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Tempted by Her Enemy Marquis
"A charming Regency romance with a dash of rom-com cuteness. Perfect for readers seeking a playful story." - Library Journal
Revenge is sweet…
But will the marquis’s kiss be sweeter?
When Will, the Marquis of Ravenham, advertises for an expert in antiques to help him navigate the hoard of treasures that fill his newly inherited estate, Katherine Jones is quick to apply! She is desperate to find the Borgia Ruby, which was stolen from her father by Will’s family, ruining her own family’s livelihood in the process. Katherine is determined to get revenge! Only her enemy is nothing like she imagined…not least because she didn’t foresee being charmed by his witty repartee! Now Katherine must ask herself: Does she want vengeance or Will more?
Revenge is sweet…
But will the marquis’s kiss be sweeter?
When Will, the Marquis of Ravenham, advertises for an expert in antiques to help him navigate the hoard of treasures that fill his newly inherited estate, Katherine Jones is quick to apply! She is desperate to find the Borgia Ruby, which was stolen from her father by Will’s family, ruining her own family’s livelihood in the process. Katherine is determined to get revenge! Only her enemy is nothing like she imagined…not least because she didn’t foresee being charmed by his witty repartee! Now Katherine must ask herself: Does she want vengeance or Will more?
- GenresHistorical Romance
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
12 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Louise Allen
424 books331 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 21, 2024
I had no idea this book wasn't published yet when I read it - but I have a copy right here that I got in a charity shop of all places so *shrug* guess I go first.
It was bloody great is what it was. The plot had elements of mystery and adventure that kept the pace clipping along. I mean the heroine, an antiquarian and librarian, is on the hunt for a stolen ruby and a bit of revenge to boot. That alone is enough to hook me. She was just lovely, clever and determined. The hero is one of my favorite types, the stuffy, buttoned up type.
Alas I couldn't go full five stars because This book badly, badly needs a decent grovel from the hero. At the very least a bit more reflection on what he did wrong. Yes he does the honorable thing at the end, but he does it wordlessly and he barely spends five nano-seconds to consider the genuine, devastating, truly awful harm he caused by his actions. He wronged the heroine and her mother most grievously, and he doesn't really seem bothered by that. Nope! Need him to feel genuine regret here. He just sort of huffily puts things right before moving onto the things that matter to him. If we had had a proper grovel then this book would be 10/5.
That said - Louise Allen is one of the best people writing historicals for M&B/Harlequin right now. She consistently knocks it out the park, and this book is up there with some of her best. I genuinely loved it.
It was bloody great is what it was. The plot had elements of mystery and adventure that kept the pace clipping along. I mean the heroine, an antiquarian and librarian, is on the hunt for a stolen ruby and a bit of revenge to boot. That alone is enough to hook me. She was just lovely, clever and determined. The hero is one of my favorite types, the stuffy, buttoned up type.
Alas I couldn't go full five stars because This book badly, badly needs a decent grovel from the hero. At the very least a bit more reflection on what he did wrong. Yes he does the honorable thing at the end, but he does it wordlessly and he barely spends five nano-seconds to consider the genuine, devastating, truly awful harm he caused by his actions. He wronged the heroine and her mother most grievously, and he doesn't really seem bothered by that. Nope! Need him to feel genuine regret here. He just sort of huffily puts things right before moving onto the things that matter to him. If we had had a proper grovel then this book would be 10/5.
That said - Louise Allen is one of the best people writing historicals for M&B/Harlequin right now. She consistently knocks it out the park, and this book is up there with some of her best. I genuinely loved it.
January 31, 2025
Our lovely FL Kat has gotten a job as a librarian/sorta-archivist for the estate of a Marquis who wronged her family very badly and caused her father's death through stress induced ill-health. She is looking for a ruby that the deceased essentially stole from her father. The new enemy marquis is a surprise heir, who worked was the barrister responsible for that public disgrace based on false information. Many things are not as they seem, of course, and as Kat searches around for the gem "a lot happens".
Nice Louise Allen book, though not one of her best. Felt a bit long but also a bit abrupt at the end. Would like to read a book about the dorky and handsome estate vicar. A lot of nice supporting characters in this one, really.
Nice Louise Allen book, though not one of her best. Felt a bit long but also a bit abrupt at the end. Would like to read a book about the dorky and handsome estate vicar. A lot of nice supporting characters in this one, really.
January 25, 2025
An enjoyable read
As always with Louise Allen’s books, this one hooked me straight away, and I loved its unusual premise and characters: an enemy-to-lovers tale between a librarian and antiquarian (Katharine) and a lawyer (Will). Katharine’s secret ‘mission’ to clear her father’s name, and recover a stolen jewel, effectively drove the plot, keeping the reader guessing what would happen when Will discovered her deception. It was a beautifully drawn, slow-burn love story with some great supporting characters and an enjoyable seam of humour.
As always with Louise Allen’s books, this one hooked me straight away, and I loved its unusual premise and characters: an enemy-to-lovers tale between a librarian and antiquarian (Katharine) and a lawyer (Will). Katharine’s secret ‘mission’ to clear her father’s name, and recover a stolen jewel, effectively drove the plot, keeping the reader guessing what would happen when Will discovered her deception. It was a beautifully drawn, slow-burn love story with some great supporting characters and an enjoyable seam of humour.
January 16, 2025
The jewel in a house of treasures
Kat is searching for a ruby stolen from her father. Will is the new Marquis, but was the lawyer who originally shamed her father over the ruby's acquisition. Kat is determined to find the stone before Will, her new employer, by working as his librarian. I loved the new employees that kept turning up to work on Will's estate, including the Adonis like chaplain. A slow burn love story with two great main characters. 5 stars.
Kat is searching for a ruby stolen from her father. Will is the new Marquis, but was the lawyer who originally shamed her father over the ruby's acquisition. Kat is determined to find the stone before Will, her new employer, by working as his librarian. I loved the new employees that kept turning up to work on Will's estate, including the Adonis like chaplain. A slow burn love story with two great main characters. 5 stars.
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April 14, 2025DNF. The MMC kept his mistress in his house while moving in FMC. No respect
dnf
March 29, 2025DNF @20 something pages.
The writing is trying too hard to be “of the time” and gets in the way of the story. I think the plot is really intriguing, love the librarian as an MC, but couldn’t get into the story.
Librarian/antiquarian, stolen ruby?, enemies to lovers, regency?
The writing is trying too hard to be “of the time” and gets in the way of the story. I think the plot is really intriguing, love the librarian as an MC, but couldn’t get into the story.
Librarian/antiquarian, stolen ruby?, enemies to lovers, regency?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews