When a Marquess Loves a Woman

Season's Original #3

by Vivienne Lorret

As a young, penniless gentleman, Maxwell Harwick knew he had little to offer Juliet White—the most beautiful debutante of the season—except his love, and one thoroughly scandalous kiss. But when they were discovered in a compromising position, a nearly ruined Juliet fled into the arms of a rich, older lord... taking Max’s heart with her.

Now a widow, Lady Juliet Granworth intends to use the fortune she inherited from her odious husband to build a new life in London. Five years have passed, but she’s never forgotten Max… or his soul-searing kiss. Yet it’s clear the newly-minted Marquess of Thayne has not forgiven her—after all, the infuriating man can barely stand the sight of her. But Juliet has endured far too much to give up without a fight and if it’s a battle of wills he wants, it’s a battle he’ll get.

He hates her for breaking his heart. She detests him for destroying her future. But beneath all the loathing simmers an intoxicating passion that neither can ignore… and the harder they resist, the harder they will inevitably fall.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Enemies To Lovers, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Second Chance

199 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

USA Today bestselling author VIVIENNE LORRET writes fun and steamy Regency historical romances. She lives in the Midwest where she coaxes words out of giant mugs of tea and attempts to jot them down before they can escape. For her entire catalog of books, including the Liars’ Club, her latest series from Avon, please visit www.vivlorret.net

Reviews

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

I picked this book up because I was in the mood for a nice romantic story and the cover is simply gorgeous. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. I can't say that anything that happened in the book was a surprise but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This is listed as being the third book in a series but I read it as a stand alone without any difficultly. Max and Juliet's story ended up being quite entertaining.

I really like the fact that this was a second chance romance simply because I haven't seen too many of those in historical romances. Juliet and Max had a bit of a scandal over a shared kiss years ago. The scandal left Max with a broken heart and pushed Juliet into a marriage with another man. This story picks up years later and Juliet is now a widow while Max has become the Marquess of Thayne. Both of their lives are very different than before and they now consider each other to be enemies.

I liked Juliet and Max a lot. Being a widow gave Juliet a bit more freedom that the typical heroine. She has been through some things that have left her stronger and she isn't afraid to reach for what she wants in life anymore. Juliet wants to win the bet that she made with Max. Max has also been through some changes. When he first knew Juliet, he was a second son that would not inherit a title. He ends up becoming a Marquess after a distant relative's death. He has not always been favored so he sees things a little differently.

I think that Max and Juliet mad a great couple. They were both a lot of fun and I really enjoyed all of their interactions. My favorite parts of the book were when they were together. I did like the chemistry between them and thought that the sexier parts of the book were well done. Of course, I knew from the first page that this pair would end up together but the journey was well worth it.

I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance. This was a fun and romantic read with some really interesting elements. I would not hesitate to pick up other books by Vivienne Lorret in the future.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Avon Impulse.

Initial Thoughts
This was a quick romantic read. Nothing too surprising but entertaining nonetheless.

[Becca · Rating 1 out of 5]

After several attempts with this author, I have decided she is just not my taste. She uses too many metaphors that bog down the story and make me struggle to get through it. I stopped at page 80.

I love this cover and I loved the blurb, but the writing style isn't for me.

Case in point:
1. This author has an obsession with bug metaphors. In her first Season's Original's book, it was a spider. In this one, she discussed bug larva under a leaf to describe the heroines feelings that burrowed into her. Gross.

2. The phrase that finally got me to put the book down: "...his mud puddle irises brewing a storm." This was to describe the hero's glare. Huh? May work for some, just not me.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dearest foe,
Thank you for the cake. Since I never require silverware when eating such confections, I am returning that which you sent. Please feel free to find a better place to keep it. Should you require suggestions, I would be more than happy to direct you to stick the tines firmly into your posterior. Repeatedly.
Your most ardent enemy,
J."

As a young man, Maxwell Harwick only dreamed of two things: to emerge from the shadow of his older half brother by taking a seat in parliament and of the unattainable woman who would surely become his brother's wife. Juliet White has been nicknamed "The Goddess" by her admirers and "The Hollow Goddess" by those who envy her. Only Max seems to see that there is more to her than good looks and perfect manners. So when he learns that his brother intends to marry someone else and to announce his betrothal at a ball hosted by Juliet's parents, Max tries (and fails) to warn her, and ends up comforting a heartbroken Juliet. The two are discovered kissing, and all hell breaks loose. Yet when Max tries to do the right thing by settling a marriage between them the next morning, he discovers that the woman he loves has eloped with someone else...

Five years later, after Juliet's loathsome husband has died, they meet again, and sparks still fly - only now Max is intent on hating Juliet for crushing his heart.

I LOVED the first part of this book. It was heartbreaking, and hilarious, and the issues those two faced (Max's fear of being always overshadowed by his wastrel of a brother, and Juliet who has been so mistreated by her husband that she now believes herself to be nothing more than empty arm candy, until Max slowly helps her to rediscover her true self) were so sad... I have no idea why the author felt the need to add even more drama at the half-way mark to that in the form of Max's horrible brother.

The second half, sadly, left me rolling my eyes at all the forced drama, which I'm not a fan of... But still, it was definitely worth the wait -I needed to find out more about these two since their first fight in the first book-, and I'm glad I found another author I can't wait to read more from!

[Addie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75-3 stars

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stelle e mezzo
Il volume finale è stato il meno travolgente.
Max e Juliet sono gli enemies to lovers per eccellenza, dato che si sono detestati dall’inizio della trilogia mentre tutte le altre coppie si sposavano, cercando di creare a tutti i costi l'Originale della Stagione per vincere la loro scommessa; eppure, mentre Max era sempre trasparente e triste, con gli occhioni infastiditi e pieni di rimpianto, la vedova perfetta (non per nulla, detta la Dea) si è fatta alquanto desiderare, anche troppo.
Ma che soddisfazione veder respinto il tronfio antagonista nel Continente…

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giving up on this about halfway through. It’s not necessarily a terrible book, but for ME it has become an absolute chore to read. I don’t want to. I’m treating it like it’s something I have to do. I just want to start something else.

Max has grown up in his half brothers shadow. His brother is very much the golden child, able to do no wrong and garners all the family attention. Max has eyes for Juliet, who has eyes for his half brother. The whole first chapter is a mess, establishing the mixed up family bonds but not how or why Max has any caring for Juliet. Max’s brother only wants the seasons original, which ends up being not Juliet. Max comforts Juliet when all this betrothel news breaks free and they are caught in a compromising position.

The book picks back up 5 years later. They are fully established enemies at this point, very snippy and tit for tat with every conversation. Juliet comes back to town, a widow, and is trying to buy her family home back. Which Max buys.

The book just wasn’t flowing well for me. I felt like I was always missing out on some piece of information, like what is going on? How did we get here? It picks up 5 years later and Juliet seems to be hanging out with Max’s mom quite frequently. Max and Juliet had already had one wager with each other when we jump into the story. They make another. I guess I would have more liked to have read a little of what happened during those 5 years. How did they come to talking again? What was their first meeting like after she was widowed? And who knows maybe the book does cover this and I didn’t get to it.

The reviews are actually really good on this book so I’m probably just in a mood. I don’t ever want to discourage someone from trying something (unless it has outright trigger spots in it) but it just wasn’t for me.

Ok at this point I’m going to get spoiler filled about why I quit. Please leave if spoilers aren’t something you want to read, or if you haven’t read the book and plan on it.

So they are basically enemies to lovers...too literally. Like they hate each other, yet have these thoughts in the back of their heads but not enough exploration or conversation to really establish these feelings. There wasn’t enough growth between then really and then the second time they are together and alone, they have sex. WHAT? Why? You (the heroine) hate this person, he bought your family house, and you just, do it?? And you’d think oh she’s a widow so she’s more experienced and not a naive virgin, but, another spoiler, she IS because her husband refused to touch her for 5 years. It’s just too unbelievable.

So I dunno maybe I’m just being harsh but I wasn’t into it. There were a few slightly funny parts. But there was too much I just didn’t like. I give up.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a Marquess Loves a Woman is the third book in the 'Season's Original' series by Vivienne Lorret. The book can be read as a stand alone one, but as I have read the whole series and have loved every moment of it, I recommend that you read all the books, even if it's not in order of release.

This is Max and Juliet's story. Max has always been made to feel second best to his brother Bram. Especially when it comes to Juliet, who 5 years ago was hoping to become that season's original so that she could have her pick of husband. Her pick would have been Bram. He would happily have married her if she had been the 'original' but she didn't get chosen, and he had no qualms about proposing to the woman who did earn the title. Max loves Juliet, and knowing that she would be devastated when she found out, he tried to see her prior to the ball when Bram's engagement announcement would be made. Unfortunately he wasn't able to save her that upset. He did however find her in the library to offer her a shoulder to cry on. They end up kissing, and getting caught doing so. Max is thrilled to be able to offer marriage to Juliet, as is the done thing, but he has to speak to her father to get his permission, and is told to leave the party but to come back in the morning when her father has had a chance to cool down. When he does return it's to find that Juliet has left, she has gone off with Lord Granworth, a friend of her father's and they are to be married. Max is heart broken, and angry. Juliet is angry too, having to get married because Max ruined her. She couldn't have married him, the reasons why will come to light when you read the book.

So that sets the scene for our book. Juliet is now widowed and moves back to London, she wants to buy the old family home so that she can live there and make a new start. But Max isn't about to let her move in just a few doors down from his family. He can't bear to see her every day because even after all this time he hasn't stopped loving her, and hasn't stopped being angry at her for running away. He's now wealthy in his own right, so he offers more money to the person selling the house, and the seller is happy to accept. Juliet is fuming when she finds out, and decides that the only way she will have a chance of getting the house is if she wins a wager with Max. If she correctly chooses the season's original he will have to sell her the house, but if he correctly chooses then she has to leave London.

Who will win the wager, and will the winner be happy with the outcome?

This book was a pleasure to read, and of course from the very beginning you can't help but hope that Max and Juliet will end up together without too much heartache happening first. Their love for each other is obvious to everybody but each other, so I for one couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened when they finally realised how the other person felt. I love a good 'will they, won't they' scenario. I was sad when I read about Juliet's married life, and why she had to marry Lord Grafton. When Max finds out, that scene is particularly moving too. This book makes you run the gamut of emotions, which to me, makes it a perfect book which I highly recommend.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Bambi Unbridled · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by Vivienne Lorret, despite having bought the earlier books in this series. I just haven't been able to fit them into my schedule yet... but accepting a review copy is always a way to get something cemented on my calendar. I quite liked her writing style, so I will hopefully work the other books into the calendar before too much longer. Despite not having read the earlier books, I felt like I was fine reading this third book. There may have been some character crossover, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything that was required to follow the story.

This is a second chance romance where our H/h have become angst-filled enemies. Lady Juliet White was angling to become the Season's Original and marry the Marquess of Engle when she is found in a compromising position with his brother, Maxwell Hartwick. Between Juliet's fears and her father's debts, she seemingly takes the easy way out and flees to Bath to marry the older (and rich) Lord Granworth. Now widowed and gun shy after a humiliating marriage, Juliet has returned to London to find herself again. I had mixed feelings about Juliet, Lady Granworth. She was a little hot and cold for my normal tastes, but I ended up liking her in the end. I understood that her first husband was a piece of work, but I hated that she seemed to paint Max with the same brush sometimes. But other than that, she was a solid heroine. She was fashionable and flirty, with a side of vulnerability that was easy to relate to.

Maxwell Hartwick started off life as a neglected second son, in name if not by blood. Having his heart broken by Juliet only compounded the rejection and "not quite good enough" feelings that Max has lived with most of his life. Living in his older half-brother's shadow, Max made a sympathetic hero that definitely deserved inheriting the title of Marquess of Thayne from a distant relative. It's too bad that he became embittered after Juliet's rejection, because when she returns to London, he wants nothing more than to make her leave again. Despite his broken heart, it becomes apparent that Max is not quite as jaded as he wants to be. He is undeniably (still) drawn to Juliet and doesn't engage in any activity that would truly cause her harm. I hated that she was hot and cold with him because I was really wanted a happy ending for him.

I liked that this relationship was both enemies-to-lovers and second chance romance... I don't often seen those tropes combined, especially in historicals. These two had a combustible chemistry that they both denied, which led to them picking at one another and engaging in fun pranks and flirty banter. Max was more willing to forgive the past than Juliet, and I didn't quite understand all of her hangups. But in the end, I was glad I got to go on the journey with them.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received at no cost from the publisher, Avon.

[Lisa Filipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I will admit it....I cried AGAIN reading a Vivienne Lorret romance...

