A convenient marriage No inconvenient emotions Ross Vincent, Marquis of Cranford, with his scarred face and formidable disposition, knows he’s hardly a catch. But he needs a wife to take care of his motherless son. Shy, scholarly Prudence Scott seems ideal: she has no expectation of love or passion. She’ll care for his baby in return for the protection of his name. Yet seeing Prudence on their … Prudence on their wedding day tests Ross’s willpower to not take his new wife to bed…
From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.
Liberated Ladies
Unconventional heiresses…full of big ambitions!
Book 1: Least Likely to Marry a Duke
Book 2: The Earl’s Marriage Bargain
Book 3: A Marquis in Want of a Wife
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My favorite so far, of the mini-series. Not much interested in sea captains or pirates, but the romance between Prue and Ross was so endearing. One steamy scene cost it a star. Except for that, I recommend it.
I loved this book and could not stop reading it! I was hooked from page 1. I loved the privateer hero Ross with his dry witty humor and overall reluctance to be a marquis as well as the sensible unapologetic heroine Prue. The story was unique, original, and endearing, and I found myself reading slower in hopes it wouldn’t end. I highly recommend A Marquis in Want of a Wife.
The hero and heroine of this novel are eminently sensible people who don’t care much about romance. Yet somehow the understated emotion makes this a romantic and endearing book. The action is driven by the external plot, which is fast-paced and interesting. The author does an amazing job of immersing the reader in the time period and creating a rich sense of place. If you like marriage of convenience stories, don’t miss this one.
Terrific marriage of convenience story. Both Ross and Prue are very practical people and enter into their marriage with open eyes. Neither one wants to muddy their arrangement with messy emotions.
I liked both Ross and Prue. Ross became Marquis of Cranford thanks to an unfortunate series of events. Society in general looks down on him, and he returns the favor. Thanks to his parents ‘ marriage, Ross had an unconventional childhood, then went on to become a privateer. He is often referred to disparagingly as the East End Aristocrat or the Privateer Marquis. Ross has no inclination for social graces, has a growly disposition and a scarred face, making him less than a catch. After his wife’s recent death, he wants a wife that will be a mother to his infant son.
Prue is a young woman who is more interested in her books and Greek and Latin translations than in looking for a husband. She is somewhat naïve and falls under the spell of a charming and handsome young lord. After a romantic interlude goes wrong, Prue finds herself in need of protection. One of her friends may have a solution and sets up a meeting between Ross and Prue.
I liked the first meeting between them. Prue arrived at Ross’s home for her “interview” knowing very little about him. Ross laid something of a trap, or test, for her by hiding the scarred side of his face from her until she was close to him. I loved her calm reaction and how it surprised him. Both of them are straightforward about their expectations of themselves and each other. I liked the inclusion of the baby, Jon, since he was the motivating factor for Ross’s desire to marry. His obvious love for his son lightened Ross’s harsh first impression. I also liked Prue’s practical approach to Jon and the beginning of their connection.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Prue and Ross. They began their marriage as strictly a business arrangement. Ross made it clear that he doesn’t expect physical intimacy, having “lost his appetite” for such things. He quickly came to regret that promise after seeing Prue in her wedding dress stirred up those latent desires. Prue’s prior experience being what it was, she didn’t expect stirrings of attraction to her new husband. It was fun to see them fight it at first, especially Ross. He tried avoiding her but found she invaded his thoughts. The time they spent together brought them closer, and I liked seeing them get to know each other. Ross was frequently challenged by realizing that Prue was nothing like his first wife and found himself unexpectedly liking her as a person. Prue discovered she wanted more from Ross as she got to know the man behind the gruff exterior.
It didn’t take long for the attraction to boil over, and it added a new level to their relationship. Prue quickly realizes that her heart is at risk but can’t do anything about it. Meanwhile, Ross fights hard against the idea of loving Prue. They move closer to that ultimate connection until the war with Napoleon intervenes. Ross makes a tactical error by breaking a promise to Prue and puts himself in unexpected danger. Prue is left to deal with a crisis involving Jon, which she handles as she sees best, then goes looking for Ross. I loved seeing her embrace her inner Marchioness as she deals with every obstacle. I loved seeing her give him a piece of her mind and his realization of his errors.
