This year, I challenged myself to finish at least 5 series out of the many unfinished series that I've lost track of. I read the Marriage of Convenience series in order as each book was published. And as much as I like Anne Gracie's writing, I'm not a fan of this series. But I figured I might as well finish it off since I had an ARC from last year. Marry in Scarlet is the final book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. I ended up listening to the audiobook and I surprisingly liked the narration. Rosalyn Landor is still the superior historical romance audiobook narrator though.

Lady Georgiana Rutherford AKA Lady George has no interest in marriage, even though her great aunt keeps pushing her toward Hart, the icy Duke of Everingham. George cannot stand Hart because he is proud and icy. As for Hart, he is unexpectedly drawn to the unconventional George. So we have an icy, proud, and stuffy hero paired with an unconventional and independent tomboy-ish heroine. Their dynamic is a lot of fun and kind of remind me Pride and Prejudice. I surprisingly enjoyed George as a heroine. I typically have an issue with the way historical romance authors write independent heroines in historical romance. But Anne Gracie did a great job writing George as an independent heroine who actually fit in the Regency time period. Furthermore, I really enjoyed it when George puts Hart in his place and calls him our on his manipulative tactics.

Keep in mind that this is less of a marriage of convenience and more of a married in scandal type of romance because George and Hart get caught in a compromising position. The actual wedding doesn't take place until the 75% mark LOL. I was personally not surprised because the first book in this series follows the same pattern. That being said, I still wanted George and Hart to get married earlier on. Another thing I did not like was the small focus on George's Aunt Dottie, whose story I couldn't care less about.

Lastly, I did not like that the plot takes a left turn in the last 15% of the story. Anne Gracie pulls a Random-Children trope à la Lisa Kleypas at the very end and this is not a compliment lol. Lisa Kleypas has pulled this surprise trope in many of her books before and it always irritates me. Unless the kids are heavily involved in the story from the beginning, unless it's made clear that they will be consistently be a part of the story, I don't like random kids showing up out of nowhere and taking over the plot. Hart's ward was briefly mentioned in the beginning, but why only make him an important part of the story in the last 15% of the story? It was all so annoying.

Overall, I did enjoy the romance and the dynamic between Hart and George. But I was not a fan of the plot and the pacing. The epilogue was cute though and it was a great conclusion to the series.

Georgiana is pursued by the Duke of Everingham im Marry in Scarlet. Their relation is difficult as she wants to be on her own and he wants to marry her. Light and frolicsome regence romance.

Marry in Secret
By Anne Gracie
Grade A

Marry in Secret was a fun, fast moving novel. Lady Rose is easily my favorite of the Rutherford sisters and she does not disappoint in her novel.
She is quick witted, smart and proves to be both firecsome and soft as the occasion calls for.

Thomas is cold, hard, sharp, hurt and lost. His need for hope, hope and love is perfectly set against Rose. Through their novel we come to understand why Rose appears cool, standoffish and unwilling to consider a love match.

As they reconnect and rediscover one another the hard become soft and the hurts heal. In classic Anne Gracie style the banter is quick and fun; the chemistry intense and the love true.
I found Marry in Secret to be a fast moving, enjoyable poolside read and i think you will too.

4.5 stars

Lady Georgiana Rutherford was raised in the country, without parents, and only recently learned that she has other family members. George, as she insists on being called, has reluctantly learned how to function in society and give the appearance of being a lady. Underneath, she’s still the untamed girl who only longs to ride her horse and frolic with her dog, Finn. Though she’s been popular with gentlemen, she’s made it clear that she has no intention of marrying. When she receives her inheritance at age twenty five, she plans to move back to the country and set up her own household.

Redmond “Hart” Hartley, Duke Everingham, is the epitome of an aloof nobleman, well aware of his own importance. He recently was left at the altar, when his fiancée’s supposedly dead husband returned to halt the ceremony. Hart only felt annoyance, since it was a marriage of convenience, but he’s decided to put matrimony on the back burner. He’s tired of debutantes being thrown in his path, schemes to entrap him, and deceitful females, like his mother, who play their little games to get his attention.

Despite his assertions, Hart’s attention is captivated by George, who doesn’t seem the least bit impressed by his person or his title. She doesn’t care that she’s considered odd, and isn’t shy about her opinions. On a hunch, Hart maneuvers a stolen moment with George, where he kisses her, curious to see her reaction. He thought he sensed some sensual interest underneath her prickly exterior, and her response tells him that he was correct. Now that he knows she’s not indifferent, Hart decides that he will marry after all. He believes that an independent woman like George will be content to live her own life, while he continues to live his as he pleases. They’ll occasionally meet in the bedroom to indulge in the passion that Hart senses will be very satisfying, then go on with separate lives.

Hart soon learns that George was serious about not wanting to marry, but he’s not a man to be denied. He engineers a meeting with George, and plays on her attraction, luring her into an embrace that becomes very public very quickly. Hart calmly announces their engagement, overriding all her denials, then blatantly publishes notice in the newspaper the very next morning. Despite all this, George still refuses him, until yet another scheme finally causes her to give in and agree to marry him. However, she’s going to do it on her terms, negotiating her own marriage settlement.

The first time I felt that there was some hope for the arrogant duke, was when George railed at him for his schemes and deception. She made him see that he disdained females for their supposed games, while he was actually indulging in plotting of his own, despite what she wanted. The moment that self realization hit Hart between the eyes, and he actually apologized is when I started to fall a little bit in love with him. While he now feels honor bound to release George from their engagement, she feels honor bound to go ahead with the marriage.

Time after time, Hart is quick to come to judgment, thinking that George is merely playacting, only to find that she is totally true to herself and has never deceived him or portrayed herself as something she’s not. A lifetime of walls and self preservation aren’t going to vanish instantaneously, but Hart soon opens up a little to his unconventional wife, even admitting to having some uncomfortable feelings about her. As for George, she comes to realize that she’s fallen in love, and has no desire for the convenient marriage she originally agreed to.

MARRY IN SCARLET is a very fitting title, as George is as unique and bold as her wedding dress. I love her honesty and her sense of honor, as well as her self acceptance. When her feelings grew and changed, she didn’t try to hide from them, but embraced them. Hart showed tremendous personal growth, and I particularly adored how he showed his public support for George, and eventually was brave enough to be the first to admit his love. MARRY IN SCARLET is a warm and satisfying romance that I loved reading, and I believe will appeal to readers who enjoy strong characters and a lovely happy ever after.

I have read and adored all of Anne Gracie's series and I was ecstatic to receive George's book MARRY IN SCARLET--the latest in the Marriage in Convenience series--for review! I’ve loved all of Anne Gracie’s books and thinks she is Historical Romance’s most underrated author. Everyone who loves HR should be reading Anne Gracie!

George’s book was exactly what I was hoping for and more. She’s vehemently opposed to marriage and the previously jilted Duke of Everingham has the nickname Hartless. Due to unforeseen circumstance, they’re both drawn to each other and then stuck together in a marriage of convenience. I loved the give and take between these two strong personalities. I loved how Hart was able to be self-aware after George took him to task; I loved how George was so much more open and vulnerable than we’ve previously seen. What I REALLY love about Gracie’s books are that they are lowkey on drama and conflict. It’s there and it’s understandable to the situation but never over the top or drawn out. I love escaping into her worlds because I know I’m going to get a beautiful love story, great characters and family dynamics, and realistic conflict without it being over the top. This book and banter was fun on so many levels and I absolutely cannot wait to see what Gracie’s next series is!

Marry in Scarlet is the fourth book in Anne Gracie’s Marriage of Convenience series, and to be perfectly honest, after the huge disappointment that was Marry in Secret (book three), I wasn’t sure I was going to read it. However, I couldn’t resist the pairing of the spirited heroine with no interest in marriage and the cold, aloof hero; it’s a very well-worn trope, and to be honest there isn’t really anything new to be found here. But with tropes, it’s all about the execution, and the best authors can turn even the most worn-out old cliché into an appealing story; and for the most part, that’s what Anne Gracie manages here, crafting strong, flawed characters and an interesting conflict that kept me engaged.

Lady Georgiana Rutherford has made no secret of the fact that she doesn’t want to get married. Ever. When she comes into her inheritance at twenty-five she plans to buy a house in the country and breed horses and dogs, and luckily for her, her uncle and guardian, the Earl of Ashendon, is neither horrified by this nor trying to push her into matrimony. Unluckily for her, her great Aunt Agatha sees George’s plan for living in the country with dogs and horses as a positive reason to suggest her as a bride to the haughty Redmond Hartley (Hart), Duke of Everingham, after he was jilted at the altar by another Rutherford girl, Rose (Marry in Secret). The duke is annoyed at such interference, but Agatha keeps trying to persuade him that Georgiana is exactly the sort of woman he wants:

“a young woman of good family who would not hang off your sleeve… a wife who would keep out of your way and give you no trouble.”

Everingham refuses – although Agatha’s Parthian shot:

“it would have taken all my considerable powers of persuasion to coax Georgiana to wed you”

causes him just a little bit of pique.

Of course, when Agatha tells the Rutherfords of Everingham’s refusal – he wouldn’t want “an ill-trained, boyish, impertinent hoyden for a wife” – George is outraged. How dare Agatha suggest such a thing without even consulting her! (And she’s privately a bit stung by Everingham’s rejection. She doesn’t want him, but it’s for HER to reject HIM, dammit!)

I wasn’t sure if Agatha was trying a bit of reverse-psychology there, but the next time Hart sees George – she’s riding hell-for-leather astride a massive black stallion – he admires her seat and decides he wants to buy the horse. George refuses. Hart is obviously a man used to getting exactly what he wants, and the more adamant her refusal, the more intrigued he becomes. After a few more encounters – during one of which they share an intensely passionate kiss – Hart decides he wants George after all. He recognises that she’s every bit as in lust with him as he with her, and sets out to increase her physical desire for him by playing hard to get.

