More or Less a Countess is the second book in The Somerset Sisters series by Anna Bradley. It can be read as a standalone but if you are anything like me you will want to read each of the sisters' stories.

Violet Somerset is a bluestocking. She would rather spend time sketching unusual subjects for the book she is writing rather than socialising or pursuing feminine pursuits such as embroidery. In looks, she is very similar to her younger sister Hyacinth, but that's where the similarities end. Hyacinth is a sweet, quiet young lady who excels at playing the pianoforte.

Nicholas Balfour is the Earl of Dare, and he has been enjoying his life as a rake, living it up in Italy and keeping a very attractive mistress. His aunt demands he comes back to England to sort out his estate and to find a wife. She has somebody in mind for the role but Nicholas is adamant that he choose his own wife. He will pick a woman who will be happy to beget his heir and be left to her own devices while he goes back to Italy to enjoy his life.

At a ball he sees Hyacinth Somerset playing the pianoforte. She is pleasant to look at and her talent is breathtaking. She seems demure and he thinks she will make the perfect undemanding type of wife he is looking for. All he needs is to find somebody to introduce them so that he can begin his courtship. Before an introduction can be arranged after the ball comes to an end he sees her on her own collecting her wrap. He can't let the opportunity past and introduces himself to her. He asks if he can call on her and to his shock she actually says no! What he doesn't realise is that he has confused the sisters and the woman he is actually talking to is Violet. She knows his reputation and knows he is nowhere good enough for her sweet sister, which is why she tells him not to call on her.

Nicholas, never one to be told what to do and determined that Hyacinth would be the perfect wife, ignores her and calls for her the next day. Circumstances work out so that Violet is still able to pretend to be her sister. She realises too that it could work to her advantage to spend some time with him, getting him to take her places for her research and sketching at the same time as making sure that he keeps away from her sister. Problems arise when she finds herself attracted to him, and to his surprise Nicholas finds himself feeling more for her than he thought he would. Maybe it isn't love to begin with but they definitely feel a lot of lust for each other. It's the worst thing that could happen, isn't it?

I really enjoyed this story, not least because of the unusual places that Violet asked Nicholas to take her, and the times he had to play hero to keep her safe. There were lots of interesting facts about London and it's more gruesome areas all interspersed with the growing romance of our main characters. I had no idea how they could have a happy ever after when they both had secrets to hide but I was thrilled with how the author had it work out for them. It was believable and it was wonderful and I was left with a big smile on my face when the book ended. There was only one place in the book where there was a bit of an inconsistency with a scene, but other than that the book was perfect and I am definitely going to read the others in the series.

Enjoyable story. Love the interaction between the characters. Will be recommending this for my customers.

There was so much about this book to like. I enjoyed the writing and the setting but the characters just ruined it for me. Violet started off ok but I grew to dislike her. She was sassy but stubborn and her actions nearly had dire consequences. My main issue was Nick who is the most unlikeable romantic hero I have came across in a while. His attitude towards women is horrible. They are either 'chits' or something for him to play with. The first sex scene in the book is him with another women and he spends most of the novel thinking about his mistress. I did not find this book to be in the slightest romantic. Sure he has a change of heart but for most of the book he is a leering womanizer.

Rating~ 4- 4.5 stars
Really loved this one!! Really love the heroine and the writing/plot was very captivating.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book two in the somerset sisters series. In this one we have Violet a bluestocking that is looking to finish her of areas of the town where young ladies shouldn't go. We also have Nick a rogue that just hates being in England but whom his aunt is forcing him to stay and find a wife. He meets what is really two different sisters but thinks Violet is someone else. So she uses Nick to take her around town. I did actually really enjoy this story. I was laughing at some parts and crying at others. The author did a great job puling you into Violet's world.

More or Less a Countess is a fun and easy read. Featuring the increasingly common "quirky and stubborn" female character and "rake in need of reforming" male character, the story is somewhat formulaic, yet still manages to be enjoyable. With mistaken identities, and full of adventure, More or Less a Countess is a rollicking read many romance fans will enjoy!

Violet Somerset is text book blue stocking. She is even writing a text book for blue stockings.

