Rose Hollingsworth does not expect much from life. Raised as an orphan in a dodgy part of London, she will now find herself a governess in a secretive estate, the home of the brash and arrogant Marquis of Kensington. Society dictates that a governess should be modest, quiet, and keep to herself; she may never contradict her employer and above all, she must not attract the attention of any male in … in the household. But what if this governess is the one breaking all the rules?
Colin, the Marquis of Kensington has a kind heart, but he finds it hard to open up and show his tender side. When his sister becomes deathly ill and his nephew Duncan requires a temporary home, he will hire Rose. But the moment the stubborn little governess attempts to reform him, he will make her understand he won’t be tamed, by teaching her how to behave. When pleasure overwhelms them and Rose ends up being more than he bargained for – clever, perceptive, passionate- will Colin be able to reach her heart without risking his own?
The Kensington Estate is rife with secrets, some of them being very dark. Rose can sense that the Marquis is lying to cover up his dark past and she’s determined to prove it. Slowly, she peels back the layers of this chaotic world, discovering the truth about the ghost rumors in the mansion. In a game of truth and power, how can Colin maintain his defenses when the only thing he wants to do is let the tempting lady win?
“The Marquis’ Game of Seduction” is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
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I just finished and enjoyed The Marquis’ Game of Seduction: A Historical Regency Romance by Henrietta Harding . In this story, Rose Hollingsworth takes a position as a governess to a Marquis who has taken temporary custody of his young nephew, Duncan. Duncan and Rose hit it off splendidly, yet there are secrets surrounding the Marquis and his home. Attraction grows between Rose and the Marquis but will the secrets destroy their love, or will love prevail?
This is a very entertaining and enjoyable regency. Another fun read by Henrietta Harding.
The relationships between Rose and all the folks at Kensington Estate are very interesting to “watch,” especially her relationship with Anna. They are both orphans and become close quickly. She also became friends with several of her fellow employees which served to make her feel more comfortable there.
On the other hand, her relationship with Colin seemingly came from left field. He was such a recluse that he barely acknowledged the people that worked with him, with the exception of his longtime employee, Judith. The first time he encounters Rose is When she is strolling the grounds with Colin’s nephew, Duncan. He did not say a word and he seemed determined to have very little, if any, interactions with with Duncan much less Rose.
Rose and Duncan develop a close relationship because Rose understood how lonely his life in London was. He loved the West Indies and did not have any friends his own age. Until,,,,,
I really enjoyed the interwoven plots and especially the growing attraction between Rose and Colin. And how much closer he became with Duncan. All in all, a very enjoyable book. And I am sure you will enjoy reading it.
I received a ARC of this ebook to read and give an honest review. I also purchased a copy of the book from Amazon.
Strange topics throughout the book that somehow did not flow together easily. I felt it was difficult to find the thread that bound them together. I enjoyed reading each separate topic but to put them all together was difficult. I enjoyed the overall romance between the h and H but that too felt rushed. I feel not enough time was spent exploring that relationship. The other story in the book was of the H’s nephew and the h. How emotionally distant the H was from his nephew and from all of society for that matter. Then the story of the dark secret. I felt when it was revealed it was slightly anticlimactic. It really had no dramatic response from me. Although the story behind the secret was touching. I just feel that it could have been handled differently.
I have always tried to give positive reviews as an author invests so much of themselves in a book. However, I really did battle to follow this book. In parts, the language does not make sense. Modern language and terms are also thrown into the mix. Whilst one can appreciate artistic license, it seems that not only Rose broke the rules in this book, as the rules governing the era were set aside. I would strongly recommend a complete revision of this novel.
This book was such a delightful read with good character and plot development that kept me turning the pages until the very last page! I always enjoy reading what this author writes!
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!!!
Magnificent! Henrietta floors me yet again with her imagination, technique and insight for detail, is absolutely mind-bending. Tossing in all the charm, brilliance and splendor that I’ve come to expect, but never taken for granted. Such immeasurable skills and talent flows fluidly throughout this breathtaking piece of perfection. A multitude of unforseen incidents and surprising events, thrusts those swirling emotions into play front and center. Add determination, intrigue, a few sleuthing cues and unexpected situations along with a boatload of secrets, blasts this jewel to life spectacularly. Bumbling through the trials and tribulations, a slew of astonishing twists and startling turns, tests our characters in ways they could have never imagined. The attraction and chemistry builds as each layer is peeled back exposing an undeniable connection and amplifying affections, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters are complex and genuine with depth and qualities that transform into amazing personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and colorful descriptions so rich and lively, they blend and flow smoothly. Remarkable job Henrietta, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
He needs a governess and she needs a safe place. He gets more than he bargained for. But did it really turn out to be a bad thing? Very exciting, fun, suspenseful, surprising, secrets, emotional and much more. A very well written enjoyable read. I received a review copy and voluntarily review it.