There’s no getting away from the fact that at the beginning of the book, Hart is an arrogant, sexist git. He thinks all women are scheming, unscrupulous and out for what they can get, and doesn’t for one moment consider that George’s refusal of him is sincere. He thinks she’s playing some sort of game with him, and decides to stop wasting time by arranging for them to be caught in a compromising situation. George is well aware that what she’s feeling, for the first time, is physical desire (every time she sees Hart, she’s overwhelmed by the need to climb him like a tree) – but is adamant in her refusal to marry him.

The bulk of the story is given over to the merry dance Hart and George lead one another, and overall it’s well done. There’s no question that Hart is haughty and controlling, and while there’s no excusing his misogyny, there is at least some explanation for it when we meet his mother, a manipulative woman who had his father wrapped around her little finger and will stop at nothing – even pretending to be at death’s door – to get what she wants. Hart has tarred all women with the same brush, and the moment at which he finally comes to see that he has acted in a way that is completely at odds with his personal code of ethics, sense of honour and view of himself is a powerful one that truly shakes him up and forces him to seriously examine himself and his motives. And he doesn’t like what he sees.

It’s fortunate for him, then, that he falls for a woman who is as unlike his mother as it’s possible to be. George grew up in poverty with no knowledge of her family until Ashendon sought her out; she’s straightforward, honest and honourable, but reluctant to trust herself and her happiness to anyone else. Hart’s growing realisation that George deserves more from him is nicely done as he starts to understand that she needs his support regardless of what it may cost his dignity, and to accept and value her eccentricities. I liked the way the author shows the couple’s growing closeness, and Hart gradually loosening up under George’s influence.

So everything is shaping up well, the duke and his new duchess are settling in to life together – and suddenly the story veers off in a completely unexpected direction with a sub plot concerning the disappearance of two seven-year-old boys, one of whom is Hart’s ward. I suppose it’s meant to show that Hart really does have a heart (!), but it felt like I’d picked up the wrong book. I knocked a few points off because it jarred so much, but that’s balanced out by the extra points given for the sweet little sub-plot about Aunt Dottie.

Ultimately, Marry in Scarlet is an enjoyable read featuring a strongly-characterised central couple with a genuine spark, and a relationship that’s allowed space to develop. It’s not ground-breaking, but it’s a well-executed version of the trope, a solid series finale and a satisfying character-driven romance.

Scandals galore!

A humorous rendition of the marriage of convenience trope.
Redmond Jasper Hartley, the fifth Duke of Everingham, has been left at the altar. Now the punctilious Lady Salter, his mother's friend, and aunt to his ex fiancé, has decided that another of her niece's would be the answer. After all the Dukedom needed an heir.
Well neither Lady Georgiana nor the Duke agree. They didn't like each other. Except, there was that moment of laxity and The Kiss at a ball. Furthermore at a musical soirée, the unexpected continuation of that kiss thrust them into the ton's notice in such a way that nothing but an engagement would do. Though even that was taken out of George's control much to her anger.
I adored Lady Georgiana Rutherford, George to her family and friends.
Like George I eventually came to appreciate the emotionally deprived Hartley.
Fast forward to the wedding! I was in raptures over George's wedding dress and her moments of feisty independence, a gauntlet thrown down in the face of the ton who decried her and worse when her forthcoming marriage to a prize catch had been announced--much to her horror, particularly as she didn't want to get married. Georgiana had had a curious upbring.
BTW I loved Aunt Dottie and simultaneously despised and pitied Aunt Agatha.
Hartley's narcissistic mother is in a self centered cage all of her own making. Like Hartley I abhorred her shallowness and self serving actions.
Of course there's the usual conglomeration of beloved animals that an original like George would have. Indeed, Hartley's original contact with George builds around her horse. And then just as an HEA ending was in the offing for George and Hartley, another tangled problem comes to light.
A nice touch are the Jane Austen chapter heading, an enlightening commentary on what is to come.
A rather tantalizing addition to this Marriage of Convenience series.

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley

This novel was a bit of a mixed bag for me! Overall, I really enjoyed it and read it in a couple days so I could see how all the puzzle pieces came together for a HEA (happily ever after).

I enjoyed the free-spirited Lady George who wants to live the independent life of a lady without the hindrance of marriage. I enjoyed the family dynamics between her guardians, aunts, and great aunts which is really crucial for a historical romance series! It's as much about the hero and heroine as it is the family, who will be featured in future stories.

The pitfall for me was that I didn't entirely believe Lady George's aboutface or Hart's melting icy heart. I think all of the makings of a love match were there but I didn't feel like a saw enough scenes with them truly enjoying each other. The heat between the couple made sense but I could not completely buy-in to the 'love'.

All that being said, I really enjoyed the book and I would definitely pick up more books in the series as well as other books by the author!

Very good book. Even though it is the fourth in the series, it works fine as a stand-alone, with enough backstory provided so that I wasn't lost. However, I will go back and read the earlier books because I want the whole story. In the previous book, the Duke of Everingham was left at the altar by Rose Rutherford when her first husband turned up alive. The duke is in no hurry to try again, except for the fact that he is now the quarry of every unmarried woman in London. He is appalled when his godmother suggests Georgiana Rutherford, the niece of his former fiancée. That is until a close encounter with her stirs his interest.

George has no interest in getting married and has made that clear to the men who have pursued her. She is determined to maintain her independence and live life on her own terms. George has an uphill battle in front of her as she tries to convince her great-aunt that she is serious, especially when it comes to the duke.

The duke, known to his friends as Hart, is wealthy and arrogant. When he wants something, he succeeds in getting it. His first real encounter with George is when he sees her riding her stallion and decides he must have it. I laughed out loud at his stunned disbelief at her refusal. In-person discussions aren't any more successful. However, it does succeed in arousing his interest, as she is the only female he's encountered who doesn't bore him to tears. With her stated interest in living in the country with her horses and dogs, she would be perfect for him. He ignores her comments about not wanting to marry anyone. In his experience, women always have hidden motives. He doesn't believe that she's not interested in him - he's a duke! And rich!

The development of the relationship between George and Hart is a tempestuous one. George doesn't like him at all at the beginning. She thought he was a cold fish when he was engaged to Rose. His superior attitude grates on her nerves, and George calls him out on it often. Hart wholeheartedly believes that she is playing games with him, pretending disinterest when she has every intention of accepting his suit. A spontaneous kiss shocks them both with the feelings it stirs up. Hart is disturbed by his loss of control but is sure that it is a temporary condition. George is just plain confused about why she forgets everything else when he kisses her. Her discussion with her Aunt Dottie about those feelings is a riot. Determined to have his way, Hart arranges a situation that compromises her, thus trapping her into marriage. George is rightfully furious and lets him know it. She's ready to stick to her guns until a third party gets involved.

Having given her word, George is ready to move ahead. I loved the part describing the marriage settlements and Hart getting a different view of her. There is also a fantastic scene where George points out Hart's hypocrisy in how he set her up. It was an eye-opening moment for him. I liked that he was man enough to accept the truth and apologize for his actions. He still had a bit of learning though, as it was George's reputation that suffered because of them. It took a comment from a friend for Hart to realize what George was going through, and he went all out to make up for it. George doesn't exactly sit back and suffer in silence either. Though done in a moment of temper and disgust, she makes a very bold decision regarding her wedding. Hart won me over entirely with his support and understanding at the ceremony, and with the stop they made between the wedding itself and the wedding breakfast.

After the wedding, Hart and George finally have some time to truly get to know each other. There is still some push and pull as Hart adjusts to George's way of doing things. There is a bit of trouble at the end involving Hart's ward, who is briefly mentioned at the beginning. I liked how George and Hart worked together and found a solution that worked for everyone. There was a brief misunderstanding at the end that could have sent their marriage down the wrong path. Fortunately, Hart was able to get past his pride and tell George how he felt. I loved seeing everyone together in the epilogue.

Lady Salter together with the Duchess of Everingham orchestrated the wedding of the year – maybe even the decade when they paired Lady Salter’s niece, Lady Rose Rutherford and the Duchess’ son Redmond Jasper Hartley “Hart”, the Duke of Everingham– too bad the bride was already married! Unwilling to lose bragging rights to the wedding of the decade – Lady Salter aka Aunt Agatha, offers Lady Georgiana Rutherford to the duke – who firmly refuses.

Lady Georgiana “George” Rutherford was not raised to be a lady, hidden away and kept secret, she didn’t even know she was a “lady” or had a family until her uncle Cal, Earl of Ashendon found her and brought her kicking and screaming into the family. She has participated in several seasons and enjoys London, she has had several offers of marriage, but has turned them all down, she has no desire to marry and her heart’s desire is to retire to the county, raise dogs and horses and live an independent life. So, when she learns that her aunt has offered her up, she is very clear – she will not marry anyone, especially not the cold and arrogant Duke of Everingham. A thought she makes crystal clear to him as well, and she means it – she just wishes his kisses didn’t set her aflame.

Hart has no desire to marry George, but why is she pretending like she doesn’t want to marry him and how did he never notice how attractive she is or how different from all the other ladies of his acquaintance? At first, he tells himself that he is trying to talk to her because he wants to buy her horse, but when he kisses her to supposedly test a theory, he knows – George will be his duchess. The fact that she doesn’t want to marry isn’t a problem – he wants her and he always gets what he wants.

But George is no society miss overly concerned about her reputation and her family stands by her come hell or high water, so for the first time in his life, Hart faces the possibility of not getting his way! But when her aunt and his mother interfere again and use George’s tender heart to get their way – George resigns herself to a loveless marriage – but Hart surprises her and soon they both realize they both want what they never expected, happily ever after.

