~~Reviewed by AnnMarie~~

The Marquis and I is the fourth book in The Worthingtons series by Ella Quinn. You don’t have to have read the other books in the series for this one to make sense, BUT, if you have read them then you will definitely enjoy this one more because we catch up with characters that we have grown to love over the entire series.

This book focuses on Charlotte Carpenter and Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth. When Charlotte is kidnapped Constantine is in the right place at the right time and is called upon to rescue her. He doesn’t know her and dreads rescuing her from the Inn she has been taken to. As far as he is concerned she will just be a simpering hysterical miss. He is pleasantly surprised to find that she is anything but that. His rescue of her goes well, but still, circumstances arise that could ruin her and her family’s reputation and Con finds himself telling people that they are betrothed!

Charlotte is horrified at the thought of marriage to Con when she realises that he is a rake and one that has a mistress. She has strong views on men who take advantage of women forced to sell their bodies. The worst of it all is that Con can’t see that he is in the wrong at all. There is no way she could marry a man like him! While she is thinking of all the ways she could get out of the betrothal he is thinking of all the ways he can get her to change her mind about him. They are both seriously physically attracted to each other, but they need to have more than that to ensure a happy marriage.

Alongside the romantic aspect of this wonderful story, there is also the hunt for the woman, Betsy, who organised Charlotte’s kidnapping. Betsy had her whore house shut down by Charlotte’s brother, and although it’s suspected that the kidnapping of Charlotte was done in revenge, it’s far more sinister than that. Con and Charlotte, their families too will do anything to stop Betsy in her tracks!

There is so much going on in this story, there is just the right amount of dark and light, from people getting killed to the fun frolics of the beautiful kitten that Charlotte has. There are beautiful sweet romantic moments for Con and Charlotte, and some very passionate moments as well. Do they get their happily ever after, does Betsy get her comeuppance? Read the book to find out, you won’t be disappointed.

I would love to have given this book a 5-star rating, but there were a couple of instances where I believe a phrase was used incorrectly. The words bread and butter in English colloquialism mean money/a stable income, a means of support. In this book here is one of the instances where it was used incorrectly ‘It was none of his bread and butter who eloped with whom.’ Meaning it was none of his business. Apart from that though, the book was a real pleasure to read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers’ copy of this book.



Rating:

Publisher's Description:

Trouble is no match for a lady of the extended Worthington family—except when it comes in the form of a most irresistible gentleman . . .

Lady Charlotte Carpenter’s brother-in-law has put an infamous brothel owner out of business—yet it is Charlotte who suffers the consequences. Abducted by thugs and held at an inn, she is plotting her escape when she’s suddenly rescued by a dashing gentleman. Only afterward does she realize she’s seen him before—with two courtesans! Unwilling to tarry with such a man, Charlotte makes her second escape. But it is too late to repair her reputation . . .

A known gossip has spied Charlotte’s movements, and his report is speeding through the rumor mill. Soon, everyone knows that Charlotte spent the night with Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth. And everyone agrees the only answer is marriage—including Constantine himself, his overjoyed mother—and his mistress! But Charlotte’s abductors aren’t finished with her yet. Now Constantine will do anything to protect the spirited woman he loves and win her heart . . .

My Thoughts:
I love this series. It is full of humor, a bit of danger and romance.
Charlotte is a bit adventurous. In spite of her warnings to the contrary she leaves her home to simply cross the street to the second residence and promptly is abducted by miscreants who work for the infamous Madame who Charlotte's brother-in-law put out of business. Revenge is what the woman is after. She intends I'll will against Charlotte.
Constantine wants no part of marriage but when he sees the abduction occur he follows to assist the young lady.
His help turns to what could easily be a scandal so he offers marriage.
When Charlotte discovers her savior's identity she wants no part of thee scoundrel.
Can what starts as a rescue, turning to a scandalous occurrence end in love?
I gave this delightful book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames. The attraction that ensues finally turns to intimacy.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley to read.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

