Cute, quick read with a Christmasy/winter-time theme by Darcy Burke.

Lady Bianca Stafford was upset with her brother, Calder, the newly minted Duke of Hartwell when he refused to host the annual St. Stephen’s Day celebration. So, she embarked on her planned trip to a neighbor's house party with the intent to enlist his help to ensure this celebration happened for her family's tenants.

Ashton Rutledge, the Earl of Buckleigh was trying to step into his new role as a peer and attend the obligatory social events as was expected of a peer of his newly-appointed station. Ash grew up as a cousin to the prior Earl of Buckleigh and never expected the title. He also never expected he'd have to see his boyhood tormentors turn into his social peers and equals. But most of all he never expected his long-ago childhood friend to be at his first house party as the Earl.

Ash and Bee's interactions and conversations were cute and I loved how Bianca didn't bow to social conventions because her old friend came up in the world. The author made a good show of conveying Ash's Tourette's without going over or creating a quick fix for it. Instead, she provided outlets that helped lessen the symptoms. I liked how the symptoms were always a little present but that Ash and those that loved him just accepted who he was.

I really wanted to smack Bianca's brother upside the head but I imagine we will see and possibly get a chance in Joy to the Duke.

All in all, this was a cute wintery read when you need a quick dose of historical lurve, joy, and triumph in your day!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this generously provided ARC!

The Earl of Buckleigh was once an untitled misfit, tormented at Oxford. Now, he’s overcome his challenges and is eager for the future, especially when his oldest and dearest friend, Bianca.When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Darcy Burke is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

One simply has to love Darcy Burke's books. Her stories are full of rebelious women with modern views, full of courage and filled with chuckles. Those stories don't miss on anything. Hot gentlemen knowing what they do and sassy women learning a lot from men's mistakes, being brave and wanting to make the world a better place.

I loved everything about this book and simply can't wait for these series to continue.

‘The Red Hot Earl” looks set to be the start of another great series by Darcy Burke. A novella which sees Ashton Rutledge, the Earl of Buckleigh facing his tormenters of his youth. Having been made fun of for his tics and outbursts (possibly Tourette’s), Ash has learnt to overcome his challenges. He seeks to further overcome his reclusive nature and attends a house party where he meets the boys of his youth. He also encounters Lady Bianca Stafford who has been friends with since their youth. Bianca has attended the house party in an attempt to find support for the St Stephen’s Day celebration that her family has hosted. However, her Calder, the new Duke of Hartwell, is determined not to follow through with tradition and opposes the celebration. When Ash and Bianca meet again, they find joy together, more so than apart making for a lovely romance.
This is a sweet romance with a decidedly Christmas feel. This book will have you smiling despite the horrid school bullies and family battles. The story behind Bianca’s brother and sister will prove to be very interesting from the snippets of their characters in this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Bianca Stafford had been friends with Ashton Rutledge, the new Earl of Buckleigh for years. Ash was always kind and fun to be with, but then he went off to school. Meeting him again years later at a house party, Bianca realizes that Ash has a deeply held secret and she's determined to find out what it is. Unfortunately, Ash's tormentors from Oxford continue to taunt him at the house party until he storms out. Bianca is mystified why those three men were so cruel and she sets out to check on Ash the next day. Can Ash reveal his secrets to Bianca and not drive her away?

This was a sweet short read. Ash suffers from a lifelong affliction that causes him to have shivers and tremors as well as shouting out curse words. I felt for Ash. It must have been hard to live with the censor of others especially his father. The more time Bianca spends with Ash, she realizes that his affliction is only one small part of the wonderful man Ash has become. There are a few obstacles in their way, but nothing that is too difficult to overcome. I didn't get a holiday feel for this story. It was more of how two people can look past imperfections and find love.

What a delightful story! The novella was a quick read and left me smiling. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the self-assured Bianca and incredibly forgiving Ashton. Next, I hope, is discovering what makes the duke Chill!

