GOOD EARL GONE BAD is Book 2 in the Lords of Anarchy series by Manda Collins. Although GOOD EARL GONE BAD could be read as a standalone story, I recommend reading the previous book first. Reading this series in order gives context and a better understanding of the Lords of Anarchy driving club. After reading the previous book in the series, A GOOD RAKE IS HARD TO FIND, I was dying to read the next installment to see what was in store for Lady Hermione and the Earl of Mainwaring because the sparks were flying between them. I'm so happy to find that GOOD EARL GONE BAD surpasses my expectations and that Manda Collins has created an exquisite mix of mystery and romance.

I love romances in which the hero and heroine are thrown together. In this case, Hermione and Mainwaring just needed the little nudge that her father's gambling loss gave them. Their attraction and awareness of each other had been going on for some time -- in spite of their best efforts to ignore it. These two are so perfectly matched and the chemistry is delicious. I like that GOOD EARL GONE BAD is told from both perspectives. The fact that both Mainwaring and Hermione have complicated relationships with a parent is another thing that bonds them. I love how Mainwaring respects Hermione and her independent ways and her skills as a driver, even though he chooses not to drive himself. Even though Hermione is a strong woman, Mainwaring becomes somebody to rely on and help shoulder her burdens and worries -- especially when it comes to her father. This feeling of companionship and understanding makes the passion between them more intense.

GOOD EARL GONE BAD delights with a hero and heroine that generate a lot of heat and work well as a team. With a pair of horses who prove more desirable and equally as problematic as the Maltese falcon, GOOD EARL GONE BAD works as an engaging mystery as well as an enchanting love story. Street thugs, devious masterminds, gaming hells, shadowy characters, and a damsel in distress all capture the imagination and make for a fascinating story. This is a series that only seems to get better with each book. I eagerly await the next installment in this Lords of Anarchy series.