderstanding. She is determinated to make him appreciate Nell and to smooth out the relationship between the two brothers. Will she succeed in her intent without losing her heart to the unapproachable man?

I loved the story between Cecily and Jack, the two grow closer slowly and organically.
Lady Cecily is such a sweet and witty character, I appreciated how she sees something good in the Earl and she stubbornly and patiently tries to bring out the best from the other. Don't get mislead by Jack bad temper because he is so much more and he will show his true self chapter after chapter and in the end of the book you'll be enamoured of this character.

I would definitely recommend this novel if you like me enjoy a good Regency romance with a brilliant heroine and a brooding hero.

Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful, moving story!

Cecily, a young lady suffering the scandals of a flighty mother, is not really looking forward to her season in London. Used to discussing business proposals with her guardian and his wife, she finds the mindless conversations dull. But then she meets her best friend Nell again, and her mood improves.

But Nell, recently married, has troubles of her own. Her husband Tom's brother, the earl of Hawkenden, disapproves of their hasty wedding after only a few months. A family rift ensues, and Cecily is determined to help her friends. But little does she know that the earl is not to be moved from his view.

An early encounter between Cecily and Jack Beresford, earl of Hawkenden, does not go to plan. She doesn't realise that he confuses her with Nell and tells her to back off from Tom. Cecily regards his appalling behaviour as a challenge.

When Cecily joins Tom and Nell at his family's hunting lodge at Hazledene, little does she know that she would spend the following weeks not only in her good friends' company – but also in Jack's. Neither brother was prepared to give in, so being ensconced in the small lodge leads to a series of interesting conversations between Cecily and Jack. And soon, she discovers that beneath the cold, arrogant exterior hides a boy left to fend for himself and his little brother.

As they grow closer, Cecily feels herself drawn to irrational Jack, and when she uncovers a long-kept secret, she sets out to help him overcome his past. But Jack's stubbornness nearly leads to disaster...

I really enjoyed reading Captivating the Cynical Earl. It is a warm story, with true flesh-and-blood characters and a realistic visual setting.

I liked Cecily a lot. She doesn't take any nonsense, keeps a cool head, yet still manages to be a lady of her time, albeit one with a head for business – a rare case in the days when women were expected to chat about mundane subjects, do their embroidery, and bear children. That is her dilemma, and one Ms Tinley's writing skills show very well. Cecily likes nice clothes too, so she is still a girl of her times, but she is easily bored by silly chatter. And it's no surprise when she realises that she does not want a ’safe’ marriage after all, but rather a challenging one that allows her to give her opinion.

Jack is a tortured soul. The early death of his mother, and the uncaring behaviour of his father have left their mark. All his life, he has protected his younger brother, Tom, from harm. But now Tom has found happiness with Nell, and it seems he doesn't need his brother's help anymore. It leaves a black hole in Jack's life, one he finds hard to come to grips with. But then there is Cecily, a danger to the carefully constructed wall around his heart.

The way Cecily weaves a way through his defences is nicely told. It's a gentle romance, with the feelings building up slowly. A slow burner, but a steady one I found realistic given Jack's background, and Cecily's no nonsense approach.

When Cecily uncovers a secret kept from the Beresford brothers, I had a lump in my throat. Although I expected something like that, it was still beautifully told, and it denotes the turning point in their relationship.

Captivating the Cynical Earl is a moving story, told at a gentle pace, and in great detail. This suits the main characters very well, I thought.

A warm, thoroughly enjoyable read I can highly recommend.

Disclaimer: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars

When Augustus Henry John “Jack” Beresford, the Earl of Hawkenden learned that his younger brother Thomas married a woman he had known for only a month, he was furious and convinced that his brother had been trapped by Miss Eleanor “Nell” Godwin and decides to confront her and demand she leave his brother. But the woman he confronts is not his new sister-in-law, no, it is her best friend Lady Cecily Thornhill, the daughter of the late Earl of Kingswood and ward of the current earl.

Misunderstanding Jack’s purpose, Cecily is appalled by his demands and tells him in no uncertain terms that she will not be complying with his decrees. She doesn’t mention the details of the conversation, but the misunderstanding is pretty quickly worked out after the brothers argue and each refuses to change their plans to visit the earl’s hunting lodge.

