Her Reluctant Groom

The Grooms #2

by Rose Gordon

Marcus Sinclair, sixteenth Earl of Sinclair, has lived the last thirteen years as a recluse following an accident that left him heavily scarred. Though a recluse, Marcus has still managed to fall in love. The problem? The woman he’s taken with is none other than the sister of the lady he was once betrothed to! Emma Green has fancied herself in love with Marcus since she was barely out of leading strings and he taught her how to fish. Neither her sister's engagement to him, nor the accident that left him disfigured has altered those feelings. But that matters naught. Why would he ever be interested in the younger sister of the lady who ruined his life?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Friends To Lovers, Regency Romance

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2011

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author and writer of eight unusually unusual historical romances that have been known to include scarred heroes, feisty heroines, marriage-producing scandals, far too much scheming, naughty literature and always a sweet happily-ever-after.

When not escaping to another world via reading or writing a book, she spends her time chasing two young boys around the house, being hunted by wild animals, or sitting on the swing in the backyard where she has to use her arms as shields to deflect projectiles AKA: balls, water balloons, sticks, pinecones, and anything else one of them picks up to hurl at his brother who just happens to be hiding behind her.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely beautiful and enchanting story!

For two days I have been embroiled in the delightful romance between Emma and Marcus - two of the strongest and most endearing characters I have ever had the pleasure to come across.

Marcus has terrible injuries, but it is easy to over look the references to his accident and disfiguration because his personality is so strong. The disfiguration serves to endear him to readers, but not in a way that attracts pity. We see what Emma sees, his strength of character, his mannerisms, his charm. If you don’t fall hopelessly in love with Marcus…well, let’s just say I can’t imagine any woman not adoring the man, he is delicious…and those first few nights when he tends to her cut leg – very, very captivating and beautifully written.

Emma is a brilliantly crafted character. She absolutely melts your heart and is a perfect match for Marcus. The trials that life has thrown at this girl are many, yet despite her challenges she rises with courage and determination to face her problems. For the love of her man she hatches a plan that could go very wrong. I will leave you to find out how it all turns out, but it will have you shouting at your kindle and crying with frustration at her stubbornness and sense of right and wrong.
As much as I adore Emma as a character, I must confess to being rather jealous of her…oh you lucky, stubborn lady (don’t throw it all away).

This is a classy book, written by a classy lady. The characters are expertly crafted and the plot is brilliant. If you are looking for a story of love then you will be hard pushed to find better than this book. ‘Her Reluctant Groom’ is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. My sincere thanks to Rose Gordon for writing this story - it has been an absolute joy to read.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rose Gordon's books! Unfortunately, the next in the series is $80 on Amazon. I'm going to have to take a break until I can find it for less.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Emma Green is tossed out of her sisters home one evening for reasons that are beyond her control, she is left with nothing but the clothes on her back and her reticule and the hurtful, snide remark from her cold-hearted sister to go her supposed protector, Marcus Sinclair, Earl of Sinclair. Emma knows that this knowledge is false but her sister sees no reason to believe her so Emma must go to her friend Caroline, who is Marcus' cousin. Emma and Caroline, along with Marcus' sister Olivia, grew up together and Emma has loved Marcus since she was a young girl. But when Marcus became engaged to her sister, she put her feeling aside and put on a brave face. A terrible accident occurs and it leaves Marcus with many disfigurements and it causes her sister to cry off the wedding. However, circumstances make Emma believe that Marcus truly loved her sister and is a bit heartbroken by the whole ordeal so she just keeps all her feeling inside and doesn't see Marcus for a few years. But now, with her current situation looking so bleak, Caroline devises a slightly far fetched plan to send Emma to Marcus' home and Emma gradually starts to realize that maybe those feelings do not need to stay buried, perhaps they are actually returned.

Marcus Sinclair has turned into a bit of a recluse since his rash decision led to his accident but with the beautiful Emma now in his household to tutor his friends young daughters, he finds it hard to resist her. When Emma gets a deep gash he goes into overprotective mode and makes her stay in his room so he can tend her as he is unable to go up and down the stairs due to his injuries. Emma naturally balks at this but finally relents and discovers quite a startling little book called Lady Bird's Ladybird Memoir and it gives Emma quite a few spicy ideas! As Emma and Marcus spend more and more time together, the sparks keep flying as do the heated flirtations. But Marcus is keeping something from Emma that may ruin their chance at happiness and when he confesses to her and forces her to leave and return to London to find a proper husband, Emma is sure he will come to his senses. However, the days just keep on passing with no sign of Marcus and Emma reluctantly arrives at the altar with another man and a broken heart. Naturally, Marcus arrives, barely, in time but how it finally concludes is up to you to discover!

This was my first Rose Gordon book and I had heard good things about her writing from a few of my goodreads friends and I have to say I really enjoyed Her Reluctant Groom. I thought Emma was bold but shy at the same time but she stood her ground when it mattered the most. Now Marcus I did want to smack upside the head a few times for all the added grief he caused Emma when it was obvious to everyone how much she loved him, and him her, and how she was willing to overlook the past to move on with the future. Together these two were a delightful couple with loads of sexual tension and sexy innuendos all while trying to remain proper. I enjoyed all the fun they shared during their fishing excursions! I thought the secondary characters added a good balance and I look forward to going back and reading Her Sudden Groom to read Carolines story and the next book, Her Secondhand Groom, features Marcus' best friend Drake who was a delight with his three daughters. And it was interesting how both Marcus and Emma have uncaring, selfish sisters as it added a bit more depth to their relationship. Overall, I thought this was a good story and the writing was well done, if a bit modern in some places, and I look forward to reading Rose Gordon's backlist and her future books. I would recommended this book for fans of sexy bedside manners and fun ideas born from naughty books and fans of redemption and knowing that you are good enough and deserve true love. 4 stars

I received this ebook as a gift from the author for an honest review.

[sef · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.75 stars.


i kept picturing myself in that audience while they had that awkward conversation at the alter.
yikes.

[Nicole Schack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this a few years back. This time I went with the audiobook and let me say I was greatly disappointed. The narrator failed to capture the characters and unfortunately put me to sleep a few times.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Reluctant Groom by Rose Gordon Book 2 in the Groom Series

If you enjoy series you will want to read the Scandalous Sisters Series first and than the Grooms Series.

Emma Green has loved Marcus Sinclair since they first met as young tikes. Being four years younger than him, it was her older sister, Louise, that Marcus asked to marry when he was seventeen. After an accident that scarred Marcus badly, Louise ran off with a Duke. Emma felt that Marcus would never care for her after her sisters cruel treatment but she would often visit her friend Caroline or grit her teeth and spend time with Olivia, Marcus's sister, just so she could see him. Now that Caroline was married and Olivia off to the Americas, she rarely glimpsed the man she loved.

Marcus Sinclair was a recluse for the past thirteen years. If only he had waited until finishing school to propose to Louise he would have seen that Emma was the beauty, both inside and out. He also would not be the scarred and hollow man he had become. Even though he loved Emma he would never have her. That did not stop him from finding a way for her to stay with him for a few weeks. For some reason Emma was not staying with her sister but with Caroline and Alex, they were having a house party and Caroline had asked him to allow Emma to stay with him.

Emma discovered a book Alex had that helped her in her pursuit of her love. Lady Bird's Ladybird Memoirs, pictures included. A naughty little book that helped her understand things between a man and woman, and she tried to use what she learned to help her snag her man. Only Marcus did not feel worthy of her.

Rose will have you both laughing in crying in her stories. And you always get to visit old friends and meet new ones. In this book we get a chance to know Patrick Drakely better, his tale in in the next book. And we also meet Sir Wallace, Drake's cousin. A unique sort of fellow that you quickly fall in love with, even with his quirky ways.. such as counting anything he can when he's nervous. His story will be in the 4th book.

More on the series at;
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...

**Sexual situations within marriage.

[Georgina Parkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really loved reading this. These books aren't my usual read. I'm never one to really pick up a historical romance, ever. But I enjoy this series so much! It's not written like a normal historical or classic historical I guess. There's proper wording and phrases used for the time period, enough so that it feels authentic, but it's not written in the classic style that I find so hard to read!

Basically, they've known each other since childhood and he was engaged to her sister (he proposed very young and then realised what a horrid person she was) and when the sister runs off to be with her now husband, he's injured racing after her to make her see sense when he's dragged behind his horse after he falls off.

Emma struggles to prove to him that she loves him, and convince him that she'll be happy with someone like him. He however pushes her away because he thinks she deserves better.

Yes it's very predictable, but it was full of emotion and I couldn't put it down. I'm super conflicted as to whether I should go back and read the series that all came before this one and then continue this, or continue this one so I can finally get to Drakely! I'll probably continue hehe. Also very eager to read the American set ones after more talk of there in this one. I really do love the way this author writes!

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beauty and the beast type of story. Marcus played a very important role in Her Sudden Groom saving Alex from his horrible sister. His problem is he can see everything perfectly fine only not when it comes to him. When he was eighteen he had a horrible accident (the details are told later) and Emma's sister left him and married another man. Marcus lives as a recluse because he can't stand people staring at him, whispering and gossiping.

