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Marriage Mart #3
A Winter Wedding
This adventurous duke...has met his match
The Duke of Marchford requires a suitable bride, but catching spies for the Foreign Office takes up most of his time. Not wanting to face another London season as an eligible man, he employs the notorious Madame X to find him a match.
Miss Penelope Rose knows the rules of marriage among members of the ton better than most. Her own unsuccessful attempts at matrimony did not stop her from becoming London's most exclusive matchmaker. Marchford proves to be a difficult client, but as he draws on her social expertise to help him flush out a dangerous traitor, they find that falling in love may be the riskiest adventure of all.
Marriage Mart
A Wedding in Springtime (Book 1)
A Midsummer Bride (Book 2)
A Winter Wedding (Book 3)
Praise for Amanda
"This entertaining novel is a diamond of the first order...the clever combination of wit, romance, and suspense strikes all the right notes."-Booklist, on A Wedding in Springtime
"Elegant writing...beautifully written dialogue and attention to detail. Enthusiasts of historical romance will undoubtedly enjoy this."-Long and Short of It Reviews, on The Highlander's Heart
The Duke of Marchford requires a suitable bride, but catching spies for the Foreign Office takes up most of his time. Not wanting to face another London season as an eligible man, he employs the notorious Madame X to find him a match.
Miss Penelope Rose knows the rules of marriage among members of the ton better than most. Her own unsuccessful attempts at matrimony did not stop her from becoming London's most exclusive matchmaker. Marchford proves to be a difficult client, but as he draws on her social expertise to help him flush out a dangerous traitor, they find that falling in love may be the riskiest adventure of all.
Marriage Mart
A Wedding in Springtime (Book 1)
A Midsummer Bride (Book 2)
A Winter Wedding (Book 3)
Praise for Amanda
"This entertaining novel is a diamond of the first order...the clever combination of wit, romance, and suspense strikes all the right notes."-Booklist, on A Wedding in Springtime
"Elegant writing...beautifully written dialogue and attention to detail. Enthusiasts of historical romance will undoubtedly enjoy this."-Long and Short of It Reviews, on The Highlander's Heart
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2014
58 people are currently reading
821 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Forester
21 books328 followersAmanda Forester holds a PhD in clinical psychology and a Masters degree in theology. As a psychologist, she has worked as a clinical researcher and a university instructor (what they call you when they don’t want to give you tenure). None of which has anything to do with writing romance novels. After trying for many years to stop the internal storylines floating around her head, she finally gave up and wrote one down. Now when she is caught daydreaming and talking to herself she can just say, “I’m plotting a scene for my next novel,” which sounds so much better than, “I’m hallucinating and responding to internal stimuli.”
Amanda lives in the Pacific Northwest with her officer and a gentleman husband and their two remarkably active, naturally brilliant children. They share their home with two fiendishly destructive cats and one lazy dog.
The Highlander’s Series represents Amanda's first venture into writing historical fiction, so she would greatly enjoy hearing from readers.
Amanda lives in the Pacific Northwest with her officer and a gentleman husband and their two remarkably active, naturally brilliant children. They share their home with two fiendishly destructive cats and one lazy dog.
The Highlander’s Series represents Amanda's first venture into writing historical fiction, so she would greatly enjoy hearing from readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 25, 2014
This was the story and relationship I’ve been waiting for since the first book of the Marriage Mart series. Don’t get me wrong, the love stories for Grant/Genie and Thornton/Harriet were entertaining, but from their first meeting I was hooked on seeing the Duke of Marchford and Miss Penelope Rose fall in love. There were sparks between these two characters, sometimes not the good kind, which laid the groundwork for a contentious courtship and a great read.
Their love story has been building throughout the series, with small hints as to where the author was leading. In the earliest days of their relationship, Marchford was intrigued by Penelope when she was bold enough to chastise him for forgetting his grandmother at a church after a wedding. Originally bringing her into his household to run interference between himself and his grandmother, things grew into a partnership as Penelope showed her intelligence and skill at gaining information for Marchford’s investigations. Working together to root out spies or threats to England within the high society of London their partnership became a friendship where both Marchford and Penelope could be themselves away from the prying eyes of the ton.
I loved watching as Marchford has to come to terms with the fact that he’s already in love with Penelope but won’t allow himself to admit it. When she’s no longer needed by his grandmother he starts thinking of how to keep her in his life. His attraction to her grows after seeing her literally with her hair down and appreciating there is a beautiful woman hiding underneath the dowdy dress of a companion. Being out of his depth in how to properly woo a lady (and not wanting to admit to feeling for her) Marchford’s idea of courting is ridiculous but makes for some funny scenes.
I liked how Penelope stands fast for what she wants from a relationship with Marchford and risks so much to make him see that love should be as important to him as it is for her. There were a few moments where I think she was pushing too hard for a declaration from Marchford when all of his actions spoke volumes about his heart. Considering the spiritual message that kept cropping up in the story, Penelope should have had Faith in her own love of Marchford and that he would find his way through the walls he’d built up around himself.
I wasn’t as fond of the intrigue plot and some of the personal developments for Marchford that came out of it. It seemed like the sudden appearance of a long missing character was just there to create one more problem when there was enough angst from the personal conflicts. The villains of the story were telegraphed pretty early on and it was a strange turn when one of them tried to turn Penelope’s confusion about her relationship into an opportunity to make her into a courtesan. Perhaps this was included to hide the fact that A Winter Wedding is just shy of being a completely clean romance? Unfortunately the dangers were needed to force one character into confronting their fears and gain insight into themselves. Things wrap up in a big way and it all leads to a happy ending that made me smile.
**Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
Their love story has been building throughout the series, with small hints as to where the author was leading. In the earliest days of their relationship, Marchford was intrigued by Penelope when she was bold enough to chastise him for forgetting his grandmother at a church after a wedding. Originally bringing her into his household to run interference between himself and his grandmother, things grew into a partnership as Penelope showed her intelligence and skill at gaining information for Marchford’s investigations. Working together to root out spies or threats to England within the high society of London their partnership became a friendship where both Marchford and Penelope could be themselves away from the prying eyes of the ton.
I loved watching as Marchford has to come to terms with the fact that he’s already in love with Penelope but won’t allow himself to admit it. When she’s no longer needed by his grandmother he starts thinking of how to keep her in his life. His attraction to her grows after seeing her literally with her hair down and appreciating there is a beautiful woman hiding underneath the dowdy dress of a companion. Being out of his depth in how to properly woo a lady (and not wanting to admit to feeling for her) Marchford’s idea of courting is ridiculous but makes for some funny scenes.
I liked how Penelope stands fast for what she wants from a relationship with Marchford and risks so much to make him see that love should be as important to him as it is for her. There were a few moments where I think she was pushing too hard for a declaration from Marchford when all of his actions spoke volumes about his heart. Considering the spiritual message that kept cropping up in the story, Penelope should have had Faith in her own love of Marchford and that he would find his way through the walls he’d built up around himself.
I wasn’t as fond of the intrigue plot and some of the personal developments for Marchford that came out of it. It seemed like the sudden appearance of a long missing character was just there to create one more problem when there was enough angst from the personal conflicts. The villains of the story were telegraphed pretty early on and it was a strange turn when one of them tried to turn Penelope’s confusion about her relationship into an opportunity to make her into a courtesan. Perhaps this was included to hide the fact that A Winter Wedding is just shy of being a completely clean romance? Unfortunately the dangers were needed to force one character into confronting their fears and gain insight into themselves. Things wrap up in a big way and it all leads to a happy ending that made me smile.
**Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
January 12, 2024
We become acquainted with both the Duke of Marchford and Miss Penelope Rose over the first two books of the trilogy. This one wraps it up nicely.
Marchford is an agent for the Foreign Office who has lost his arranged betrothal to another man. Every debutante hounds him non-stop as he is the most eligible man of the London season. While avoiding women, he also attempts to catch French spies. Since he needs a wife but does not want to participate in the search, he hires Madam X to find his match.
Madam X is none other than Marchford's mother's companion Penelope. She has already gained money and popularity by matchmaking other members of the ton. She is attracted to Marchford but will not marry for convenience, only love. Therefore, she attempts to help Marchford both catch spies and find a wife. He turns every prospect down. Finally, these two reach their HEA.
Marchford is an agent for the Foreign Office who has lost his arranged betrothal to another man. Every debutante hounds him non-stop as he is the most eligible man of the London season. While avoiding women, he also attempts to catch French spies. Since he needs a wife but does not want to participate in the search, he hires Madam X to find his match.
Madam X is none other than Marchford's mother's companion Penelope. She has already gained money and popularity by matchmaking other members of the ton. She is attracted to Marchford but will not marry for convenience, only love. Therefore, she attempts to help Marchford both catch spies and find a wife. He turns every prospect down. Finally, these two reach their HEA.
October 20, 2014
Originally posted
HERE
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I’m not sure what to make of this book! I really enjoyed some parts and was frustrated by others. In the end it was trying to be too many things at once, which made it seem very schizophrenic.
I loved the opening few chapters and was looking forward to a mysterious, suspenseful sort of book that gave us a look into the underbelly of Regency society. Sure, the ridiculous fad of having dukes who are also spies just doesn’t seem to be going away, but I was enjoying this one enough that I was willing to overlook it this time.
However, suddenly it seemed the author decided she was writing a wallpaper romance. Interspersed with scenes of mystery and mayhem were some bizarre attempts at humour that didn’t match with the characters at all. One minute they’d be spying at a ball, and the next they’d be making out in a wardrobe to the background sounds of a courtesan having sex. Another moment they’d be making a secret trip to the East End, and the next the hero would be setting geese and swans loose in the house.
I was jumping back and forth between really enjoying the read and being hugely frustrated with it. The first half was stronger than the second, where the plotline became really muddled with too many ideas. The whole secret matchmaker career, for example, was unnecessary in an already overcrowded book.
Some attempts were made to make the characters sound English, (exclamations of Capital! and Quite! at various intervals), but the author made the common mistake of assuming British English is the same as US English – just posher. It couldn’t be further from the truth, and some more care with English grammar and terminology wouldn’t have gone amiss. Additionally, anyways is not a word that should be spoken in ANY version of English!
You also had your stereotypical mean French characters (hate that cliché!), some quoting of scripture that made me think I was reading an inspirational romance, and some strange back and forth about the main characters’ emotions. One moment they were in love and getting married, and the next they were considering other options. It didn’t seem at all like a legitimate conflict for the relationship.
I also became annoyed at how much moaning and groaning the heroine did because all the other women she knew were pretty blondes and she had brown hair.
I would be willing to try more of this author’s work, but I’d really like it if an editor worked on fine-tuning the story and getting to the bottom of the plot first.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
I’m not sure what to make of this book! I really enjoyed some parts and was frustrated by others. In the end it was trying to be too many things at once, which made it seem very schizophrenic.
I loved the opening few chapters and was looking forward to a mysterious, suspenseful sort of book that gave us a look into the underbelly of Regency society. Sure, the ridiculous fad of having dukes who are also spies just doesn’t seem to be going away, but I was enjoying this one enough that I was willing to overlook it this time.
However, suddenly it seemed the author decided she was writing a wallpaper romance. Interspersed with scenes of mystery and mayhem were some bizarre attempts at humour that didn’t match with the characters at all. One minute they’d be spying at a ball, and the next they’d be making out in a wardrobe to the background sounds of a courtesan having sex. Another moment they’d be making a secret trip to the East End, and the next the hero would be setting geese and swans loose in the house.
I was jumping back and forth between really enjoying the read and being hugely frustrated with it. The first half was stronger than the second, where the plotline became really muddled with too many ideas. The whole secret matchmaker career, for example, was unnecessary in an already overcrowded book.
Some attempts were made to make the characters sound English, (exclamations of Capital! and Quite! at various intervals), but the author made the common mistake of assuming British English is the same as US English – just posher. It couldn’t be further from the truth, and some more care with English grammar and terminology wouldn’t have gone amiss. Additionally, anyways is not a word that should be spoken in ANY version of English!
You also had your stereotypical mean French characters (hate that cliché!), some quoting of scripture that made me think I was reading an inspirational romance, and some strange back and forth about the main characters’ emotions. One moment they were in love and getting married, and the next they were considering other options. It didn’t seem at all like a legitimate conflict for the relationship.
I also became annoyed at how much moaning and groaning the heroine did because all the other women she knew were pretty blondes and she had brown hair.
I would be willing to try more of this author’s work, but I’d really like it if an editor worked on fine-tuning the story and getting to the bottom of the plot first.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
October 26, 2016
2.5 stars
Not awful, and definitely better than some HRs, but let down by banalities.
“You cannot do this,” said Penelope firmly. “Even you cannot be so cruel, so utterly devoid of human feeling. Every fiber in your being must cry out against such inhuman cruelty.”
Mebbe.
Not awful, and definitely better than some HRs, but let down by banalities.
“You cannot do this,” said Penelope firmly. “Even you cannot be so cruel, so utterly devoid of human feeling. Every fiber in your being must cry out against such inhuman cruelty.”
Mebbe.
August 30, 2014
A Winter Wedding was a complete surprise for me, and exactly what I was looking for on a summer afternoon. This was a witty, lighthearted read, and I did not expect to have as much fun with it as I did. When I read the previous book in the series,
A Midsummer Bride
, I found myself more drawn to the characters of James and Penelope, who were secondary characters, rather than the primary couple who were the focus of the book, so I was quite happy to learn that they would be the hero and heroine in the next installment. Ultimately, I wasn’t overly engaged with A Midsummer Bride, so I didn’t really expect to like A Winter Wedding all that much – but this book was so a delightful read!
Penelope Rose is the middle sister of five, and has always considered herself the least beautiful. After arranging matches for her four sisters, Penelope was left on her own and ended up as a companion to the tyrannical Dowager Duchess Marchford. The two of them have set themselves up as "The Matchmaker" to the ton, Madame X. And as if matchmaking wasn’t enough, Penelope also assists the Dowager’s grandson, the Duke of Marchford, in ferreting out spies hidden amongst the ton. Napoleon's set on creating strife within the British aristocracy, and Marchford is having none of that. Complications arise with both jobs when Marchford asks Penelope to find him a bride, since Penelope refuses to add "wife" to her resume (at least without some romance).
Marchford is tired of being hounded by debutants and their marriage minded mamas, so in desperation he asks Penelope to find him someone suitable after she refuses his joking/serious proposal. He's rather shocked that she says "no" and is now rather taken with the idea of Penelope being his bride. She is a sensible girl, after all. Unfortunately, Penelope and Marchford have bigger fish to fry than bride hunting, a spy’s on the loose and they need to find the culprit before he can destroy parliament. It might just be simpler for Penelope to agree to the proposal...
What really shone in The Winter Wedding was the dialogue between Penelope and James, the Duke. I think it helped that they were already friends and co-conspirators; all they needed was a shove in the right direction. Penelope and James’ back and forth banter was adorable and I loved the sarcasm. These two had the chemistry that I didn’t feel in the previous book. And Penelope and James' relationship had more going for it than basic attraction. Throughout the book you got the sense that they really knew each other and had a mutual respect for the other. So while this was a quieter relationship as opposed to the overt "lusty" romance, it was also very well done and believable.
I also loved the silly elements to this novel. If you’re looking for an angsty read, I don’t recommend this one, you will no like the antics the hero and heroine find themselves in. Don't get me wrong, there were serious elements (ie. the spies), but they didn't overshadow the overall lighthearted tone of the book. For example, there were serious reasons why James didn't want to fall in love, and I do think those could have been examined more, but The Winter Wedding skewed more to the comical than a deep character study. James’ attempts at courtship were adorable and over the top; the lengths that he went to give Penelope her twelve days of Christmas was endearing. Only a duke could get away with that kind of exuberance. And Penelope's ability to remain unflappable in the face of such persistence made them a great match.
