3 stories by 3 fantastic writers: Sylvia Day (who I've read before), Minerva Spencer and Kristin Vayden (both new authors for me).

Mischief and the Marquess
I wanted to read this book because I've read Sylvia Day's historical romance novels before and thoroughly enjoyed them. She writes great women. And this book is another example.

Sophie and Justin are being matched by his mother and her grandmother. They grew up together but Sophie married someone else who, from the sounds of it, recently died.

While neither party wants any part in this, they have to figure out a way out of it so that feelings won't be hurt.

Surprise, surprise: the older generation knows better and the sparks between them are pretty hot.

The Duke's treasure
Jo (short for Josephine) marries Beau, after the match has been arranged by her dying father. The problem is Beau's marrying for her money, and Jo's marrying because she's in love.

Add an unexpected hiccup in the forms of a her meddling father and his old girlfriend and watch how the cards fall.

2 lovely characters you can't help but fall for. I'll be looking for more books by Minerva Spencer.

An inconvenient countess
Diana and Brook feature in this last story. Brook needs respectability and Diana needs to save her family home. Each can offer the other what they need. But together they both get something neither ever expected.

A charming story and I'll be looking for more by Kristin Vayden.

The Arrangement is an anthology of three historical romances by amazing authors. These stories all include super hot and steamy scenes. They are all stories of marriage of convenience.
I love all of Sylvia Day’s books and this one didn’t disappoint.
Grab this book and settle down for a blast into the past.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

NOTE: 3.5 stars--My review covers MISCHIEF AND THE MARQUESS by Sylvia Day.

Told from several third person perspectives including Justin, the Marquess of Fontaine, and Lady Sophie Milton-Riley MISCHIEF AND THE MARQUESS follows the rebuilding friendship and relationship between former childhood friends. Lady Sophie Milton-Riley is a single mother who lost the love of her life before her son was born, leaving her reputation tattered and in ruins. Hoping to see their children fall in love, the Dowager Lady Fontaine, and Lady Sophie’s grandmother the Countess of Cardington arrange a meeting between Sophie and Justin, a matchmaking that will hopefully rekindle the attraction and romance from years before. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Justin and Sophie, as Justin prepares to save Sophie’s reputation and the dowry she never knew existed.

Mischief and the Marquess is a quick read; a fast paced, novella of insta-lust to love between two people who have known one another most of their lives but went their separate ways when Sophie fell in love with someone else. Sophie believes her reputation will destroy the Marquess’ good name, while Justin is determined to make an honest woman of the girl he has always loved. The premise is cute and engaging; the characters are colorful and energetic; the romance is passionate and intense but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word in my romance story lines.



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A collection of three early 19th century British-set historical novellas. The headliner of the collection is Sylvia Day, with "Mischief and the Marquess," an opposites-attract novella from 2007. As a younger man, stiff, stodgy Justin, Marquess of Fontaine, nursed a keen infatuation for the vivacious Lady Sophie Milton-Riley. But while he waited for her to grow up, another lord beat him to the punch of proposing to her. Since then, an unspecified scandal have cast Sophie out of polite social circles. In spite of this, Justin's mother and Sophie's grandmother are conspiring to make a match between the two. Sophie convinces Justin to contrive with her to demonstrate to their matchmaking relatives that they are simply not meant for one another. Several rather uninspired schemes later convinces them that they are. One can understand why Day switched from historical to contemporary romance after reading this story; her voice here often feels awkward and overwritten ("his blond hair was a maternal trait"; "She could not predict how he would respond to the gross deviation of propriety she had committed so many years ago"), and her plotting less than compelling.

