Great characters - great chemistry - great story
4 Stars

This is the second book in the London Underground series by Eva Leigh - coming after From Duke ’Til(l) Dawn. The series follows 3 friends, Alex, Kit and Langdon as they all (hopefully) get their happily ever afters. While Alex and Cassie from the first book do pop up in this book, it’s a very brief cameo and each book so far, can easily be read as a standalone. Interestingly - and in a genius move I can’t help but applaud - Ms Leigh included Maggie and Cam from a previous book of hers. They’ve intrigued me enough to firstly search out the book they were from (Scandal Takes the Stage) and to pop it on my list for future reading. As I said, bravo!

Anyway, back to this particular book. We’ve got Kit - the debonair, wastrel third son who’s a newly minted earl. Or not so minted as the case may be. Until he gets bequeathed a sizeable fortune if only he can find a wife within 30 days. And despite never having been discriminating with his partners, suddenly Kit finds himself dismissing every single eligible girl as wifely material. Until he meets Tamsyn. I suppose with both of them it’s almost insta love - but it’s done so well that you really believe it. Even with the rakish Kit - who incidentally is one of my favourite types of characters - an amiable, carefree (and handsome, obviously!) rogue with hidden depths only our heroine can see.

Tamsyn is also a good character although I had a wee bit more trouble with her than I did Kit. It’s the smuggling you see. After Kit and Tamsyn started developing feelings for each other, it made me feel quite uncomfortable that she was keeping such a big secret from him. That was probably the point, to worry if the pair could overcome the obstacles, but I wanted her to tell him rather than have him discover it.

The pair’s chemistry was palpable and by the time they eventually got to the bedroom shenanigans - which was teased for some considerable time - I was as desperate and horny as they were! But it was worth it in the end.

Smuggling aside, I liked the fact that there wasn’t any faux drama and that both characters were open and mature enough to just be honest with each other about their feelings - after the understandable grumpiness and silence. The whole book felt emotionally true to life and felt believable.

While the writing flowed well and was involving, interesting and kept those pages turning easily - I have one teeny tiny thing that irked me throughout the whole book. Gotten. I HATE that word! I even looked up its history just to appease the rage over having to read it about 17 times in this book. (Yep - I counted!) Apparently it was widely used in the UK up until about the 1500s but it’s not used now and it wasn’t used in the Regency. To my British ears, it comes across as a continually jarring Americanism in a book that otherwise does very well to avoid any anachronisms and feels true to the period. I know that writers write for a modern audience but if you’re going to change sidewalk to pavement and fall to autumn in books set in the UK, I feel you should change this word, too. (Steps down from the soapbox.)

But apart from my mini rant above, I couldn’t help but smile at Kit and Tamsyn’s love story and enjoyed their journey on finding themselves and each other. An enjoyable and likeable book - one I would happily recommend. 4 stars.

I couldn’t put this down, I had to finish it. A fascinating glimpse into Cornwall, smugglers, the aristocracy, and a marriage of convenience. No spoilers, but an unput-down-able book with a lovely ending, this is the second book by this author, and I will be looking for more.

Historical based romance with intrigue, a marriage of convenience, emotions, passionate love blossoming into fulfilment, in a story of smuggling, ending in a happy ever after.

Very enjoyable read.
A goog old Regency romp which has a much better storyline than other books in this genre.
Grabs your attention from the very first page.
It has all the ingredients you would expect including a little bit of smuggling.
Thoroughly recommend it.

The Earl needs a wife, and Tamsyn needs a husband! What could possibly go wrong?
Following the war, the Earl of Blakemere has led a life of pleasure, wine, women, and song. However, to come into the fortune due to him from an old friend, he has to marry quickly.
Both Kit (the earl) and Tamsyn have their own reasons for wanting an early marriage, and neither had expected or hoped – for love to complicate the issue.
However, hoping to carry on his current dissolute lifestyle after marriage and gaining his fortune, the sexy duke hadn’t realised how attracted to his new wife he would become. This has the makings of a lively, fast-paced story. Having read Eva Leigh’s previous book ‘From Duke Till Dawn, I expected a great read, with good historical detail, and wasn’t disappointed. The book is quite racy in places, which adds to the attraction between Kit and Tamsyn. Packed with charismatic characters, a complex storyline, humour as the story unfolds, this book is a must to read.

This was a delightful story about a marriage made for one reason which becomes something else. Great characters and an enjoyable storyline with a big feel good factor.

Loved this book, strong female character and gorgeous male lead. Little bit predictable but this didn’t take away the enjoyment of the story.

This is quite a light-hearted book, with hidden depths. Christopher (Kit) Ellingsworth has returned to England from the Napoleonic wars, a flawed hero, haunted by the cruelties of war and the terrible things he has seen and experienced. His great friend admired his war record and spoke to the right people to get Kit, a third son with no prospects, an Earldom. Kit is wasting his life on idle pleasures, but he has a dream, if he can achieve it it will give him a purpose to his life, but it is a very expensive dream. His friend Lord Somerby dies and leaves him a huge fortune, but with the proviso that he marries within thirty days of being told about his inheritance.

Cornish Tamsyn Pearce's life has been difficult since her parents were killed in a boating accident when she was a child. Her uncle took her father's title, and her home which he is allowing to crumble, and has taken little care or notice of his niece or the Newcombe villagers. Hardship has come to the village, fishing has been difficult and people have been starving, they have resorted to smuggling in order to survive, Tamsyn is the organiser, and has been since she was sixteen, she cares deeply about the people whereas her Uncle has not helped them, even though it is part of his responsibility having taken over the barony. There have been problems with the latest cache, and Tamsyn decides she needs a pliant, and rich husband, so she can buy her family home off her uncle and make the smuggling operation safer. She travels to London and is taken in by an old friend of her parents, so that she can take part in the Season and find a suitable husband.

They are just what they each need! They meet, and get on well, and, despite not really knowing each other, agree to marry, to the disapproval of everyone. The day after the wedding they discover there are specifics to the inheritance that neither were aware of, a complete disaster for Kit. His dream seems further away than ever. He will have to rely on his wife for everything. There are several misunderstandings, one so great that Tamsyn decides to return to Cornwall immediately. After a few brooding days Kit realises that he misses her very much, and follows her, on horseback, sleeping in barns along the way.

He arrives at just the wrong time for Tamsyn, the villagers are expecting a new shipment of fine French brandy and Chantilly lace; so their difficulties continue. Kit is a clever, shrewd man, he suspects danger and his military background keeps him alert. He finds out what Tamsyn is up to and is horrified. But there is a twist in the tale and he is forced to protect her against grave danger. The final twist in the tale provides him with his dream, although subtly altered, it will be in Cornwall rather than London. Tamsyn will get hers too, to live in Cornwall with her much loved husband. An assured happy ending.

There is romance, humour, danger and an likeable hero. His wife perhaps not quite so enchanting, but her reasons for her behaviour are honest and altruistic. Once their differences are sorted out they are the perfect match for each other. A most satisfying ending.

This is the first book I've read by Eva Leigh. I was drawn in by the blurb and the novel met expectations up until about the last third of the novel. Up until then things were going well, there was a decent plot and fairly good characterisation and then it all went downhill. The heroine treats the hero rather badly and then goes off to Cornwall. She selfishly wishes to use the money gifted to Kit entirely for her own purpose. Granted her motives are pure but she just dashes his hopes without explanation and then leaves for Cornwall. After this she doesn't redeem herself. It is always Kit who goes after her to apologise for her actions. Even when she is in the wrong it is he who goes after Tamsyn seeking explanations. In the end, the Kit disregards both his dreams and his principles for Tamsyn which also made me dislike him. Overall, I thought the novel had potential but the ending let it down.

Counting on a Countess, The most outrageous Regency romance of 2019 that fans of Vanity Fair and Poldark will adore, Eva Leigh

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Women's Fiction, Romance 

* Sigh...Women's Fiction again...Why? Why write off a potential clutch of readers? Men write romance, men read romance so this genre is sadly outdated.
I didn't like Vanity Fair, and though I loved Poldark this isn't in any way similar to those novels, except in the setting being Cornwall and past times.

Another historical that proved for me to be well written but not exciting. Its an easy read, a perfect book to relax with but not one to set the heart pounding, make emotions come alive.