This is the perfect pick if you like the silliness and sense of fun from Julia Quinn and Tessa Dare, although A Winter Wedding was on the tamer side in terms of romantic show and tell. Personally, I would have been fine with this being racier, but if you’re someone that blushes easily, this would be a good pick ;)
For similar reads, see The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Penelope Rose is the middle sister of five, and has always considered herself the least beautiful. After arranging matches for her four sisters, Penelope was left on her own and ended up as a companion to the tyrannical Dowager Duchess Marchford. The two of them have set themselves up as "The Matchmaker" to the ton, Madame X. And as if matchmaking wasn’t enough, Penelope also assists the Dowager’s grandson, the Duke of Marchford, in ferreting out spies hidden amongst the ton. Napoleon's set on creating strife within the British aristocracy, and Marchford is having none of that. Complications arise with both jobs when Marchford asks Penelope to find him a bride, since Penelope refuses to add "wife" to her resume (at least without some romance).
Marchford is tired of being hounded by debutants and their marriage minded mamas, so in desperation he asks Penelope to find him someone suitable after she refuses his joking/serious proposal. He's rather shocked that she says "no" and is now rather taken with the idea of Penelope being his bride. She is a sensible girl, after all. Unfortunately, Penelope and Marchford have bigger fish to fry than bride hunting, a spy’s on the loose and they need to find the culprit before he can destroy parliament. It might just be simpler for Penelope to agree to the proposal...
What really shone in The Winter Wedding was the dialogue between Penelope and James, the Duke. I think it helped that they were already friends and co-conspirators; all they needed was a shove in the right direction. Penelope and James’ back and forth banter was adorable and I loved the sarcasm. These two had the chemistry that I didn’t feel in the previous book. And Penelope and James' relationship had more going for it than basic attraction. Throughout the book you got the sense that they really knew each other and had a mutual respect for the other. So while this was a quieter relationship as opposed to the overt "lusty" romance, it was also very well done and believable.
I also loved the silly elements to this novel. If you’re looking for an angsty read, I don’t recommend this one, you will no like the antics the hero and heroine find themselves in. Don't get me wrong, there were serious elements (ie. the spies), but they didn't overshadow the overall lighthearted tone of the book. For example, there were serious reasons why James didn't want to fall in love, and I do think those could have been examined more, but The Winter Wedding skewed more to the comical than a deep character study. James’ attempts at courtship were adorable and over the top; the lengths that he went to give Penelope her twelve days of Christmas was endearing. Only a duke could get away with that kind of exuberance. And Penelope's ability to remain unflappable in the face of such persistence made them a great match.
This is the perfect pick if you like the silliness and sense of fun from Julia Quinn and Tessa Dare, although A Winter Wedding was on the tamer side in terms of romantic show and tell. Personally, I would have been fine with this being racier, but if you’re someone that blushes easily, this would be a good pick ;)
For similar reads, see The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
October 4, 2014
This was my first time reading an Amanda Forester book. I had no idea what to expect. I don't usually read historical romances but wanted to give them a try. The characters were well developed. The writing was good. There were a few too many story lines going on for me, especially since I hadn't read any other books by this author. But I finished the book.
September 14, 2017
I don't generally do book reviews, but the sarcasm and quip between the main characters made this book extremely enjoyable. I found myself snickering and laughing so hard that I was worried I'd wake my husband.
September 1, 2014
Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility. -Anne Hathaway
Penelope Rose sees possibilities as the anonymous matchmaker Madame X. She colloberates with the Dowager Duchess of Marchford while serving as her companion. They engaged in such business to keep them in comfort - the Duchess' grandson, James, cut off her pin money to encourage her to retire to the country. He anticipates that his grandmother would make life difficult for his future Duchess. Yet he sees the value of Miss Rose's ability to see possibilities that is applicable to both matchmaking and spycatching. Despite being a duke, James continues to work for the Foreign Office - a job he held when he was only the spare.
James' easy access to his grandmother's companion is compromised when the Dowager Duchess accepts a marriage proposal from her first love. Likewise, the duke is hounded by managing mamas seeking a ducal match. James enlists Penelope to find him a suitable bride even as she continues to assist him with the Foreign Office. Needless to say, James and Penelope unexpectantly fall in love while dodging society's scorn and Napoleon's operatives.
A WINTER WEDDING is a lighthearted romp through Regency England with humorous banter between the characters, an amusing ode to Christmas traditions, a Peruvian jungle cat who ultimately solves the ongoing mystery, and sweet sexual tension between James and Penelope I commend Forester for walking that fine line of creating passion yet respecting the characters' morals. In fact, the wedding itself is an surprising treat. No spoiler here since the title infers a wedding.
A WINTER WEDDING kept my attention - I read this novel in three days. Although characters from Book 1 appear in A WINTER WEDDING, they stay in the background to allow the romance to develop between James and Penelope. A WINTER WEDDING can be read as a stand alone novel.
Recommended read for fans of Regency England and holiday romances. I received an ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest review.
Penelope Rose sees possibilities as the anonymous matchmaker Madame X. She colloberates with the Dowager Duchess of Marchford while serving as her companion. They engaged in such business to keep them in comfort - the Duchess' grandson, James, cut off her pin money to encourage her to retire to the country. He anticipates that his grandmother would make life difficult for his future Duchess. Yet he sees the value of Miss Rose's ability to see possibilities that is applicable to both matchmaking and spycatching. Despite being a duke, James continues to work for the Foreign Office - a job he held when he was only the spare.
James' easy access to his grandmother's companion is compromised when the Dowager Duchess accepts a marriage proposal from her first love. Likewise, the duke is hounded by managing mamas seeking a ducal match. James enlists Penelope to find him a suitable bride even as she continues to assist him with the Foreign Office. Needless to say, James and Penelope unexpectantly fall in love while dodging society's scorn and Napoleon's operatives.
A WINTER WEDDING is a lighthearted romp through Regency England with humorous banter between the characters, an amusing ode to Christmas traditions, a Peruvian jungle cat who ultimately solves the ongoing mystery, and sweet sexual tension between James and Penelope I commend Forester for walking that fine line of creating passion yet respecting the characters' morals. In fact, the wedding itself is an surprising treat. No spoiler here since the title infers a wedding.
A WINTER WEDDING kept my attention - I read this novel in three days. Although characters from Book 1 appear in A WINTER WEDDING, they stay in the background to allow the romance to develop between James and Penelope. A WINTER WEDDING can be read as a stand alone novel.
Recommended read for fans of Regency England and holiday romances. I received an ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest review.
September 3, 2014
...my true love gave to me!
International plots abound! Traitors are sought! Perilous times are nigh! Napoleon's spy master is lurking. Yet the marriage game continues and Penelope Rose is in the thick of both games. Her 'nom de plume', Madame X is called into more matchmaking for the ton, including the Duke of Marchford.
Until now no task has been too difficult. As companion to Antonia Lockton the Dowager Duchess of Marchford, Pen also assists the duchess's grandson the Duke of Marchford in his work as a spy for crown and country.
This time Marchford wants her help in both capacities, to become his bride and avoid the avid interest of the flocking debutantes and to assist him with a plot that sets the crown and London itself in peril. Pen wants more than Marchford is prepared to offer on the personal level, yet she thrills to the chase with both. And then there's Marchford's attitude towards Christmas! But a wooing he will go, and those 'days of Christmas' certainly bring surprises.
Their story is rife with intrigue, thwarted romance, humour and dark and deadly doings.
A welcome read!
A NetGalley ARC
International plots abound! Traitors are sought! Perilous times are nigh! Napoleon's spy master is lurking. Yet the marriage game continues and Penelope Rose is in the thick of both games. Her 'nom de plume', Madame X is called into more matchmaking for the ton, including the Duke of Marchford.
Until now no task has been too difficult. As companion to Antonia Lockton the Dowager Duchess of Marchford, Pen also assists the duchess's grandson the Duke of Marchford in his work as a spy for crown and country.
This time Marchford wants her help in both capacities, to become his bride and avoid the avid interest of the flocking debutantes and to assist him with a plot that sets the crown and London itself in peril. Pen wants more than Marchford is prepared to offer on the personal level, yet she thrills to the chase with both. And then there's Marchford's attitude towards Christmas! But a wooing he will go, and those 'days of Christmas' certainly bring surprises.
Their story is rife with intrigue, thwarted romance, humour and dark and deadly doings.
A welcome read!
A NetGalley ARC
September 2, 2015
I loved the first two books in this series and was looking forward to the potential of James and Penelope. And did Amanda Forester hit the ball out of the park on this one!
The chemistry between James and Penelope was incredible and the espionage plotline was engaging. What was very entertaining was that James didn't seem to find anything wrong with trusting Penelope not just with information but also with her actions. It was very progressive considering when it is set. Also, the fear he feels when she's in danger is very authentic.
This is one of the few Regency romances where I really want to see the characters again.
The chemistry between James and Penelope was incredible and the espionage plotline was engaging. What was very entertaining was that James didn't seem to find anything wrong with trusting Penelope not just with information but also with her actions. It was very progressive considering when it is set. Also, the fear he feels when she's in danger is very authentic.
This is one of the few Regency romances where I really want to see the characters again.
October 15, 2015
Great ending to these stories. Enjoyed the story of Penelope and her Duke. Spies, murder and mayhem. Lots of adventure in these books.
June 10, 2018
Decent story with spy mystery thrown in. There are a couple of nice twists, not all at the end.
I had high hopes for the story of Penelope and James. We had been teased with these two in the two previous books. There was a little too much yes and no between these two. James thinks there is no way he'll ever marry. And he goes back and forth. Pen thinks she can't marry without him loving her, but then she goes back and forth. One of the things I liked about Pen was that she was so intelligent and yes sensible. She was sensible, but with a romantic streak. But in this book, at times she was a silly teenager. There was also too much threatening to ruin each other by one seducing the other with sex and by both of them. It got old.
For the kind of man James was supposed to be, he was pretty easily distracted by lust. At times he completely forgot about spies threatening England.
There were scenes of complete silliness and the humor came through for much of it, but the silliness also pushed almost to the extreme.
I still think that 1811 is past the point where Napoleon could have seriously thought about invading England because England clearly controlled the seas.
There were hints in the earlier books, but here we have main characters talking (in their heads) about and relying on their faith in God. It is not quite like the preachy Christian romances, but there is a little bit of it here. Pen was raised with a strong faith.
There are really no mature themes except for some very mildly explicit sex and some humorous brief references to S&M.
I had high hopes for the story of Penelope and James. We had been teased with these two in the two previous books. There was a little too much yes and no between these two. James thinks there is no way he'll ever marry. And he goes back and forth. Pen thinks she can't marry without him loving her, but then she goes back and forth. One of the things I liked about Pen was that she was so intelligent and yes sensible. She was sensible, but with a romantic streak. But in this book, at times she was a silly teenager. There was also too much threatening to ruin each other by one seducing the other with sex and by both of them. It got old.
For the kind of man James was supposed to be, he was pretty easily distracted by lust. At times he completely forgot about spies threatening England.
There were scenes of complete silliness and the humor came through for much of it, but the silliness also pushed almost to the extreme.
I still think that 1811 is past the point where Napoleon could have seriously thought about invading England because England clearly controlled the seas.
There were hints in the earlier books, but here we have main characters talking (in their heads) about and relying on their faith in God. It is not quite like the preachy Christian romances, but there is a little bit of it here. Pen was raised with a strong faith.
There are really no mature themes except for some very mildly explicit sex and some humorous brief references to S&M.
December 11, 2018
This reminded me of a writer who wanted to write a Christian Romance but didn’t want to write a Hallmark romance (G-rated only). This is cleaner than more romance novels, so grab it if you want that, and the premise is pretty decent.
The story begins not at first meeting but after they couple has known each other well for a year. So their romance has more depth—he really does know her, has worked with her and vice versa.
The religious references were surprising but not easily moved past should that not be your flavor and very minimal impact on the story or the character.
The story begins not at first meeting but after they couple has known each other well for a year. So their romance has more depth—he really does know her, has worked with her and vice versa.
The religious references were surprising but not easily moved past should that not be your flavor and very minimal impact on the story or the character.
July 23, 2019
Finally we get to Penelope and the Duke of Marchford. You see the growing interest throughout the series and how well they work together in catching spies. Penelope won't marry for less then love even though they may be forced to wed. All the characters return including Lady Kate and her twin brother Lord Darrington from "If the Earl only knew". This time it is Madame X who gets her match in this story.
August 26, 2018
I like heroine's who want to take care of themselves rather than expecting to marry. I enjoyed the twists in this book and since I have read some of her other books, I got to see some of those characters briefly in here. The spy plot was interesting even if it was a little over the top at the end. I won't put in a spoiler, but I did enjoy who was the spymaster.
March 9, 2018
We’ve followed Penelope and Marchford for three books. Their story is the anchor to all the stories. I had a little trouble because there were times where the continuity seemed screwed up. But I once again thoroughly enjoyed the story and the intrigue.
February 12, 2019
Fun to read!
I liked how the story included a potential bride that was considered a lower class stand up for herself and her beliefs in the year 1810. Brave and fearless and willing to fight for her own value during these tempting times and tempting situations.
I liked how the story included a potential bride that was considered a lower class stand up for herself and her beliefs in the year 1810. Brave and fearless and willing to fight for her own value during these tempting times and tempting situations.
July 14, 2021
This is the 6th book of hers I've read. They're all okay stories, but the weird holy commercials are so jarring. There 4 or 5 Jesus references sprinkled in at random, complete with scriptures. If I was looking for a Bible study, it wouldn't be in this format.
July 25, 2017
Finally! Against all odds. The Duke marries the commoner. Life imitates art or is it the other way round. Couldn't put it down even though I knew the ending. Thoroughly nasty spy
February 13, 2019
i really felt like i was missing the background from the series - while it could be a stand-alone, i don't recommend it
April 21, 2019
Lord Admiral?
As best I can determine, the military rank comes first, then the title, as in, Admiral the Viscount Horatio Nelson. Otherwise a well plotted and exciting take.
As best I can determine, the military rank comes first, then the title, as in, Admiral the Viscount Horatio Nelson. Otherwise a well plotted and exciting take.
October 3, 2019
It was really cute and left me with a wide smile! I liked it a lot!
August 7, 2020
Awesome
Very easy quick read. Alot of humorous spots. Great characters . I really enjoyed all 3 of the books immensely.
Very easy quick read. Alot of humorous spots. Great characters . I really enjoyed all 3 of the books immensely.
February 11, 2022
Last of the series and well written
July 22, 2022
Absolutely loved this book. Full of romance, humor and adventure. A really good Series.
August 12, 2023
This was a great end to the series. I have been looking forward to their story. I found myself constantly with a smile on my face.
October 22, 2016
Fast moving fun read.
Nice ending to the series . Entertaining with a bit of humor and a good love story . The mystery could have had more depth.
Nice ending to the series . Entertaining with a bit of humor and a good love story . The mystery could have had more depth.
March 19, 2023
The pacing and writing was really uneven, it felt like parts of this were written before the other books even though it's last in the series. In particular, there were plot points that seemed to miss what had happened in the second book.
August 31, 2014
An arrogant Duke gets TOTALLY SERVED by his grandma's gutsy companion, who goes toe-to-toe with all the spy baddies!
When Society looks at Miss Penelope Rose, they see the Dowager Duchess of Marchford's companion, but in fact she is the brains behind Madame X, London's matchmaker extraordinaire. Pen used a copy of Debrett's & filled it with all the facts concerning the peerage, their titles, money, family & estates for marriage, when hubby hunting of her 4 sisters. When the Dowager Duchess found Pen's copy of Debrett's, they hatched Madame X & used this book together to make money, since the Duke of Marchford cut off his grandma's allowance.
