To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman ~ a Review

by MK French

London, 1816

"That blasted Nightjar has done it again!"

Alexander Harland, Earl of Melton, glances up from his morning paper. Sir Nathaniel Conant, Chief Magistrate of Bow Street, dropped a sheaf of papers onto the table beside him and lowered himself into a vacant armchair with an irritated exhalation. "That devil - whoever he is - is a menace to society." (p. 9)

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June 2020; St. Martin's; 978-1250306111
ebook, print (336 pages); Regency romance

Alex Harland was granted the title of Earl of Morland by the Prince in exchange for services to the crown. He's asked to do so again when the infamous thief Nightjar is again stealing jewels. The thief is actually Emmy Danvers, an heiress that is the daughter of the original Nightjar, who had pledged to steal back all of the French Crown Jewels and return them to the Burgundy throne. The two are drawn to each other, and the dangers that threaten Emmy only push them even closer together.

To Catch an Earl is the second Bow Street Bachelors novel, following This Earl of Mine. There's a name check to Ben and their boss from the first novel, but this one is independent and you don't have to have read it. Alex is on his own for this case, though his boss has information gleaned from the spy network that points to the Danvers family right away. This novel is more of a cat and mouse game: Emmy realizes Alex is after her but is coerced into stealing the other jewels, and Alex realizes quickly that not only is Emmy the thief he's after, but the elusive young woman he danced with at a masquerade he could never forget.

I enjoyed the push and pull of the relationship as it built up over the course of the book. There are higher stakes as it progresses, which means Emmy has to put herself outside of her comfort zone to save her family. That also makes her realize what's important to her. The same occurs for Alex, and the conclusion of the novel was a fun one to read. There was not only the chase to get the man threatening Emmy and her family, but the emotions that were viscerally described for both of them. They had a history, making it hard for them to trust others, but they were able to trust each other and work as a great team.

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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