I really enjoyed this installment of the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. Enemies to lovers storylines are my favorite and this one did not disappoint. While the ending left a little to be desired the overall story was great. Also, the hit at the next book in the series left me extremely excited for it to come out.

I really loved The Wrong Marquess. I liked both main characters. Ellie was sweet, even if she was a scaredy-cat and was willing to be blinded to GeorgeS fault's for too long. And Brandon was just... amazing. 100/100. I adore him. I liked the pacing, though it dragged a little tiny bit in the middle. I thought the development of their romance was very good, so that you understand Ellie's hesitations and how she and Brandon fall in love with each other.
("steam" level is around a 3 or 4)
This was my first book by Vivienne Lorret and I will keep my eye out for both her upcoming titles and her backlist.
5 stars because I love Brandon so much that I cannot in good conscience give this book any less.

Another delightful entry from Vivienne Lorret - her books are always a hit for me. I loved Ellie and her journey towards defeating her fears and finding real love. Brandon was the perfect hero for her, always willing to help and support her without being overbearing. This series has been wonderful to read and I can't wait for the next one!

Sometimes you just want a low-angst love story between two people who get the wrong idea about each other at their first meeting. Ellie - the most innocent and unaffected young woman in London - literally runs into Brandon - the most sought-after bachelor in town. He believes that she has manipulated her way into his path, while his reaction convinces her that he is "odious and overbearing." But of course, these two are meant for each other, despite the fact that Ellie is all-but-betrothed to her childhood friend, George.

We really liked that Brandon was persistent without verging into badgering territory; when Ellie tells him to back off, he does. We also appreciated that while George ended up not being a nice guy, his misbehavior was not the deciding factor for Ellie to reconsider their attachment. This is a great choice for a slower-paced historical romance that still brings the steam.

I totally loved this book, and definitely want to read the others in this series before the next one comes out!
At the beginning I totally thougt this was going to be a book about two childhood friends that were going to end up together.. (I had totally forgotten what the book was about) but as soon as Brandon stepped on the page I KNEW he was going to make the best match for Elodie..Also can I just say how much I absolutley Love that name?.. They literally run into each other and immediatly have this moment.. Even though Ellie only has eyes for George and plans to marry him, and Brandon thinks that all women want to marry him and that running into him was Ellies excuse..so he makes a bit of a jerk out of himself.. To be fair to him though women flock to him and in any given situation women are ''turning their ankles'' as an excuse for him to escort them home.. He has become very adapt at getting out of these situations without hurting any ones feelings or getting into any compromising situations.. and Ellie isn't going to get past his defenses.. Even making friends with his sister Meg wont help her get close to him.. (I can't wait to get her story)
When after a few chance meetings and alot of misunderstandings they decide to just be friends, the chemistry between them explodes!! They seem to run into each other everywhere, and can't help but be drawn together.. There hands brush, eyes connect across the room.. Seeing them fall in love was absolutely beautiful..
I just love the way they are together even when Ellie insists they are just friends and she and George will be married..
This book gave me all the feels and I can't wait to catch up on this series backlist and read many more books by Vivienne Lorret!

Oh, boy, was this a wonderful book. I loved Brandon from his first moment on the page. He was everything a cinnamon roll hero should be. He had no intention of marrying anytime soon but as soon as he met Ellie he knew what his future held. It was so wonderful to see a hero who wasn't a total ass throughout the book. Brandon was kind and knew the treasure he had found.

Ellie, on the other hand, could have used a good smack on the back of the head a few times. I did like her as well and wish she could have seen how awful and useless the man-child was a bit sooner.

Overall this was a very satisfying read and I can't wait for the next adventure from Vivienne Lorret.

I absolutely loved this book - Vivienne Lorett is one of my authors to follow. Ellie was funny, clever, relatable, and vulnerable in a way that wasn't frustrating. And Brandon was stubbornly sweet. The only negative was how long it took Ellie to realize George was a complete moron.

The Wrong Marquess is a fantastic historical romance that will make you laugh, cry, and sigh! I was very impressed by Lorret’s writing style. Each character was very well developed and created their own unique twist to the story. This novel was not as steamy as I prefer in my romances, but the overall story really made up for that. My only complaint is that we did not get to see Brandon and Ellie finally together in the end. Marriage is only the beginning of a true love story!

This book was given to me from Netgalley in Return for a honest review.

This book is the 3rd book to the series "Mating with Scoundrels" but can be read as a alone. I highly recommend this book. The author had the ability to make me laugh and get upset. Even made me think the heroine was dense, then made me change my mind 🤣🤣🤣.

I gave this book a 3 then decided to round it
up to 4 because I extremely loved the main male character "Brandon". Without him I would've left it at a 3. He made a huge impact in this book. He's a sweetheart! He's kind, handsome, has a great personality, patient, and so understanding. I did like the heroine "Ellie". She's sweet, honest, a wonderful friend, has great qualities...however I was a bit irritated with her personality throughout the book here and there. But theres reason to that, and I loved seeing her grow a backbone and overcoming all her fears.

This books starts off with what you would think is going to be childhood friends to lovers but I was completely off. It's a love triangle.

Ellie's loses her parents at a very young age. When her father passed away, she's in disbelief. She's at the cemetery waiting for her father to awake thinking everything is a huge mistake and he's only sleeping. Her neighbor George the young Marquess who's also her enemy comforts her. He tells her he shall marry her oneday so she'll never be alone. After that they become close friends. From there on out, they both have an understanding, Oneday when he is ready he'll propose and they'll live happily ever after.

18 yrs later she is still unwed and waiting impatiently and sometimes patiently. George is a spoiled man child. He is immature, a liar, makes fun of her, walks on her, purposely and intentionally forgets about her but she thinks he's the right one. Brandon is also a Marquess but he's the good one but in her eyes he's the wrong Marquess.

Brandon is London's most elusive and wanted bachelor. When he meets Ellie, he automatically thinks she's one of those debutante with tricks up her sleeves. With that on his mind, he's completely rude to her, and she vows to hate him forever even after death. Coincidentally she also meets his sister Meg on the same night. From that night on Meg and Ellie become fast friends. He's very protective of Meg thinking Ellie is using her to get to him. So he endures Ellie's company protecting Meg. As they all spend more time together Brandon and Ellie develops feeling for eachother. He now knows she's being honest. She does not want him in that way. Funny thing is Knowing she doesn't want him makes him want her.

It's so cute how she thinks she's always dying when he's around her. Erratic heart beats, heat waves, goosebumps, chills, problematic breathing issues, and many more symptoms. She's doesn't understand that it's pure attraction and lust that she feels. He knows it too and teases her all the time by saying stuff like, "are you ill?" "What are you're symptoms?" "Shall I fetch a doctor?" And she has no idea until he says I can help you with that and With that being said they share their first kiss. (It was hot)

She is completely at a loss after their kiss. She thinks she's suppose to be with George. George is her safe haven, and all she's ever known. Even with George being a complete pompous jerk, spoiled brat, makes fun of her and while Brandon is the complete opposite she still chooses George.

But Brandon is patient. He's there for her. He shows her kindness. Goes above and beyond to help her conquer all her phobias. Most importantly he shows her love. Slowly she learns what true love is, and what George meant to her.

She finally made her choice and chooses Brandon! Yay right!? Well not for long. Unfortunately on the same day, she witnesses Brandon falling from a air balloon while in a fight with George. She has a MAJOR breakdown thinking he's died but he's completely fine. Because she loved him so much she automatically went back to George because she feared if she lost him she wouldn't be able survive. Her excuse to him was he deserved someone stronger. Brandon begged her to stay but she left with George. (I wanted to slap her)


A few days later she realizes she made a huge mistake. George was her scapegoat to living because she feared death. George finally proposed and she said no. She went after Brandon and explained. He forgave her and they got married by a special license. (Again I love Brandon)

What if your best friend from childhood promises to marry you when you are seven and attending your fathers burial? And then you wait and wait and wait. Elodie is a delightful heroine. She is quirky with many phobias from things like death, horses, bridges, arches, boats and heights. But she is a good friend and devoted to the aunts who raised her. She is also waiting for George to be the man he is supposed to be and propose to her. While at a party she meets Meg and her brother Lord Hullworth.

Brandon Stredwick, the Marquess of Hullworth, thinks every female in the ton is out to marry him. He is London's most elusive bachelor. He is also my new favorite male character. He is charming and totally baffled by Elodie. He thinks she is after him but realizes all too soon her heart is elsewhere. But together each of them can't help but notice the their attraction for each other. Although in a fun way, Elodie describes her physical reactions to him more as concerns for her health, e.g. heart palpitations, shortness of breath etc.