James Lockton, the Duke of Marchford, has been dubbed "The Spy Catcher" in England, but he can't seem to get his grandma to leave London. He cut her allowance, but she is still around, posing as Madame X's helper & making his life a living HADES, but she did bring Penelope into his live. James didn't mean to bring her into his world of intrigue, but she is such a helpful partner to have.
Everything changes when the crusty Dowager Duchess accepts Lord Langley's proposal, so Pen life is about to change for better & worse. James unexpectedly see Pen with her luscious, tempting & gorgeous hair down & HE WANTS HER & can't get that image of her sexiness out of his head! These 2 continuous work together to find the unknown Spymaster that is in London, but James keeps craving her & they are caught kissing, but he deliveries the worst proposal of marriage in the history of England & London believes they are engaged.
Now that they are supposedly engaged (which Pen will deny), they can still be partners hunting for the spies. Pen wants what she gave her sister, LOVE, but James doesn't believe in love & happily ever after. As they discover clues & work together, James can't stop kissing her panties off & Pen keeps caving into her desires for his yummy body. With a ball ending in an explosion, some Madame X matchmaking, Pen's sinful hair tempting her Duke, the Dowager Duchess scheming ways, the huge dog-cat Miles leading to answers, a reappearance of a lost family member, another super bad wedding proposal by James, spy baddies galore, the abigail named Abigail who pushes sexy nighties on Pen, James' wandering lips & the wicked Spymaster is finally in their crosshairs to take this kooky & quirky courtship to the next level. Will they be happily ever after or will Pen be alone forever? Will James ever learn his proposal must be made from his heart? Can Pen let her hair do her talking & seduce her big idiot Duke? Who is the Spymaster? Will Pen be ummasked as Madame X?
This is book #3 of the Marriage Mart series & I am sad that this series is over. Pen was introduced in book #1 & she never failed to take James down a few pegs. I love a story about an arrogant Duke who must lower is title shield & learn to speak from his heart. James was a product of a unhappy childhood by his grandma & her scheming ways. Pen was such a giver, but she needed to learn to TAKE! I read the book #1 & it was filled with hilariousness, but Ms. Forester added a spicy mixture of spies, conspiracies & intrigue flavor to this story & it worked so well. Any heroine who takes on a Duke & wins is my kind of woman. Ms. Forester built a lot of sexual tension, but not enough "JUST DO IT" moments for me until the end. Even thou this book is in a series it does stand alone all by itself & whets your appetite for more of Marriage Mart silliness! I give Ms. Forester a score of 4 fingers up & 9 toes for this romance tale that has an amazing looney filled cast of characters. I must think by daughter's friends for the word usages of LOONEY & TOTALLY SERVED!
NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.
When Society looks at Miss Penelope Rose, they see the Dowager Duchess of Marchford's companion, but in fact she is the brains behind Madame X, London's matchmaker extraordinaire. Pen used a copy of Debrett's & filled it with all the facts concerning the peerage, their titles, money, family & estates for marriage, when hubby hunting of her 4 sisters. When the Dowager Duchess found Pen's copy of Debrett's, they hatched Madame X & used this book together to make money, since the Duke of Marchford cut off his grandma's allowance.
James Lockton, the Duke of Marchford, has been dubbed "The Spy Catcher" in England, but he can't seem to get his grandma to leave London. He cut her allowance, but she is still around, posing as Madame X's helper & making his life a living HADES, but she did bring Penelope into his live. James didn't mean to bring her into his world of intrigue, but she is such a helpful partner to have.
Everything changes when the crusty Dowager Duchess accepts Lord Langley's proposal, so Pen life is about to change for better & worse. James unexpectedly see Pen with her luscious, tempting & gorgeous hair down & HE WANTS HER & can't get that image of her sexiness out of his head! These 2 continuous work together to find the unknown Spymaster that is in London, but James keeps craving her & they are caught kissing, but he deliveries the worst proposal of marriage in the history of England & London believes they are engaged.
Now that they are supposedly engaged (which Pen will deny), they can still be partners hunting for the spies. Pen wants what she gave her sister, LOVE, but James doesn't believe in love & happily ever after. As they discover clues & work together, James can't stop kissing her panties off & Pen keeps caving into her desires for his yummy body. With a ball ending in an explosion, some Madame X matchmaking, Pen's sinful hair tempting her Duke, the Dowager Duchess scheming ways, the huge dog-cat Miles leading to answers, a reappearance of a lost family member, another super bad wedding proposal by James, spy baddies galore, the abigail named Abigail who pushes sexy nighties on Pen, James' wandering lips & the wicked Spymaster is finally in their crosshairs to take this kooky & quirky courtship to the next level. Will they be happily ever after or will Pen be alone forever? Will James ever learn his proposal must be made from his heart? Can Pen let her hair do her talking & seduce her big idiot Duke? Who is the Spymaster? Will Pen be ummasked as Madame X?
This is book #3 of the Marriage Mart series & I am sad that this series is over. Pen was introduced in book #1 & she never failed to take James down a few pegs. I love a story about an arrogant Duke who must lower is title shield & learn to speak from his heart. James was a product of a unhappy childhood by his grandma & her scheming ways. Pen was such a giver, but she needed to learn to TAKE! I read the book #1 & it was filled with hilariousness, but Ms. Forester added a spicy mixture of spies, conspiracies & intrigue flavor to this story & it worked so well. Any heroine who takes on a Duke & wins is my kind of woman. Ms. Forester built a lot of sexual tension, but not enough "JUST DO IT" moments for me until the end. Even thou this book is in a series it does stand alone all by itself & whets your appetite for more of Marriage Mart silliness! I give Ms. Forester a score of 4 fingers up & 9 toes for this romance tale that has an amazing looney filled cast of characters. I must think by daughter's friends for the word usages of LOONEY & TOTALLY SERVED!
NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.
September 16, 2014
posted: http:ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com and
http//booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com
This was my first time reading Amanda Forester so I was not sure what to expect. I can gladly say that A Winter Wedding (Marriage Mart #3) was a book that I enjoyed! I thought that her writing was easy to follow, her plot was very well developed and well-driven throughout. Finally, I really enjoyed the main characters and the secondary characters.
Since this is the third book in the series there might have been details that I missed but it did not stop me from enjoying it. Penelope has sisters and they were the focus in the prior books. Although the sisters appear in this book they play a small part.
Miss Penelope Rose was a fantastic character. I thought that she really carried the story. Pen is a jack-of -all -trades. She is the companion to Antonia Lockton, Dowager Duchess of Marchford. Although Pen is a part of the ton because of her age and her single status she is left with no respectable option than to become a companion. Antonia’s grandson is James, The Duke of Marchford. The Duke of Marchford is society’s biggest catch. The problem is that Marchford works for the Crown catching spies and on different missions. Since women are always throwing themselves at him it stops him from being able to carry out his duties as effectively as he can. Pen is also his “assistance”. She is very clever and often helps him spy on people that he suspects are up to no good. Aside from these two duties, she and Antonia match up couples under the name Madame X. Different members in society pay Madame X to match them up.
Pen and James are a great couple. They are friends because Pen is his grandma’s companion and because of this they spend a lot of time together. James asks Pen to marry him very early in the story because he thinks it will be the answer to both their problems. James won’t have to avoid the single ladies of the ton and Pen will no longer have to leave- Antonia is getting married to her first love.
Pen and James have great adventures since they are always trying to figure out who the sinister characters are- and there are some very sinister characters. This spy aspect of the story really made the story fun and their dynamic more adventurous.
Some issues I had with this book are: 1) it has very little to do with matchmaking. The description of the story makes it sound like Pen tries to find a wife for Marchford, this is a very tiny almost non-existent part of the story. 2) James has commitment issues. Since his mother abandoned him years ago, that is why he lives with his grandma. I thought that the author really played his mother’s role very well and I was completely surprised with how she appeared in the story. 3) The first 70 % of the books was fantastic. There is a mix of romance and espionage. The problem was the last 30 % of the book. Besides the many different storylines going on, I thought that the author added too much. It was became more about spying. Also, James and Pen kept wanting to marry and not marry. This became very redundant. Two characters that remained true to character were Pen and Antonia. They had a fun dynamic all throughout. Overall, I do recommend this story and enjoyed it.
http//booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com
This was my first time reading Amanda Forester so I was not sure what to expect. I can gladly say that A Winter Wedding (Marriage Mart #3) was a book that I enjoyed! I thought that her writing was easy to follow, her plot was very well developed and well-driven throughout. Finally, I really enjoyed the main characters and the secondary characters.
Since this is the third book in the series there might have been details that I missed but it did not stop me from enjoying it. Penelope has sisters and they were the focus in the prior books. Although the sisters appear in this book they play a small part.
Miss Penelope Rose was a fantastic character. I thought that she really carried the story. Pen is a jack-of -all -trades. She is the companion to Antonia Lockton, Dowager Duchess of Marchford. Although Pen is a part of the ton because of her age and her single status she is left with no respectable option than to become a companion. Antonia’s grandson is James, The Duke of Marchford. The Duke of Marchford is society’s biggest catch. The problem is that Marchford works for the Crown catching spies and on different missions. Since women are always throwing themselves at him it stops him from being able to carry out his duties as effectively as he can. Pen is also his “assistance”. She is very clever and often helps him spy on people that he suspects are up to no good. Aside from these two duties, she and Antonia match up couples under the name Madame X. Different members in society pay Madame X to match them up.
Pen and James are a great couple. They are friends because Pen is his grandma’s companion and because of this they spend a lot of time together. James asks Pen to marry him very early in the story because he thinks it will be the answer to both their problems. James won’t have to avoid the single ladies of the ton and Pen will no longer have to leave- Antonia is getting married to her first love.
Pen and James have great adventures since they are always trying to figure out who the sinister characters are- and there are some very sinister characters. This spy aspect of the story really made the story fun and their dynamic more adventurous.
Some issues I had with this book are: 1) it has very little to do with matchmaking. The description of the story makes it sound like Pen tries to find a wife for Marchford, this is a very tiny almost non-existent part of the story. 2) James has commitment issues. Since his mother abandoned him years ago, that is why he lives with his grandma. I thought that the author really played his mother’s role very well and I was completely surprised with how she appeared in the story. 3) The first 70 % of the books was fantastic. There is a mix of romance and espionage. The problem was the last 30 % of the book. Besides the many different storylines going on, I thought that the author added too much. It was became more about spying. Also, James and Pen kept wanting to marry and not marry. This became very redundant. Two characters that remained true to character were Pen and Antonia. They had a fun dynamic all throughout. Overall, I do recommend this story and enjoyed it.
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