This is the 4th book in the Worthington series. It is a stand alone but it really would be better if you had at least read the previous book about Dotty. These 2 books really have a lot of the same subject matter as the villain is the same.
Your heroine is Lady Charlotte. She is the sister and daughter of an Earl, sister in law to a duke and cousin to a Marquis. When she is kidnapped, the Marquis of Kenilworth, Constatine, happens to be in the area and is enlisted to help follow the villains while they contact her brother. He follows them to an inn where he stages a rescue. Of course they are seen traveling alone together so Constantine announces their engagement.
I love Ella Quinn's books. I gave this 4 stars because I felt it was repetitive of her last book and I felt it ended twice. The rescue of Miss Susan just didn't make any sense to me. It looked like it was thrown in there to fill up pages. I thought the story should have ended with the rescue of Mis Cloverly. But all in all the book flowed smoothly and I did enjoy it.

I loved this book. After reading just a tiny bit all the previous books popped into my brain. Sort of like having a great family gathering. I laughed so hard at how they kept clashing. And wow what a great ending.

The Confused Hero!

Enjoyable, comic romantic farce opening with a wary Marquis rescuing a kidnapped damsel. Although the damsel is not so much distressed as angry and the Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth, keeps wondering what gods he'd offended to be in the wrong place at the right time. That is until he discovered that he rather liked Lady Charlotte Carpenter, and furthermore maybe marrying her might not be such a bad idea if only Charlotte would see the light. Unfortunately, the rescue attempt has unforeseen consequences and Con and Charlotte are discovered by a notorious ton gossip in somewhat compromising circumstances, forcing Con to do the 'honorable' thing. Charlotte however needs to be convinced.
Charlotte has been kidnapped by the procurer and brothel owner, the dastardly, cold 'Miss Betsy' whom Worthington previously had put out of business. Betsy's running a profitable side business abducting young women and children and selling them to the highest bidder for nefarious purposes. Charlotte's kidnapping is a vengeance move but something darker lies behind it.
Delving into the actions surrounding the madcap Worthington family is a joy. Unexpected and full of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed Con's interaction with children of the household. The bold young servant Jemmy, who keeps appearing in the rescue attempts, is a treasure. I so adore his feistiness and general dare devil actions.
Quinn's light touch with Con's unlooked at acceptance of women of the demi monde underscores the darker note on historical circumstances around Regency times Kids Kens and abducted young women is quite revealing. Human trafficking has been with us for a very long time.

A NetGalley ARC

There were parts of the romance that I enjoyed and parts that I felt dragged on. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was behind Charlotte's kidnapping and I enjoyed Con's courting of Charlotte. I felt that there were too many side characters and it was hard to keep track of everyone and their relationship with Charlotte and Con. I enjoyed parts of the read, but not as much as I'd hoped.

This is Charlotte and Constantine’s story. He rescues her from Miss Betsy’s evil plans. They are caught in a compromising situation. They become betrothed. Charlotte has to decide if she can love him. This rescue many people She surprises him with a wedding. I read it in one sitting.

The story started with very abrupt beginning, making it very difficult to get interested in the storyline. Although I liked the hero, Con’s character, I did not like the heroine, Charlotte’s character in the story at the beginning of the story. She seemed naïve and unworldly in her suppositions. I did enjoy reading about the extended family as I had in this authors previous novels. But as the story progressed, the story got a lot more interesting. I am glad I stuck with the novel as I enjoyed the rest of the story. I would still say it is a little slower book to read but if you want a no stress, family fun book to read, this is your book.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

A lot of readers seem to love The Marquis and I, so maybe the fact that this book caught me during a long book slump (that doesn't seem to have an end) didn't help its case. Either way, I was expecting something really great from Ella Quinn and I felt underwhelmed instead.

I adore historical romance, and I read a lot of them, so I've gotten pickier and pickier over the years. I expect a lot from my books, and a well-crafted, slow-burn romance is the bare minimum of what I've come to need.

There was something about The Marquis and I's writing style that felt very awkward to me. Clearly jumping in the series at book 4 didn't help my confusion, but the writing style was disjointed and choppy, with characters coming to big realizations suddenly and changing POVs without warning. I found the reading experience to be a bit jarring, to be honest.

I liked the overall idea for the plot and I love an enemies-to-lovers story, but the plot just dragged on and on. There were long lulls in the story, and I found it to be difficult to keep my attention on the book.

