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How I Married a Marquess

(The Secret Life of Scoundrels #3)

Anna Harrington (Goodreads Author)

3.85 · Rating details · 642 ratings · 106 reviews

A SHOCKING DECEPTION . . .
Josephine Carlisle, adopted daughter of a baron, is officially on the shelf. But the silly, marriage-minded misses in the ton can have their frilly dresses and their seasons in London, for all she cares. Josie has her freedom and her family . . . until an encounter with a dark, devilishly handsome stranger leaves her utterly breathless at a house ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 332 pages

Published April 26th 2016 by Forever

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· 642 ratings · 106 reviews

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Start your review of How I Married a Marquess (The Secret Life of Scoundrels, #3)

Mar 19, 2016 Caz rated it it was ok

Shelves: disappointing, aar, arc, romance-1800-1850

I've given this a D+ at AAR.

This is the third book in Anna Harrington’s Secret Life of Scoundrels trilogy which follows three men who served together during the Napoleonic Wars as they find love and a happily ever after. I reviewed the previous book, Along Came a Rogue, and while I had some issues with the pacing and certain aspects of the plot, I enjoyed it overall and felt that the two leads shared a strong emotional connection. I was therefore eager to read the final book in the series, b ...more

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Dec 12, 2015 Sissy's Romance Book Review rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, hero-slow-to-come-around, overdrive-library

'How I Married a Marquess ' by Anna Harrington is book three in the "The Secret Life of Scoundrels" series. This is the story of Josephine Carlisle and Thomas Matteson, Marquess of Chesney.
Thomas had a series bullet injury that almost too his life. Thomas still hasn't really got over it emotionally yet and hasn't been able to go by to his career of spying/Espionage. Thomas seems to get panic attacks once in a while. When a chance comes up for him to go to a house party to try and find a highway ...more

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May 13, 2016 1-Click Addict Support Group rated it really liked it

This book had so many elements to love!

First, Thomas was a spy, forced into retirement by an injury that left him with rather severe PTSD. He finds himself investigating a highwayman, which takes him into close proximity with the ever intriguing Josie. I love a good historical that has a little flirtation in the beginning, and a little bit of, ‘Oh, it won't work between the characters’. I find myself skimming pages when it drags on too long however, and this one knew just when to stop.

The enti ...more

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Dec 17, 2021 Aksa rated it really liked it

Shelves: damaged-or-troubled-hero, headstrong-heroine, historical-romance, spy-romance

I must say Anna Harrington is crawling her way up my heart pretty quickly.💕❤💝

I had heard a lot about If the Duke Demands and I liked it. And in that book there was a mention that sebastian's sister was a highwayman and no force in world could've dampen my curiosity after that and of course I found the sister's book in this series. This book had the potential to be more mysterious and juicy. But nevertheless I loved the romance and the chemistry between Thomas and josie. I loved the way they were ...more

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Apr 06, 2016 Arshia rated it it was ok

Ummm where do I begin?! The book started off promising but then I just started hating Thomas. He was such an ass! So selfish and he really had no reason for it. I mean yeah there was a reason but it wasn't enough. So this douche bag keeps molesting the heroine but he knows he can't marry her for some bullshit reason.

Alright so he meets the heroine, Josephine, and immediately starts hitting on her, the next time he meets her he kisses her, so on and so forth... What irritated me is his selfishne ...more

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Feb 13, 2016 Adria's Musings rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-and-reviewed

Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.

As the adopted daughter of a baron, Josephine Carlisle has everything a woman could need yet she still feels out of place and unwelcome in her family’s world. Now that she’s considered “On the Shelf” Josie feels more relaxed and free until one night at a house party she meets the Marquess of Chesney.

As a former spy Thomas Matteson is used to finding ou Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.

As the adopted daughter of a baron, Josephine Carlisle has everything a woman could need yet she still feels out of place and unwelcome in her family’s world. Now that she’s considered “On the Shelf” Josie feels more relaxed and free until one night at a house party she meets the Marquess of Chesney.