Nick Balfour is text book rogue.

Both of these characters start of very one sided, but slowly, Ms. Bryant brings in shading, and contrast, and they become deep and varied.

First and foremost, this book was given to me at no charge from the author. I read this book and fell a little bit more in love with this author's writing. There are sweet interludes in this book that can be tear jerkers at times because of their so-true and passionate heart wrenching scenes. This is a book about devotion and being dedicated in love. It shows us to believe in ourselves and not to always try to live up to others expectations. It shows us how important it is for us to look at things from someone else's viewpoint to better understand the situation. A definitely wonderful book. It's witty and romantic

I was charmed...

...by this rather wonderful story of the proverbial bad boy, driven to action because he never measured up, and the wayward Bluestocking who despite all odds worms her way into a small corner of his heart.
Nicholas Balfour, the Earl of Dare, had never met anyone like Hyacinth Somerset, but then he didn't meet Hyacinth he met her sister Violet who is certainly one of a kind. And Violet determined to teach this rake a lesson doesn't dispel Nick's understanding that he's meeting with Hyacinth. After 'all a lady didn’t marry a gentleman who mistook her for her sister.'
Violet is the middle of a grand effort, producing a book about London entitled 'A Treatise on London for Bluestockings and Adventuresses,' and the Earl of Dare has arrived just in time to become a model for the chapter “Gentlemen, Rakes, and Rakes who Pose as Gentlemen”. What fun!
The jaded Nick finds himself drawn pellmell into Violet's world, and surprisingly finds himself challenged by this petite, beautiful woman with a surprising intellect.
Of course the lively plot is ripe for misunderstandings and disappointments.
A rather delicious read!

A NetGalley ARC

This is a lovely book. This series is great. The characters are great and the story is good. It is a must read if you are a Anna Bradley fan.

Anna Bradley has become one of my gavprite authors and this book is just another example of why. Who doesn't want to be a countess, the title alone had me intrigued. Then when I began to read I was swept away and felll in love right along with the heroine. The characters and the writing in this novel were superb and my only complaint is that Ms, Bradley isn't writing fast enough for me, because already I am eag r for her next novel.

Violet Somerset refuses to undergo another Season and suffer more humiliating incidents with the ton. Lord Dare (Nick) has been called back to England following his father's death and is being pressured to marry. One would not expect Violet, a bluestocking working on a book, and Nick, a rake with a notorious reputation, to be a good match. There is a massive misunderstanding once Nick realizes he has been courting the wrong sister, and Violet has not told him everything, either. What once seemed mismatched can become a wonderful match!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

Nicholas Balfour is the second son, the spare, and always felt he was in the shadow of his beloved older brother, Graham. Nick and Graham were the best of friends, but their father, the Earl of Dare, while never actually cruel to Nick, showered his favor and attention on his heir. When Graham died, Nick tried to step up into a role he never wanted, but it seemed there was no pleasing his father. Finally, desperate to escape his own grief and feelings of inadequacy, Nick flees to the continent and begins living a rakish lifestyle, seeking whatever pleasures take his fancy. Then Nick’s father dies, and he’s forced to return to cold England, leaving warm Italy, and his even warmer mistress behind. While Nick intends for his stay in England to be brief, his aunt, Lady Westcott, holds the purse strings, and she has different plans.

Violet Somerset is a bluestocking, and her debut into society wasn’t successful, to say the least. Her playing, singing, and dancing all leave something to be desired, and she often found herself the object of cruel remarks. The only gentleman to show her kindness and friendship, Lord Derrick, fell in love and married her friend, Honora. With the object of her affections now wed to another, Violet focuses on writing and illustrating a book about London – its history and its people. One evening, while escaping a ball for a few quiet moments in the library, she is interrupted by the scandalous Earl of Dare and a female companion, who also decided to escape the ball, but for a totally different reason. Unaware that someone else is in the room, Dare and his companion proceed to have a quickie while an astonished (and amused) Violet observes.