Slowly Jack begins to accept that Tom does love Nell, and he feels lost since Tom was the last person Jack felt a bond with and he now thinks that is gone. His experience with love has left him jaded and cynical and as the house party continues and he gets to know Cecily, he has to fight the feelings she is invoking, because he knows love only leads to pain. But when a tragedy leads to a life accounting, he realizes that love is worth the possibility of pain, but will he be able to make amends?

This was a good story, although a little bland, and the author changed her writing style, this book definitely had more of an “Austen” feel than her previous works, and in my opinion, it was not an improvement. I thought the book was interesting and I thought the author did a very good job of believably changing Jack’s POV, she added a bit of humor, heartache, misunderstanding, a stubborn hero, kissing only love scenes, and finally, a HEA that neatly tied up everything. This is a standalone title, but if you are familiar with this author's backlist, you will recognize Cecily from The Earl's Runaway Governess.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

[T from Istria 💛💚 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf at 50% mark.

[Bookshortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we first meet Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden he is in utter disbelief after finding out that his brother Tom has got married after falling very quickly in love. Despite listening to his brother, Jack does not believe that Tom has made this decision freely rather that he has been bewitched by Nell (his now wife) or been cornered and had no choice but to marry her. To Jack marriage is nothing but a business transaction minus the love. So starts Jack’s mission to free Tom from the clutches of Nell and bring the marriage to an end because in his opinion this marriage is clearly a bad idea. This is when Jack’s path crosses with Lady Cecily Thornhill who Jack mistakenly believes is Nell. He makes it very clear in their first interaction that he doesn’t approve of Tom’s marriage or the person Tom is married to. Cecily thinking that Jack is unhappy about her friendship with Tom and her close friend Nell is outraged and can’t understand why Jack disapproves of their friendship. That first meeting leaves Cecily angry and she doesn’t hold back. It also reaffirms her name for Jack the ‘Empty Earl’ after a previous encounter where they spoke and he looked right through her and doesn’t appear to have recognised her when they met again. When Tom and Nell move to one of Tom’s family homes, Nell asks Cecily to stay to keep her company. What no one realises is that Jack will be staying too placing Jack and Cecily in very close proximity to each other. When Jack learns the truth about his mistaken belief as to whom Tom’s wife is how will he feel towards Cecily. Can Cecily thaw Jack’s heart and break the wall he has built around him.

I loved the storyline, especially the misunderstanding as to who is actually who. The characters were just written perfectly. Jack is stern, cold and broody and Cecily is fearless and head strong making them the perfect combination. Jack has definitely met his match in Cecily. The dynamic between Cecily and Nell was lovely and they were more like sisters and friends. Hence when Jack shows his disapproval of Tom’s marriage Cecily is very protective of Nell. I couldn’t not mention the comical Lady Fanny Thornhill, Cecily’s mother who is living her best life despite the fact their finances have been limited since the death of Cecily’s father. Towards the end of the book there is an explanation as to why Jack feels the way he does about love and it explains a lot about him. He doesn’t want to get to close to anyone because those you love always leave i.e. mother, nanny. Jack’s father had a lot to do in shaping the man Jack is making him into the cold person we meet at the beginning of the story, but as soon as Cecily arrives on the scene that façade starts to shift.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a slow burn but I loved the interaction between Jack and Cecily. Their first meeting definitely made me laugh and is one of my favourite parts of the book especially as Cecily’s initial thoughts of Jack are less than ladylike. Cecily slowly builds Jack’s trust and towards the end there is a heart-warming moment where her small act of kindness fills Jack’s heart with love and trust again.

Another brilliant story from the author and one to add to your list!

[Gmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the start, Cecily had my heart. She was warm, and kind, but also smart and resilient! She was there for her newly wed friend and supportive despite her groom's own blood not being so. She was basically accosted by them, in fact, and managed to maintain her dignity, let loose a few choice words, and leave with her head held high. Was it the thing to do at the time? Perhaps not with the ton, but no one could (nor did) blame her for her reaction, as the man was beyond rude! The man in question...the Earl of Hawkenden, aka Jack.

