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The Matrimony Trap
The first novella in Louisa Darling's steamy, rompy Regency-set Drake Family trilogy!
She's the beauty and the brains…
Miss Caroline Quick is desperate to escape London for the freedom of the wilds and her career as a naturalist—but she must get her widowed mother married before she can go. It's a simple enough idea; track down Mama's first love and engineer a meeting…with the help of the gentleman's alarmingly charming son.
He's just Fitz.
The bored, scapegrace younger son of a disapproving Earl, Fitzwilliam Drake is no stranger to madcap schemes, but the proposition put to him by the delectable Caroline is the wildest he's ever heard. Of course, trapping his father into marriage is better than tumbling into the pit himself, but Fitz will need to exercise caution around Caroline, who is too tempting by half. Unfortunately, Fitz has never been the cautious type…
They might make the ideal match…
From "surprise" encounters in the park to scandalous country house parties, Caroline's plans quickly spin out of control. But Fitz is there to help…and to drive her to distraction with his irresistible kisses and strong embraces. Because Fitz may not be a genius, but he's smart enough to see that with a woman like Caroline, matrimony is no trap—it's the start of the grandest adventure of them all.
She's the beauty and the brains…
Miss Caroline Quick is desperate to escape London for the freedom of the wilds and her career as a naturalist—but she must get her widowed mother married before she can go. It's a simple enough idea; track down Mama's first love and engineer a meeting…with the help of the gentleman's alarmingly charming son.
He's just Fitz.
The bored, scapegrace younger son of a disapproving Earl, Fitzwilliam Drake is no stranger to madcap schemes, but the proposition put to him by the delectable Caroline is the wildest he's ever heard. Of course, trapping his father into marriage is better than tumbling into the pit himself, but Fitz will need to exercise caution around Caroline, who is too tempting by half. Unfortunately, Fitz has never been the cautious type…
They might make the ideal match…
From "surprise" encounters in the park to scandalous country house parties, Caroline's plans quickly spin out of control. But Fitz is there to help…and to drive her to distraction with his irresistible kisses and strong embraces. Because Fitz may not be a genius, but he's smart enough to see that with a woman like Caroline, matrimony is no trap—it's the start of the grandest adventure of them all.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2024
14 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 9, 2024
Very cute!
October 3, 2024
Instalovey but super cute.
“Father might have given me the world, but you made it a home. Because of you, I think I could feel comfortable and content anywhere at all!
“Caroline is a pragmatist; she knows that no one is perfect. It is intentions that matter. E$ort matters. Persistence matters.†Her voice took on a melancholy heaviness. “The only true disappointment is someone who won’t bother to try.
“If you marry me, I’ll have a wife whom I love.â
“I do want you,†he told her, his voice deep and rough with feeling. “I want to kiss you and hold you and make you scream with pleasure.†She shuddered against him, her body melting almost imperceptibly closer. “But it’s not enough. I’m a greedy bastard. I want more,†Fitz continued hoarsely, willing to strip himself bare if it would make her understand. “I want to listen to you. I want to make you laugh. I want to take care of you. I want adventures with you. I want to see the world through your eyes, a world I could never have imagined before I met you. I want to be the man I am when I’m with you. The man you think I am. A man who could be worthy, someday, of your love.
“I’ll learn you, if it takes a lifetime,
“One lifetime might not be enough.
“You are exactly where you’re meant to be,†Caroline told him, watching his smile turn his storm-grey eyes to molten silver. “The lover in my arms, the best friend at my side, the canny ally and staunch defender at my back…everything you are is everything I need. How could I let you go? No, my darling, delicious, ridiculous man—I’m afraid you are well and truly trapped, for I cannot do without you now.
“Father might have given me the world, but you made it a home. Because of you, I think I could feel comfortable and content anywhere at all!
“Caroline is a pragmatist; she knows that no one is perfect. It is intentions that matter. E$ort matters. Persistence matters.†Her voice took on a melancholy heaviness. “The only true disappointment is someone who won’t bother to try.
“If you marry me, I’ll have a wife whom I love.â
“I do want you,†he told her, his voice deep and rough with feeling. “I want to kiss you and hold you and make you scream with pleasure.†She shuddered against him, her body melting almost imperceptibly closer. “But it’s not enough. I’m a greedy bastard. I want more,†Fitz continued hoarsely, willing to strip himself bare if it would make her understand. “I want to listen to you. I want to make you laugh. I want to take care of you. I want adventures with you. I want to see the world through your eyes, a world I could never have imagined before I met you. I want to be the man I am when I’m with you. The man you think I am. A man who could be worthy, someday, of your love.
“I’ll learn you, if it takes a lifetime,
“One lifetime might not be enough.
“You are exactly where you’re meant to be,†Caroline told him, watching his smile turn his storm-grey eyes to molten silver. “The lover in my arms, the best friend at my side, the canny ally and staunch defender at my back…everything you are is everything I need. How could I let you go? No, my darling, delicious, ridiculous man—I’m afraid you are well and truly trapped, for I cannot do without you now.
April 5, 2025
Caroline is a naturalist who longs to roam the world. Her father has died and her mother insists she accompany her daughter when she would rather stay in London. Caroline finds letters her mother wrote to her first love (before her husband) and hatches a scheme to get them back together. After all, he is a widower too. She enlists the help of the Lord's youngest son, Fitz. He is game if only to get his father's attention off of him. When plans go awry...
July 25, 2025
This was a fun retelling of the parent trap. Caroline and Fir are determined to engineer their respective parents’ marriage, however, they fall in love along the way. While a bit instalovey, it is a novella after all, so I was able to suspend belief. I loved how they worked together in their schemes and the ease of their relationship. Overall, an enjoyable, quick read.
October 14, 2025
A very refreshing and quick historical romance novella. Very unusual premise and lead characters. I wish we saw more of the secondary couple maybe a POV for one of them. Also just more time with our lead characters but I’m always saying that with novellas I enjoy.
Can’t wait to pick up more historical romance from a new to me author.
Can’t wait to pick up more historical romance from a new to me author.
July 8, 2024
MORE PLEASE!!!!!
What a delicious appetizer, for what I am certain will be a great series!! Caroline and Fitz were so incredibly perfect for each other!! I loved the storytelling and the nods to the Parent Trap.
Enjoy!!!
What a delicious appetizer, for what I am certain will be a great series!! Caroline and Fitz were so incredibly perfect for each other!! I loved the storytelling and the nods to the Parent Trap.
Enjoy!!!
March 11, 2025
Matrimony Trap
Louisa Darling
I absolutely loved this book
As I was reading I thought this is why I read historical romance. It put me in a fantasy I missed out on in reality. I thank you for putting in a place I’ve always dreamed about but have never realized. Well done.
Louisa Darling
I absolutely loved this book
As I was reading I thought this is why I read historical romance. It put me in a fantasy I missed out on in reality. I thank you for putting in a place I’ve always dreamed about but have never realized. Well done.
October 16, 2025
A delightful novella that’s a fun intro to the Dukes in Disguise series. I read this after reading the the first two full length novels in the series and before the last which has Caroline and Fitz in it.
July 25, 2025
Mediocre. And why tf was the epilogue so long?
August 11, 2025
I don't usually rate novellas but this one was absolutely excellent. Fun, funny, everything you could want in under 150 pages.
October 12, 2025
I love matchmaking schemes and this one was fun and sweet!
October 18, 2025
Very cute. I really love Louisa Darling’s humor. Her style is not conventional but her writing is wonderful. She packs a lot of emotion into a novella.
November 22, 2025
Cute novella provided for free when signing up for Louisa's newsletter.
December 10, 2025
3.5
Story 3
Performance 4
Story 3
Performance 4
December 13, 2025
Louisa Darling has become an auto read author for me. Her historical romances are zany with humor and heart. I loved this novella just like all of her other books!
May 26, 2025
Delightful historical romance novella that is available if you sign up to the author's newsletter. I think is a great way to get an idea of her writing style and her world. This book had me smiling the whole time I was reading it.
Caroline is trying to to get her widowed mom to marry so her mom can stay in London where she is happy and Caroline can go on and continue her research as a naturalist. However, things get complicated and she might start falling for the son of the man she is trying to set up with her mother!
Caroline is trying to to get her widowed mom to marry so her mom can stay in London where she is happy and Caroline can go on and continue her research as a naturalist. However, things get complicated and she might start falling for the son of the man she is trying to set up with her mother!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews