Veena’s review of The Groom List (The Worthington Brides, Book 3) by Ella Quinn
Historical Romance published by Zebra Books 25 Jun 24
She has a list and is checking it twice, and no matter how hard her heart beats for Gifford, Marquis of St. Albans, he just doesn’t come up to snuff as far as the list is concerned. Could it be that she needs to expand the criteria for finding her suitable match?
As her siblings, particularly her twin, find their matches and move away from home, Alice feels this pressure to set up her own home and nursery. Out of the two gentlemen who seem to be in the running, one excites her but definitely does not check off the items on her list, and, of course, the other one doesn’t seem so exciting to her heart but meets every criterion she’s set for the perfect husband.
Poor Giff, he’s in a similar situation – he has this image of what it takes to court a woman, and perhaps that might be true of most women in society, but the woman he’s set his heart on is quite different. In fact, so different that he has offended her to the extent she does not want him invited to her coming-out ball. Then things take a turn, and they find they both have some growing up and learning to do.
This series brings in all the characters ever associated with the core family that just continues growing and growing and becoming more and more influential, and it’s a lot of fun seeing how they help steer the poor hapless Gifford in becoming a suitable candidate for Alice’s affections.
A thoroughly enjoyable though predicable romp.
Grade: B
Summary:
Intelligent. Kind. Must like children. Passable looks. A man of means. Must make us laugh . . .
For Lady Alice Carpenter, these are some of the “musts” on the checklist for eligible bachelors compiled with her sisters as they husband-hunt among the ton. Yet when she encounters a striking nobleman on her morning ride in Hyde Park, Alice soon tallies another list of first impressions . . .
Shallow. Flirtatious. Without seriousness of purpose. Impossible to avoid . . .
Gifford, the Marquis of St. Albans, must wed in order to wrest his estate from his controlling father. How hard could it be to snag a suitable match? Waltzing with lovely Lady Alice at the Season’s whirl of balls and soirees however, defies Giff’s expectations: his dance moves are smooth but their small talk is excruciating—he offers up gossip sheet tidbits while she interrogates him on his charitable works—or lack thereof!
Charming. Amusing. Irresistible . . . A disastrous idea?
Alice is willing to entertain the possibility that there is more to the man than meets the eye—though what meets the eye is quite attractive. But when Giff’s true character is tested, she realizes it takes more than a list to reveal the heart of a worthy and honorable gentleman . . .
No excerpt available.