This was a well written, perfectly paced, fun story with lots of emotion and humor. The story has wonderful characters, warm love scenes, some shocking surprises, an unconventional, stubborn heroine and a hero who wouldn’t want her any other way. Hart and George are perfect for each other and their interactions and reactions were so much fun to read, that you can help but root for them to get their HEA and when they do, SIGH… and if that isn’t enough for you, the epilogue was incredibly sweet and the perfect ending to this series. The book isn’t perfect, George was not the easiest heroine to like at the beginning and there are a couple of title errors, but by the end of the book, I loved George and didn’t really care about a couple of errors. I am happy to recommend this series and this story especially. This is the fourth book in the series, but it could easily be read as a stand-alone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the publisher*

Series: Marriage of Convenience #4
Publication Date: 5/26/20
Number of Pages: 336

Whew! What a delightfully entertaining and lustful couple Hart and George turn out to be. I absolutely adored each of them and could easily see why they were so very skittish and protective of their hearts. Thank goodness for manipulative and interfering family members who end up making the right thing happen for all of the wrong reasons.

When we last saw Redmond Jasper Hartley (Hart), the fifth Duke of Everingham, he was being left at the altar by his betrothed (Marry In Secret). He has a very low opinion of women and being left at the altar did nothing to soften that opinion. After all, he and his father had been manipulated by the champion manipulator, his mother, and he had no reason to believe any female would be different. No, he didn’t love his betrothed, but he had negotiated in good faith and he’d been livid at being left standing at the altar. Yes, he has a reputation of being cold, unfeeling, arrogant, and aloof – and he believes he is – just as everyone else does. When he decides to seek another bride, he has specific criteria – she must be independent minded and not hang off his sleeve, one who would like to retire to the country and keep out of his way, they need have few interactions other than conjugal visits.

Lady Georgiana (George) Rutherford loves her newly found family and has absolutely no intention of giving them up. She also has absolutely no intention of marrying. Men are a worthless, faithless lot and she sees no reason to subjugate herself to one. It is her desire to live in the country and breed horses and dogs and to care for other animals. She doesn’t give a fig about what any male has to offer her – money, prestige, titles – she doesn’t want any part of it.

George and Hart are really two kindred souls – both a product of their unhappy experiences early in their lives – but neither of them can see that. When Georgiana is brought to Hart’s attention – in the most manipulative of ways, of course – he is incensed. But then, when he sees her – and kisses her. That does it for him – he decides she is the one who will be his bride – whether she wants to or not. So, he begins his own plan of manipulation and entrapment.

I loved watching Hart and George at war with each other. Neither was going to give in and each was bound and determined to win. When Hart compromised her and then announced their betrothal, she was incensed. But, later, when he offered her the opportunity to get out of the betrothal, she decided to let it stand. She didn’t know why. What had possessed her?

They are two very passionate, very caring people and it was a delight to get to know them and to see them find their way to a loving, passionate life together. I hope you’ll enjoy this story as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

closes out the series with George’s path to the marriage. After being left at the altar, the Duke of Everingham is rather upset with ladies in general. When his ex-fiancée’s aunt offers up another relative for marriage as a replacement, Hart rejects the idea. But after meeting George, he grows interested and pursues her despite her avowal never to marry. Trapped in a compromising position by the duke and guilted by his mother into an engagement, George never loses her spunk or her sense of honor and when the relationship gets rocky, it was nice to see a woman’s honor saving a marriage in question rather than a man’s, which seems to be more typical. Near the end of the book, there is somewhat of a tonal shift as the couple investigates a missing child, which sets up the final conflict between the two.

While the duke is originally not particularly likable, George’s personality shines. Her confusion as to her own
reaction when around the duke is especially fun and true to the character. Supporting characters from previous books are used with care, including Aunt Dottie, whose story we also learn.

Overall a light, fun story, perfect for fans of the series.

I've been reading Anne Gracie's books for a long time. She's one of my favorite historical romance authors, a gifted storyteller whose characters leap from the pages and immerse me completely in their lives and loves. Some of her books I like better than others, though she's never disappointed me, and many sit on my keeper shelf, ready to indulge my need to revisit certain characters and their journeys to love. But, even among that collection of favorites, Marry in Scarlet stands apart. This one is special.

Every so often, a character comes along, captures my heart, and refuses to return it. George is just such a character. I've been eagerly anticipating her story since she first burst onto the page of book one, kicking and screaming. She's unique, endearing, courageous, refreshing, honorable, and just plain fun. I adore her kindness, her loyalty, her protective nature, her irreverence, take-charge mindset, and huge capacity for love. Watching her evolve over the course of this series, while remaining true to herself, has been pure pleasure. There are so many facets of her personality and passages from her story that I want to share but each reader should have the opportunity to discover the wonder of George by reading her story themselves.

And then there's Hart. If George evolves during this journey, it's nothing compared to what happens to Hart. This aloof, entitled duke, full of his own consequence and cold-blooded in his approach to matrimony, has his life turned upside down by our heroine. She's nothing he could have anticipated and everything he never knew he needed. The banter between these two sparkles and the desire threatens to spiral out of control. But it's the unexpected sweetness and depth of their emotions, especially his, that are so romantic and sensual. He's one of my favorite Gracie heroes and, believe me, after reading book three, Marry in Secret, I never thought I'd be saying that. But Hart came through, and in glorious, heart-tugging style. He and George made me laugh, made me sigh, and made me cry. And if they aren't enough, there's a secondary, secret romance that kept my tear ducts, and my heart, overflowing. Keep tissues handy for the epilogue. Just sayin'.