I enjoyed the way the author writes. The use of a word like valetudinarian sent me happily searching out a dictionary. But I was frustrated with George, the man-child. Elodie gives him far too many chances and her choice to leave with him actually caused me to lower my star rating out of frustration. But I would recommend this book to my friends who read historical romances and I will look for the other books in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and harper Voyager for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

*** Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review ***

This was my first book by Vivienne Lorret so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I ended up liking this so much! From the start, I quickly became attached to every character (except George because obviously) and felt so invested in the plot. I LOVED BRANDON SO MUCH!! I've been reading a ton of historical romances lately, but Brandon may be one of my new favorite heroes. He's the type that openly worships the heroine and isn't afraid to let her (and the world) know how much he cares about her. Total swoon worthy material. Elodie as a heroine was just fine for me though, especially when her fixation on George (without any justifiable reason except for the fact that she knew him her whole life) lasted wayyyyy too long. But Brandon was so kind and patient with her even though there were times when I wanted to yell "she's not worth it, King!!". The 3rd act conflict that happened literally 93% into the book ultimately made me drop this down to a 3 star, but I had a great time reading this. I would definitely read more from Vivienne Lorret in the future!

First off, Vivienne Lorret is legitimately one of my very favorite authors. Her books create worlds that I don't want to leave, and find myself still thinking about days later, wishing I could unread them just to experience them again for the first time. I've probably re-read her books more than any other romance authors, just because I love them so much.

I had already pre-ordered The Wrong Marquess when I received an e-ARC, and I'm so glad that I did. There are some books that you just want to have a physical copy of, just to have them, and this is one.

Elodie Parrish has been waiting for her impulsive neighbor to propose for years. All her plans hinge on him being the one. When her path crosses again and again with Brandon, the Marquess of Hullworth, however, she starts to wonder if her plans are so concrete, after all.

In all romances, the main characters have to be right for each other (obviously), but Lorret creates characters that are just so perfectly perfect for each other, and it's amazing. In The Wrong Marquess, Ellie is a worrier, and is anxious about things a lot. Brandon, who is "odious and overbearing", however, sees through her insecurities and gently helps her overcome them.

One of the things I think Lorret does best is the pining hero. In quite a few of her books the hero is doing some serious longing, and honestly it's like catnip to me - give me alllll the yearning!! Brandon is *sigh* so amazing.

I loved this book so so much, and can't wait for the next installment in this series.



Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/HarperCollins for the ARC! (Note that this in no way affected my review, all opinions are my own.)

Ellie and Brandon are really freaking adorable. Though Ellie really really could have benefited from some 21st century style talk therapy. Her parents died when she was very young and she was raised by her aunts. Her closest neighbor in the country is George, a Marquess who was also orphaned at a young age. George and Ellie have an understanding that, when George is ready, they'll get married. The issue is - George is definitely no where near ready to get married. He's pretty much the definition of an entitled man-child. Ellie loves him, but it is not a passionate, scary, romantic love. In fact, Ellie avoids anything that is scary or makes her heart race in any way. She has a profound fear of death and when she meets Brandon, instead of recognizing her feelings as strong attraction - she thinks something is wrong with her.

Brandon is not a man-child. He is a fully grown adult who has spent the better part of his adult life growing into his responsibilities and putting his sister's welfare above everything else. He is a Marquess and has been very elusive to the ladies of the marriage market. Every marriage minded mama is throwing their daughters in his path. He at first assumes that Ellie is no different - but as they get to know each other he realizes that she is more than just different - she is everything to him.

Brandon is definitely a fantasy guy - he makes sure Ellie knows, on every level, that she is first in his world. Ellie takes her time to realize the differences between Brandon and George. Even though it is patently clear that she is the only one who doesn't realize what is right in front of her.

Overall - this is a sweet story that goes from enemies to friends to lovers in a natural and lovely progression. If there were more Brandon's in the world - we'd all be better off.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Somehow despite my best effort to read every historical Avon has published, I have missed out on Vivienne Lorret. I would like to take this moment to apologize to Vivienne for the massive oversight on my part because oh my gosh this book was incredible and I now have plans to read all her other books.

Cover to cover this book is absolutely beautiful. The photo on the front of the book is absolutely beautiful and I love that the background references the text (insert image of me doing the Leo DiCaprio pointing meme when I got to the folly scene). Literally from the first page of the text I was drawn in by the beautiful writing style. The descriptions throughout the book are absolutely stunning, going past the standard sight descriptions to something more visceral like how “the grit beneath her fingernails tasted like raw potatoes” or “the thickly woven carpet [was] a delight beneath her bare feet” that made the world feel more real. This book beautifully blends raw emotion, sorrow, and humor.

