I recently bought a new kindle after my old one broke. For some reason I was unable to download this title from the cloud onto my kindle, therefore I will be unable to review this title. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.

First impressions are always the most important ones. And this applies to both how I felt about the book cover and blurb. The blurb had me intrigued and the first scene of the book which makes for a superb heroine entry and the protagonists' meeting were too memorable to not love this book!

From there, the story took off with Evie and Richard's unusual friendship. The plot thickened as the book progressed mostly because of the time period and Richard's character. Actually if we look at the plot, it isn't too complicated. But the characters and the situations which arise because of their actions and thoughts were what make the book engrossing and entertaining. The story is light at the beginning but started to get more serious as it moved on.

The characters were well fleshed and they entangled me in their emotions easily especially Evie. Evie is the predominant person with her perfectness record. She is brave and generous and loyal to a fault. But there were a few scenes where her character faltered a bit. Richard is the darker one with his connections to the underbelly of the Regency era. Inspite of it, he is the one who shines light in others' lives. Only thing I didn't like was his hesitancy of accepting Evie. That was not in line with his character at all. He, himself, was the hindrance which slowed the flow of the tale. Or should I say, the society and Richard were the antagonistic elements in the book.

The author has touched on sensitive issues and she has handled with sensitivity. Her careful handling of issues and her writing style make for a good tale. The pace was perfect except for the lengthy protestations on Richard's side. All in all, I absolutely enjoyed Evie's stubbornness and Richard's gallantry.

I received a free copy for reviewing purposes. I voluntarily review the book and these are my own thoughts on it.

My one line review : A pairing romance lovers are sure to love with their intensity!

My rating : 4/5

My reread factor : 4/5

This was a great read and one I had been looking forward to reading for awhile. Evie and Richard have been friends forever and secretly attracted to the other but the other didn't know.

When Evie learns that Richard is looking for a wife to be mother to his daughter, she is determined to be that person. Of course, Richard doesn't think that Evie will accept his daughter plus she is the sister of a friend which makes her off limits.

All of this, of course, brings antics to the story. I really enjoyed Evie and Richard's story and I hope that Reid continues this series as I've throughly enjoyed it.

This book took me some time to read and even though on the whole, it was well written, I couldn't really get into it as I didn't like the hero, not at all.

He is judgemental, arrogant and convinced that he is the only one who cares for those less fortunate than him and the only one who is brave enough to weather the ton's censure in order to help others. Even though he has been good friends with our heroine for years, he can't consider her as a possible wife because, well, he knows that she couldn't live like that, she wouldn't care as much as he does and she wouldn't be able to live defying the rules of society. Soooo, no matter what happens, she can't be considered for the position as his marchioness and when things get a bit out of hand and feelings threaten to take over, well, there is nothing better than lining up another potential wife and flaunt her in front of the one you care for, right? NO. Definitely NOT.

Evie has been in love with Richard forever and she would gladly ignore all the stupid rules of society if Richard would finally see her as a woman and would care to have her at his side. Unfortunately he is far too convinced of his own importance and his own superiority to see that. And of course, he doesn't want a wife for whom he has feelings because that would leave him vulnerable.
Why exactly that should give him the right to trample all over someone else's feelings and why he doesn't even realize that people can't change or care for things they don't know anything about and that you have to talk about those things in order to make them see and change things, well, he might feel less superior if he would see that they care indeed as much as he does, right?

The book is well written and it has a nice story and some nice characters but Evie remained somewhat flat whereas Richard was a bit more complex but very unlikable. I've read other books by the author that I really enjoyed reading but this one - not so much. When I first finished the book I thought that it was nice and fine, even though a bit predictable but the more I thought about it the more I realized why it took me several weeks to finish it. As it is still well written, I decided to give it three very weak stars.

The steamy, charming and witty stye of the autor makes this regency escape the perfect distraction from the upsetting real world events - I liked it a lot!

