The Marquis She's Been Waiting For

4.5 Stars Lady Dorcus Calthorp, daughter of the Marquis of Huntington, loved and lost during her first Season, leaving her suspicious of gentlemen. Now Dorie finds herself with no marital prospects in sight until Alexander, the newly elevated Marquis of Exeter, arrives in town. Handsome, charming, and an interesting conversationalist, he at first seems to be her perfect match. Then Dorie discovers he may not be seeking a wife so much as a land steward and mother to his sisters. After learning of his father’s death, Alexander returns home to find his mother has run off with his land steward, leaving his younger two sisters with their governess. Everyone he talks to recommend that he marries. Lady Dorie meets all the requirements she even agrees to help him learn how to run the earldom. It’s been a while since the last Marriage Game novel & this could easily be read on its own, there are appearances from earlier characters in this series & also some of the Worthingtons make cameo appearances, which I love. A well written novel of two people gradually falling in love & not realising their feelings until events happened that made them open their eyes. This was a slow burn romance & the pace was steady until the final quarter when things moved much quicker. & I found I had to continue reading to finish the book, so yet another night of burning the midnight oil. The characters were well fleshed & likeable, I loved how Alex & Dorie verbally sparred whilst their attraction grew, I was hoping for a second HEA with another couple who were separated years ago but maybe there’s time for them as Penelope & Phillida are rapidly growing up My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Can be read as a stand-alone I really liked this. Easy, enjoyable reading. Poor Alex has just arrived from the continent and is totally untrained and unprepared to take up his late father's title and responsibilities. Fortunately, the Marquis of Huntington, his wife and daughter, Lady Dorie, are willing to help. I do believe sneaky Lady Huntington was plotting and subtly matchmaking all along; she was my favorite character. I did not feel handicapped by not having previously read any other books of this series. Some minor characters I'd "met" in the Worthington series. I received an advance copy from the publisher via netgalley; the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Alexander Endicott, now Marquiss of Exeter had a hugh surprise when he was called home from his Grand tour. His father had passed away and his mother had married the estate steward and left his sisters on their own! His two older sisters had not stepped up eithe as one had gone to Paris and on had just had a baby. He was at a total loss as to what to do because he father had not taught him how to run the estates yet. That was suppose to come upon his return! Lady Dorie Calthorp, his neighbor it seemed had stepped in and run things and helped his sisters until he returned but of course now she had stepped aside. He goes to meet her right away and is very much attracted to her and thinks the perfect solution would be to marry her and she could run everything! The estate, take care of his sisters and help him with an heir. Easy right? Not... Dorie did not want to be a convenient wife and wanted to marry for love but posed that she would help him find a match. The problem of course is that he is attracted to her and of course she is to him, but can they ever come to find they are meant for each other? A slow burn romance that was a delightful read in this great series of The Marriage Game. I read this through NetGallery