About the Book:
Title: The Marquess of Mischief
Author: Anna St. Claire
Series: The Rakes of Mayhem #2
Page Length: 218
Publication Date: Dec. 21, 2021
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Synopsis: A chance at love could cost them their lives.
Welcome to book 2, Marquess of Mischief by USA Today Bestselling author Anna St. Claire.
As a second son, Christopher Anglesey never planned to become the Marquess of Banbury. However, his brother’s death forced him to assume the title and its responsibilities. Still, he refuses to relinquish his dangerous job with the Crown or marry. His job requires he maintains a presence at most ton events. However, Christopher avoids the marriage-minded mommas and their vapid daughters.
On the heels of a successful first Season, a carriage accident on the way home from London leaves Lady Diana Lawrence blind. She resigns herself to a life without love or marriage and still attends ton gatherings only to please her mother—who still believes love will find her daughter. While attending a museum tour with her best friend, Diana overhears plans to kill the Prince Regent, placing her in the crosshairs of a killer.
Christopher’s assignment brings him to the museum, where he discovers a beautiful young woman desperate to escape and recognizes her as his sister’s best friend. She may be the one person who can help save the Prince Regent’s life. Sparks fly as he tries to protect her and find a killer.
Can they survive the danger that pursues them and gain a chance at love neither thought could happen?
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My Review:
The second book in The Rakes of Mayhem series follows Christopher Anglesey, the Marquess of Banbury, a man who loves being an agent of the Crown and refuses to give it up just because of his new title and responsibilities. His job forces him to attend dreaded ton events where he often sees his sister’s friend Diana. After a carriage accident leaves Lady Diana Lawrence blind, she resigns herself to a marriage-less future. However, she makes the best of her situation and keeps an optimistic attitude, often going to balls and other outings to appease her parents, who believes Diana will find her love match.
When an unscrupulous man tries to take advantage of Diana, Christopher comes to her rescue and gets her back to her family before her reputation is ruined. However, Diana’s troubles are just beginning, as, while at a museum event with Christopher’s sister, Diana overhears a plot to assassinate the Prince Regent. Luckily for Diana, Christopher’s newest assignment involves thwarting this assassination attempt. As he and Diana become embroiled in dangerous and murderous plots, enemies from the past and present threaten all they hold dear. Diana and Christopher must work together to uncover the villains who are out to destroy them before it’s too late. However, the more they are together, the more they realize how much they care for each other. Will this pair find happiness with each other with so many obstacles in their way?
The Marquess of Mischief is a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance, and I loved Christopher and Diana. They are both such fantastic characters, and their budding relationship is positively swoon-worthy. Though their families have been friends for years, Christopher and Diana are only now seeing each other as more-than-friends. Diana is so brave and smart, and her positive outlook on life is inspiring. She has had so many difficulties in recent years, especially when losing her vision, yet she never loses her optimism and ability to see the good in others.
Christopher is honorable, kind, and thoughtful, and a perfect match for Diana. He is definite book boyfriend material with his handsome looks and swoon-worthy actions. I also enjoyed the other characters in the story, especially Diana’s family and Christopher’s sister and best friends. They are all interesting and dynamic, and I’m curious to learn more about all of them. I have a feeling Christopher’s friends and sister will have roles in future books in the series, and I’m sure theirs will be as swoon-worthy as Diana and Christopher’s.
I adored the romance between Diana and Christopher! They have great chemistry and are a really well-matched couple. I love that their relationship has such a strong foundation, and they seem to bring out the best in each other. I also love how he thinks about her happiness and doesn’t treat her differently because of her vision loss. At one point in the story, Christopher is talking to Diana’s father, and he describes all of the qualities he loves in Diana. He says “My interest is not tied to her eyes, beautiful as they may be. The accident was a tragedy, but it does not have to define her.” The care Christopher shows Diana, the respect and unconditional acceptance, as well as the thought he puts into taking her to places that will appeal to her senses, makes him even more attractive and their love story even more romantic.
Of course, Diana and Christopher’s blossoming relationship is not without obstacles. The deadly mystery behind the assassination plot stands in sharp contrast to Diana and Christopher’s lovely romance. It brings a lot of suspense and intrigue to the story, and other vengeful characters only add to it. It’s interesting to see how Christopher and Diana face all of these dangerous situations and how Christopher fights to protect Diana and keep her safe.
This is a great addition to the series, and I would recommend it to readers who love heartwarming and romantic historical romances with suspenseful intrigue. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Dragonblade Publishing, and the author for providing m e with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!!
- The intrigue.
Recommendations:
Want to learn more about the series? Check out my review of the first book!
This one sounds soo good! I’m already swooning over Christopher from your review alone. 😀
Christopher has my heart!! He’s so swoon-worthy!