The Groom List

The Worthington Brides #3

by Ella Quinn

In a Season filled with surprises, the irrepressible Worthingtons welcome thrilling new love matches into their lively extended family . . .

Intelligent. Kind. Must like children. Passable looks. A man of means. Must make us laugh . . .
For Lady Alice Carpenter, these are some of the “musts” on the checklist for eligible bachelors compiled with her sisters as they husband-hunt among the ton. Yet when she encounters a striking nobleman on her morning ride in Hyde Park, Alice soon tallies another list of first impressions . . .

Shallow. Flirtatious. Without seriousness of purpose. Impossible to avoid . . .
Gifford, the Marquis of St. Albans, must wed in order to wrest his estate from his controlling father. How hard could it be to snag a suitable match? Waltzing with lovely Lady Alice at the Season’s whirl of balls and soirees however, defies Giff’s expectations: his dance moves are smooth but their small talk is excruciating—he offers up gossip sheet tidbits while she interrogates him on his charitable works—or lack thereof!

Charming. Amusing. Irresistible . . . A disastrous idea?
Alice is willing to entertain the possibility that there is more to the man than meets the eye—though what meets the eye is quite attractive. But when Giff’s true character is tested, she realizes it takes more than a list to reveal the heart of a worthy and honorable gentleman . . .

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Regency, Regency Romance

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 25, 2024

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side (political science professor and lawyer). Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Great Dane named Lilibet. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true lived on sailboat for three years. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She's currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement.

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Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Groom List was an utter mess. This was my least favorite book I've read all year and I only finished out of obligation to the publisher. The pages were bloated with unnecessary dialogue, the characters had zero chemistry, and we got a single sentence of closed-door action. It was a disappointment from every angle. Historical romance is my favorite subgenre and it was a chore to get through this novel. I mostly skimmed this book and found no joy in it. The only positive feedback I can contribute is the pretty cover. The characters are well illustrated and the costumes look lovely. I will not be continuing with this series nor this author. I do not believe starting this book midseries was my issue because the main couple fought like cats and dogs. I often lament how can you expect a reader to support a romance when they bicker like siblings? Although this book is entitled The Groom List, it's one sheet I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole regardless of my desperation to find my own groom.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Alice Carpenter is making her society debut along with her twin sister & sister by marriage. The three debutantes have drawn up a list of “musts” for eligible bachelors, yet when she encounters a striking nobleman on her morning ride in Hyde Park, Alice soon tallies another list of first impressions - Shallow. Flirtatious. Without seriousness of purpose. Impossible to avoid & I’m sorry to say these attributes fit
Gifford, the Marquis of St. Albans like a glove. Grif must wed in order to wrest his estate from his controlling father. Grif sets his sights on Alice
The third book in this spin off series of The Worthingtons, I’d recommend reading the earlier books are there are many characters & if you’ve not met them before then it would be confusing. I actually loved catching up with the rest of the family. This book takes place in the same timeframe as the earlier two books in the series so events do overlap. I loved the intelligent, feisty Alice & was surprised that not only she but Matt was taken in by a suitor. Matt has been the all - seeing older brother who is highly protective of his siblings & has previously delved into each & every suitors’ background, so why didn’t he this time? I liked Grif but boy was he one obedient son. It was almost as if he was the vacuous debutante & Alice the world wise one. I would have loved to have known more about his background, there were hints but these never came to light. I also found it difficult to believe that his mother wouldn’t have used her wiles to ensure he was trained in preparation for the Dukedom. I also found it unbelievable that a proud Duke wouldn’t train his son almost from birth to keep the Dukedom to the best of his ability. I did like the chemistry between Grif & Alice & how they became friends whilst falling in love. I did love that the villain had met his match & would have loved being a fly on the wall when he realised just what he’d signed for in the settlements. An enjoyable romance which wasn’t my favourite but I’m glad I read it. I do hope the younger siblings have their stories especially Mary & Theo
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such another great book in the Worthington family! I enjoyed Alice and Giff's story and how they found their way to each other! Not a ton of spicy, but still a great read! Can't wait for the next one!

[Booksreaderandcoffee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one won me with the summary but lost me somewhere along the way.

I didn't enjoyed the romance and for a historical romance this isn't good. The heroine is all over the place, she isn't in to the hero for most of the book and is after another man.