I liked both characters to begin with, and love that Regency way of talking round issues, of pandering to society while working towards one's own ends. Its a clever trick, a dance that's hard to perfect and I love the way characters know what they want but have to use polite dissembling to achieve it. Here its Kit that needs a wife to secure his fortune and Tamsyn that needs a wealthy husband. Both have ambitions that need money, and a very short span of time in which to obtain it.
I loved the spark that ran between them, sexual tension, subtle wit and a sharp intelligence in both made them perfect for each other. Both though are holding a big secret, Kit wants the money for the dream that held him together in the depths of war, Tamsyn wants to buy her childhood home and the smuggling coves so essential for sustaining the villagers in these lean times.
It plays out well, gradually unfolding the plots each have to gain what they want. They marry, and then Kit receives a massive shock, control of the money is solely with Tamsyn, he has to ask her for everything, the promises he made about setting her up with an allowance, etc all fall flat. Tables are turned and its Tamsyn who has the deciding hand. Of course letting him have the money for his dream means letting go of hers, and can she do that with the village depending on her?
That's where it fell back for me, she didn't discuss anything, didn't try to meet Kit halfway, just made her mind up and went ahead. I found that really unlike the character I thought she was, and to be honest, morally unfair too. It was Kit's inheritance, but she's happy to take charge of it and make all the decisions. Emasculating for any man, especially in that era. There's also the fact that she knows how he feels about the Law, and yet she's made him an unwitting accomplice, without ever trying to work things out another way. I'm not saying his ideas where necessarily right, but what she did felt so very wrong. I really didn't like the way she just dashed his dreams, no discussion, no explanations just waded ahead with her own plans.
Then when it all comes to a head, well, that old 10cc seventies song springs to mind “The things we do for love...” I did find Kits about turn on what he had long believed a little hard to take, heat of the moment yes, but I thought there'd be some hard words in private, but he appears to have abandoned all his principles and it made me think less of him.
Still, its a romance, we can't have an unhappy couple, and clever Kit finds a way to make both of them achieve what they want.

Stars: Three, a solidly written story, but at times I disliked Tamsyn intensely, and I felt Kit was way to quick to abandon all his long held beliefs.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers

I’m a sucker for a marriage of convenience when it comes to historical romance, so Counting On A Countess looked like exactly the sort of thing I would enjoy. However, this one sadly didn’t quite live up to my expectations…

It’s fun enough, the pacing is good, and the dialogue is very witty, but although I enjoyed the first two thirds, there were some plot points towards the end that made this one ring rather false to me.

The full review is up on my blog as it got rather spoilery! https://acatabookandacupoftea.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/review-counting-on-a-countess/

A good strong storyline and characters meant that I was able to feel very involved throughout the reading of this book. Should be a popular read for lovers of this genre who like a bit of ‘spice’ added to their reading material.

Counting on a Countess is the second novel in the London Inderground series, written by Eva Leigh and published by Mills & Boon Historical. This is an Alex Musial story about a marriage of convenience as both sides need one and will reap benefits from entering into it. Christopher “Kit” Ellingswoeth is a war veteran and Newley appointee Earl of Blakemore. He tries to hide from his demons by going to the London Pleasure Gardens and gambling his fortune away on cards and other vices. Luckily for him he has been left a sizeable inheritance by Lord Summerby - the only stipulation being that he must marry within a month. Unfortunately for Kit a codicil in the will gives his wife control of his fortune so he will have to ask her permission for the money to finance his Pleasure garden. Tasmyn Pearce is his ideal candidate - not really interested in ensaring a husband he can marry her and send her back to Cornwall with a sizeable allowance for her troubles. Little does he know that she is in London looking for buyers for the rum and other contraband she has bought off smugglers in her attempt to save her village, that she has been working with smugglers for the past 8 years and a rich husband so she can buy back her ancestral home Chi Owr from her Uncle, so she can continue her smuggling activities. Her ideal husband will be content to stay in London and also live on a sizeable allowance whilst she continues her illegal activities in Cornwall.

Once Kit is aware that his new wife has control of the purse strings he realises that their sexual chemistry is not enough to ensure that he gets his Pleasure garden, instead he must get to know her. He travels down to Cornwall and discovers all about his wife’s altruistic smuggling. He, as an ex soldier, hates the thought of any illegal activity but rushes to protect her when her Uncle informs customs officials in an attempt to regain control of Chei Owr.

I enjoyed this book although not as much as the first. Both of the main characters are complicated and stubborn and both need money which is why they entered into a marriage of convenience- her’s is altruistic but illegal, His is decadent, immoral but legal. She is trying to protect her local village whilst he is hiding from the memories of army life. There characters should be poles apart but somehow they work and component each other. It is a light hearted, fun Regency romance.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

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