After reading the very beginning of the book, I was furious. You get to see just how horrible Emma's sister is.

What I like about Emma is her openness. On one side we have a stubborn, scarred Marcus and on the other beautiful Emma who has to convince Marcus that even with all the obstacles he is imagining she won't stop loving him (with a little help from Lady Bird's Ladybird Memoir).

[Bertiepope38 Pope · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could have been a good read because the story line was good but I had to flip through all of the silly stuff that went on between Marcus and Emma. What were you thinking Rose??????

[Michelle Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, just not as good as I'd hoped...

[Ingrid Spera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

[raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Rose Gordon book but quite possible won’t be the last. This book is part of a series but as stand-alone i was fine reading it without reading the rest.

It caught my attention when I read the plot and learned about the hero and heroine situations.

I have to say though that the starting of the book was a bit surprising and wished somebody had mentioned George trying to force himself on Emma in the reviews I read. Emma’s brother-in-law is awful and her sister is not better.

Apart from that that i appreciate was short, the main think I have to say is that I love Marcus as a character so much! He is one of my favourite heroes of all times so far. It would be awesome, but at the same time risky, if this book was turned into a movie. It would be amazing to see a flesh and bones Marcus and see on a big screen all he does for Emma but at the same time what if they don’t make him justice?!

Marcus has passed through a lot but he has learned to live with his scars, his reality and the consequences of his actions (even if he was too young and a fool in love then). He is a gentleman and he is awesome to Emma, until when he pushes her away. I understood his reasoning but I think he waited too long, even if everything worked out at the end. I enjoyed so very much all his story with her that at some point I think he was a bit too far with his refusal. At that time i felt terrible for Emma but I loved she had people who helped her and who to plot with.

I like Emma very much too as well as I love Marcus’s friend and Marcus’s cousin...

I read the book in one go and the characters kept being in my head after I finished, which to me means that it was good enough and that i loved the characters too much to stop or forget about the story or them. I really recommend it!

[Heidi Meaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose does it again!

I DO like Rose Gordon. She writes a good tale. Interesting and strong women and not so perfect and vulnerable men mishmashed together to create a sensitive and full of life story.
So Emma, has a vile sister and a degenerate for a brother in law and a penchant for the severely wronged in so many ways Marcus, Lord Sinclair. They've loved each other without each other knowing about it and whilst they are brought together after other's misfortunes they kept apart by Marcus' self-evaluated inadequacies. Will he let her get away? Enjoy!

[Cass · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd read this before, but in my memory it was a lot more enjoyable than it actually is. While the plot was fine, it really dragged on and the writing got very into specifics (I've never cared about fishing and I never will) where a slight mention would have carried the scene fine. The reader never gets to see or read the couple fall for each other, so it wasn't all that interesting of a read. Had I rated and reviewed this book last time, I would not have reread this time.

[Susan Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose Gordon is one of the best Regency Romance authors out there and her second book in the Groom Series is a winner. Marcus is a physically and emotionally scarred hero, and Emma Green has loved him since she was a child. Will the problems with how society viewed disfigurement and Marcus' isolation keep them apart? Of course not. What were you thinking? I highly recommend the whole Groom Series.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good god this was so bad it had me squirming with second hand embarrassment, not only were the love declarations so fucking bland and told in two seconds with no follow up on it? The heroine did everything short of getting on her knees and licking his boot for him to marry her

Christ almighty what was this???? She was such a fucking ninny and a cry baby?????

[Lisa Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good story

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters, plot and setting all worked very well. I didn't realize this was a book in a series, but I don't think that it mattered I read it out of sequence

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Cynthia B. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the story continues to hold my attention

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good old fashion romance. This writer is splendid at keeping the story going.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the second half of this book. I wanted someone to smack Marcus and tell him he was an idiot.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus was a lovable, long-suffering decent man with a very strong sense of honor, often to his detriment. He stole a piece of my heart in book one of the series and kept it close in this one. Once again this was a book I read in one sitting and enjoyed enough to start the third in the series at my first chance.

[Senada · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too modern.

[CassandraG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Poor, Emma Green.
Accosted one night by her dastardly, lecherous leech of a brother-in law, and because she defended herself against him, she finds herself, thrown out of the only home, she’s been forced to call home. Her sister even gleefully helped her by telling her she’d better change, otherwise, she’d leave with what she had on and nothing else. You would have thought ,her sister Louise, would have helped, believed and supported her, but no. She chose her husband side over her sister, because she never really liked her in the first place.

Well Karma’s not going to be very nice, to that lot and what goes around, comes around and when Louise learns that little message, It’ll be too late.
Emma eventually goes to stay with her friend Caroline Banks and not the person, her sister and her lecherous leech of a husband, thought she’d go to. One, Marcus Sinclair, because they, thought she was having inappropriate relations with him. She wasn’t, of course, but she’d never give them, the satisfaction of knowing that.

Caroline Banks is Marcus Sinclair’s cousin and a very good friend to Emma. Caroline writes a note to Marcus to persuade he to let Emma stay with him for a few days. After much deliberate thinking on his part he agrees under the guise of her being a governess or his friend’s Patrick three daughters, so it wouldn’t look like a single lady living in a house with a single recluse. What would society think? Oh the scandal! They would never hear the end of it.

3 little Girls staying for a week
1 would-be governess
1 recluse who’d rather stay a recluse
What could possibly go wrong?
Attachment on either side, that, what and an attachment did form, but not, between the would-be governess and the little girls, but between, the would-be governess and the recluse. They really do develop quite an emotion attachment, but Marcus believes that she’d be happier as someone else’s bride, because, they’d be able to give her something, that he’d never be able to, and Marcus, just wanted to make her truly happy, even if it meant a life without him, so he did the unthinkable and sent her away.

Well, needless to say, with the help of a few friends such as a Duke of Gateway, Alex Banks and his good friend Patrick, he realizes, the folly of his ways, when he hears about her engagement to Sir Wallace Benedict. He stops the wedding manages to convince Emma, with a little help from Wallace even, that she belongs with him.

What was funny, was Emma’s brother-in-law, the Lecherous Leech. He wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of walking Emma down the aisle, but as her only living male relative, he was obligated to do so and since she was marrying someone who was a member of highest aristocracy family, it would look good for his family image and the leech and the sister were hoving around like vultures. Only it didn’t work out the way they wanted. Let’s just say, Karma has a way of paying back.

1. Alex stopped him from trying to hurt Emma
2. Caroline kept her company, so she’d be out of his
3. Well, let’s just say, it was rather satisfying, if I
do say so myself

May have taken a few twists and bends in the road, to get to where he needed to get to, but get to it, Marcus, eventually got. Marcus and Emma were like beauty and the Beast and “the Lecherous Leech” could have been “Gaston” to Emma’s” Belle” and Marcus’s “Beast”.

Despite the fiasco of Marcus’s doomed engagement to Emma’s sister Louise and his life threatening accident, he’d always belonged to Emma. He just didn’t realize it until it was almost too late.

It really was charming, tender, sweet and full of humor and an endearing page turner that could be re-read and you’d probably enjoy it even more the second time around. I must say, Rose Gordon, is quickly becoming an absolute favorite of mine and now I’ll have to read the entire series, just to find out what happens to everybody. So far I’ve enjoyed every one. Typos and all.
5 out of 5

ARC REVIEW FOR ROSE GORDON AND READING ROMANCES

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 Stars. Warning, you may or may not interpret there to be "spoilers" below.

I was honestly disappointed with this book. I love Rose Gordon's stories and characters, and have read all the majority of the Groom Series and all of the books in the Scandalous Sisters Series. This was by far my least favorite. We have been introduced to Emma and Marcus in previous stories, but the story surrounding them was just annoying. I found both overbearing. Emma has fancied herself in love with Marcus since "forever" and of course her sister jilted him and Marcus incurred life altering injuries as an indirect act of Emma's sister. So clearly Emma has it built up in her mind that he holds it against her and she'll never find love because she has always loved him and only him, despite his accident *eye roll* ... Be prepared because I rolled my eyes more. Marcus can't marry Emma because of his accident. He obviously would never hold a grudge against Emma, even though his sister is a b*tch and indirectly caused the accident, but because it left him scared etc *eye roll* This is the general jist of the entire story. It goes on and on about this. and on. and on. It got to the point I started skimming parts just so it would be over. The silver lining is that we were very briefly introduced to Sir Wallace in this story. He was by far my favorite character here and wanted his character to be further developed. So you are probably wondering why that is a silver lining, but I see his character is a focus on a book later in the series. Therefore, I am looking forward to the further development of Sir Wallace. Disappointed I paid for the book, but will continue to read more Rose Gordon books because of my past history with her other books.

[Nicole Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Star

I really hated giving this book such a low review rating but I had to be honest. This book did not hold my interest like the first book did. After reading book one I was hoping to get a lot of the same giggling and misunderstandings that lead to a great read. What I got was fairly boring, predictable and frustrating.