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
The Red Hot Earl by Darcy Burke is the first book in her fun new regency holiday themed series
Love Is All Around. This novella was inspired by the story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Lady Bianca Stafford is frustrated with her brother’s refusal to host the annual St. Stephen’s day party and determined to find a way to have the party with or without his help. She meets her childhood friend Ashton Rutledge (Ash) now the Earl of Buckleigh at a house party and despite her vows never to marry finds him intriguing. Ash suffers from Tourette Syndrome something he struggles to keep under control and the house party ends up being a bit of a debacle because the men who bullied him when they were in school together are guests, and the host of the party. Medium steam. Publishing Date September 27, 2019. #NetGalley #DarcyBurke #LoveIsAllAround #TheRedHotEarl #Bookstagram #RegencyChristmas #HistoricalRomance

4.5 Stars!

The Red Hot Earl features a delightful romance between childhood friends set during the holiday season.

Ashton Rutledge, the newly titled Earl of Buckleigh, has overcome the challenges of his youth and is looking forward to the future. When he runs into childhood friend Lady Bianca Stafford, Ash is eager to assist when she needs help saving the village's annual holiday party. As Ash and Bianca spend time together planning the party, they find themselves drawn to each other and the possibility of a future they never imagined. But when disaster strikes, their newfound romance will be put to the test and it will take a holiday miracle to set things right.

I loved Bianca and Ash together from their first scene together. Bianca is someone who speaks her mind and goes after what she wants regardless of the consequences. Ash admires Bianca for her confidence and I was happy to see that he loved what society deemed unacceptable about her. Ash is incredibly self-conscious due to a disability he developed as a small child and I felt terrible for him when he was mocked by his previous childhood tormentors. I loved how Bianca stood up for him though and how she was willing to battle anyone who was rude to him. Bianca and Ash's relationship is easy from the get-go, built upon years of childhood friendship. When the relationship develops into something more, it's wonderfully done and I found their physical chemistry to be fantastic.

Overall The Red Hot Earl was an amazing read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Gift of the Marquess, when it releases next month.

The Red Hot Earl is the perfect first book to start off the Love Is All Around holiday trilogy by Darcy Burke. It can be a stand alone book but if you're like me, after reading it, you will be ordering the next two in the series ( The Gift of the Marquess 10/15/19 and Joy to the Duke 11/5/19). I can't wait to see what Ms. Burke has in store for the Stafford siblings!
The Red Hot Earl is Ash and Bianca's story. Friends in childhood they were separated by life and their different stations. After Ash inherits and Earldom they find each other at a house party and love blooms. I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers saying that love blooms because this is, after all, a Christmas romance and we all know they will end in a HEA..
I, for one, can't see how anyone could not fall for Ash. I won't give away any spoilers but I will say that he has had to overcome and learn to live with some pretty tough things. Bianca, another character you can't help but admire, has never seen Ash as others have. She's accepted/accepts him just as he is and scorns those who would laugh at him. There are a lot of redeemable characters and forgiveness in this story (again it's a Christmas romance so it's to be expected).
The Red Hot Earl is such a well written romance, with characters that will stay with me for a while. Ms. Burke pulls at the heart strings with Ash and Bianca. I anticipate that the Love Is All Around trilogy will be one of my 'go to' reads to start off the Christmas season every year.

This is my fair and honest review, in my own words, in return for this ARC. Darcy Burke is one of my favourite authors so I do come in with some bias. Great read to support supposed "misfits". Let's face it, we all have something that makes us different, even if that something is a good heart. Being close to "the season", this is really a christmas story and so sappiness must be present.

3/5 Stars.

A quick, enjoyable and quirky read. In my opinion, a perfect read when you're travelling or just trying to pass the time. Something light to make you smile. Don't expect deep emotions or conflicts in this, as everything moves as break neck speed and issues are resolved by mostly just yelling at people.

Ash is the newly minted Earl of Buckleigh and has finally come into his own after years of torment at Oxford. Post which he cemented himself as a famous puglist in London, which helped him get over his afflictions - author's words not mine - and become more confident. Confident enough to face the abusers of his youth as a house party. Here he meets Bianca, the sister of a Duke, and his childhood friend. Bianca instantly warms up to him, remembering their time as children but also noticing that he's no longer a scrawny little boy. He's a man now - basically cue sexual tension.

All of their bloosoming romance happens with the background of setting up the Stephen's Day party - which I frankly gave two jots about. Gimme more romance! Overall, Bianca was slightly an irritating character at some points but I loved her loyalty and love for Ash. Ash on the other hand, I truly liked. He took the torment of his past and made himself a better man but didn't turn into an emo whiner. Unlike Bianca's brother - who I'm sure has some deep seeded angst in his past *eye roll*. We'll read about that in his book I'm sure.

Bianca and Ash fall in love instantly, like Cupid struck them with an extra dose of insta-love/lust. I'm okay with it, because like I said before this is a quick read and has a light feel to it from the start. Expecting a slow burn is non-sensical. I would have liked an epilogue to show their life post marraige for sure, and maybe a little more passion to their courtship and/or marraige. That would have definitely pushed this to 4 star.

Two things I wish were better: Ash is shown to have an ailment of sorts; where he twiches, blurts out expletives without meaning to. And somehow he's controlled his by becoming a boxer, so I'd have liked a little more into this affliction of his.

And second, I have absolutely no idea why in the world the title is Red Hot Earl. And if it has to do with the fact that Ash has red hair then... no. Just no.

The cover has his hair more brown than red so what gives?!

Heartwarming, fun, emotional and engaging journey for this exciting couple that started out as friends and are destined for so much more...... was a thrilling adventure from beginning to end filled with intriguing charters. Great reading!

Short and sweet Christmas-themed novella by reliable author Darcy Burke. Her stories are always just nice and lovely, and this childhood friends-to-lovers story is no exception.

Bianca and Ash meet again after years spent apart (they were friends before he left for school, growing up in the same village), and quickly realize there's more to their friendship. Their relationship progressed really really quickly, they just met, clicked, and moved straight to the bedroom and then the altar. There was little in their way except some forced drama (and boy did her change of mind from "I am never getting married!!!!" to "I can't live without him" come out of nowhere for me), but ultimately it was a sweet story for me.

Bianca did annoy me a bit, though. She was so stubborn and just walk right over people to get her way (which might optimistically be described as "spirited" and "knows what she wants", but still annoyed me sometimes), and I only liked her when she was around Ash, for whom she would stand up and take on bullies without a second thought. Then it was still weird, but at least in an endearing way.

I did really like Ash. He was sweet, even when his childhood tormentors showed up to create some drama, but I would have liked to know more about his mysterious illness (which manifests with twitches and blurting out expletives, and is somehow manageable by boxing?).

All in all, a nice start to a Christmas-themed series!

I have enjoyed several of Darcy’s books and I’m in the Christmas-y mood, so I was pretty excited to read this one.

I really liked Bianca and Ash. She knows what she wants and is determined to go after it. Ash is sweet and smitten. I loved how they were childhood friends and reading them come into feelings. As for Bianca’s siblings, I’m not sure about either of them.

Plot wise, it was quick. I didn’t realize it was a novella, so I wasn’t prepared for it to move as fast as it did. The thread with the childhood “friends” was interesting and really, someone should have gotten junk punched.

Overall, it was a fun read. I will likely read the following stories because I’m curious about the way the siblings acted.

**Huge thanks to Darcy Burke for providing the arc free of charge**

Managing heroines drive me mental, and yet, the way Bianca goes about it didn’t bother me at all. It’s the sense of manipulation that I don’t like. Bianca is simply forthright. Rather than steering other people to see her way in order to help her, she does it herself She’s such a force of nature that the people around her can’t help but bend to her will. Ash isn’t quite a full-on gothic hero, he’s just too sweet, but he does share many of their defining traits. He’s a bit of a loner with a tragic backstory and the love of the right woman makes him even greater than he already was. I enjoyed reading about this group of characters and I’m looking forward to learning more about them in the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley.

The Red Hot Earl is the first instalment in Darcy Burke’s new trilogy, ‘Love is all around.” It is set in 1811 and follows a woman named Bianca, who reconnects with her childhood friend Ash during her attempts to make the annual St Stephen’s Day party go ahead.

