I love a marriage of convenience trope and if the heroine is a feisty girl like Tamsyn then all the better! Kit and Tamsyn dance around each other trying to achieve their own goals within this union and I found the plot very enjoyable. I liked the slower pace and I felt that the pacing moving the story along was brilliant. Great characters and great story.

In this book we meet Tamsyn and Kit (Ellingsworth) who for their own reasons need to enter into a marriage of convenience. What follows is a flirtatious and sizzling connection as the pair both try to get what they want. Even though this is book two in the series it still works very well as a standalone so don’t let that put you off.

The pacing is steady with a mixture of more slower parts and then moving to a more faster pace. I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially as they kind of dance around each other as their attraction grows. Tamsyn is resourceful and strong willed which is great, making her a very good match for Kit’s character. With this in mind they compliment each other very well and I enjoyed seeing the sparks fly when they interacted and let’s just say there were times my Kindle nearly burned up. There is also a fun aspect to the story as you see Kit and Tamsyn grow closer all the while keeping a few secrets. Making me wonder how it would all turn out in the end and if there would be a happy ever after. After all keeping secrets is never a good idea!

Counting on a Countess is a story with a difference with smuggling, secrets and of course romance!

3.5 stars (rounded up to) 4 stars

This is the second book in The Scandalous Ladies of London series and another roaring success in my opinion. What I particularly love about Eva's work is the fact that characters don't confirm to the stereotypical norms of society that we have been browbeaten into believing. Eva recently stated in an interview on Scribbler Maxi's blog 'History is full of people of colour. LGBTQ+ people, disabled people and people who believed in the equality between the sexes. Just because the BBC shows you a world comprised entirely of white, able-bodied heterosexuals doesn't mean that's what the past was really like.' (Read the full interview on www.scribblermaxi.co.uk) These refreshing thoughts are certainly embedded into Eva's work making her novels well researched, colourful and entertaining to say the least.

Counting on a Countess is filled to the brim with passion, vanquish and love. The situation Kit Ellingsworth finds himself in is bemusing and sets the book up perfectly. I won't dive into too many details as I believe it is better to let the plot unfold in the way the author intends it to. But I particularly enjoyed the chemistry and games created between Kit and his new bride Tamsyn Pearce. Tamsyn is another strong female in Eva's arsenal of powerful women.

This book is another enigmatic story that is a joy to read. Although they form a series they can be read as stand alone novels but they're too addictive and stopping at one will prove a difficulty. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time being immersed into regency society and meeting many vibrant characters and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This book features one of my favourite tropes, a marriage of convenience, and I really enjoyed it. Eva Leigh writes well, and the dialogue and interactions between the hero and heroine were excellent.

Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, is a war veteran and newly enobled Earl of Blakemere, for his services to the crown. Heis a penniless third son, and has fallen into libidinous ways to try and forget the horrors of war. He lives on tick, gambling excessively to try and win enough money to start his own pleasure gardens,, dreams of which helped him through the horrors of war. He is searching for a purpose.

His luck changes when he is left a fortune by a former commanding officer, on the proviso that he marries within a month. He looks for a suitable bride, but is strangely uninterested in all candidates until he catches sight of Tamsyn Pearce at a ball.

Tamsyn Pearce is an orphaned young Cornish woman, neglected by her uncle and his family, She has travelled to London ostensibly to attend the season, sponsored by a family friend, but Is also looking to find buyers for her contraband goods. Unlike Kit, she has a strong sense of purpose, she has been running a smuggling ring to support the local villagers of Newcombe for the last eight years,

She wishes to marry a man with money, in a desperate hope that she can convince him to buy her beloved home, as her uncle is threatening to sell it to someone else. She is equally fascinated by Kit, and they agree to marry. Kit is clear that this will be a marriage on convenience.

Kit and Tamsyn are drawn towards each other, even as their situation changes most unexpectedly, they have to navigate this and their individual priorities and find a way to deal with the inevitable conflicts. They both grow and develop together and their relationship develops really beautifully. The action moves from London to Cornwall, and was satisfyingly exciting.

I really loved both characters, Tamsyn was responsible and honourable towards her teneats, and truly tormented by deceiving Kit, I also enjoyed the way that Kit grew up throughout the book, and was able to accept how his life changed so much from his original plan. I thought Eva Leigh developed their blossoming relationship very convincingly, and I found it a very satisfying read.

I received an ARC of this book.

Also posted on goodreads.

The Earl of Blakemere is in want of a wife - but only to meet the terms of his inheritance. Tamsyn Pearce is in need of a husband - but only in order to have the money to buy back her childhood home, and help her Cornwall village survive. Neither are looking for more, but when they meet there is a charge between them that neither have experienced before. Could this complicate what should have been a very simple arrangement?
Eva Leigh's book is clearly well researched, and it is interesting to read of a different type of heroine. She's neither rich and privileged nor impoverished, and the ways and wiles of London are new to her, making us see them anew through her eyes.
The romance is sparky and holds one's interest and the addition of Tamsyn's secret smuggling, and the fact her ex soldier husband is vehemently opposed to those who break the law in such a manner adds another layer of interest.
Occasionally I felt that there was a little too much exposition with regards to the history and research that was clearly undertaken, but that did not take away from what was an enjoyable read, and a slightly different take on the 'standard' historical romance.

