The Somerset sisters, three beautiful, headstrong debutantes in Regency London, are discovering that a bit of scandal is a delightful thing . . . For the sake of propriety, and her younger sisters’ reputations, Iris Somerset has kept her rebellious streak locked away. But though she receives a proposal from Phineas Knight, Lord of Huntington, Iris can’t marry a man she knows isn’t truly … marry a man she knows isn’t truly enamored with her. In fact, Iris no longer wants to be chosen—she wants to choose. Under the clandestine tutelage of “wicked widow” Lady Annabel Tallant, she’ll learn how to steer her own marriage prospects—and discover her secret appetites . . .
What kind of debutante refuses a marquess? Finn is surprised, a little chastened—and thoroughly intrigued. This new, independent version of Iris is far more alluring than the polished socialite she used to be. Finn believed he needed a safe, quiet wife to curb his wilder impulses. But the more Iris surprises him, the more impossible it becomes to resist their deepest desires . . .
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I loved this smart, witty book by Anna Bradley! It features a strong heroine coming into her own and a stubborn hero who finally learns to step back and admire her bloom. I highly recommend it!
This is a delightful beginning to the Somerset Sisters series. We met the older two Somerset sisters in the Sutherland Scandals series and now we get excellent introductions to the younger sisters (Iris, Violet, and Hyacinth) in this book. It was also nice to re-visit Charlotte and her Captain West and to learn how happy they are ‘rusticating’ in the country. We also get a re-visit with Lady Annabel from Charlotte’s book – I don’t know if it will happen, but I’d really like to see her get her own HEA.
I believe this book is as much about two people discovering and embracing who they really are as it is about their love story. Phineas Knight (Finn), Marquess of Huntington and Iris Somerset both live behind masks – maybe they’ve lost who they really are because they constantly present a different fact to the world. Iris gets her grand epiphany first and gives Finn a run for his money after that!
High spirited, stubborn, outspoken, fun-loving Iris Somerset had buried all of those traits deep within her when she came to London for her season. Mostly to please her grandmother and to give her sisters a scandal-free chance at marriage. She presented herself as quiet, demure and biddable and became the most desirable lady of the season. She was courted by the very proper Marquess of Huntington and accepted his proposal though they hardly spoke when they were together and certainly didn’t know a thing about each other. She was actually okay with that – until …..
Very prim, proper and oh so aristocratic Phineas Knight, Marquess of Huntington needed a wife. He thought the debutants were all pretty much interchangeable and he didn’t really care which one he got as long as she was quiet, proper and biddable. His first choice was Lady Honora, but he was perfectly fine with Iris. Finn’s family had a scandal and he had become the Marquess at eight years old. Then, he was raised by indifferent guardians who shipped him off to school and left him there. He never knew love or family – nor was he ever allowed to be a child. Because of the scandal, he was constantly taunted, teased and bullied. It is a wonder that he turned out as well as he did. That childhood shaped Finn into the man who abhorred anything improper or scandalous.
After overhearing a scene between Finn and his former mistress, Iris finally realized she could NOT be the person she was pretending to be. In a pique, she broke off the engagement. She hadn’t really thought through the implications of doing that – so she didn’t tell anyone but Finn. There is a villain in the picture and Finn wants to protect her from him. She won’t have it – and becomes more and more the person he just knows he doesn’t want for a wife – but – he wants Iris more and more. He’ll have a devil of a time wooing her – can he win her? You’ll just have to read the book and see.
This book is well plotted and well written with fully developed and interesting characters. I will be excited to read Violet’s book next.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
“WE DON’T SUIT.”
Iris Somerset is a diamond of the first water, engaged to one of the most eligible Marquess in London, Phineas Knight. Everything changes when he won’t kiss her and she overhears a salacious conversation between he and his mistress. Iris calls off the engagement much to Finn’s shock. Who is this young lady? She’s definitely not who he thought she was. Now he’s intrigued. Iris decides to be her real self, not the demure debutant. Hold onto your horses, let the courtship begin!
More Or Less A Marchioness is a delightful, easy to read first in a new series about the three beautiful, headstrong Somerset Sisters written by Anna Bradley. Without giving any spoilers the story is centered around Iris Somerset who is betrothed to the Marquess of Huntington, Phineas Knight. The characters are charming and likable. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I loved it. I rated it a five.
Phineas Knight, Lord of Huntington, has proposed to Miss Iris Somerset, a young lady he believes is meek and uncomplicated and will make an ideal wife. When Iris accidentally overhears a heated argument between Huntington and his ex-mistress, she decides to jilt him. Totally shocked by Iris’s bold action, Huntington is surprised that he now is more interested in Iris than he ever was when they were betrothed.
I was not a fan of Huntington when he’s first introduced. He was cold, indifferent and arrogant, but it seemed the more Iris rebuffs him, the more he’s obsessed with her. She is the only lady he’s ever known that begins to break down his emotional barriers. I loved Iris. She did all the right things a young lady of the first water is supposed to do and received an advantageous offer of marriage, but that young lady was not her true self and she could no longer pretend to be someone she’s not. I loved how the relationship between Huntington and Iris slowly built over time. There was definitely no “insta-love” and that is always a good thing. There was a few twists and turns in the book, but they didn’t totally surprise me. All in all, this was a very enjoyable Regency romance.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I don’t normally love regency romance, but this one had a willful heroine who wants what she wants, and I love those characters!
Anna Bradley is one of my favorite Regency authors! This book features a heroine who demands that she be treated right, even risking her reputation to end a betrothal to a marquess when he doesn’t treat her well. The result is the kind of story that is basically my catnip–a hero who has to grovel !!!
An easy read, enjoyable, hard to put down once I started it. Just the right amount of romance.
More or Less a Marchioness is Book 1 in Anna Bradley’s new Somerset Sisters series. This book starts off at a gallop and ends at a heart pounding run. I couldn’t put it down. I think Iris Somerset is one of my new favorite heroines. She is fun loving and kind with quite a dash of independence. I enjoyed the unfolding of the heroes character Phineas Knight the Marquess of Huntington. He is definitely a complex man with many layers that are delightful to discover as the story goes forward. This story does have a few sex scenes in it; however, the most romantic scene in the book had no sex in it at all. I can’t wait to read the next in the Somerset series – More or Less a Countess.
This was my first time reading one of Anna Bradley’s books and I’m hooked! I knew there was more to both of them and they just needed to let it all out. From that moment in the garden, I knew they both were going to need help and that there were going to be some surprises along the way. I loved Lady Tallant’s way of helping and what she always said was her reason for it. When they finally got everything out it was like an explosion through the house. The ending was perfect for many reasons.
Iris has kept her true self hidden for a long time without fully realizing it. I loved her from the moment she didn’t run right away in the garden because it showed she was tougher then she looked. She needed to learn about herself to understand more about everything around her.
Finn is an honorable man, but not anywhere near as boring and cold as he seems. I loved slowly getting to know and understand him and once that wall went down I needed a fan. There is a charm to him and the way things don’t always come out like he wants and him learning about himself.
In More Or Less A Marchioness Anna Bradley introduces us to the third of the Sutherland sisters, Iris. Her first season is a grand success, she’s the belle of the season, a diamond of the first water, betrothed to a Marquess. It’s every young ladies dream, except Iris. She knows the Marquess of Huntington isn’t in love with her but she begins to believe he has no feelings for her at all. Iris’s journey is one of finding yourself again. Being a round peg stuffed into a square hole and fighting your way back to your true self. Along the way the Marquess is forced to examine his life and what he really wants. This path to happiness requires much soul searching and we’re taken along with each page, each revelation.
How can a lady possibly take offense at her hand in marriage being wagered on and being the consolation prize? If you’re Iris Somerset, you take major offense. Especially when marquess does a remarkable job of making you feel like you’re the chosen one. At least until he won’t kiss you and you overhear him with his mistress talking about the bet.
Phineas “Finn” Knight, Lord Huntington wants a quiet biddable wife; which is why Iris Somerset isn’t the one he’s chosen if he wins the bet at cards. Unfortunately (maybe) he loses and he sets out to make Iris his marchioness. Until, without any indication as to why, Iris calls off the betrothal. Intrigued, Finn sets out to win the lady’s hand. Will he be the winner after all?
A charming story by Anna Bradley, my first by Ms. Bradley. I loved Iris’ spunk and Finn’s determination. Add in the behind the scene string pulling of a certain “wicked widow” and you have a fun story. Now I want to see which of the Somerset sisters gets into mischief next!
This is a definite must read and Anna Bradley is on my auto-buy author list.
3.5 stars
Iris Somerset and Phineas Knight, the Marquess of Huntington are betrothed – or are they?
I enjoyed the story, but not as much as I had hoped. Neither Iris or Finn lived up to my expectations and there was so much going on in the book that it felt “busy”.
Finn wants a proper, biddable wife and when he lost his first choice of a bride in a wager, he decides that Iris will do just as well. Iris has forced herself to conform to the image of a proper lady and when by chance (or maybe not) learns that Finn is not who she thought he was and the reason he asked for her hand, she is miffed and breaks things off with him – sort of.
Now that Iris no longer wants him and apparently is wanted by another man, Finn is all of sudden intrigued with her and sets out to get her back.
I don’t know, the story just didn’t hold me, it wasn’t bad and it is well written, but it just did WOW me. I thought the back and forth in their relationship dragged on a little too long and felt forced. There are some steamy scenes and it was nice to catch up with Charlotte and Julian and there is a sweet epilogue, but this is not a book I would read again.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
Iris Somerset the middle sister of the five Somerset sisters has received a marriage proposal from Phineas Knight, Lord of Huntington & their marriage is set for a months time. However he’s made no attempt to kiss Iris so she decides to take matters into her own hands & seeks him out in the garden of her friend Honora Fairchild’s London home. Things don’t go to plan & Finn hastily takes Iris back to the terrace, however she’s unsettled & walks back into the garden & there spies on Finn & Lady Beaumont & what she overhears knocks her for six. Iris then jilts Finn but keeps it a secret until she travelling to Hadley House for a house party.
