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Lords and Ladies in Love #1

Seducing the Marquess

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London, 1819. Richard, Marquess of Devon is satisfied with his ton marriage. His wife of five months, Lady Eugenia Devon, thought she was, too, until she found the book. Their marriage is one of respect and affection, with no messy entanglements such as love. Devon’s upbringing impressed upon him that gentlemen slake their baser needs on a mistress, not their gently bred wives. However, once married, he was no longer comfortable bedding a woman other than Eugenia. When she stumbles onto a naughty book, she begins a campaign to change the rules.

Lady Eugenia wants her very proper husband to fall in love with her. But her much changed and undeniably wicked behavior might inadvertently drive her confused husband to ponder the unthinkable—his perfect Lady has taken a lover. But the only man Eugenia wants is her husband. The book can bring sizzling desire to the marriage or it might cause an explosion.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2016

168 people are currently reading
833 people want to read

About the author

Callie Hutton

144 books1,441 followers

http://calliehutton.com/newsletter/ (receive a free book for signing up and be up to date on new releases and sales)

Hi Romance Fans,

My historical romances are full of heat, humor, and quirky characters. I’ve always loved history, which was my college major. Things of the past fascinate me. Not those boring history classes in high school, but the history of people. How they lived their lives, what they ate, what they wore, the challenges they faced, what they worried about.

I have recently delved into Historical Cozy Mysteries. My very first one, For the Love of the Baron, a Historical Romantic Suspense novella, spurred me to try a full length, non-romance focused cozy mystery. A Study in Murder released last year from Crooked Lane Publishing, and the reviews have been excellent. The second book, The Sign of Death, released this year and the next book, The Mystery of Albert E. Finch will release in January of 2022.

I've also been busy keeping up with my Regency/Victorian romances. Check out my latest series, The Rose Room Rogues. Four brothers who own a gambling club and find themselves caught in the net of love.

Watch for my new Highlander series, The Sutherlands of Dornoch. The first book in that series, To Deceive a Highlander, will release March 30th.

Take a look around my website and check out some of the books I write, and their lovely covers. www.calliehutton.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie DiFiore.
2,707 reviews312 followers
April 19, 2017
I wish I hadn't read this

If you don't like the H to go to bed with anyone but the h after he meets her don't read this. He visited his mistress the night before his wedding but that was the last time he had sex with her. Then he just played cards with her for five months after that until she died. he did bed his wife three times a week but it didn't satisfy his lust like he was used to. WTF? My stomach hurts from reading this book. I know I am a freak but I just wish I hadn't read it. Even in the make up scene he tells his wife he hasn't been with another woman since the night before the wedding. And she was happy. The book was okay I guess but unfortunately in my twisted view that just ruined the book for me. I know he was faithful after the wedding even though he didn't realize he loved her until the end. How nice. She loved him through the six months of their courtship. I am a minority here but I just cant stop thinking about him having sex with a woman one night and the next he is having sex with his bride who loved him. Just gross. I loved the h though but the book as a whole just didn't make me feel happy. Then him going to go interview a new mistress at the end???? Just gross.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sher❤ The Fabulous BookLover.
953 reviews583 followers
October 30, 2016
**2.75 Stars**

Even though lately I've been reading a lot of contemporary romances, historical will always be my first love. There's just something swoonworthy about dukes and rakes and lords. Lady Eugenia and Richard, the Marquess of Devon, are newly married. Theirs is like any other aristocratic ton marriage...there is respect, admiration, care and even a bit of affection, but their marriage is without passion. Even though Eugenia is very much in love with her husband.

After the death of Richard's mistress, Eugenia gets her hands on a naughty book that helps to renew the spark in her marriage of convenience. With this book, she now plans to seduce her husband whom she is madly in love with. But the question is how far is she willing to go to gain her husbands love?

This was a fun, light, sweet and witty read, but I did struggle with a few aspects of it. I felt like the chemistry between this couple was lacking. There wasn't enough depth to the characters for me to fully enjoy it and although the blurb interested me (as I love a marriage of inconvenience read) the story fell a bit flat at times.

I do recommend this book for lovers of historical, romantic comedies, especially readers who love the marriage of convenience storylines who want a light, sweet and sassy read.