Counting On A Countess is book two of The London Underground series of historic romances.

The story opens with an introduction to Kit, an ex-soldier from the Napoleonic war and a recently appointed Earl. Haunted by traumas of war, Kit spends his days wenching, carousing and gambling. But suddenly he’s informed that he can be the beneficiary of a large sum of money. All he must do to receive it is find a wife within thirty days.

Tamsyn Pearce is a smuggler. Devoted to helping the poor in her Cornish village, Tamsyn turned to smuggling eight years ago. She’s currently in London looking for a new fence for her stolen goods. Her second problem is that her uncle intends to sell her family home, thus threatening her smugglers' caverns. The villagers will once again face poverty, unless she can find a wealthy man to rescue her home.

A marriage of convenience between Kit and Tamsyn will suit them both, and a wedding is arranged immediately. When they meet with the solicitor to sign the papers, the late Lord Somerby has one last behest. It’s just a small hitch, but it throws both Kit and Tamsyn into turmoil.

The main setting for this book is London, with a secondary setting in Cornwall. I found the insights into Tamsyn’s homelife and her accompanying skills added interesting points. I did enjoy the smuggling element of the book and the Cornish setting was one of my favourite parts of the story.

This book is primarily a Regency style romance so there are plenty of heat-filled moments for those who enjoy smouldering passion between the pages.

Not for me sadly. There was just too much going on here for me to be able to feel like I got to know the hero and heroine and what made them tick. There were so many plot points to hit that there wasn’t any time to do character development what with smugglers and fortunes and sex clubs and evil relatives and business proposals and so much more. Never mind.

An enticing medley of Regency London Society and Cornish smugglers provides an exciting setting for this 'Marriage of Convenience' historical romance with a strong feminist theme.

Kit, the Earl of Blakemere is a veteran of Waterloo, he is a consummate rake, who has to marry. Tamsyn is forced to earn money in an unorthodox way when her parents die, and her uncle refuses to support the estate's villagers. She needs a rich husband to buy back the estate.

Kit and Tamsyn meet at a society ball and the physical attraction is strong, but will a 'Marriage of Convenience' succeed when they are both keeping secrets and their emotions are starting to mirror their passion for each other?

This is an exciting story, with complex characters and contemporary exploration of historical themes. Kit has lasting effects from his war service, recognised in today's society as Post Traumatic Stress. Tamsyn is a society lady, with feminist views and actions, not accepted in Regency society.

The attraction is passionate, the story well-paced and varied, the characters multi-layered and believable, with an adrenaline-fueled satisfying ending.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This my first book that I have read by Eva Leigh and thoroughly enjoyed it. What I liked about the author Eva Leigh is that she writes about smart women and sexy men. What I also realised while reading Counting on a Countless is that the Earl of Blakemere, Christopher Kit Ellingsworth who rarely entertained sober, is like some people in real life who have drinking problems. A solicitor visits Kit about a friend of his who has passed away. Kit has been left in his friends will ten thousand pounds for fifty years on the account that he must marry before he can inherit the money. With the clock ticking and only a week left to find himself a bride he visited a ballroom full of women that are looking for a husband. The question is will Kit find a bride in time? And would he make a good husband or a terrible husband taking on mistresses? Only time reading on will tell !!

This is a light, enjoyable historical romance.
The story has a slight twist but overall is very predictable.

Really enjoyed this 2nd book in the series. It was a light, frothy, fast moving story with a happy ending what more could you ask for. Will definitely read the next in the series.

I really enjoy this book because it shows a woman in power in an era where the man owns the woman and all her properties. I enjoyed the partnership between the two main characters and how the woman doesn't depend on the man to survive. You can call this a feminist book which contain romance, heartbreak and cruelty from the first husband. I really enjoyed this book very much.

Miss Tamsin Pearce has been helping the locals in her Cornish village make enough money to live on by smuggling. Now, however, her Uncle is planning to sell the only home she’s known and their smuggling days are numbered. She travels to London for her season as a debutante but is really looking for a way to sell the brandy they have stored and hoping to find a suitable husband who will support her endeavours to help the villagers or be too unaware to notice her doing so.

The Earl of Blakemere, Christopher (Kit) Ellingsworth, has been left s considerable fortune but to access it he has just a month to get married. No one attracts this lethario until he meets Tamsin. With secrets and schemes aplenty can these two discover that marrying in haste means rejoicing at leisure or will they be repenting instead?

