It was totally my mistake that I didn't realize this was a third installment in a co-current series. I still enjoyed The Groom List, but I definitely wish I had read the other two first!

This is the third book in the Worthington Brides books and partly overlaps with the other two. As they are concurrent, it would be best to read in order.

Giff meets Alice and knows she's the one. She is not sold on him. Until he realizes, with the help of others, that he needs to be her friend first, they don't actually learn anything about the other. Then, they find what they're looking for in each other and fall in love.

It was slow paced and long with a lot of details on the day to day versus the characters' feelings. Conflict was resolved so quickly which made the chapters on house organization and wedding planning and small talk the focus, which just didn't hold my attention. I like a story focused on character and relationship development, but this didn't capture that with the overwhelming detail provided on other things. It left me feeling like something was missing (despite the length of the book).

I enjoyed the multiple POVs, showing us the villain and family members and others in addition to our leads. There are some interesting character choices and personalities from the main and side ones which have kept me coming back for my third Ella Quinn book, and some of the other story's sound/could be more interesting, but this book fell flatter than the others which had a similar slow-paced, introspective feel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Feat: frustrating characters, he falls first, lust to love, wanting to marry because everyone else is doing it, villainous rival

2.75 stars
1 spice

The Groom List is the third book in Ella Quinn’s Worthington Brides series which itself is a continuation from her Worthingtons series.
Lady Alice Carpenter and her sisters have joined the season to find a good husband. They have even compiled a list of attributes the gentleman must have. When she encounters the handsome Marquis of St Albans on her morning rides she believes she may have met a suitable candidate. But the more she encounters him, the more she believes that he is a shallow, purposeless man who has no conversation but the latest gossip. How can she have been so mistaken?
Gifford, heir to the Duke of Cleveland, has to marry in order for his father to let him take care of his estate. Deciding to secure the hand of the lovely Lady Alice, he resorts to reading the latest gossip so he can fix her interest. All ladies live for gossip don’t they?
When Gifford realises his mistake he has to convince Alice that there is more substance to him before her head is turned by another.
I had not read the previous books in the series and it seems that Ella Quinn has built up a charming Regency world. It is a warm world filled with charming characters. The only thing is that sometimes it was hard to keep up with the many previous heroes and heroines and their families if you are new to it.
I did like Giff – he has never been given the chance by his father to be productive but when he gains an estate of his own he does everything he can to become knowledgeable and take up his duties. He also works hard to improve Alice’s opinion of him [with the help of her younger sisters who were probably the highlight of the book for me].
I didn’t warm to Alice as much. She did spend most of the book disdaining Giff, thinking she was in love with another man and later on in the story [when they were at Giff’s home] came across as managing and abrupt rather than charming and capable.
I loved Giff’s mum and really loved the Ladies Mary and Theo. They definitely came across as the cleverest in the whole book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Intelligent. Kind. Must like children. Passable looks. A man of means. Must make us laugh . . .”
‘The Groom List’ by Ella Quinn is the third and final book of the series The Worthington Brides.
Lady Alice is excited about her first season and she is armed with a list of what she wants in a husband but she did not except the annoying presence of the Earl of St.Albans, to be Marquis of St. Albans and how he needle in her plan.

This story had a lot of promise but for me needed a bit more of work in the plotline because in my opinion it had room to improve. Despite that it was a good classic historical romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from Kensington Publishing - Zebra and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quinn's latest romance is a rollicking ride! Her romances just get better and better! The characters, plotting, and pacing in her latest is perfect. I love this family and this series.

I love notable pets and appreciate any author who includes them in stories. The list aspect is a great trope (or micro trope?) especially when the characteristics are to be found in really good people.
This is the third book of the series. I haven't read the first two and I will admit that it made it difficult to get into this book. I feel it's almost not stand alone. There's a lot family and a lot of past story lines going on, and I think the first two books really must be read to understand the plot.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book as I am a fan of Ella's books and her Worthington Series.

Lady Alice is feisty, intelligent, and thanks to her *list* she knows what she wants in a groom now that she's on the Marriage Mart and it definitely isn't Gifford, Marquis of St. Albans! He, on the other hand, knows she is exactly the wife he needs and wants, and he is determined to have her as his bride.

When Lady Alice dismisses him as uninteresting , shallow, and definitely not for her, she ends up setting her sights on a scoundrel instead. Giff has to choose. Is he going to be the same man that Lady Alice perceives him to be, or is he going to make the changes needed for her to see that he is the man she is meant to be with? The meddling family adds humor to this romance as they try to help these two along.

This is a low/no steam historical romance. I enjoyed the read although it wasn't my favorite Worthington book and am still a huge fan of Ella's books. I will also be sure to add it to my Worthington collection. 🙂

I just about finished to read the book for a second time, and I really like it. Alice and Gifford's story is set up as a arc for the stories of the 'Worthington Brides' series. At times, I really wondered why Gifford was acting the way he does, but it all comes clear towards (as he's not the only one of the grooms being totally oblivious at first). Alice sees Eleanor and Madeline getting married, to men who really love them, and it's not surprising at all that that is what she would also want to have. And kudos to Theodora Vivers and Mary Carpenter (especially Mary).! They were a really funny addition to the book, and Gifford really needs all the help he can get to secure Alice. Can't wait for new books from Ella Quinn.

