Dashing as they may be, Ella Quinn’s eligible bachelors have much to learn about life and love. Fortunately, just the right ladies are willing to instruct them … Alexander, the newly elevated Marquis of Exeter, arrives in town. Handsome, charming, and an interesting conversationalist, he at first seems to be her perfect match. Then Dorie discovers he may not be seeking a wife so much as a land steward and mother to his sisters…
After learning of his father’s death, Alexander returns home to find his mother has run off with his land steward, leaving his younger sisters with their governesses. The most expedient solution is a wife who will take the household and estate in hand while he assumes his role in parliament. Lady Dorie meets all the requirements—until she makes a surprising proposal. Instead of marrying Alexander, she will tutor him in his duties, freeing him to find his heart’s match. Yet the more Dorie teaches him, the more he longs to change their course of study—to love. And with the end of the Season nearing, he doesn’t have much time…
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Alexander Endicott is on his Grand Tour when he learns that his father has passed and he is now the Marquis of Exeter, he returns to London and is overwhelmed with news – not only has he inherited a title he is woefully unprepared to assume, but his mother has cause a bit of a scandal by running off with the estate steward and leaving him with his young sisters to care for. When he seeks out help, everyone’s advice is the same – marry!
Lady Dorcus “Dorie” Calthorp is in her second season and will only marry for love, she was disappointed last season when she believed she had found a match and learned that the suitor did not feel the same, so now she has decided to focus her attentions on a “nice, steady” man and has made a list, a list that definitely does not include the handsome Lord Exeter!
Alex decides that Dorie is perfect for him – she will train his sisters, help him with the estate and begetting an heir will certainly be no hardship, but the lady doesn’t seem to agree and goes out of her way to introduce him to other eligible ladies! Alex is sure that Dorie is the “one” and uses any excuse possible to call on her and ask for help with his estate and his sisters. Dorie might not want to marry him, but she cannot say no to his requests for help and the two end up spending a lot of time together. But by the time she realizes that Alex is the man she has been looking for, it seems like her matchmaking may have worked and he has set his sights on another! Or has he??
This was a very mellow, low key story, it is slow moving and uneventful for most of the story, and while I had no problem with the writing, the characters, the imagery or the story, I was waiting for something to happen and when something finally did “happen” at the end, it was a bit anticlimactic and breezed over rather quickly. I am also a bit surprised that after reading 80% of a book with nothing more than touching while dancing or riding that the final 20% of the book managed to include three somewhat heated love scenes – I have nothing against a steamy love scene – but these felt out of character when compared to the behavior of Alex and Dorie in the rest of the book. Overall, this was an “OK” book, nothing spectacular, yet nothing objectionable, I personally felt like it was a little slow and dull, but it did hold my interest throughout. This is the ninth book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone and while is it not part of The Worthingtons series, this story takes place the same time and does overlap with Lady Augusta’s story – Believe in Me
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Alexander Endicott, Lord Exter, returns from his Grand Tour to find his home in London in an uproar. His two youngest sisters have been abandoned by their mother who ran off with the newest steward. Only with the help of Lady Dorie has there been some stability in his sisters lives and in his holdings. Alex is immediately infatuated with Dorie and decides she will be his wife. Only Dorie has her own thoughts on marriage. She will only marry for love. Alex is a Marquis trying to figure out how to make a lady fall in love with him, even when he doesn’t know what love is. Funny, laugh out loud. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
A great series
Enjoyable, light-hearted read
Though I’ve read this author before, I haven’t read anything from this series previously. While enjoyable as a standalone, there were quite a few secondary characters, so I suspect having the background of the earlier books would add to the reading pleasure here. More on that in a moment.
Dorie and Alex were both easy to like. I especially enjoyed how competent and practical Dorie was, and how willing Alex was to admit he needed her help. I did find Alex almost too easygoing, as I wondered whether a man of his time and culture would really be that willing to accept help from a young woman. It wasn’t enough to detract from the story for me, though. The only other quibble I had was I did feel the story dragged slightly at times due to the sheer number of those other secondary characters I mentioned. I have a poor memory for names, and without the investment of having read about a number of these characters already, and knowing their stories, I had trouble staying focused. Relatively minor, though, and it did make me curious to go back and read those earlier stories.
