I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series and I loved the premise of this one.

I really liked Ellie and Brandon. She’s irrationally scared and he’s sort of grumpy. Together they have a good amount of button pushing and this deliciously slow unfurling of chemistry. I adored how Brandon listened to Ellie and helped her work through things. Of course Meg was delightful and I’m excited at the set up for her story.

Plot wise, it was mostly good. I was mildly irritated that Ellie held on to her “feelings” for George as long as she did, especially once she realized she loved Brandon. And while I loved the ending and epilogue (seriously, I could read the aunts forever), I wanted more of the two of them together.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading these two and I hope we see more of them in the next book.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

The Wrong Marquess is the third book in Vivienne Lorret's charming The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. I read the first book and absolutely adored it! I somehow missed the second one, but discovered when I started this volume that the installments stand alone perfectly well. The series surrounds a set of friends who are working on a handbook for single women for dealing with rogues, and there is much humor but also tears. Though this one didn't have quite the magic of book one, I still enjoyed it very much despite the rather slow start.

When Elodie Parrish was a young child and lost her father, she fell for young George after he helped her deal with her initial introduction to death. Ever since then she's been (almost) patiently waiting for George, now the Marquess of Nethersole, to propose, since they've had an understanding for years. George, however, doesn't seem to be in any hurry to marry "his Ellie", flitting about in an immature way. Brandon Stredwick, Marquess of Hullworth, has been dubbed London's Most Elusive Bachelor; he's jaded from young debutantes throwing themselves at him, trying to capture his attention. So when Brandon and Ellie keep running into each other, he assumes that Ellie is after him too. When his sister Meg becomes great friends with Ellie, Brandon begins to realize how wildly attractive he finds this woman. When Ellie and her aunts - and George - are invited to stay with Brandon and Meg during the summer, will Brandon be able to convince Ellie that she's in love with the wrong marquess?

The book started in a heartbreaking manner and set the stage for Ellie's terrible fear of death throughout the story. The beginning of the book was very touching, but I became a bit bored when we were reunited with Ellie and George years later. It was fun when Ellie and Brandon kept crossing paths, but I really didn't become engaged in the story again until Ellie and her aunts went to stay at Brandon's home. At that point I became totally engrossed and didn't want to put the book down. Who knew a caring and loving Brandon would be so much more appealing than he was as a brooding rogue? He was incredible as a loving man who cared about Ellie and her fears and did his best to help her overcome her phobias. ~Sigh!~ I also loved his teasing relationship with his sister and how protective he was of her. Ellie was a fun character, always worrying that she was dying or imagining all the terrible ways her life could end at any moment. She was also a wonderful friend and very supportive of those she loved. It was sweet when Ellie and Brandon became friends; when they became intimate it was still sweet but also amazingly hot. Meg was a wonderful supporting character and I was thrilled to discover she would have her own story. I also absolutely adored Ellie's Aunts Myrtle and Maeve. They were a hoot, always trying to steal recipes from their hostesses and their staffs. The only character who disappointed me was George; I just couldn't see Ellie's long-term attraction to him. I suppose she just became comfortable. I'm really looking forward to reading friend Pru's story next...she certainly deserves a happy ending of her own!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Full disclosure, I received an ARC of “The Wrong Marquess” from NetGalley to read and provide my unbiased feedback and thoughts on.

Lorett has delivered yet another delicious romp with the third entry in her ‘The Mating Habits Of Scoundrels’ series.

This book is a must for the fans of the love triangle trope. As the heroine, Ellie, spends the book torn between two Marquesses; George, her childhood crush that she has pinned all her hopes and dreams on, and Brandon, a slightly grumpy new man that has turned her world upside down. What is a woman, that is literally a ball of phobias, to do?

Honestly, this is just a really great, quick, light read. Perfect for a summer day in the sun.