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Profile Image for Sissy's Romance Book Review .
8,992 reviews16 followers
September 30, 2016
'Seducing the Marquess' by Callie Hutton is the story of Lady Eugenia Devon and Richard, Marquess of Devon.
Devon and Eugenia married about 5 months ago. Their marriage is what most marriages of that time were. Devon thought Eugenia would suit him and it would be just a regular town type marriage. Eugenia liked Devon from the first but she went through the marriage knowing that it was just an arrangement just as other on her day were married. But Eugenia always wanted something more and when her husband's 'mistress' dies she thinks to try to make her marriage more. Devon is starting to see Eugenia in a different light but he thinks something else might be going on. Will these to work things out and get the marriage that the should have had to begin with. I enjoyed this book and thought it was a light..easy read. Loved it!
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
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Profile Image for Ivy H.
856 reviews
November 22, 2017
This novel was quite entertaining and the romance between the MC's developed in a very quirky, unconventional and lovely manner. The MC's are already married at the start of the story and they have both been conditioned, by their respective parents, to have a very cold and businesslike approach to matrimony. It was so funny reading about the way the hero's father had brainwashed him into believing that his wife was never meant to be an object of lust or passion. His dead old daddy had told him to get himself a mistress so that he would be able to slake his lustful manly passions on her and leave his sweet decent wife alone - except for the 3 nights a week he visits her bed for an hour or so to sire himself an heir. LOL.

This was so funny. It actually provides quite a good perspective on what marriage between conventional Ton couples were like: cold and passionless but always "polite". The heroine had been told by her frigid, sourpuss mother that she is supposed to wear her ugly cotton nightdress to bed and lie in the dark and be totally still and silent while her husband does what he needs to do.

The sweet thing about the lovely heroine is that she had fallen in love with her husband even before their wedding but the poor thing has no idea how she is supposed to get him to fall in love with her and dump his mistress. Her mother had brought her up in such a prudish manner that the entire Ton calls her 'The Ice Queen'. The heroine is quite beautiful but because of her 'Ice Queen' persona and the prim type of clothing her mother made her wear, she had never received much attention from men. The H chose her because she is beautiful and because his father had told him to pick a woman like her - one who will never embroil him in shame and scandal and be a good upstanding wife and mother.

The real fun starts when the heroine finds a naughty book in a bookshop, that teaches her how to seduce a man. This really gets her planning about changing her wardrobe and finding ways to seduce and entice her sexy husband. There are lots of misunderstandings on the part of the hero, who becomes totally besotted with his new sexy wife and thinks she must have found a lover. But the great thing about this H is that he doesn't cheat on her. After his marriage to the heroine, he stopped having sex with the mistress but still met her to play cards because he felt ( as his dad had told him ) that he had to make his male peers believe that he was still "normal".

Much of this novel deals with two very wonderful, kindhearted and passionate individuals who have to learn that what their parents taught them about marriage was just absolute shit. This novel is similar to one I had read a while ago called "Lessons From A Scarlet Lady" by Emma Wildes. I must admit I loved that one a lot more because the heroine in that one was fiesty and funny. But I did really enjoy this romance. I can probably even read it again some day.
Profile Image for Lady Nilambari Reads HR.
492 reviews197 followers
September 18, 2022
2 Stars

Arrrrrgh, I am frustrated. Pull out my hair, irritated. Why? Why do people take a classic plot and butcher it to no end?

- Here are the plus points. This was my first Callie Hutton story, and thankfully, even with the extreme reactions, it was an engaging read. It wasn't overly long, so hallelujah. And finally, points for the historical accuracy of a typical ton marriage.
- My complaint is absolutely NOT about the nature of Devon & Eugenia's state of marriage, my reluctance stemmed from the shit-storm that came after!
- Just fucking talk to each other! But noooooooooo. We have to make assumptions about what the other person must be thinking because it's so accurate as you know the person so well? *Insert heavy sarcasm here*
- The whole damn thing was one misunderstanding after another with the same bloody repetitive actions.

She wore a new low-cut dress. She looks hot. I want to seduce my husband. I hope he notices. He notices. Why is the wife behaving like a moron? She must have a lover! This is how ton marriages work. I must have a mistress. I don't want a mistress. I want my wife. I should not be base with my wife.

- What the hell? This kept happening, again, and again, and again.
- Proper Lady this and Gentleman that. Fine, you gave us an insight into an authentic ton marriage. But do you then want to turn it into a romance or keep educating me about how people were expected to conduct themselves? Just circling the damn drain.
- I say again, just talk to each other. Build your relationship from there. Let the dominos fall forward and not backwards. Then the same incidents start making sense and come out as exploration as opposed to suspicion. This just makes for a happier reading experience. Duh!
- I couldn't give a flying fuck about these two idiots.

*One star for extracting extreme reactions and another for starting it off with a solid historically accurate setting and some interesting, funny moments.

Sorry, but I would rather read Her Lovestruck Lord again, and God knows how much that triggered me, but at least it had lots of steam!

Arrrgh!
Profile Image for Nicola.
1,390 reviews287 followers
October 3, 2016
2.5 stars.

The blurb for Seducing the Marquess sounded great; Lord Devon and his wife Lady Eugenia are newly married, it's a marriage of convenience rather than one of love despite that not being what either craves, and when Eugenia finds the 19th Century version of The Joy of Sex she embarks on a sexual quest in making Devon fall in love with her.

"She was a respectable and proper lady..."

Whilst is started fairly well, I found the seduction element was lacking, and we entered a lather, rinse, repeat cycle of Eugenia wearing low cut dresses, Devon being tempted, each being convinced the other has a lover and both being overly polite around one another. And because of this I struggled to feel any real chemistry between them: as likeable as they were, neither character had much to them, and they sadly became quite boring.

"Yes, my dear. That feels quite good."

If what happened in the last 5% of this book had happened sooner then this may have been a more positive review. But, considering the premise of this story, opportunities to make it and this couple shine were, in my opinion, missed and on this occasion it just didn't work particularly well for me.

Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Vintage.
2,714 reviews719 followers
June 2, 2018
Thank you Ivy H.

Sweet, sweet romance with an adorable heroine that wants to break through the deadening constraints that Regency society has in store for her with a mannered life and a loveless marriage.

Unfortunately, the hero, while a nice guy, needs a couple of whacks with a skillet. He's sweet too, but dumb as a fence post.

Eugenia finds, then steals a naughty book (it would be too embarrassing to buy) that opens her up to the possibility of a marriage she wants.

Lord Thick as a Plank takes too long to appreciate the effort she's putting in plus he thinks this newfound Loosey Goosey wife is sexual now because she's having an affair. Here skillet, skillet!

Still, very cute and readable. I wish the story were tighter written, but oh well.



Profile Image for Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves.
1,458 reviews18 followers
September 16, 2021
Very frustrating on some levels. Must be even more so for the h - who so desperately wanted some heat and sparkle in her dull, society marriage of 5 months. But the stuffy H refuses to take the hint.

Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews490 followers
November 30, 2016
"She knew passion and desire lay buried inside her. The little girl had wanted her knight in shining armor. She would have it."

What an absolutely delightful romp this was! It was quirky, unique, and just so much fun to read! The historical efforts of seduction had me laughing out loud.

"An accidental peek at a woman's ankle can be more alluring than her naked body"

Each chapter's snippet of the seductive book was as fun as the seduction efforts themselves. Watching the poor couple deal with mixed signals, misinformation, and stubborn adherence to social rules was as funny as it was frustrating. Each time Eugenia came close to overcoming her husband's rigid exterior I found myself on the edge of my seat, reading with anxious delight. Each time she was thwarted, I sighed in exasperation, thinking back to plenty of my own failed attempts at seduction.

Seducing the Marquess gave a wonderful spin in the classic historical, one that had me devouring page after page, some in frustration, some in excitement. What a wonderfully clever idea, and well executed. I loved it! ~ George, 4 Stars
Profile Image for Luana ☆.
727 reviews157 followers
September 16, 2020
3,5⭐
It was repetitive (due to how they were both brought up) but clearly stated how they viewed marriage at that time. How a wife should and should not be treated. What could be said and how to act as a perfect person without any emotions. They showed how a love match was most uncommon. I laughed quite a lot at the beginning. How ridiculous we can be without communication.
Profile Image for Stephanie (Jump).
192 reviews28 followers
July 13, 2017
3 stars
I like the premise but the story just felt repetitive as the couple circle each other. Their conversations and interactions were also flat. There's a lack of real spark.

If you want to read another HR with a very similar premise - wife tries to seduce their husband with the help of a scandalous book, and husband starts to suspect an affair, I would recommend Lessons From a Scarlet Lady
Profile Image for Fizza.
Author 38 books40 followers
October 17, 2016
Since I love romantic comedies and historical romances this book was perfect for me. I enjoyed lighthearted story of Lord and Lady Devon. Both know what they want but are unable to express their needs to each other. Story started in a very interesting way and kept be engrossed until the very end.

