The Naked Earl [Paperback]

Sally MacKenzie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

When a naked earl climbs through the window into her bedchamber, Lady Elizabeth Runyon does the proper thing: She screams. Loudly. And then...well, Lizzie has had enough of being proper. She wishes to be bold. Wanton, even. She won't be commanded to put on her nightgown. Just this once, she will be absolutely daring...Robert Hamilton, Earl of Westbrooke, has no intention of being tricked into marriage by a detestable female, and if he has to flee naked across a rooftop, he will. Jolly good there's an open window waiting - as well as an undressed, slightly drunk, and alluringly beautiful Lady Elizabeth. Oh dear. If they are caught together, he might have to marry her. The idea is delicious...and the temptation is irresistible...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

MacKenzie continues her spicy Naked series (following last year's Naked Marquis) with another ribald Regency, this time centering on a country house party full of the punch-drunk loveless. When voluptuous, overbearing Lady Felicity Brookton wakes Robert Hamilton from a sound sleep, he knows his bachelorhood is in danger. In no time, he's up and out the window—without a stitch of clothes—and ducking into the quarters of Lady Elizabeth Runyon—also, coincidentally enough, entirely in the nude. Robert knows Elizabeth as the little sister of his best friend, and therefore off limits, but he doesn't yet know about Elizabeth's long-simmering infatuation with him. As Robert seeks to avoid temptation, as well as the further advances of Felicity, other romantic entanglements wind through the crowd. Desperate to produce a male heir before her elderly husband dies, the duchess of Hartford seeks the services of handsome young Lord Peter, arousing jealousy in party host Baron Tynweith. Further complications arise when Felicity and one of Elizabeth's rejected suitors join forces; will Robert be able to protect Felicity and redeem himself, despite his guilt, doubt and mortifying erectile dysfunction? Providing plenty of heat and hilarity, MacKenzie has great fun shepherding this boisterous party toward its happy ending; readers will be glad they RSVPed. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Robert Hamilton, the Earl of Westbrooke, has avoided the parson's schemes to trip him up. Now, after finding a very determined Lady Felicity Brookton in his bedchamber, Robbie thinks his luck might have run out. Robbie--sans clothing--manages to escape and finds refuge nearby. Unfortunately, this room is already occupied by Lady Elizabeth Runyon, and he knows that if anyone finds him there, according to society's rules, he'll have to marry her. With Lizzie's help, however, Robbie manages to avoid detection; but now after spending some time with the annoyingly lovely Lizzie, Robbie begins to think that marriage might not be such a bad idea after all. The latest in MacKenzie's delectably sensual "Naked" historical Regencies series has plenty of sexy sizzle and charming wit. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420114107
• ISBN-13: 978-1420114102
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Sally MacKenzie writes the Naked nobility series--funny, hot Regency-set historicals--for Kensington Zebra. Her sixth Naked book, The Naked Viscount, arrived on bookstore shelves June 1, 2010, and the seventh, The Naked King, will be out in June 2011. There are also two novellas, "The Naked Laird" in Lords of Desire and "The Naked Prince" in An Invitation to Sin (February 2011). Sally graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame in the first class of women. She's a Cornell Law School dropout, former federal regulation writer, recovering parent volunteer, and mother of four mostly grown sons. A native of Washington, D. C., she still resides in suburban Maryland with her husband.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable but not for the purists, May 1, 2007

By 

Irene Adler (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Naked Earl (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I liked it so much I'm going to try to get my hands on the rest of the Naked series. Perhaps the biggest asset of this novel is the cast of characters. The two leads, Lizzie and Robbie, are completely charming and likeable, and a welcome departure from your usual hellion/rake combo. I found it refreshing to read about a hero that hasn't bedded half of London, though I guess the level of lovemaking skill the author gives him is unlikely, given his lack of experience. I will freely admit that this is a book for which you need a robust suspension of disbelief, between the anachronistic diction and a couple rickety plot points. However, those failings did not seriously detract from the enjoyability of the story, because the characters are so engrossing. The author didn't just focus on the relationship between Lizzie and Robbie, but also gives us glimpses of several other relationships, the most prominent of which is a budding romance between two of their friends (which is going to be developed in the next book, I think). One of the other reviewers mentioned a gratuitous amount of sex in this book, but, while I agree that there are many random racy scenes, I do not think they detracted from the progress of the story, likely because they are fairly brief and only occasionally the focus of the narrative -- it's not like the book is nothing but a series of clothes-tearing hair-grabbing sheet-crumpling bedroom encounters. Overall, this book is a very light-hearted adventure (I suppose one could say "romp," but that word is so over-used) which never takes itself very seriously. It is definitely not for those who want historically accurate Regency romance: though it is set in Regency England, the author never successfully envelops you in that environment; indeed, it's easier to picture the story taking place in a modern-day American highschool than a 19th century English manor. With such a funny and engaging bunch of characters rampaging about, though, I never minded the lack of authenticity: I was too busy laughing :) While the author might not have as much technical or historical polish as a more experienced writer (such as Stephanie Laurens), she seems to have a real talent for characterization and humor, making this book one of the most enjoyable out of all the books I've read. In short: Buy it and read it!