4 stars

England - 1828

Eighteen years ago, Elodie (Ellie) Parris lost her father and became an orphan. Cared for by her maiden aunts, Maeve and Myrtle, she had a neighbor boy, George, also an orphan, who was a few years older than her, and a marquess. Despite his antics, they were friends, and, after a scary accident in which Elodie "saves" George, he tells her he'll have to marry her in the future. So, for all of these years, that is what Elodie expects. Even if, during the present Season, George seems more intent on enjoying himself.

While waiting for George to propose, Ellie and two of her friends, who are married, have been collaborating on a book that will help young women avoid what their friend, Prue, had to deal with when she was caught in a compromising situation,which led to her being sent away from London. They've entitled titled the book The Marriage Habits of the Native Aristocrat. Research, however, is limited since both of her friends are away, and Ellie has no real way of investigating the "native aristocrats". Attending a tea with her aunts, Ellie literally runs into the most eligible bachelor of the present day, Brandon, the Marquess of Hullworth. He is rude, thinking Ellie is just another debutante on the hunt for his hand in marriage. Ellie responds in like, furious at his behavior.

Brandon has had enough of the Season. He is constantly surrounded by mothers of daughters, all fawning over him, professing the attributes of their girls. But Brandon's sister, Meg, is having her time in the ton and he won't ruin things for her. However, he's sure that Meg's sudden new friendship with Miss Elodie Parris is just too convenient. Even when Ellie tells him that she will eventually marry someone named George, Brandon thinks it's all a ploy to rein him in.

Ellie maintains her dislike of her friend's brother, unsure of why he is so ill-mannered towards her. In the meantime, what is going on with George? Why is he flitting around London, and not courting Ellie? Soon, spending more and more time with Meg, and ultimately with Brandon, Ellie begrudgingly tolerates him as he seems to be less hostile. As far as Brandon is concerned, Ellie's blind devotion to George is completely incomprehensible. The more he learns about Ellie, the more he begins to realize that she is not one of the grasping debutantes pursuing him.

THE WRONG MARQUESS is the third book in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. Ellie and Brandon spar, George shows his shallowness, and Ellie's aunts "collect" recipes, and give maiden aunt advice. There is plenty of humor, as well as romance in this delightful tale. Will Ellie get over George? Can she warm to Brandon? And what of Brandon? His disdain for the swarms of debutantes and his confusion about why Ellie isn't chasing him have him confused.

Readers will delight in this latest in the series, and it isn't necessary to have read the previous two books. Each chapter begins with a quote from The Marriage Habits of the Native Aristocrat. Enjoy THE WRONG MARQUESS, it is very entertaining.

I enjoyed this book, as I do most of Lorret's work, but I feel like she missed an opportunity for a more nuanced story by making George *spoiler alert* almost comically shitty by the end. I wish Ellie could have gradually realized his flaws and decide they aren't actually a good fit as a couple, choosing Brandon in the process. But George... fully sucks! To the point that it reflects truly badly on our heroine that she was hung up on his for so long. That was my only gripe -- the main romance is superb and I love love love this series.

The Wrong Marquess is the first book I’ve read from Vivienne Lorret and I’m hooked. I’ve already went to the first book in the series and started reading Winnie’s and Asher’s story. I loved the beginning and instantly fell in love with Ellie and George. Fast forward several years and Ellie is still patiently waiting for George to propose when she accidentally collides into Brandon the Marquess of Hullworth. Brandon is use to all sorts of advances to gain his attention so he believes Ellie is the same as all the marriage minded misses of the ton. After this encounter they both are determined to hate each other until the end of time. Cue his sister Meg and help play match maker. I’m sure like all of us reading Meg could see the chemistry brewing between Ellie and Brandon and set her cap on bringing them together. The only obstacle is George and Ellie’s determination to marry him. Fortunately, that works itself out in a way. I can’t wait to read more from Vivienne Lorret.

The Wrong Marquess is all sorts of right!

I’m coming to view Lorret as one of my ‘go-to’ authors. I can always count of a fun, adventurous story with plenty of tension, romp, and unexpected twists. The Wrong Marquess fits the bill.