I like this series but this installment wasn't so great for me, I loved seeing all the other characters from previous books

If you haven't read any of Ella Quinn's previous books in the Worthington series, take your time to figure out the family relationships that are outlined in the first chapter of "The Groom List". I skipped over them, and found myself hopelessly confused, and had to restart. But once I did, I was rewarded. Giff and Allice are a delightful couple, and manage a courtship with less drama than I expected.

I particularly enjoyed the end of the book; Alice's settling into her role as a duchess-to-be, and the details of exactly what was entailed in running England's great houses in this era was fascinating.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lady Alice Carpenter, her twin sister Eleanor and her sister by marriage, Madeline Vivers had a plan they were using to find their ideal groom. Lady Eleanor and Madeline's grooms came up to scratch quickly but after the first guy she met, Lord St. Albans did not meet her standards, she focused on finding a new man. There is another guy interested in Alice who appears to meet all of the items on her list only the children and the dogs didn't like him. Thank Goodness Alice has a protective family and a determined suitor in St. Albans who will go out of his way to prevent her from marrying the wrong guy. Its been a long time since I read Matt and Grace's story(initial story) and I have read the stories after theirs. It was great to read more of their extended families now combined with St. Albans' English/Scots families.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Lady Alice Carpenter is excited about her first season and getting married. Armed with her list of what she wants in a husband, the last man she would consider is Gifford, Earl of St.Albans, to be Marquis of St. Albans, the heir to the Duke of Cleveland. Don't forget from previous books that Alice comes with a big family that's not afraid to involve themselves in her choice of a husband. Giff doesn't know how to court a lady like Alice. Every attempt he's made has turned out wrong and he's losing her to someone else. It's time to make some changes in his approach. It's a good thing he has some inside help. Never a dull moment with the Worthington and Carpenter extended family. Very little descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Alice and Giff just don't hit it off and Alice moves on. Giff continues to pursue Alice after he works on himself. It was a little slow to get into the story, but picked up a little later.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and am leaving a review by my own choice.

Finally, a story with a list! MC makes a list of attributes that she wants in a husband. However, the person who attracts her attention doesn't have any of these attributes. A well paced story of two mixed matched
people trying to find a life partner. Colorful and engaging.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, fast-paced and kept me reading. Both made some assumptions initially, but later they worked through it, communicated and got to know each other. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Lady Alice Carpenter, like her sisters before her, is ready to marry and has made a list of attributes a potential husband must have. Alice is enjoying her season and doesn’t seem in any rush to settle on a suitor but didn’t seem to realize how much she would miss her sisters once they married and that is what ends up being the catalyst that finally sets her on her path to HEA. And with a wealth of suitors to choose from, Alice decides to stick to her list, which sadly seems to eliminate Gifford, Marquis of St. Albans right from the get-go!

Gifford “Giff” is called home by his father, the Duke of Cleveland at the start of the season. He thinks he will finally be given the heir’s estate to run, but what he gets is a new title, as his parents believe that it is time for him to marry and the title of Marquis would be more desirable than that of a mere Earl. Giff is disappointed, but he agreed to wed this year and so he shall. When he returns to London, he immediately sets his sights on Lady Alice Carpenter, foolishly thinking his title would be all he needed to win her hand. When she dismisses him and finds a new suitor, he knows he has erred, but is it too late to change her mind?

This book was not what I was hoping for, and I honestly think I have had enough of the Worthingtons – I am beginning to think the author has too, since the first quarter of this book was pretty much recycled scenes from the previous books. I have to agree with other reviewers who felt that while the characters were likable, they were flat, dull and uninspiring. I didn’t hate this book, but neither would I read it again. Overall, it was OK, and if you are looking for a slow-burn, low/no steam romance, you will probably enjoy this book a lot more than I did. This is the third and final book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title with no problem.

2.5 stars rounded up.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

I don't think that I love Ella Quinn. I am constantly underwhelmed by her writing. This was boring - this just lacked any emotional hook

I really enjoyed reading the lastest book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Quinn has written a winner of a romance with lots of funny and endearing quips. It had me at first chapter and never let go. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own.
Lady Alice Carpenter is about to be debuted along with her twin sister and sister by marriage. She has made a list in which she decides which man would be a match for her. She meets a lot of different guys but there is one who stands out in her mind.
Gifford, the Marquis of St. Albans is a flirt and has a very manly presence. He spies the lovely Alice and knows that she is the one he wants. He has to marry in order to get the estate from his controlling father. So he decides to begin with friendship and court her. Alice isn't taken in a bit because she's not sure of his feelings.
Giff decides he must change his ways to win the woman who is being courted by a scoundrel.
I know that Giff and Alice will get their happy ever because they are fated to be.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

I tried so hard to like it but this book but I was just … bored 🤷🏼‍♀️ the characters had no chemistry and I couldn’t care less about what happened to them … I was so confused with all the characters - there were so many siblings .. in-laws … nieces .. nephews … honestly don’t think it could be read standalone and even though it was the this book in this series there seems to be another longer series before this one as well … but I don’t think overall this series is for me

Alice and Giff – A Perfect Match

After a rough start to their romance both Alice and Giff finally got to know one another and the first impressions Giff had given out to Alice were forgotten.

With a little help along the way, they finally got to be together.

A lovely romantic read with some problems along the way leading to a wonderful HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.