Lord Devon has been taught to live a life in a certain way. He doesn't want scandal of any kind. So when he finds a sensible young woman, he considers himself very lucky. His wife is just as proper as she should be. She conducts herself with decorum and grace. So why is that he isn't satisfy in this marriage? There is nothing wrong with lady Devon and still he is always second guessing his choices.

Lady Eugenia is considered to be an Ice Queen. She never shows emotion in public. It will take a lot to rattle her. Everyone is in awe of her control. But people also like to gossip. But truth is that both Lord and Lady Devon are quite liked among the Ton. Eugenia has a perfect husband who respects her and is very discreet about his activities. that's what she wants, isn't it? Even though the life they lead is considered the norm but she is not happy with it. She feels constricted by the expectations of everyone around them, especially her mother. But now she feels that there should be some changes. She would not be dictated by others. She only hopes that her husband feels the same way or else things might get very complicated..

Both Devon and Eugenia are interesting characters. I loved their interactions with each other. It was an humorous telling of two people who want to pave their own path and trying to find a way to communicate with each other. Misunderstandings and expectations will be their worst hurdles. It's a must read for romance lovers. I'm sure you will enjoy it if you don't mind reading about what Ton would've considered scandalous.
Profile Image for Maria Dariotis .
783 reviews17 followers
October 17, 2016
Seducing the Marquees
by Callie Hutton
Lords and Ladies in Love series

London England
October 1819

Lady Eugenia Devon is a proper perfect miss so much so that she was dubbed The Ice Queen! For you see Eugenia did everything right and proper, her hair perfectly coiffed her manners and dress were ever proper nothing scandalous ! She even had the perfect proper courtship required of her.

Married to the perfect man - whom she was head over heels in love - Richard the Marquees of Devon. Married 5 months a perfect ton marriage and the perfect allocated marriage bed visits, until the library visit and the oh so naughty book changed her life ....not so perfect. Richard
had for 5 months a perfect marriage , his mistress now dead he needs to acquire a new mistress as per ton standards, he seriously can't unleash his lust on his perfect wife!

Eugenia has been changing, making his blood boil, hot and bothered seems to be Richards state of late! So much so that he's convinced she's acquired a lover!
Little does he know that proper Eugenia is no more, curtesy of a naughty book!!

The characters are extremely well written and one finds that the passion between them is on the verge of smoldering point.

Will Eugenia keep her secret and succeed in seducing Richard? Can Richard allow him self to succumb to the love that is in his reach? Or will he finally get his mistress?

Callie Hutton's new series is definitely going to become the next hot hot hot read!
I received an ARC from the author at no cost to me and volunteered to read it, my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.
Profile Image for Heather andrews.
9,520 reviews162 followers
October 1, 2016
I loved seeing Devon all flustered, “and. And. And. You cannot wear that.” He gestured toward her. “That is not a proper gown for a married woman!” I loved this book, I loved that Eugenia could drive Devon mad.
Profile Image for Leandra Azer.
330 reviews10 followers
February 8, 2022
"Two o’clock this afternoon. My bedchamber. Page 82. I have everything we need."

2.7 stars.This book was a stark testament to how strict and confining young nobility were raised, and how ingrained it becomes. He was terrified to even kiss her out of bed and she never said what she wanted. I felt bad for the H who hears his fathers lectures in his head and doesn't want to look like a fool for not having a mistress (that he never even sleeps with!) and even worse for the h, with scars on her legs from getting literally whipped into the perfect lady.

Her slow and sometimes painful journey of self discovery and passion was rarely successful (fool of a H who couldn't possibly tup his wife like a mistress!). Although I didn't like how he gaslit her and she accepted it, I realized it's their upbringing.

You'll need plenty of patience for these two, especially since they attend so many balls and events and rarely have honest conversations. But the story was really sweet, the H confused and demanding and the h determined and so naive.

But the end was so very sweet. Overall a nice little read.

Similar books: The perfect mistress, and Her husband's harlot
Profile Image for Bree T.
2,426 reviews100 followers
January 10, 2017
When I read the description of this, I had to request it. A lot of the historical romances I’ve read revolve around the characters falling in love before they marry but in this story, Richard, the Marquess of Devon and his wife, Lady Eugenia have already been married for a few months. Both are impeccably well bred and it’s probably one of those society matches that everyone looks at with approval.