This is a fun historical romance that I thoroughly recommend. It has well developed characters, a plot full of intrigue and dilemmas and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing right to the end. I’ll definitely be looking for more by this talented author in future!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

I must admit that at first I wasn’t keen on either Kit or Tamsyn. They both looked upon the marriage as using it for their own benefit. However as the story progress and their feelings for each other developed into something more meaningful, I began to like them better. At times the pace was a little slow and there was an odd visit to the Orchid Palace. Overall, though, I did enjoy reading this story and found it an entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars
Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers until a wealthy mentor Lord Somerby leaves him a sizeable fortune. The only stipulation being that he must marry within one month to inherit the money. Kit needs a bride and the bold, mysterious Miss Tamsyn Pearce seems perfect. Husband hunting isn’t Tamsyn’s top priority she’s in London to sell her new shipment of illicit goods but she’s desperate for funds . When a handsome earl offers to wed her and send her back to Cornwall with a hefty allowance, Tamsyn agrees.
Once they are married an unexpected proviso in the will grants Tamsyn control of the inheritance, their arrangement becomes anything but convenient. Now, Kit’s counting on his countess to make his wildest dreams a reality and he plans to convince her, one pleasurable seduction at a time.
This is the second book in the series however it could easily be read on its own. It was a slightly different twist on a marriage of convenience. I really liked Kit who was battling to mentally recover from his experiences as a soldier & he’d held onto a dream for so long & wanted to make it a reality. I found Tamsyn to be selfish & she wanted every single thing on her terms, I couldn’t quite make myself believe she actually loved Kit. The pace of the story was good & it held my interest all the way through. I look forward to Langdon's story.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Counting on a Countess is the second book in The London Underground series by Eva Leigh. Although part of a series it can be read as a standalone book.

Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth earned himself the title of Earl of Blakemere when he was at war. Now a veteran and at home, he spends all his time making merry in order to bury his nightmares from the war. His ultimate dream is to design and operate a pleasure garden in London. He wants to experience the pleasure that would bring but also bring happiness to others. The problem is that he doesn't have the funds to fulfil that dream. That is until a wealthy mentor surprisingly leaves a fortune to Kit in his will. The only stipulation being that Kit must marry before he is entitled to the money, and he only has one month to find a wife!

Tamsyn Pearce is from Cornwall and is in London to find a buyer for smuggled goods. She's been a smuggler for many years in order to keep her village from becoming destitute. Her home is built in the perfect position for the smuggling operation but her uncle owns it and is planning on selling it which would put the whole operation in jeopardy. She needs to keep selling smuggled goods so that she can at least have enough money to offer a deposit on the house so that she can eventually buy it. When she can't find a buyer for her latest haul of goods she is devastated and realises that her best chance of keeping her house would be for her to marry.

How fortunate that it is that Tamsyn is brought to the attention of Kit. After a very short courtship they wed, she knows why he needs to marry her, for the inheritance, but he has no idea why she needs to marry him. Still, they go ahead with it and are both in for another shock from Kit's dearly departed mentor. He won't allow the funds to go to the couple unless Tamsyn is in control of the purse strings. It's the man's way of making sure that Kit doesn't go through the money like water as he is known to do.

That is where the story really takes off. Tamsyn has to keep her smuggling secret because Kit is as law-abiding a person as there could be, and he has no idea that she wants to use some of the inheritance to buy her family home. Kit, of course, wants to build the pleasure garden which he just knows Tamsyn will see as a frivolous waste of money. His best bet is to try to woo her so that when he does ask her for the money she won't be able to tell him no. What he doesn't expect is the during the wooing of her he starts to have genuine feelings towards her. She too starts feeling for him too but both keep that a secret just as much as they keep their agendas secret. What will happen when those secrets are exposed. Will Kit have his dream come true, and what of Tamsyn, can she keep her village flourishing by smuggling without Kit finding out and reporting her to the authorities?

There is such a lot going on in this story, it's one of those books that you don't want to put down until you find out what happens next. Throughout the story, it was wonderful to see how Kit and Tamsyn fall in love, but it was also a constant worry about how they could possibly have a future when they are such different people with such different plans. They are both such headstrong characters that I honestly couldn't see how they would be able to have their happy ever after. I really enjoyed how the author chose to conclude the story, especially with the scenes involving Tamsyn's horrid aunt and uncle. It was a very satisfying moment!

My thanks to Net Galley and MILLS AND BOON for the opportunity to read COUNTING ON A COUNTESS.
I loved this sumptuous REGENCY tale of a marriage of convenience, intrigue...and hot sexy scenes. A real bodice ripper....made all the more sensuous because the main characters insist on keeping us waiting....

Lighthearted Regency Romp.
Kit needs to marry in haste to fulfill the conditions of his inheritance and Tamsyn needs funds to purchase her family home. Both go into the marriage with secrets but Tamsyn’s are very much the bigger and more dangerous. Engaging love story and characters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well written historical piece that kept me enthralled from page one. Anbenchantingbtstory that I can wholeheartedly recommend

A well researched and very enjoyable drama.
Enter the world of the Cornwall smugglers, striving to make ends meet. Now enter the gorgeous salons of the aristocracy. Different levels of society and yet beneath the opulence so very similar in character!
A gripping tale of a convenient marriage kept me so engaged that I had a job to put the book down!