Lady Evie Chesterfield has been crazy about Lord Richard Maitland, Marquees of Westfall, her brother’s best friend, since she was 16. Over the years, they became close friends. Evie became someone Richard could rely on and go to. When his reputation is destroyed by his final act of defiance on society’s expectation by claiming the illegitimate daughter he didn’t know he had, he pulls his friendship away from Evie.
I really loved this book. The characters had me absolutely engrossed in the book. I couldn’t put it down until it was done. I did find myself mad at Richard several times throughout the story for his ignorant treatment of Evie, but forgave him by the end:) I highly recommend.

I really enjoy this author. This book kept my interest in it's friends to lovers storyline and was wonderfully written. It transported me to a different time and place and I couldn't put it down.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley.

This is just one hell of sexy romance. Most of the time in historical romance it can be very tame until the ONE time the hero and heroine finally make it a bed. Not in this one. The build up is from the very first page and doesn’t stop. Now, I will warn you that the book starts when our heroine, Evie is about 16 and the story unfolds through 6 years. You actually get to see their friendship bloom and see the respect that they have for one another. It’s refreshing in a historical romance that our couple is actually friends first. That said, their friendship is unique. At times, I was giggling because of just Evie.

Evie is just one of those heroines that you can’t help but love from the beginning. A bit unconventional but also very dutiful. I loved how in the end she finally said enough is enough. I will marry for love, not just for money. Good thing because Richard was beyond wealthy. And sexy. And ruthless. And smart. And had the biggest heart. I could go on but you will just have to read the book to find out his many attributes. 😉 And yes, Richard is the type of historical hero that I like. See above. Plus, I also liked that he just didn’t care what the ton thought about him. Only Evie and his daughter mattered. Oops. Let that one slip.

And yes, there are children involved and it changes Evie’s mind about her upbringing. Her parents are a complete trip and very stereotypical of the time and they made me giggle, like a lot. Especially her mother. I swear Ms. Reid wrote her for pure comic relief. Evie’s dad and brother were good secondary characters even if they didn’t have a lot to do. Adel is great, too and I really need to her book now. I was smitten with her, too.

Overall, if you are looking for a great historical romance where the characters are real, the situations realistic, the smexy times slow but when they come together you will swoon and did mention Richard just by himself? Oh, my…I’m in love. Thank you, Ms. Reid.

How to Marry a Marquess is the third book in the Wedded by Scandal series by Stacy Reid. I really enjoyed this book and the characters. Evie is 16 and Richard, 24 when we first meet them. Evie is distraught about the affections of an old Duke when Richard finds her. It was a humorous scene since Evie was puking and Richard covered it with a shovel.

Evie is being pushed to marry and she wants to marry Richard. He has been burned by women in the past and betrayed by one he loved and he has no intentions to marry. He surprises the ton when he discovers he has a daughter and moves her into his estate to take care of her. That just wasn't done during those times and he is afraid that Evie won't accept his daughter. Basically, they both have feelings for the other but neither thinks the other feels the same.

I loved that this book had a more modernish feel to it for a historical romance. It always makes me happy to see the characters defy what the ton expects of them and this book was very enjoyable because of that. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 3 in the Wedded by Scandal series by Stacy Reid. I really enjoyed this story. It was a sweet story of friends that become lovers. I thought it was well done. I just wish that her guy was a little bit less of a Jerk at times. He could just be mean at times but I did enjoy i

I really enjoyed “How to Marry a Marquess” by Stacy Reid. Ms. Reid continues to prove she is a great writer whose stories I thoroughly enjoy. Evie and Richard, oh what chemistry they have and what problems they have to overcome so they can be together.

Richard has been betrayed by a woman whom he loved and now is cold and many would say, unfeeling. Evie has always seen past his façade and has grown to love him more and more, even though he fails to love her. Richard believes Evie is his friend and his friend only.

The story seems a little modern. Richard houses his illegitimate child and houses many more children who need homes. Sometimes I didn’t care for the way Richard looked down on Evie when she hesitated being a mother to a host of illegitimate children. Richard was kind of harsh and really deserved to be knocked down a few pegs.

But Evie and Richard are absolutely meant to be together. Enjoyable reading their road to happily ever after, even with the bumps. Some lovely, steamy love scenes included!

