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Vanquished by a Viscount
When newlywed Lord and Lady Essendon invite their respective families and friends to spend the summer at their country estate, no one suspects that the groom’s brother, Mr. Grayson Hawthorne, and the bride’s brother, Lord Charles Aspenden, Viscount Broxbourne, have a history together…and that history isn’t good.
The two former lovers are at each other’s throat almost from the moment the party begins. But when the bride and groom have a falling out that could end both families’ chances for lasting happiness, it’s up to Grayson and Charlie to either patch things up between the bride and groom or split them up and go their own separate ways for good. Which will it be?
The two former lovers are at each other’s throat almost from the moment the party begins. But when the bride and groom have a falling out that could end both families’ chances for lasting happiness, it’s up to Grayson and Charlie to either patch things up between the bride and groom or split them up and go their own separate ways for good. Which will it be?
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2025
19 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Merry Farmer
290 books1,137 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Merry Farmer lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Justine and Peter. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. Her books have reached the top of Amazon's charts, and have been named finalists for several prestigious awards, including the RONE Award for indie romance.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 11, 2025
When newlywed Lord and Lady Felcourt invite their respective families and friends to spend the summer at their country estate, Hawthorne House, no one suspects that the groom’s brother, Mr. Grayson Hawthorne, and the bride’s brother, Lord Charles Aspenden, Viscount Broxbourne, have a history together. The two former lovers are at each other’s throat almost from the moment the party begins.
The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own I loved both Charles & Gray who’d had a relationship whilst at Cambridge which Charles ended but they’ve never forgotten each other even though they hate each other don’t they? The chemistry was off the scale, the banter & sniping wonderful. Throw in a house party with newly weds being at odds, a young woman determinedly chasing a doctor & I was one very happy reader. Also it all took place at Hawthorne House – Robert being an ancestor of the Hawthorne’s featured in another series of the author. It was steamy, it was humorous, it had wonderful characters & was unputdownable
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own I loved both Charles & Gray who’d had a relationship whilst at Cambridge which Charles ended but they’ve never forgotten each other even though they hate each other don’t they? The chemistry was off the scale, the banter & sniping wonderful. Throw in a house party with newly weds being at odds, a young woman determinedly chasing a doctor & I was one very happy reader. Also it all took place at Hawthorne House – Robert being an ancestor of the Hawthorne’s featured in another series of the author. It was steamy, it was humorous, it had wonderful characters & was unputdownable
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
August 25, 2025
Vanquished by a Viscount is the third book in the ‘Tales from the Brotherhood’ series. It stars Grayson Hawthorne, and Lord Charles ‘Charlie’ Aspenden, Viscount Broxbourne. This is told in third person from Grayson and Charles’ povs.
I like the cover on this book. I’m not sure who the cover is supposed to be, but I’m guessing it’s Charlie.
The blurb does a good job of explaining the plot and the conflicts so I won’t go over it. The tropes in this are: enemies-to-lovers, second chances, and forced proximity. There is a HEA.
The author did a good job of drawing me into the story and creating an atmosphere I could believe in. The characters also had distinct personalities. The party guests were mostly annoying, especially Lady Eudora who was determined to catch Pettigrew into marriage for his money. I don’t know why none of the women didn’t pull her aside and tell her to stop with her atrocious behavior. Or why none of the men warned Pettigrew to not be caught alone with her. He knew, but still made that mistake. No one seemed to have the decency to do anything to help anyone else unless they were already friends, like Howard with Grayson.
Barbara, Charlie’s younger sister now married to Robert Hawthorne, behaved like a child playing at house and parties. Robert and Grayson were brothers and the inheritors of Hawthorne House which is part of another series, ‘The Art of Love,’ the author wrote. As to the main characters, I disliked Charlie. He was self-centered on his image, status, and Barbara’s honor and status. He tossed Gray aside callously without an explanation because he panicked, and really because he thought only of himself and Barbara. He didn’t care how his actions affected Gray. I don’t care how young they were. Even as an adult, Charlie was focused on how he or Barbara felt. He didn’t like that Gray ended up traveling the world and living a hedonistic lifestyle. Charlie repeatedly called Gray a wh**re and thought Gray was disgusting for living that lifestyle. He broke Gray’s heart, but expected Gray to stay loyal to him. Charlie even expected that Gray would have gotten over what happened when they met again at Hawthorne House so they could pick up where they left off. Charlie’s completely obtuse on what he did to Gray, and only thought his own feelings were relevant. Gray’s actions after the breakup were predictable and normal as Howard told Gray, but Gray felt guilty because of Charlie’s accusations. So again, Charlie thinks only of how he felt and not how his actions and words hurt Gray. Gray was the more mature of the pair. Charlie never comes out to explain why he broke up with Gray, but Gray figured it out through things Charlie said, and Gray did that multiple times in the story. It was always Gray who had to figure out why Charlie was upset and then forgive him while Charlie just moped, threw jealous fits, and never tried to understand Gray. Charlie was a petulant child even as an adult. To me, Charlie was a difficult person that Gray had to walk on eggshells around so as not to offend or hurt Charlie’s feelings. Charlie had no right to feel jealous of Gray or upset at his past because Charlie set him up for that path. I didn’t like Charlie and that affected my enjoyment of this book. I did like Gray, however. I thought Howard was amusing although a bit heartless with his desire not to be attached to anyone. I believe the author is thinking of writing a Christmas story about Howard and I’d love to see how that turns out.