While at dinner, Nick is seated close to Violet’s sister, Hyacinth, and he later hears her playing beautifully. Knowing that his aunt will not let him leave England until he weds, Nick decides to pursue Hyacinth - at least his wife will be beautiful and talented. He plans on an introduction, but instead approaches Violet, who looks very much like Hyacinth. Violet, still inwardly laughing at the earlier encounter she witnessed, advises Nick not to call on her. Nick, ever confident of his charms proceeds to call on Violet anyway, still assuming that she is Hyacinth, and that she will shortly succumb to him. Violet is anxious to send Nick away, but it becomes clear that he could be useful to her, escorting her around town to locations where she can research and do sketches for her book.

Thus begins the relationship built on deception from both sides – Nick plying his charm to quickly win an unwanted bride, and Violet, letting Nick think she is Hyacinth, while using him to escort and protect her. But, as they say, love is strange. Nick finds himself enjoying his time with the avowed bluestocking. Her genuine thirst for knowledge and her natural curiosity and enthusiasm begins to charm him. Violet also begins to appreciate Nick’s innate courtesy, protectiveness, and his willingness to answer her questions. He never mocks her, he shows her exquisite care, and acts the true gentleman around her. It’s not long before they are caught embracing, and a quick marriage is in their future.

After the initial anger and confusion over Violet pretending to be Hyacinth, they marry. Violet sincerely apologizes, and Nick forgives her. His thoughts on their wedding day:
He was going to make love to her tonight, and when they were both sated and she was lying in his arms, he was going to dream about her smile, and that flirtatious little laugh. Tomorrow he would make her laugh again, and for every tomorrow afterwards, whenever that laugh was on the edge of her mouth, he would catch it on his lips.

Only Nick’s heart is broken before he ever holds her in his arms. He makes a shattering discovery, and all his dreams of love and happy ever after are dead. The wonderful man Violet fell in love with has retreated behind the cold eyed rake, whose only intention now is to see his wife pregnant and to return to his mistress.

Author Anna Bradley certainly knows how to write some heart wrenching scenes. I had tears falling several times as this wonderfully flawed, deeply in love couple broke each other’s heart and trust. Both Violet and Nick were strong in many ways, yet very vulnerable. In particular, Nick’s insecurities over his stellar older brother kept him from accepting the truth. Their eventual happiness is so well deserved, and the culmination of their passion is hot and beautiful. I found MORE OR LESS A COUNTESS to be a highly emotional, romantic, and breathtaking read that is Anna Bradley’s best writing to date.

Violet Somerset meets Nicholas Balfour, the Earl of Dare, in the most unbecoming way. The encounter has her convinced he is a Rake so when she hears he wants to meet her younger sister, Hyacinth, she decides to fool Nick into believing she is the young lady in question.
Time has her seeing Nick in a new light but how will she let him know of her deception? Will she loose him once he finds out everything she has kept from him?

In the series, this was The only one I didn’t enjoy as much. It took me a while to understand Violet’s quirks. Until she became more vulnerable, I didn’t see what was Nick saw in her. As soon as she let down her guard, I was a fan and riveted to the storyline. Soon after that however, it became a book with too many misunderstandings and ill thought out assumptions.

Knowing how much I enjoyed the previous books in the series, this was a bit of a let down but I am still excited for Hyacinth’s story!

I really, really enjoy Anna Bradley, and More or Less a Countess was another winner from her. If you love quirky female MCs and a slow-burn romance, this one is for you.

Something that always draws me to a book is a female MC that has personality and the macabre-loving Violet worked for me. I loved how she forced Nick on all of these crazy, dark adventures and how he tried to act reasonable about them the whole time. Violet was fun to read, and I liked the book it's best when it felt lighthearted and odd (in the best way).

Nick is the kind of self-loathing male MC that I'm a total sucker for. He is a rake and has deep pain (of course), and I loved seeing him fall in love with the vivacious Violet. I think they made an interesting pairing, and they worked for me as a couple.

I almost knocked this book down to 3.5 stars because of the (insert eye-roll) big misunderstanding, but I enjoyed the whole feel of the story so much that I decided to keep it as 4-stars. Even if you aren't familiar with the Somerset Sister series, you should have no problem jumping into this delightful story.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

This is the second in The Somerset Sisters series which actually in in the world of also The Sutherland Series. You can read this is a standalone but the all the series have been really enjoyable so I would recommend reading them all if you enjoy this one. Anna Bradley writes fun and interesting characters that keeps things engaging. In this story, Nicholas Balfour is being pressured to marry. His plan is to find a meek and wife who will be easy to leave at his estate in the country while he continues his rougish lifestyle. He sets his sights on Hyacinth Somerset but is mixup causes him to confuse her with her sister Violet. Violet is not the meek bride he was planning on. I found the relationship quite amusing with all the misunderstandings and little situations the two are thrown into. It was easy to get through this book and enjoyable to watch the relationship develop.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dare, a notorious rouge, wishes an introduction to Violet's shy sister. In order to protect her, Violet poses as her sister - but things backfire. Enjoyed the story.

3.5 Stars — rounding up because I liked the writing style and enjoyed the characters, overall.

This was my first read by Anna Bradley, and it is safe to say that it will not be my last. There were a couple plot points that didn’t quite make sense to me, but I liked the writing and flow enough to have some hope that she may be an author that I can enjoy, even when the story does not appeal as much as others, which is the best sort of find.

There was nothing terribly original to this story. The hero is a titled rake and the heroine is a bluestocking with gothic tastes. They meet when the hero, Nick, compliments Violet for her piano play, mistaking her for her younger sister Hyacinth. Apparently they look a lot alike, but it does not make sense that Hyacinth would have been known as Miss Somerset, with Violet being older Hyacinth should have been referred to as Miss Hyacinth, but no matter, it was an important plot point. Nick, spurred by his aunt, is on the lookout for a wife. The sooner he is married, the sooner he can return to Italy. Violet sees the opportunity to use him as an escort to places she would otherwise not be allowed to go, under the guise of Hyacinth, who Nick thinks he is courting. Slowly but surely Nick begins to appreciate Violet’s oddities and she realizes there is more to the rake than she first suspected.

There were a couple moments with misunderstandings that I could have done without, and it was a couple chapters too long. Overall, though, I enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more by this author.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is part of the Somerset series, but you don't need to have read the previous one to enjoy this story. I hate it when reviewers tell me everything that happens, so I'm just going to say I really enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the hero, but wondered how he could be so dumb as to not know one sister from another. Violet was lovely, but totally different from her timid sister. There is a lot of drama in this story so it keeps your attention. I enjoyed the romance and interaction between them! I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. Yes, I would have bought this book!

Title: More or Less a Countess (The Somerset Sisters)
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Anna Bradley
Source: Free for review from the publisher
Publisher: Lyrical, August 7, 2018
Pages: 252
Rating: 3
Sexy rating: 5
Violence rating: 3
Description from Amazon:

Finding a worthy husband should be simple for three beautiful debutantes in Regency London. But the Somerset sisters have a way of making it delightfully complicated . . .

Violet Somerset has always preferred a library to a ballroom, but to please her grandmother she agreed to one London season. With nothing to show for it but heartbreak, she’s reconciled to spinsterhood. Until a notorious rogue known as the Devil of Dare requests an introduction to her timid, gentle youngest sister, Hyacinth. Violet will do anything to stop the match—even if it means posing as Hyacinth herself . . .

Nicholas Balfour, the Earl of Dare, is enjoying the life of a rake far too much to take a wife. But he must keep his promise to his grandmother. He’ll simply choose the meekest bride he can find, install her at his estate, then carry on as before. Hyacinth sounds perfect—until he discovers that her sweet demeanor hides the tongue of a viper and the mind of a bluestocking . . .

As Violet’s ruse threatens to unravel, however, she may find the tables turned. Soon she may have no choice but to tolerate her handsome fiancée—or fall in love with him . . .

**
Violet is a bluestocking and Nick is a rake, the combination is ripe for angst and witty repartee, which Ms. Bradley delivers. There are scenes that lead the reader to laugh out loud. Even though I did enjoy much of this book I could not help but think that every scene with Nick and Violet was a bit over-the-top. This is a stand alone book and #2 in the series. Not a badly written book just not my cuppa tea.