The mystery was interesting. ( )

These characters are too stupid to live. ( )

If you want a book that has a couple who for once puts aside the secrets, actually communicates early on and work as partners to solve a mystery while also being cinnamon rolls for each other, this book is just for you!!

As a undercover spy and a bluestocking wallflower, both characters had the risk of being depicting as cold-hearted reserved characters. This was not the case here. Their profession and intelligence took the backset to their sweet feelings for each other and I was hear for every cuddle, pining moment!

While Will empowered Lucy to come out of shell, address the fractured relationship she had with her father, Lucy also helped Will shed all the false identities he had to wear over the years and rediscover his true self.

Their dynamic, chemistry and team-work while solving the mystery was just *chef's kiss!*

I can't wait to read more of Amy Rose Bennet!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

THE REVIEW
Lucy Bertram is the daughter of a poisonous plant expert scientist, although Lucy writes most of his papers and tends to the garden. She is a shy, independent spinster who enjoys the work she does and would love nothing more than to join the botanical society and travel for scientific expeditions. But, since women are not allowed in to those types of scientific societies, she settles for the accolades her father receives for her research.



William Douglas Lockhart has a tragic past in which he left home and his future as a Scottish duke, after a betrayal by his father and grandfather. He joined the army and then became a spy for the Crown. A job which lead him to Lucy’s door. He poses as a stable groom to spy on Lucy’s father as he believes he is responsible for a murder.



What neither of them expected was the instant attraction they both felt and the trust and friendship that developed into love. Together they search the seedy parts of London for Lucy’s estranged brother, Will helps her evade the attentions of a dangerous man who is trying to court her, and eventually she even helps Will with his investigation!



The first half of the book kind of dragged on a bit for me, but I am not going to put too much emphasis on my feelings about that because it was a weekend full of interruptions. When I start a book, I like to have a few hours of time to get several chapters in so I can focus on the setup. That didn’t happen this time, unfortunately. But, once I got into the action of the second half, I was all in with Lucy and Will! Both independent and the ‘never getting married’ sort, they were a fun couple to read about. They didn’t try to fight the attraction afraid to would lead to marriage, but they came to a mutual understanding. In the end, I think they both changed their minds about marriage when they remembered what it felt like to have a family. Someone to take care of you and worry about you. And I LOVE that type of turnaround; one where the characters are much in love, but it’s even deeper than that, it’s a state of being. A love you create for yourself, not just the love you have for the other person. It was such a sweet romance.


TROPES
Historical Romance, Victorian Era, Country Life, East End London, Detective Hero, Highland Warrior Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Titled Hero, Bluestocking Heroine, Scientist Heroine, Spinster Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Fake Relationship, Instant Attraction, Hidden Identity, Mystery Romance, Suspense/Danger/Murder, Five Star, Three Flame ( )

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
I was able to receive the ARC for this one from Sourcebooks Casablanca, and I got this in Audiobook. I will be honest in that I switched this one back in forth between the audiobook and ebook. And both formats worked so well. I do recommend, if you are doing this in audio, the accent is thick, so you might need to slow down the speed of the narration. Curled Up With An Earl surprised me in how much I loved it. I haven't been able to five star many historical romances of late, but this one BLEW me away. Its a story that will literally charm your socks off in every way. From the plot, to the meet cute, to the character development, to the essence of the romance, you will become so endeared to this one.

Summary
Curled Up With An Earl begins with the heroine and hero meeting in which our hero saves the heroine from a truly embarassing situation. But she later finds out that he has been hired to work for her father. There is an instant chemistry between this English lass and the Scottish spy who is working undercover, to hunt down a murderer and Lucy Betram's father is his top suspect. But as he works his way through his suspicions, there is a fiery passion that builds between himself and Lucy. He also comes to the terms of having to be fully honest with Lucy and proving to her that he is worth trusting in. But as they work together in helping each other in their goals, they find a love worth fighting for...

My Outlook
Curled Up With An Earl was such a magnificent story and I fell so hard for it! There was something so touching about this author's writing. She is a very new to me author, I have been seeing so many in the community rave about her books and I am not sure why it took me so long to read her, but this one worked so well for me. From the very charming meet cute between Lucy and William, I was completely head over in heels in love with this couple. Their chemistry is so palpable and inherently written into the story in such a flawless manner. There is also plenty of steam in this story, but not overkill. I really felt like Amy Rose Bennett really balances it out so well. The characters that we become introduced to were so fascinating. We first have our delectable hero, William Lockart, who is the Earl of Kyle. He was born and raised as a Scot, determined to fight against his family when a tragedy affected him. Now he works as a spy for the crown, and is really good at his job. But he also has such a sincerity about his character, and a strong determination to do what is right. Then we have our heroine, Lucy Bertram. Who is kind, passionate and intelligent. She works for her father as his assistant, and knows the ins and outs of poisons and plants. But she also has such a shy tender hearted nature. She is honest about her intentions with William, and even though she has no willingness to be married, the love that she feels for William, begins to make her realize what marriage can be with him and seeing this alteration in her character was so beautiful in what marriage can be for William and Lucy.

This couple were so in tune with each other. I loved the way in which that they build each other up in all the best of ways. I loved how William just accepted Lucy immediately, and encouraged her abilities. It was so well balanced in how this was implemented. And on Lucy's end, the way in which she accepts William, and his covert lifestyle and his secrets, was so endearing. She wasn't a heroine that spurned him for his secrets, but understood his position and accepted it and didn't become a harpy on him for it. She just readily trusts him knowing his affection for her is genuine.

The plot of the story was so well done in this one here. There is something about how it was built that she was so well crafted and developed so well. I truly enjoyed every aspect of this story and was such a perfectly swoony read that had me in my feels!

Overall View
Curled Up With An Earl is a superb romance that will capture you attention from the very beginning. Its a story that will stun you in silence, gravitate you instantly, and have you falling madly in love! ( )