I've already read this book twice and I know if won't be long before I'm pulled back to these characters again...and again...and again. Marry in Scarlet can be read as a standalone but for a more complete understanding of the characters and their journeys to this point, especially George, I strongly recommend reading this quartet in order: Marry in Haste, Marry in Scandal, Marry in Secret, and Marry in Scarlet. All four books have my enthusiastic endorsement. I can't wait to see what Gracie has planned for readers next.

*ARC received via Netgalley (Finished copy also pre-ordered)
*Opinions expressed are unbiased and my own

Marry in Scarlet by Anne Gracie is the fourth (and final) book of the Marriage of Convenience series and I’m so sad that it is over as I loved these characters. With that said, I am so glad I finally got to read George’s story and I loved how it all wrapped up.

If you recall, the last book had Rose leaving the Duke of Everingham at the altar which turned out well for her in the end. It wasn’t a love match, so he wasn’t that broken hearted about it but he’s definitely having to deal with the gossip and he doesn’t really have any interest in finding a replacement.

Lady Georgina Rutherford is determined not to marry. When she comes of age, she wants to move to the country and raise horses and dogs. Unfortunately for her, that means that until that happens, she has to continue to go to all of the parties and social events whether she wants to or not. George actually has a good reputation with the gentlemen of the Ton because she has always been up front with her plans and even though she still gets offers of marriage, she is clear with her intention not to marry.

George catches Hart’s interest at first because of her aunt Agatha. They never really interacted all that much when Hart was engaged to Rose but when Agatha offers George up as an option as a bride, Hart’s interest is piqued. Of course, he declines (adamantly) but when he starts to engage with George at parties and then also finds out she owns a magnificent horse he would like to own, he decides he wants her and does whatever he has to in order to make her his.

I loved how these two came together. I was worried it was going to be weird with Hart having almost married Rose, but it actually wasn’t as they didn’t have any feelings invested. As George continues to challenge and push back at Hart, things get more interesting until they find themselves in a situation where the only way to save both their reputations is to get married. Unfortunately for George, she is the one to suffer because of this. Having declined other offers, people now think she was scheming for a title and even though she doesn’t really care what people think of her, she does care if what they think is completely incorrect.

As Hart and George start to learn more about each other and correct some assumptions they had along the way, their relationship becomes about more than just the contract they agreed to and it was wonderful to see these two figure it out.

Overall, I thought this was a great wrap up for this group. I loved every one of the stories and George’s was a solid ending. I think everyone who loves Historical Romance should be reading Anne Gracie’s stories as they rank amongst some of my favorites. She develops wonderful characters, interesting stories, and makes the romance swoony. Gracie has quickly become an auto-buy author for me in this genre and I can’t wait for the next book she writes to come out…whatever it is.

While I usually love a marriage of convenience, I had a hard time connecting to George and Hart. It was a slower burn and I am more of a fast paced reader. I love a good historical romance, but written in a more modern tone. I do love a woman trying to make her own path and do life in her own way and this definitely didn't disappoint in that regard!

It’s George’s turn! The back cover copy gives quite a lot away about the book. Great Aunt Agatha is determined to set these two up after the duke, Hart, didn’t marry Rose in the previous book.
I’m not sure if the pace felt really slow at first because so much is given away in the book - they get married about 70% in - but it took a while.
George is determined not to marry and the duke traps her. She then meets his dying mother and agrees despite planning to walk away from the betrothal. Accepting causes backlash from all the men she refused and all the women who wanted to marry Hart. But his trapping her is really awful and a terrible way to start the relationship. He realizes she was ultimately manipulated by his mother and she points out that he did the exact same thing, to his shock and horror. Once they are honest with each other, they start to actually build a relationship. From that point on, I quite enjoyed the book but I had a hard time getting over how he treated her initially. It came very close to being DNF.
Overall, readers will be happy to enjoy the latest installment in the series.

Marry in Scarlet is the fourth entry in Anne Gracie’s Marriage of Convenience series. The novel is about Lady Georgiana “George” Rutherford, a rather unconventional young heiress and the brooding and aloof Duke of Everingham. After being caught in a compromising position the pair are forced into a marriage of convenience that George isn’t sure she wants. Can the underlying passion between them be enough?

This book was my first in the Marriage of Convenience series, and I will warn that I do not think you should read these out of order. There are several pieces of plot and characters that appear in this novel which are reliant on previous events. Gracie writes regency novels very much in the vein of Judith McNaught or Stephanie Laurens. This means the pacing, language, and characters often are not as modern feeling as a Lisa Kleypas or Julia Quinn novel. I usually don’t mind this different style of writing since it’s the language of romance I cut my teeth on, but in this novel it felt a bit dated.