Marcus was once a handsome well educated man who thought himself in love and proposed marriage to Emma's sister Louise. Little did she know Louise was a money grabbing trollop and once he found out tried to push off marriage in hopes of her causing a scandal or he could cry off due to his age at the time of the proposal. Unfortunately for him due to his pride he raced after Louise in horseback and had a tragic accident that left him terribly scarred and with a limp. He became a recluse and raised h is sister and cousin.

Emma is a young spinster who has loved Marcus since she was a child and always knew she wanted him. The author never gave a reason to why she remained a single woman when she was so attractive so I chose to believe it was her love of Marcus. The author never seemed to touch on why no one questioned her never marrying which I thought would have helped the story line a great deal.

The story really was set up to a Beauty and the Beast style read but for me it lacked a lot of backing. It just seemed we were suppose except they love each other. I wanted more from this story, instead it went just like you think it would. I really felt kind jipped by the whole story and not too sure if I'm gonna buy the rest of the series.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written historical romance that will surely resonate with those who have friends or relatives who have sustained deep scarring from accidents or war-related injuries. We certainly know a lot about that sort of thing--the outer wounds whose residual scars don't ever go away, as well as those PTSD kinds of scars that are soul-deep and don't ever seem to heal. Even set in this long-ago historical period, the hero's story is a grim one and when the entire tale it told, so very unnecessary. His sense of honor, his concern for the family of his fiance in the face of her disregard for his feelings and theirs all came together the day he unwisely sought to intercept her on the way to an elopement. The worst part of these kinds of life-long wounding and scarring is that the victim can't seem to understand how there are those who have the ability and joy of looking beyond the wounds and the disfigurement. So it is with the heroine whose love for Marcus never wavers. This novel really probes deeply into the inner hurts, the sense of frustration his family must endure, the web of self-dishonesty in which Marcus lives rather than face up to his fear of rejection, even though he knows that the people who truly love him will never turn their backs on him. This is a funny, frustrating but enchanting story of a very good woman who loves a very good man but who nearly loses him because he prizes his stubbornness more than her. Just a really terrific read!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved loved loved Marcus. Of the several books I've read by Gordon this is hands down my favorite because of Marcus. Who doesn't love the hero that believes true love will never be his? In Marcus's case he feels that no woman could ever be happy with him first due to the physical deformities/limp he has from a horrific accident and secondly his inability to do his part in producing children. He has closeted himself off from society for the better part of his life post-accident and has accepted his lonesome state.

Emma has been a family friend for forever and has been in love with Marcus for about the same time. To watch her try and convince Marcus of her love for him and that he deserves love was just heart-wrenching. I was nearly in tears by the end of the book. The levels of despair that Marcus reaches are so damn depressing. You can't help but want to jump in the book and give him a giant hug.

I'm glad I've stuck with Gordon's books. The first two in her Sister's trilogy were a bit shaky, but I saw potential in book three. Now five books later her writing has improved by leaps and bounds.

[Amancay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit that from early on in the first book in this [The Grooms] series, I was eager to know more about Marcus... his story... and his chance at love and completion of companionship, that brings him the much needed freedom in his heart and life. Therefore, the moment I began this book... I was beside myself... and understandably plowed through it all from beginning to end with only a much needed nap somewhere along the way.

I found myself squirming with delight as the characters reveled in their new found love, and each other... I read through streaming tears as their stubbornness, and mixed up feelings of unworthiness created more drama than anyone should have to endure in life... and finally I was both impressed and torn at my own feelings and ideas of how things should or shouldn't get resolved along the way.

All in all I enjoyed the journey, the insight, and the reality of it all... we are not perfect people, no one is, and it is in that imperfection that our stories become or history... and we become the people we were meant to be.

[Amy Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all 4 of the GROOM series so I am just going to write one basic review of all 4 books here.

Rose Gordon is a genius! These books, from the covers to the writing are genius! I love the fact of all four grooms being "flawed". I prefer my men "flawed" anyway. Men should never be perfect. Perfect to me is boring. These four men are anything but boring.

I read this series as though it were one book I was so attached to all the couples. I must admit, for me, THE SECONDHAND GROOM was my own personal favorite, but that was because it was almost as though Ms Gordon was telling my own love story with my husband, only I was Drake and he was Juliet!

I also enjoyed the Ms Gordon's knack for making each groom's imperfection a bit worse (or so it seems on the surface) than the groom before. Another favorite part of each book were the epilogues. I love a story which gives me a little more than a 'kiss and they lived happily ever after', and her epilogues did just that.