A holiday historical romance where two best friends find the love they always shared. Another great story from Darcy Burke.

This is romantic, sweet and entertaining. Ash and Bianca were friends as young people, so when Bianca's brother Stephen won't host the Christmas celebration, she turns to Ash. Ash doesn't really want anything to do with most of the ton, he had enough of their abuse when he was in school, but he's more than willing to help Bianca. As they spend more time together and get to know one another, each finds themselves rethinking what they wanted from their life. I really enjoyed reading about Ash and Bianca and seeing love overcome bad past experiences.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

Another nice read by Darcy Burke. She has become one of my favorite authors in this genre. While I enjoyed this book, I have enjoyed her more recent series more. Still worth a read.

REVIEW BY BOC REVIEWER: AMY CLIPSTON
I love Darcy Burke’s books. Every single one is filled with emotion, humor, and flawed, real characters. And there’s even more to love about The Red Hot Earl. It’s the start of her new Love Is All Around series which, if this first book is any indication, promises to be fabulous. It’s a holiday romance. Tis the season for love and what better way to get in the mood than a beautiful love story wrapped up in a holiday bow. There’s just something special about romances in a winter setting. And what better time than the Christmas season. A season of love, family, and happily ever afters.
Ash and Bianca were such absolutely loveable characters who were perfect for one another and so deserving of love. I adored Bianca’s enthusiasm and confidence. She didn’t hide her emotions and said what she thought. She had such a kind heart and that desire to help others and ensure the village had their traditional holiday celebration was instrumental in bringing Ash and her together.
Ash was such an admirable man. He’d been tormented and excluded since childhood for his Tourette’s, but rose above that. He’d worked hard at learning to control, cope, and survive with his disability. In spite of all he’d suffered, he still was kind to others and willing to put the past behind him.
I loved the memories of Ash and Bianca’s childhood together. And I especially loved seeing that friendship become something more. They valued, accepted, and cherished each other. Though their reunion and romance takes place over a matter of days, this novella reads like a complete and satisfying historical romance. Red Hot Earl is an un-put-downable, sensitive, and beautiful romance with the perfect combination of heart and heat. I can’t wait for the rest of this series. I’m anxious to know more about Bianca’s siblings and hopeful I’ll see more of Bianca and Ash in future books.

This was a super steamy infuriating short read. I loved everything about Ash and Bianca. I think Darcey did a great job with Ash’s impediment. It reminded me of Asperger’s. Ash’s deceased cousin’s friends are freaking idiots who needed their azz kicked in college and especially now. What they did to Ash then and now is abhorrent and cruel.

Ash is level headed, but can be fiery, knows what he wants and is a beast in the sheets. Did I mention his red hair? Bianca is fiery, determined and a harlot. She’s relentless with her seductive behavior.

I can’t wait to discover what’s up with her sister Poppy’s marriage and what is causing her brother Calder to act like a cold jackass.

I received an ARC of this book from Darcy Burke Publishing via Netgalley

Another great historical romance book by Darcy Burke. This one has a holiday theme and it's filled with romance, some twist and of course a good writing! Recommended!

Bullies have not changed much in 200 years. They still torment those who are different. Ashton Rutleigh is now the Earl of Buckleigh, but once he was a young boy affected with Tourette syndrome. His schoolmates, including his cousin teased him mercifully. After spending the past ten years in London, establishing his law career, his self confidence, and changing his physic; Ash is back in County Durham. Fortunately, while attending a house party he reconnect with Lady Bianca Stafford, his childhood only friend. Unfortunately, the house party is being given by Viscount Thornaby, Ash's main tormentor. Also unfortunately Thornaby and his friends are not done bullying Ash. The underlying issue in this story is finding a place for the annual St. Stephen's Day party to be held. Traditionally, the Duke of Hartwell, now Bianca's brother hosts the party, but the Duke is being real Scrooge, refusing anything to do with the party. (His story is book three in the series). Do Bianca and Ash rediscover each other? Will Bianca find a way to hold the St. Stephen's Day party? Will Ash's belittles finally get taken down? Somehow I ended up reading this book after I read the other two in the series. Although I still enjoyed it, I think it would have her better to read them in order. He sure to read the whole series, they fit together very well.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Cute holiday romance set in Regency England, Ash and Bianca are childhood friends and meet at a holiday party.

There are a few villains and lots of drama as Bianca tries to have the St. Stephens party revived after her grinch of a brother cancels it.

We get a bit of a preview that there is something wrong with Poppy and her husband and also know that Calder is hopefully going to have a change of heart when his story comes along.

I liked that Ash and Bianca were such good friends then lovers and that they were so similar. The only thing that I found a bit difficult to understand is that after years of saying she won't get married, Bianca changes her mind in a matter of a few hours and Ash and Bianca get engaged.

Nice save on the three troublemakers and glad that they were able to come around and actually be friends with Ash.

Another Duke series about Christmas, whoohoo! I love the historical romance with the fancy Dukes in breeches. So, when Darcy Burke had a new serie: Love is All Around, I had to request it on Netgalley. The three books are about the Stafford sisters Bianca and Poppy and their cold hearted brother Caldwell.
After their father died, Bianca needs to find a husband. Or so her brother tells her. She is to find a suitable husband on the marriage mart in London. But Bianca doesn't want to get married. And if she has to consider a suitor, it will need to be someone from their cozy little village and not from the big city.
But higher on her priority list is the St. Stevens Day Party, which has always been hosted by her father. And now her brother refuses to host the party. So, she needs to come up with a plan to save the biggest event for the village.
When Bianca runs into her old friend and neighbour Ash, she hopes he can help her find a solution. But when it appears not all the neighbours are happy to see Ash returned as the Earl of Buckleigh, Bianca realizes she needs to take a stand: is she going to confide in her old friend Ash, even though he broke her heart years ago? Or will she side with the bullies?
Cute, funny and heartwarming. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

The Red Hot Earl is a funny, charming, and irresistible story! Darcy Burke writes well. I could not stop laughing or cheering on the protagonists. The story kept me on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what will happen next. I loved how each of the protagonists had something to work through. Lady Bee had her fear of being dictated like her brother does to her. She did not want to be married if a man was going to treat her the same. However, with her long time childhood friend, Ash, things were much different. Ash is kind, brave, and intelligent. He treated Lady Bee with respect and as an equal. Over time, Lady Bee noticed that life with Ash as a husband wouldn't be bad. Their blossoming romance was fun to follow. The learning disabilities and themes of bullying and forgiveness were woven into this beautiful tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Darcy Burke's The Red Hot Earl was both sexy and heartfelt.

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, needs help to save the annual holiday party. Ash has a plan to rescue the event, but when the bullies from his youth are up to their old tricks, he must risk everything to put the past behind him and find true love. Furious when her brother refuses to host the St. Stephen’s Day party, Lady Bianca Stafford is committed to giving the villagers their celebration. In Ash, she sees salvation for their local tradition, and perhaps a future she never expected. But her brother has other plans for her—a Season and marriage, and not to Ash. When disaster strikes, everything she cares about is threatened and it will take a miracle—or a hero—to save the day.
This was a cute holiday story by an author whose books have never disappointed. It was a quick read that I really enjoyed. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This was a sweet novella inspired by the song Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I liked Ash and Bianca. The romance was nicely portrayed. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

In this first book in a promising new 3-book series we encounter a strong, assertive heroine and a hero with an unusual condition. Bianca knows what she wants and she sets out to get it. She will see to it that the traditional St. Stephen’s Day fete will be held, despite her brother’s refusal to host it. And she will encourage a relationship with the newly elevated Earl of Buckleigh, her childhood friend, Ash. As is typical for Ms. Burke, her leading characters are well developed, the writing is engaging, and the development of the romance, despite Ash’s reluctance, was realistic. The only reason this was not a 5-star book for me is that the remorse of the bullies seemed too facile and sudden, despite the incident that prompted it. Minor characters here will apparently become the stars of the next two books. I can’t wait to read them.

Content warnings: ableism (both from secondary characters, and self-directed by the hero; it is condemned on page and all parties learn not to do it)

The first book in the series focuses on Bianca, the youngest Stafford sister, and Ash, the Earl of Buckleigh. It's loosely based on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, as Ash has always been an outcast, bullied by his peers, but the influence is not so strong as to be distracting from the story itself. I loved the interactions between Ash and Bianca - they were childhood friends, but haven't seen each other in a while, and they quickly fall into their old easy friendship. It's lovely and relaxing to read about two people who so thoroughly suit each other, with none of the drama in the story coming about from conflict between them personally. My favourite type of story is one where the relationship is comfortable and the obstacles are external. 