Minerva Spencer's entry, "The Duke's Treasure," features the forced marriage trope, although the force here is not propriety but money and honor. Beaumont ("Beau") Halliwell, the new Duke of Wroxton, agrees to marry "the Potted Meat Princess," one of the richest women in England, despite her lack of a noble pedigree. Why? Because his family's coffers are empty, and because his now-dead brother broke his promise to Mr. Loman that he would wed his daughter. For her part, Josephine ("Jo") Loman has been longing after the gorgeous former second Halliwell son for five years (ever since she saw him having sex with another woman at a house party they both attended). Even his coldness, obvious contempt, and lack of memory of their earlier meetings can't "quench her burning desire to possess him." Their relationship doesn't improve when Beau insists they set out for the country, leaving Jo's dying father behind. Of course, readers know that he is only doing so because he promised her father to keep Jo from witnessing his decline. With such an inauspicious beginning, as well as an evil other woman to make their relationship even more fraught, can the two make anything out of their marriage? Spencer's strong writing, erotic sex scenes, and message that forging a strong bond requires open and honest discussions combine to make this story the standout of the collection.

Kristin Vayden's "An Inconvenient Countess"
Charles Brook, Earl of Barrington, is in need of a respectable wife, so that another man will sell him an estate in the Caribbean (why the owner of what is presumably a sugar plantation worked by enslaved Africans would scruple to sell it to a rake is a bit of a puzzle). Since his reputation in London is so bad (for unspecified reasons), he heads to the country, and discovers a candidate in the eldest daughter of his neighbor, Diana Lambson, the eldest of five girls. With a recently deceased father and an ill mother, it is up to Diana to secure her family's future. Barrington's offer of a marriage of convenience (not the typical, no-sex kind, but one without emotional attachments) is the perfect answer to her problems. Neither is expecting to love the other, but they quickly fall into an easy friendship. But when Barrington's business deal falls through, will their new relationship founder, too? Despite occasional poor word choice and awkward phrasing ("if it's so simple, why such articulate planning?"; "It would only serve his purpose to have his marriage a well-known occurrence"), a solid historical novella.

Day's story: 2 stars
Spencer's story: 4 stars
Vayden's story: 3 stars

I'm normally not one for historical romances but I love Sylvia Day and had to read this. So good. I loved all these books and their characters. Each book had me hooked from beginning to end.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was interested in this collection of novellas solely because of Minerva Spencer - I recently discovered and adored Scandalous (it was over-the-top in a good way). I'm also a big fan of the marriage of convenience trope, so what could go wrong?

Well...this one totally missed the mark for me. While I know that Day's novella was originally published in 2007, the other two also felt so, so dated to me. Over the years that I've been reading historical romances the genre has changed a lot to reflect how the world has changed (feminism and consent being the two big ones) and I personally felt that these novellas completely disregarded the fact that audiences have changed (or at least I have?). At any rate, I didn't feel that any of these novellas were developed enough to warrant the dated, domineering and controlling hero. Perhaps with a longer page count and better character exploration I could have gotten behind these romances, but as it stands, this collection was a disappointment to me.

I absolutely loved this book. It has three great historical romances in one book. They are short stories but written so well that you get caught up in them and lose track of time and have finished this book so quickly. I couldn’t put it down. I loved all three and Sylvia Day’s story had me so entrenched in it that I couldn’t believe it was a short story. I love a story about trying to mothers that you are in love to get them off their backs and this one is incredible and the characters are so well written and like able. Normally I want more in short stories but I did not feel this way cause they are all so well written. Great book!

The publisher and Netgalley provided me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of regency romance novellas strikes just the right balance of swoon and escape. All three stories are premised on the "marriage of convenience" trope and all of the roguish heroes are transformed into model, if slightly naughty, suitors.

I thoroughly enjoyed this regency romp.

The Arrangement was three steamy reads that let you escape today and travel back to a time when marriages were arranged for convenience and love was an after thought.
I love reading arranged marriage stories. Stories where the couple is matched out of need (not the nice passion kind of need), where they don't think this will be anything other than a business arrangement and then they find themselves tumbling head over heels in love. The arrangement of the each of the three marriages in this book happens for a different reason and how the couple falls in love is also unique to each story. This helped keep each story fresh and entertaining.
All three of these tales by Sylvia Day, Minerva Spencer and Kristin Vayden captured my attention, had me breaking out a fan and left me with that great feeling of romance and love found. The Arrangement left me clamoring for more books from each of these three talented writers!

The Arrangement by Sylvia Day is a small compilation of three historical romance novelettes. The stories are full of characters who you don't think would go together but somehow end up being wonderful couples. Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day, The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer and The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden are included.

Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day is about two characters, Justin, the Marquess of Fontaine, and Lady Sophie Milton-Riley. Their mothers are best friends and have decided that their children should be married. Justin and Sophie disagree, but mothers know best.

Josephine Loman and Beaumont Halliwell are the main characters in The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer . Jo knows she is plain and not appealing to such a beautiful man like Beau. Beau knows he needs to marry money in order to save his dukedom and Jo is the person. There is a lovely, yucky woman to hate which helps the love story.

Diana Katherine Lambson knows she has to save her family from being destitute in The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden. The only way she can come up with is to marry Charles Brook, Earl of Barrington, a man that has a horrible reputation as a rake and a cad. Only the marriage turns out to be more than either expected.

All three stories in the book, The Arrangement, are fun reads. They are quick reads with fun characters and stories. The Arrangement is a good read.

This fantastic trio of authors have written three of the best historical romances I've read in a while. Three couples, three arranged marriages and great epilogues make this an entertaining read. I've read Sylvia Day books before but Minerva Spencer and Kristin Vayden are new to me authors but I will be checking them out in the future.

The Arrangement by Sylvia Day; Minerva Spencer; Kristin Vayden. This is a three book box set by three different authors, that total almost 340 pages. This is a great box set if you haven't yet read stories by these authors. It a great introduction to their writing, or if you already have become a fan of them it a must have for your collection. I totally am in love with this set!
The books that you will be getting are as follows with the publishers book blurb:

Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day
Justin, the Marquess of Fontaine, and Lady Sophie Milton-Riley are completely ill-suited to one another. But they will have to prove it in order to end their mothers’ insistence that they should marry. Yet the more they attempt to demonstrate how wrong their union would be, the more surprisingly, irresistibly right things feel . . .

THE DUKE’S TREASURE by Minerva Spencer
Plain, prickly Josephine Loman has loved Beaumont Halliwell, the Fifth Duke of Wroxton, since the first time she saw him. But the most beautiful man she’s ever met had eyes only for Jo’s erstwhile friend, who betrayed Beau’s trust by marrying his brother. Beau hasn’t been home in years, but when his brother dies in an accident, he must marry to save the impoverished dukedom. And Jo is the overlooked heiress who will turn his world upside down . . .

THE INCONVENIENT COUNTESS by Kristin Vayden
As the eldest in a poverty-stricken family of daughters, Miss Diana Katherine Lambson’s only option is a marriage of convenience. Her only prospect is a rogue with a miserable reputation. Her only true desire: freedom. And that is exactly what Charles Brook, Earl of Barrington, is willing to offer, in return for the respectability their union will give him. He will even provide Diana with a contract. But does she dare entrust her future to a scoundrel? Does she dare not to?

Three stories about marriages that have been arranged in one way or the other. After thinking there is no way they could be in a love match and be happy, they all decide they had been wrong. From meddling relatives to a straight contract, there is love to be found.

Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day
Justin, the Marquess of Fontaine, has been enamored of Lady Sophie Milton-Riley since their childhood. Neither party will admit that feeling is reciprocated, which is a shame, since their families are attempting to nudge them into an alliance. Because of their current situations, Sophie is convinced they'd never suit, and intends to enlist Justin's help in convincing their matchmaking relatives this would never work. But spending some time together might be just the thing they need to ignite that shared spark...

Justin and Sophie's attraction is a delicious thing, and Ms Day writes their longing and attraction beautifully. Watching them tumble headlong into this sexy affair will make your heart beat faster and raise your temperature. Definitely a winner!


The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer
Beaumont Halliwell is the newly minted Duke of Wroxton who has just agreed to marry one Josephine Loman, heiress. His title and status in exchange for her father's deep pockets. Josie knows she's considered no prize--her plain features and plain-speaking generally turn gentlemen away, not draw them nearer. But her father is on his deathbed, and despite herself, she can't help finding Beau incredibly pleasing to the eye.

Ms Spencer's marriage-of-convenience, ugly duckling story is a gem. Jo's well aware of her physical lack of "oomph" and recognizes that her fortune is the greater part of her appeal to many in society. Beau for his part can see that he's far from perfect, and Ms Spencer allows us to witness their relationship unfolding and building upon the small concessions and truths and admissions and small kindnesses that allow them to create a foundation relying not on what others see, but on honesty and using their words to construct rather than create walls or tear down.

