I bounced off the first book in this series HARD. I hated to do it, because I was enjoying myself, but the conflict was too much for me: A man and a woman have an intense connection at a roadside inn. The next day they discover that he is courting her stepdaughter. I’m sure everything turned out fine, but I couldn’t get over the hurdle of that kind of conflict. Would he continue to court her? Would the truth out in some horrendous way? I wasn’t strong enough. (Now, I might be, because I really liked Leela.)
The second book? DEVOURED. Ate it up. Lady bonesetter and the man trying to prove she’s a quack? Sign me up and shake me stupid. I loved Hanna and Griff with all my heart. And then Brandon made a surprise appearance and I was certainly curious enough.
But I was afraid of picking up The Marquess Makes His Move, probably for obvious reasons: a nobleman pretending to be a footman and FALLING FOR A MARRIED WOMAN???? HOW was this going to resolve itself?
I gotta tell y’all. It Did The Thing.
If you have to know anything about me, it’s that I really hate deception. If it’s being played out for any reason, I will be incredibly judicious in my desire to read something. It can completely kill an okay or good book for me. But if it’s expertly done? Oh man, I will yell and scream at the deceiver, but I might give them some leeway to redemption. And Diana Quincy? She’s an expert. If you’re going to read something about a man in disguise, this should be the one.
For one thing, it’s hilarious how bad a footman Alex/Brandon is, and he knows it. Rose, on the other hand, doesn’t try to break him out of it, instead takes his boldness at face value—she’s in dire need of a friend. And so they become friends. And things…go from there.
BUT! I hear you ask! HOW does this play out in a way that works as a true happy ending? She’s a married woman! Her husband is right there!
Well…you’re just going to have to read it and find out.
I was well-satisfied by the twist, even though I wasn’t surprised by it.
And that’s all I’ll say about that.