This was a very quick and easy read and I enjoyed the main characters. Bianca is very independent and didn’t necessarily always follow what was expected of her, which I really like. The main love interest, Ash, is an absolute sweetheart, and I liked the way their friendship was instantly rekindled despite the fact they’d been apart for so long.
I also really liked how it was loosely based on the story of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, as I’ve never come across something like that before.

As is the case with a lot of historical romance books, you shouldn’t go into this expecting historical accuracy, as that is just not what this is. If you are willing to look beyond that, this is a really nice and easy read for the holiday period.

Lady Bianca Stafford is furious when her brother refuses to host the St. Stephen’s Day party. This is a family tradition after all and she must convince him to continue to sponsor the event for their friends and neighbors.

Ash, Earl of Buckleigh was once an untitled misfit. Tormented at Oxford, now he’s overcome his challenges and is eager for the future with the girl who was his best friend during his time of agony.
When his oldest and dearest friend, Bianca, needs help to save the annual holiday party. Ash has a plan to rescue the event, but can he overcome the tricks of the bullies from his childhood.

In Ash, Bianca sees salvation for their local tradition, and perhaps a future she never expected. Except her brother has other plans which do not include her happily ever after with Ash.

This short read is very well written but although it is surrounded by the Christmas season and all of it's revelries it just doesn't feel like a Christmas tale.
I read it in one sitting and loved the hero and heroine. I also developed a dislike for most of the other characters.

I didn't get the Rudolph the red nosed reindeer inspiration though. It just didn't resonate that way to me.
I gave this first book in this series 4 of 5 stars for story line and character development.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to read.
This in no way affected my opinion of this story which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

The Red Hot Earl is the first book in the festive series Love is All Around. The series is about three siblings finding their happy ever after around the Christmas holidays. This book is Lady Bianca’s story and it takes place before the actual holidays. Lady Bianca’s family have hosted the St. Stephen’s Day party for the county for decades. This year her brother, Calder (Duke of Harwell) refuses to host the event. Their father had passed away recently and Calder had taken over as the duke and refused to continue the tradition. Bianca loved the holidays and was determined that the party traditions continue. While attending the Thornaby's house party were the planning for the party begins, she is reunited with a childhood friend, Ash (the new Earl of Buckleigh). Ash was terrorized as a child by three bullies at Oxford for Tic disorder. He decides to attend the house party thinking that surely the men had grown up but after they continued taunting him, he leaves the house party early. After hearing the three men tease and taunt Ash, Bianca decides to leave the house party and find Ash. She no longer wants to try and convince the Viscount Thornaby to host the party, instead she wants Ash too. Can Ash convince Bianca to marry him even though she has said she will never marry? This was a fun, sweet romance and certainly does a great job starting the series.

The Red Hot Earl is also a very forgiving earl. Ash appears to have Tourette’s Syndrome and was tremendously bullied by school mates. As adults, those school mates, Thornaby and friends, still enjoy tormenting him. Ash is the only one who really grew up and left those school issues behind.

Bianca, or Bee, as Ash knows her is as sweet, kind and giving as a young woman could be toward others, with an exception, Ash’s school mates. Ash and Bee find themselves at the same house party given by Thornaby. One of the purposes for the house party is to plan the neighborhood St. Stephen’s Day party, traditionally given at her family’s country home. Her brother is refusing to do so, but she is not giving up.

This re-meeting provides opportunity for Bianca and Ash to refresh their former friendship. Ash has learned to control his syndrome, except when he is upset. Bianca loves him in spite of his ‘tics.’ A match made in heaven.

Calder, Bianca and Poppy’s brother definitely needs to get past his Scrooge attitude. Will be watching for his and Poppy’s books.

This is a great start to the Love is All Around series. Maybe Thornaby needs his own book – he did come around with sincere remorse. As a leader, he made sure his ‘friends’ followed his lead.

Sorry but the feel and tone of this one are far too modern for my tastes. Plus the heroine going into a such tizzy over a holiday celebration felt overdone. And shouldn't they be celebrating Boxing Day?

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this.