Drawn to the Marquess

Imperfect Lords #2

by Bronwen Evans

Destined to go blind, a rake sets his sights on the toast of society, lighting a fire of passion that scorches the night.

Stephen Hornsby, the Marquess of Clevedon, has one goal: to see every exquisite thing he can before he goes blind. His greatest joy, watching a woman shuddering in the throes of passion, will be gone. But before the darkness descends, he is determined to seduce a magnificent widow, Lady Penelope Fisherton. Unfortunately, his rakish reputation has preceded him; Lady Penelope spurns his advances. Being a man who relishes a challenge, however, her reluctance adds only luster to his desire for the last beautiful sight he’ll ever see.

Considered the belle of London society, Lady Penelope was married to a scoundrel who cared for no one but himself. Now that she’s free, she wants nothing to do with love, passion, or desire—emotions that abandoned her with a cruel husband. So why does her body react when Stephen smiles? As much as she’d like to avoid the rogue, her brother-in-law wants her fortune, and he’ll kill to get it. Stephen is willing to help, but he’ll take only one thing in return: Her. In his bed.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Ebooks

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2018

About the author

USA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Evans is a three-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with her dogs Brandy and Duke.

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Reviews

[Blackjack · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic of hereditary blindness is central to this romance, and unlike the vast majority of stories I've read where the heroine is blind and the hero is there to care for her and love her despite her disability, this book creates a hero with a degenerative eye condition that is slowly taking his sight away from him with each passing year. I found the research into macular degeneration to be quite interesting and, more importantly, it allows the author to explore themes of coping with disabilities that I found very compelling.

At the start of the novel, Penelope positions herself in a public setting to catch the eye of the hero. She is in need of Stephen's keen sleuthing experiences as a former spy to help clear her name and reputation after the untimely and mysterious death of her abusive husband. Stephen is quick to agree to help Penelope, as he is drawn to beautiful things and relishes every last minute of life with eyesight to absorb the beauty around him. Despite Penelope's warning that their relationship is to be a business one only, Stephen assures her that seduction is a non-negotiable part of their agreement. He also assures her early in their relationship that love and marriage and children are not something he can ever undertake. All of these assurances quickly fly out the window though once the two set out to uncover the mystery of Penelope's dead husband.

Despite an auspicious start to this book, I grew rather tired of Stephen's repetitious musings on how he could never marry and produce an heir because his blindness would be a burden and his offspring would become blind. Penelope too is hiding something from Stephen and her repetitive internal dialogue about how Stephen would hate her once he discovered the truth grew tiresome. It was also confusing because she is the person who sought super-sleuth Stephen out to discover the truth, but apparently if he found out the truth, he would hate her. That issue never really was resolved well, but it did create an unfortunate impending sense of doom by the last quarter of the book as we await Stephen's discovery of Penelope's big secret. There was nothing subtle about the plotting of this book and Stephen's wrath when it arrives is a relief to just get it out of the way. Finally, I felt annoyed by how quickly the couple jump into bed with each other, and how quickly the topic of love and marriage emerges. Stephen at the start of the book is a confirmed bachelor, but at the halfway mark he is debating marriage and children with Penelope.

I return in the end though to the treatment of disability in this book, which really was for me its saving grace. Once Stephen opens up to Penelope about his condition, suddenly everyone around them -- friends and family alike -- are informed and everyone has an opinion on what living with blindness could mean. I think more than any other disability, blindness seems so terrifying, and the author does a really nice job depicting Stephen's fears. He fears having to give up his freedom and independence, of having to rely on a partner to get through life, of not being able to appreciate the world around him, of not perceiving Penelope's love if he cannot literally view her expressions. All of Stephen's fears felt genuine and reasonable. Friends and loved ones offer good insights too on how in life we do our best to love our children and hope for good things for them, but that in the end, doing our best to love someone has to be enough. Controlling life's events is beyond human capacity. I enjoyed these conversations that are part optimism and part fatalism. Unfortunately, I just did not really enjoy the romance as much as I had hoped.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawn to the Marquess by Bronwen Evans is book Two in the Imperfect Lords series. This is the story of Stephen Hornsby, the Marquess of Clevedon and Penelope 'Pen' Fisherton. I have read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Pen brother-in-law is out to get her money and frame her for her husband's death. Thinking her only hope who be Stephen she goes forward to try to buy a painting he wants so that she can make a deal with him. Stephen is very passionate about all things of beauty due to his father's loss of site and his lost of site that is pending. But one thing of beauty is Pen and he comes to a bargain that he will help her if she allows him to try and seduce her. After such a bad marriage Pen is sure that she cannot be seduced but Stephen is hard to resist alone with her growing feelings.
Enjoyed reading their story!

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 3.5 Stars ***
What a lovely surprise to find that this book wasn’t dark and intense – as most of this author’s books are. The book is well written and moves steadily along. We had cameo visits from Alex and Hestia from the first book in the series, Addicted To The Duke, and it was lovely to catch up with them and their son Christopher. The two main characters in this book are flawed, filled with secrets and are afraid of love. It is nice to see them find their HEA. While the book is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Lady Penelope "Pen" Fisherton is in a bit of a precarious position at the moment and she needs an investigator to clear her name. Her husband, Lord Carmichael, was a vile man who was into some really nasty smuggling and her brother-in-law, Lord Rotham, wants to implicate her in Carmichael’s death. That would allow Rotham to inherit all of her property and wealth – and she would be charged with murder. Pen has done her research and has decided that Lord Clevedon is just the man she needs to help her. Through her research, she learned that Clevedon wants, very badly, to win a painting that is coming up at auction. It is her plan to outbid him at the auction and then offer him the painting in return for clearing her name.

