ARC Review: The Wrong Marquess by Vivienne Lorret

About the Book:

Title: The Wrong Marquess

Author: Vivienne Lorret

Series: The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #3

Page Length: 384

Publication Date: June 29, 2021

Publisher: Avon

Synopsis: USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret continues the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series with a debutante who believes she is destined to marry the lord next door until a fateful encounter with a rogue makes her wonder… if she might be falling for the wrong marquess!

The wrong place…

Elodie Parrish can feel spinsterhood breathing down her neck. That’s the trouble with waiting for the marquess next door her entire life. But Ellie knows if she gives him one last Season, he’ll finally propose. The only problem is, her path keeps crossing with the arrogant Lord Hullworth, who is convinced she has designs on him.

The wrong time…

Brandon, Marquess of Hullworth, never wanted to be “London’s Most Elusive Bachelor,” or have a horde of hopeful debutantes and their scheming mamas follow him around. His past has left him too jaded to consider marrying any of them. At least, that’s what he thinks… until he meets Ellie. She’s quirky, opinionated, blushes easily, and drives him absolutely wild. The only problem is, she believes she’s in love with someone else.

Ellie never imagined that one sultry summer could change everything. But the more time she spends with Brandon researching her book on the mating habits of scoundrels, the more she wonders if she might be falling for…

The Wrong Marquess

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

Since childhood, Ellie Parrish knew she would marry George, her next-door neighbor and Marquess of Nethersole. Now nearing twenty-five, George’s proposal is nowhere in sight. When she bumps into Brandon, the Marquess of Hullworth, Ellie is unimpressed with “London’s Most Elusive Bachelor.” However, the more Ellie gets to know Brandon, the harder it is to deny her growing feelings. Can Ellie forget her hopes of marrying George and embrace a new potential future with Brandon? Can Brandon convince her that his love is true?

This is a fabulous and swoon-worthy romance with great characters and a wonderful love story. I love Ellie and Brandon and enjoy how Ellie slowly gets to know Brandon, who is very different from what she expected. Not the arrogant and Brandon is strong, caring, and protective, and he cares deeply for others. He is not a man to be trifled with, and he is loving, trustworthy, and loyal. In short, he is a perfect match for the endearing, intelligent, and caring Ellie.

Brandon likes that Ellie isn’t a simpering female trying to get his attention by any means possible, like the other women of the ton. He finds her refreshing and unique, and he loves bantering with her. He also likes to throw her off balance and challenge her. He loves to see her blush, as that proves her feelings are as strong as his. Ellie is one of the few people that Brandon is himself around.

One of the most swoon-worthy parts of the story occurs when Brandon tries to help Ellie with her anxiety and fears. He doesn’t taunt or tease her and instead tries to help her conquer them. He is such a contrast to George, who always seems to put Ellie down especially in regard to her fears. He ignores her worries, which exacerbates her anxiety. Brandon shows much more understanding of Ellie’s needs, and his support of her is wonderful.

I found some of Ellie’s responses to Brandon comical. She has such strong physical reactions to him that she often thinks she is dying. She suffers from a racing heart, stomach flutters, and a variety of other strong and new feelings, and she doesn’t know how to process them. Brandon is so gentle and understanding with her while still showing her the wonder of love, and I adored every-single-second of it! Their romance is filled with swoon-worthy (and sometimes steamy) moments that are fantastic! However, Ellie still holds on to the understanding she has with George that they will eventually marry.

Ellie’s friendship with Brandon’s lovely sister, Meg her fears, his cynicism toward eligible women of the ton, and her definitiveness about waiting for George all prove worthy obstacles for this couple, and they both have to decide if their feelings are worth fighting for. Ellie doesn’t want Meg or Brandon to think she used Meg to get closer to her brother, much like other women in their social circle. At first, that is exactly what Brandon thinks. His jaded nature in regard to women makes him suspicious, but once they all get to know each other better, Brandon and Ellie’s worries dissipate. Brandon just has to convince Ellie that he is the man for her, not George.

George, though charming to some, is immature and insensitive, and he is not a good match for Ellie. He is, however, a great foil to Brandon, and his bad qualities definitely highlight Brandon’s good ones. Other characters, like Ellie’s aunts, Brandon’s sister, and some of Ellie’s friends are endearing and fun characters and add so much to the story. I love Ellie’s quirky aunts, as they add a bit of levity to the story while always showing their unconditional love and support. Brandon’s sister Meg is fun and lively, and she is a great friend to Ellie.

Overall, I thought this was a wonderful read, and I loved the characters and the romance!! Though it is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, I enjoyed this one so much that I have to go back and read the first two books! The romances are referenced in this story, and they sound positively swoon-tastic! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Avon Books, Harper Voyager, and Vivienne Lorret for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

The romance!

The characters.

Favorite Lines:

It was like stepping, barefooted, from burning coals to a frozen lake. With him, she was never certain of where she stood.

For what is life without the reminder of those who have gone from us to teach us how to live each day as if it were our last?

That is what loss has taught me- to never underestimate the importance of these little accidents or a chance encounter. Even the smallest of obstacles in our paths could very well lead to discovering something beautiful and wonderous.