Jack has issues that are buried deep and ignored completely, so his well constructed life centered on rebuilding his family's name alongside his brother Tom, suited him perfectly. Leave it to Tom to throw a monkey wrench into the works with a surprise marriage, and claims of love being the reason for his "folly". THAT is one four letter word that the Earl is not as well acquainted with any longer. His father aimed to squash it out of their lives at every turn. His mother tried her best to keep it alive, until she herself was not. His hard lessons continued throughout his life, and yet they helped make him the focused man he is today...or rather was...because a certain young woman has stolen into his thoughts, sneaked under his guard, and even unbeknownst to her, made herself a space in his heart...that he thoroughly refuses to acknowledge! And how long do you think that can last?

In the end, their journey from mistaken identity to housemates to something hard to verbalize, but felt strongly nonetheless is remarkable, enjoyable, and not to be missed. As I said, it's a demure story, so if steamy scenes make your face burn red, fear not...we're more in the land of stolen kisses than stolen virtue...but it is unforgettable just the same! Trust me, if you're a fan of Historical Romance, this is just the book for you.


**copy provided for review; opinions are my own

[Jéssica · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of subgenres in the historical romance that I enjoy, but regency was where I started and Catherine Tinley is quite amazing in it.

In this book we follow Jack Beresford, the Earl of Hawkenden, and Lady Cecily Thornhill in this journey. As we go through each chapter, uncovering their background, it was interesting. The characters were realistic and I could connect with them, since they appeared in the beginning to be a bit different from other characters, and in part that made me fascinated with uncovering their past.

Strong personalities, sweet moments and chemistry, mysteries to grab our attentions and a heartwarming story. I don't want to give out much about the development of the plot and the characters interactions, but it was touching and I loved it.

Overall, I love the story. I really did. Catherine Tinley gave us a story that had all the elements I enjoy. From the friendship to the romance. From the drama to the trust it built.

[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Catherine Tinley for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a Regency Romance; the rules of society, the fashion, the beginnings of women wanting more for themselves. The streets of London graced with Lords and Ladies to the hard working lower classes struggling in the workhouses. To the country estates with land and tenants and the beauty of the English countryside. And to a love that felt often awkward and stilted with the constrains of the etiquette of the era to an all consuming swoon worthy passion. Catherine Tinley is one of a group from Mills & Boon that are top class historical romance authors who entertain their readers with all of the above and more.

Catherine Tinley instantly transported me to London 1819 with her descriptions of the setting and characters making me feel quite at home in this era.

Jack and Tom Beresford are brothers and as the older brother Jack has taken the title of Earl of Hawkenden. Jack has always looked out for his brother since the death of their mother when the boys were still so young. So when Tom informs Jack he has just got married to a young lady he has known for a matter of months and it’s a union of love you can imagine Jack’s disdain to the news. Jack instantly takes a dislike to the new bride with his cynical brain presuming all she is after is money and a partnership of love is just poppycock!

Lady Cecily too has reservations for this union. Nell is her best friend and Cecily was shocked how quick the relationship blossomed. But as she spends time with the newly weds Cecily can witness how perfect this union is. It’s just proving this to Tom’s older brother, Jack, that is cause for concern for all.

Catherine Tinley has created a wonderful Regency Romance that is filled with two love stories that take all parties concerned by surprise. As Cecily spends time getting to know the Beresford brothers she begins to understand there is a hidden sadness within that is preventing Jack especially to trust in love.

Romantic, charming, entertaining and poignant.

[Sabrina (Soter) Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Il silenzio crebbe attorno a loro. La brezza si fermò, gli uccelli si quietarono e il resto del mondo parve ritrarsi. C’erano solo loro due.

Allora accadde qualcosa di strano. Fu come se lei stesse ruotando, o se fosse il mondo a ruotare e lei assieme a esso. La sensazione proveniva dall’interno del suo petto e cresceva in modo da avvolgere ogni cosa, nel suo turbinare: il campo, il cavallo, gli alberi, il cielo. Tutto, nella sua vita, l’aveva condotta a quell’uomo e a quel momento."

