Kitty has survived an abusive father. William has survived a reckless and uncaring father. Both scarred by their pasts, they attempt to accept more than just the passion between them. Neither is really sure what love looks like, but eventually they realize that is needed to make their marriage successful. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

William and Kitty have an instantaneous attraction to each other.
Kitty has had a difficult life with an abusive alcoholic father and William also had pressures from his family.
Lots of mistakes, hidden agendas threaten to derail them but they need to overcome them.
Only with honesty and commitment can they come together in a loving marriage.
A romance with twists and turns, characters worth caring about, and a HEA.

I'm torn on this one. The writing is excellent but I took almost to the end of the book to warm up to the mmcs. Talk about a volitile relationship! They get along in bed but fight the rest of the time and it's exhausting. Jack and Mara inject the most heart into this story. Maybe I would have appreciated more of them "courting" and actually talking to each other, like at the end.
I received this book as a gift from the publisher. Opinions are my own.

I was just thinking how much I wished for a new Jillian Eaton novel and it magically appeared in the catalog. I really enjoyed both the first Ladies of Seduction book and her Duchess for All Seasons novellas narrated by the darling Mary Sarah. Unfortunately, my enjoyment wasn't reprised for The Lady Courts a Marquess. I'm not usually one for Marriage in Trouble romances, despite its predecessor finding success in that regard. I prefer everything to occur on page in chronological order without the use of flashbacks. The book opened up with our couple already married and their only compatibility lay in their marriage bed.

TLCAM features the wedded un-bliss of Kitty and William, whose nuptials were alluded to in the previous book. These two seemed so unhappy and it bummed me out tremendously. This novel was predominantly told through flashbacks detailing their courtship and William's former betrothed. I was really depressed reading their arguments. I want romances to be filled with people falling in love, not pre-established couples threatening to divorce. These two eventually made up, but it was a rocky road to happiness.

Although this book failed to meet the expectations of its predecessor, I am in no way deterred. I love Jillian Eaton's writing. This book ended on a setup for the sequel with a lady doctor trying to escape her husband. It seems like another marriage in trouble, but hopefully this one won't be as woebegone. I'm staying positive that the next time we go courtin', it'll be a triumph!

William and Kitty definitely set the pages on fire with their passion in and out of the bedroom. But the past secrets that come to light put a damper on the courtship, engagement, and marriage. Miserable, Kitty wants out, but William will not give her up.

This is a very emotional book with a lot of triggers. Overall, I like Jillian Eatons books a lot, and this was still compelling in my mind. However, the past / present back and forth was a bit too messy.

#netgalley #TheLadyCourtsAMarquess