It was really interesting to read about a hero with Tourette's syndrome (though it isn't named as such in the book, as it wasn't called that until much later), and I thought that it was handled sensitively for the most part (though I haven't seen any own voices reviews). Ash has physical and verbal tics, and has been horribly bullied by the local gentlemen of his set, which has given him very low self-esteem. It takes seeing that Bianca doesn't care to help him realise that he is still worth something, and his journey is lovely to read about (though I think he was overly quick to forgive his bullies!). Bianca herself is a delight - feisty, intelligent and funny, which always makes for a good read.

We also meet Bianca's lovely, quieter sister, Poppy, and her horrible, cold brother, Calder, who will be the focus of the other two books, and get one side of the plot that links all three books, Calder's refusal to host the traditional Boxing Day party.

The Red Hot Earl is the first book in the Love is All Around series by Darcy Burke. The story is mostly stand-alone, but there some things we read about that are going to be explained in the next two books. They are not anything huge, but the author thought she should tell us that we are going to get answers in the upcoming books, so I thought that it should also be mentioned here. The novella can be read as stand-alone and you don't have to worry about having to read the other books.

Due to the length of the book everything is bound to happen faster than it does in a full-length novel, but that doesn't lessen the enjoyment I got from this book. I was expecting a faster pace. What I would have liked to see is an explanation of what makes Ash have the problems that gave an excuse to the other men to bully him. An explanation would have been nice.

Usually, I am not a fan of heroines who act like they are born in the 21rst century while reading an HR, but for some reason, Bianca's character worked perfectly IMO. She is very opinionated, but she defended Ash with all her might and she proved that she is a good heroine and I was justified to like her.

I enjoyed the book a lot and I am looking forward to reading the other two books in the series. The author did a very good job of setting up her world and I would recommend the book.

This was a cute holiday romance! Darcy Burke doesn’t disappoint. It is a quick read but joyful to the spirit. Thanks to netgalley for the arc.

Not a fan of holiday romances as they are usually cornier than most. I confuse DB with Erica Ridley all the time since they do a series together. I much prefer ER. She's a little edgier and not as sugary. One minute the ton only wants you around if you have a title and money, next they are ostracizing you for something in your childhood. Kind of annoyed by the storyline. Also, the brother's anger about holding the celebration seemed a bit over the top.

What a great introduction to the Love is All Around trilogy.
I immediately fell in love with spunky Bianca. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind to not only her ice cold brother but to other irritating men as well.
Ash, poor Ash. I felt for him so much. I couldn't imagine what it would have been like to have his affliction in those times. The bullying he received while at school was saddening. The fact that even after a number of years, those 'boys' still treated him so poorly was heart breaking.
I loved the interaction between Bianca and Ash. The connection they had as children still rang true years later.
I ended this book with a big smile on my face.
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

The thing I like about Darcy burke is that in each book she explores an aspect of society apart from the whole historical romance and women’s lib in the 1800s.
This book looks at the problem of people having Tourette’s when it wasn’t realised to be a medical syndrome.
Tourettes is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. The disorder is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, the pioneering French neurologist who in 1885 first described the condition.
Before this time it was thought to be a ‘problem that could be cured by [harsh] treatment and was voluntary on the part of the sufferer. Of course, the more people tied to ‘cure’ it, the worse the syndrome became as stress aggravates, as with stuttering and so on.
So we found here n the Earl in question.
The problem he also had was, although he didn’t know it, but suspected, he had a 50% chance of passing the syndrome on to his children.
So add that to a nice Regency romance and you get a book worth reading.

This is Bianca and Ash, the Earl of Buckleigh’s story, Book 1 in Love is All Around Series; a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with some heat.
I’m not usually a fan of shorter stories, however, this story packs in a lot and is well worth reading, it is thoroughly worthwhile.
The characters are developed quickly in this story about a hero who was bullied by his peers and over the years learned how to live with his affliction (Tourette syndrome). The hero and heroine find romance even with the obstacles thrown in their path. Ash has a very forgiving heart to those who in the past had tormented him.
I received a copy of this story through NetGalley for my honest opinion.