However, Eugenia is slightly dissatisfied with her polite society marriage and she wants more. She wants her husband to fall in love with her, to treat her as more than just a pretty, delicate society wife. When she hears news that her husband’s mistress is no more, she decides that the time has come to attempt to take this marriage a step further, before her husband can find someone else to fill the role. Eugenia wants to be both wife and mistress and she happens upon a useful book that she uses to change her look, just slightly, to attract her husband’s attention as well as for instruction on how to play a more active role in the bedroom.

Like Eugenia, Devon has also been raised a certain way and part of that upbringing was his father impressing upon him very forcefully that your wife is not to be disturbed (sexually) unless it’s for the getting of heirs. You visit politely when necessary and you are quick and perfunctory. Any other needs should be taken care of with one’s mistress, as they don’t possess the delicate sensibilities of ladies. Even though Devon hasn’t actually been with another woman since he married Eugenia (something she’s unaware of) he’s still reluctant to increase the sexual activity….until Eugenia begins acting different, which then makes him assume she’s taken a lover and this is where she’s getting all her new ideas.

I found the idea of Eugenia trying to seduce her own husband quite interesting but the idea itself is kind of limited by Eugenia’s upbringing. She finds a book and uses it for ideas but the ideas themselves are really very quite tame…. doing her hair in a slightly different way and ordering dresses with lower cut bodices make up the majority of it and these are looked upon by Devon as slightly scandalous. He can’t believe so much of his wife’s bosom is on display which is really kind of hilarious, especially as he notes that her dresses aren’t really that low compared to other society ladies. They’re just lower cut than the debutantes and the more modest dresses that she previously wore.

I did enjoy the portrayal of a society marriage where both of them did want more but were caught up by their social constructs to really express properly what it was that they wanted. I think also Devon’s ideas of the sort of wife he wanted, changed quite dramatically after the marriage. He chose to court Eugenia because she was so very cool and composed. Eugenia has a bit of fire beneath that coolness and when it begins to show some months after they’re married, Devon is at first a bit baffled but he’s also really intrigued by this new side of her, even if he does fear that it’s been brought on by her taking a lover.

Unfortunately what I feel let the book down for me was that I didn’t really get too great of a picture of their courtship and relationship prior to marrying and their interactions during their marriage made it hard to really get behind them as a couple. Eugenia gives a few flowery descriptions of how she fell in love with him almost right away but the two of them have very little real personality. Eugenia is kind of well, boring. She’s nothing remarkable, not the sort of character I’ll remember reading about in a month or so and to be honest the same goes for Devon. The most interesting thing about him was that he gave up his mistress after marrying, which was very sweet and probably very unusual. But it’s hard to get excited about two people who lead almost separate lives, coming together for social occasions or on the nights Devon schedules a ‘visit’ to her chambers! I would’ve like a little more spark, even though Eugenia finds the book and all of that, their chemistry was a bit lukewarm for me. I understand this is hard to do when both characters are working through societal expectations etc, but even when their sexual experiences begin to change, it never really felt exciting.

This was an interesting idea and I did enjoy the read, so I’m interested to see where the series goes. It will be quite intriguing if the rest of them are to feature married couples too, because I think there are a lot of ways that you can explore arranged/societal marriages in historical romance but I also think if so, a background does need to be established quite firmly (or the married couple need to interact more, especially in different ways) in order for the reader to really care about the outcome.
Profile Image for MasterSal.
2,463 reviews21 followers
November 28, 2019
This was a cute book from a new author for me which is a plus given the heavy flavour of Romance in my diet. The trope is one of my favourites - a married couple falling in love through the auspicious of the heroine who decides to seduce her husband. The ugly ducking sort of vibe combined with the Magic Makeover usually tickles my fancy and this was no exception.

I do wish there was a little more verve from the hero who is a bit of a sweet idiot. He doesn’t clue in to what is happening till near the end and by then the story had settled into solid three star for me (which is a good rating). A little tighter plotting and a more dynamic hero would have helped - he has all the advantages in the world but is tied to his dead-daddy silly admonitions. It’s like he had never sought advice at all - which given the time period could actually be a thing.

Either way there was enough promise in the writing that I think I will be checking out more from the author and the series.
Profile Image for Deborah.
971 reviews4 followers
October 23, 2016
The blurb of Seducing the Marquess sounded like something I needed to read. Newly married, Lady Eugenia Devon and Richard, Marquess of Devon, have a proper marriage. A marriage of convenience. It is one of respect and affection, but lacks love. Devon's been taught that you take care of your needs with a mistress-not with your gentle wife. But once he's married, he's not interested in a mistress any longer. He only really wants Eugenia. Eugenia, also only wants Devon, so she tries to entice him to fall in love with her after she finds a naughty book. She believes she could have what the book dictates with Devon, so she strives to make it happen.

I liked both the main characters, but I felt the story was caught in a rut. Eugenia follows the book and Devon is responding to her. But then he puts on the brakes and she's trying to figure out what's going on. They both think the other has taken a lover and it keeps that cycle up throughout the book. I wanted them to confront the other and ask what was going on!

It wasn't till the end we finally get some questions answered. I would've rather seen them act out their attraction and then question it after the fact. But given their straight-laced backgrounds, they just didn't know how to buck the rules and chart their own path. Because of this, I wasn't a real fan of the push me, pull me going on.

I have read other works by Callie Hutton and I usually love her stories. This just didn't hit any buttons for me. The story was caught in a rut and there wasn't any fireworks. I myself, prefer a lot more spiciness. If you are a fan of historical romances with just a hint of sex, this is your story.

3 stars/2 flame

This book was gifted to me by the Jeep Diva for the express purpose of an honest review.
Profile Image for Ishara.
559 reviews9 followers
January 2, 2019
Entetraining story but it seemed to drag on a bit too much.
Profile Image for Cynincal.
269 reviews
June 21, 2022
Well, I really enjoyed this. It was very sweet! Yes, it was pretty repetitive and drawn out, but still pretty good.
Profile Image for Lily.
647 reviews21 followers
January 8, 2022
Very fun idea, but you have to accept a lot of silly nonsense to get through it.
Eugenia randomly stumbles upon a dirty book in a store and decides to embark on a mission to seduce her husband. While she was raised to be the kind of proper lady to lie back and wait for sex to be over she longs to share the kind of passionate love described in her new book. Although it was fun to see Eugenia break from the shackles of English propriety to be her own woman, this book tried to do a little too much without bothering to lay down the ground work for it. Such inconsistencies kept me from being completely immersed in the story and took away some great opportunities from the plot.

For example Callie Hutton could have maybe given Eugenia some friends? It would've been more believable if Eugenia had come across her dirty book through a friend or perhaps just given advice by a seasoned widow newly returned from the continent. Finding erotica- especially a written sex guide for ladies- in a bookstore servicing the peerage in a good neighborhood just a short walk from Gunter's and Hyde Park is just not possible. That's very much a Holywell Street kind of find. Plus then the friend who provided the erotica could have her own romance in the next book.

I also felt that the plot and Eugenia could've have benefited from some more stumbling and faux pas. She just reads one book and is suddenly an expert at flirtation and seduction? Not only is that unrealistic. Really who among us doesn't have a bungled flirt story from our youth to cringe at? But this is also a missed opportunity for comedy and charm! A bend and snap with too much snap, an eyelash flutter that looks like you need medical attention, an on-purpose wardrobe malfunction that goes way too far way too fast- oh, the possibilities!

And lastly, while we all love to have a radical blue stocking kind of heroine Eugenia was not set up to be one. She was raised to be very sheltered and proper Englishwoman. Eugenia suddenly having such strong left views and turning her Tory husband Whig after one conversation is just a giant eye roll. At least give some reason for her to be so politically liberal. Perhaps a bluestocking friend who likes to rant about the plight of the people? Or an impoverished friend/servant she grew up with and deeply cares for. Not only would such a friend deepen Eugenia's character, but its another good opportunity to make another spin off book about said friend's romance.
Gah! This book had a lot of potential.
Profile Image for Mommaleena.
678 reviews14 followers
October 17, 2016
Assumptions

