How the Lady Charmed the Marquess

Matchmaking Madness #1

by Laura A. Barnes

A love that sneaks upon you unaware...

All she had to do was to pretend an interest in the gentlemen invited to the house party. He only came to the house party to amuse himself. After they are thrown together for the entertainments, will they realize the depths of their desire for one another?

Charlotte Holbrooke enjoyed her simple life at her uncle’s estate. She filled her days by spending time with her family and her favorite passion, horses. When her uncle announces a chance for a London season, Charlotte feels the pressure of her freedom drifting away. To prepare for the season, her uncle throws a house party inviting the most eligible bachelors of England. One of them is from a neighboring estate who always dares her into mischief. Then there are the other moments when his soft caresses and seductive whispers leaves Charlotte in a muddled state of confusion. When her twin sister needs her help to win the love of another gentleman in attendance, Charlotte agrees to switch identities. However, her plan goes awry when the one gentleman she wanted to fool cannot be deceived. One simple kiss sweeps Charlotte into a whirlwind of passion. How had she not seen the power of their attraction before? And would their attraction develop into an everlasting love?

Jasper Sinclair only accepted the invitation to watch the machinations of a matchmaking duke. Jasper never imagined that he would be a pawn in the madness. When he discovers Charlotte pretending to be her sister, he thought he would have some fun at her expense. However, he could no longer deny the temptation he had fought against any longer. One kiss led to another and soon Jasper had fallen under Charlotte’s spell. But when another gentleman pursue Charlotte, Jasper realizes how much he loves her. Can Jasper win Charlotte’s hand before it is too late?

A matchmaking duke. A tomboyish debutante. A rakish marquess. Can they escape the devious scheme of a caring uncle? Or will they succumb to a passion they had been denying, to find everlasting love?

How the Lady Charmed the Marquess is the first book in Laura A. Barnes’s Matchmaking Madness series. If you enjoy reading light-hearted romances with a dash of steam, then you’ll love Charlotte and Jasper’s adoring affair.

Enjoy How the Lady Charmed the Marquess today!

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

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2020

About the author

International bestselling author Laura A. Barnes fell in love with writing in the second grade. After her first creative writing assignment, she dreamt of becoming an author. Many years went by with Laura filling her head full of story ideas and some funny fish songs she wrote while fishing with her family. In 2017, she made her dreams a reality. With her debut novel Rescued By the Captain, she has set out on the path of a published author.​

When not writing, Laura can be found devouring her favorite romance books. Laura is married to her own Prince Charming (who for some reason or another thinks the heroes in her books are about him) who she enjoys traveling with and binging shows on streaming services. You can usually find her spending time with her children and grandchildren. Besides her love of reading and writing, Laura loves to travel. With her passport stamped in England, Scotland, and Ireland; she hopes to add more countries to her list soon.​

While Laura isn’t very good on the social media front, she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on the following platforms:​

Website: http://www.lauraabarnes.com

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/lauraabarnes ​

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraA...​

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labarnesaut...​

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@labarnesauthor​

Twitter: https://twitter.com/labarnesauthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura...

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐💫
3½ stars.



A OK read.

Kind of intriguing characters ( personality) but they lacked some depth and needed to be a little bit more developed.

Rather generic/formulaic character description (appearance.)

Good chemistry and romantic build up.

A little too much miscommunication/misunderstandings.

A tiny bit jumbled with the different POV (the main characters and some of the side characters)

[Laura]

A charming tale of a love that sneaks upon a tomboyish debutante and a rakish marquess unaware. Throw in her matchmaking uncle's antics and you have yourself a light-hearted romance with a dash of steam.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what fun! Laura A. Barnes’s HOW THE LADY CHARMED THE MARQUESS is a delightful and clever historical romance filled with humor, passion and yet, still carrying that air of old-fashioned matrimonial hunting. Of course we know how this will end, but the journey is a breath of fresh air and romantic machinations, fumbling, misconceptions, misunderstandings and even some misdirection!

Charlotte, the outgoing twin is determined to help her quiet twin “get her man” at the house party thrown by her aunt and uncle to find advantageous matches for her, her sisters and her cousin. Meanwhile, there is a Duke who has caught her eye, but has his reputation preceded him? The great switcharoo between twins almost backfires when one kiss turns the merry game into an affair of the heart.

Wonderful writing, fabulously varied characters and me, being grateful I was born now and not a century or two ago! Amazing how people were to comport themselves in public, but when it came to one on one, the pages sizzle!

