Month: June 2021

The Wrong Marquess by Vivienne Lorret

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

The Wrong Marquess (The Mating Habits of Scoundrels, #3)The Wrong Marquess by Vivienne Lorret
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #3
Publication Date: 6/29/21
Period: Regency London – 1810
Number of Pages: 384
** 4-Stars **

The book starts off with the saddest event any child, especially a young child, can possibly witness. This beginning is beautifully written and deals with Elodie’s emotions wonderfully. It also shows, very plainly, the genesis of all of her fears and phobias that are a central part of this story. To be honest, I had reservations about this trope because it usually turns out that one party clings to their ‘love’ for another for way, way, way too long. It didn’t work exactly that way in this one, but there was an event that made me just want to reach into the book and spank her. The book is well written and the characters are lovely.

Elodie Parrish has more fears and phobias than you can shake a stick at, but at least she doesn’t have to worry about marriage. She has had an understanding with George, Marquess of Nethersole since she was a very young girl – but now, she is twenty-five years old and is practically a spinster. George is busy sowing his oats and just isn’t ready for marriage yet. Elodie isn’t jealous and it doesn’t bother her for him to be sowing his oats, but it is just time. Elodie is totally oblivious to the way George takes her for granted, makes jokes of her, teases her unkindly – others notice, but Elodie doesn’t. He’s just being the George she’s known since she was a small girl.

Brandon Stredwick, Marquess of Hullworth, is unhappily in London for the season. He’s there to escort his much-beloved sister, Meg to all of the events. Brandon is rich, handsome, unwed – and pursued ceaselessly by the debutantes and their mothers. Brandon has no intention of marrying any of them and has not one ounce of patience for their ploys such as accidentally bumping into him, dropping their handkerchiefs, befriending his sister solely to get near him, or feigning injury. When he’s at a garden party and one of those women barrels into him, he’s deplorably rude to her and just walks off – only to find that she’s befriended his sister. He tries to warn Meg, but she’ll hear nothing against her new friend.

Elodie and Brandon certainly have an inauspicious beginning to their acquaintance and only tolerate each other because of Meg – until – Meg isn’t the only reason they tolerate each other. Elodie is focused on George and Brandon mistrusts all women, so their journey to an HEA is a hard one.

I loved both Elodie and Brandon and I loved how each of them grew – especially Elodie. She had so many fears to conquer and I loved that she finally embraced overcoming them. I also loved how Brandon came to trust Elodie and to learn that not all women were ‘out to get him’. I did NOT love George, but then I wasn’t supposed to. However, I also didn’t love Prue, and I think she might be the female lead in the next book. To me, what she did was unconscionable and I think Elodie was much too easy to forgive. So, it will be interesting to see how the author manages to make Prue acceptable to me in her book. Elodie’s aunts, Maeve and Myrtle are delightful and I think you’ll enjoy them as well. They could have offered Elodie a bit more guidance though rather than just letting her flounder after George for years.

I definitely enjoyed this book and hope you will as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Scot to the Heart by Caroline Linden

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Scot to the Heart (Desperately Seeking Duke, #2)A Scot to the Heart by Caroline Linden

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Desperately Seeking Duke, #2

Release Date: June 29, 2021

After years of serving in the army to support his family, Andrew “Drew” St. James’ life takes an unexpected turn when he learns that he is the heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of Carlyle. The Duke is an invalid and has been for years, but when his younger brother dies, his mother, the duchess, has her solicitor, Mr. Edwards to find the duke’s heirs. The duchess wants Andrew to move to England and learn about the dukedom, but gives him six months to get his affairs in order and asks that since he plans to go to Scotland to see his family, Mr. Edwards asks that he inspect Stormont Palace, one of the duke’s estates in Scotland that they might want to sell. Drew agrees to everything and even suggests that when he returns, he would like the duchess to help him find a wife, someone who would be the perfect duchess.

He returns home and spends his first night with his friends, they go out for dinner and that is when he meets and dances with an amazing woman. They share a moment and she kisses him before leaving him stunned and smitten. The next day Drew learns that his mystery woman is his sister’s dear, widowed friend. He knows Ilsa Ramsay is not duchess material, but he cannot stop thinking about her. He spends time with her and begins to wonder if he will be able to walk away. In an effort to decide, he invites her to join his family when they visit Stormont Palace.

Ilsa thought she was done with marriage, after marrying the man her father chose and enduring a cold marriage and then a horrific scandal when her husband was killed in a duel, she thinks she will be happier as a widow. But meeting Drew makes her wonder if maybe marriage with the right man could bring the joy she has been trying to find. The time they spend at Stormont Palace confirms their feelings and when they return he makes it clear that he wants to court her. But their return to Edinburgh is plagued with one problem after another, problems Ilsa is sure will destroy any chance for HEA.

This was a well-written, interesting, nicely paced read. I loved Drew, he was such a great hero, and even though he was not perfect, he gave his all for those he loved. The book held my attention from the first page to the last, it was filled with wonderful characters, a little bit of mystery, some warm love scenes, a couple of surprising twists, including a whammy at the end that may change everything for our lovers as they start their HEA. There was also the hint of a secondary romance featuring Drew’s sister Agnes and his friend Felix that will be followed up in the novella: How the Scot was Won which is releasing a week after this book!! I enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it, and while it is the second book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.