I don't know, there was just something off for me the whole time while reading. It wasn't a bad story, but I read so many historical romances that are more engaging that I wasn't impressed by this one.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 Stars - An enthralling historical romance full of carriage chases, handsome Lords, fierce ladies and family who love, share and offer endless support. It’s a book lover’s delight that proves that sometimes your heart is ready to fall in love, even when think you aren’t.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Constantine and Charlotte come from a huge family and a large number of secondary and tertiary characters, not to mention, their pets, are thrown into this mix, it was not easy to keep up. It possibly might have made more sense if I read the first three in the series and met the Worthingtons and their ever-increasing extended family beforehand.

The pace is too slow for my liking. The abductions and rescue efforts are the main focus of the narrative. Charlotte, Con, and most of her family are involve in this drama.

I didn't feel a strong bond between Lady Charlotte Carpenter and Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth but they did have their happy ever-after but it was such a slow burn.

This is a family saga where every family member and their pets deeply care for one another. They admirably helped, rescued, or saved women and children from a life of crime and/or prostitution. They brought the villains to justice. This family cares. This is the bit of the story that I like.

I voluntarily read a NetGalley arc. My review is impartial and honest.

so i'm always a little skeeved out by regency romance novels that start out with the lead hero having a mistress or visiting prostitutes. it's kind of gross. the marquis and i starts out like this too, except the heroine is so opposed to men having mistresses that she basically believes the hero to be an abuser of women and a seriously vile human being.

even though constatine, lord kenilworth is actually the guy who came to her help when she was abducted by some thugs out to sell her into sexual slavery. so then, even though i think he's kind of gross, i'm also don't believe he's an abuser of women because he has a mistress. yes there are some power dynamics in play that are horrifically anti-feminist, but i also think that the mistress has some agency. so it's weird.

this is a weird issue to base the foundation of a romance novel on. listen on the one hand, con is actually pretty open-minded. and when he's challenged by lady charlotte to ask his mistress why she went into the business of mistressing, he's man enough to admit his preconceived notions are wrong. and he goes out to fix them. and then he sets out to woo charlotte. and he does a pretty spectacular job. like there's some other dude who is kind of a contender but it's clear early on that con has the advantage. in the end, the romance is elevated because con is actually a really good guy. he grows and changes. and charlotte stops coming off as a super naive do-gooder and instead lives up to the intelligence and resourcefulness we first see in her.

**the marquis and i will publish on february 27, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/kensington press (zebra) in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Kensington Books and netgalley for this ARC.

Only Ella Quinn could make this farce into a amorous, fun, and wild west chase to unmask a abductor. .
,

A fast past adventure that starts out with the heroine, Lady Charlotte Carpenter being kidnapped off the street! Taken to an inn, she is held by rapscallions to be handed off to an enemy of her family that was thought taken out of the picture. But Charlotte keeps her head and is looking for any chance to escape. In comes Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth who saw the incident happen and speeds off to rescue her. What he finds is a somewhat quirky miss who has her kitten in a handbasket she has carted with her and a gun hidden to defend herself! One thing leads to another and Charlotte appears compromised by Con because he takes her to an inn nearby and tries to pass her off as his wife. Wife you said? How smart is that?
This story has a lot of mishaps between Charlotte and Con but there is an underlying serious problem that is addressed with the kidnapping and selling of women and children. This seems to be part of the underbelly of society and Charlotte and her family have been trying to put a stop to what they can.
As the story continues, there are serious moments as well as a lot of humor and in the end the attraction between the two. Can true love come out of such a meeting and quick betrothed? Or will they be stuck with each other due to convention? Read to find out what happens in this entertaining story. I want to read the rest of the series now to catch up!

London - 1815

Lady Charlotte Carpenter has just been abducted and thrown into a carriage. She had only been going across the street to her sister’s home, Worthington House when she was grabbed. Some time ago, her sister and a friend had been abducted, so Charlotte’s brother-in-law, Mattheus (Matt), the Earl of Worthington, taught her and her sisters how to protect themselves should it happen to them. She is armed with a pistol in her bag, but she also has her little kitten in there too.