The chemistry is missing even after they move on to their romance and unfortunately it's was not my cup of tea.


* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Alice Carpenter is excited about her first season and getting married. Armed with her list of what she wants in a husband, the last man she would consider is Gifford, Earl of St.Albans, to be Marquis of St. Albans, the heir to the Duke of Cleveland. Don't forget from previous books that Alice comes with a big family that's not afraid to involve themselves in her choice of a husband. Giff doesn't know how to court a lady like Alice. Every attempt he's made has turned out wrong and he's losing her to someone else. It's time to make some changes in his approach. It's a good thing he has some inside help. Never a dull moment with the Worthington and Carpenter extended family. Very little descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank netgalley and Kensington Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A classic regency romance. The writing was a little stilted, but the story was enjoyable.

[Birgit · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were soooo many typographical and grammar errors and at times the wrong person's name was used! Did no one even edit the book for mistakes???? This was my least favorite book of all the Worthington family books.

[joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

maybe bc i had low expectations, i enjoyed this book more. i was wary of st. albans since eleanor's story and ngl i was scared to start this bc ik he'll annoy the hell out of me and he did, at least in the first few chaps. it was fun reading his povs bc he was trying hard to impress alice and he thought he's doing it right not knowing his efforts only drive alice more away.

i wish we saw giff's reaction when he was not invited on alice's come out ball tho. been looking forward to that scene since book 1 and i was kinda disappointed it was brushed off here. would've been better if we saw what giff did after alice started avoiding him bc i rly thought he gave up (based on the first two books) but apparently he did not.

this idiot just didn't know how to properly court a lady and i forgive him. like con, he captured my heart.

it shocked me that harry had a mistress before madeline tho bc it was not mentioned at all in his book 💀 it was even dropped at the end, when they're all happily married already. what the hell was i supposed to do with that information???

[Carolina CHC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Marriage List Trilogy. All of them can be read as stand-alone.

Alice and St. Albans’ story was quite funny. I did not have great expectations about it but I truly enjoyed it. My problem with these series is that the courtship of the three sisters happens at the same time. Therefore to be read as a standalone, you need to read again the same story for the first part of the book almost to the middle, which can be boring if the reader followed the series in order. Even if the story is told from a different sister is still the same story. If you are patient and wait until almost the 40% of the book, then you’ll enjoy it as well. I also wanted to know more about the story of St. Albans’ parents and the issues and rivalry between his English father and Scottish grandfather, which seems to be an interesting story that was unfortunately never told. I have my suspicions for a following story involving Alice’s brother, Charlie, the Earl of Stanwood, but it was never insinuated by the author. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Instead of reading bits of the other two books all over again, I would have love to read more about St. Albans’ family story.

I just reviewed The Groom List by Ella Quinn. #TheGroomList #NetGalley

[Isobel (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Intelligent. Kind. Must like children. Passable looks. A man of means. Must make us laugh . . .”
‘The Groom List’ by Ella Quinn is the third and final book of the series The Worthington Brides.
Lady Alice is excited about her first season and she is armed with a list of what she wants in a husband but she did not except the annoying presence of the Earl of St.Albans, to be Marquis of St. Albans and how he needle in her plan.

This story had a lot of promise but for me needed a bit more of work in the plotline because in my opinion it had room to improve. Despite that it was a good classic historical romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from Kensington Publishing - Zebra and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara’s rating: 3.3 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Worthington Brides #3
Publication Date: 6/25/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 352

This is the third (and I believe final) book in this Worthington spinoff series, so you get a nice wrap-up for all of the couples previously featured in the series. You also get a fair amount of redundancy in the beginning because the three books in this series happen concurrently. Therefore, you get some of the same scenes, just told from another person’s perspective.

Lady Alice Carpenter is closer than close with her two sisters and they are now sharing the wonderful experience of their first season together. They’ve made a list of requirements the males in their lives must meet – and her two sisters have found their mates. Alice didn’t realize how lonely she’d be when they were gone or how much she’d miss them. Now, she just wants to marry and have a family of her own. In her anxiety to join her sisters in marital bliss, she might not have been as careful as she should have been in vetting the men wooing her. One gave her disconcerting tingles, but he seemed to be a useless fribble, while the other gave her no tingles, but agreed with everything she asked about from her list.