Stephen Hornsby, the Marquess of Clevedon, is a rake, a spy and a lover of beauty in all its forms – especially the female one. Stephen is also slowly going blind just as his father did before him. He’s seen all of the doctors and they all say the same thing. It is a disease that runs in families and since the symptoms have presented themselves, he will continue to lose his sight. If he is lucky, he won’t go totally blind, but that doesn’t give him any hope. He is already to the point where he can only see what is directly in front of him and he is almost totally blind when the light is low. His plan is to see and appreciate all of the beauty he can while he can still see it and then, to take the same route his father did when he totally loses his sight. There is a painting by a relatively uncollected painter coming up for auction and it is the best painting of a sunrise he has ever seen, so he must have it. Imagine his surprise when there is a beautiful woman trying to outbid him! Well, there was no way she was going to win, he’d pay whatever he had to in order to get the painting.

With her first plan thwarted, Pen decides to intrigue him – and she certainly succeeds there. When he visits her at her home to gift her with the painting, she tells him about her plot with the painting and asks for his help. He agrees – if she will allow him to try to seduce her. The story is off and running after that. The investigation soon turns up some of the vile things her husband was guilty of, but finding proof was more difficult. As they investigated, they became closer and closer and decided that love might actually be an option after all. There are many fits and starts to their romance and it almost comes totally undone, but it was nice to see their well-earned HEA.

There were some inconsistencies and title errors, etc. but I assume those will be repaired prior to the release of the book. I guess the real reason for the 3.5 star rating is that I had a hard time buying the plot. It didn’t make any sense that Pen would request Stephen’s help without telling him the truth. I mean, he was a spy for the crown and was a good investigator, did she honestly think he wouldn’t unearth her big secret? I also never understood the thing with the local magistrate – it was left unresolved. Was the magistrate corrupt, just doing a poor job or trying to cover up something? I also would have liked to see Stephen sit down and talk with his mother about his father’s suicide.

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"I requested and received this e-book 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."

[Amy ~ Love At 1st Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love flawed characters. For me, their flaws make them more relatable. And definitely more deserving of their happily ever after. In Drawn to the Marquess, Bronwen Evans latest addition to her Imperfect Lords series, Stephen and Penelope each have their flaws. And those imperfections make them absolutely perfect for one another.

To the world Stephen Hornsby, Marquess of Clevedon, looked “as if God had bestowed perfection upon him, but his outer shell hid his faults”. The fact that he was going blind, like his father before him, was his own private hell. To live in a dark world devoid of beauty was a punishment worse than death. So he made it his goal to see every exquisite thing before he lost his sight. And he was determined to see Lady Penelope Fisherton shuddering in the throes of passion before his world went dark.
Penelope’s husband, Carmichael, had died under suspicious circumstances. Though her late husband was vile and cruel, at least he left everything to her in his will. But Penelope’s brother in law was trying to implicate her in Carmichael’s death so he could inherit it all. Lord Clevedon had the skills and affront to help her. He’d been a spy for the crown and had quite the reputation for uncovering secrets. He was just who she needed to cast doubt on her brother in law’s claims. But rake that he was, Stephen had a proposition. He’d aid her in clearing her name if she let him attempt to seduce her. Penelope had lost everything because she’d let a cad seduce her. She’d learned her lesson well. Never again would a man have power over her. Rich, powerful, and handsome, Lord Clevedon may be a sin to be indulged but he was definitely a man never to bestow her heart upon.
Penelope thought she’d be immune to Stephen’s attempts but her body was urging her to acknowledge feelings she knew would only lead to trouble. Feelings she’d thought long killed beneath her self- disgust. Though she longed to have a family, after Carmichael she vowed never to marry again. But one kiss from Stephen made her doubt the plan she’d mapped out for her life.
Stephen liked Penelope. He desired her. He wanted to help her. But he couldn’t let himself feel anything for her other than desire. He’d only wanted pleasure but was quickly feeling much more. He refused to be a burden to anyone and he certainly didn’t want to pass his fate on to children. No wife. No family. Once he proved Penelope innocent, he’d walk away.
Stephen and Penelope came together with entirely different purposes at first. For Penelope, he was a means to an end. The help she needed in keeping what was rightfully hers. For Stephen, she was something to add to his collection of beautiful things. A precious memory to look back on when darkness overtook him. It didn’t take long before their hearts were involved though. Stephen was pretty irresistible. I loved how frank he was about his sexual appetites. He was a wicked flirt and his subtle innuendo was delicious. He lived for pleasure, which Penelope had never experienced. Soon his goal was no longer about adding to his memories, but about showing her how wonderful passion could be. Penelope, though she seemed bitter at first, was really a loving person. She did so much to help the people of her town. She cared about them and they cared for her as well. I loved that she didn’t pity Stephen for the fate that awaited him. She treated him as a man and tried to show him that not only could he survive as a blind man, he could thrive. The only obstacle in their way was the fact that she wanted children and he refused to possibly pass his condition on. It is said there’s none so blind as those who will not see. But once they let their hearts rule instead of their fears, they saw what was plain to me from the beginning. They were perfect for each other.
Bronwen Evans does an excellent job of blending emotional characters with passionate sensuality in this story. This book is a charming blend of romance and mystery. The entire quest to determine what really happened to Carmichael was intriguing and was instrumental in bringing Stephen and Penelope together. I loved that Alex and Hestia, characters from the first book in this series, had a hand in figuring it all out. If you like a little intrigue, a few secrets, and lots of passion, you’ll love Drawn to the Marquess.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Penelope "Pen" Fisherton needs help clearing her name, her brother in law, Lord Rotham wants her inheritance and has accused Penelope of killing her husband. If his accusations are proven, Penelope will be charged with murder and Rotham will claim her fortune for himself. She has come to London from Essex to bribe Stephen Hornsby, the Marquess of Clevedon into helping her. Stephen is a spy, a rake and a lover of beauty, Penelope plans to outbid him on a painting he wants and use it as leverage to get him to help her.

Stephen has a secret, he is going blind just as his father before him, as a lover of beauty, this terrifies him, the painting of a sunrise is especially lovely and he wants it so he can burn the image in his mind before he loses his sight. He is surprised by the beautiful woman bidding against him, but wins the painting. Intrigued by her, he tracks her down, to give her the painting. And when he meets her, he learns why she wanted it. He agrees to help her on one condition - she will let him try to seduce her. She agrees, but has no plans of letting him succeed.

Stephen needs more information and goes to see her brother, the Duke of Sandringham, he learns about Pen's unhappy marriage and Carmichaels untimely death. He tells Pen they will need to go to Essex and she agrees. On the trip, he begins his seduction and she is upset to learn that she is not as immune as she thought. They stay with his sister, who is married to Pen's dear friend Jonathan, and both of them are a bit envious of the couples obvious love. By the time they reach her home, she has figured out his secret and confronts him. A talk with his sister, makes him realize how selfish he has been regarding his plans for when his sight finally fails. He returns to the house to find Pen waiting for him. They talk and Pen seduces him.

They are falling in love and they discuss marriage, but Stephen still needs to clear Pen's name. His investigation turns up information about Carmichael that is truly shocking and nearly gets him killed. Pen cares for him while he is injured, she knows that she should tell him the secret she has been keeping from him, but is scared he will think she used him, she uses the time together to prove to him that she loves him. When he is healed, he leaves to go to London to speak to the magistrate, he will clear her name and return to her to marry.

But while staying with his sister on his return, he gets a note that changes everything. He returns to Pen, but instead of the loving reunion she expected, Stephen accuses her of using and betraying him. The HEA she envisioned crumbles before her eyes. She tries to explain, but his insecurities lead him to believe the worst. She is heartbroken and desperate to prove to him her love is true, but her past catches up to her before she can find him and it may be too late.

This is a well written book (there were a few inconsistencies and title errors, but I assume that they will be corrected prior to publication) that moves at a steady pace. Stephen and Penelope are both flawed, broken people who don't believe that love is their destiny, but as they get to know each other, they find love and because of their insecurities, almost lose it. There are cameos with Alex & Hestia, steamy love scenes, a nail biting ending, a hard won HEA and a very sweet epilogue. I liked the book but honestly, I really, really had a hard time buying the plot, it made no sense to me why Pen would seek out Stephen's help without telling him her secret or why she would want him to investigate in the first place. I don't feel like that aspect of the story was ever explained and it left me feeling confused. This is the second book in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Widowed a year before, Lady Penelope Fisherton had thought that she would finally be at peace. Unfortunately, her brother-in-law Lord Rotham now wants her accused of her late husband’s death. She had found the man who could help her in her quest for proving her innocence: Stephen Hornsby, Marquess of Clevedon. Knowing of his penchant for art, she intends to outwit him at an auction. She knew he was a consummate rake, which she could exploit to her advantage, but she wasn’t prepared for her attraction to the man. However, Stephen was even more stunned at her beauty than she was at his. Stephen is slowly losing his eyesight, and upon being told what she wants from him, he agrees to help her on the condition that she accepts to let him try to seduce her.

Even though I love Bronwen Evans, I was a tad apprehensive at the blurb, sensing a overly predatory male, and I was very pleased that I was proved wrong in the very first pages. Stephen is an unrepentant rake, but he does behave honourably. I loved that Penelope and Stephen were surprisingly evenly matched on about everything: both witty and clever, he was truly a man of his word and didn’t push her; she merely let herself acknowledge her lust for him. I wasn’t sure if I agreed with his view on his illness, but this was dealt with beautifully; he was stubborn, but not irritatingly so.

There isn’t anything really specific that brought my rating down, apart from Penelope’s utter stupidity at not telling Stephen a vital piece of information; he was furious, and rightly so. It was more several little things that, in the end, added up. The slower pace didn’t bother me until the second half of the book, where there were a few unnecessary repetitions which slowed down the narrative a tad; there were several inconsistencies; a couple of facts of dubious historical accuracy; some incongruous vocabulary choices and a few questionable verb tenses. As I said, it was nothing major, but it did put a damper on my enthusiasm for what is an otherwise excellent romance, which progressed very smoothly and realistically. I also loved how well Stephen’s vision problem was handled and how it led to character growth on both sides and interesting conversations between several of the characters, amongst them Jonathan who was just wonderful. In spite of my misgivings, DRAWN TO THE MARQUESS is a very interesting book, and as always I will be looking forward to Ms. Evans’ future endeavours because she never fails to engage me, to unsettle me sometimes, and to push the envelope where historical romance is concerned.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Full review to come.

[Book Binge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Penelope Fisherton’s husband died under suspicious circumstances. His brother, the one who will inherit the title, is saying that Penelope had a hand in it. He’s mostly saying that because if Penelope is found guilty, he will inherit all the money that was left to her and not him. Penelope enlists the assistance of Stephen Hornsby to investigate.

Stephen is a man who is tormented. He is slowly going blind and hates it. He wants to appreciate all of the beauty he can before he can’t see any longer. When he sees Penelope he’s intrigued by her. When he finds out that she’s bidding on a painting that he wants, he’s even more intrigued. When they finally meet Stephen is besotted with her beauty. He agrees to help her investigate her husband’s death if she will allow him the opportunity to seduce her. She feels that she can never be seduced but she’s wrong.

I was pretty excited to read this book because, flawed hero, right? Sadly, I didn’t like it as much as I wanted to. There were many things about the book that I didn’t care for, but the main issue was that I felt nothing for the heroine and the hero together. There was no spark, not emotion – even when they were supposedly falling for each other. I have a big problem with emotionless romance books – it can’t be just me. I also had issue with the fact that the big conflict in the story was that Stephen knew that Penelope was keeping something from him and lying to him, but when he gets proof that she lied he’s totally upset and pissed off. Why was he so shocked? He knew she was lying all along. Sure, you probably hoped she wasn’t but come on, you kept thinking it, why would you be so pissed off when you get proof positive? It was ridiculous.

The story took a turn that I wasn’t expecting, and I didn’t care for it. I’ve read a string of books lately where the previous husband was a control freak and/or an abuser of some sort – emotional/verbal as well as physical. One of the parts of this book was that Penelope was set on having her independence and therefore didn’t want to get caught up with Stephen. She wanted her independence because her dead husband was such a shit. Makes sense, but I felt that the author made the dead husband way worse than he needed to be only to justify the heroine wanting her independence. There are lots of ways to make a heroine a strong, independent woman without making her an abuse victim. Maybe it’s just me who thinks that.

In the end I just didn’t care for the book. It dragged at times and I couldn’t like it in the end.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received a copy for free from NetGalley for an honest review**

I’ve read a few books by his author and enjoy her writing style. I love characters with flaws and major personal uphill battles. Penelope has a horrendous past to overcome and Stephen has an uncertain future. I enjoyed the personal journey each character took and I think the author did a good job showing character growth. Where I struggled with the book was in the romantic aspect of the story. The development of the relationship between Penelope and Stephen seemed formulaic. The pacing of the relationship was fine, I just didn’t feel as invested in their romantic relationship as I have been with some of her other books. There were also some plot holes that detracted from story. All in all it was a solid read, but I enjoyed and felt more connected to her previous works.

[Laura J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive story of a romance between two beautiful people

Penelope is a beautiful widow whose brother-in-law is trying to frame her for her husband’s death. Stephen is a hunky aristocrat and a rake. He has one night stands with beautiful women and moves on. The only interesting thing about him is that he likes to watch. Pen asks Stephen to help clear her of suspicion of her husband’s murder. Stephen has an interesting secret which is revealed in the first chapter and Pen has a not-so-secret secret which is revealed at the end. There’s plenty of sex scenes which got boring after awhile. Overall, a 2 star read.

[Sheila Melo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. 

FINAL DECISION: I enjoyed this book because the focus, besides the obvious romance, is on these two characters who are damaged and yet find in one another a reason to move beyond their fears.

THE STORY: Stephen Hornsby, Marquess of Clevedon, is determined to see everything he can before he goes blind. When he bids for a painting, he finds his competition is a beautiful widow, Lady Penelope. Stephen is determined to experience the beauty of seeing Penelope naked and in passion. Penelope has her own motives. She needs Stephen's help. She certainly isn't interested in becoming another conquest for the determined rake. She already was married to a man who betrayed and used her emotions and dreams against her. She will never get involved with another man and risk herself or her emotions.

OPINION: I admit to being a sucker for a damaged hero. Stephen struggles with his increasing blindness. It makes him question just about everything about himself. I liked his journey throughout the book as he discovers what is important about himself -- both in his own eyes and in those around him. Balancing his "weakness" with his strength as a hero was done skillfully demonstrating that any weakness that Stephen senses in himself doesn't overwhelm all the strengths he has. I especially loved that Penelope flat out tells him that he is strong enough to overcome his challenges.

Penelope is a woman of strength and determination. She has a horrible past, but she has not allowed it to make her cower in fear. Instead, she has built a life for herself and intends on doing what is right no matter the consequences.

The dynamic between Penelope and Stephen was interesting because the need for reassurance that each needs ebbs and flows with the events in the story. I liked that about the couple. They both don't want to trust, they both have fears and they both have to open themselves up to the possibility of being hurt.

The plot of the story about the death of Penelope's husband serves its purpose in the story. I wasn't particularly interested in the resolution, but it did push Stephen and Penelope into situations which challenged them individually and as a couple.

WORTH MENTIONING: For readers of ADDICTED TO THE DUKE, we get a nice little update on Alex and Hestia.

CONNECTED BOOKS: DRAWN TO THE MARQUESS is the second book in the Imperfect Lords series. This book has overlapping characters, but the romance is completely separate and can be read as standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to help prepare this review. I was not required to write a review and I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

 This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com

[Amy Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Stephen and Penelope's story!!

Penelope needs Stephen's help and comes up with a plan to get him to comply. Unfortunately, her plan doesn't work and she is left with no leverage to get him to help her. He, however, tell her if he is given the opportunity to try and seduce her, he will help her with her problem. Having already been taken in by someone else that seduced her, Penelope believes that she has the strength to resist Stephen.

Stephen is going blind and likes nothing more than to spend him time taking in all the beautiful things around him. That includes beautiful woman and how they look when he is seducing them. When Penelope's plan to get him to help her didn't work, he came up with his own solution. He helps her and she gives him another memory to hold on to when he goes blind.

Neither one of them is looking for love, but they say it comes when you are not looking for it. Can each of them get past their problems to find their HEA that neither was looking for.

This latest addition to the Imperfect Lords series was perfect!! I loved both Stephen and Penelope. There were so many times throughout the story that my heart broke for each of them. This is definitely a must read for any historical romance lover!! I can't wait for the next book in the series!! It comes out in February!

[Lourdes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Marquess of Clevedon is a man who loves to admire beauty in all his forms and when an unknown lady tries to win a painting he wants at an auction, he’ll find the focus of his interest dramatically shifted.
When Lady Penelope Fisherton finds herself in trouble, she will try to enlist the help of the ill reputed Marquess by any means possible, but once she realizes there’s more to him than the rumors of the ton, she’ll have to decide whether to reveal all her secrets and maybe lose her chance at true love.
I liked this story a little better than the first one, but again struggled with Ms. Evans writing style and ended up finding the book redundant and over the top. It is still a rather original story and I think others might enjoy it, but at the end of the day, I think this author’s work is not my cup of tea.

2.5 stars
*A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley*

[Kathleen Crowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this storyline and it took me a long time to finish. First I thought the voyeuristic aspect was kind of creepy--even with the explanation of Stephen's vision condition. I personally don't enjoy the prim, damaged heroine who becomes a sex goddess overnight. The trafficking of young girls was weird and the idea that she might've killed her obviously creepy husband (obvious to everyone but her at least about his proclivity for young girls) was annoying--who cares if she killed the guy! Everyone knew he was a creep and that she couldn't possibly have know what he was up to. My biggest pet peeve in any story--stupid, I admit! Is when the male lead starts calling the woman he has known for all of 2 weeks by a nickname--in this case he refers to her as "Pen" so often at the end of the book I want to gag!

[eyes.2c · Rating 3 out of 5]

The widow besieged!

A lovely widow and a lustful Marquess. Stephen Hornsby, the Marquess of Clevedon, is going blind. His answer? To seek extraordinary interludes with beautiful women, searing them into his memory.
Lady Penelope Fisherton is the pinnacle he desires to conquer.
Penelope has had enough of scoundrels and wants to enjoy her freedom without complications. But there's an overriding dilemma. Penelope has a brother-in-law who wants her fortune and is none to particular how he comes by it. The situation is ripe for some interesting, nay even steamy happenstances, along with some downright threatening instances.
An enjoyable read.

A NetGalley ARC

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a first time read for me by Bronwen Evans and as such, she has a well-written novel with the romance I was seeking. It doesn’t hurt to have a handsome man on the book cover to draw you in as a reader.

I also liked the fact that Stephen and Penelope are “damaged goods” based on the unfortunate circumstances that life has thrown at them. Needing each other, they work together to overcome the thing that has threaten to move them forward…which is fear.

The story is filled with secrets - the Marquess eyesight condition that could potentially leave him blind and helpless, and the hush hush whispers related to Penelope’s husband’s death. Both major characters have sworn never to marry again because of their secrets but somehow the two are thrown together resulting in a lustful, passionate love affair.

The plot and action were great and had its share of intrigue, twists and underlying event that may not go over well with some readers. I loved the banter that strengthen the attraction between Stephen and Penelope. I did like how the story was written to show that Stephen never let his failing eyes make him appear weak and Penelope’s horrible past leaving her as a strong and determined woman.

What was disappointing was the quid pro quo undertone…in order to help her she would have to be seduced by him. That reduced his character a little for me although it wasn’t blatantly put in the story by the author. In addition, I love a good steamy sex scene while reading and thought that the intimacy was a bit overkill and unfeeling because some scenes did not show the tenderness that I thought should be an intricate part of lovemaking.

4-Stars......Overall, it was an enjoyable historical romance that I had a hard time putting down until I got to the end. Will I read more from this author...a definitely yes. I recommend this book to historical readers who enjoy steamy love scenes, a bit of mystery and a HEA.