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy regency romance with a twist, April 3, 2007

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Naked Earl (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

Lady Elizabeth (Lizzie) Runyon has been in love with Earl Robert (Robbie) Hamilton for years--so much so that she's in her fourth season and has declined any number of marriage proposals. When Robbie has to flee naked when his bed is invaded by a naked woman, he jumps in the nearest available window--that of Lizzie. Lizzie is certain that a marriage proposal must be forthcoming--after all, Robbie certainly put her reputation at risk--but when Robbie not only fails to make the proposal but denies any intention of making one, she's forced to confront the possibility that Robbie doesn't see her the way she sees him.

Clearly her plan has to be, find a way to rivet Robbie's attentions--and flirting with other men offers an attractive means of letting Robbie know that Lizzie is not a woman to treat lightly. What Lizzie doesn't realize, though, is that Robbie is hiding a horrible secret--a secret so horrible he's willing to give up his own feelings for Lizzie and spend the rest of his life single.

No proper Regency gentleman, let alone an Earl, can be allowed to remain single and Lady Felicity, the woman who's surprised Robbie in his own bed, intends to trap him into marriage. Unless Lizzie can persuade Robbie to be honest about his feelings, he's likely to be forced into marriage with her, while Lizzie is dragooned into marriage with one of the many men who want her money if not her affection.

Author Sally MacKenzie continues her 'naked' series with an entertaining romp. Set largely in an English house party, a group of aristocrats scheme at seduction, marriage, and love. MacKenzie introduces interesting subplots, including one involving the party's host and one involving Lizzie's chaperone--who is in love with her own butler, but the primary story is that of Lizzie and Robbie. Robbie's problem, the result of a hazing incident, has persuaded him he's of no use to women--and everything Lizzie can do only makes him more certain he's the wrong man for her. MacKenzie manages to treat Robbie's problem with a degree of sympathy, while maintaining a light tone.

Although THE NAKED EARL is a sexy story, MacKenzie brings back the battle of wits that made so many readers love the regency novel. If you're looking for a fun and sexy romp, sit back and prepare to enjoy yourself. THE NAKED EARL is a lot of fun

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Ten Things You NEVER Want In A Romance Novel...., March 29, 2007

By 

J. Myrna RottenRomance (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Naked Earl (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

And they are ALL in this book.

The top ten countdown is as follows:

10) Non-traditional sexual preferences being the distinction of a villain.

9) Having one character "ruined" if she was manhandled by a bad guy, but another isn't, even when she shows up half naked with a stranger.

8) "Love scenes" between a 60 and 65 year old man and woman who spend the whole time talking about the main characters.

7) "Love scenes" involving a secondary 20 something year old woman and either a) her lover whom she hopes will impregnate her so that she can pass said child off as her 80 something year old husband's heir or b) said 20 something year old woman and her 80 something year old husband.


6) Not having the characters "flesh out" their differences at SOME point in the book, if you get what I mean. The be-all, end-all of a novel should not be the culmination of a sexual relationship -- there really should be more to it than that.

5) Having the "innocent" and "inexperienced" woman have to practically force the man to either a) marry her or b) be intimate with her in any meaningful way.

4) Having the main character spend countless pages obsessing over erectile disfunction. What, they didn't have viagra, huh? Oooookay. And this is romantic, how?

3) Anal sex between secondary characters. Look, it's not like I think it's gross or disgusting (really -- I'm an openminded person), but it's not what the general public usually wants or expects.

2) Non consensual touching/psuedo rape. Rape is never, ever erotic. It was bad enough in her other books, but it's getting a bit repetitive, dontcha ya think?

And finally, the #1 thing that you should NEVER, EVER include in your romance novel (drum roll, please)...

1) References to the main character's genitalia in the following manner: "shy little member", "cooked carrots", a "dog's tail tucked between its legs" or a "cowering maiden".

So, dear readers, I leave you educated now, and allow you to make your own choice as to whether you want to read this book. I do, however, think it is extremely important that you be able to make an educated decision.