Elodie Parrish is our heroine and she’s on the verge of spinsterhood. Pining away waiting on her neighbor and childhood friend, George, to propose to her. His lack of commitment is starting to bother her a bit, but not enough to give up on him completely. On the opposite side of things we have Brandon, Marquess of Hullworth, and ‘London’s Most Elusive Bachelor’ who becomes a thorn in Elodie’s side for thinking she wants to marry him and falling for her himself.

Soon Brandon is up to all sorts of ridiculousness in an attempt to be closer to Elodie, who sees his hanging on as friendship. He’s bound and determined to show Elodie what she deserves and that it’s him. Hijinks do ensure and of course the road to the HEA is as always, an adventure.

Elodie, or Ellie as her friend’s call her, is a delight. She’s that friend we all have who has plans for her life and is scared of everything, so she doesn’t ever step a toe out of line. If she does bad things happen, like almost getting trampled by an elephant or a twists ankle. Brandon is her perfect foil in the fact he second guesses and distrusts everything, but when he finds out Ellie is incapable of lying or leading folks on, he becomes extremely protective of her.

Watch these two fall for one another is a bit sweet at times and frustrating at others. The only thing that kept this book from a five for me is that childhood friend George does not get his comeuppance like I wanted him too. Ellie is far too nice to for anyone, but Brandon to deserve her and I really despised how the villain got away with his misdeed. Fingers crossed Lorret might give good ol’ George what he deserves in a future book.

Overall, if you want a lovely story that reminds me of the Bridgertons and Julia Quinn books, this one is for you. I have to say that Lorret built a lovely hero in Brandon as well and I’d take him in a heartbeat.

~ Landra

Rating: 4.5 Stars

If My Kind of Earl was the definition of fun, then The Wrong Marquess was the definition of delightful. Vivienne Lorret has written a pitch-perfect romance that hits all the right notes!

Elodie (Ellie) Parrish has known since she was a small child she was going to marry her neighbor, George, the Marquess of Nethersole. The only problem is, he won’t propose. The last person she has her eye on is “London’s Most Elusive Bachelor” Brandon, the Marquess of Hullworth. When Ellie literally runs into Hullworth at a garden party, he’s convinced she is one of the many scheming debutantes in the horde that follows him around trying to catch his attention. They take an instant dislike to each other – she thinks he’s arrogant and he doesn’t trust her motives. However, Ellie strikes up a fast and genuine friendship with Hullworth’s younger sister Meg, and they keep getting thrown together. Despite the mutual declarations of disdain, there is a strong attraction between the two of them and Ellie begins to question if she’s set her eyes on the wrong marquess.

As I said at the start of this review, this book was a pure delight! I truly enjoyed every minute of reading this. The plot is driven by the central romance and Ellie’s conflicted feelings. Luckily, Lorret wrote an amazing romance so the plot never feels like it drags. I was so invested in seeing Brandon and Ellie’s romance unravel and her come to terms with her feelings that I couldn’t put this book down.

The romance in this book is perfect. I definitely got Pride and Prejudice vibes at the beginning. Ellie didn’t care for Brandon one bit, even calling him “Lord Goose” due to the gaggle of gals that followed him around. She finds him arrogant and thinks he has a massive ego. Plus, her devotion to George makes her not interested in him in the slightest. Brandon doesn’t trust her. He’s had his heart broken by a woman who passed him over for a Duke before so he’s definitely a bit cynical toward the start. However, the chemistry between Ellie and Brandon was there from their first interaction. I loved the banter, and the push and pull between them was spot on. There definitely was an instant attraction, but both of them tried so hard to push it down and ignored it. I loved watching them deny their feelings, even though it became clear very early on that Brandon was besotted! I loved that he fell first, but was also in denial about what was happening. Once he does admit his feelings to himself, he does try to sway Ellie to his side. But he doesn’t do it in an underhanded way, which I loved. I truly loved that he focused on being a gentleman and showing Ellie in small ways how he cares for her and has her back, proving a stark contrast to the way George treats her with little care or respect without having to shove it in Ellie’s face. Ellie definitely ends up conflicted in her feelings, but it feels so real – it didn’t feel like a love triangle at all though it technically is.