Definitely a wonderful escape back in time where love and the “perfect match” are not always the HEA we want to see! Fortunately, Laura A. Barnes knows how to make a perfect match a love match that will leave readers smiling!

I received a complimentary copy from Laura A. Barnes! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Matchmaking Madness - Book 1
Publisher : Independently published (October 30, 2020)
Genre: Historical Romance
Paperback : 221 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mischievous Twins💃💋💃💋

ADULT Historical Regency Romance 💕
Mischievous twins💃💋💃💋 find love 💘 with two well known rakes, but they can't resist trading places with each other, causing much confusion.

This is a fun ADULT read. Of course there is a very happy ending💘💘 for all involved!

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I can pretend an interest in you in return for a favor." Sinclair had a goal it seemed. "If we convince your uncle I am smitten with you, then you can convince him to sell me Sapphire's offspring." No definately not was all Charlotte could think. Even if she had no intention of being interested in any of the gentleman at the party, she did want her uncle to think she was considering.

Oh how plans go astray! Charlie and her siblings and cousin, who were under the care of their uncle, were to attend the house party he was throwing prior to their season in London. Of course their neighbor, Jasper Sinclair would attend and he had the perfect solution for her..Okay, he was feeling a little proprietary toward her for some reason.. But he was definately not ready to get married. No, for certain. Really no!

I loved Charlie and Jasper and watching them come together! Cannot wait for more of the stories!!

[Diane Shearer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s okay. Parts of it I really enjoyed but it bogs down in the middle plot wise. Too many misunderstandings, too much confusion. Needs a better editor. The writing is not enjoyable. It doesn’t feel like a regency romance, it feels like a romance trying to be regency with a gothic hidden passage just for kicks. The language is all wrong. The pacing is poor. But, if you like enemies to lovers with a twin swap thrown in for kicks this is a pleasant read. I like to support independent authors when I can, though I got this for free from BookBub and I probably won’t read the rest of the series because it’s not available on my library app. I’m not paying for 3 star books.

[Mallorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a new series. Charlotte and jasper are unaware of their feelings for each other until a matchmaking party is thrown and they begin to realize what everyone else seems to have known. That they are in love each other. A lot of the scenes between Charlotte and jasper get really steamy. I didn't like the way Worthington treated evelyn and thought that she deserved so much better. I'm hoping lucas comes to his senses and calls off the betrothal. A fun read with some mischief thrown in and lots of steam. I recommend this book if you like historical romances with lots of steam and a strong female main character.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tbh, I found the story a bit tedious. Barnes has little understanding of the times, looking at it with a modern eye. For example, young women did not know much about sex, wearing men’s clothing would have meant ruin if it was known and would not have been met with indulgence outside the family, and I doubt that a woman in long skirts could jump into her partners arm with her legs around his waist.
And please hire an editor. Too often a full stop was used instead of a comma.

[Michelle Dohring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this story!! This is about Justin Sinclair & Charlotte (Charlie) Holbrooke. Justin is a Marquess and has been a neighbor to the Duke of Colebourne all his life. The Duke, Uncle Theo, took Charlie and her sisters in when their parents were killed in a boating accident. The Duke wants to marry off his wards and make sure they are all taken care of before he dies. He decides to have a house party before the London Season. He invites eligible bachelors and starts to play matchmaker with the help of Lady Forrester, Aunt Susana, who was his wife's sister. The passion between Justin and Charlie was very hot and consuming! Their chemistry devours them. Unfortunately Justin and Charlie do not realize their feelings for each other. Growing up Justin always enjoyed teasing and irritating Charlie. Will they realize their true feelings and act on it? Their venture of realizing they love each other was delightful. The jealousy Justin has to endure as he works out his feelings is entertaining. There are several matches going on during the house party that I am sure will be revisited in later books of the series. The twins, Charlie and Evelyn, even play a little mischief in trading places. Will the two bachelors know who they are with? Laura is a great writer that captures your interest in the story from the first page. The book is a fun and entertaining read that makes you want to keep reading and not put the book down. All the characters are well developed and engaging. She makes you care about them and hope they get the matches they deserve. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope I do not have to wait too long! This is a must read that you will truly enjoy!! I received a a free copy via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie DiFiore]

I read this out of order and put the review in for the wrong book. But rebekah there was no cheating in the 2nd book. I moved my review.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rec'd Digital copy via #GoodReadsGiveaway

Just finished this first in series. Barnes has been on my radar for 2 other books I've purchased; so, I was anxious to finally read her books. She's a relatively seasoned author. Which made the early chapters of the book disappointing. It was almost as if the book was written by two different people. The first 25% was 'Dick & Jane'. Simple sentences that at times felt 'choppy'. I kept asking who the author intended this for? 12-16 yr olds? Not only did it belabor details, it missed in accuracy on others. I nearly stopped. If I had not rec'd a copy to review, I probably would have.

