Review: Janna MacGregor's HOW TO BEST A MARQUESS

 

HOW TO BEST A MARQUESS

Historical Romance

AUTHOR: Janna MacGregor

RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2023

PUBLISHER: St. Martin’s Press

ISBN NUMBER (OR ASIN IF NO ISBN): 9781250761637

RATING: 4.5

AUTHOR LINK: https://www.jannamacgregor.com/

 

 

Blythe “Beth” Howell has weathered the ton’s cruel and callous ridicule. She refuses to tolerate her brother’s selfish intentions of marrying her to an aging nobleman. If she wants to gain her freedom, Beth needs to find the dowry that her triagamist husband lost. She approaches the only man she can trust with the endeavor. Beth even promises to share her dowry with Julian if he would just accompany her. Can Beth manage to maintain an emotionless distance with Julian during their trip? Or will Beth find more than what she bargained for?

Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, struggles to keep his marquessate from financial ruin. He hopes that the consortium will invest in his steam engines to keep that from happening. However, Julian first needs money to build the necessary protype to seal the deal. He reluctantly agrees to Beth’s ludicrous plan to search for her missing dowry. Julian has never really gotten over Beth. He intends to use this trip to win her heart again. Can Julian entice Beth into marriage? Or will his carefully laid plans go awry?

Beth pleasantly surprised me. She never really “stood out” in the first two books to me, except for the tension with Julian. I like how Beth’s mindset changed when she met Kat and Constance. They helped her discover a purpose in her life, a skillset that could help her be independent. What I admire the most about Beth is her intentions for her dowry. She wanted to use it to help others who face similar situations as she did.

 Julian is a total sweetheart! He shoulders the burdensome responsibility of restoring his marquessate’s finances. I admire Julian’s determination to accomplish that onerous task with his own merits than asking for his friends’ assistance. He does not care what his peers think of him entering into trade. What I love the most about Julian is his protectiveness towards Beth. He hated how their peers treated Beth over something she had no control over. Julian even jeopardized his financial security to defend her honor. He refused to let another besmirch her.

HOW TO BEST A MARQUESS is the third book in Janna MacGregor’s historical romance series, THE WIDOW RULES. The story can probably standalone. However, I would strongly recommend reading the first two books to better understand Beth’s closeness to Kat and Constance. The author does a superb job highlighting the important parts from the prior books.

I hope (crossing my fingers here) that the author considers a spin-off series focusing on Pelham and his sisters. Something about that duke utterly captivated me. He deserves a story. Okay, maybe I selfishly want to see the woman who brings him to the altar! And I want to see how Pelham will deal with his sisters’ men.