As a former spy Thomas Matteson is used to finding out people’s secrets and he’s sure Josie is hiding something. He’s at the house party to find out who has been robbing the rich but Josie is proving to be more distracting than he originally thought.

Almost since the beginning Thomas Matteson, the Marquess of Chesney had been a bit of a ghost character. In the first book he appeared briefly but in the second he was laid up with an injury. However that incident was the catalyst for his sister to find her happy ending. Now it’s Thomas’ turn and I was delighted with him as a hero. He had a lot of internal conflict that centered on his desperate need to return to his life as a spy and his battle with PTSD. I was surprised at how vulnerable Anna Harrington made this character given that he’s a man and a former spy but with his PTSD looming over him like a dark cloud it was very clear why it was rumored that he had lost his edge. That fed into his doubts of not being the man he once was and needing a purpose in life. Thomas’ enemy wasn’t really his feelings for Josie, it was his feelings about himself and that made him stand out to me.

Josie was delightful. She was fun and energetic and unafraid of life. She had unique circumstances as the adopted daughter of a titled man, she was a titled lady on paper but of course in that time period it was all about the bloodlines and Josie didn’t even know who her real parents were. I liked that she was similar to Thomas in that her internal conflicts were the true obstacles to her happiness. Josie never felt like she belonged in her family because she was adopted and that led her to make dangerous decisions but they were made for the right reasons most of the time. I loved that she didn’t expect or even want Thomas to save her and that she took steps to solve her own problems but she did have this bad habit of not realizing when she was in over her head and needed help. Several times her unyielding stubbornness annoyed me simply because she was being irrational when it was clear Thomas was better suited for certain tasks and her insistence on being included in situations where it was best she didn’t draw attention was sometimes too much.

I personally love combatative couples because it spices things up and adds a great layer of tension when it’s done right. Thomas and Josie had sparks from the moment Josie initiated contact (Another reason to like her) and it didn’t stop there. Whatever Thomas threw out at her, Josie was ready to hit back at him and it really made their relationship interesting to me. The verbal back and forth was seductive in its own way and definitely didn’t go unnoticed by either character.

Hands down Josie’s brothers were the comedic relief in How I Married a Marquess. I just loved them! They just seemed larger than life to me. Sebastian, Robert and Quinton were as different as three men could be but put them together and they were loud, brash, and about a subtle as wrecking balls. They loved Josie and protected her no matter what. These three were a lot of fun and I would love to see more of them.

How I Married a Marquess was definitely well written but that seems to be par for the course with Anna Harrington. The scenes flowed into one another with ease and the dialogue was brisk and entertaining and there wasn’t an overdone amount of drama involved. Just a bit of sleuthing, seducing and saving the day. The pacing was moderate, not too slow and not too fast and while it is the third book in the Secret Life of Scoundrels series, each book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Final Verdict: What a fitting end to a series about three friends who suffered through war and personal strife and then found happiness with three very special women. Thomas and Josie made How I Married a Marquess quite the reading experience and while I’m sad to say goodbye, I can’t wait to see what Anna Harrington has up her sleeve. After this, she’s just been moved to my “Auto-Buy” list. ...more

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Aug 08, 2016 Al *the semi serial series skipper* rated it it was ok

I just can't say i enjoyed the content of this book. It was self-pity and insta-lust contained in one long story, there was nothing of substance in this book. Yet they fell in love after a couple of days. Not her best work. ...more

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Apr 22, 2016 Melody May (What I'm Reading) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical, romance, arc

Posted on What I'm Reading

Talk about it being totally unproductive day. How I Married A Marquess sucked me into the story. I couldn't stop reading once I started. I kept telling myself one more chapter, and I need to do something else. However, I kept telling myself this lie, and by the time I was close to finishing it I said "What the heck, why stop now?" Basically it was crack for readers, I loved every moment of this story. Anna basically grabs your attention with the first chapter and she do Posted on What I'm Reading

Talk about it being totally unproductive day. How I Married A Marquess sucked me into the story. I couldn't stop reading once I started. I kept telling myself one more chapter, and I need to do something else. However, I kept telling myself this lie, and by the time I was close to finishing it I said "What the heck, why stop now?" Basically it was crack for readers, I loved every moment of this story. Anna basically grabs your attention with the first chapter and she doesn't let go. Thomas is a cad at the beginning, and he's restless. After getting shot in the last book and almost dying he's trying to find his footing through How I Married A Marquess. He was once a spy, but can't do it cause he lost his edge. Of course, that's not a good thing in a spy. Yet, he was given an opportunity to possibly get his career back with the help of a family friend. Then he meets this spirited, beautiful, young woman who isn't what she seems to be.

Now Josephine is such a fun character. She's not your typical aristocrat daughter. No, she's spirited and fun, yet she doesn't believe she's good enough to marry. She lets her adoption loom over her head, and she believes that she's going to taint some families bloodlines cause she isn't a natural daughter of the baron. He has a hard time accepting that her family loves her no matter what, and she's fearful that one day her family is going to wake up and realize that they made a mistake. Granted her family loves her to pieces, but it's a normal fear.

I had a great time reading How I Married A Marquess. Honestly it was fun and lighthearted. You have Thomas chasing after Josephine and trying to save her from herself. There is this friction between the two, because she believes that Thomas's family friend is up to no good. Yet, he can come to terms that he could be evil, which is their argument through most of the book. I get why Thomas is loyal to the family friend, because why in the world would he do such terrible things. We also meet Josephine's brothers who I think need their own books, because they seem like trouble. If you are need of an adventure, you might consider How I Married A Marquess. Who knows you might not be able to put it down once you start.

Copy provided by Forever Romance ...more

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Nov 15, 2015 Phoenix77 rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-romance

From the book description of How I Married a Marquess I should have enjoyed this story much more than I did. All of the elements I expected were there; a strong heroine seeking justice for the unfortunate, a hero trying to reorder his life after a devastating injury and love bringing the two of them together against a common enemy. As a whole the book was good, with a fast pace that made it a quick read; however when I look closer at the story I can see the small flaws that kept me from rating i ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 Amanda rated it it was ok

Shelves: covergasm, letdowns-and-disappointments, read-in-2016, forced-proximity, everyone-loves-a-house-party, titian-redheads, reviewed-books, pistol-toting-heroines, regency-era, ladies-in-breeches

With its ginger(ish) highwaywoman heroine, I thought How I Married a Marquess had catnip written all over it. Unfortunately, the premise did not live up to my high expectations. This book was a huge disappointment.

Highwaywoman persona aside, Josie was quite flat as a character and very foolish in her choices. I mean, I understood some of her motivations to an extent, but there were times when she made me want to slam my head into a wall. I did like Thomas and I thought the portrayal of his anxie ...more

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May 21, 2017 Sha rated it it was ok

Shelves: abandoned

DNF

I've been trying to read this book for a while now, and once I figured out I wasn't anywhere near interested enough to read it properly I spent a lot of time dithering around before I read through enough of it to leave a reasonably articulate review. I have a TBR list that can span the equator, goddamit I do not have the time for this.

And yet, here we are. Because if I don't do this review at some time in the future I'm possibly end up with this book again and will have to live through the sa DNF

I've been trying to read this book for a while now, and once I figured out I wasn't anywhere near interested enough to read it properly I spent a lot of time dithering around before I read through enough of it to leave a reasonably articulate review. I have a TBR list that can span the equator, goddamit I do not have the time for this.

And yet, here we are. Because if I don't do this review at some time in the future I'm possibly end up with this book again and will have to live through the same experience. Again.

The prose in this book is not bad as much as occasionally ill-judged and badly edited. While I realize that a deep and profound loathing for the adjectives "masculine" and "feminine" is merely a pet peeve of mine, there were other instances of word usage I found both jarring and easily corrected. There are, however, a few genuinely hilarious moments (that last holdup was beautiful- the guy just HATES playing the Highwayman), which leave me with an uncomfortable longing for what could have been.

What IS, however, is a story that honestly makes no sense and pats itself on the back for having such beautiful and speshul characters. I saw equivalents of the phrase "not like other girls" enough times that I got tired of rolling my eyes. And the hero, of course is so perfect that the heroine can tell at first glance that he's oh so charismatic because two girls are paying attention to him talking. This book suffers from a bad case of telling rather than showing.

What else? Ah, yes. The Sherlock Scan. I'm very much in the Sir Samuel Vimes school of thought when it comes to the Art of Deduction, which means that I get really fucking irritated when the Sherlock Expy in question confidently and accurately latches on to the one true explanation when there could be so many other equally valid reasons. A woman's hair being slightly badly dressed does not necessarily mean that her maid is sick. Her maid could have been careless, trying out a new style which did not quite work, or a different person could have dressed her hair. In addition, it could have been messy because she was moving too much, or because hairpins tend to fall out, or because the last time her saw her it was the evening towards the midpoint or so of a dance. Sherlock Scans are great, but people who use them really need to note that Arthur Conan Doyle also mentioned something about eliminating whatever else was possible first.

One last point before I close up. I find it hard to see how Josie can be a successful Highwayman, competent enough to warrant someone sending a detective after her. There is embezzlement happening at the Orphanage? CLEARLY the one true solution is highway robbery, nevermind that you are not comfortable with the whole concept at all and do not enjoy it one bit. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE crusading women with all my heart, and that was the main reason I gave this book a try in the first place. But it has to be a reasonable and rational course of action, not a gimmick by the author to show yet again how special and different her MC is.

(As a sidenote; I'd like to direct all seekers of crusading women to Trial by Desire, which features the Regency version of Batman for battered women. I do love the Rich Idiot with No Day Job facade.)

Anyway, it's a disappointing book. I often find that I'm disappointed with books that advertise their heroines as badass. They almost never live up to the hype, and the women soon fall into tired and true roles of traditional femininity. ...more

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Apr 26, 2016 WTF Are You Reading? rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult, great-leading-man-boy, how-thrilling, twisted-love, hard-to-beat-heroines, want-to-read-series, net-galley, great-sex, dark-and-delicious, heart-warming-feel-good-read

How I Married A Marquess offers Historical Romance fans so much more than the "marriage market" scheming and seductions, beddings, and weddings that are hallmarks of its genre.
Here, readers are presented in the character of Miss Josephine Carlisle, a woman who, by no fault of her own has been excluded from the one thing that her beauty, intelligence, grace, charm, and societal position as the daughter of a Baron, should have guaranteed her.
A marriage to a peer of the realm.
Her crime?
Having been ...more

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Oct 16, 2015 Connie rated it really liked it

Chatham House, Mayfair London - 1817

Thomas Matteson, Lord Chesney, Marquess of Chesney, has been staying at Chatham House while his parents are at their other home. Thomas sustained a bullet wound to his hip a year ago which took a long time to heal. Even with his background as an operative for the War Office, his injury has left him with panic attacks and the inability to sleep well. But when he receives a missive from Earl Bathurst, the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, saying that Chatham House, Mayfair London - 1817

Thomas Matteson, Lord Chesney, Marquess of Chesney, has been staying at Chatham House while his parents are at their other home. Thomas sustained a bullet wound to his hip a year ago which took a long time to heal. Even with his background as an operative for the War Office, his injury has left him with panic attacks and the inability to sleep well. But when he receives a missive from Earl Bathurst, the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, saying that Thomas is unfit for service, he is devastated.

Then Thomas receives a request from Earl Royston of Blackwood Hall to use his special skills to investigate some highway robberies near his estate. If Thomas stops the robberies at Blackwood Hall, Earl Royston will put in a good word with Earl Bathurst for Thomas to which he agrees. Thus, Thomas leaves for a house party at Blackwood Hall to begin his investigations.

Josephine (Josie) Carlisle, age 23, is attending the house party at Blackwood Hall. The Carlisle family are neighbors to the Roystons. The daughter of a Baron, Josie is actually an adopted orphan. Adopted at age 6 by Richard and Elizabeth Carlisle, she has dedicated herself to do all she can to help the orphans at the Good Hope Orphanage. The older she gets, the more she realizes she is probably remain unwed as she is passed over because she was an adopted orphan.