All in all, an enjoyable, light-hearted read, and just what I was looking for. 4 stars
Ella Quinn wrote this romance using jargon from that historical time. Reading it made me feel like I was there with Dorie and Alex discovering their love for each other. Highly recommended especially if you enjoy historical details.
Alexander, Marquis of Exeter, needs someone to run his household, chaperone and guide his sisters, and help him understand the estates he has inherited. When he learns that Lady Dorcus “Dorie” Calthorp has been managing all for him since his mother’s infamous elopement, he is intrigued. Alexander needs to marry, and Dorie appears to fulfill all his needs with little effort on his part.
Dorie wants a “love match” and won’t settle for anything less.
“Let me just say that he is a little too interested in me without knowing me at all. I do not believe he wishes for a love match, and I will not marry without one.”
While Alex tries to fix his interest with Dorie, she tries to match him with others. She needs a gentleman who will challenge her and encourage her to use all her talents, and Alex sets out to be that man.
Ella Quinn has written an enjoyable, fun story with a number of great secondary characters. You will get a kick out of Dorie’s father and mother! Lady Huntley knows her daughter and isn’t afraid to scheme a little to get Dorie to realize that she and Alex are actually a perfect match.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a wonderful addition by Ella Quinn to her world of extended families who are happy, well-adjusted and searching for love despite the obstacles of gossips and snobbery in Regency London. Lady Dorcas is a somewhat unusual heroine in that she is not just bossy; she is managing in a way that might be uncomfortable in real life. Yet, Quinn writes her heroine with so much heart and kindness, Dorie, as she is called, does not become annoying. In fact, our hero, Alexander — or the Marquis of Exeter — realizes fairly early that Dorie is the answer to his prayers. Not just because she can help manage his sisters, squash the scandal of his mother running off to elope or even because she can teach him how to run the estate — no, Alexander just falls for her, and his coming to realize that Dorie is his true love is truly sweet. Dorie, who knows it all, doesn’t know that Alexander is right for her — yet, and her coming to realize that she might have missed the lover of her life is written with compassion, humor and enough suspense to make the ending one to savor. A delightful read. (I received an advance copy on NetGalley. Opinions mine.)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s been a long wait, at least it seemed so to me, for this conclusion to the Marriage Game series. The Marquis She’s Been Waiting For, by Ella Quinn, is listed as book #9 but It’s actually #10. If you’ve not read any of the books in this series please don’t miss them, they’re very clever.
Alex Endicott, new Marquis of Exeter, has arrived home to find chaos. Lots of chaos. His mother ran off to Scotland with her new hubby & left his underage sisters behind. He’s not been trained to run an Marquisate & suffers from a slight case of dyscalculia. I’ve read of this syndrome and think I might be effected slightly. It’s akin to dyslexia, but with numbers. I can’t balance my checkbook, poor Alex has to look after his holdings & make sure he’s not being cheated. Thank goodness for Lady Dorie, she took charge while the girls, & estate, were alone & has done a magnificent job. Marrying her would sure solve a lot of his problems. Love? No need for it, just get married quickly. He’s a Marquis for heavens sake., it shouldn’t be difficult.
Lady Dorcus, “Dorie”, Calthorp is a young lady with a good head on her shoulders. She’s been taught to run a household and holdings too. Managing is a word applied to her often. Burned last season by a gentleman she’s wary now. Backstory, he realized they were wrong for each other a little late but did manage to stop a catastrophe by bowing out. Dorie wants a love match & understands Alex doesn’t care, he needs to marry soon. Alex asks his friends how to make her fall in love with him & how would he know if he loved her. There was some good advice and lots of snickers. It all works out in the end but I felt it dragged a little and then rushed to the finish line. I still enjoyed the book, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not my fav in the series.
