[ARC Review] The Wrong Marquess by Vivienne Lorret

Ellie Parrish has spent her entire life believing she’d marry her childhood friend, George, the Marquess of Nethersole. Eventually. Once he was done sowing his wild oats and ready for marriage. But then Ellie bumped into Brandon Stredwick, the Marquess of Hullworth, the man known as London’s most elusive bachelor. All the society ladies wanted him as their own, all except Ellie. Brandon just knew she must be like all the other ladies, playing coy just to trap him into a courtship. But then Brandon and Ellie got closer, and under the guise of friendship, started breaking down each other’s walls. Even as Brandon helped Ellie conquer her fears and Ellie made Brandon see a future where he abandoned his bachelorhood, George was never far from Ellie’s mind. Both Ellie and Brandon will have to overcome their pasts if there’s any chance for a future together. The Wrong Marquess is a friends-to-lovers regency romance full of secrets, passion, and a dark, brooding hero and his brave heroine. 

I really enjoyed The Wrong Marquess, but I have to say that the will they/won’t they between Brandon and Ellie was almost frustrating at times. Their romance was sweet and playful, but every time Ellie held back and claimed their flirtations were all just due to their friendship, I wanted to yell at her through the page. This story is definitely a torturous slow burn - albeit a very well done torturous slow burn. Lorret incorporated a lot of elements into The Wrong Marquess. Not only do readers get the will they/won’t they slow burn romance, but we also see Ellie work through her lifetime of fears stemming from her childhood trauma, all thanks to Brandon. Brandon also has to work through his own issues in regards to love and relationships. Then there’s an air of mystery surrounding George and what he’s really been up to when he’s away from Ellie. Between the drama and the romance, there is no shortage of reasons to keep turning the page. 

The Wrong Marquess is the third book in the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series, but readers can definitely read The Wrong Marquess without having previously read the first two books. Ellie’s friends are the heroines of the first two books, and make return appearances in Ellie’s story, but The Wrong Marquess can be read as a standalone. As usual, Lorret’s writing jumps off the page, painting a vivid portrait of regency romance, including the highs and lows of society’s expectations for the young ladies of the ton. The Wrong Marquess is a wonderful new addition to the world of regency romance, especially for those readers who enjoy a playful slow burn. 

A big thanks to Avon/Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the advanced review copy of The Wrong Marquess.