Lady George is written as a hoyden that made me think of the titular character in Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. She is brash in her words and attitudes about men and marriage. She has refused several offers of marriage before the start of this book, and she’s garnered a reputation as “untouchable” by the young men of the ton. She declares she will never marry, and her sole goal is to live alone in the country with her dogs and horses for company. She’s so uninterested in men, that she doesn’t even recognize her growing attraction for Everingham for anything else than an annoyance.

The Duke is an aloof and calculating man, who was left at the altar by George’s young aunt, Rose. He’s considering exiting the marriage mart for a time, but after a few encounters with George he finds himself intrigued. Rather ruthlessly he devises a plot to ensure that she becomes his, despite her explicit disapproval of him. I did like that this Duke, unlike so many others in regency romance, appeared to be capable of self-reflection and reform. When George points out several rather large hypocrisies to the Duke, he apologizes rather than becoming angry with her. However, this small amount of growth did not feel enough to me. George insists on getting to know each other better, but the Duke always manages to sidestep most of the sharing and instead gets George to spill some of her most closely held secrets.

The blurb for this book had led me to believe that the passion between these two would fairly burn up the pages. Instead this was a very slow burn that didn’t amount to any real passion until nearly three-quarters of the way through the novel. I had hoped the marriage would occur early in the novel since this series was supposed to be about marriages of convenience, but for most of the book these two barely spend any time together on page. This slow burn became nearly unbearable, but not much else was happening in the book. There’s not a secondary subplot until around 85% of the way into the novel and by that time it felt like too little too late.

Overall, I prefer my romance to be written in a more modern voice with a faster pace. Even in a slow burn romance I want action to be occurring around the couple that helps increase the tension between them. There was so little action in this novel it was easy to find my mind wandering as I read. I never connected with either of the two main characters and found myself actively wishing for some sort of drama to spice things up. If you’re into slower paced novels with plots that are built on the internal workings for society and families, then you may enjoy this novel. If you’re like me and need the novel to really pop off the page, then this probably isn’t for you. This gets a 3 from me, and I’d offer Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens as a better example of a marriage of convenience between a brooding male and a hoyden.

~ Lindsey

Will post on blog week of release

Marry in Scarlet is the fourth entry in Anne Gracie’s Marriage of Convenience series. The novel is about Lady Georgiana “George” Rutherford, a rather unconventional young heiress and the brooding and aloof Duke of Everingham. After being caught in a compromising position the pair are forced into a marriage of convenience that George isn’t sure she wants. Can the underlying passion between them be enough?

This book was my first in the Marriage of Convenience series, and I will warn that I do not think you should read these out of order. There are several pieces of plot and characters that appear in this novel which are reliant on previous events. Gracie writes regency novels very much in the vein of Judith McNaught or Stephanie Laurens. This means the pacing, language, and characters often are not as modern feeling as a Lisa Kleypas or Julia Quinn novel. I usually don’t mind this different style of writing since it’s the language of romance I cut my teeth on, but in this novel it felt a bit dated.

Lady George is written as a hoyden that made me think of the titular character in Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. She is brash in her words and attitudes about men and marriage. She has refused several offers of marriage before the start of this book, and she’s garnered a reputation as “untouchable” by the young men of the ton. She declares she will never marry, and her sole goal is to live alone in the country with her dogs and horses for company. She’s so uninterested in men, that she doesn’t even recognize her growing attraction for Everingham for anything else than an annoyance.

The Duke is an aloof and calculating man, who was left at the altar by George’s young aunt, Rose. He’s considering exiting the marriage mart for a time, but after a few encounters with George he finds himself intrigued. Rather ruthlessly he devises a plot to ensure that she becomes his, despite her explicit disapproval of him. I did like that this Duke, unlike so many others in regency romance, appeared to be capable of self-reflection and reform. When George points out several rather large hypocrisies to the Duke, he apologizes rather than becoming angry with her. However, this small amount of growth did not feel enough to me. George insists on getting to know each other better, but the Duke always manages to sidestep most of the sharing and instead gets George to spill some of her most closely held secrets.

The blurb for this book had led me to believe that the passion between these two would fairly burn up the pages. Instead this was a very slow burn that didn’t amount to any real passion until nearly three-quarters of the way through the novel. I had hoped the marriage would occur early in the novel since this series was supposed to be about marriages of convenience, but for most of the book these two barely spend any time together on page. This slow burn became nearly unbearable, but not much else was happening in the book. There’s not a secondary subplot until around 85% of the way into the novel and by that time it felt like too little too late.

Overall, I prefer my romance to be written in a more modern voice with a faster pace. Even in a slow burn romance I want action to be occurring around the couple that helps increase the tension between them. There was so little action in this novel it was easy to find my mind wandering as I read. I never connected with either of the two main characters and found myself actively wishing for some sort of drama to spice things up. If you’re into slower paced novels with plots that are built on the internal workings for society and families, then you may enjoy this novel. If you’re like me and need the novel to really pop off the page, then this probably isn’t for you. This gets a 3 from me, and I’d offer Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens as a better example of a marriage of convenience between a brooding male and a hoyden.