Ross isn’t done with being an idiot, though. His reaction to her handling of the crisis with Jon was over-the-top harsh. I ached for Prue, who saw her hopes for a real marriage crumble. I loved her strength as she refused to be left behind and insisted on helping get Jon back. Her kindness and empathy go a long way toward solving the problem. Meanwhile, Ross overhears things that open his eyes, and he knows he must find a way to fix what he broke. I loved the ending and seeing Ross finally open up to Prue. I loved her statement that she married “all of who he was, not simply the parts that suit me.”
True love blossoming from a marriage of convenience between a scarred and brooding Marquis and a ruined bluestocking.
A Marquis in Want of a Wife by Louise Allen is a lovely historical romance about inner beauty and true love.
It is book #3 in the Liberated Ladies series but can be read as a standalone.
A marriage of convenience to a scarred and brooding Marquis is Prudence’s only chance to save her reputation.
Prudence was a bluestocking that had never fallen in love before until she met the good looking and flirtatious Charles.
But what seemed to be a dream coming true ended up being Prudence’s worse nightmare. No longer the virgin expected by her time’s society and possibly pregnant, Prudence asked her friends for guidance and help.
The help came in the form of a brooding, scarred, and low-born Marquis. Ross Vincent was raised in the London slams by his disinherited father, but upon the death of all other male relatives, became the Marquis of Cranford.
After marrying a woman only interested in his titled, he was left a widower with a toddler. He was looking for a marriage of convenience that would provide a mother for his son.
What starts as a marriage in paper only evolves into a sense of companionship, friendship, desire, and finally, love. But their way to their HEA was full of curves and dead ends.
I simply love a grumpy and emotionally unavailable hero, and Ross fits the bill beautifully. I was pleased that, despite his impressive physique, he was not at all handsome and had a scarred face.
I prefer it when the characters are not externally handsome. It makes it easier to connect to them and believe in the feelings that they evoke.
Prudence is also not beautiful, at least not for the standards of external beauty of the time. Her inner beauty shone throughout the book and was irresistible even to our cranky hero.
The side characters include an adorable baby, some loyal servants and sailors, and dreadful in-laws.
A Marquis in Want of a Wife is lovely, romantic, and entertaining. My first book by the author, but won’t be my last.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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I enjoyed this story very much, I just loved the characters of Prudence and Ross. Prudence was a straightforward person, there was no pretence about her. Ross had been brought up in the East End and was a self made man before he became a marquis. He did seem to be quite dour at first. Prue needed to marry and Ross needed a wife. They were attracted to each other and this grew as they talked to each other. The story just flowed along, there are some dangerous moments and uncertainties but it has a very satisfying ending. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ross Vincent, Marquis of Cranford, with his scarred face and formidable disposition knows he’s hardly a catch. But he needs a wife to take care of his motherless son Jon. Shy, scholarly Prudence Scott seems ideal: she has no expectation of love or passion. A marriage of convenience with a scarred hero who never expected to become a Marquis, after all his father was disowned & Ross was brought up in an area of London far removed from Mayfair. Ross found he loved the sea & worked hard to build a shipping fortune, he also became a privateer. Pru is a bluestocking who is busy translating Greek & Latin poetry.
A well written book that flowed extremely well & I was drawn in from the start. I loved both Ross & Pru, he was the dour untrusting hero, she was the outspoken, intelligent, loving heroine, together sparks flew. I loved their verbal bantering & how she wasn’t cowed by him. Their attraction grew in leaps & bounds but they kept a reserve between them until Ross nearly was killed.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
So both Prudence and Ross were marrying for convenience sake not love. First let me start by telling you that Prudence gave up her virginity to scoundral and now was fearful that she would be pregnant which would be devastating in that era. She really didn’t have prospects because she was known as a bluestocking and not very pretty. Ross is a recent widower but he needs a mother for his son and he also knows that he is not very handsome. Due to a mutual friend they get to meet each other and agree on this loveless marriage but as they get to know each other they fall in love, well Prudence was at first and even though Ross didn’t want nor expect to have fallen in love he himself can not deny it.
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinoins.