Girls Before Earls
A Rogues to Lovers Novel
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4.4 • 34 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
"Irresistibly angsty...will keep historical romance fans hooked." —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Girls Before Earls is the delightful first novel in the Rogues to Lovers series from romance author Anna Bennett.
WHAT A GIRL WANTS
To survive her difficult childhood, Miss Hazel Lively relied on two things: a tough exterior and a love of books. Now, she’s realized her life-long dream of opening a school for girls. She’s hoping the wealthy families who summer at the shore will entrust their daughters to Bellehaven Academy—and help pay for less fortunate students. All Hazel must do is maintain a flawless reputation. It’s a foolproof plan…until a handsome earl strides into her office.
WHAT AN EARL NEEDS
Gabriel Beckett, Earl of Bladenton, has had a monstrous headache since the day his teenaged niece became his ward. She’s already been expelled from two London schools, but Blade is determined to enroll her at Bellehaven Academy, where she’ll be out of his hair. If only he can convince the buttoned-up—and unexpectedly intriguing—headmistress to take a risk.
LEAD TO AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL
Blade makes an offer that’s impossible for Hazel to refuse, but she has one condition: the earl must visit his niece every other week. Soon, Blade discovers there’s more to Hazel than meticulous lessons. Their sparring leads to flirtation…and something altogether deeper. But the passion that flares between them poses a threat to Hazel’s school and Blade’s battered heart. They say a good thing can’t last forever, but true love? Well, it just might…
"An utter delight until the very last page." —BookPage
“A fantastic storyteller. —Fresh Fiction
"This enjoyable tale of two people living full lives and finding unexpected love is a great kick-off for Bennett’s new Rogues to Lovers series.” —Booklist
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bennett (the Debutant Diaries series) launches her Rogues to Lovers series with an irresistibly angsty Regency romance between an earl and a schoolteacher. Twenty-eight-year-old Hazel Lively, headmistress of Bellehaven Academy of Deportment, is determined to make a success of the fledgling school for girls. When Blade, Earl of Bladenton, attempts to dump his 15-year-old niece and ward, Kitty Beckett, on the school's doorstep, Hazel agrees to take her in on the condition that Blade visits Kitty every two weeks, sensing that their relationship is in need of repair. Kitty has been expelled from her two previous schools, and Blade is anxious to have her out of his hair so he can continue his courtship of one Lady Penelope in London, but he reluctantly agrees to Hazel's terms. And soon he finds that it is Hazel, not Penelope, who consumes his mind. But for their happy ending to work, romantic Hazel must convince the businesslike Blade to open his heart—efforts that are complicated by the persistent Lady Penelope. Bennett's enticing characters come complete with believable flaws and nuanced emotional baggage, and the slow-burning romance between them creates an undeniable sense of attraction, even in the face of steep obstacles. The well-drawn emotional ups and downs will keep historical romance fans hooked.
Customer Reviews
Girls before earls
Hazel and Blade think they know just what they want out of life and what their future holds for them. Until they meet and with the help of some girls their lives have taken on a whole new look. Sweet romance with lovely characters.
Ah-May-Zing!
Such a entertaining story and a fantastic start to this series! This story is packed full of feels and emotion, humor and flirting, and all the witty banter. I cannot believe how quickly I devoured this beautiful adventure. I was absolutely engrossed from the beginning by the connection between the characters and the abundance of aww moments.
Hazel Lively is my favorite sort of heroine, feisty, intelligent, quick witted with a soft vulnerability shown to those she cares about. She claims to be shy, but she is fierce and always says what is on her mind and what she is feeling. She has come so far and is finally realizing her dream, that has taken her a decade to achieve. Hazel has started Bellehaven Academy of Deportment. Now she just needed students especially the sort who could afford the tuition!
Gabriel Beckett “Blade” Earl of Bladenton has been at his wits end, ever since he became the guardian of his niece Kitty Beckett. She had already been expelled from two other schools in London. Hoping this seaside town and this new school would work out so he would be able to return to London and his courting to find a suitable Lady that he could marry. But the prim and proper headmistress Miss Lively is all about appearances and proper behavior in hopes to impress and increase her number of students, so Kitty is not the type of students she wants. But with a sizable increase in her monthly tuition and an agreement to return every two weeks to visit his niece she agrees to take on Kitty.
I simply adored Hazel and Blade and their story turned my insides into marshmallow. I found both characters impossible not to love. Their story was beautifully composed and had me quickly cocooned in its warm embrace with the most delicious tension and the very best entertainment and I was happy to stay there and enjoy every minute of this enthralling read. These two are really perfect together. Their banter and chemistry was addictive.
This book blew me away! I was unable to put it down. Perfect. Dazzling. Very well written. The details described throughout the book was delightful. All the characters and the storyline was exhilarating. EVERY single page was filled with perfection. Ah-may-zing!
What a delightful story this was!
What a delightful story this was! I so enjoyed Hazel and Blade together. It is the classic tale of the rogue pursuing the virtuous headmistress, and was SO fun to read!
I loved how Hazel had really made a name for herself with starting her own school. After a tragic childhood with no parents, she's devoted all her years to studying and doing everything she could to one day run her own school, and be able to help girls like herself, who have no one else and would end up in the Foundling home were it not for kind benefactors.
Blade has had tragedy in his past as well, and has resigned himself to just marrying for the stature, no emotions involved. Until he meets Hazel Lively, and then his world is turned upside down.
This story had everything I enjoy in reading a regency romance. I loved the angst of Blade and Hazel not being able to be together. I truly enjoyed the gradual way that Blade realized he could in fact, love someone. And Hazel's steadfast grace in the face of heartbreak. I loved reading about the gorgeous countryside and the pounding of the ocean. Those details are very important to me, as I am a very visual reader and picture these things in my mind.
I loved the transformation that Kitty went through, and her friendship with Poppy and the other girls at the school. Lady Rufflebum provided much levity with her theatrics! Overall, I was very impressed with Ms. Bennett's writing and can't wait to read more from her!
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.