Excellent..

I really liked this book, except for a couple of things. I don’t like reading about a woman who worries from day to day if they’d have enough to eat then read that she’s “plump.” The chances of anyone even being close to plump when food is scarce is crazy. AND I absolutely hate it when a woman is described as “five feet nothing,” and the hero is six feet four. “When she’s nose to nose her toes are on it and when she’s toes to toes her nose is on it.” That’s what I think of when she’s soooo short and he’s soooo tall. I mean, for Pete’s sake, picture it! She too short to even reach around his neck and he’s too tall to kiss her without bending his knees and bending over to reach her lips. I wish authors wouldn’t do that. BUT, that’s just my opinion! Verity was nowhere near stupid. She made no stupid decisions and was very brave because she didn't take Malcom's crap. She was afraid of him but she wasn't stupid, IMO. This was about an earl who was kidnapped as a small boy, Maxwell/Malcom, and taken to live in the Dials in London and was not discovered to be alive until he was in his 30’s, and even then he had a difficult time remembering who he really was and if he really wanted the life of the “ton” or if he wanted to stay in the sewers of the Dials. AND that’s where he met reporter Verity Lovelace. There was sex in this book and the F-bomb was used 6 times. As to the narrator: It doesn’t get any better than Tim Campbell. The man is a genius with accents.

7 people found this helpful

Difficult for me to rate

Narration was great. And the story was awesome and interesting. The struggle is with the character of Verity who is so incredibly stupid that she is unrelatable. Over and over, she puts herself in dangerous situations for no reason other than she is an idiot. Also, when she meets the earl, she misses every sign of who he is. She is frustrating beyond words and makes it impossible to understand why the earl finds her attractive. She is also a Victorian version of the paparazzi- therefore extremely unlikable. On the other hand, Tim Campbell’s performance of the earl is toe curling. The character of the earl is everything Verity isn’t. Smart, sexy, interesting and, yes, he has to keep saving her from her own stupidity. I loved the earl, but hated Verity. Tough call to rate.

6 people found this helpful

In My Opinion...

... Angela S. is spot on in her review. Tim Campbell's performance of the earl is smoldering to incendiary. Verity's character is frustrating to aggravating to idiotic.

4 people found this helpful

Just ok

I usually love me some Christi Caldwell but this book left me wanting more. I don’t think she built up a believable relationship between the two main characters. And while I liked them both individually, together they just didn’t make sense the way I wanted them to. The narrator was great when voicing Malcom but I couldn’t get over his voice for Verity. Overall, not terrible but not my fave.

2 people found this helpful

Oh my !!!

It was a pages-turner read, why I could not read it previously, I needed a free-day devoted to this story. Just a few sentences in Percival’s story and my heart was bleeding for him and the childhood he had been robbed once he became Malcolm North. Malcolm is no more the sensible heir of an earldom, he has become a ruthless and merciless king of the underworld. Surviving the gutters, he has been stripped of any innocence and kindness he might have left after the brutal upbringing he was given. Despite his apparent coldness, he is not the icy blooded monster everyone appears to think he has become. In his way, even if he keeps everyone at arm’s length, he shows concern for the weakest under his protection. Over the years, he has gleaned a bunch of broken souls and risk-takers, and whatever he might tell himself, they are his kin and from all those, he has won their indefectible loyalty. Verity, without having the same dark past than Malcolm, was not cuddled in a classically portrayed family, she had been shunned for her mother’s sins, whose sin was to have loved and trusted the wrong man. A man who loved them too, but too weak to fully take care of them. Why at the young age of twelve she became her remaining family only support. From then, she worked her skin to elevate her circumstances, alas it is well-known women were seen as not fit for intellectual labors. And even if she is not one to cover, proving women’s worth is a challenge. And it is not prepared for the worst of the city, she runs head held high in the sewer and whatever are her mistakes, she fights like a hellion. Both have experienced a good life with comfort or some until they find themselves with nothing left and must fend for themselves or sank. Now together, they need to find their right place, she the illegitimate daughter and a woman, striving for acceptance in a world made by men for men and he the Earl raised in the slums of the city, to seek his bearing among his peers Their story is one of the small trusts won one at a time until these morph to a deeper sentiment. Yet, with the past looming over them and some shadowy figures still ready to pounce, will their burgeoning feelings be enough. As I came to learn with Mrs. Christi Caldwell’s work, she has it mapped out, her heroes have oft connection with previous works. And here, she does not disappoint, while her heroes have not been seen previously, they are linked to another couple. You can perfectly read this first in a series as what it is a standalone story, yet as I have read Courting Poppy Tidmore, I confess I adored watching a couple of heroes finds its epilogue. And what a sweet epilogue with the best revenge ever. I can only praise Mrs. Christi Caldwell for her so very unique insight into the historical period, far from the ballrooms and closer to the real people. She is the bearer of amazing tales that feed the reader a kaleidoscope of emotions. 5 stars for this tale of approval and embracing one’s true identity.

2 people found this helpful

Brilliantly executed!

Thank you to The talented Christi Caldwell and the brilliant narrator, Tim Campbell ❣️ Wrackked with anxiety over Covid-19, her book,”In bed with the Earl,” was a welcome balm. It is the flipside of Tristan’s story in “Courting Poppy Tidemore,” It reminded me of Julia Quinn’s “ mr. Cavendish, I presume” & “ The lost duke of Wyndham” --Telling the same story twice, the first time from one person’s point of you and then the next time from the other person’s point of view. As in those books, these two men were both victims, And it is in the brilliant telling of the story that this becomes poignantly clear. Highly recommend!

2 people found this helpful

Heroine= too stupid to live.

Love Tim Campbell's narration. The hero was "tragic to strength and power" which is a common theme, but it works well in this story. The heroine was a , very unlikable, journalist. She continually puts herself in stupid situations. Stupid as in: She is an idiot and the way the story was written; the situations are ridiculous. Her character takes 'suspension of disbelief' to new heights. In one scene our 5' tall 100lb heroine knocks out a 6' 200lb brute who attacked her. Much eye rolling ensued. All the men, with the exception of the hero, are ridiculous over the top misogynistic caricatures. That is just lazy writing. I've noticed this type of character theme is becoming increasingly more common is Christi Caldwell books. I'll probably take a break from her writing for awhile.

1 person found this helpful

Fantastic

Great story with original plot. Fantastic voice. By Tim Campbell. Great ending. Christy CauLdwell is one of the best writers in historical romance.

This was a great book!! 😩

I enjoyed every minute of it! The way the story just unraveled itself was just so good. A really good start for the series. The main characters had such great chemistry! Tim Campbell killed the narration! He did an excellent job. ☺️

perfect!

I absolutely loved this first in series, it had it all! loveable character's, a wonderful H/H, original plot which is so refreshing and the narrator knocked this out of the park!! delicious!