Jackie Killelea’s newly released novel, Arranged with the Earl, follows a unique landscape of intricate social dynamics and forbidden desires along the path of a familiar trope. The unique flair of this Regency-style novel, centered around a marriage of convenience, elevates it above the typical, with richly detailed settings and compelling characters. In their own distinct ways, both characters battle deep-seated insecurities with quiet self-criticism, and behavior that masks inner turmoil.
A taut, freshly woven thread of faith runs through the story, maintaining a consistently well-paced tension. For the well-developed characters, a dissonance between faith in a divine plan and societal condemnation stirs up a profound internal struggle; the cacophony of judgment clashing with their inner convictions.
When enemies, driven by greed and ambition, move into the widening gap of their mistrust, the plot thickens with dangerous intrigue, a symphony of whispers and hidden agendas in the most unexpected relationships. Through evocative imagery and a polished writing style, Killelea successfully recreates the past, allowing readers to experience the story’s time period firsthand. The adorably crafted romance unfolds with a sweet tension and release, its ebb and flow creating a captivating rhythm—a delicate dance of hearts throughout the narrative. As the plot thickens, a suspenseful fragrance, like a freshly blooming flower, emanates from the root of the central conflict, culminating in the book’s final pages. This book is an enjoyable, easy read for those who love the Regency romance genre.
I received a complimentary copy from the author but was not required to leave a review. All opinions expressed are my own. Click on the book cover for purchase link.
Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.
About the Book
Book: Arranged with the Earl
Author: Jackie Killelea
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: May 13, 2025
A spinster with a tarnished reputation. An earl scarred from war. Can their convenient marriage withstand those aiming to steal everything they have?
Catherine Blynn resigned herself to a life without romantic love after a disastrous broken engagement. Although she’s always hoped to marry for affection, her father arranges for her to wed Loftus Cromwell, the broken Earl of Hardwicke. If she defies her parents, she risks her family’s ruin.
Loftus Cromwell had no intention to marry for love, only for the sake of his estate. But If he fails to win the love of his spirited and unconventional betrothed, he risks his conniving brother claiming everything he holds dear.
As treachery unfolds within the manor’s walls and a foe from Catherine’s past resurfaces, can Loftus and Catherine trust one another enough to unravel the truth before tragedy steals any chance of happiness?
To celebrate her tour, Jackie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the card to enter.
Final Thoughts from Jackie
In Arranged with the Earl, Loftus’ study of plants and flora is his foremost pastime, aside from his duties managing his estate and those that come along with being an earl. In his conservatory, there are a variety of different species of plants that he cares for but, would he actually have had these plants in his conservatory and would they have been able to feasibly grow there if he did?
Well, according to my research and a bit of wishful thinking…yes.
The thing is, Loftus has a few native plants in his conservatory and those certainly would have been able to grow there, given that they’ve pretty much just been brought inside from other counties in England. Loftus knows his home country and the landscape as well as how to care for those plants, already. The trickier plants to think upon are the exotics.
For instance, when showing Catherine the conservatory for the first time, he mentions Black Hellebore(Helleborus niger). How would he have come to own this? This plant is native to the mountains and woodlands of southern and central Europe, so we must assume that Loftus would’ve had it imported, or grown from seed. Still, would a woodland plant grow well enough to produce flowers in a conservatory setting?
Well, fortunately for Loftus, Black Hellebore actually grows fairly well in containers and does well in partial shade, so where he placed it in the conservatory was a prime location and it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to think that it produces blooms there.
With each plant I chose to be in the conservatory, I had to research if Loftus would reasonably have access to it and if it would grow under conservatory conditions–as well as during the season in which the book takes place. Of course you, as readers, will still need to use your imagination at some points. I’m sure Loftus would agree that ideas, like plants, need lots of water and space to grow.
I do so hope you enjoy Catherine and Loftus’ story in Arranged with the Earl!
Sincerely,
Jackie
Devoted Steps 