It is a Regency romance enjoyable and interesting, although the historical setting is not perfect, the author deals with some social issues of that time such as poverty, orphanages, illegitimate children.
Lady Evie Chesterfield is in love with Richard, a friend of her brother, since she was sixteen, when he saved her from a combined marriage that she tremendously unwanted. But he doesn't want to engage, is deeply injured and no longer believes in love. He also finds out having a daughter from the woman who betrayed him. He knows that Evelyn will never accept this situation. When she discovers that he wants to get married to give a mother to his daughter, she can not afford it and invent a plan: she asks seduction lessons to Richard, how he will resist her?
The characters are believable and engaging. Evelyn is a sweet, kind, shy woman but for love she becomes a seductive, provocative and determined. Richard is very strong and stubborn, protective of women in his life, doing what he thinks right and doesn't care what society thinks about him.
It is the third in the series "Wedding by Scandal" but really does work well as a standalone - I had not read the previous books and still thoroughly enjoyed this one.
The writing was pleasant and flowed easily. The ending was perfect, sweet and romantic!

3.5 Stars

I loved Evie. I thought she was awesome, she showed great strength of character, but she was sweet and compassionate, too. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about Richard. Yes, he'd been burned in the past. Between the way his parents treated him and the woman he'd loved and who'd given his daughter away without him knowing, he was wary to trust anyone, that was completely understandable. However, Evie had been his friend since they met when she was 16 and I just hated how he behaved with her. However, I'll say that I loved that Evie didn't let him get away with it and she made him work for her forgiveness. Anyway, though, admittedly, Richard and Evie had great chemistry and Ms. Reid wrote some very hot scenes between them, my enjoyment of the book was a tad marred by how stubborn Richard was about it all.

One of the first tropes I fell in love with back in my teens (a looooong time ago, LOL) when I started reading, was historical romance and I have a weakness for the Regency period. I just adore everything about it, the setting, the language, the customs, and while I can understand creative license, well, I prefer it when authors remain within certain parameters and that was a bit lacking in this book.

While How to Marry a Marquess is a good story and I loved Evie, I found myself very annoyed at Richard most of the time and there was a point where I actually hoped she'd find someone else.

Overall, the book is well written, entertaining, it was indeed different from other books in this genre, so I'm sure others might find it enjoyable, even if it wasn't for me.

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Mature audience novel. historical romance yet a little different from the standard format of this type. Was happy to continue reading as the title was well appropriate to give clues to what might happen

It always strikes me that the hottest books in the romance market are the historical fiction books.  There is just something so passionate and exciting about stolen moments between two people who cannot help but act on their lust, regardless of the consequences.  I found to especially be the case with Stacy Reid's latest release, How to Marry a Marquess.

Everything about this book stood out and impressed me. Notably the unique friendship and personalities the main characters, Evie and Richard possessed.  Right from their first interactions, these two shared an intense connection and they both realized they need to be in each other's lives.

Years pass and a non-romantic relationship develops between them.  It's often judged and misunderstood but they both need it to find solace in their lives. Underneath all platonic conversations, these two hide a whole lot of untapped lust for one another.  However, Richard believes with all that he is that Evie must marry another to keep her position in their society.. but Evie has plans for seducing Richard.

Yet thanks to his past, winning him over isn't easy.  But it does create a fantastic adventure that you cannot help but get enchanted by.  The characters and their lives are entertaining and charming - I absolutely loved my time reading, How to Marry a Marquess and I highly recommend this romance to others.  It's a great book!

family first--duty vs love!

