Enemies with an Earl
A Steamy MM Enemies to Lovers Regency Romance
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4.7 • 6 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
One hides behind a title. The other behind a lie. But temptation always finds you, no matter where you hide.
He’s protective, composed—and hiding a dangerous secret.
Felix Jennings, the Earl of Bentley, has spent his life guarding his family's safety—and his preference for men. Now, he’s stuck with the man of his dreams for an entire week, and it’s threatening to shatter every last shred of his carefully cultivated control. Not even playing the part of unbearable arse can mask his attraction, especially when Felix swears he sees desire in the heated glares Thorne throws his way. But if he’s wrong, it’s his family’s livelihood and his life on the line.
He’s cavalier, sarcastic—and he’s hiding a dark past.
Samuel Thorne, valet and best friend to the Duke of Devonford, despises aristocrats—pompous, self-absorbed scum, the lot of them. And the maddeningly handsome Earl of Bentley is no exception. Sam was forced to valet for him once before and that brief stint was more than enough. Now, his best friend has dropped a bombshell: he’ll be serving Bentley for an entire week. It’s shaping up to be pure torture—one where Sam isn’t sure if he’ll end up kissing the man or killing him.
It’s a volatile affair, where love and hate blur into one.
And just when they each start seeing with more clarity, Sam’s past comes back to threaten everything.
Enemies with an Earl is a sizzling, emotional rollercoaster male/male historical romance with equal parts heartbreak and heat, ending with the most satisfying of happily ever afters. Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, "Good Boy", Hurt/Comfort, Grumpy/Sunshine, Class Differences, "I like when you're mean to me." Please note, this story contains adult language and EIGHT scenes that are deliciously scandalous.
Customer Reviews
Felix and Sam
I don’t even know what I can say to convey how much I loved this book. I had to sit with my feelings about Enemies with an Earl before I could write my review because I loved it so much. I am usually scared away by long books, and this one is long, but not only was I ravenous for it, I found myself slowing down to savor it. I felt Sam and Felix needed every bit of the pages in this book to get to their HEA. Enemies with an Earl is beautifully written, and brought me to tears multiple times. It’s also incredibly steamy. Lizzie C Koz is the real deal. I can’t recommend Enemies with an Earl highly enough. It lives rent-free in my head.
Tropes and such:
Enemies to lovers
Hurt/comfort
Forced proximity
Class difference
3rd person, dual POV
Open door steam
HOTTTTTTT
I must be the luckiest girl alive because I got to beta read this, and if you know how much Lizzie loves M/M romance, you’ll be dying to get your hands on a copy. This is an extension of the Jennings family (Book 3); several characters crossover and I would encourage you to begin with Compromised for Christmas (you’ll love it).
Felix, the Earl of Bentley is the heir apparent who harbors the secret of his queer leanings from the world. A modernist family, the Jennings support Felix, but he struggles to live up to the standards he has placed upon himself, as an Earl who must produce an heir. Not only this, but Felix has a tortured past where his queerness was almost brought to light when a man he trusted with his first sexual encounter publicly turned on him before the magistrate. Is it any wonder Felix has major trust issues?
Felix never expects someone like Samuel Thorne to be the man to bring him out of his comfort zone, but Sam has a way of getting under Felix’s skin and niggling at all his insecurities (and fantasies!). Sam is the best friend of the Duke of Devonford masquerading as his valet as a way to keep his sexuality safe and protect his identity. When Felix visits Devonford and is given use of Sam as his personal valet, the animosity and sparks begin to fly. I absolutely loved the power struggle Sam had with being his true self and also restraining himself enough to be considered “the help”. He doesn’t look like your typical valet, all broad and brawny and hulking, and the juxtaposition of him in a submissive role when he’s anything but in the bedroom, creates the perfect amount of tension.
Initially Sam and Felix can’t stand one another—Felix is too “Lordly” and Sam talks back too much for his role, but boy is their attraction electric. If you haven’t read Lizzie before, she is open door, very descriptive, and quite creative with her sexual scenes unlike traditional historical romance. Queer people have always existed and sexual proclivities have always run the full gamut, so to see this featured in a historical is fresh and exciting. Sam and Felix struggle with some very real considerations for men whom could not be partners or marry and they beautifully work through past trauma to achieve their own HEA. I am so excited for historical romance to make room for more characters like these two boys, who just want to be able to live and love openly.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭
Trigger warnings: homophobia, betrayal and entrapment in regards to sexual encounter and PTSD, mentions of a parent’s death and grief