WHEN A MARQUESS LOVES A WOMAN is exactly what we have all been waiting for, and Vivienne couldn't have written it ANY better. Max and Juliet slowly let go of the enemy status and move quite nicely into the lover status...and OH MY was that first tryst HOTTTTT! Vivienne might not write smutty overly graphic sex scenes, but she knows how to make her scenes erotic in their own right. Oh my...(fans herself), Max and Juliet burned up the pages and that whole scene in itself was UTTERLY romantic. I can't help but swoon every time I read one of Viv's romances.

When independence meets insecurity and a past that didn't quite end well in Max (or Juliet's) favor, you get a wonderfully fun historical romance that will capture the readers attention from page one...I am not sure I put the book down.

I absolutely loved the ending, and "Bram" ugh, he got EXACTLY what he deserved. Poor Patrice, I hope she gets a step-mother who is more caring than her miserable father.

I am SOOOO hoping that Ellery and Gemma are getting a book, they would make quite the match!

I encourage you to pick up this series, you won't be sorry, and You're Welcome in advance!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

totally my catnip but I can see where others wouldn't ~like it as much lol

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/revie...

[SmartBitches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

If you like enemies-to-lovers romance, then you probably want to read When a Marquess Loves a Woman. It’s got all my prerequisites for a good Regency romance–loads of sexual tension, a heroine who owns her shit, and epic sass-battles. Also canoodling in libraries. Also a stock market crash. There’s a lot going on in this book.

Juliet’s sense of self-worth is so tied into her appearance, and is so damaged by the neglect of her parents and the abuse of her late husband, that she struggles to find value in herself. Despite the fact that Max’s “hatred” of Juliet is based on his inability to handle rejection like a goddamned adult, he clearly respects and admires her. Their conversations are an ongoing fencing match, and he values her intelligence and sass. Now a wealthy, beautiful widow, Juliet is used to flowers showing up at her house, but Max sends her gifts that appeal to her sense of humor and interests.

To be honest, the “enemies” thing is pretty thin, especially when Max and Juliet clearly use it to spend time together and especially when everyone around them realizes they are in love. It’s a trope that works well for me, and combined with Juliet finding her agency after a shittastic marriage, it sold the book for me. Sometimes I eye-rolled real hard at Max, but he’s not a lost cause.

When a Marquess Loves a Woman is actually the third book in a series, and since I really enjoyed it, I’m going to go back and read the first two. If you like banter and flirting disguised as fighting, I highly recommend it.

- Elyse

[Seffra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed book one and two and Juliet and Max were building up since the first book and I was a bit excited for their story. I felt that their book was quite underwhelming in the sense that yes, they had that push-and-pull and then the whole jealousy thing with Lord Ellery. This book was also humorous but for some reason, I found it lacking. Lacking what, I don't really know? I didn't fall in love and I wasn't fully immersed into the story as I was the previous books.

I do like Vivienne Lorret's writing and I cannot wait to read more of her work!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like Emma fan fiction if Mr. Knightley had realized his feelings a bit earlier. So, obviously, I quite enjoyed it! It's nothing spectacular but totally readable. The banter is fun, the characters are well drawn (better than Quinn's and Kleypas's recents, quite frankly), and it's a nice way to spend a lazy Sunday.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell Harwick and Juliet White were friends. Until the day they were caught in a compromising situation, after he tried to comfort her, when the man she thought she would marry (who happens to be his half-brother) choose an other bride. Afterwards, Max declare his intention to marry her but the next day, he learn that she eloped with a rich man. Why? That's what he wonder and what we'll finally discover (because we knew from book 1 that these two had an history) as we follow Max and Juliet 5 years later, and witness their nemesis chemistry and verbal sparring. But neither forgot the taste nor the feel of the kiss that ruined everything. And let's not forget about their bet.

Instead of repeating myself about how much I enjoy this author's books and why it's always a win for me, I'll just write some of the exquisites quotes😜.

"He was half-tempted, half-wild with the need to kiss her, to lose himself in the silken texture of her lips once more. To haul her into his arms and feel the curves of her body with his hands."

With a quick tug, he pulled her closer. Still holding his walking stick, he touched the handle beneath her chin and tilted it up. "Perhaps you should reconsider flirting with your enemy in the future."

"Suddenly, she wasn't sure that a battle was supposed to feels this good. But with Max, it was difficult to tell the difference. Part of her loved fighting with him. Every argument felt like a prelude to something more, something so near and yet still out of reach."

Exasperated but somehow still grinning, she laid her hand over his heart. " Are you going to argue with me, even now?"
This time, he pressed a kiss to the center of her mouth and lingered. "With you, always."

"I wanted to cause a scandal, but it isn't working."
"Ah," he said, as if he completely understood and knew exactly why she was standing in the aviary. "But we are much better at causing scandals together. So tell me what I can do."

[Jaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in The Season's Original Series is a must read. Vivienne knows how to keep the reader captivated and reading late into the night. Max and Juliet's story was worth waiting for. I really loved the back and forth witty dialogue and the love scenes were steamy. Most of all I loved the way Max treated Juliet, he was always thoughtful, patient and the kind of handsome Gentleman that we all secretly wish for.
It was great to see how the characters in the first two books were doing and I cannot wait for the next one in the series. Hopefully Gemma will find someone to love.

I recommend this book whole heartily.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fave so far

This was a classic and spicy enemies to lovers with a second chance. The banter between these two was so good that I just wanted them to fight all the time. The spice level was high because we see the built up in the 2 previous books. Absolutely loved it and is going into my favorite pile. Her move at the ends is a chef's kiss and doesn't leave him without any doubt about how she feels for him.

[Els · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first three books in this serie more.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anya - per RFS
.
Questo libro è stato lo sblocco di cui avevo bisogno. Da un po’ ero ferma con la lettura e nessun romanzo che iniziavo mi prendeva, fino a questa meraviglia.

Non sempre ho letto libri che rispecchiavano i miei gusti e che contenevano amore, ironia fra i protagonisti, caratteri forti, passione bruciante e trama avvincente ma devo dire che questo li comprendeva tutti.

Juliet White e Max Harwick si sono ritagliati un posto nel mio cuore dall’inizio alla fine della storia.

Lei è una ragazza molto bella che è sempre stata considerata vuota e puramente ornamentale da tutti, anche dai suoi genitori. Questa consapevolezza la fa chiudere molto in se stessa e riesce ad aprirsi solo con il suo amico Max con cui condivide molte passioni. Tutto precipita la sera della sua mancata proposta e del bacio che si scambia con il suo amico Max che le rovina per sempre la reputazione dopo essere stati scoperti in biblioteca dagli invitati. Il passo successivo sarebbe dovuto essere solo uno ma il padre di lei decide diversamente e la sua vita cambia per sempre.

Juliet, dopo i cinque anni trascorsi lontano da Londra, ritorna vedova, più forte e spensierata, alla ricerca della propria indipendenza e contraria a sposarsi nuovamente.

Max è un primogenito che ha dovuto vivere all’ombra del primo figlio della madre per tutta la sua adolescenza; lui era il preferito di suo padre pur non essendone l’erede. Il nostro protagonista è un uomo colto, molto affascinante che si interessa alla politica e di buon cuore.

Da sempre innamorato di Juliet, quando lei sparisce dopo il loro bacio, i sentimenti puri e bellissimi che provava si tramutano in rabbia e risentimento.

La loro storia è bella davvero, dopo lo scandalo del bacio, la fuga, il matrimonio di lei e il suo ritorno da vedova a Londra non sapevo davvero come la trama potesse procedere, certo il finale era chiaro ma è stato il come a incuriosirmi. Posso solo dire che gli scontri verbali, le frecciatine e le scommesse fra i due non mancano e infatti sono considerati nemici da tutto il ton.

Il sentimento è sempre presente nel cuore di lui ma cresce in modo più prudente in quello di lei, il loro amore brucia nel momento in cui entrambi provano lo stesso, quando se ne rendono conto non tutto va come dovrebbe; insicurezze passate minacciano la loro felicità ma per fortuna la mente brillante di Juliet porta a una felice soluzione a tutti i problemi.

Le vicende quindi iniziano nel 1820 a Londra e proseguono cinque anni dopo con il ritorno di Juliet, i personaggi secondari quali la madre di Max, la cugina vedova di Juliet e la sua fidata cameriera hanno reso la storia ancor più avvincente.

Ho apprezzato la particolare attenzione che la scrittrice mette nei dettagli, che sia il colore dell’abito o il profumo di una stanza, mi hanno aiutato molto a immergermi completamente nel libro.

La passione fra i due non manca, come la tensione che è palpabile in ogni situazione e anche mangiare un pasticcino diventa un momento erotico. Il tutto senza mai essere volgare o eccessivo.

Vorrei poter raccontare altro ma non posso privarvi del piacere che ho provato nella lettura di questo romanzo, recupererò sicuramente gli altri volumi di questa serie visto che questo da me letto non era il primo ma in ogni caso, vi posso assicurare, i riferimenti alle altre coppie sono sempre chiari e ben spiegati.

[victoria.p · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. It had a handful of lovely moments but overall it was...fine. (I was also annoyed by the way the author used "would have" when she should have used "had" instead, e.g., "if Juliet would have known how they'd react" instead of "if Juliet had known" (paraphrasing) - a good editor should have caught that.)

[Julie]

It was fine, a few skippable parts, but in order to truly enjoy this book, I probably should have read the first books in the series.

[Lisarenee · Rating 5 out of 5]

>>>>>My Synopsis (Review follows)<<<<<
Once upon a time Juliet White had hopes of making a grand match. She'd earned the moniker "goddess" for her beauty early on in her debut, but it quickly became paired with the term "hollow", as most never took the time to truly get to know her. But when Maxwell Harwick decided to make his feelings for her known, and the two were caught kissing, all her hopes were dashed. What Max didn't know, and not many did, was Juliet's father would never have approved of a match between her and the then poor and untitled Max, scandal or no. He father needed money. Her elopement the next morning to an older wealthy gentleman well past his prime had not been hers by choice. Now, five years later, Juliet is widowed, and the two who once considered each other friends are seemingly at war.

They say love and hate are but two sides of the same coin. Will love find a way or are they destined to remain enemies? Hell hath no fury as a lady scorned, but does that also apply to a Marquess?

>>>>>My Review <<<<<
This is the third book in the Season's Original series by Vivienne Lorret. It can be read out of order without the reader being lost, but if you're like me, you'll be wanting to read the whole series upon finishing this one. The thread that binds the series together is, of course, the ton nominating the person chosen to be that Season's "Original". The "Original" can be a male or a female whom the ton has deemed above approach and others try to mimic. If the title is bestowed upon a female, she can pretty much pick and choose who she wants to marry among the gentleman of the ton. She is, for all intents and purposes, the season's "it" girl.

'When a Marquess Loves a Woman' is one of those love/hate stories that stars two stubborn people and one huge misunderstanding. Neither feels compelled to explain what happened, and each is perhaps too afraid of the answers to ask what truly transpired. While these types of stories almost always leave me shaking my head, they also have a tendency to have me grinning from ear to ear as the two battle it out via words and deeds. That is exactly what Ms. Lorret does in this book, and it's what makes this novel such a delightfully delicious good read.

Juliet and Max are alike and different in so many ways. While Juliet is beautiful and well known. Max was relatively unknown in society until he came into his title. Both have insecurities and issues they need to work out. I liked how the feud over who will end up with Juliet's childhood home is being battled over essentially the same thing--neither wants to witness the other in the house raising a family with someone else. The verbal banter and taunts between these two were both charming and funny. While each feels they are justified in their anger, you can see immediately how this one was going to play out. The majority of the fun was in watching them come to the realization that is pretty much obvious to everyone but them--that they love each other.

The song that kept playing in my head as I was reading was Cake by the Ocean by DNCE. Once you read the story, you'll understand why. lol:

'Talk to me, baby
I'm going blind from this sweet, sweet craving, whoa
Let's lose our minds and go crazy crazy
Ah ya ya ya ya I keep on hoping we'll eat cake by the ocean
(...)
Hot damn
See you licking frosting from your own hands
Want another taste, I'm begging, "Yes, ma'am."
I'm tired of all this candy on the dry land, dry land, oh

Waste time with a masterpiece, don't waste time with a masterpiece (huh!)
You should be rolling with me, you should be rolling with me (ah)
You're a real life fantasy, you're a real life fantasy (huh!)
But you're moving so carefully; let's start living dangerously...'

I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. It was a fun, witty, and charming story that I highly enjoyed. The attraction between these two was highly combustible, and it was fun watching them come to the realization of just how they felt about each other. Wonderful characters that felt real and believable wrapped in a highly entertaining romance that had me chuckling and smiling in equal measures. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scored a FAN rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. I definitely recommend this one.

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dU93kk

And so we have Max and Juliet...finally! Seriously yall. I was totally *flailing* about over these two! Lordy but I've been itching for When a Marquess Loves a Woman and getting that front row seat to the showdown between these two. And it was so dang fun.

So. Five things about When a Marques Loves a Woman...

1. Max and Juliet. They have one serious hate-on for each other. If there was a spork around? Oh yeah. It would be put to use, no doubt. There would be some historical sporkage. There really would. lol But is was seriously amazingly fun to watch them bicker and snark and tease and give each other hell. The banter was perfect and had me chuckling more than once as they faced off. The tension was excellent. Going from hostility and bitterness to all nicely sexual. Noms! But fairly light on actual heat. It worked for them, though.

2. I really liked them as well. Juliet's no simpering miss. She's dealt with some awful things in her past but doesn't let them get her down and stands up for herself. She gives as good as she gets. I enjoyed her. And Max. Whew! I was wondering what had him so ornery where she was concerned. And aw. I get it, Max. I get it. He was stubborn but a good guy under all his growly prickly bits.

3. There was a good support cast, too. Some I adored, some it was nice to see again, some that I wouldn't have minded a freak carriage accident taking out. It made for a fun read, though.

4. I really love Lorret's writing. This past year has been a struggle for me and getting good and hooked by a story but Lorret... as soon as I picked up book one from this series I was completely enamored. Her writing swept me away. I simply couldn't put the book down and that held true for the rest of the series as well.

5. Best. Honeymoon. Ever. Seriously every book lover's future mate needs to read this just for that. Perfection! They went on a tour of exceptional libraries all over the place. lol

All in all, When a Marquess Loves a Woman hit the spot. Lorret has officially landed on my Must Read author list. I can't wait for more!

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Marquess had to wait but he got his Lady or could it be that the Lady got her man.y.

I have to admit that the prologue got me riled up. I wanted to skewer Juliet. I was heartbroken for Max. Five years later, things have a way of coming back and opening doors when least expected. On starts the banter, the witty humor, the brains to brawn, the high stakes wagers, the plotting and daring arrangements. Juliet and Max have been parted by five years and life but the love between the two has not diminished. I felt as if it had strengthened.

You will open a door to fun and laughs. Hot, sexy (not smutty) romantic interludes. I look forward to more from the Season’s Original. Gemme has a special place in my heart. I hope she is next up. I did enjoy visiting the other couple from the series. I love the way the all come together in the end. Seeing possibilities was delightful.

I love reading Vivienne’s romances there is always a little something of magic within. The hero and heroine seem to have that magic around them and it just draws you in also. Battle they may but they come back to each other stronger. Vivienne has never let me down. I love reading her historical romances. Each one brings something different to the forefront. She imparts something of a historical note.

[Sarah Verity · Rating 4 out of 5]

*𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐒. 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 & 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖.*


*For your ease of reading, topics in my reviews are in 𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐃 letters. You can read the entire review or scroll to the sections you want.*



𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘈 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘈 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯
𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 #3 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴
𝘣𝘺 𝘝𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘵


𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄:
London
1825


𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎:
Maxwell ("Max") Harwick
Marquess of Thayne
29 Years of age
Spurned by love and hurt by the one woman his heart wanted. Overlooked and treated as less by his father. More of a man than his horrid half-brother,  who ceaselessly treats Max like an ignorant child. Cautious to a fault when it comes to reaching for love. A but insecure but honest and kind. He's very protective, strong, independent, and is a great man. 

𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐄:
Lady Juliet (White) Granworth
27 Years of age
Beautiful bit controlled. Deemed "Goddess" for her beauty, and sometimes the "Hollow Goddess" for her lack of emotion. For she has learned to mask all of her feelings and reveal nothing to those around her. Married to a horrible man (to save her reputation) who only wanted her as an item for his collection, she is finally widowed and wholly embraces her independence. Not only did her husband see her as nothing more than the attention she could garner him, but her parents did as well. Caring nothing for the person and woman she was. Her fear of repeating the life she'd had with her first husband, keeps her from fully opening up to and embracing love, and the happiness she wants so badly. 

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒:
Sharing a passionate kiss one fateful night, Max and Juliet find themselves on opposite sides. After 5 years they find themselves in one another's company all too often. Striking up one wager after another, they begin to realize that the wagers are excuses, and the animosity between them a simmering passion... 