ARC received by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

[Debbie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Hornsby, the Marquess of Clevedon knows he’s going blind the same as his father so his whole goal in life is to see every exquisite thing he can before he goes blind. He’s living with going blind, like his father before him, living his own private hell and when he sees a mysterious woman at the auction house he becomes quite intrigued by her. He’s turned into quite the womanizer when one of his greatest joy is watching a woman shuddering in the throes of passion.
Lady Penelope Fisherton aka Pen, was married to a scoundrel and has no desire to ever marry again, she’s enjoying the freedom of being a widow. But she Stephen’s needs help to find out who murdered her husband. Pen’s brother-in-law is out to get her money and frame her for her husband's death. Stephen’s has a bargain of his own to make with her she must allow him to try and seduce her. Pen is not worried her passions have never been inflamed so she agrees to the bargain to gain his help. This is a captivating story of a man going blind wanting to enjoy the simple things in life, a beautiful painting, sunrise and sunset and most especially a beautiful woman and he’s captivated by Pen a woman who has never know passion with a caring giving man. This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

[Em]

DNF.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a burden to carry for Stephen. I loved how Penelope was able to see beyond that burden. When misunderstandings and unspoken words threatened to tear apart this couple, my heart hurt. I loved their chemistry, their ability to see more than what was right in front of them, as well as the honest and steamy scenes between the two of them. Great descriptions and emotion. I recommend this story.

I received an ARC of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hugely uneven. In two words, this describes Drawn to the Marquess. I love the idea behind the series, “Imperfect Lords,” which I just discovered and am guessing that the other two books are going to deal with slightly imperfect (sic) lords as well. I like the idea of aristos without perfection.

Stephen Cameron Hornsby, the Marquess of Clevedon, is going blind, just like his father before him, and it unnerves him. It makes sense that it would. It’s a scary thing. His father, however, rather than deal with the issue and overcome it, committed suicide, leaving behind a grieving widow and young son and daughter, to deal with the aftermath. Stephen is considering that way out, as well. He is now on a quest to see everything he can and to enjoy everything he sees, be it a beautiful sunset or women in the throes of passion. Yes, he is a rake, and a passionate one. Sight rules his senses, and he cannot think of a way of living without it. Suicide seems his best choice and he’s thinking of how he’ll manage it.

Enter Lady Penelope Fisherton, a widow seeking his services to help stop her deceased husband’s brother from investigating her husband’s death. Initially ruled an accident, her brother-in-law, Lord Rotham, has forced the magistrate to reopen and reevaluate his death. As it turns out, Lord Rotham wants her estates, left to her by her husband.

Both protagonists have secrets. This book is full of them. His deal with his pending blindness and likely suicide, hers with something in her past (I won’t spoil the story by spilling it here).

When they meet, it’s lust at first sight. That’s expected from the rake. However, the writer repeatedly tells us how Penelope had been so abused by her husband that passion would not get the better of her. She affirms to herself that she will keep her passions under wraps and not let herself get tangled up with the extraordinarily handsome (well, of course) marquess. So, naturally, she gets caught up in his thrall. While Penelope assures herself that “She never ever would let her body lead her astray again,” she still lusts after Stephen. I’m unsure what that “again” is all about. She feared her husband and hated sex with him. There’s no indication that she’s taken lovers, so when did she learn her body could lead her astray? (Just wondering…) Penelope cannot help herself; she gets hot and bothered by the marquess and must have him.
Sidebar: I would like to state categorically that it would be supremely wonderful to have a heroine who does not get a jolt to her loins as soon as she sets eyes on the hero. Please. Why do heroines have such round heels? A little getting-to-know-him first would be appreciated!

There are some scratch-your-head moments. For instance, stopping at a coaching inn for the night, Penelope takes a bath before dinner. After dinner, she takes a bath. I think this is an editing error. Stephen’s seduction needed to include a bathing scene so he could watch her bathing after dinner. The first bath should probably have been edited out.

Penelope is written as a level-headed, intelligent woman who does not give in to panic. So, it is jarring when we read, “She’d been so lost in her panic about sharing a carriage with him that she had not noticed the carriage had stopped.” I don’t think so. Penelope had been riding in the carriage for hours and even well fitted, it would be a bumpy ride. She would have noticed when they stopped for the night. And…she isn’t one given to panic. This is demonstrated several times in the book. The sentence is inconsistent with her character.

At one point, we’re told Penelope “…tried not to dwell on what it would be like squashed in the carriage with his enticing masculinity…” First, he’s tall and broad shouldered (of course), but he wouldn’t squash her unless in the throes of passion, perhaps. Secondly, her maid/companion is traveling with them.

Another source of irritation in many romance novels, most definitely including this one, is how empty, incomplete, and unfulfilled heroines are unless they have a baby, or many babies. Yes, these are regency times, and aristocratic women are raised to create heirs and spares…but…we’ve got a feisty heroine who has done many good turns for her village and our hero is certain that it’s because the people are just surrogate children to her. That is an insult.

There are a few errors (not many); for instance:
 A comma is misplaced: “…to speak to the magistrate ,who would return…” It should be, “…the magistrate, who would return…”
 A typo changes the meaning of a sentence: “I know you love your bother.” Pretty funny, but this should read, “I know you love your brother.”
 Another typo halts the reader just for a moment: “…take you nourishment.” That should read, “…take your nourishment.”

Not an error, precisely, but there is an inconvenience when reading this book: it’s the lack of breaks between scenes. One scene ends and another begins immediately and the two merge in odd ways so that the reader must pull out of the story and examine the paragraphs to figure out if another character has popped in, or if a change in topic of conversation has occurred, or if it’s an incongruous change of scene. Here’s an example:

…He had two of his men keeping watch. He told them that when they saw an opportunity they should take her.
Until then, he would be patient.
Penelope knew that Stephen would be arriving sometime this morning.

These are two scenes involving different people in different locations going about different activities. A break in the text would have made this obvious. As it stands, it’s impossible to know that there’s been a scene change until the reading becomes nonsensical. Manuscript formatting offers break indicators. I think the writer should take advantage of them.

Here’s another example where a scene break would help the poor reader:

…They would be sitting targets in the water.
“Then we might as well take him in the caves. It will be safer,” Stephen conceded.
The swim was tougher than she’d imagined. She had not taken into account that she’d not been partaking of her normal daily swim for a few weeks now.

These are two different scenes and initially, a reader is hard pressed to see it until they’ve reached a conclusion that there’s been some sort of shift in viewpoint.

And a final example (although the book is filled with these reading “stoppers”):

He nodded. “That is probably for the best. Be careful, my friend. Hestia would never forgive me if anything happened to you.”
Penelope changed into dry clothes as fast as she could. They had just clambered back onto Mrs. Hennessey’s cart when Craig came racing around the corner.

These are two different scenes and it’s impossible to know this until the new scene becomes confusing in contrast to the previous one. Most irritating!

There is a disconnect when Stephen and his friends, some of whom have served in the military (as had Stephen), are indecisive about how to capture the villains. The writer tells us, “The men couldn’t agree on a plan. Someone had to make a decision.” What an odd situation. The men know how to command and how to execute an order. With their experiences, why are they having such a hard time?

Another disconnect occurs when Penelope, who has just crawled—literally—through a tight spot, becomes oddly (and not believably) confused. The writer tells us, “…she’d forgotten that the gap to slip through was small and they could not fit through the crack.” No. She would not have forgotten something so important and so very recent. Harrumph!

One of the most ridiculous disconnects, however, happens when Stephen has the audacity to be angry with Penelope about a lie she told him. He has known she was holding something back since they first met; he’s commented on it, thought about it, and the writer has mentioned it numerous times. His character is not unintelligent. For Stephen, the lie would have allowed the pieces to fall into place and he’d have been satisfied to have finally gotten to the truth. He’s a logical thinker and would not have been bowled over by her lie. I think Stephen would have figured it out on his own if the writer had allowed him to use his intellect. It felt like a forced situation, the purpose of which was to create conflict between Stephen and Penelope. Shame and a thump on the head to the writer.

I rated this book 2-stars. The lack of breaks between scenes was a constant irritation. One of the biggest problems is the overwriting. There is a great deal of unnecessary repetition. Readers are proficient at remembering what drives the protagonists and the same thoughts do not need to be repeated over and over. Every word is not golden, and it appears that either this book was not edited, or the writer ignored the editor’s suggestions. The overblown prose is tedious to slog through and invites speedreading, something I did multiple times to get through the walls of words. Even the sex became tedious and that’s a travesty. Sex should soar. It should scintillate. It should make one breathless. That doesn’t happen here.

The plot was generally solid and the premise of a protagonist slowly going blind was well thought out. The conversations, thoughts, and concerns for Stephen by his family and friends is reflective and insightful. However, I’m disappointed in the portrayals of the protagonists. Penelope is a strong, independent-minded widow who has done amazing things for her village. People love her and for excellent reasons. And yet…she’s unfulfilled and incomplete because she doesn’t have children. The writer doesn’t allow her to stand on her merits and be pleased with what she’s achieved. Instead, she’s guilty about what a stinker her husband was. She worries that she hasn’t done enough to protect her village from her husband’s ravages. And she wants babies so, so, so, so badly!

Stephen is too adept at pitying himself. He squirms and squawks over the pity he believes he’ll get when others find out he’s losing his sight. He doesn’t need any more pity; he has more than enough to go around. And when he finds out what Penelope has been holding back, he holds himself still another pity-party. He’s a wounded man because she didn’t tell him all of her story. Poor him. Really??? He couldn’t spare a thought about what Penelope had to go through. Instead, it’s all about him and his ego; to think that Penelope would hold out on him is simply unconscionable, to him.

There’s a well-earned HEA at the end and I do like the two of them as a couple. I ignore the writer’s more obvious machinations and instead, think about all the wonderful things Penelope and Stephen have to look forward to. She doesn’t pity him, and never will; as a matter of fact, she’ll call him on his own pitying. He will give her children, even though he’s worried about passing on his blindness to them. Still, they know they’ll get on well together, and weather anything that’s tossed at them. That, I liked a great deal.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

FREE today (July 30, 2024) on Amazon.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received this book for free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.***

Drawn to the Marquess by Bronwen Evans is a historical romance, focusing on the story of a lady of high society standing facing suspicion for murdering her husband. Penelope is not sad that her husband is dead, glad of it in fact, but she's no killer and wants her name cleared. She seeks out Lord Stephen Clevedon who served in the army and is known for his investigative skills, knowing she needs to find a way to persuade him to her cause. Lord Clevedon, however rich and entitled he is, is going blind so the only thing he wants in return is for her to allow him to seduce her, to enjoy her beauty before his affliction plunges him into a world without beauty of any kind. While he sets out to investigate who really killed her husband she allows him to seduce her, but along the way she finds that her resolve is crumbling and she is beginning to actually fall for him.