Beau's decision to commit to Jo and to build a relationship unlike many of those around them (including that of his own parents) sets into motion a lovely read, and I look forward to rereading this one as well as catching up on Ms Spencer's other books. The ugly duckling and marriage of convenience conventions are two of my favorites, and the way Ms Spencer has written this story has made it near perfection!


An Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden
Charles Brook, Earl of Barrington and Miss Diana Lambson come to an agreement--he needs a respectable wife, she needs his funds. Neither wants nor expects more, but both are happily surprised by the mutual respect, friendship, and then more that grows from this simple, business-like arrangement.

Brook and Diana don't particularly get along when they first meet, but it's clear neither is a fool nor cruel. Seeing what grows from the seeds of their relationship when watered with kindness and mutual respect is lovely indeed.

This is the first I've read of Ms Vayden's work, but I look forward to reading more of it!

Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day - 3 stars

This was just an ok read for me. I just couldn't get invested in their story. This was my first story by Day. I'll have to read a full length story to see if I like it any better...

The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer - 4 stars

I really enjoyed Jo and Beau's story. Beau was marrying purely to save his estate and was surprised to find himself falling for his wife. It was a joy to watch!

The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden - 4 stars

I really enjoyed Diana and Charles story. They both had their reasons for marrying and for neither of them was it love. I enjoyed watching them spend time together and find the love that neither of them was looking for.

Great collection of three stories that will keep you reading until the end!
Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day
This is the first I have read by this author and this second chance romance was full of humor and a sizzling attraction. Justin had been so attracted to Sophie when they were younger but misunderstandings had kept them apart. Years later they meet up again and they are in the sights of a matchmaker. Will they find love this time? Fun story.
The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer
Love Minerva Spencer and knew I would enjoy this story! Wonderful story of marriage of convenience for money! Beau must marry since coming back from war and finding the Dukedom in financial ruin. He decides to marry Jo, the daughter of a merchant and make the best of it. What he doesn't know is that Jo has had a tendre' for him for many years as she saw him out and about! This was such a wonderful story with great characters, a sizzling romance and a great journey to an HEA. Such a great storyline with excellent writing and I could not put it down!
The Inconvenient Countess by Kristen Vayden
A marriage of convenience between Charles, Earl of Barrington and Diana who was desperate to have help with taking care of her family since their estate was almost destitute since the death of her father. Charles was rake and had lived as such which left his reputation well known. Unfortunately there is a business deal he is counting on and he needs a wife to give him the air of respectability and having given up his wicked ways! As the two come together, something wonderful happens as they become attracted to each other and find that their marriage may not be so bad after all!

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Arrangement is a trilogy of historical romance novellas that includes Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day, The Duke’s Treasure by Minirva Spencer and The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden. This was a delightful collection to read with a second chance at love and two marriage of convenience stories. I enjoyed reading this book very much as all the stories were well written and if I had a complaint it would be I wish there was more that the stories were longer. Medium Steam. Publishing Date January 28, 2020 #NetGalley #TheArrangement #KensingtonBooks #historicalromance #Sylvia Day #MinervaSpencer #KristinVayden #bookstagram

I have to say that I liked the stories in this book. Usually, I don't like all the stories in books like this but I am happy to say that I actually loved all three stories.

I do highly recommend

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this wasn't just one book by Sylvia Day and collaborators, but rather, three standalone stories! If you are a fan of romance, then look no further because this one HAS IT ALL! These are all historical romances, and of course, Sylvia Day's Mischief and the Marquess was sooooooo good. She is so masterful at romance, and I was not disappointed.

4 stars for The Arrangement. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

What a wonderful collection of stories, from a soldier whose brother dies and he inherits and he marries for money to Charles Brook, Earl of Barrington who has an important deal for property in Jamaica.
They are interesting, keep your attention, and written in a nice easy style. The characters are fun, serious and endearing. I really enjoyed the tales and might have found a new author. This definitely for the adult reader.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.