I also have to say this book has one of the most unexpected settings for a first kiss! Truly did not think I’d ever read a book where the first kiss comes after an elephant escapes at a zoo and the couple ends up secluded on a path. So much fun! This book isn’t the steamiest, but the romantic scenes feel real and tender. The attraction between Ellie and Brandon jumps off the page and I felt like I kept yelling “And kiss!!” at them. Whenever they listened to me, I was very glad.

Outside the main couple and central romance, I have to say that I loved all the secondary characters in this book. Well, maybe I didn’t like George, but he served his purpose. I loved Brandon’s disdain for him and felt I could hear him say George (it’s frequently italicized in the text when Brandon’s mentioning him) whenever Brandon thought or said his name. Brandon also characterizes George as a “man-child” frequently, and it’s the most apt description for him. He felt very much like he had arrested development and I hated that Ellie wasted so many years and so much effort pining for him. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of George, I could appreciate what Lorret was doing with his character.

Meanwhile, on the topic of secondary characters, I did love Brandon’s sister Meg and Ellie’s Aunt Maeve and Myrtle. Can I get a buddy comedy of Aunt Maeve and Aunt Myrtle sneaking into the kitchens to steal recipes everywhere they go, please? Also, I’d love to see Meg get her happily ever after at some point – she’s so perceptive and has a quick wit. I love her subtly playing matchmaker despite Ellie and Brandon not really noticing. We also got to finally see Pru in the flesh (well as much in flesh as you can in a book), and learn who the mysterious man behind her ruination was that set off the whole concept of writing a book about the habits of scoundrels. I cannot wait to dive into her story in the next book! I was very excited for the reveal of who her love interest would be at the end of the book.

I feel like I could go on and on about this book, but I think this review is long enough! I definitely would recommend this series to any historical romance fans. It’s relatively low on the drama, high on the chemistry and a pure joy to read. All the pieces fit perfectly together, from the plot, to the romance, to the characters – you will not be disappointed if you pick this up! Between My Kind of Earl and this book, I’m fully sold on this series. The first book in the series (Lord Holt Takes a Bride) was not my favorite, but if you felt that way as well, don’t write off the rest of the series. I highly recommend picking up the next two!

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

London's most elusive bachelor.

Elodie "Ellie" is 25, feeling quite a spinster, waiting for her her neighbor George (a marquess) to settle down and marry her already. As orphans, they had an understanding since they were children. She's waiting for her proposal.

Brandon, also a Marquess, has been labelled London's most elusive bachelor for the past two years. He knows every trick in the book used to trap him into marriage, something he's unwilling to commit to since he had a rude awakening a decade ago. Brandon is positive he's on to every trick in the book Ellie might be using on him.

Ellie, meanwhile, is ignorant of her own physical reactions to Brandon (who knows she';s attracted to him) while Brandon can't fight his own attraction to Ellie. Their bafflement at their unexpected attraction is priceless.
Loved the two of them together and hands down, my favorite book in the series so far.
Recommend.

I feel so hard for this book. The storyline was fun, the feels plentiful and the swoon heart melting. I thought bot characters were amazing and I adored them individually and as a couple. If I am honest I will tell you that I felt a very personal connection to Elodie and could truly understand the struggles & challenges she endured because of my own. She was kind and very sweet. I know some readers have found her level of naivety to be off-putting but if you consider her history, I felt it made perfect sense. Anyway I loved her, quirks and all. Brandon was a delicious and delectable cinnamon roll hero that started out a bit crusty on the outside but once you reached that warm and gooey center, you realized just how amazing he was and your heart was a goner! I felt that there was a real underlying cuteness to this romance that somehow managed to only emphasize the richness of the emotions and the raw beauty of the romance. All thoughts and opinions in this review are entirely my own and freely given.

Have you ever had your hands tingle as the characters fall in love? This rare phenomenon happened throughout the first part of Vivienne Lorret's The Wrong Marquess. Whenever Brandon interacted with Ellie, the palms of my hands would tingle. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend The Wrong Marquess.