This is the first of a new series, the two elder sisters featured in the Sutherland Scoundrels series & Caroline’s story was in the Sutherland Sisters series Finn & Iris have both been trying to be what Society expects them to be so they’ve hidden their true selves & as the story progresses & they begin to know each other they find that they can be themselves. Their road isn’t an easy one with an Earl out for revenge but they both grow in confidence. Iris is taken under the wing of “wicked widow” Lady Annabel Tallant, who is anything but wicked & I so hope Annabel also has her story. There were quite a few humorous parts of the book especially Iris’ obsession with cravats. I thoroughly enjoyed this easy reading page turning novel & I look forward to Violet & Hyacinths’ stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
We finally get to meet the younger Somerset sisters and they’re wonderful. This is Iris’, the middle of the 5 sisters, story. Her “hero” is the Marquess of Huntington (Finn). He has decided it’s time he marry but I won’t divulge how he picked Iris. Finn’s mother ran off to Scotland when he was young, then his father died, and he was shipped off to school. Unlike the loving home Iris grew up in until her parents were killed in an accident. He assumes Iris will be honored he proposed to her.
Iris, Violet and Hyacinth live with their grandmother in London. Iris understands she needs to marry and is very attracted to Finn though would like it if her fiancée kissed her. When she overhears him talking to his prior mistress she is hurt. She calls off the engagement but does not tell her family.
Finn can not believe she dumped him, a marquess!
Iris, Violet and their friend Honora are attending a house party at Charlotte and Julian’s estate. Charlotte’s brothers are married to Iris’s older sisters. Since Finn was invited to the house party she was going to, he decides to attend with his friend, Lord Derrick. Also at the party is Lady Anabel Tallant, a wicked widow who gives Iris advice and Honora’s cousin Lord Wrexley. Iris is annoyed he is there, but she is still attracted to him.
Iris and Finn do get back together, but many things happen along the way which I will not spoil. Best line from Finn to Iris: “You’re everything I never knew I wanted, and everything I can’t live without”.
Iris and Finn have the typical, proper, ton courtship – maybe too proper. Iris begins to wonder why Finn hasn’t even tried to kiss her. Then, when she overhears a conversation between him and his ex-mistress, who does not want to be an ex, she hears things that upset her and cause her to break the betrothal. But when he refuses to accept the break, and follows her to a house party, things get interesting, especially when the wolf-in-sheep’s clothing Wrexel tries to woo Iris. Loved this book. Lots of sexual tension between Iris and Finn, and the seduction scene – too hot. I was gifted this book.
Another fabulous book by Anna Bradley.
More Or Less A Marchioness by Anna Bradley
Somerset Sisters #1
Twists and Turns
A wager
A secret tryst overheard
Can love be found in a match made without it?
This is an intriguing book with a debutante that has her blinders removed only to realize she wants more than her future may hold for her. Sure, a noble is something to aspire to for a husband but is it enough? Iris Somerset is not so sure after overhearing her bequeathed in the garden talking to his last mistress. And thus begins the pursuit of true love by two people in the ton. Do they want true love? Perhaps Iris does but Finn is one who only wants a woman to be his perfect Marchioness. What is expected versus what one desires is a prickly pear to deal with.
I enjoyed this book and would love to see a book about Lady Annabel Tallant in the future as well as some others mentioned in the book. I know we will see Violet and Hyacinth (sisters of Iris) in the future and am eager to find out who they end up with.
My main takeaway is that this book is a historical romance that is plausible. I loved Iris and her awakening and move toward being true to herself. I also liked the awakening of Finn and his coming into his own. Great story and well worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensginton Books – Lyrical Press for the ARC – this is my honest review.
5 Stars
Sometimes people are not always as they appear. Such is the case with Iris Somerset and Phineas Knight, Marquess of Huntington. One of three sisters, Iris hides her true nature of stubborn, high spirited and outspoken to the Ton. When she receives a proposal from Finn Knight, who only wants a quiet and proper wife and thinks Iris will do, she accepts, but really does not know Finn at all nor he her. Finn had grown up as a lonely child who was really overshadowed by a long ago scandal in his family. He was taunted and teased so he just wanted to be left alone. It made him only want what was proper and not talked about so he could live a life scandal free. Iris overhears a conversation Finn has while she is in the garden and decides she can no longer pretend to be the calm and biddable wife that he wants. She wasn’t his first choice anyway! All seems done with the pair until they are thrown together at a house party and another man is in pursuit of Iris. This is were the story really gets interesting. As both of their true natures begin to come out, a real attractions sizzles. A little intrigue and as the two are together they begin to find they like the real person better than the facade. Be prepared to be taken on an entertaining ride that will have you reading as fast as you can. Cannot wait for more in this series!