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Counting on a Countess
(The London Underground #2)
by
For a shameless libertine and a wily smuggler in the London Underground, marriage is more than convenience—it's strategy...
Christopher "Kit" Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers...until a wealthy mentor leaves him a sizeable fortune. The on ...more
Christopher "Kit" Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers...until a wealthy mentor leaves him a sizeable fortune. The on ...more
ebook, 384 pages
Published
March 27th 2018
by Avon
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Start your review of Counting on a Countess (The London Underground, #2)

I've given this a C+ at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars
I’ve been looking forward to Counting on a Countess, the second book in Eva Leigh’s London Underground series, which features a set of clever, independent heroines in unusual circumstances who have to make their livings in a somewhat unorthodox manner. I’m a fan of Ms. Leigh’s; she’s a great storyteller and she creates memorable, strong heroes and heroines – and the promise of the story of a marriage-of-convenience between an earl and a smuggl ...more
I’ve been looking forward to Counting on a Countess, the second book in Eva Leigh’s London Underground series, which features a set of clever, independent heroines in unusual circumstances who have to make their livings in a somewhat unorthodox manner. I’m a fan of Ms. Leigh’s; she’s a great storyteller and she creates memorable, strong heroes and heroines – and the promise of the story of a marriage-of-convenience between an earl and a smuggl ...more

3.5 stars. Counting on a Countess by Eva Leigh was a fun read with interesting characters and some twists in the plot that made it a light and easy read.
Both Kit and Tamsyn need a wife/husband and its not long before they meet up and the plotting and planning to tie the knot is done, making a perfect marriage of convenience. Kit is an ex soldier - a bit of a profligate and a pleasure seeker. He fought for his country and is rather black and white about anyone that might break the law of his belo ...more
Both Kit and Tamsyn need a wife/husband and its not long before they meet up and the plotting and planning to tie the knot is done, making a perfect marriage of convenience. Kit is an ex soldier - a bit of a profligate and a pleasure seeker. He fought for his country and is rather black and white about anyone that might break the law of his belo ...more

This my first book that I have read by Eva Leigh and thoroughly enjoyed it. What I liked about the author Eva Leigh is that she writes about smart women and sexy men. What I also realised while reading Counting on a Countless is that the Earl of Blakemere, Christopher Kit Ellingsworth who rarely entertained sober, is like some people in real life who have drinking problems. A solicitor visits Kit about a friend of his who has passed away. Kit has been left in his friends will ten thousand pounds
...more


Counting on a Countess is the second book in Eva Leigh's London Underground series, which features noble heroes who become entangled with less-than-lawful women of the commoner class.
Our hero in this second installment is Christopher "Kit" Ellingsworth, who has returned home a war hero and been awarded an earldom for his service in the fight against Napoleon. Kit has the reputation of being a spendthrift and womanizer, and his new title hasn't added a penny to his coffers. But Kit's laissez fair ...more

Miss Tamsin Pearce has been helping the locals in her Cornish village make enough money to live on by smuggling. Now, however, her Uncle is planning to sell the only home she’s known and their smuggling days are numbered. She travels to London for her season as a debutante but is really looking for a way to sell the brandy they have stored and hoping to find a suitable husband who will support her endeavours to help the villagers or be too unaware to notice her doing so.
The Earl of Blakemere, C ...more
The Earl of Blakemere, C ...more

I cannot recommend this series (and this book) enough. It's a romance but it's so much more. This is my particular favorite in this particular series as I really connected with the hero and the heroine. Again, this series is amazing. Don't miss it!
...more

Kit: 3rd son without many expectations, distinguished himself in war and returned to find a newly-minted title of Earl. But that hardly sorts out his problems: the memories of war haunt him, his pursuits of pleasures to keep those memories at bay are expensive, and a bequest that could solve his money woes, allow him to fulfill a dream he relied on in war to keep him going forward. With a constant round of the ‘pleasures’ available, aftermath of war-time memories and losses, and a general ‘malai ...more

After fighting at Waterloo, and returning home a hero, Kit Ellingsworth never expected anything but to return to life as a third son. However, his commanding officer, Lord Somerby, petitioned for him to be made Earl of Blakemoor, and following Somerby's death he's in line for a rather substantial inheritance. The only problem? He has to marry within the month to be able to claim the inheritance. Miss Tamsyn Pearce is new to London society, more used to her small Cornish town, but when her uncle
...more

The first book in the series was a solid romance with moments of brilliance. This second book, however, did not live up to that. For me, at least. I found the romance and the character arcs (the hero's especially) unconvincing. Eva Leigh's writing makes this a readable historical romance, but I can't give it more than that.
...more

Trigger warnings: PTSD, probably a ton of other stuff that I've forgotten...
So here's the thing: I read this nearly a month ago. And within a week, I'd basically forgotten everything about it. What I do remember is that it was cute but also utterly predictable. I think the most memorable part of it was the way things ended, and I really enjoyed all of that. I did like that it was a story where they got married and THEN fell in love, so there's that.
But yeah. At the time I enjoyed it enough to g ...more
So here's the thing: I read this nearly a month ago. And within a week, I'd basically forgotten everything about it. What I do remember is that it was cute but also utterly predictable. I think the most memorable part of it was the way things ended, and I really enjoyed all of that. I did like that it was a story where they got married and THEN fell in love, so there's that.
But yeah. At the time I enjoyed it enough to g ...more

The main plotline is supposed to be on the marriage of convenience between Tamsyn, a lady smuggler from Cornwall, and her rakehell but law-abiding war veteran husband Kit. Probably an equal amount of time and effort is dedicated to their relationship as it relates to his status as a very experienced rake and hers as a virgin. As a reader of Regency romances, most books of this genre I read involve a virgin leading lady and so I never both with the "virgin heroine" tag in my reviews. Her virgin s
...more

Jan 30, 2019
Frankie (Chicks, Rogues and Scandals)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
After reading ‘From Duke Till Dawn’ I was looking forward to reading this book, anyone who knows me will know how much I love a scarred soldier. So the minute I was introduced to Kit in the previous book, I knew that I needed read this one and I am so pleased that I got the chance as this is fabulous! Even though this is only the second book I have read by Ms Leigh I can instantly see that this lady has a skill with creating sensual, engaging and ultimately absorbing stories which will stay with
...more

Counting on a Countess by Eva Leigh is book Two in The London Underground series. This is the story of Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth The Earl of Blakemere and Tamsyn Pearce. I have read the previous book but feel this is easily a standalone book.
Tamsyn is in the smuggling business to help her Village and to try to buy the house that her Uncle is wanting to sell. The house is the best location for her smuggling business and doesn't want to loose it.
But she hasn't been able to sell her goods to ...more
Tamsyn is in the smuggling business to help her Village and to try to buy the house that her Uncle is wanting to sell. The house is the best location for her smuggling business and doesn't want to loose it.
But she hasn't been able to sell her goods to ...more

Tamsyn needs a husband so that she can by her mouldy rotten estate and keep on smuggling. I get it, she wants to help the villagers. But if she gets caught then they will suffer, it would sure be better if they came up with a plan that made them all work and not just her smuggling and giving them money.
Kit needs a wife to inherit money, but he is picky, and hey, I mean he has got a whole month! But I get it, who wouldn't be picky. This is forever.
London underground, ehhh, not really, more Cornwa ...more
Kit needs a wife to inherit money, but he is picky, and hey, I mean he has got a whole month! But I get it, who wouldn't be picky. This is forever.
London underground, ehhh, not really, more Cornwa ...more

My thanks to Net Galley and MILLS AND BOON for the opportunity to read COUNTING ON A COUNTESS.
I loved this sumptuous REGENCY tale of a marriage of convenience, intrigue...and hot sexy scenes. A real bodice ripper....made all the more sensuous because the main characters insist on keeping us waiting....
I loved this sumptuous REGENCY tale of a marriage of convenience, intrigue...and hot sexy scenes. A real bodice ripper....made all the more sensuous because the main characters insist on keeping us waiting....

Counting On A Countess is book two of The London Underground series of historic romances.
The story opens with an introduction to Kit, an ex-soldier from the Napoleonic war and a recently appointed Earl. Haunted by traumas of war, Kit spends his days wenching, carousing and gambling. But suddenly he’s informed that he can be the beneficiary of a large sum of money. All he must do to receive it is find a wife within thirty days. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-c8F ...more
The story opens with an introduction to Kit, an ex-soldier from the Napoleonic war and a recently appointed Earl. Haunted by traumas of war, Kit spends his days wenching, carousing and gambling. But suddenly he’s informed that he can be the beneficiary of a large sum of money. All he must do to receive it is find a wife within thirty days. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-c8F ...more

It's a shame that the second book in the series is worse than the first. First of all, I am still waiting for and Amira to end up together. It would be a great shame if they don't end up together since we have been teased about them since the first book. I was not happy with the book from the time I read the first couple of pages. The first time we meet Kip he is in bed with two women. Am I reading a modern romance? Nope. I am reading a historical novel and a threesome was one of the first thing
...more

Jan 28, 2019
Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favourites-2019
I am absolutely LOVING this series! Although, I feel duty bound to point out that each book can be read as a standalone *coughs* but trust me, you won’t be able to stop at just the one *winks*
Right, so where were we? *taps chin* Ah yes, I am absolutely LOVING this series - crap! - I’ve already said that, haven’t I? Sorry! Let’s continue...
One of things I love most about this series is the juxtaposition of the characters. These are no meek and mild females *shakes head* Ooh no! These ladies won’t ...more
Right, so where were we? *taps chin* Ah yes, I am absolutely LOVING this series - crap! - I’ve already said that, haven’t I? Sorry! Let’s continue...
One of things I love most about this series is the juxtaposition of the characters. These are no meek and mild females *shakes head* Ooh no! These ladies won’t ...more

Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 3/29/18.
In many ways, the second London Underground book is a cautionary tale of the dangers of marrying someone you barely know. Kit and Tamsyn both go into their relationship wanting the same thing--money--but each has their own need for it and their own secrets to hide. Even as they're growing to care for each other, each constantly goes back to the earlier conversations they'd had (Kit telling her he wouldn't be capable of fidelity, for example, and sa ...more
In many ways, the second London Underground book is a cautionary tale of the dangers of marrying someone you barely know. Kit and Tamsyn both go into their relationship wanting the same thing--money--but each has their own need for it and their own secrets to hide. Even as they're growing to care for each other, each constantly goes back to the earlier conversations they'd had (Kit telling her he wouldn't be capable of fidelity, for example, and sa ...more

3.5 Stars
Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers until a wealthy mentor Lord Somerby leaves him a sizeable fortune. The only stipulation being that he must marry within one month to inherit the money. Kit needs a bride and the bold, mysterious Miss Tamsyn Pearce seems perfect. Husband hunting isn’t Tamsyn’s top priority she’s in London to sell her ...more
Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers until a wealthy mentor Lord Somerby leaves him a sizeable fortune. The only stipulation being that he must marry within one month to inherit the money. Kit needs a bride and the bold, mysterious Miss Tamsyn Pearce seems perfect. Husband hunting isn’t Tamsyn’s top priority she’s in London to sell her ...more

I received an e ARC of this book. Thank you to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for allowing me to read Counting on a Countess. All opinions and thoughts are my own and do not represent the publisher or author.
I love the cover art for Counting on a Countess. I love romances with beautiful covers and had I seen this in a book store I certainly would have picked it up for myself. The cover is what initially drew my eye and the synopsis sounded great. Overall Counting on a Countess was a nice light re ...more
I love the cover art for Counting on a Countess. I love romances with beautiful covers and had I seen this in a book store I certainly would have picked it up for myself. The cover is what initially drew my eye and the synopsis sounded great. Overall Counting on a Countess was a nice light re ...more

A very unorthodox female with a bit of a dilemma on her hands. Becoming a countess was not on her list of things to do when in town. A down and almost out male finds that he can get more of what he wants by just marrying. He never expect to find that woman and then find that she controls the whole thing. Falling in love with each other was in neither of their plans but that's how things go. I enjoy these types of romance, especially from the historical prospective but give me a little something
...more

I must admit that at first I wasn’t keen on either Kit or Tamsyn. They both looked upon the marriage as using it for their own benefit. However as the story progress and their feelings for each other developed into something more meaningful, I began to like them better. At times the pace was a little slow and there was an odd visit to the Orchid Palace. Overall, though, I did enjoy reading this story and found it an entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoug
...more

Not for me sadly. There was just too much going on here for me to be able to feel like I got to know the hero and heroine and what made them tick. There were so many plot points to hit that there wasn’t any time to do character development what with smugglers and fortunes and sex clubs and evil relatives and business proposals and so much more. Never mind.
********copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review *******
********copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review *******

May 18, 2019
Ashley Tidwell
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kindle-books
This was a fun read through smuggling and law breaking with love in the mix! Tamsyn just wants to save the day and she’s not sure how it’ll come about, and Kit just needs some money. They find that in each other and also romance, surprises, lots of the good stuff. I loved Kit, he’s roguish but broken and he’s provably one of my favorite hero’s in historicals that I’ve ever read. It’s just a good book, I don’t really want the series to end.

I suppose your enjoyment will hinge on whether you believe hero could reform quickly, be ready to equally quickly give up a long-standing dream in order to realize the heroine’s dreams, and also quickly get over qualms supposedly held dear about breaking the law. It all felt half baked to me. Writing is good, however.

I enjoyed this but struggled a lot to get past the heroines own hypocrisy. I rather liked the hero, he felt real and well thought out, I wish I had the same feelings for the heroine. The final 2 chapters of the book were the best part all told. I’m curious to see where the next book leads, so onward into book 3.

Fun read with a main character that had me rooting for her until the end. Tamsyn Pierce is a determined, spirited woman that won't let a man ruin the plans she has for herself and her town.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC! ...more
Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC! ...more
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Eva Leigh is a USA Today bestselling author who writes novels chock-full of determined women and men who are here for it. She enjoys baking, spending too much time on the Internet, and listening to music from the ’80s. Eva and her husband live in Central California.
Eva also writes in multiple romance genres as RITA-award nominated Zoë Archer. As Alexis Stanton, she wrote the novel on which the top ...more
Eva also writes in multiple romance genres as RITA-award nominated Zoë Archer. As Alexis Stanton, she wrote the novel on which the top ...more
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The London Underground
(3 books)
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