HOWEVER...
Around 26%, the writing style & tone change into a much more relaxed, creative style that became more natural. The maturity level was what I came to expect for adult romance novels (and yes, there is 'sexual congress'). The shift starts with the introduction of the sister Jacqueline & the leading man, Jasper Sinclair. That one scene turned it quickly around. I stayed up all night just to see how it ended.

From the way the book opened, I expected very little in the way of creative scenes. It seemed like The book borrowed heavily from Austen. The Charlie (Charlotte) I met in the first quarter of the book was juvenile, self-centered, arrogant, and frankly mean. There was NO WAY that girl could attract a man. She had too much growing up to do. It also opened to what I'd call an "Emma" scene; where Charlie (Emma) is beautiful but just needs to grow up a bit and Jasper "Mr. Knightley" indulges her spoiled behavior because he sees something the rest of us don't. I was set to hate Charlie...

But, again, around 26% in, it's as if I was plopped down into a different book. And I enjoyed it! I I could easily see myself buying book #2, as the characters were given more depth & a believable relationship between Charlie & Jasper unfolded along with a realistic setting. The match-making that goes on started to feel real. There were still some hiccoughs but overall, it was a good read.

I wrestled with the rating. If I could offer any advice, it would be to get a better editor & fix the intro. Like I mentioned earlier; it's as if the book had two authors. Or sufficient time passed between the first part & the rest, that the author found her voice. I settled with a 3.5. Some readers, might not find issue with the first part. But for an avid reader, I didn't feel engaged until 26% in. And then, Barnes earned those 3.5 stars. The rest of the book was full of twists & turns and I began to see why Jasper was so smitten. I plan to keep an eye on Barnes & dig in to some of her other books.

It's easy to critique someone else's writing. It's much harder to be the one wordsmithing. Overall, Barnes produced an enjoyable, solid romance.

[☆ susan ☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

what is wrong with everyone in this book? it’s like none of them has all their screws in—everyone’s behaving stupidly one way or another.

1. the whole four love triangle with abigail x lucas x selina x duncan. i know the author is setting up her future books but goddamn they took up so much space. couldn’t these people just settle down and chill out. they killed me.

2. evelyn and charlotte’s twin switch scheme to deceive worthington was evil to me. i was puzzled that it was framed as something acceptable by everyone around them. apparently it was okay for shy and timid evelyn to cosplay her outgoing sister to court a man (who wanted her sister) because it made her grow out of her shell? huh? also, in what way is it okay to sleep with someone under false pretenses? worthington consented to sex with charlotte, not evelyn. naturally, he was horrified when he found out the truth. the book wants you to feel sorry for evelyn but i wasn’t.

3. i enjoyed charlotte and jasper’s relationship but i think it needed to be allowed to be cooked. their dynamic was great but i wish we were given the chance to see it simmer and roast before they slept with each other. it’s like we missed several chapters of their lore. everyone kept saying that they had been doing the push and pull for a while, yadda yadda yadda—everything was just told and not shown.

4. the constant switch in povs back to back within one chapter, with absolutely no indication was confusing.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story although sometimes a little disjointed from switching character viewpoints.

**kindle edition**

(Received free through Goodreads First Reads)

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess “steamy” means lots of sex and a mediocre plot. I should have passed this by……😗🫤

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, Fun and Entertaining. I loved it. This was so much fun to read. The main characters Charlotte/Charlie and Jasper had me in stitches. Jasper would antagonize and dare Charlie to go overboard and she never let a dare go by. Sometimes she succeeded and sometimes not. But Jasper and Charlie had no idea that they were falling for each until her Uncle Theo set up a matchmaking country party. When the competition came around Charlie, Jasper could see nothing but red and jealous? The man was beyond jealous. It led to him almost losing Charlie for good more than once. I was also intrigued by the secondary stories. There was Charlie's twin sister Evelyn who fell in love with a gentleman that thought he was pursuing Charlie but it was really Evelyn who had taken her place. Then there was the cousin from Scotland, Duncan. He was enamored with his cousin Lucas's fiancé Selina. Selina was a harpy and shrew or so everyone believed. But Duncan had been watching her carefully and saw the real Selina alone, lonely and wistful for what others had. But she never showed it. Duncan pursued her relentlessly and got slapped a couple of times but that did not stop him. He knew he was taking a big risk but could not help himself. Then there was a quick mention of Abigail and Lucas's interest in each other. Abigail feeling unworthy as she was the daughter of a lady's maid and Lucas was a noble. Also, Lucas was engaged to Selina. OH, MY GOODNESS What a house party this turned out to be. This is a wonderful beginning to a new series and I am really looking forward to the next book on Evelyn and the gentleman she pursued. I hope there will be some info on Duncan. He is such a comical character.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Entertaining
Funny
Romantic
Steamy
Unpredictable
Wonderful characters

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This is the first story in a new series and this book is perfect for setting the series in motion. Due to the death of their parents, Charlotte, her sisters and cousin find themselves wards of their adoring uncle, the Duke of Colebourne. He has decided to take them to London for the season, but before they go he throws a house party in the hope that one or more will find a match and not need to go to London. Things get interesting and complicated. Charlotte has an identical twin, Evelyn, and they periodically pretend to be each other, which causes confusion and chaos. The characters in this story are wonderfully portrayed. The men range from haughty to besotted, and their dialogue when they are trying to outdo each other, or charming the ladies, is spot on. Five of the ladies grew up as family, and are supportive, interesting and kind. There is one villianous woman who is betrothed to the duke’s heir.....and if you don’t want to smack her, then you are a better person than I. This book is Charlotte (Charlie) and Jasper’s love story, and it is full of jealousy, confusion, misunderstandings and adorable and steamy moments. If this book is any indication, this is going to be one fun series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy picking up a book by Ms. Barnes because I know I am in for a treat and will not be disappointed. This is the first book of a new series and I think it is off to a splendid start! Charlotte and her sister are under the protection of their uncle due to the death of their parents. Before going to London for the Season, their uncle throws a house party. Charlotte and her sister are twins and there is some switching of places that go on which makes this a lot of fun. Charlotte has known Jasper for a long time, and they have always teased each other. However, now their feelings towards each other are changing. This is where the advantage of having a twin comes in and the fun begins! I adored all the characters and how they all interacted. Ms. Barnes did an excellent job of bringing the characters and story to life with her wonderful descriptions and attention to details. If you're a Regency lover, this is definitely a book you do not want to miss. I'm excited to read the upcoming books in this series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I love this book and I know I am going to LOVE this series Matchmaking Madness. This series is about a loving Duke, who is the Uncle to 4 ladies. These 4 ladies plus 1 are Uncle Theo’s Wards when their parents all died in an accident. He had some help from “Aunt” Susanna, who was the Duke’s late wife’s sister. The Duke decides it is time for his 5 wards to find husbands so he decides he is going to take them to London, but first he will throw a house party and invite some bachelors. Charlotte (Charlie) has known Jasper Sinclair since she was young. They always teased each other. Lately their feelings have been changing toward each other. I do not want to give the story away, but there is so much fun when Charlie and her twin switch places. I cannot wait to find out what happens to the rest of the wards and their cousins. In this book you get to know a little about each one of them. I wish the other books were out now, I cannot wait to read their stories. Laura A. Barnes has hooked me on this story and series.
I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing and charming Regency tale about Jasper, a marquess and Charlotte, a Duke's niece who absolutely loves horses. They are well acquainted as Jasper is Charlotte's cousin's friend, who lives on an neighbouring estate. He seems to always be taunting her and teasing her, but when they are thrown together at a houseparty both slowly start realising their attraction towards one another and a love relationship begins developing between them. Charlotte is a twin and her and her sister, Evelyn decide to swop identities for some parts of the houseparty confusing some of their suitors, except Jasper. He knew exactly which twin was Charlotte all the time which is particularly endearing. I liked both characters but I felt that Jasper was a touch spineless in some parts of the second half of the book, compared to how he was portrayed as a stronger character earlier in the book. Charlie was a strong character and likeable. There was a nice ending with an epilogue and the auxiliary characters were relatable. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. There are several steamy scenes. An enjoyable read.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tragic accident led to five girls being the wards of the Duke of Colebourne. Now they are of marriageable age the Duke plans to give them a Season but first hosts a house party in the hopes of securing matches for them prior to moving the family en masse to London. It isn’t until the party that Charlotte Holbrooke and Lord Jasper Sinclair, who have known each other for years, realise they are attracted to each other but like any good rake Jasper’s not going to succumb to marriage without a fight. Jealousy and misunderstandings abound and ruination is on the cards for more than one lady.
An enjoyable story, though I did think the Duke would have had more care for the reputations of the young ladies he cares for. I look forward to reading the romances of the other four girls.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Matchmaking Madness series by Laura A. Barnes. Charlotte (Charlie) Holbrooke is a young woman who enjoys her simple life at her uncle's estate spending time with family and caring for horses. Charlie's uncle Theo the Duke of Colbourne arranges a house party to introduce Charlie and her sisters Jacqueline and Evelyn to eligible bachelors before their London season. Lord Jasper Sinclair has been Charlie's neighbor and he has teased Charlie when they were growing up. When Charlie agrees to switch identifies with her twin sister Evelyn to help her win the affection of another gentleman, she finds herself entangled in a whirlwind of passion. Jasper quickly sees through her deception, and their undeniable attraction leads to stolen kisses and unexpected emotions. As another suitor pursues Charlie, Jasper realizes he must fight for her love before it’s too late. I really enjoyed this fantastic steamy historical Regency romance novel.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series. Ever since the four nieces and Abigail's parents died in a boating accident Uncle Theo has taken care of them. Now he has decided they all would have their coming out in London at the same time, his son thinks he's crazy but that is the plan. First he'll have a house party to prepare the girls. This story is about Charlotte, one of the twins. Charlie as she likes to be called is always having disagreements with Jasper the next door neighbor. They both are interested in horses and realizes each other. She is changing places with her twin as Evelyn is interested in Worthington but he wants a horse that goes with who ever captures Charlie's heart. So Jasper has figured it out but not Worthington. It is a fun story.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matchmaking Duke.
This one was fun to read I love tomboys they make the very best ladies and the proofs in the pudding because Charlotte Holbrooke was grand. Now that is not all because we have a twin sister added into the mix and this brings all sorts of fun to the tale. Uncle Theo and Aunt Susanna have made plans since this is just the first book I cannot wait to see the other books in the series to see what else they are going to do. Jasper is invited to the house party given by Uncle Theo and oh what fate has in store for Jasper! I loved the book and highly recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. There is a matchmaking uncle, twins who think they are fooling everyone and a cast of characters mixed in to keep it all interesting.

I enjoyed Charlie and Sinclair’s relationship. Their story was fairly predictable, but they were a passionate couple. I like how her uncle was aware of their attraction before they were. It made it all worth the confusion and misunderstandings that kept happening.

There were a few characters I could have done without, but overall I enjoyed this story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic beginning of a new series. The characters were strong and the plot was amazing. The intrigue kept you on your toes with all the twists and turns. The angst, romance, passion, heartache and, yes, even humor were well meted out. While there are currently only two books in the series, I am hoping the author will include more to cover each of the other characters that were mentioned in this book. If so, it looks to be an amazing series...

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte’s uncle is determined to marry off his five wards. That includes Charlotte her twin sister Evelyn and their older sister Jacqueline, their cousin Gemma and her friend Abigail. A house party is planned to help the girls with their flirting skills. However Charlotte doesn’t want to marry. When Evelyn tell her of her regard for one of the men Charlie agrees to trade places with Evelyn. It makes for a very amusing book.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte and Jasper were such a fun couple. Jasper loved to antagonize Charlotte and she had no problem giving it back. One day it turned to passion. But a house party and a swap between twins made things befuddled. Two men vying for one woman or so one thinks. Jasper is in on the ploy but not happy about it. This is a fun, sexy and enjoyable story.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in Laura A. Barnes’s Matchmaking Madness series a well written story that held my interest until the end. Charlotte Holbrooke and Marquess Jasper Sinclair's story, plus her twin Evelyn and Lord Worthington a real bounder. I would like Evelyn to get her own happy story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Betty Sotherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a "charming" story!!

Just loved this book. A plot that was new and enjoyable. A wonderful cast of characters and dialog that is not fussy or archaic. The book was hard to put down as the story kept me waiting for the next twist in the plot. I think I'll be reading more from MS. Barnes.

[Karen Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's difficult to give a review, because my objections to the book would be spoilers, but I'll just say that I found the Duke's (Uncle's) revelations to some of the suitors about Charlie to be a little off-putting and unrealistic. It was an enjoyable read, and fairly well-written, but perhaps a little "pushing the limits."