REVIEW: Kiss the Earl by Gina Lamm

In Kiss the Earl (Geek Girls #3) by Gina Lamm, Ella Briley has great friends, a fantastic new job as a comic book artist, and…not much else in her life. Painfully shy and awkward around men, she’s never had much luck with dating. So when her friends set her up on a blind date and instead she finds herself entering a portal through time, Ella is shocked. Being thrown onto the fleeing horse of a handsome earl was pure luck, as Patrick Meadowfair takes her under his care and protection. And even though Ella wants to get back to her world, she also wants to stay with Patrick in the 1820s, instead of losing his love forever.

‘She was just tired of him being so fricking proper all the time. He’d shown some flashes of temper, and it was those times that she really thought she was seeing the true Patrick. But when he hid behind all that flowery language and pomp and circumstance, she kind of wanted to belt him.’

Patrick, earl of Fairhaven, cannot believe his blunder when he realizes it is not his best friend Amelia he has taken on their journey, but a beguiling woman who claims she is from almost two hundred years in the future. Now he’s not sure what has happened to Amelia’s scheme to run to her true love with Patrick’s assistance, and he’s tasked with helping Ella find her portal home. Patrick strangely believes the beauty’s story. And, though, his upbringing causes him to follow his promise to get her home, his heart and desires tell him he shouldn’t let go of the woman who was made for him.

“Stay with me, Ella.”
Her gaze flew to his. “What?”
Kneeling on the floor of the carriage, Patrick gripped both her hands in his. “I have not asked you, because I did not think you would agree. But now I find I cannot live with myself unless I do. Stay here with me, and be my countess.”

What happens when you pair a geektastic, awkward young woman from modern times with a perfect gentleman of an earl from the 1800s? Mayhem, bantering, but most of all, true love.

Time travel novels can sometimes be quite confusing, with different cultures clashing and not blending together well. Thankfully, Kiss the Earl was the complete opposite. I thought Gina Lamm did a great job of not only showing the differences between modern day life and that of the 1820s, but also how love can transcend time. Her writing flowed easily from one scene to the next, running the gamut from comical to sensual to heartbreaking and everything in between. I confess I was so totally engrossed in this novel that I was speed-reading by the last quarter of the book, wondering how in the world they would ever get out of their predicament.

I enjoyed that Ella’s character may have changed a bit over time in Patrick’s company, but she didn’t let go of her own personality or her dialect. And Patrick tried to remain true to his upbringing to be a proper gentleman, but gave himself over to taking a few liberties here and there. Their connection was so much fun to watch as it grew with every situation they overcame. Neither one wanted to admit their feelings, knowing that it could not work as Ella would return to her world at some point. So there was almost a desperate feel to their romantic moments, which I thought made the scenes that much more emotionally involved

Oh…and if you’re a Jane Austen fan, especially of Mr. Darcy? Yeah. He and Patrick could be twins. *be still my heart*

With delightful characters who put friendship and love to the test, Kiss the Earl was an adventurous romp through time and space. And this Geek Girl enjoyed every moment of it.

Book Info:

Published April 7th 2015 by Sourcebooks Casablanca | Geek Girls #3

A modern girl’s guide to seducing Mr. Darcy

When Ella Briley asked her lucky-in-love friends to set her up for an office party, she was expecting a blind date. Instead, she’s pulled through a magic mirror and into the past…straight into the arms of her very own Mr. Darcy.

Patrick Meadowfair, earl of Fairhaven, is too noble for his own good. To save a female friend from what is sure to be a loveless marriage, he’s agreed to whisk her off to wed the man she truly wants. But all goes awry when Patrick mistakes Ella for the would-be bride and kidnaps her instead.

Centuries away from everything she knows, Ella’s finally found a man who heats her blood and leaves her breathless. Too bad he’s such a perfect gentleman. Yet the reluctant rake may just find this modern girl far too tempting for even the noblest of men to resist…

Geek Girls series:
The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl (Book 1)
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes (Book 2)
Kiss the Earl (Book 3)

Praise for Gina Lamm:
“Irreverent and sexy romp.”-Publishers Weekly
“Snappy writing and characters who share a surprising, spicy chemistry.”-RT Book Reviews
“Gina Lamm writes excellent [time travel romance] with humor and great storytelling.”-Books Like Breathing