Overall, I liked the plot of Vanquished by a Viscount, but I found the people at the party annoying, Barbara childish, and Charlie selfish. I liked Robert and Grayson. My dislike of Charlie as a character is what mostly affects my star rating for this book. I give this, 4 Stars.
I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I like the cover on this book. I’m not sure who the cover is supposed to be, but I’m guessing it’s Charlie.
The blurb does a good job of explaining the plot and the conflicts so I won’t go over it. The tropes in this are: enemies-to-lovers, second chances, and forced proximity. There is a HEA.
The author did a good job of drawing me into the story and creating an atmosphere I could believe in. The characters also had distinct personalities. The party guests were mostly annoying, especially Lady Eudora who was determined to catch Pettigrew into marriage for his money. I don’t know why none of the women didn’t pull her aside and tell her to stop with her atrocious behavior. Or why none of the men warned Pettigrew to not be caught alone with her. He knew, but still made that mistake. No one seemed to have the decency to do anything to help anyone else unless they were already friends, like Howard with Grayson.
Barbara, Charlie’s younger sister now married to Robert Hawthorne, behaved like a child playing at house and parties. Robert and Grayson were brothers and the inheritors of Hawthorne House which is part of another series, ‘The Art of Love,’ the author wrote. As to the main characters, I disliked Charlie. He was self-centered on his image, status, and Barbara’s honor and status. He tossed Gray aside callously without an explanation because he panicked, and really because he thought only of himself and Barbara. He didn’t care how his actions affected Gray. I don’t care how young they were. Even as an adult, Charlie was focused on how he or Barbara felt. He didn’t like that Gray ended up traveling the world and living a hedonistic lifestyle. Charlie repeatedly called Gray a wh**re and thought Gray was disgusting for living that lifestyle. He broke Gray’s heart, but expected Gray to stay loyal to him. Charlie even expected that Gray would have gotten over what happened when they met again at Hawthorne House so they could pick up where they left off. Charlie’s completely obtuse on what he did to Gray, and only thought his own feelings were relevant. Gray’s actions after the breakup were predictable and normal as Howard told Gray, but Gray felt guilty because of Charlie’s accusations. So again, Charlie thinks only of how he felt and not how his actions and words hurt Gray. Gray was the more mature of the pair. Charlie never comes out to explain why he broke up with Gray, but Gray figured it out through things Charlie said, and Gray did that multiple times in the story. It was always Gray who had to figure out why Charlie was upset and then forgive him while Charlie just moped, threw jealous fits, and never tried to understand Gray. Charlie was a petulant child even as an adult. To me, Charlie was a difficult person that Gray had to walk on eggshells around so as not to offend or hurt Charlie’s feelings. Charlie had no right to feel jealous of Gray or upset at his past because Charlie set him up for that path. I didn’t like Charlie and that affected my enjoyment of this book. I did like Gray, however. I thought Howard was amusing although a bit heartless with his desire not to be attached to anyone. I believe the author is thinking of writing a Christmas story about Howard and I’d love to see how that turns out.
Overall, I liked the plot of Vanquished by a Viscount, but I found the people at the party annoying, Barbara childish, and Charlie selfish. I liked Robert and Grayson. My dislike of Charlie as a character is what mostly affects my star rating for this book. I give this, 4 Stars.
I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 27, 2025
I really enjoy the Tales of the Brotherhood books, and the tie-in to Hawthorne House was a nice connection to the Art of Love series set in modern times at Hawthorne House, now a family residence and art community/school. In this book, the setting is the 1800s and Grayson is a Hawthorne, a “spare” to his brother Robert, Earl of Felcourt, brother-in-law to Barbara who is the sister of Charlie, Viscount Broxbourne, and the former love of Gray’s life. Seven years ago Charlie dismissed Gray from his life with no real explanation, and Gray has hated him ever since. The first time Charlie and Gray saw each other again was at Barbara and Robert’s wedding six months ago. At that time, they were able to avoid each other fairly successfully, but now both are at Hawthorne House for a month long house party, and avoiding each other is much more difficult, especially when Barbara is determined to throw them together so they reconnect and renew their relationship. Getting over past hurts and miscommunications, as well as hedonistic behaviors by Gray over the last seven years does little to bring the two together, but the old spark has never died, and the pull between them is strong, even though both try to fight it for awhile.
