What the heck was this book? This book felt like a house that was continuously added to it until you end up with a monstrosity of a house.

This book had the most plots I have ever read in one single book. Every chapter seems to add a new conflict to move the story forward, but what was worse was that the conflict was resolved in the exact same chapter.

In the first five chapters, he found out that his father spent almost all the money only to quickly find ways to resolve it. He had to marry a lady to save his mom's house only to find out that the lady eloped and the house was never in danger. His father gave away the family jewels, only to know where it was right away. That all happened in the first quarter of the book!

I have never read a book where so much was happening right nothing ever actually happened. No mention was allowed to build because as soon as something new was added, it was quickly resolved. And you never felt any urgency since he was never in any actual danger of losing anything.

Also, the many many many characters that were introduced, it was so hard to keep up with all of them. I read the entire thing hoping for it to give me SOMETHING but even the ending was easily resolved with talking. This book was a huge disappointment to me.

I spend a lot of time waiting for the other shoe to drop when I was reading the book. Gideon tried to resist Louisa, but he decided he wanted to make her his (and he didn't need much time to do that) things went rather smoothly. If I had a title to sum the book I would call it "Men will always be men". I do understand why Gideon thought he shouldn't inform Louisa about what was going on. I wasn't happy with this decision, but he didn't want to burden her and it brought shame to him and his family so I wasn't mad at him. It made me sad that mental illness was taken so lightly back then and people didn't even know what the other person was going through. I always love novels that made me think about stuff and they are not just for enjoyment.

Lady Louise is the beauty of the Ton this season, but he has yet to find someone who interests her. Until the Duke of Rothwell shows up- striking, handsome and in debt, not that she knows, and he'd prefer to keep it that way. But they are very attracted to each other.

Rothwell has a lot pride and to some extent not enough sense to realize the gift that seems to have landed in his lap. Louise is smart and willing to work hard to help him recoup the family coffers. My favorite part of this novel are the scenes with family mayhem. Louise's family is wonderfully large and loud, which keeps a smile on the reader's face.

A visit into the lives of the Worthington family is always a treat. I love reading about the antics of this blended family. I am so glad there are so many of them since it means more stories. This one is a rather nice tale of Lady Louisa and Gideon, the Duke of Rothwell. They fall in love very early in the book so much of the first half of the storyline is setting up their relationship. Later in the book, Gideon's inherited issues come to the forefront threatening the couple. All I will say is men can be so dense at times. In general I prefer a storyline that contains intrigue, danger, and is fast paced. However, I enjoy reading about this family so much, I do hope there will be more Worthington books.

Gideon was now the Duke of Rottwell and he was out for a morning ride as he needed the calm a hard ride gave him. Then another horse burst through the mist with a massive dog. Then Gideon realized the rider was a beautiful woman he would have liked to meet. Nut in the circumstances it would do no good. Gideon’s father had been dead three months before he even got home from Canada. Now gideon had to pick up the pieces his father had left behind him. A letter had been sent to Gideon to tell him what happened but he had never received it. When he did get home Gideon was shocked to see the condition of the estates his father used to take such good care of. No one would tell Gideon why his father had changed. But he felt this was what he got for leaving and allowing others to care for his responsibilities. Apparently from what Gideon could piece together his father took up with Mrs. Rosamund Petrie and she was a greedy mistress. Then his Stable Master had had told gideon his father had died while in bed with her. At rothwell house. Lady Louisa Vevers wanted to talk to her friend and new sister Charlotte. Matt -Louisa’s brother -had married Grace and she had guardianship of her seven brothers and sisters. The house would increase to twelve kids sometime this winter when matt and grace had their first child. Charlotte told Louisa that Theo, mary, and Philip- younger children in the now conjoined family had measles. Louisa and her sister were half way through their first season . louisa then said they should write notes excusing them from the entertainments they had planned on attending. Louisa said maybe they should make a schedule that would allow them to attend their entertainments and help care for the children. Then louisa said How else could they plan to accomplish their marriages. Then she asked Charlotte how it was going with Harrington and charlotte replied not as she had wished and she thought she should have to strike him from her list as a potential husband. Louisa said charlotte must help her find a match for Edmund- the Marquis of Bentley as she did not want to marry him and he wouldn’t take her hints that she did not want to marry him and he was her most persistent suitor. Gideon should thank his cousin as if he hadn’t asked for help Gideon would not have found out about his father and what he had been up to there before he died. Gideon received a note from his cousin about a ball and he wanted Gideon to attend. Then Gideon went to see his friend Matt who was Louisa’s brother. Louisa was the beautiful women he had seen on the horse. Gideon had never met Matt's family. Gideon told Matt he had come to see him as his father had let everything go downhill and he wanted Matt’s advice on which of the new methods to farm was the best. Then louisa came to her brother to tell him she was going to the ball and she seen Gideon and he her. She recognized him right away. When he asked Louisa if he could have a dance she told him her supper dance was open. Louisa felt Gideon knowing Matt had to be a sign they were meant to at least come to know each other. Gideon now looked forward to his dance with Louisa and supper with her more than he should. Gideon’s cousin who is Edmund wants his help on getting Louisa to marry him as he believes he is in love with Louisa. Gideon can’t help but spend time with Louisa and they soon have feeling but he hasn’t told her the state of his finances and all he had to do to make things better.
I really enjoyed this book. I do however advise you to read the other s in the series so you can keep everyone and everything straight. I loved the plot. But this did drag a little for me at times. I felt this was a beautiful romance. This story has some: danger, a greedy ex mistress, passion, a conjoined family, family problems, family love and loyalty, looking for matrimonial matches, balls, love at first sight, an unwanted suitor. Tension, trying to fix an estate, and so much more. I liked how Louisa and Gideon didn’t play games or hard to get. For once the males in this story didn't seem to mind getting married or engaged. I loved Louisa’s joined family. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

Lady Louisa Vivers is excited to participate in her first season, if only she could get rid of the attentions of love sick puppy Boswell, who fancies her for a wife. Everyone knows she is too strong headed and his tendency to dither makes them ill suited. On top of that dilemma, she thinks she is falling in love with Gideon Rothwell, a newly titled duke. Even while wearing gloves there is an undeniable spark of electricity when he touches her hand. He feels it too, but there is no way he can marry. His recently departed father who suffered from dementia has left their finances in ruins, first with gambling debts and then with an expensive mistress who continues to line her coffers with a forged writ of purchase. Yet, Gideon can't help himself and after exchanging some passionate kisses on a terrace at a ball, Louisa announces their betrothal. Not what Gideon had in mind, but what else would such an innocent infer from his improper advances. Anyway, marriage doesn't seem like such a bad option. He's in love and wants his sweetheart in his bed. If he had his way they'd be married right away, but waiting two weeks for Louisa's mother to arrive from out of town seems doable. Yet the scheming man has several ideas of some lustful activities before the nuptials, if they can ever be left unchaperoned, a difficult feat with such a large family keeping watch. Then there's his close friend Matt, the Earl of Worthington, whose eagle eye is on the outlook to protect the reputation of his younger sister. Luckily Gideon's mom heartily approves and even provides them with the opportunity for some "alone time".

However, not all is smooth sailing in It Started With a Kiss, Book Three of the Worthington Regency Romance Series by Ella Quinn. There are some people out there who don't like the way Gideon is handing his father's debt and vow revenge. Gideon, mistakenly tries to keep the sordid details a secret from his bride to be, but the forceful Louisa expects honestly and wants an equal marriage sharing the good with the bad. How she will react to these omissions is an issue that just might put a crimp in their relationship. Despite everyone's advice, Gideon stubbornly sticks to his plan unwittingly putting everyone he loves in danger.

On the plus side is a continuation of the lives of the characters from both the Worthingtons and the Marriage Game series. Matt Worthington and Gideon are school chums along with Marcus Finley and Sebastian Rutherford who both were married about a year (to Phoebe and Anna) prior to the start of this tale. Even Kit Featherton, nicknamed Mr Perfect, makes an brief appearance, dancing with a neglected debutante at his mother's ball. Via all the previous novels, the reader is familiar with numerous members of The Ton, including their past and future endeavors.

Unfortunately, this one just made me work too hard. It would have made a great novella, but there was so much repetition that it dragged as a full length book. While the ending picked up, there was a vast middle which seemed endless. After awhile Gideon's stubbornness and Louisa's obsessions were annoyingly over the top. Despite a couple of witty back and forth repartees, most of the conversation was mundane, and the sex scenes were kind of placid, not the passionate encounters found in most of the other narratives. There just was not enough plot to carry the day. Three stars is generous.

A thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read.

This was a cute story of an early English time when debutantes were introduced into society and onto the "Marriage Mart". Lady Louisa was coming out and her first meeting with Gideon, Duke of Rothwell, sent a charge through her and she knew he was The One. Gideon had the same feeling about Lady Louisa but he couldn't marry her; at least not yet. He had some financial matters to resolve that his father, the former Duke, had mad a mess of. His father had dementia and before his death had kept a mistress, had given away the family jewels to his mistress and generally made a mess of the dukedom's finances. Gideon had been abroad in Canada for three years while this was going on but upon his father's death, it was now his mess to clean up. Would he be able to take care of the business matters in time to capture Lady Louisa and make her his wife or would she fine someone else in the meantime and not be willing to wait for him?

My one criticism of this story was the descriptive sex. I understand that many didn't wait but that isn't what I really want to read about. Their connection could have been made without the description of the physical intimacy.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Louisa and Gideon, Duke of Rothwell

Unfortunately, try as I may, I could not like this book. It was repetitive. The pace was brutally slow. And there was an extra plot line that came out of nowhere and did nothing but muddle the plot. The MCs fell in love without ever really talking. It just needs a lot of work.

Ella Quinn continues her regency romances in It Started with a Kiss. The Duke should marry an heiress as his father in his dementia gave much of the ducal property to his courtesan. He halls in love with a spirited and well dowered young lady who returns his interest. The courtesan and others complicate the romance and our lovebirds have to find their way out. Interesting and strong hero and heroine. Good writing.

Book Three of Ella Quinn's The Worthington's series but can easy be read apart from the others. Ella Quinn has a way with words it's a quick read and has all the charm and romance of her other books that makes her so enjoyable to read. I loved the first book. There is a large cast of characters on Louisa's side of the family and it's easy to get lost if you allow yourself to get distracted by them really the only thing you need to focus on is Louisa and Gideon but if you can't then read the first book it is so worth it.

The romance was pretty easy between Gideon and Louisa. It was love at first sight and Louisa knew pretty much from the start that Gideon was going to be the man she wanted to marry. The main conflict has purely to do with male pride and Gideon not feeling worthy of Louisa because the state his father left the estate in, which was a wreck. Gideon flat out refused to pay any of his father's gambling debts, and even gave his father's mistress plenty of time to vacate the townhouse she occupied. He also send out word to all the pawn shops that if any of the items on the list were to show up that they were stolen property and to be confiscated and returned. Gideon had his solicitor earning his wages with all things Gideon was trying to fix. But people don't take the hint, people are threatening Gideon, and his father's mistress isn't going to let go so easily. All the while he was hiding this from Louisa.

Conflict number two, Louisa is pretty much the bell of the ball and even with all the suitor she could choose from she just wants Gideon, unfortunately his cousin called Gideon to London to help him persuade Louisa to marry him, but Gideon had already met and fallen in love with Louisa. Gideon loves his cousin and tries to do things Louisa's way by showing him their is someone better for him. To add to the all the crap Gideon has to deal with with his father's vowels, someone tries to blackmail Gideon into marrying his daughter but when Gideon is faced with the girl Louisa speak up and claims she is already engaged to Louisa which his cousin overhears and throws a tantrum. Gideon needs to learn it's ok to ask for help and that Louisa is much stronger than he thinks.

Overall, I really liked this book. It was fun and I loved the characters, the whole family is great and loveable I can't wait for their books.

DNF at 18%.

Normally I love an historical novel but I just could not get into this one.

Gideon, the Duke of Rothwell, has returned to England after his father's death only to discover that the estate has been badly mismanaged and there will need to be a period of extreme penny-pinching. The last thing Gideon can afford to do is to make a marriage offer for a decent young lady.

Lady Louise Vivers is the younger sister of Gideon's friend Matt Worthington. She is a free-spirited young lady, riding her horse alone in the early morning in Hyde Park. Gideon spots her and is entranced by her looks and her riding. He is dismayed to find that she is the sister of his best friend, especially since he has just confessed to his friend that he could only afford to marry a fabulous heiress!

As the plot unfolds it appears that Gideon's father had gone slightly senile, taken a mistress and squandered money on clothes, jewels, houses and horses for her. Desperate to recoup some of the money Gideon starts to ask questions and it soon appears that the mistress may have been deliberately fleecing his father.

Not having read the preceding novels I have to confess I was a little in the dark about Louise's brother Matt and the numerous children/ cousins who seem to live with them which didn't help me with this novel.

Overall, and I appreciate I didn't read very much of the book, Gideon struck me as a bit of a prig. He couldn't even speak to his friend and tell him that he had feelings for his younger sister (there were a lot of male pronouns there but I think you get the gist), just decided to suffer in silence although he also made plans to meet Louise which is hardly the actions of an honourable man trying to avoid temptation. Louise on the other hand struck me as someone who was gearing up to be TSTL. Would a young lady of the ton really go riding alone very early in the morning in Hyde Park?

I didn't warm to the main characters and gave up at 18%.

Nothing beats reading a historical romance about a strong-willed lady who knows what she wants and very determined to marry for love. A chance encounter was all it takes to build the sizzling attraction between Louisa and Gideon. Imagine the surprise when they both realised how small their world was and how it brought them together again. Although the attraction was there, there was nothing Gideon could do until he sorted out the mess his father had left behind. Then comes the danger... the misunderstanding... and... more.

I really enjoy reading about Louisa and the funny little adventures and 'conspiracy' that she has. It is very obvious that both Louisa and Gideon were destined for each other from the start but there were many obstacles in their way but it concluded nicely.

The pacing of the story was good and engaging. Quinn has a good cast of supporting characters who helped to bring the story to live. Although this is the third book in the story, I have no problem reading it as a standalone. I'd definitely recommend this light read to anyone who fancies a lovely historical romance read.

Louise and Gideon were lovely characters. Louise was very feisty and knew that Gideon was lying to her her but she was determined to find out the truth.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

Gideon has returned home from Canada not only to find out that his father has died but in his last years, his father almost ran the estate dry. Now that Gideon is the new Duke of Rothwell, he needs to repair his estates before he can marry.

Once Gideon meets the sister of the Earl of Worthington, the attraction is instant. Lady Louisa Vivers wanted to find her true soul mate and Gideon is it. They share early morning horseback rides and waltzes at balls. Louisa is sure that Gideon will ask for her hand, but how can he when a scandal lurks beneath the surface? Will Gideon risk everything for love?

This book was pure magic from the first page to the end! I loved how Gideon and Louisa fell in love. I liked how the characters were surrounded by Louisa's family. The ending was absolutely brilliant in resolving the minor plot of the potential scandal.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

It Started With a Kiss is the third installment of Ella Quinn’s Worthington series. This is the story of Gideon Rothwell, a newly titled duke, and Lady Louisa Vivers, the sister of the Earl of Worthington (Matt). It was love at first sight. There are a few obstacles (some of them rather significant) in the way of their happily ever after, which makes for an interesting tale. While there is a good bit of drama surrounding Gideon’s estate, there is also humor, often at times when Gideon interacts with the Worthington’s large happy family (lots of children, you know). All of the characters are strong and well developed. The story unfolds at a quick pace and comes to a satisfactory end. This is a wonderful continuation of the Worthington family series.

I went back and forth on rating this story. It was tough for me to get through the first part of this story and I almost put it down. But I persisted and pushed through and enjoyed the latter part of the book much better.

I really like the Worthington family and have enjoyed the stories, but Quinn's writing is hit or miss for me. Sometimes I love it and others not so much. For this particular story, the beginning was just hard to get through. I think as the story progressed, it seemed to be much better written to me.

Love at first sight, even if inconvenient, is delicious!
We come back to the Worthington series with Louisa falling instantly for Gideon, who is a newly appointed Duke.

Louisa is a woman who knows her own mind, knows what she wants and that she will only marry her soul mate. She's so damn fun!

Gideon is an honourable person and thinks himself not worthy of her.

Loved the drama of this story, loved coming back to this wonderfully mixed family!

This is my first book by Ms. Quinn. I know, a lot of people kept telling me to read her books. Since I’ve been on a historical kick of late, I decided to read one. Boy, was I surprised. I knew that Ms. Quinn does a lot of research for her books but what surprised me that she gave details but didn’t muddy it up with too many details. In other words, she left all of the “ton” stuff out and put in the intrigue and some health issues that I’ve never read in a historical romance. The set up from Gideon’s late father is brilliant but sad. It did, however, let itself be not the plot, what the reason why Gideon treats Louisa at times.

Oh, I loved Gideon and Louisa. They were perfectly matched from the beginning. I also liked Matt and Grace. And I can’t forget Edmond, Gideon’s cousin. He is hilarious at times but other times, I found him to be a sad sap. I’m glad that Louisa and Charlotte were able to fix him up with someone else. Yes, I’m being vague but the scenes with Louisa and Edmond were actually funny but sad. Overall, I’m glad that plot point turned out the way it did and it wasn’t dragged out forever in the book.

That brings me to another point that I loved about Ms. Quinn’s writing. She doesn’t drag the different plot points out throughout the book. They are wrapped up nicely and to the point. Keep in mind that there is an overall arc to the book and the ending was just a shock to me but a good one, too. Gideon finally (silly man) that Louisa was truly his equal and he should have told her about the “loose end” that threatened to destroy his relationship with Louisa.

Overall, I really liked the book. If I had complaint was that the smexy times were too short. I know. Most people either complain about too much or too little. Don’t get me wrong, they had plenty of smexy times but I would have liked to have seen Louisa really come into her own when it came to the bedchamber. He He! Gideon said that he would teach her but we never got there.

I need to go back and read about Matt and Grace. I was given snippets of their courtship and deals with the ladies of ill repute and such. Delicious.

- I received a free copy from NetGalley; this is my honest review.
- The author always take the time to describe in minute details what the characters are wearing, what they are smelling, or what they see when they look at a building or living in it. For sure, they eat a lot.
- There are a few sensual sex scenes in the book.
- I found LOL moments, sad moments, and sweet moments. The suspense is kept for the last hour or so at the end of the book.
- Other stories are happening behind the main scene so it's better to read the books in order.
- I loved how the author is able to intertwine characters from her other books into each following books.
- Once you start the book, the pace is nice and quiet, but grows faster as the chapters fly by.
- It made me cringe at the few misunderstandings that could have been avoided. But really, when I thought about it after, they only known each for a couple of weeks, three at the most, so it's understandable.