I enjoyed the story where a common laborer becomes a marquess and a caring debutante who wants to be more than a pretty face. A captivating start to a new series where a kiss can change everything. Ariadne and Julian have a wonderful connection and their journey leads from doubts and unworthiness to an adoring forever love.

~3 stars

A shocking revelation leads dockworker, Julian Watts, to be thrust into Polite Society; a world he has no idea how to navigate.

Julian's cluelessness made him a rather endearing character and I enjoyed how outspoken and headstrong Ariadne was, the combination made for a truly refreshing dynamic between the two of them. However, I thought the relationship conflict was a bit silly and unnecessary and it caused Julian to become quite annoying. I also wasn't a massive fan of the writing style and I found the pacing of the book a little odd. I did however love the friendship between Julian, Val, and Con and I can really see how the author is setting up more stories in this universe. Overall, I think if you're looking for a quick and fun historical romance this is definitely a good choice.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ariadne was such a captivating character, with her unique charm that effortlessly draws you in. Her bond with her brother was one of the highlights for me—such a genuine and touching connection. Julian, however, was a bit of a mixed bag. While it was understandable for him to let go of Ariadne, I wasn’t sure about his sudden interest in someone else. The whole back-and-forth of him struggling with insecurities got old quickly, especially for a marquess. It felt a bit repetitive at times.

The writing was strong, and the pacing kept things moving without feeling rushed. Overall, a decent read that I enjoyed, but Julian’s character just didn’t work for me as much as I’d hoped. That's why I'm giving it 3 ⭐.

Once again Alexa Aston has created a story full of intrigue, romance, perfectly flawed characters, and a plot that swept me away to another time. I highly enjoyed this book!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from Dragonblade Publishing via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄 @dragonbladepub
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New series from Alexa Aston and it is amazing . Julian Watts grew up with his mother very poorly and upon her death he discover that his mother was married with his father which was a Marqess . Now from poor he is the heir of the Marquess of Aldridge . Lady Ariadne Worthington is making her come out and the first person she meets when they arrive to London is Julian which is their neighbor . She is starting to like him and when he reveals her his life she falls for him even more . Julian thanks to her encouragment is good friend with her brother Val and cousin Con . After they share few kisses he realeses that she deserves someone equal and when the Season begin he only dancing with the wallflowers . Will Ariadne be able to make him see that he is worthy of her ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

The start of a new series featuring three families—the Worthingtons, Alingtons, and Fultons & ten cousins named for Roman and Byzantine rulers and their spouses.
London dockworker Julian Watts was born out of wedlock. Raised by his seamstress mother, he has only known gnawing poverty. When his mother dies he makes a remarkable discovery& suddenly he’s Julian Barrington, Marquis of Aldridge. Thrust into a world he never imagined, Julian grapples with his newfound status and the weight of the responsibilities that come with it. Lady Ariadne Worthington is on the verge of making her come-out when she meets her family’s new neighbour, a titled gentleman that she is inexplicably drawn to. Lord Aldridge becomes friendly with her brother Val and cousin Con, and the more time she spends in Julian’s company, the more their attraction grows. An unexpected kiss from Julian leads Ariadne to believe he will pursue her, but once the Season begins, he dashes her hopes, ignoring her and dancing with nothing but wallflowers.
I love the author’s books & this series starter didn’t disappoint in any way. Strong characters, a well paced story, sizzling chemistry & lovely (well mostly) secondary characters had me reading it straight through & once again burned the midnight oil to do so. I loved both Julian & Ariadne who were attracted to each other from their first meeting but he’s still struggling to come to terms with his new status & believes she’s too good for him. She’s mature for a debutante &is lucky to have her siblings & cousins as her parents especially her mother have no interest in her. The couple are both caring & wanting to help those in poverty. I loved their journey to a HEA & look forward to the rest of the series especially Val’s story who was toe curlingly gorgeous
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

What a delightfully different story of Ariadne and Julian. He is a poor dockworker who finds himself a Marquess and has NO idea what to do with it or how to survive the ton. Ariadne is a duke’s daughter with a heart of gold. Their first meet is cute and exasperating at the same time. Watching them grow closer and then be torn apart by feelings of inadequacy. Your emotions get involved quickly with sadness, confusion, doubt, love and loss. The twists and turns are small, but very important. Hope to see how Lia and Tia take on the ton, as they are adorable sisters and Val is one exceptional brother! Good story, great characters and a very comfy HEA.

I received this story for free and these are my own views.

Polite Society, Fate, Family, Delightful:
I absolutely loved Julian the poor incredibly handsome dock worker who became the Marquess after the death of his unknown father.
His life has now changed, and destiny is now on his doorstep when he happens to meet his neighbor Ariadne a beautiful girl ready for her first season to start.
Fast friends Ariadne helps Julian through many situations that polite society demands along with some blossoming attraction.
This is a lovely story that starts a new series that involves a large family and follows some of the characters into their own story that brings forth more first kisses that leads to more smoldering ones.
A lighthearted read involving family and friend dynamics, snooty mothers, doubts, desires, and a few eye-opening shocks I didn't see coming.
😭Tissue Box Moment: When Julian meets up with parts of his family.

Raising from a dock worker to a marquess, Julian is uncomfortable with the luxuries and the waste he sees among the ton. Debutante Ariadne is also uncomfortable with the poverty she sees in London. There is an attraction as soon as they meet. Ariadne and her family help Julian to acclimate to the ways of the ton. Julian, however, thinks he may not be good enough for her. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

A family of ten cousins in a series of Captivating Kisses begins with Ariadne the daughter of a Duke.
She meets Julian a brand new Marquess.
He was raised by his mother under difficult circumstances without much money or food. He worked on the docks during the day and clerked at night for extra money. When his mother dies, he discovers who his father truly his and meets him on his deathbed when Julian inherits the title.
Despite their attraction to each other, Julian never feels he is good enough for Ariadne so he pursues the wallflowers.
Fun characters, a romance destined to be, and family matters.
Enjoyable read.

An Unexpected Kiss, is a great book and sets up the series nicely. Julian catches onto what is expected of him after being a Marquess unexpectedly. Ariadne is very unsure about her first season. She asked all the correct questions so she was mostly knowledgeable about what to expect. Julian's actions are a surprise to not only her but her family also. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next book in the series.

I loved Ariadne and her infections way of getting into one's heart. Her relationship with her brother is amazing!! Julian was a little bit of a duck, really it's okay to give up Ariadne his one true love, but fo after another lady.would she not be out of his reach as well? I found the insecurity trope a tad bit annoying, especially in a marquess.

Otherwise, the writing was well paced and nicely done.

#netgalley #AnUnexpectedKiss

This was such an enjoyable read! Beautiful historical romance about love and courage. One unexpected kiss between Julian and Ariadne is the beginning of something they could never predict. Their attraction and love grows, but Julian's own insecurities are standing in the way. And following his journey was one of the highlights of the book for me!