I knew coming into this book that it is the third in a series, which usually makes me a bit nervous that I missed out on too much world building, but this was not the case and this book 100% can be read as a standalone. I could tell who the previous books had been about, but the characters didn’t feature enough to make me feel like was missing out on important information by not having read their stories. Likewise I could tell which characters were being set up for future books, but not to the point that it was distracting. For me this is one of the hallmarks of a good romance writer; the ability to recall past books and foreshadow future ones without taking away from the main character’s story.

Elodie and Brandon are both absolutely delightful. Elodie and her fear of dying spoke to me as I too have a fear of being buried. Vivienne was able to write Ellie’s morbidity in such a way that it felt quirky and never crossed the line into Debby-Downer territory. I adored Brandon’s sheer bafflement at everything going on and not knowing what to do with his attraction to Ellie (this is one of my favorite topes in romances). Both characters were well rounded and I truly felt like I got to know them in the hours I spent reading.

Also, I’m not sure when the final draft of this book was due to the publisher, so I’m not sure if a certain spoon scene at Gunter’s Tea Shop was a direct homage to the scene in the Bridgerton Netflix series or just a happy coincidence, but either way I found it made me very happy.

I absolutely can’t wait for the next book in the series and am very excited to go back and read the two books leading up to this one (and literally everything else Vivienne has written).

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. George was an immature, spoiled young man that took no blame on himself for anything that went wrong. I was beginning to wonder if Ellie and Brandon would ever get together. I enjoyed the book. I would recommend it to others. Our library doesn’t purchase paperbacks but if it was donated I would recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC to read and review.

Elodie is waiting for her childhood sweetheart to propose. She meets Brandon and just wants to be friends while in reality slowly falling in love with each encounter. Brandon is smitten, but doesn't believe Elodie isn't trying to trap him.

This is a cute story, but it dragged on and on for me.

This was utterly delightful. There was witty banter, swoon-worthy gestures on the hero's part, and an amazing emotional journey on the part of the heroine. I haven't read many historicals where the heroine suffers from anxiety, and it was refreshing and heartwarming to read one, especially where she overcomes her fears ultimately on her own. I've enjoyed every book I've read by this author, but I think this is one of my very favorites. I would highly recommend this to fans of Tessa Dare and Sarah MacLean. My only complaint is that I have to wait for Prue and Lord Savage's book!

A continuation of The Mating Habits of Scoundrel series, The Wrong Marquess has a satisfying plot and an enjoyable hero.

The opening scene upends expectations that this is a traditional childhood-friends-to-lovers romance. When she meets Brandon Stredwick, the titular "wrong" marquess, Elodie "Ellie" Parrish is 25 and not married to the man she decided to marry when they were children: George, the "right" marquess for her. Or so she thinks. And she's definitely not as enamored with Brandon as every other debutante in London, despite the physiological symptoms of desire that she describes to him in great detail in their early meetings. Or so she thinks.

He, too, is struck, but suspects her of cozying up to his sister and conveniently bumping into him in order to catch his eye. Soon, he realizes she's exactly who she says she is: a loyal and kind-hearted friend with a penchant for blushing when she looks at him. Although he's increasingly certain that they belong together, he must find a way to convince her that he, not George, is the right marquess for her.

Brandon is a likeable lead, and for the most part, so is Ellie. At 25, though, she seems excessively naive at times, not just about George--who she would clearly see is a jerk, if she would just look--but about her own body. As eye-rolling as some of her commentary sometimes was, I did look forward to seeing her happy with the ever-patient Brandon and more comfortable in her own skin.

One thing that I've found in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series is that it's best if I suspend disbelief at certain points. Here, readers encounter characters who say things like "the hot brush of your exhale against my cheek" or give full, multiple sentence speeches while running flat out. These are silly but harmless moments, and the overall story does not suffer for them.

Overall, this is a worthwhile read if you are a fan of the series or looking for a straightforward Regency romance.

The Wrong Marquess is an absolutely swoon worthy read! Brandon and Ellie’s chemistry sizzle off the pages!
One summer together changes everything for them. You will love this book from start to finish!

Thank You NetGalley for the ARC!

Five sighs, five swoons for this slow burn romance that simmers, then boils, throughout. Brandon and Ellie’s chemistry is off the charts, and Lorret’s mature & polished writing breathe a life into the characters. After having read so many mediocre and subpar regency romances, I gladly devoured this well written story of two people who, despite their respective reservations and fears, cannot stop their mutual attraction from having them reconsider everything they thought they wanted.

In a genre where so many options are poorly done or just over done, The Wrong Marquess has gotten so much right and y’all, the chemistry between the MC is one of the hottest I’ve read in some time. Five stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.