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a Catherine Tinley fan for a couple of years because of her strong and intelligent heroines and stubborn, yet vulnerable heroes. This book has that and more with its moving story of a man with a tortured soul and a woman determined to show him what love is.

Lady Cecily Thornhill is happy for the marriage of her best friend Nell to Mr. Tom Beresford and has been asked to accompany them to Tom's country home in Hazledene for a few weeks. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about the nuptials. Namely, Tom's brother Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden. In fact, at a party, The Earl is furious and proceeds to direct his rudeness toward Cecily originally mistaking her for his new sister in law to which Cecily puts him in his place and leaves. When he arrives at Hazledene and discovers his error, he apologizes and starts to develop a kinship with Cecily as she delves into Jack's psyche and Jack delves into confusion and untold torment for a woman he cannot stop thinking about.

Augustus Henry John (Jack) Beresford, Eighth Earl of Hawkenden, doesn't believe in love. He sees marriage between people of his class as a business deal and his brother has shocked and outraged him with a marriage Jack did not know about beforehand. Was it entrapment? Needless to say, the equally stubborn and headstrong brothers are at an impasse. It's bad enough Jack is sharing his home with the newly wedded couple, but it's very difficult to ignore the beautiful, intelligent, and steadfast Lady Cecily Thornhill.  She pries open his deep dark secrets. She threatens his fragile control. He cannot have feelings for her. "He had trusted in love before, as a foolish child, and had received only betrayal."

I love the fact that Cecily takes it into her own hands to heal the rift between the two obstinate brothers as she slowly starts to understand the loneliness and despair Jack covers up with his aloofness and cynicism. I truly feel she is Jack's savior from himself as she gets him to open up about his sad and cruel past. I also commend Cecily for working with Nell as they discover the similarities between the brothers and their abandonment issues as children. Cecily is truly a kind and generous soul towards Jack despite his outrageous and rude behavior. She is determined to see the good in him when everyone else sees arrogance and coldness. I must say the buildup to their passionate embrace at the soiree is worth waiting for. Jack has some serious demons as he and Tom lost their mother at a young age and their beloved nursemaid Tilly left shortly after. Their father was cruel and made them feel unloved and Jack felt abandoned by the two women who loved him. Therefore his irrational thoughts saw Tom abandoning him for Nell leaving him alone and unloved again.  Cecily changes all that with her undeniable patience for a very conflicted man who deserves love. Not to mention her beautiful surprise from Jack's past is a real tear-jerker.

As I have said before, supporting characters are vital for a good story and there are a few I want to mention in this book. Nell and Tom's marriage of love is well documented for Jack's benefit as he slowly starts to come around to the idea despite his own conflicts. Mr. Hastings and Mr. Carmichael are refreshing additions as guests at Hazeldene who flatter and flirt with Cecily to Jack's jealousy.

This is a delightful historical love story with complex and compelling characters, beautiful settings, and angst and love only a Regency romance can accomplish.

Thank you to Ms. Tinley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Beresford, the Earl of Hawkenden, is an enigma. Abandoned and ill treated as a child he has had to work hard to save his family’s fortunes since his abusive father’s death. The only other person he has had to confide in and share the burden with is his younger brother Tom. For years they have presented a united front to the world, now Tom has announced that he has contracted a speedy marriage to an unknown young woman. Jack is appalled, thinking the worst of a woman who has ensnared Tom, and when he believes that he sees her at an evening party, he waits until she is alone. Lady Cecily Thornhill is taken aback by his verbal attack, especially as she is not completely sure of the wisdom of her best friend Nell’s hasty marriage. Jack’s mistake preys on her mind as well as his when he realises that he has confronted the wrong woman. A small and unintentional house party forces all sorts of situations, realisations and revelations.

This lively and well handled romantic novel set in the early Regency period contains some memorable characters. Drama and dialogue dominate this narrative of mutual misunderstandings. Jack is a character who is reluctant to express his true feelings; his tendency to overthink the motives of others leads him into lots of trouble. This is a carefully written and memorable novel of slow burning romance, which is special given that some of the characters almost believe that love has little place in marriage. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this novel.

The book opens in March 1819 with Tom announcing to his elder brother Jack that he has recently got married. Jack is shocked and feels betrayed that in this most important decision Tom has not consulted him, not even told him. Meanwhile Cecily is worrying about her widowed mother’s financial state; while her guardian is sensible and generous, Lady Fanny Thornhill, Dowager Countess of Kingswood is light minded, extravagant and has had many affairs. Her ambitions for her only daughter mean that she is in London before the season properly begins, spending money they do not really have. Cecily is an attractive young woman who has a sense of responsibility as well as an interest in business affairs. When she encounters Jack she is definitely attracted to him, which makes his anger towards her feel even worse. Tom invites his new wife and her best friend Cecily to the hunting box, or relatively small house, Hazledene. Nell can now chaperon the unmarried Cecily, and it seems a good opportunity to assess their relationship. It is only when the stubborn Jack turns up with two friends that they realise that this will be an oppressively small place in which to stay, especially as it is filled with childhood memories for Jack. He is also fighting a strong attraction to Cecily, which conflicts directly with his intention to marry a woman simply to have an heir. As time passes and local people get involved, the stress of proximity creates more drama and crisis within the complex relationships in the house.

This is a romance novel which brings up certain points about assumptions of men and women in relationships of the time. The setting, of a house in the country, is well drawn, so that the reader can visualise the place. I enjoyed reading this book with its well drawn characters, especially Cecily and Jack, with satisfying developments. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an uplifting historical romantic read.

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

💷 Captivating the Cynical Earl 💷
A Historical Romance award-winning author
✒️Catherine Tinley
https://www.facebook.com/CatherineTin...
Release Date 07/27/2021
Publisher Mills&Boon Historical / Harlequin Historical
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WWWRRJN/...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

The cool, aloof earl

And the enchanting lady

For Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden, emotional entanglements are the path to pain. But when his brother brings his new wife and her best friend to his country home, everything changes. Lady Cecily Thornhill is both vibrant and beautiful, and Jack finds himself increasingly captivated by her sunny nature. Yet he must resist her charms, for in a month she’ll be gone—unless his frozen heart thaws before then…

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

How a mistaken identity case can lead to love…

I have read the related stories to this one, first Cecily’s as a girl of twelve with her new gardian’s romance, then her friend Nell own love story in the Christmas Cinderellas bundle.
Cecily is now all grown up and must do with her detached from this world necessities mother. So while curbing the wild spread of her allowance, she has to attend to the usual society’s entertainment, and often idle parties. After witnessing her guardian and her friend fall in love, she longs for the same but does not believe it awaits her somewhere.
So when her best friend brother in law lashes out on her because of her friendship with his brother new wife, she is confused and furious. She has know the determined and cold hearted Earl of Hawkenden from afar. So she does not understand his rejection of her. Even more unbearable as she feels like a pull toward him.
Jack with his brother had made their mission to restore their family’s wealth. A feat they accomplished beyond expectations. For long there was only them together, but now Tom is married, and did not even discussed it with him. He feels like he had been betrayed. All over again the orphan young boy who lost his mother then his dear nanny. So he transfers his ire on the woman responsible from the chiasme between the sibling. So when he spots her at a ball, he tries to remove her from his brother’s life but the shrew refuses to listen and had the gall to become angry.

When they find themselves sharing the same roof, Jack realizes his mistakes and tries to make amends but his pain at seing his brother distancing himself from him affects his rationality. How Cecily comes to realize he is not the empty icy haughty disdainful mask he presents to the world, he is more a hurting bear why he lashes out. To hide his pain, he bites.
So will kindness and honey tame the broken boy inside the cynical Earl …
A sweet tale of healing and letting the light in once again.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the author and Rachel’s Random Ressources, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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[CheckLitOutEm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden, is cold, brooding and uncaring. He is outraged when his brother (Tom) announces that he is married, after having known his wife, Nell, for a very brief time. Having no faith in women (for reasons we later find out), he can’t fathom out why his brother would marry so soon and of his own free will; instead he thinks that Nell has done something to enchant him. He decides to try and figure out what has brought about this unexpected marriage because its hard to imagine that someone would marry for love and not money.

On his quest to find out how Nell has trapped his brother, he stumbles upon Lady Cecily, who he mistakenly assumes is Nell (unbeknown to her). He berates her, leaving Lady Cecily furious at his outburst and the disdain he displays. This is not something anyone should do to a fiery, strong-willed, and straight-talking Lady Cecily. She gives as good as she gets before she stomps away, fuelled by her loathing of an arrogant, rude and pompous man.

When they both end up at one of the Hawkenden properties, at the same time, the awkwardness sizzles and the pull towards each other is intensified, but the aloof Earl of Hawkenden has plans to resist Lady Cecily’s charms at all costs because he can’t bring himself to allow his heart to thaw.

Whilst this story was a bit of a slow-burner (stereotypical of historical fiction), I found myself drawn to the characters in the book. The warmth of Lady Cecily juxtaposed with the coldness of The Earl of Hawkenden is perfectly paired. The act of kindness that Lady Cecily bestows upon the Earl, at the end of the book, shows how fearless and strong-headed she is. It even made me shed a tear or two as the Earl deals with a bittersweet blow from his past.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, this is one that should firmly cement a place on your Wishlist and TBR list. Happy reading!

Blurb

For Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden, emotional entanglements are the path Tompkins but when his brother brings his new wife and best friend to his country home, everything changes. Lady Cecily Thornhill is both vibrant abs beautiful, and Jack finds home self increasingly captivated by her sunny nature. Yet he must resist her charms, for in a month she’ll be fine - unless his frozen heart thaws before then...

[Corinne Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1819 in London initially, we are introduced to the brothers, Jack and Tom Beresford. Jack being the eldest has the title of the Earl of Hawkenden, but both brothers have been very united in working towards restoring the family fortune squandered by their late father. Jack is terribly upset about the suddenness of Tom’s marriage to Nell, a young lady he professes to love. Being cynical of love, Jack suspects that Tom has been seduced by the young lady who is after his money, and love has no part in it! The brothers have words and there’s a rift in their relationship.

Jack meets Nell and her friend Lady Cecily at a party and mistaking the friend to be Tom’s wife, he offers her money to separate from Tom. Lady Cecily, who too had initial reservations about the marriage, has now come to realize that Tom and Nell are truly in love and is very supportive of them.



When all the four are thrown together in the Earl’s country estate, things are not comfortable.



But as they get to know each other the Earl is unwillingly drawn to Lady Cecily and she begins to understand how Jack’s cynicism is a cover for his hurt. The boys lost their mother when they were very young, and their beloved nurse resigned suddenly leaving them at the mercy of their disinterested father and subsequently a tough boarding school.

Will the Earl be able to shed his past? Can the brothers be united again? Will the feelings that Jack and Cecily share be given a chance to grow?

I loved the setting, the conversations and the characters in this story. There’s something so fascinating about Regency Romance and Catherine Tinley has created a poignant love story that is both entertaining and romantic.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Cecily Thornhill is certainly no shrinking violet and when she meets Jack Beresford, the Earl of Hawkenden, at an evening soiree she is not surprised to find that her best friend's new brother-in-law is both arrogant and rude. The Earl's reputation for brusqueness is well known but Cecily is determined not to let him spoil her friend, Nell's happiness and wishes to smooth the relationship between the Beresford brothers. Lady Cecily agrees to spend time with Nell and Tom Beresford at their country home, but is little prepared for her reaction when Lord Hawkenden also arrives to spend time there with two of his hunting friends.

I really enjoy reading this author's historical fiction, her Regency stories which are so beautifully researched, never fail to entertain, and she always makes her stories come alive with lively conversation, a hint towards a trouble past and the sizzle of a will they, won't they romance. The setting, this time at a beautiful country home, highlights the attraction of the countryside, whilst at the same time allows the customs and practices by which the elite of society lived, the restrictions of what was acceptable behaviour, and the subtle nuances of etiquette are all brought vividly into focus. It was interesting to observe how, as Lady Cecily and Lord Hawkenden become better acquainted, so a flair of passion starts to ignite between them.