Gifford (Giff), Marquis of St. Albans, is pretty much a blank slate. I’m not sure how he made it to maturity without having a thought of his own, but he seems to have done so. Whatever his parents decreed, he adhered to. That whole family dynamic just made no sense to me. Perhaps if there were more page time describing the parents and how they came to be and how this strong-willed, demanding duchess allowed her son to be raised to know nothing and have no thoughts, I just didn’t understand. We could have surely done with less ‘Worthington’ page time to allow for a page or two on Giff’s family and the dynamics of it. At any rate, Giff has no thoughts on political or charitable endeavors, no idea of how to run the ducal estate when his father passes, and gives no arguments when his parents tell him it is time to marry. He seems to have no initiative and has never tried to earn money to supplement his meager allowance nor has he bestirred himself to form an opinion of any of the current political and social events/issues of the day. So, I had to wonder how he found the initiative to find a bride for himself. Does that sound like I didn’t like him? That isn’t truly the case. In general, I liked him, I just never understood the need for him to be such a vacuous fribble.

Giff is attracted to Alice as soon as he sees her riding in the park with her sisters. She seems interested in him as well – until she doesn’t. What did he do wrong? When she tells him she doesn’t want him to pursue her any longer, he realizes how much he has gone wrong in his pursuit of her. Is it too late for him? She is being courted by someone else and seems seriously interested. However, Giff doesn’t trust the man who is wooing Alice and endeavors to change his ways to win her back.

I enjoyed the last half of the book – and I absolutely LOVED the part of the book where Miss Greenway visits to respond to the note sent by Alice’s younger sisters. That is one of the best villain punishments I’ve ever seen in any book. I finally came to like Giff after he discovered there was a world outside his own head and I liked Alice all along. As I mentioned earlier, what I would have really liked in this book was less of the Worthington connections and more of Giff’s family – why was there animosity between Giff’s father and Scottish grandfather? Was his parent’s union a love match? I would have thought so, but they didn’t act that way. One thing that perplexed me was how the villain could slip through all those Worthington-world folks without his nefarious intents being detected. The Duchess seemed to get all the pertinent information within hours – or a day at most. Giff was grilled repeatedly, yet the villain was asked a few innocuous questions (by Alice) and let slide. That doesn’t seem like the very protective Worthington bunch I’ve known and loved to date. So, I read the book and I liked it okay, but I wouldn’t read it a second time.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Krys · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a big fan of the original Worthington series, so I was excited to pick this one up, not realizing that it was the third (and final) book in the spin-off series. And to be honest, there were some issues with it, but on the whole I enjoyed it.

So we can end on a positive note, let me start off with the things I didn't enjoy. To begin with there are so many characters from the previous novels, and I was not expecting each and every one of them to make an appearance in this one. There were so many people constantly in and out of the main story-lines that I often became confused forgetting who is who. It would have been nice to have a family tree or something to refer back to.

Was it weird to anyone other than me how Alice's guardian didn't seem to do proper research into her perspective suitors? I found it to be very odd that between her guardian and all of the men in her life that were related to her, not a single one of them knew anything was amiss? Yet Giff's mother had no trouble whatsoever obtaining the information? Also, in what world does it make sense that Giff would have no training whatsoever in estate management, or account books when he was the heir? I understand his father wanted him wed and wanted to force his hand over it, but to leave your heir completely unprepared? What if his father had had a tragic accident and died before Giff married? He still would have been the heir.

I'm also very tired of the kidnapping in order to force a marriage that isn't wanted trope that I see happening a lot in this genre (a trope that this author herself uses in the original series as well). Instead of this, I would have loved to have learned more about why St.Alban's English father and Scottish grandfather hate each other so much if his father was allowed to wed his mother. What happened to cause the rift between them? Or did his mother marry his father for love despite her father's objections? I will also admit to some curiosity about the fate of Alice's other suitor especially when it comes to light that his bride-to-be has her own agenda. I would have loved for a glimpse into their future.

Now on to what I did like, I liked how Alice was quick to shut Giff down when she thought they weren't going to be a good match despite how attracted she was to him, yet she was also open to giving him a second chance when he started showing her his true personality. And as time went on, she was able to be honest with him about the way he had messed up with her the first time around. In that, I liked her directness and the way they were able to form a friendship in which she was able to help him learn more about things pertaining to his estates. And despite their rocky start I also loved the little tests she threw out to him (especially breakfast with her family, and then the way he later went on to try and include the children in other things).

This author has been the author of some of my favorite historical novels in the past, and I have no doubt I will read more from them in the future.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

[Nazmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Groom List is the third book in Ella Quinn’s Worthington Brides series which itself is a continuation from her Worthingtons series.
Lady Alice Carpenter and her sisters have joined the season to find a good husband. They have even compiled a list of attributes the gentleman must have. When she encounters the handsome Marquis of St Albans on her morning rides she believes she may have met a suitable candidate. But the more she encounters him, the more she believes that he is a shallow, purposeless man who has no conversation but the latest gossip. How can she have been so mistaken?
Gifford, heir to the Duke of Cleveland, has to marry in order for his father to let him take care of his estate. Deciding to secure the hand of the lovely Lady Alice, he resorts to reading the latest gossip so he can fix her interest. All ladies live for gossip don’t they?
When Gifford realises his mistake he has to convince Alice that there is more substance to him before her head is turned by another.
I had not read the previous books in the series and it seems that Ella Quinn has built up a charming Regency world. It is a warm world filled with charming characters. The only thing is that sometimes it was hard to keep up with the many previous heroes and heroines and their families if you are new to it.
I did like Giff – he has never been given the chance by his father to be productive but when he gains an estate of his own he does everything he can to become knowledgeable and take up his duties. He also works hard to improve Alice’s opinion of him [with the help of her younger sisters who were probably the highlight of the book for me].
I didn’t warm to Alice as much. She did spend most of the book disdaining Giff, thinking she was in love with another man and later on in the story [when they were at Giff’s home] came across as managing and abrupt rather than charming and capable.
I loved Giff’s mum and really loved the Ladies Mary and Theo. They definitely came across as the cleverest in the whole book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Visionary Druid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gifford (Giff), The Marquis of St. Albans wants more responsibilities. However, he first needs to wed before his ducal father will allow it. Giff encounters a beautiful woman while on a horse ride in the park. The woman is everything he desires in a wife, yet she rebuffs his suit. If Giff wants to win her hand, he first needs to re-think his strategy. Can he persuade Alice to be his wife? Or will someone else steal her away first?

Lady Alice Carpenter has a list of traits suitors must possess to court her. She happens upon a handsome stranger on her daily morning ride. After being in his company, Alice decides St. Albans is not suitable, but he refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer. However, Alice’s opinion of Giff changes. She starts to see the true person beneath the attractive veneer. Will Alice cast aside her list of requirements? Or will the choice be taken away from her?

I had a rough time connecting (or liking) Alice and Giff. Which is sad because Alice’s name holds such sentimental value to me. It is the reason I decided to give this book a try. Her personality really grated on my nerves for some reason. Giff came off as too self-absorbed and shallow for my tastes. He did rely on his connections a lot.

THE GROOM LIST is the third book in Ella Quinn’s historical romance series, THE WORTHINGTON BRIDES. This is my first time reading anything from this author. Sadly, her writing style is not for me. I just had a rough time getting into the story or the characters.

There were too many side characters introduced at the start of the book. It muddied the pacing and confused the heck out of me. I thought they had no real purpose in the scene or plot. The last half of the book went by rather quickly. However, the ending felt like it dragged on and on. I would have liked it better if the story ended after dealing with the nemesis.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another chance to visit with the amazing Worthington family!

The season has arrived for Lady Alice Carpenter, Alice’s sisters, Lady Eleanor Carpenter, Alice’s twin, and Lady Madeline Vivers to make their debut. The thought of having three young ladies out for the first time gives me a hradache, but the Worthington crew have a system of mass participation of the whole family. I love the interactions with all the various family members. The young ladies have a list of what they are looking for in a husband and they have excellent examples of what they want.

Alice. keeps looking at her list thinking that there is a trait missing from her list. She realizes what it is after spending time with Giff, the Marquis of St. Albans,friendship. Unlike the other women in her life, Alice has not found her passion, her cause. There are several things she feels strongly about, but nothing specific and it frustrates her.

Gift is looking for a wife, but his approach lacks finesse and his attitude is a bit arrogant. He believes his title alones enough to recommend him to any young woman. It isn't until he breaks his fast with Alice and the other Worthingtons that he starts to reconsider his approach.

Together they form a friendship that creates a good foundation for their HEA. It was fun, as always, to see the family help the young ladies bring their chosen man up to scratch. Ms. Quinn continues to bring us characters we have come to love, appreciate and enjoy spending time with. I enjoy that the young children are included in breakfast, occasionally tea and other outings. The younger set are amazing and I am excited to see Mary and Theo when they hit the marriage mart!!!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Alice Carpenter, like her sisters before her, is ready to marry and has made a list of attributes a potential husband must have. Alice is enjoying her season and doesn’t seem in any rush to settle on a suitor but didn’t seem to realize how much she would miss her sisters once they married and that is what ends up being the catalyst that finally sets her on her path to HEA. And with a wealth of suitors to choose from, Alice decides to stick to her list, which sadly seems to eliminate Gifford, Marquis of St. Albans right from the get-go!

Gifford “Giff” is called home by his father, the Duke of Cleveland at the start of the season. He thinks he will finally be given the heir’s estate to run, but what he gets is a new title, as his parents believe that it is time for him to marry and the title of Marquis would be more desirable than that of a mere Earl. Giff is disappointed, but he agreed to wed this year and so he shall. When he returns to London, he immediately sets his sights on Lady Alice Carpenter, foolishly thinking his title would be all he needed to win her hand. When she dismisses him and finds a new suitor, he knows he has erred, but is it too late to change her mind?

This book was not what I was hoping for, and I honestly think I have had enough of the Worthingtons – I am beginning to think the author has too, since the first quarter of this book was pretty much recycled scenes from the previous books. I have to agree with other reviewers who felt that while the characters were likable, they were flat, dull and uninspiring. I didn’t hate this book, but neither would I read it again. Overall, it was OK, and if you are looking for a slow-burn, low/no steam romance, you will probably enjoy this book a lot more than I did. This is the third and final book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title with no problem.

2.5 stars rounded up.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Darlene Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm excited every time a new book in the Carpenter/Vivers/Worthington/Stanhill blended family comes out. I've read them all and intend to keep going as long as the author does. This time it's Lady Alice Carpenter, twin to Lady Eleanor. The Groom List is a good standalone book with enough details to give an idea of what's come before. As part of a series, it carries on the family matrimony ups and downs. Alice is the last of three girls close in age to find love. Twin Lady Eleanor and stepsister Lady Madeline have both recently wed leaving Alice feeling abandoned, lonely, and wondering when her turn will come. The groom list is something the girls came up as a way of judging if a gentleman meets requirements to be a good husband and father. Alice adds to it after St. Albans disappoints her. Actually, a smart move I wish I'd done when I was a teenager. Her intended, Gifford St. Albans has no idea how to court a lady. He takes advice, bad advice, from his friends & almost messes up his HEA. Thankfully he's set straight, and their wedding makes it a hat trick in record time. The preacher makes a comment about so many marriages in such a short time, he's awed.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance readers copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#TheGroomList #EllaQuinn #TheWorthingtonBrides #KensingtonPublishingCorp. #historicalromance #romance #ZebraBooks

[Dani Neeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the third installment of The Worthington Brides, Lady Alice Carpenter is searching for a man that meets her list of qualifications to be the perfect husband. The Marquis of St. Albans, Gifford, needs to marry in order to inherit a dukedom from his overbearing father. Upon meeting, no sparks are flying but Giff is determined to win over Alice.

Overall, the writing felt a bit stiff. It seemed like the story comprised of "this happened which led to this happening which made this happen" instead of having a natural flow. The conversations between characters also seemed dry and I was not able to feel emotions or connections between the family members or partners.

In the beginning of this book, various characters are introduced simultaneously and it felt very overwhelming to try to remember who is who (I did not read the first two books in this series which may have led to this confusion). I think it would be nice to add a family tree or a list of characters to help keep everyone in order.

I think the ending was cheesy but that's expected (by me at least) with this genre. I probably wouldn't read any other books in this series but I enjoyed my days with this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another enchanting story by Ella Quinn. Alice, her twin Eleanor and their step sister, Madeline are all coming out together and borrowing from their older sisters have compiled a list of attributes that they want in a husband. .They meet two gentlemen who catch their eyes the first day while they are riding early in the park, Giff (Gifford, Earl of St Albans) and John, Marquis of Montagu. Giff immediately decides he wants Alice as his wife, but he bollocks it up so bad that she doesn't even want him to attend their coming out ball and she sets her sights on another suitor. But her younger sisters, don't like him, so help Giff understand what he needs to do and think if he is to win her heart. Eleanor and Madeline's romances were in the previous two books in the series.

The only negative thing that I can say about the book, and this is probably on me, but I have a hard time keeping so many characters straight, especially when they have so many names. But that is an issue with all Regency Era novels.

I read a gifted Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher via NetGalley.com. There were a few minor editing mistakes in my copy, but I assume those were corrected before the book was released. This is my honest, unbiased and voluntary review

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Worthington’s have returned with the third sister of the triplets getting her chance to shine. She is intelligent, beautiful, and ready to be married and start her own family. Little does she know what a ride that will be. The Groom’s List by Ella Quinn is the third book in The Worthington Bride’s series.

Lady Alice Carpenter loves her family and really wants to be married to start her own family. She does have a list of requirements for her husband to be. She is looking forward to meeting a variety of young men. One of the first men she met was Gifford, the Marquis of St Albans, unfortunately he did not treat her as she expected and as much as he pressed his suit, she was not interested. Another man has caught her attention and is able to make inroads to her and romance. The worst part is he is a scoundrel and when Alice finds out, she is determined to cut him out of her life.

Slowly GIfford is able to show Alice how he feels, after he realizes that he needs to change his methods of wooing her. They begin to move toward an eventual wedding when the scoundrel makes a move, but the family is a worthy component. The Groom’s List by Ella Quinn was a good read!

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the lastest book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Quinn has written a winner of a romance with lots of funny and endearing quips. It had me at first chapter and never let go. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own.
Lady Alice Carpenter is about to be debuted along with her twin sister and sister by marriage. She has made a list in which she decides which man would be a match for her. She meets a lot of different guys but there is one who stands out in her mind.
Gifford, the Marquis of St. Albans is a flirt and has a very manly presence. He spies the lovely Alice and knows that she is the one he wants. He has to marry in order to get the estate from his controlling father. So he decides to begin with friendship and court her. Alice isn't taken in a bit because she's not sure of his feelings.
Giff decides he must change his ways to win the woman who is being courted by a scoundrel.
I know that Giff and Alice will get their happy ever because they are fated to be.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

[Charmaine Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Groom List was a fun read and gave me a chance to revisit the Worthington's. This year sees the ladies Alice Carpenter and her twin, Lady Eleanor and their cousin, Lady Madeline Vivers make their debut and all three come armed with a list of requirements for their suitors.

While out riding early one morning, Lady Alice and her fellow companions’ chance upon Gifford (Giff), The Marquis of St. Albans and his friend and there is an instant attraction between them. Unfortunately, Giff's approach to attract Lady Alice lacks finesse and he comes across as extremely arrogant and not someone Alice would be interested in. She decides to look elsewhere instead.

After assistance with useful information on how to engage Alice’s mind, do things turn around and work in his favour. The relationship starts afresh as friends and goes from there.

All in, a lovely, fast-moving story that kept my interest in seeing this couple come together and have their HEA.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing and am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

[Geraldine Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Groom List by Ella Quinn takes us back to the world of the Worthingtons. This is Lady Alice's search for love, and her suiters include the Earl of St. Albans and the Marquis of Normanby. When St. Albans get off on a decidedly wrong foot with the lady, Lord Normanby is there to sweep her off her feet. But some of Lady Alice's family come to St. Albans aid and he is able to befriend the lady he hopes to wed. Normanby may be what Alice really wants... and has her rechecking the list she and her sisters made at the start of the season.

And because it is a Worthington season, the path does not run sooth.

I love the Regency world Ella Quinn has created and loved seeing Alice find her way to her happily ever after. The world of London comes alive and may of the characters from her other novels take part in the Season. It was a delight to read and I look forward to the next installment.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to like this book, but it was just so confusing at the beginning that I never really got into it. At the beginning, the author threw 20 characters at us like we were supposed to know who everyone was. I guess this book is part of a series and the author wanted to include characters from the previous book. While this is a nice idea, it does not make it easy or very enjoyable to people who would like to start the books anywhere in the series. Since each book is an inter connected standalone, the reader should still be able to comfortably start a book anywhere in the series. For the first couple of chapters I had no idea who the main female lead was or whose perspective I was reading. I know it was Lady Alice Carpenter, but I was feeling so overwhelmed with all of the characters that I started to wonder if it was actually her or I was confused. The rest of the book was easier to read and enjoyable but I almost didn’t keep reading after the first couple of chapters.

[Esperancita 💜 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always love to read historical romance, and Ella Quinn had come up in several recommendations I found on Bookstagram so it was a good way to get close to her pen.

This is the third book of the Worthington saga (I have not read the other two), here we meet Lady Alice Carpenter who is enjoying her first social season, therefore, she has made a list of those attributes that her future suitor must have in order to be the chosen one; it is here where Griff appears who despite being a marquis does not necessarily meet these requirements.

In spite of being attracted to each other, they find themselves embarked on a tug of war between him, who does not meet the requirements, and Griff, who also has feelings for him.

It was a good read to pass the time.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this advanced copy, the opinion is entirely my own.

#TheGroomList #NetGalley

[Margaret Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Alice Carpenter, her twin sister Eleanor and her sister by marriage, Madeline Vivers had a plan they were using to find their ideal groom. Lady Eleanor and Madeline's grooms came up to scratch quickly but after the first guy she met, Lord St. Albans did not meet her standards, she focused on finding a new man. There is another guy interested in Alice who appears to meet all of the items on her list only the children and the dogs didn't like him. Thank Goodness Alice has a protective family and a determined suitor in St. Albans who will go out of his way to prevent her from marrying the wrong guy. Its been a long time since I read Matt and Grace's story(initial story) and I have read the stories after theirs. It was great to read more of their extended families now combined with St. Albans' English/Scots families.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

From starting to finish (which I struggle through) was dull, repetitive and quite boring. Way too many characters in this story that the author herself got their names mixed up. At one point the author addresses St. Alban as Lytton. Then another part St. Albans valet was called Gunn then Dunn lol. Talk about confusing. So many grammatical errors as well. Was there not an editor for this book?? I also found this story quite convoluted. The author jumps between plots so fast you're unsure of what you're reading. There's rarely any connection between plots and events happening in the story. I'm really surprised this book got published. First impressions matters and sadly this author is lacking big time.

This book was way too long to be enjoyable. There was no chemistry at all between any of the characters. They all seem droll and depressing. Don't bother waste your time reading this book.

[Lissereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured Alice and Giff story. I’m just in love with the whole family that keeps growing. Alice feels left behind after her twin and her other sister get married. She didn’t think Giff met all the items on her groom list. She decides to find a different husband, one that meets every single item. That’s when Normanby starts courting her with the intention to marry her. Her two little sisters are on to him (Mary and Theo). They help Giff so he can stop being so oblivious to properly court a very smart lady. They become friends and things progress when Alice discovers that Normandy is after her dowry, and after all, doesn’t meet the items on the list as she first thought. Giff needs to save her from a scandal and let her know his intentions before losing her forever. In doing so, both families come together to find a solution. Alice needs to discover her true feelings when she gets to start a friendship with Giff. This has a HEA and I loved it. I can’t wait for Charlie’s book and have another glimpse of the whole family.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

“Even more so now than before if that’s possible. At first, I was dazed by her beauty and grace. Now that I’ve got to know her, I’m dazed by her mind.”

[Story · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Alice and Griff’s story! I must admit though, that I was a little confused at the beginning, as it has been a while since I read the last book in this series and it took me a couple of chapters to get everyone’s relationship’s straight ( it is a very large, extended family!) I especially like the way Alice is portrayed, very capable, independent and intelligent, but also not afraid to lean on Griff and be emotionally vulnerable when a situation warrants it. Her family is so much fun - I never tire of reading about the children’s antics and wondering how their stories will eventually play out. You could read this as a standalone, but it is so much more enjoyable when the series is read in sequence.

[MDM · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't read any of Ella Quinn's previous books in the Worthington series, take your time to figure out the family relationships that are outlined in the first chapter of "The Groom List". I skipped over them, and found myself hopelessly confused, and had to restart. But once I did, I was rewarded. Giff and Allice are a delightful couple, and manage a courtship with less drama than I expected.

I particularly enjoyed the end of the book; Alice's settling into her role as a duchess-to-be, and the details of exactly what was entailed in running England's great houses in this era was fascinating.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.