As always, Ms Quinn has a masterful way with the side characters. I love their stories & it sets up the next book without giving away too much. She manages to do this every time, I’m amazed. The guy who dumped Dorie? He’s next. Poor guy. Another thing I enjoy is how Ms Quinn uses archaic words. While Behoove isn’t archaic it’s old fashioned & few of us use it. It sounds funny. Roundaboutation popped up again, love it, and a new phrase, quacking yourself! I almost choked on my coffee, it’s a terrific scene. Happy reading & we’ll meet again for The Most Eligible Lord in London in March of 2020. Happy reading.
#Netgalley #EllaQuinn #TheMarquisShe’sBeenWaitingFor #TheMarriageGame #KensingtonPress
Dashing as they may be, Ella Quinn’s eligible bachelors have much to learn about life and love. Fortunately, just the right ladies are willing to instruct them …
I admit to being totally addicted to Ella Quinn’s Worthingtons and this offshoot series,The Marriage Game.
You will be drawn in from the first chapter. The characters are delightful and well drawn out and the story will entrance you from the start.
Lady Dorcus Calthorp, daughter of the Marquis of Huntington, loved and lost during her first Season, Now Dorie finds herself with no marital prospects in sight. Alexander, the newly elevated Marquis of Exeter, arrives in town. Handsome, charming, and an interesting conversationalist
After learning of his father’s death, Alexander returns home to find his mother has run off with his land steward, leaving his younger sisters with their governesses. He is now in need of a wife and Dorie is just the ticket.
I loved this newest Marriage Game novel. As always with this series there are times of laughter and romance.
I gave it 4.5 of 5.0 stars for story line and characterization.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book to read via NetGalley.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
The Marquis She’s Been Waiting For by Ella Quinn is book 9 in The Marriage Game Series. This is the story of Dorcus “Dorie”Calthorp and Alexander the Marquis of Exeter.
Alexander is returning home to take over the family title and to take over the care of his sisters after his mother has taken off. Alexander wants to find a wife that can look over his sisters and the house while he pursues his parliament position. Alexander finds that Dorie has been helping his sister and he finds Dorie to be a great candidate for his wife. Dorie thought that Alexander would be a ideal husband until she learns he just wants a babysitter and someone to oversea his house/land. Dorie goes forward to help him learn what to do but doesn’t go forward with a marry him. But the more time he spends with her the more he wants to change what they are doing.
Enjoyed their story.
Alexander Endicott, now Marquiss of Exeter had a hugh surprise when he was called home from his Grand tour. His father had passed away and his mother had married the estate steward and left his sisters on their own! His two older sisters had not stepped up eithe as one had gone to Paris and on had just had a baby. He was at a total loss as to what to do because he father had not taught him how to run the estates yet. That was suppose to come upon his return!
Lady Dorie Calthorp, his neighbor it seemed had stepped in and run things and helped his sisters until he returned but of course now she had stepped aside. He goes to meet her right away and is very much attracted to her and thinks the perfect solution would be to marry her and she could run everything! The estate, take care of his sisters and help him with an heir. Easy right?
Not… Dorie did not want to be a convenient wife and wanted to marry for love but posed that she would help him find a match.
The problem of course is that he is attracted to her and of course she is to him, but can they ever come to find they are meant for each other?
A slow burn romance that was a delightful read in this great series of The Marriage Game.
Another beautiful story by Ella Quinn. Alex is thrust into unexpected circumstances with the title and guardianship of his sisters. Dorie wants to find love and to be useful. This is an endearing story. Both Dorie and Alex are great characters who show tremendous grace under pressure. The story follows them as they try to figure what Love is and how to grasp it with both hands. Many of the characters are familiar from past stories which gives you the feeling of visiting with old friends. You will enjoy their development as they make their way to a happy ending.
4.5 Stars
Lady Dorcus Calthorp, daughter of the Marquis of Huntington, loved and lost during her first Season, leaving her suspicious of gentlemen. Now Dorie finds herself with no marital prospects in sight until Alexander, the newly elevated Marquis of Exeter, arrives in town. Handsome, charming, and an interesting conversationalist, he at first seems to be her perfect match. Then Dorie discovers he may not be seeking a wife so much as a land steward and mother to his sisters.