Captivating the Cynical Earl is a lovely Regency romance which has all the trademarks of this author's fine ability to recreate the social niceties of the Regency era, in an entertaining story of female friendship, brotherly rivalry, and the sizzle of an unexpected, romantic attraction.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Tinley made me laugh, cry, and seethe with her new novel Captivating the Cynical Earl. This book is another Harlequin Historical novel that stole my heart, one where I found a home. This volume is one of many in a series. After reading this, I know I must read the rest before my brain will rest.

I must say that I’ve not read a romance novel set up the way this one has before. Not only are we following the love story of Cecily and Jack, but we have a second story of Nell and Tom as well. I felt as though I were getting two stories in one. I loved it so much. There is so much love flowing through these pages that I couldn’t help but keep reading long past my bedtime.

Often when you pick up a book in a series such as this one, the reader feels lost when trying to read it as a standalone. I never felt that way with this novel. Catherine did an excellent job in writing this in a way that feels complete. But it intrigues you in a way that makes you feel like you want to read the rest. Not because you missed anything, but because you love the characters so much you need more of their world.

It thrills me to award Captivating the Cynical Earl a full 5 out of 5 stars. I know I say this a lot, but you need to read this book. I promise it isn’t like any other romance you’ve read before.

I was given a copy of this book with a request for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Beresford, Earl of Hawkenden, is not pleased that his younger brother Tom has married without telling him. His anger starts a tension between he and his brother, when they had been so close before.

Tom and his new wife Nell are in London and Nell reunites with her good friend Cecily Thornhill. When Cecily meets Jack Beresford again, only having been vaguely introduced to him before now, he makes the mistake of thinking that she is Tom's new wife instead of Nell, and he insults Cecily.

Then, because both Jack and Tom are being stubborn, their two parties of friends end up at the same house for a house party, at the same time.

As Cecily grows to know Jack better and weeds out the reason for the brothers' disagreements with each other, Cecily also finds herself becoming romantically attached to Jack, and vice/versa.

While this was a wonderfully written story, I found that I did not like Jack's personality too much and Cecily's penchant for feeding Jack the reasons he was being so owly, made it seem like he wasn't really changing himself - she was making him change and was rescuing him. I understood his reasons for feeling bitter and fearing abandonment, but I wondered how much he'd still rely on Cecily in the future to rescue him from his relationship follies, and his angry, frustrated melancholy.

[MissKitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not captivating at all. It was just so boring.

Its not a terrible story, it was just bland. The author may have been going for a slow burn thing between the main characters but she, but she totally failed to show any tension or chemistry between them

The supposedly brooding and cold Hero, who is this way because of some issues in his past, seemed like a petulant spoiled brat instead.

On the other hand, the young 20 year old heroine, has the wisdom and insight of a 40year old fortune teller 🙄 yes she can “see” into the soul of the Hero so therefore she is the only one for him.

I was just bored 😑

[Karim Lalani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb!!

This Historical from Mills & Boon was a joy from the start. Catherine Tinley is evidently an accomplished author of the historical romance genre on the strength of this, and I will be
reading more of her work in future. The plot was straightforward. although still compelling
and the characters, well drawn, and the action was skillfully managed given the most of the action was rooted in one location, requiring a deftness of touch that Ms Tinley managed admirably.

Well worth the read!!

[Gem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written

I reall noy like the development of the characters. There is real depth to the background of the main/secondary men in the story and more than enough is given about the main female character to make tears spring to your eyes when their confess their love for one another.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of Captivating the Cynical Earl is on my blog.

https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...

[DD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Love the references back to Marianne and Ash's story, made me read that again. I love when characters we know appear in other book.

[juanita dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating the Cynical Earl

Unresolved baggage is a stumbling block to the future. Not all of us get to become aware and resolve them but fortunately favor was on their side.

[Norma Escobedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

Sad that adults can create situations for children that they in turn suffer past adulthood. Making them cold and reserved in relationships for fear of being abandoned.

[Georgina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read up to 50%. I wanted to like it. But, it was entirely to boring. It had too much un-needed manufactured drama. Additionally, I started to hate every character.

[Prac Agrl · Rating 2 out of 5]

An Ok read
h seemed sensible.H was ok

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line

Very much enjoyed from start to
finish. Loved Jack and Cecily's love story. Just enough humour and serious moments between characters