A young man, Lord Richard Maitland, deceived by his lover, withdraws emotionally and physically from society
His one source of light becomes his best friend's sister Lady Evie Chesterfield whom he has had a series of interesting meetings with over the years, seemingly always in the garden, often involving advice as to how to ward off unwanted suitors.
For Evie, Richard becomes not only a friend but the man who holds her heart, but she can never let him know.
Years later, uncovering an awful truth Richard, now the Marquess of Westfall, outrages society by claiming his illegitimate daughter openly and adopting several desperate children. In fact, " it had become a scandal that Richard publicly supported reforms of the injustice meted out to women and children in Newgate Prison."
It also is revealed that Evie's family's funds are at a standstill, so Evie must marry!
Always Evie has been on the sidelines. She has actively discouraged offers of marriage. Now she must marry, and it seems that someone will not be Richard. Richard has decided that he should marry. His daughter needs a mother. Evie is disgruntled that he hasn't even considered her. She takes things into her own hands with near disastrous results.
It seems Richard does not believe she has the strength of character to weather society's opinion. Shattered and stunned by Richards betrayal of her, his lack of trust, Evie is resigned to having nothing to do with him. Her fate will be to marry a man of sufficient wealth, who has the approval of her mother. Marrying for circumstances not love. Marry to fill the family coffers. Marriage as an economic transaction.
I must say that I liked the ending. That and various episodes throughout the story had me rethinking my three star rating to four.

A NetGalley ARC
(August 2017)

I freaking loved this story. It has everything you could possibly want in a historical romance and it gave me so many feels from beginning to end. I'm pretty sure I fell in love with Richard. You could feel his angst and struggle throughout the whole book and I felt so sorry for him. He's the perfect historical romance hero. Yeah, he makes some mistakes along the way but it's understandable considering the things he's had to endure. The balm to his soul and answer to everything is Evie. It's clear from the beginning that they're meant for each other. It's insta-love though neither of them realize it. The emotional and sexual tension between them throughout the book is unbearable at times but in a good way. Evie and especially Richard fight their feelings for so long and then there are some misunderstandings. It gets to a point where you wonder if they'll ever actually get together. There is certainly a HEA but it's hard earned one. So enjoyable to read though. This is such a sexy story but not overdone. I'll definitely be checking out more from Stacy Reid!

I enjoyed "How to Marry a Marquess" and intend to read other books in the series now. I gave it 3 stars rather than 4 because I found the hero unlike able. I realize that was the intention of the author, but it made parts of the book difficult to read.

Lady Evie Chesterfield feels the pressure from her parents to marry, but being in love with her brother's friend has her refusing proposal after proposal. However, when Evie discovers something about her family, she knows she no longer has a choice but to marry. Can she convince Richard Maitland, the Marquess of Westfall, to take a chance on love or will she lose the one person that means everything to her?

Everything about this book -- the wonderful main and secondary characters, the obstacles the hero and heroine face on their journey to happy ever after, and the fantastic dialogue -- kept me entertained from start to finish. Really, this was a story I could not get enough of due to the hero. He's notorious, a scoundrel and is adamant he'll never marry or fall in love. Will the heroine be able to win him over? Will he realize how much Evie means to him before it's too late? The way this story started had me liking the hero immediately, as it proves why he doesn't want anything to do with love. He was betrayed once before by the woman he loved, and there's no way he's going to let that happen to him again.

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the hero. He's been through a lot in his past and goes through a lot more in the present. Acknowledging his daughter is the right thing to do, even if it means being judged by society and his own family. Moreover, I liked how kind and caring the hero was towards people that don't have a lot. I also liked how he didn't care what people of high society thought of him and that he did everything he could to resist Evie for fear of ruining her reputation. While the heroine, I liked that she stood up for the hero when it came to her mother's harsh judgment of him. I also liked that she befriended him, even knowing that her association with him could make people judge her. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine is her determination to seduce Richard and that she was willing to do whatever it takes to win the hero over because he's the only man for her. Will her plan succeed? Will she be able to convince Richard that she can handle being judged by society for being with him?

Overall, Ms. Reid has delivered a charming and enjoyable read in thie book where the chemistry between Evie and Richard was strong and delightful, the romance illustrated how good these two are together, and the ending had me concerned for one of the main characters. Yet, in saying that, I liked how everything turned out for the hero and heroine. Finally, Richard realized how much Evie meant to him and I loved how he did everything in his power to win her back. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as readers discover whether Richard's relationship with his family gets any better. Will he be able to help his sister? I would recommend How to Marry a Marquess by Stacy Reid, if you enjoy Historical Romance, the brother's friends trope, or books by authors Collette Cameron, Tina Gabrielle, Jess Michaels and Callie Hutton.