There were several things that seemed off about [b:When a Marquis Chooses a Bride|28109691|When a Marquis Chooses a Bride (The Worthingtons, #2)|Ella Quinn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459565370s/28109691.jpg|48117583].

The unnatural 'regency' language appeared off and stilted. The hero, for some reason, wants to entertain and hold large parties at his house, with no female in residence. A man who wants to hold Grand Balls? Private matters being discussed with servants present, oh but wait, they are just like members of the family so of course they are to be included. Instant intimacies among ladies who have just met. Gentleman living with their families in tawdry boarding houses. Burning opium to drug people? Opium did exist in the world at that time, and people were smoking it in other parts of the world, but how is a poor Londoner able to import opium and to know to burn it to affect people in regency times?

The author borrows heavily from Georgette Heyer. This is a slightly varied retelling of Arabella [b:Arabella|311150|Arabella|Georgette Heyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323965579s/311150.jpg|3228236]. Dorothea, the heroine, is Arabella, rescuing people and animals at every turn, crusading for everyone to be safe and happy. Exactly like in Arabella, after facing down an angry tradesman and rescuing a pathetic waif, Dorothea asks the hero to take the child up as his Tiger. Not mild mannered or easily cowed, is our Dorotheabella.

Enter The Hero, 85% Lord Bromford from Grand Sophy [b:The Grand Sophy|261689|The Grand Sophy|Georgette Heyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414731822s/261689.jpg|3234291]; prosy, stuffy, avoiding all merriment and unplanned activity, and offending just about everyone he meets. Having him as a hero was an interesting twist, because he does redeem himself believably by the end of the book. The other 15% is Beaumaris from Arabella. Like Beaumaris in Arabella, Dominic (Duke McBrommaris) is attracted to Dorotheabella unwillingly, and ends up taking care of the animal and people that she rescues. In both books, this startles his associates.

Add extra angst for Duke McBrommaris being raised by a uptight, terrified-by-emotions uncle, and needing to learn that it is OK to love, murderous villains among London's populace, and a relation who is playing Frederica (from the summary, the first book in the series looks to be a version of [b:Frederica|311196|Frederica|Georgette Heyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395082866s/311196.jpg|2128291] ) with double the siblings. The scene where Dorotheabella meets the brood of children is so similar to Sophy meeting the Ombersly children, that I was surprised that she did not present them with a monkey!

Now lets add peeresses visiting brothels to rescue the women there, a kidnapping that lasts less than 2 hours, and, finally, a thrown in "reappearance of the bad guys" near the end that is so random and ineffectual and just so........... why is it in there?

I was disappointed that the basis of the story, and the main characters, were taken from another author's works. The original parts thrown in (or perhaps taken from other books I have not read?) were random, mildly exciting but with no real cohesion with the rest of the story. Just seemed like a very loose soup. Can not recommend. Loose Soup. Two stars, up from one because the IDEA of a redeemed Lord Bromford was that interesting. Nope. Had to change it back to 1 star.

**eARC Netgalley** ( )

Another great romance from Ms. Quinn. I especially liked the pace of the romance. The author took time in introducing us to the characters and slowly developed romance between the two. It actually made the steamy scenes that finally happened even more poignant and relevant.

I love it when all the elements in a romance coalesce and when two people that are different as night and day, come to a conclusion that it’s exactly those differences that are pulling them together.

I really enjoyed this read and hope you will too.

Melanie for b2b

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
( )

A very typical and kind of bland historical romance. I do like when the hero falls for the heroine first, and is devoted to her. Those are always sweet and satisfying reads-and even better when steamy :-).
The problem I have with this book is that there is a lot going on-too much. On one hand the romance is sweet, but the hero is so conflicted-his mind is very wishy washy and it gets old real quick. The political stuff and the heroine's inclination to save everyone and thing, while commendable, was very annoying here. So many things going on and they didn't all work.

This was a review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review. ( )

Pride and consequence take a beating!

Why is it always a pleasure to see the high-in-the-instep stuffy peer fall for the riotous, troublesome female? A female who loosens him from his elevated bonds and trappings of his self importance to reveal the real man beneath.
When Dotty's (Dorothea Stern, granddaughter of the Duke of Bristol) actions inveigle Dominic, the Marquis of Merton, into defending her he finds himself thinking more about her than he should.
This from the man who has composed a list of suitable women to marry. Dotty definitely is not in their class. I must say she is in a class all of her own. She has all the smarts to become an 'incomparable', an 'original' (in a good sense).
After all, 'he neither wished nor expected to love his wife. His uncle had been exceedingly clear that strong passion and emotions were to be avoided in marriage. They lead to disaster'.
The problem is that Dominic was raised by this rigid uncle who drilled into Dominic a sense of his rightful consequence.
So prig meets an original and is taken for a roller coaster of a ride towards the messy consequences of love, with many hilarious moments.
I loved this continuation of The Worthington's series.

A NetGalley ARC ( )