RECOMMENDED: How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn is $3.99 right now. This is the second book in her “Agents of the Crown” series, following To Catch an Heiress. This is light, fun, humorous historicals, and if you need an enjoyable pick-me-up, or you know someone who does, this is a terrific choice.
When James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale, offered to help Elizabeth Hotchkiss find herself a husband, he never dreamed that the only candidate he could propose would be himself…
SHE'S TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES
When Elizabeth Hotchkiss stumbles upon a most intriguing book, How to Marry a Marquis, in her employer's library, she's convinced someone is playing a cruel joke. With three younger siblings to support, she knows she has to marry for money, but who might have guessed how desperate she's become? A guidebook to seduction might be just the thing she needs—and what harm could there be in taking a little peek?
BUT HE'S MAKING HIS OWN
James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale, has been summoned to rescue his aunt from a blackmailer, a task that requires him to pose as the new estate manager—and he immediately sheds suspicion on his aunt's companion, Elizabeth. Intrigued by the deliciously alluring young woman with the curious little rulebook, he gallantly offers to help her find herself a husband…by practicing her wiles on him. But when practice becomes all too perfect, James decides there's only one rule worth following—that Elizabeth marry her marquis.
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To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn is $3.99. This is the 5th Bridgerton book, featuring Eloise (after, of course, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, and Daphne). (The other romance sibling names I remember in order are Blaze Wyndham's sisters and brother) (No, I don't know why). The hero, Phillip, is a botanist and widower, and a bit of a grump, so when Eloise shows up on his doorstep, there's mayhem.
Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife's distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage.
Except . . . she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her…
Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking… and wondering… and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except… he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered. And he certainly should have mentioned that he had two young – and decidedly unruly – children, as much in need of a mother as Phillip is in need of a wife.
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Monster in my Closet by RL Naquin is .99c today as a Kindle Daily Deal. This is book 1 in the Monster Haven series, and Carrie S reviewed it in October 2012 (C-). She really had a problem with the villain's crimes (trigger warning) which contrasted too much with the writing and humor for her. However, many other readers enjoyed this book a lot. Have you read it? Do you recommend it?
I stopped believing in monsters long ago. But I knew I wasn't imagining things when I found one in my kitchen baking muffins. I'd seen him before: lurking in my closet, scaring the crap out of my five-year-old self. Turns out that was a misunderstanding, and now Maurice needs a place to stay. How could I say no?
After all, I've always been a magnet for the emotionally needy, and not just in my work as a wedding planner. Being able to sense the feelings of others can be a major pain. Don't get me wrong, I like helping people–and non-people. But this ability has turned me into a gourmet feast for an incubus, a demon that feeds off emotional energy. Now, brides are dropping dead all over town, and my home has become a safe house for the supernatural. I must learn to focus my powers and defeat the demon before he snacks on another innocent woman and comes looking for the main course…
Promise Me Forever is one of four Lorraine Heath books priced at $3.99 right now. You can see the others here. This one has a Regency cowboy in London instead of the US, and a lot of emotion.
Warning from reviewers: do not read the epilogue. You've been warned.
On the outside, Lauren Fairfield appears the very picture of cool, contained nobility and blueblood British sophistication. Inside, however, she longs for Tom, the charming rogue she loved–and lost.
Now a sinfully handsome would-be gentleman has arrived in London–and Lauren nearly swoons when she realizes it is her Tom, grown to magnificent manhood. He has come to claim his lost title as Earl of Sachse . . .and to fulfill an oath once made by two young lovers beneath a long-ago moon, a scandalous promise no proper lady would dare honor.
Lauren could never love a staid and stifling lord, and Tom's future is the aristocracy. So she will teach him their ways before she exits his life forever. But the wildness she adored still lives in Tom's heart–and he will not rest until he proves to the proud, resisting beauty that “forever” is a promise that must be kept . . .
Consider this whole comment a trigger warning:
I’ve eyeballed Monster in My Closet a few times, but the rape aspect is troubling to me, because based on what Carrie S said about the scenes being creepy and voyeuristic, it seems like they’re described in detail in a way typically reserved for romantic sex scenes. It’s the same issue I have with movies… nobody is saying rape CAN’T be a powerful plot point and motivator, but the way it’s presented is often more sexualized than violation. I saw some NCIS type show once that featured a woman being raped, and while she was screaming and sobbing and being slapped and violated, the camera was panning down her things and lingering on her chest and the man’s torso like it was a porno scene. It was really, REALLY disturbing, because someone looked at that and thought, “I know this woman is being horribly assaulted, but we should make sure she’s still sexy and the scene is hot”. It was actually MORE graphic than a scene where someone was stabbed repeatedly later in that same episode… they wouldn’t show the victim or any real gore then, but showing a rape shot and lit exactly the same as you would a sex scene was okay apparently. It’s the same thing with books. If your writing fails to convey the horror of what’s happening and is more about the presentation of hot sex, you should probably take a step back and reevaluate it.
Now I have to read the epilogue.
I may have to buy the book just to read the epilogue.
I love How to Marry a Marquis – it’s my favorite Julia Quinn after What Happens in London – and that’s high praise (but don’t read them in a row, since the plot is kind of similar).
You know that makes me want to read the epilogue first, right?
I’m glad I’m not the only person who developed an intense curiosity about the epilogue upon reading the warning. Why do I do this every time? Am I just naturally a contrarian? Is it train-wreck syndrome? Am I a masochist? WHY AM I BROKEN???
I didn’t read that book yet, but I looked at GR spoilers about the epilogue and it is a total downer (in a hilarious way) (but maybe I am just a total meanie?). Like, why would any editor think that this was a good addition to a romance novel?
Also highly motivated to go read that epilogue!
So I tracked it down and it turns out I already have. I forgot about it because a)I forget everything b)there are ninety gazillion lost lords series which could confuse anyone and c)this book is particularly forgettable.
I hate to say that last one, because I have enjoyed many a Lorraine Heath book but this is a snoozefest. Unless you think about what you read, in which case it would probably make you angry, because it’s really stupid. And it’s upsetting when a good author phones it in.
The epilogue would only be upsetting if you cared about the characters, and need them to live forever without aging or anything, neither of which applies to me. I was really hoping for some crazy WTFery, but my reaction was a total meh, whatever, glad that’s over .
How to Marry a Marquis is my favorite Julia Quinn. The heroine is very funny and I always love the “impoverished with siblings to care for trope”. Wonderful book.
My favorite Julia Quinn novel is also How to Marry a Marquis. Personal fun facts: It was my second romance book EVAH – first being How to Marry’s predecessor To Catch an Heiress – and it is the only Quinn I still reread on a regular basis.
Thanks for the Julia Quinn recommendation. I had just read another recommended book that I really disliked so I was like, oh yeah. But it was funny and light and serious and everything. The secondary characters were likeable but flawed enough to be real. Thanks for making my weekend!
@Shannon: I’m so sorry you didn’t like the other recommended title. But I am most happy you enjoyed the Quinn book – it’s one of my favorites. I started re-reading it this morning and am SO happy while I read it, too.