I received an advanced reader copy through Netgalley. This review is my honest opinion voluntarily given.

I liked the second half of this book better than the first. The first half the main character's "death around every corner" mentality got a little tedious. But I did enjoy how the author wrapped it into their relationship in a positive way.

This book left me with so many happy endorphins that I would recommend it just for the positive vibes it left me with. And that's not even taking into consideration how well Lorret breathes life into all of her characters and gives the story room to grow naturally.
Both Ellie and Brandon are memorable characters that I was rooting for from the very beginning. It was really fun seeing them go from enemies to friends to finally realizing that they are meant to be together. Lorret manages to make even the cliche elements of the story feel fresh and fun in a way that made this an incredibly enjoyable read.
I'm mad at myself for not knowing about this series before and I'm 100% going to rectify that as soon as I can get my hands in the first two volumes. Which doesn't mean that you can't enjoy this one on its own, but I need to know more about the crazy hints that get dropped about what happened in previous stories.
Overall, this is fun and romantic, and lovely in the best sense of the word. Get reading!

Extremely happy thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the early read!

This was a fun regency romance between sought-after bachelor, Brandon, the Marquess of Hullworth, and Elodie Parrish, a 25-year old spinster who is waiting for her oldest friend, George, to marry her. I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I ultimately did, as it contains a lot of tropes that I often find infuriating, but in the end I was charmed by the humour of the story, and the kindness with which Elodie's anxieties were handled.

This reminded me a lot of The Matchmaker's Playbook but turned into a historical romance.
This made this quite the enjoyable read for me. I think the slow burn between the two characters was set at the right pace and they had great banter. I was pleased by the time they actually got together.
Brandon I loved. He's a grump with a heart of gold (my favorite traits in a hero). Elodie can come off as a bit naive but that gets remedied by the end.
I think the will she/won't she lasted a tad too long but I can understand why it was hard for Elodie to let George go (even though he treated her horrendously). Sometimes the heart just wants what it wants, until it meets Brandon that is.
I think this can easily be read as a standalone but you will most likely want to add the previous books to your TBR.

I admit, I was fuming after I read the prologue for this one. I adore a friends-to-lovers romance and this promised to be just that. I was quickly proven wrong and it most definitely turned out for the best. I suppose there still was a little bit of that trope present, but they were already well on their way to being lovers before they decided to be “friends”.

The Wrong Marquess turned out to be the right book to get me out of my reading slump. Simply put, I loved it. There isn’t a lot of conflict and the hero is a dish even if he is a bit arrogant and jaded at the beginning. I really enjoyed the heroine in this one too. She’s got a bit of fear and anxiety that prohibits her from fully experiencing life and relationships which I can totally relate to.

This book is just pure frothy fun and hit the spot! I’ve read a few books by this author but this is by far and away my favorite. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

4.5 Stars

The Wrong Marquess was an absolute joy to read! Ellis and Brandon's witty banter during their early friendship had me laughing out loud.
Although it took them a long time to realize their feelings towards each other it was entertaining.
I loved his sister Meg and her two Aunts. They added something special to the story.
I did take 1/2 star away as it was becoming a little to long and drawn out.

The Wrong Marquess is another June 29th release that cannot be slept on. This book was fantastic! What starts out as little bit enemies to lovers between Miss Elodie Parrish and Brandon Lord Hullworth soon turns into a heart pounding romance full of laughter and spice and a little bit of heartache. 

Elodie is a heroine I greatly relate to as she is a bit of an anxious mess. She is someone that is truly been affected by her life's tragedies and this fear has a way of almost preventing her from living. She carries a torch throughout much of the novel for her childhood friend and possible betrothed, George, who is an absolute scoundrel and not one of the good ones. Her dreams for a future between her and George are immediately up in smoke once she starts spending more time in the presence of Brandon. 