Characters are a variety of interesting and engaging personalities: Charlie and Gray have this on-again/off-again thing going on, hot then cold, then hot again; Barbara is younger than Charlie, was pretty sheltered in her teens, and is now a married woman acting very childishly in many ways with tantrums and pushing her husband away while trying to hostess a large house party; poor Dr. Pettigrew is trying to avoid the attentions of Lady Eudora, and Gray has to confront a man from his past if he has any chance of being with Charlie long term. It was easy to picture all of the goings on between the various family and party guests, sort of like sitting back to watch a comedy from the sidelines with laughter and smiles. The attitudes of the times toward homosexuality are addressed in passing, so Charlie and Gray’s relationship does not come without its own complications which must be considered as they look toward a future together.
The book is largely very entertaining with some serious parts, too. I laughed during the carriage incident, cringed at Gray and Charlie in the attic and the storage shed when they were caught, rolled my eyes at Lady Eudora’s blatant flirting and trying to entice her “suitor” into a compromising position to force a marriage, and smiled at Howard and his effect on the gay men in the household. I enjoyed the book and look forward to Dr. Pettigrew’s story, the last book in the series. If you enjoy historical series romances, these are fun ones to read.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
Characters are a variety of interesting and engaging personalities: Charlie and Gray have this on-again/off-again thing going on, hot then cold, then hot again; Barbara is younger than Charlie, was pretty sheltered in her teens, and is now a married woman acting very childishly in many ways with tantrums and pushing her husband away while trying to hostess a large house party; poor Dr. Pettigrew is trying to avoid the attentions of Lady Eudora, and Gray has to confront a man from his past if he has any chance of being with Charlie long term. It was easy to picture all of the goings on between the various family and party guests, sort of like sitting back to watch a comedy from the sidelines with laughter and smiles. The attitudes of the times toward homosexuality are addressed in passing, so Charlie and Gray’s relationship does not come without its own complications which must be considered as they look toward a future together.
The book is largely very entertaining with some serious parts, too. I laughed during the carriage incident, cringed at Gray and Charlie in the attic and the storage shed when they were caught, rolled my eyes at Lady Eudora’s blatant flirting and trying to entice her “suitor” into a compromising position to force a marriage, and smiled at Howard and his effect on the gay men in the household. I enjoyed the book and look forward to Dr. Pettigrew’s story, the last book in the series. If you enjoy historical series romances, these are fun ones to read.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
August 12, 2025
This is an enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance.
Gray and Charlie - oil and water and add some explosives to it. After Charlie's less than gentle dumping of Gray at university, Gray is determind never to like or interact with Charlie ever again.
Too bad that their respective siblings just married and Charlie's sister is dragging both into her houseparty.
Add a quarrel between the newly weds, a woman on the hunt for a groom, really bad weather, "I hate you but I still desire you" scenes and Gray's plan that even if they will never reconcile, they can still let off steam together, and you have a tale where you know more will go wrong than anyone thought.
Houseparty books are not my favourite setting but these two make it interesting.
These two are cute together even when at each other's throat.
I love how the household staff is well aware what is happening between these two and how Barbara and Robert are just accepting their love.
There is a link between Robert and the modern Art of Love books as this book is set in the Hawthorne Manor as Robert is the ancestor of the current family.
I can't wait for the tale of the good doctor who needs to run to save his skin.
Gray and Charlie - oil and water and add some explosives to it. After Charlie's less than gentle dumping of Gray at university, Gray is determind never to like or interact with Charlie ever again.
Too bad that their respective siblings just married and Charlie's sister is dragging both into her houseparty.
Add a quarrel between the newly weds, a woman on the hunt for a groom, really bad weather, "I hate you but I still desire you" scenes and Gray's plan that even if they will never reconcile, they can still let off steam together, and you have a tale where you know more will go wrong than anyone thought.
Houseparty books are not my favourite setting but these two make it interesting.
These two are cute together even when at each other's throat.
I love how the household staff is well aware what is happening between these two and how Barbara and Robert are just accepting their love.
There is a link between Robert and the modern Art of Love books as this book is set in the Hawthorne Manor as Robert is the ancestor of the current family.
I can't wait for the tale of the good doctor who needs to run to save his skin.
August 28, 2025
Vanquished by a Viscount is the third book in Merry farmer's Tales from the Brotherhood’ series. It's a second chance, former lovers to enemies to lovers tale. Set against the background of an English summer house party, it reunites Mr. Grayson Hawthorne and Lord Charles ‘Aspenden, Viscount Broxbourne, unwilling guests of their siblings who are quarreling newlyweds.
Lots of tension, residual anger and miscommunications keep the pair busy at the start of the party. But that all changes over to steamy sizzle. I love how Ms. Farmer works around the "buggery" laws to get her MCs to their HEAs. It felt totally realistic. There's a subplot of a marriage trap straight out of Barbara Cartland and I love how it got foiled.
This was a fun, quick read. This Brotherhood series keeps getting better and better. Can't wait for what comes next.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my review/
Lots of tension, residual anger and miscommunications keep the pair busy at the start of the party. But that all changes over to steamy sizzle. I love how Ms. Farmer works around the "buggery" laws to get her MCs to their HEAs. It felt totally realistic. There's a subplot of a marriage trap straight out of Barbara Cartland and I love how it got foiled.
This was a fun, quick read. This Brotherhood series keeps getting better and better. Can't wait for what comes next.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my review/
August 29, 2025
Damaged Relationships . . .
Lord Charles Aspenden, Viscount Broxbourne, woke to a sunny day, Grayson Hawthorne, second son of the Earl of Felcourt, quietly sleeping beside him. They were together during their university days, but eventually broke up. Gray is Robert’s younger brother. Charlie is Barbara’s brother. So even after a breakup, Grayson and Charlie will meet again when their siblings get married and indulge in a month-long summer party that is not always “smooth-sailing”. In my opinion, Charlie seems like an immature, selfish person in the way he acted toward Grayson. But although I disliked both Charlie and Barbara, the author is a wonderful writer who can keep me happily reading every book she writes. Grab your copy and enjoy her well-written story with so much going on to capture our attention. Her magical talent will continue to keep you smiling and eagerly reading the pages to see if the relationships can be repaired when things go wrong!
Lord Charles Aspenden, Viscount Broxbourne, woke to a sunny day, Grayson Hawthorne, second son of the Earl of Felcourt, quietly sleeping beside him. They were together during their university days, but eventually broke up. Gray is Robert’s younger brother. Charlie is Barbara’s brother. So even after a breakup, Grayson and Charlie will meet again when their siblings get married and indulge in a month-long summer party that is not always “smooth-sailing”. In my opinion, Charlie seems like an immature, selfish person in the way he acted toward Grayson. But although I disliked both Charlie and Barbara, the author is a wonderful writer who can keep me happily reading every book she writes. Grab your copy and enjoy her well-written story with so much going on to capture our attention. Her magical talent will continue to keep you smiling and eagerly reading the pages to see if the relationships can be repaired when things go wrong!
August 14, 2025
I loved this installment of the series. We first meet our main characters when they are in school. An impossible choice has to be made due to reputation of self and others. It causes extreme hurt on both sides. They are intertwined due to family, so they see each other through the years. They treat each other as enemies but the feelings never went away. This is a tale of lovers to enemies to reconciliation, which is never a smooth path.
The story is well written and edited. The relationship is handled as would be expected for the time period. I loved the path to reconciliation and felt it was just the right balance between trust and mistrust. The extended family dynamics were also great.
All around just a feel good story I enjoyed.
I received an advance copy of the story for my honest opinion.
The story is well written and edited. The relationship is handled as would be expected for the time period. I loved the path to reconciliation and felt it was just the right balance between trust and mistrust. The extended family dynamics were also great.
All around just a feel good story I enjoyed.
I received an advance copy of the story for my honest opinion.
August 28, 2025
This is book #3 of the Tales of the Brotherhood series, and it’s another delightful one.
Charlie and Gray are lovers who become enemies and then lovers again. There's a lot going on between them, and they really have to figure things out between them. I really enjoyed their story; they deserved to finally be happy together.
It’s a two for one in this book, because besides their storyline, there’s also the one about newlyweds Robert (Gray's brother) and Barbara (Charlie's sister), who are organizing the house party but have their own love problems.
Gray: “I want to stand by his side wherever and whenever he needs me, from now until the end of time.”
Charlie: “The world would be a much happier place if everyone in it would leave each other alone to live as they pleased,”…
I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
Charlie and Gray are lovers who become enemies and then lovers again. There's a lot going on between them, and they really have to figure things out between them. I really enjoyed their story; they deserved to finally be happy together.
It’s a two for one in this book, because besides their storyline, there’s also the one about newlyweds Robert (Gray's brother) and Barbara (Charlie's sister), who are organizing the house party but have their own love problems.
Gray: “I want to stand by his side wherever and whenever he needs me, from now until the end of time.”
Charlie: “The world would be a much happier place if everyone in it would leave each other alone to live as they pleased,”…
I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
August 19, 2025
Vanquished by a Viscount, Tales From the Brotherhood book 3, by Merry Farmer, is an MM historical fiction romance set in 19th century England. In Farmer's imagined world, gay men are able to carve out space for their relationships partly via the support of a social club called The Brotherhood, and the network that social club facilitates. Vanquished by a Viscount features Charlie and Grayson, two noblemen who were romantically involved but torn apart partly by circumstances, but who now (in the present tense of the book) have a second chance. Expect a mostly lighthearted read, complete with country estate party shenanigans, a secondary couple spat, and a surprisingly dramatic plot resolution. 4.5/5 rounded up
August 28, 2025
Enemies to lovers, second chance romance
Grey and Charlie were lovers when they were younger at university. Charlie saw his responsibility of his younger sister as a potential burden to Grey so he panicked and ran, completely destroying Grey in the process.
It's been years and they avoid each other at all expense.
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your perspective, their respective siblings are married to each other and they're having a month long celebration where they're expected to be in attendance.
What ensues is comedy of errors as Charlie attempts to convince Grey to let him near again.
I really enjoyed the family support and the love that Charlie and Grey have was strong enough to endure the pains of growing and finding their way back to one another.
Grey and Charlie were lovers when they were younger at university. Charlie saw his responsibility of his younger sister as a potential burden to Grey so he panicked and ran, completely destroying Grey in the process.
It's been years and they avoid each other at all expense.
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your perspective, their respective siblings are married to each other and they're having a month long celebration where they're expected to be in attendance.
What ensues is comedy of errors as Charlie attempts to convince Grey to let him near again.
I really enjoyed the family support and the love that Charlie and Grey have was strong enough to endure the pains of growing and finding their way back to one another.
August 19, 2025
I've been enjoying the Tales of the Brotherhood. In this book, Gray and Charlie are young lovers, but one day Charlie panics about his own responsibilities as the caretaker of his adolescent sister and he breaks things off with Gray, the love of his life. Now, years later, Gray's brother has married Charlie's sister. They are brought back into each other's worlds and must deal with lingering love and passion. Still, tempers are hot, feelings are still hurt, and the love and attraction are incendiary. It's fun reading to watch these two men find their way to a HEA.
August 12, 2025
Great continuation of the Brotherhood series. Gray & Charlie are loveable characters who loved each other deeply but because of circumstances, ended up apart with Gray turning love to hate for what Charlie did to them. I loved these two characters. They were very dynamic and had deep fears and insecurities that they each needed to overcome. I loved the play between all the side characters too. I could picture this like a movie in my head and I absolutely love when an author can do that.
August 14, 2025
Wonderful story of Mr. Grayson Hawthorne and Lord Charles Aspenden, Viscount Broxbourne who meet again at a families summer party. Having separated from a relationship on bad terms years ago, their reunion does not go well in the beginning. Loved these characters, their families and their deserved HEA. Part of the Tales from the Brotherhood series, but can be read as a standalone. Highly recommend.
August 15, 2025
If you love enemies to lovers, sibling drama, and miscommunication this is a great book. Charlie and Gray had some trouble in the beginning but eventually got back together once they talked through their conflicts in the past. It was interesting about the history of the railroad forming and being built on the family land. I enjoyed the secondary characters and the drama they brought to the story. I can't wait to see what happens to Dr Pettigrew once he runs away to Australia.
August 27, 2025
Grayson/Gray Hawthorn is younger brother to Robert who is married to Barbara who is Charles/Charlie younger sister. Seven years prior Gray and Charlie were at university together and very close, but since their relationship has been very strained. Robert and Barbara throw a month long house party where everything that can go wrong does. This is book three from Tales of the Brotherhood, it is funny, sad, scandalous, there is danger but so must love and fun to read.
August 29, 2025
an enjoyable read...and the timeline continues, on to the next story :)
August 16, 2025
Good story about a love lost, forgiveness and true love. Amazing that Barbara and Robert were so supportive of Charlie and Grey’s relationship - I love that!
I received a free copy of this book from the author. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 30, 2025
This another entertaining book written by Merry Farmer. I love Merry’s writing, and I love this book. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this Brotherhood series. Her historical romance MM books are an automatic read for me. I highly recommend this book.
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