My first thoughts on this while just starting to get into the story was that it was kind of unbelievable. Penelope was supposed to be a strong and prim woman but she seemed to have no issue letting him flip her dress up in the carriage the first time they are together. "Wanton" to use her own word. She was definitely a head strong type of woman throughout this and didn't need a man to rescue her. Through most of the book, she seemed almost devious with her motives behind everything (with due cause). As for Stephen, he wasn't roguish/rakish enough for me. It seemed to take no time at all for him to become smitten, which in the end was cute.

The plot was my favorite part. What seemed to be a mystery really turned into a manhunt and for a completely different reason than setting out to find who killed Penelope's husband. It was very linear and made sense. I would have loved to see more subplots, more bumps for these two characters as their relationship grew, but in all it was a good read.

[Krys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying that this book can be read as a stand alone if you have not already read Addicted to the Duke. And while Alex and Hestia do make an appearance in this story, there will be nothing lost by not having read it beforehand.

There is much to be enjoyed by this story. Pen is a strong willed woman who knows what she wants (and more importantly what she doesn't want). The fact that Stephen had a genetic condition gave him a depth that isn't often seen in historical romances (usually its a war injury or a carriage accident, etc).

What kept me from fully enjoying this story however is the fact that there were just some things that did not make sense. Stephen worked for the crown - he was one of the best at what he did - and yet Pen didn't think to entrust him with the entire story? Instead she allowed herself to be made to look like she had a part in it. I also feel like there were too many loose threads left hanging (take the magistrate for instance - why was his inquiry missing so much important information? How could they turn a blind eye to what was happening)?

However, on the whole I do believe this story will be well received by those who enjoy this author as well as those who enjoy stories where things are not always as they appear to be.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

[b.andherbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free copy received in exchange for a fair review!

Lord Stephen Hornsby is going blind, but before he does he's determined to enjoy all of life's best sights. He's especially keen on watching Lady Penelope Fisherton in the throes of passion, passion he knows he can give to her.

Penelope agrees to allow Stephen to try and seduce her, if he'll help clear her name of her terrible, abusive husband's death. She needs someone with good standing in society by her side, as her former brother-in-law is determined to prove she pushed her husband off that cliff. If found guilty, she will lose everything.

What follows is a suspenseful romance with very dark themes. Content warnings for mentions of off-page spousal abuse, physical abuse, pedophilia, rape, and sex trafficking.

From the description, I wasn't fully aware of how much the central mystery of the story would be, and I felt to the detriment of developing the relationship between Penelope and Stephen. I wanted more time with them on-page and not in bed. I also do not like stories where the woman convinces the man that he truly wants babies, when it is clear from the beginning he does not.

As for Stephen's "blindness," I wish he had in fact gone blind. Or that Penelope could not in fact have children (six years married and not one pregnancy?). But, fans of this author will find much to enjoy here

[Tammi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawn to the Marquess is a Regency romance with an intriguing premise. The execution of the premise fell a little flat for me. I prefer heroes and heroines that are not perfect, with all the bumps and bruises of their life. Stephen and Penelope have that, but Evans left me wanting to know more about them and their situations. The details that pull me into a story were glossed over. It never felt like Evans completely explored the situations in which her characters lived. The story was engaging enough to keep me reading but the ending came together a little too neatly. There is lots of potential in this book, but it was not all realized. I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep reading Bronwen Evans' books because I love the writing style. Her language use is amazing, both from a descriptive narrative standpoint as well the conversations between her characters. Her deep character development, dark backstories, and intensely emotional plots draw me in every time. The suspense element threads its way through this story, not overpowering the seduction element, but coming out strong in the end to pave the way for the honesty that leads to a happily-ever-after. But in this case, I personally thought the frequency of the sex scenes took away from the pace of the story.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a e-arc of this book through netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review, all views and opinions are my own.
Overall I will say I enjoyed this book more than I originally thought I would. The book has hints of voyeurism that turned me off on the characters a little, but if it's your thing then you may just like that. Thankfully there was enough of an interesting storyline to keep me pushing through, even though between his health issues and her personal drama it felt like a little too much going on with them.
I will say that it's going to definitely stay in my library to be reread at some point, so it is a recommended book to read on a nice cozy weekend.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new or interesting

I normally enjoy Bronwen Evans’ writing but the number of improbabilities, thin plotting and the heroine’s dubious and unnecessary “BIG SECRET” just didn’t do it for me. The drippy sentimentality and overly dramatic climax felt flat and unoriginal. In fact, the only originality shown was in the choice of a hero with a debilitating affliction not caused by a war injury. Apart from that, he is a textbook romantic hero: tall, handsome, rich, and given the number of detailed sex scenes, sexually exceptional.

Bottom line: this book bored me.

[Allana Kellett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley for my review.

The book is okay but left me feeling as if I had read a paper for school.I just didn't feel the emotion and I found several times where I had to go back and start reading the incident over to make sure I understood (the maid is in the carriage with them, but then they start doing wicked things and it never mentions her again). I read a lot of love stories and this one is not one I will remember or read again.

[Laura Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea that the marquess was imperfect (yet still strong and sexy), and I really thought the author handled his disability well... However, the plot seemed to drag with Stephen's musings, musings, musings about his plight, and the love scenes while explicit weren't particularly interesting. I don't know if I'll seek out Evans's other titles.