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓(𝐒):
This was so good! I definitely loved the moments when Max would ignore his caution and stand up or protect Juliet. When he would give in around her, when just moments before he was internally warning himself not to. 

I loved seeing Juliet finally open up around Max and be vulnerable in his presence. Because she trusted him and shared a connection with him that made her feel safe and loved. With him she felt like a woman, a human, who was more than a hollow vessel, a pretty visage, and I loved seeing her finally embrace him and her feelings. It was very beautiful to read. 

I also enjoyed the "library" bit. The library in which they shared their first kiss is referenced quite a bit. Max even gives her a book of libraries as a gift in jest. And in the end he surprises her with something relating to libraries, which I won't say the specifics of so as not to spoil it for anyone! But it was very cute and one of my favorite parts. 

Lastly, I'd have to say that I absolutely adored how Juliet and Max argued. It wasn't just arguing, but a sort of mix between that and flirting, and jesting. It was beyond adorable, and funny, and steamy! In my opinion it's what made the book as special and enjoyable as it was. 

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐃:
The ends felt a bit rushed. There was a bit of back and forth drama that didn't quite feel very well paced. But not so much that it affected my enjoyment of the story!

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 & 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒/𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:
This was absolutely wonderful. Such a tension-filled read! There was so much unspoken (and denied) desire and attraction between Max and Juliet. And so much love! All hiding behind the arguments, wagers, and animosity between them. It was so beautiful to see them slowly give in to their urges and their passion for one another. The banter was spot-on and the chemistry was amazing! This book kept me enthralled the entire time and I didn't put it down once! 


𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒 & 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒:
Second Chance Romance
Lots of romantic tension
(Friends to) enemies to lovers
Virgin widow
Arguing, but make it flirting
First-born second-son


𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐒/𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐈 𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊:
Not everything you see is true. People show you what they want you to see. 

Don't judge a book by its cover. 

True love can find you in the least expected of places. 

True love is finding that one person who makes you feel valued and respected. Vain "love" is not love. Find someone who appreciates you for the person you are. Not what you can offer them. 

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄(𝐒):

     𝘡𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯."


                                                 - 𝘡𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘰 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘵



     𝘐𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳...


                                                 - 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩


𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:
• STEAM-METER
🔥🔥🔥/5
• SIGH-METER
❤❤❤❤/5
• LAUGH-METER
😆😆😆😆/5
• CRY-METER
💧💧/5



𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎:
Genre - Historical Romance
Published - 2016
Avon Impulse 
283 Pages



"𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰. 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸! 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦! 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 @𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺_𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵_𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.


𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳: 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺."

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a fun, warm book!! it's tagged as enemies-to-lovers but in reality it was more of a friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers and the development was d e l i c i o u s
so,, one of the favourite tropes-check. next, it was a second chance romance, and the characters a) know each other EXTREMELY well, b) are allowed growth, c) everything happens organically and makes sense?? i am SHOCKED. and THRILLED.
also included: banter! a respectful hero, lady friendships! literally everyone knowing the hero&heroine are in love, library shenanigans, Cakes, thoughtful gifts, and a church proposal!!! (sort of anyway)

i mean it wasn't perfect but i enjoyed it so much anyway im giving all the stars for a good 2k19

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me the measure of a good book is never wanting to say goodbye. There are stories that just wrap around a reader to the point that the book becomes like an addiction. You never want to put it down. When a Marquess Loves a Woman was mine. Max and Juliet's relationship is all encompassing. Taking on many stages, it's intensity keeps drawing them back to each other. An enchantment built on something beautiful takes on a life of it's own ricocheting between a powerful love, a heated attraction or a consuming hate. Obsessive, vindictive, heartbreaking or passionate Juliet and Max are a temptation that can't be denied.

[Carol Bisig · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Love With Mac!

What a wonderful story of second chances! Max, the second and untitled son, has been in love with Juliet for many years. However, to save her father from debtor's prison, she married a ruthless, vain man. Now she is back, a young beautiful widow, and Max absolutely hates her, to the point, they wager, and whoever wins has to leave London. Let's face it, this Author is known for sexual content, it was not too many to pass up, and the book is wonderful! I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could have loved this so much more. Juliet and Max had been my favorite all along. But they took too damn long to ever communicate with each other and as such, too many misconceptions happened. A lot. Like annoyingly so.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.