After learning of his father’s death, Alexander returns home to find his mother has run off with his land steward, leaving his younger two sisters with their governess. Everyone he talks to recommend that he marries. Lady Dorie meets all the requirements she even agrees to help him learn how to run the earldom.
It’s been a while since the last Marriage Game novel & this could easily be read on its own, there are appearances from earlier characters in this series & also some of the Worthingtons make cameo appearances, which I love. A well written novel of two people gradually falling in love & not realising their feelings until events happened that made them open their eyes. This was a slow burn romance & the pace was steady until the final quarter when things moved much quicker. & I found I had to continue reading to finish the book, so yet another night of burning the midnight oil. The characters were well fleshed & likeable, I loved how Alex & Dorie verbally sparred whilst their attraction grew, I was hoping for a second HEA with another couple who were separated years ago but maybe there’s time for them as Penelope & Phillida are rapidly growing up
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This was an enjoyable story and although I found it a bit slow going at times, it was still fun to read.
You have Alex, the new Marquis who is looking for a wife to help him with his sisters and his estates, you have Dorie who is trying to help him find a wife that will suit him and a whole other bunch of characters who are trying to help them both!! Little does Dorie know, though, that Alex has his sights on HER! Their love story is a very slowwww burn….I just wish there would have been more passion between them.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I really liked this. Easy, enjoyable reading. Poor Alex has just arrived from the continent and is totally untrained and unprepared to take up his late father’s title and responsibilities. Fortunately, the Marquis of Huntington, his wife and daughter, Lady Dorie, are willing to help. I do believe sneaky Lady Huntington was plotting and subtly matchmaking all along; she was my favorite character.
I did not feel handicapped by not having previously read any other books of this series. Some minor characters I’d “met” in the Worthington series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via netgalley; the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is book nine in the Marriage Game series. It’s been a while (4 years) since the last book in this series came out so I did have difficulty remembering what all the character’s back stories were. I enjoyed Dorie and Alex’s book, though I thought it took a little too long for them to come together. I look forward to book 1 in the next series (Lords of London) titled The Most Eligible Lord in London due out in March of 2020. I received an ARC for my honest review.
This is my second read by Mrs Ella Quinn, and she is one author who does not rush her stories.
This was a slow burn romance, the plot moved slowly giving time to Lady Dorcus Caltrop and the Marquis Of Exeter to get to know another, challenge the other and a. For in time they were made for each other.
At first I did not understand Dorie’s character, I knew she felt hurt to have engaged her hope to the wrong man. But did she knows why he didn’t gave suit to his courting? Their personalities were not matching. When one is looking for an obedient bride, a managing woman is surely not the right one.
Then why being weary of the new titled Marquis?
He is newly titled and she does not know him.
Then she explained she was expecting a love match, and her managing self has settle on the idea she can choose with whom she will fall for.
What a the silly notion she could decide on someone and fall in love.
It is not something to command and the men she has put on her list, only rise middle feelings for the best or none.
She even got angry at herself when she senses she is more attracted to Alex than to all her potential suitors.
Still she can’t scratch to analyze her feelings and continue to push him away by trying to find the right woman for him and awaken new sentiments not always kind to her heart.
Sure, Alex was attracted to Dorie for the wrong reason at first. But soon he comes to see her for more than the managing woman who could rule his household and estates.
By not answering his lead, she intrigued him and became a fixture for his brain. How slowly he began to fall for her not even knowing it.
It was entertaining to see all these prim and proper protagonists interacting and finding themselves trapped in the game they thought leading. Misreading the other and misjudging the situations.
Hopefully they are surrounded by very meddling side characters who see straight to their heart and in their own way protected them against their own stubbornness.
The end of the story added a bit of action to the couple’s life until they are properly settled.
A 4.5 stars read.
I was provided through Netgalley an advance copy by the publisher Kensington Books. I purchased my own copy. This is my true and unbiased opinion.