A very enjoyable regency. Fresh characters, Good dialog. My main caveat is that I had just read a previous book where the same plot device was used -- one of the couple believes that the one they love is actually in love with someone else when their heart's desire actually loves them. Similar device in Lavender Lady. ( )

The Frog Earl is a cute Regency romance in the Georgette Heyer mold. A rather unloved younger son must quit his naval career after his much favored elder brother dies and he becomes the Earl. Simon has no idea how to go about being a earl, since no one ever expected him to do so and almost immediately he runs into trouble. Naturally, when he goes off to a relatives country estate to lick his wounds, pretending to be a poor relation, he meets Mimi, his perfect match. If only she would see that, instead of trying to set him up with her friend the vicar's daughter. Mimi is the half-Indian daughter of a retired officer, and suffice to say her inability to understand the English creates quite a bit of mayhem but Simon is up to the task. Very loosely based on the fairy tale, The Frog Prince, it's a fun bit of period fluff. ( )

The Frog Earl by Carola Dunn is a regency romance that I didn‘t have very expectations of, yet it turn out to be a very fun read. Simon Hurst had a promising career in the navy but gave that up when his older brother died and he became the Earl of Derwent and the heir to his father’s title. Unfortunately Simon is a little rough around the edge, he doesn’t follow the latest fashion or manners. He is slightly stocky in appearance and it isn’t long before he is laughably called the Frog Earl. Feeling humiliated he decides to retire to the country. Of course both his fortune and his title are highly desirable, but Simon wants to find a wife who will love him as he is.

While out riding Simon stumbles upon the beautiful Lakshmi Lassiter, known as Mimi, the daughter of a British Army Colonel and an Indian Princess. She has dropped her gold bracelet into the pond and believing Simon to be a lackey of some sort asks him to fetch it for her. He extracts a promise of three things from her, including a kiss which she readily agrees to, but once her bracelet is safely upon her wrist, she reneges on her promise.

Yes, The Frog Earl is a reworking of the fairytale about The Princess and the Frog. Although this regency romp wasn’t quite up to the standards of Georgette Heyer, it was still a pretty good read being both sweetly romantic and knowing not to take itself too seriously. An entertaining read. ( )

The Frog Earl (A Regency Romance) by Carola Dunn
"Mimi" Laksmi Lassiter is at a pond catching tadpoles, dressed for what she's doing and not like the Princess that she is. Her bracelet falls in the water. Along comes "Simon" Hurst, Earl of Derwent he has left his fancy clothes and title behind in London while he learns Estate management at his Aunt Lady Georgina Thompson's home from her bailiff. He sees a lady in distress, she sees a game keeper. So the misadventure of mistaken identity begins. She wants her bracelet back, He wants dinner,a dance and a kiss. A delightful story. (*****) ( )