Brandon has been once burned and twice shy, and as London's Elusive Bachelor, he treats Elodie with the same distain and suspicion as all the ladies that are vying for his attention. But unlike those ladies, Elodie is not a scheming sort of woman. But neither one can deny the attraction they feel in each others presence despite their half-hearted attempts to prevent it. This leads to a lot of delicious tension that had me on the edge of my seat waiting for their mutual surrender. 

I absolutely loved the romance between Elodie and Brandon. Especially the moments when Elodie was struggling with how strong she felt for Brandon and likened it to "heart seizures" and other maladies, that were hilarious and sweet. The only reason I have to knock off a half star is that I could NOT stand George. Like he made me cringe, and as much as I could understand that Elodie was viewing more of his potential, than his actual reality, I just felt that her rose-tinted opinion of him when on too long. 

I keep having this terrible habit lately of starting a book that is in the middle of a series, but after reading The Wrong Marquess there is no way I could have put this down and doubled back. I love Lorret's writing style and humor and just enjoyed the way this romance was fleshed out and developed. It made me feel tenderhearted at times and a little emotional and feelings like that make me really excited to keep reading on. I was hooked from the prologue to the very last page and now I will commit to reading this series properly with the first book.

Miss Elodie Parrish, orphaned at a young age is taken in by her aunts. Lord George Nethersole, also orphaned young, is her neighbor and they agree to marry when older.
Ellie, now in her twenties, has been waiting for George to propose but he seems indifferent and takes Ellie for granted that she will always be there when he is ready. She has always envisioned a life with him and looks at no one else until a chance meeting with Lord Brandon Hullworth and his sister Meg. Hullworth is standoffish and arrogant but Ellie and Meg become close friends. After awhile Hullworth becomes more interested in Ellie and she in him.
An entertaining historical romance with the heroine torn between what she always felt comfortable with as her future and the exciting side of actually falling in love with the wrong marquess.
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this g-galley of "The Wrong Marquess".

4.5 stars

I didn't want to put this one down! The Wrong Marquess pulled me right in from the start and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough on this hilarious and hopeful historical romance. It features a wonderfully grumpy (but truly romantic) cinnamon roll and a quirky and naive romantic. Fate grants these two a fantastic meet hate and they clash from the get go. I loved how that animosity and distrust slowly gave way to a beautiful friendship and more, as fate threw them in each other's paths time and time again. This is the 3rd book in the series and even though I haven't had a chance to read the others, I didn't feel lost or confused. This can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone.

Brandon. *swoon* He was a wonderful hero and he gave me all the Mr. Darcy vibes with his gruff exterior, but absolute marshmallow center for those that he loves. I think this is the first time I have ever not rooted for the childhood friend/love interest (not that George's behavior was ever remotely attractive). Brandon's relationship with his sister, Meg, was the perfect balance of caring and overbearing. LOL. His tenderness and thoughtfulness had me swooning and I loved what a romantic at heart he was. His patience and restraint throughout the novel, giving Ellie time to overcome her fears and not settling for anything but being her first choice, made me fall even harder for him. Book boyfriend hall of fame here for sure!

I loved him and Ellie together (the sunrises and bridge *heart eyes*), but Ellie's inability to see George for who really was grated on me. In the beginning I was able to look past it given their history, but once she realized her true feelings for Brandon, she really should have put an end to any of the George nonsense. Her behavior was very disrespectful to Brandon and though that wasn't the ultimate reason for the drama at the end of the book, I do wish Brandon would have put his foot down more firmly. Ellie had a wonderful character arc though and I appreciated that she realized her errors and took steps to grow and move forward. She also gave some good grovel (I'm always a fan of more grovel though LOL) and I was thankful that everything with George and his character was resolved once and for all.

I wasn't a big fan of Ellie's friend, Prue, given what transpired, but my heart hurt for her and what she experienced. The end of the book planted the seeds for a wonderful (but likely emotional) second chance romance for Meg and laid the foundation for an intriguing marriage of convenience/arrangement for Prue. This is my first book by Vivienne Lorrett, but I can't wait to go back and read Jane and Wynn's books, while I wait for Prue's book next!

CW: death of parent/family, anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares/fear of impending death/loss

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*