Marry in Scarlet is the fourth book in Anne Gracie’s Marriage of Convenience series, and to be perfectly honest, after the huge disappointment that was Marry in Secret (book three), I wasn’t sure I was going to read it. However, I couldn’t resist the pairing of the spirited heroine with no interest in marriage and the cold, aloof hero; it’s a very well-worn trope, and to be honest there isn’t really anything new to be found here. But with tropes, it’s all about the execution, and the best authors can turn even the most worn-out old cliché into an appealing story; and for the most part, that’s what Anne Gracie manages here, crafting strong, flawed characters and an interesting conflict that kept me engaged.

Lady Georgiana Rutherford has made no secret of the fact that she doesn’t want to get married. Ever.  When she comes into her inheritance at twenty-five she plans to buy a house in the country and breed horses and dogs, and luckily for her, her uncle and guardian, the Earl of Ashendon, is neither horrified by this nor trying to push her into matrimony.  Unluckily for her, her great Aunt Agatha sees George’s plan for living in the country with dogs and horses as a positive reason to suggest her as a bride to the haughty Redmond Hartley (Hart), Duke of Everingham, after he was jilted at the altar by another Rutherford girl, Rose (Marry in Secret).  The duke is annoyed at such interference, but Agatha keeps trying to persuade him that Georgiana is exactly the sort of woman he wants,

“a young woman of good family who would not hang off your sleeve… a wife who would keep out of your way and give you no trouble.”

Everingham refuses – although Agatha’s Parthian shot:

“it would have taken all my considerable powers of persuasion to coax Georgiana to wed you”

causes him just a little bit of pique.

Of course, when Agatha  tells the Rutherfords of Everingham’s refusal – he wouldn’t want “an ill-trained, boyish, impertinent hoyden for a wife” – George is outraged.  How dare Agatha suggest such a thing without even consulting her! (And she’s privately a bit stung by Everingham’s rejection.  She doesn’t want him, but it’s for HER to reject HIM, dammit!)

I wasn’t sure if Agatha was trying a bit of reverse-psychology there, but the next time Hart sees George – she’s riding hell-for-leather astride a massive black stallion – he admires her seat and decides he wants to buy the horse.  George refuses.  Hart is obviously a man used to getting exactly what he wants, and the more adamant her refusal, the more intrigued he becomes.  After a few more encounters – during one of which they share an intensely passionate kiss – Hart decides he wants George after all.  He recognises that she’s every bit as in lust with him as he with her, and sets out to increase her physical desire for him by playing hard to get.

There’s no getting away from the fact that at the beginning of the book, Hart is an arrogant, sexist git.  He thinks all women are scheming, unscrupulous and out for what they can get, and doesn’t for one moment consider that George’s refusal of him is sincere.  He thinks she’s playing some sort of game with him, and decides to stop wasting time by arranging for them to be caught in a compromising situation.  George is well aware that what she’s feeling, for the first time, is physical desire (every time she sees Hart, she’s overwhelmed by the need to climb him like a tree) - but is adamant in her refusal to marry him.

The bulk of the story is given over to the merry dance Hart and George lead one another, and overall it’s well done.  There’s no question that Hart is haughty and controlling, and while there’s no excusing his misogyny, there is at least some explanation for it when we meet his mother, a manipulative woman who had his father wrapped around her little finger and will stop at nothing – even pretending to be at death’s door - to get what she wants.  Hart has tarred all women with the same brush, and the moment at which he finally comes to see that he has acted in a way that is completely at odds with his personal code of ethics, sense of honour and view of himself is a powerful one that truly shakes him up and forces him to seriously examine himself and his motives. And he doesn’t like what he sees.

It’s fortunate for him, then, that he falls for a woman who is as unlike his mother as it’s possible to be.  George grew up in poverty with no knowledge of her family until Cal sought her out; she’s straightforward, honest and honourable, but reluctant to trust herself and her happiness to anyone else.  Hart’s growing realisation that George deserves more from him is nicely done as he starts to understand that she needs his support regardless of what it may cost his dignity, and to accept and value her eccentricities. I liked the way the author shows the couple’s growing closeness, and Hart gradually loosening up under George’s influence.

So everything is shaping up well, the duke and his new duchess are settling in to life together – and suddenly the story veers off in a completely unexpected direction with a sub plot concerning the disappearance of two seven-year-old boys, one of whom is Hart’s ward. I suppose it’s meant to show that Hart really does have a heart (!), but it felt like I’d picked up the wrong book.  I knocked a few points off because it jarred so much, but that’s balanced out by the extra points given for the sweet little sub-plot about Aunt Dottie.

Ultimately, Marry in Scarlet is an enjoyable read featuring a strongly-characterised central couple with a genuine spark, and a relationship that’s allowed space to develop.  It’s not ground-breaking, but it’s a well-executed version of the trope, a solid series finale and a satisfying character-driven romance.

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The Duke of Everingham is back and he wants what he wants. Just so happens that Lady Georgiana Rutherford does not want what he wants - to marry her. A fun romp using familiar tropes in a interesting story that grabs your attention and does not let go. Great addition to the Marriage of Convenience series.