Veena’s review of Say Yes To The Marquess (Castles Ever After, Book 2) by Tessa Dare
Regency Romance published by Avon 30 Dec 14
Clio Whitmore has had enough of waiting on her marquess. She is going to become a business woman of repute and use her dowry to fund her new business venture, instead of handing it over to a husband. Rafe Brandon owes it to his brother to ensure that he comes home to a dutiful fiance. And so the battle lines are drawn in this delightful story as the fairy tale series continues.
Clio has always had a soft corner for Rafe Brandon, even when he left behind his family and status to become a prize fighter. Even though they haven’t seen each other for eight years, she’s followed his career and tried to stay in touch with him. Now that she’s decided to sever her connections with the Brandons, Rafe is at her doorstep forcing her to reconsider her choices. Rafe, with his rough-and-ready ways and his attempts to make her change her mind, steals the show.
The fun-loving Clio is buried under the perfect façade that being a lady of the ton has forced on her. Little by little Rafe’s attempts to charm her and guide her toward the inevitability of a marriage to his brother awaken the personality that’s been hiding beneath that perfect façade as Rafe brings her flowers, cakes, and wedding gowns. It is the cakes that really steal the story for me. How can a woman resist the man who brings her a variety of cakes that he then forces her to taste and savor? More importantly, how can a woman resist the man who goes to the true heart of her desire and allows her to be herself, even going so far as coaching her to stand up for herself.
As Clio engages in a seduction campaign, Rafe realizes that he truly wants Clio for himself and will do what it takes to win the fair lady. The brother-in-law and sister are great characters and showcase all that is wrong in the society of those times. Her younger sister Pheobe, with her mathematical genius, is a treasure.
I enjoyed this light-hearted tale in which Rafe and Clio work through the brambles in their path to come together.
Grade: B
Summary:
Your presence is requested at romantic Twill Castle
for the wedding of Miss Clio Whitmore and … and …?After eight years of waiting for Piers Brandon, the wandering Marquess of Granville, to set a wedding date, Clio Whitmore has had enough. She’s inherited a castle, scraped
together some pride, and made plans to break her engagement.Not if Rafe Brandon can help it. A ruthless prizefighter and notorious rake, Rafe is determined that Clio will marry his brother–even if he has to plan the dratted wedding himself.
So how does a hardened fighter cure a reluctant bride’s cold feet?
He starts with flowers. A wedding can’t have too many flowers. Or harps. Or cakes.
He lets her know she’ll make a beautiful, desirable bride–and tries not to picture her as his.
He doesn’t kiss her.
If he kisses her, he definitely doesn’t kiss her again.
When all else fails, he puts her in a stunning gown. And vows not to be nearby when the gown comes off.
And no matter what–he doesn’t fall in disastrous, hopeless love with the one woman he can never call his own.
Other books in this series:
