Mad About the Earl is part of the Ministry of Marriage series by Christina Brooke. Other books in the series include Heiress in Love (available now) and A Duchess to Remember (not yet released).

The breathtakingly beautiful Lady Rosamund Westruther had high hopes for a lovely, peaceful life when she became betrothed to the Earl of Tregarth. However, her hopes were met with brutal reality when her intended turned out to be a burly, churlish brute. While she was taken aback by his raw manners, she was immediately mesmerized by his passionate nature. Now, three years later, she has decided to make him pay for his neglect by striking a bargain with him to court her by attending social events with her. What he demands in return, though, is shockingly forbidden, unbelievably provocative and incredibly arousing.

Griffin deVere, Earl of Tregarth, shuns society after the death of his grandfather, not that he ever really enjoyed the routs and gatherings of the elite. His bad experience with the entertainments of the ton has left him emotionally scarred, his abusive childhood has left him physically scarred, and he hides his pain behind a façade of grumpy irritability. Now, he must face his demons and claim his bride if he wants to protect his younger sister from being forced to marry an old geezer, but Rosamund wants to be courted. He agrees to her conditions in return for a few conditions of his own...and the games begin.

Griffin and Rosamund are simply delightful together. They are from such polar opposite places in their view of life and society, and that makes for a very entertaining story premise. The story put me in mind of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, and the author did a great job of conveying healing and passion. Secondary characters were appropriate and engaging, but I most appreciated the soft, caring heart with which the author endowed Rosamund. Perfect physical packages don't often contain such a lovely temperament and sympathetic concern for others, but Rosamund showed a depth of character that made her even more beautiful on the inside than she was on the outside. Griffin was incredibly appealing as the emotionally wounded and scarred hero, and watching him fall for his lovely bride was a beautiful thing. Five Angels!

Reviewed by: Michelle B.