Lady Eugenia Devon AKA The Ice Queen's had just heard her nemesis and her husband’s mistress, Mrs. Forestor just died in a carriage accident. She kept her usual cool smile in place until she was alone in her bedchamber, then she wanted to shout with joy! After stealing the book Secrets of the Bedchamber, and learning what passion they could have together. Now was the time to win her husbands attention before he took a new mistress, even though it was common practice. A wife in the early 1800's on the ton in London was to be proper, produce children and run the household. They're not supposed to be passionate or even want it, that's for their husbands mistresses. But Eugenia wanted the love and affection and passion of her husband, *but he still held that a wife was not to be ravished. She was not to enjoy her husband’s attentions. She was far too sensitive and delicate for such. That privilege belonged to a mistress, even though she had shown him otherwise.(*direct book quote).*This was war. She might have lost a battle, but she fully intended to be the victor in the end.(*direct book quote).
Marquess of Devon heard of the death of his former mistress while sitting in his club. Ever since the night before he married Eugenia, he and Margaret had not had sex. They had been friends, played cards and talked. He just couldn't think or bed of another woman other than his wife. Eugenia has started acting weird, changing her gowns, her hair and she hasn't even left room on her dance card for him! After reading a gossip column in the newspaper, he's convinced she's taken a lover.
Will Devon and Eugenia ever get past their assumptions and come to terms of the love and passion they share for each other, or will they continue to be frustrated? You'll have to read SEDUCING THE MARQUESS to find out. This historical romance novel was a delight to read, I enjoyed watching Eugenia grow and even question her husband who thought he knew what was right for their country. This was my first Callie Hutton book, but I enjoyed the twists and passion she added to this historical romance, I look forward to reading more of her work. I received an ARC copy via IndieSagePR through NetGalley in exchange for a blog tour review. Due to sexual situations, this historic romance novel is recommended for readers 17 and over.

FAVORITE PASSAGES~
-This was war. She might have lost a battle, but she fully intended to be the victor in the end.
Profile Image for Kristen.
2,094 reviews161 followers
February 25, 2018
In Callie Hutton's Seducing the Marquess, the first installment in the Lord and Ladies in Love historical romance series, this introduction would leave you hot and bothered to start a scandal of your own. After Eugenia's husband's mistress dies, she's more than relieved to have him for herself. But when she perused a local bookstore, she picked up a book of a scandalous nature and plans to start seducing him. For Lord Devon, he notices the changes in Eugenia's behavior and picks up on it. His daily visits to her bedroom becomes more than often than usual. With every chapter and page in the book, Eugenia could hope but wonder to have Devon's attention in more ways than one... even if she had to dress down. And when she had gotten injured from falling from her horse, he cared for her and not the way she wanted. Instead of this marriage of convenience, she wants it to be more of love and provide him a heir or two. Later, she turned up the heat in the seductions, which did nothing but make tongue wag and men drool over her. And it made him wonder, if she had taken up a lover of her own. When nothing worked to her advantage, Eugenia heads to the countryside in Devonshire. Now it would be up to Devon to tell her about his feelings before he loses her completely.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,929 reviews172 followers
October 15, 2016
A decadent tale of love lust and blatant sensuality are the words to best sum up Seducing the Marquess. Can a marriage built on etiquette survive the storm brewing behind closed Doors? Eugenia is willing to break all the rules in order to gain her husband love, but will she end up breaking her own heart in the process? Bring on the naughty. It's getting hot in here. Passion, confusion and romance are the driving force behind this steamy but magnetic love story.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,484 reviews215 followers
September 14, 2020
Not one of her better books. This was a so so read. I've never seen such a clueless husband. Though I do like the seducer being the woman, that's a first in romance novels. Our lovebirds have live and respect for one another and were raised for ton marriages. I liked that hr wants her husband sexually and finds a book to help accomplish her goal. The book would have been better if the clueless husband had figured it out sooner.
Profile Image for Brittany.
3,520 reviews27 followers
October 10, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a very good read. It was entertaining and just made me laugh. I enjoyed the read so much. The characters were great. I just wish that he was less of a jerk. The two just needed to have a conversation and thing could have gone better for them. I do look forward to more from this author!!
Profile Image for EvilAntie Jan.
1,590 reviews13 followers
January 1, 2017
Recency novels not my top choice but Callie Hutton has...

Made me a fan. I don't know if it is the constraints of society or the games people had to play that I just don't care for that said, Callie Hutton's characters are enchanting and are stuff that true love is made of- it was a good read.
Profile Image for Mindy.
2,093 reviews4 followers
July 16, 2022
Very Very Good Story!

Eugenia and Devon made for a wonderful story. I loved the characters and storyline so much. Only a few laughs but I enjoyed this immensely. On to the next story. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜
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