The Butler, having seen the abduction, summons Constantine (Con), the Marquis of Kenilworth, to rescue Charlotte. When her kidnappers stop at an inn, Con is able to get her away and escape. But the journey home in the dark is long and tedious. As the sun begins to rise, they stop at an inn where they are discovered by people they know who are big gossips. Con tells them that he and his betrothed are headed to see his mother.

Charlotte is furious at finding herself compromised by and betrothed to Con. She does not care for him because he has a mistress whom he plans to dismiss. She feels that any man who does this type of thing simply abuses women and she has vowed never to marry anyone like that.

The story follows as they meet Con’s mother and then return to London. Con is determined to do his best to woo Charlotte and hopes that she will fall in love with him. It is an uphill battle for him as she is quite testy at times. Will they be able to settle and find a loving relationship and marriage?

Oh dear. This author has written some good books but I have to say that I have become very weary of this Worthington series. There are way too many characters and the animals thrown in are a nice touch but that becomes a bit too cutesy at times. I would be happy to see the author end this series and go onto something else. I find that too often some authors don’t know when enough is enough.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a good historical romance. Even though it's fourth in the series, I was able to follow the characters right away without having read the previous stories. This story is about Charlotte and Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth.

Charlotte is kidnapped by thugs employed by a former brothel owner. The brothel owner was shut down by Charlotte's brother in a previous story. Constantine was able to save her, at the request of her butler, even though he does not know her. Charlotte begins to become comfortable with Constantine, until she realizes she has seen him with two courtesans at one time.

Charlotte and Con are seen appearing disheveled and at an inn together on their return to London by a peer. The rumor mill in London is started, and Con determines that the only option to save Charlotte's reputation is marriage. Charlotte resists Con's advances until she realizes changes in him based on things she's said. This was a good story and I enjoyed the large cast of characters very much. There were times I laughed out loud during this story. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a historical romance.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not read the previous ones, but it seems a well known brothel owner was taken out of business. That woman is now out for revenge and Charlotte is her means to that end. Because of all that went down in previous books Charlotte is now a champion for women and children. And men with mistresses, well they are not good men in her opinion.

As you can see Charlotte has her opinions (and after hearing more about the woman out for revenge then I understand. She was a monster.) As for Charlotte, she is sweet, kind and will never leave anyone in trouble.

Constantine, well honestly he is a really good guy. He comes to her rescue without even knowing her (even if that means she is now ruined and they most marry). Sure he has a mistress, and he does take a deep look at himself.

He does the chasing. She tries to get out of it. But his kisses are so sweet...obviously. But there is also a bit of suspense as that woman is still out there and thirsty for revenge.

Sweet with depths of darker things.

The Marquis and I by Ella Quinn is the Fourth book in 'The Worthingtons" series. This is the story of Constantine, Marquis of Kenilworth and Lady Charlotte Carpenter. I have read (and Loved them!) the previous book in this series but feel this can be a standalone book.
Charlotte is kidnapped and she is working to escape there clutches when she runs into Con. Con was happy on his way to see his mistress but ended up going after Charlotte who he was told had been kidnapped. Con found Charlotte and tired to help her but they ended up getting caught and he had to make the jester that they were getting married.
This was another great book by Ms. Quinn. Just loved it!!

This story had so much potential, but once again Quinn's story falls short for me. As much as I love the Worthingtons, this might be the last one of Quinn's that I read...

I really loved the storyline, but it was often the dialogue that had me cringing as I was reading it. I also thought that Charlotte spent way too much time harping on that fact that Con had a mistress. That was the norm during that time period. I realize that she had seen the darker side of the trade, but it was a but much for me.

Time will tell if I pick up another of Quinn's stories, but I believe Elizabeth and Harrington's story will be coming up, so?!?!

This is a well written historical romance and I also appreciate the end where the author gives more background. So back to the story Constantine is just going about his day when he is informed that someone has taken Charlotte one of his good friends sister. He can’t just ignore this so he sets out to retrieve her. Charlotte is ok with her rescue until she figures out who Constantine is then she wants nothing to do with him. I feel that Charlotte at this time acted very petulant and took no one else into account ending them up in a still misunderstanding. The book had a nice mix of romance and mystery. The family and friends worked hard to bring the people responsible for the kidnappings to justice.