The Carlisles have 3 sons of their own and as Elizabeth was unable to have more children, they decided to adopt a daughter. She has always been loved and treated as their true daughter.

When Josie glimpses Thomas at the house party, she is very intrigued by this handsome man. After a waltz, they are immediately attracted to one another.

As Josie helps out at the Orphanage she vows to do all she can to make life better for the orphans. She does not like Mrs. Potter who runs the Orphanage. The woman works for Lord Royston and does whatever he tells her to do. She also steals money and beats the children. When Thomas sees her with the orphans, he is quite intrigued by Josie and her ability to comfort people. Just being around her relaxes him.

When the highway robberies continue, Thomas lies in wait and follows the robber. What he finds leaves him shocked and confused whether to arrest the perpetrator or not.

The stubbornness of Thomas and Josie became grating at times but it only added to the angst of the characters.

I enjoyed this story and I know others will as well.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley. ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 Fangirl Musings rated it really liked it

Shelves: trope-angst-ridden, trope-hero-job-spy, trope-courtship-dance, trope-forced-proximity, trope-hero-tortured, trope-hero-beta, trope-heroine-in-disguise, trope-hero-traumatic-past, trope-mistaken-or-hidden-identity, trope-heroine-across-the-tracks

DOWN AND DIRTY QUICKIE REVIEW!

One Sentence Summary:

She’s a child-support collecting Robin Hood & he’s a fired spy with PTSD who's gotta catch her booty.

What part made you fangirl squeal:

OMG!!! When our gal used her boobs to save the day!? IF THAT AIN’T THE QUICKEST QUICK THINKING IN THE HISTORY OF BRAINS AND BOOBS!

Favorite Character:

Duh! Josie! Come on, a skilled-ass thief who steals so little kids can eat? Her wit, her spunk, her smart mouth? I CAN’T EVEN!

How smexy was the smex?

SOMEBODY GET ME ...more

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Oct 06, 2017 S rated it did not like it

She could have written a female character who became a spy. Instead she didn't and it was boring and I'm done with romance novels forever. What a waste of paper. ...more

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May 01, 2016 Rose Blue rated it really liked it

3.5 Stars

Thomas Matteson's life has been a nightmare for the last year, ever since he was shot and almost killed, apparently in a random robbery. All he wants is to have his life back and to continue his spying in service to the crown. Aside from being unable to sleep, and easily startled, his other abilities seem to have gone by the wayside, and his former contacts refuse to have him back. When a family friend gives him an opportunity to prove himself by capturing an elusive highwayman, Thomas 3.5 Stars

Thomas Matteson's life has been a nightmare for the last year, ever since he was shot and almost killed, apparently in a random robbery. All he wants is to have his life back and to continue his spying in service to the crown. Aside from being unable to sleep, and easily startled, his other abilities seem to have gone by the wayside, and his former contacts refuse to have him back. When a family friend gives him an opportunity to prove himself by capturing an elusive highwayman, Thomas jumps at the chance.

Josephine Carlisle is the adopted daughter of a well-to-do family who has three biological sons. She was removed from the local orphanage as a child, and saw first hand how the children were treated there. She believes she’ll never marry, because of the mystery of who her biological parents are, though her adoptive parents have showered her with love and all the benefits a birth daughter would have. All of her experiences have been with men who only want her dowry, or an affair. Because she feels she has nothing to lose, she has taken on the secret persona of a highwayman, targeting the birth parents of children left at the orphanage with no means of support. When Thomas, Marquess Chesney, comes to the area to investigate the highwayman, Josie is immediately attracted to him, and doesn’t hesitate to make his acquaintance.

Thomas is at first amused by the bold young woman who approaches him, then he finds himself attracted to her, as well. The more the couple meets, Thomas finds something very strange happening. Josie seems to have the ability to calm his PTSD. When the two become intimate, he’s actually able to sleep peacefully in her arms. Eventually, Thomas and Josie discover each other’s secrets, and have to face the fact that they are on opposite sides. This is a great obstacle to their being together, in addition to the difference in their stations in life.

HOW I MARRIED A MARQUESS has a plot which is out of the ordinary, and that’s always fun to read. Yet, I didn’t quite fall in love with the protagonists, and that affected my enjoyment of this story. I felt that both Thomas and Josie exhibited tunnel vision. Thomas refused to even consider the possibility that Josie may be right about a close family friend being a villain. He also is determined that he must regain his duties as a spy, never even considering that he has other options. Josie, while being motivated by a true desire to help the orphans, brushed off the fact that her actions could cause great shame to her family, as well as her own deportation, or even death. She also has a tendency to barrel into situations without thinking, leaving me shaking my head. I questioned the depth of their feelings when these things turned out to be more important than their love.

HOW I MARRIED A MARQUESS wraps up the Secret Life of Scoundrels series, which includes DUKES ARE FOREVER and ALONG CAME A ROGUE. (I enjoyed both of those books very much.) ANNA HARRINGTON is a gifted writer, and I look forward to reading her future works, as well as recommending this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Nov 23, 2015 Anna's Herding Cats rated it really liked it

Shelves: adoption, spy, historical, 2016-accepted-request, 2016-hcbs, 2016-pick-your-genre, anna-harrington, 2016, military-or-exmilitary-men

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Z8Nivp

Anna Harrington has me totally smitten. She's a breath of fresh air to the historical romance genre and has me clamoring for more. How I Married A Marquess...unique, action packed and enchanting.

The quick of it is that Thomas is a rather broken ex-spy. He was injured a year ago and just hasn't recovered his steady hand. But he's determined to make his way back and prove to the War Office he's fit for duty again and to do so? ...more

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Apr 01, 2016 nick (the infinite limits of love) rated it liked it

Shelves: adult, historical, arc

How I Married a Marquess was an impulse request for me. One of my reading goals this year is to expand my historical romance horizons by trying out more authors and one of my picks was this book. The summary made it seem like it had all the elements I enjoy in a good historical romance, but there were just some things that made the book pale in comparison to some of the other excellent novels I've read in the genre.

Let me get the negatives out of the way. My biggest issue with How I Married a Ma
How I Married a Marquess was an impulse request for me. One of my reading goals this year is to expand my historical romance horizons by trying out more authors and one of my picks was this book. The summary made it seem like it had all the elements I enjoy in a good historical romance, but there were just some things that made the book pale in comparison to some of the other excellent novels I've read in the genre.

Let me get the negatives out of the way. My biggest issue with How I Married a Marquess was Josie. I had such conflicted feelings about her. On the one hand, I admired her kindness, selflessness and willingness to help those in need. On the other hand, her willingness to help others also made her take incredibly stupid and life-endangering decisions that had me wanting to shake some senses into her. Then, there was the matter of her being an adopted daughter of a baron. She constantly moaned and whined about how she didn't fit in with adopted family, and I just didn't get it. Her family did absolutely nothing to make her feel like an outsider. They loved and cherished her as their own and provided her with a loving and nurturing haven. So, Josie came across as very ungrateful when she would bring up the fact that she didn't belong among the Carlisles every chapter. That really left a sour taste in my mouth and an overall negative feeling towards her.

Thomas, I liked much better, though he too had his selfish moments. He was a spy with only one chance of reviving his career. Having lost his job in an accident was rough on him and he was constantly battling with his feelings of inadequacy. Thomas was clever and smart though, but most of all I liked how genuine he came across. His and Josie's romance was very well-written and I certainly felt all the chemistry they had between them. They didn't always get along, but all that pent-up passion between them was hard to ignore. I thought Anna Harrington did a good job with all the steamy scenes! One thing I really enjoyed about How I Married a Marquess was the fact that the book had a plot besides the romance. There was a mystery weaved through the book that I thought was well-written and that I found to be enjoyable.

Overall, How I Married a Marquess was a decent historical romance and despite my not loving the heroine, I'll be picking up more books by the author. ...more

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Mar 10, 2016 Heather andrews rated it it was amazing

Thomas is always willing to prove things to woman, “oh, it happened.” He placed a kiss on her bare shoulder, then gave an animal-like growl. “But I can prove it to you again if you’d like.” With a soft laugh, she playfully swatted him away." Thomas is a very attentive man when it comes to his woman, “we’ll probably want to see each other well when we do it.” He voice lowered to a seductive growl. “And I certainly want to see you.” I enjoyed this book Thomas loved Jo's hard-headiness and No loved ...more

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Aug 22, 2015 Elaine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: regency

I love how Anna Harrington writes. For me, her novels are fun to read, well written, lovely storylines, and this is why I just fall into them from the beginning. This is such a wonderful story.
I've loved reading this trilogy and am looking forward to her next book in a new trilogy!
5***** ...more

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Oct 01, 2015 Jen rated it it was amazing

This. Book. Was. SO GOOD. I truly couldn't put it down, even in the midst of a family vacation with kids running around everywhere. I highly recommend. ...more

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Mar 15, 2017 Aly rated it really liked it

An incredibly observant but jaded marquess, the clever but reckless adopted daughter of a baron, instant attraction and a lovely but dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Hired by a friend of the family to find the highwayman who steals from him and his guests, it's the last chance for former spy Thomas Matteson to prove he recovered from the incident that almost cost him his life one year ago.

At a house party at the Earl's country estate where he will begin his search, his eyes meet Josephine Carli An incredibly observant but jaded marquess, the clever but reckless adopted daughter of a baron, instant attraction and a lovely but dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Hired by a friend of the family to find the highwayman who steals from him and his guests, it's the last chance for former spy Thomas Matteson to prove he recovered from the incident that almost cost him his life one year ago.

At a house party at the Earl's country estate where he will begin his search, his eyes meet Josephine Carlisle's and he's immediately intrigued by her, without being able to explain why. That's what he'll try to understand throughout the book : why her ?

Josephine is not like the other society miss. She's strong, yet sensible. She's a dreamer, but also a woman of action. Growing up in a orphanage before her adoption, she knows what it's like for the kids, that's why she's trying, in her own way, to help get them a better life. Her meeting with Thomas will twart her plan, but the same could be said about his when she become the only obstacle at him getting back his old life. But she's also the only person who makes him feel alive again, who makes him regain pleasure in life. What will he choose between his career and the woman who's beginning to mean something to him?

The pace of the book was a little bit slow at the beginning, but I liked how the author described the curious attraction between Thomas and Josie, their incomprehension about it. It's like they found their soul mate with one look but don't know yet nor what it is that they feel.

There was a funny scene about gossips and it showed perfectly well how silly it can be, when Thomas passed from a rakewell to a war hero to a royal savior and then a lion-killer within two minutes.

This book is my second by Anna Harington. The first one I read is the first book of Capturing the Carlisle series featuring Josie's brothers. I wondered if the author knew the "fate" she would write for them when she wrote this one because certain details seemed different to me.

I would have liked to know what happened with the orphanage at the end. There's part of an answer, and some things I know only because I read If the Duke Demands but I think we should have known because it felt a little like the kids were forget and that's sad.

But if you enjoyed the Carlisle brothers, you're gonna love Sebastien's story. It made me that more eager to read what's next and it made me want to read the previous romance in this series, especially the one with Nathaniel Grey. ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 Romancing the Book rated it it was amazing

Reviewed by Colantha
Book provided by NetGalley

I love it when I pick a book and discover that I can't put it down. I'm always discovering new authors, especially when I find a series and start from the middle or end and have to order the others because I'm so hooked. With this third book of The Secret Life of Scoundrels series, I now have to order the others because this book definitely hooked me. This is why I give it a five, because it had really great characters, storytelling and the romance ...more

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Dec 07, 2017 Gail rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-book, drama, family, historical-romance, library-book, adventure, mystery, regency

Nice story about a guy with PTSD, and his determination to get his job back so he can get his life back and recover from the shakes. His old job was as a spy, and he's invited by a family friend to go north and catch a highwayman so he can get a recommendation for his old boss. There he meets the heroine who is the adopted daughter of neighbors of his host.The heroine intrigues him from the first moment he meets her. She's intrigued by him too, but she's also determined to help the orphans at th ...more

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Dec 26, 2017 Mischa rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017

I probably liked this one the best in the series. However, there still were some things that just seemed too weird to me.

For example, the main heroine claiming for most of the book how she will not succumb to any man's charms etc. etc., the hero included, and then suddenly it's just "oh well, he's the best one to lose my virginity to". Plus, it once again didn't completely scream "historical romance" at me.

However, it was once again a really nice and relaxing read, which I did enjoy. And despit ...more

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Jan 15, 2018 Mary R. Soto rated it it was amazing

I was hooked with this book since the first chapter, I must say.
I love them tall, dark and handsome, just like our hero and spy.
I loved the story. I enjoyed the reading and the drama was on point.
Those love scenes were amazing and beautiful.

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Now, let's talk about the plot, shall we?
What the devil was wrong with those aristocratics assholes and the orphans?
I hated it. I cried my eyes out, for f*cks' sake. Those poor babies.
Thank God for that epilogue... Clara is an angel ♥

so... obviou ...more

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Nov 10, 2017 Cat rated it it was ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 03, 2018 Jenny rated it really liked it

I read this book in a day so I guess you can say I liked it! Josie isn’t my favorite heroine but she isn’t rude or annoying. I found the chemistry between the two main characters to be hot and steamy.. the best kind in a romance! I would have liked to see more of Josie’s relationship with her brothers. There was a great potential for some comic relief with her three older and over protective brothers that the author could have played upon more.

I would say Anna Harrington is a new author on my m ...more

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Mar 02, 2017 June rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Secret Life of Scoundrels fans

Shelves: adult, spy, adoptioni, historical-fiction, romance

Thomas has not been the same since being shot and nearly dying. However, he wants his life back more than anything. A family friend offers him a chance to salvage his reputation by catching the highwayman that has been plaguing him for two years.

Josephine Carlisle is an adopted orphan who has secrets she's hiding and finds herself attracting Thomas' attention.

Fun if you can suspend disbelief. ...more

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Jun 14, 2018 Kindle Reads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Nice end of series, or standalone. Prolonged emotional end

Rapidly paced attraction and intrigue. Suspense led to questions of trust, emotional intuition, & if one wants what they think. The wrap up of the villian was engrossing as well.
Since it last of series Thomas' friends help out. (Still good standalone). Of course epilogue had nice snapshot of future. End was a bit sappier than I care for, but it was great HEA. ...more

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About Anna Harrington

Anna Harrington

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I fell in love with historical romances and all things Regency—and especially all those dashing Regency heroes—while living in England, where I spent most of my time studying the Romantic poets, reading Jane Austen, and getting lost all over the English countryside.

When I read my first Regency romance in 2012, I was hooked and longed to create my own independent and spirited heroines and dashing h I fell in love with historical romances and all things Regency—and especially all those dashing Regency heroes—while living in England, where I spent most of my time studying the Romantic poets, reading Jane Austen, and getting lost all over the English countryside.

When I read my first Regency romance in 2012, I was hooked and longed to create my own independent and spirited heroines and dashing heroes. The best part of writing historical romances is falling into history—to live in the world of Regency England through my characters, with dazzling balls, beautiful dresses, and gorgeous houses that I would otherwise never be able to experience. I love the period’s rich history and find that all those rules of etiquette and propriety can be worked to the heroine’s advantage…if she’s daring enough to seize her dreams.

In addition to earning my degrees in the U.S., I have studied theatre in London, Mexican history in Guadalajara, and Spanish in Ecuador. I am an avid traveler and have enjoyed visiting schools and volunteering with children's organizations in Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, and Mexico, and I have amassed thousands of photos I unleash on unsuspecting friends who dare to ask about my travels.

I love to be outdoors! I've been hiking in Alaska, the Andes, and the Alps, including one week spent dangling off the via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites, and I love whitewater rafting (when I don't fall in!). I earned my pilot’s license at Chicago Midway (To all the controllers in Chicago Center—I greatly apologize for every problem I caused for you and Southwest Airlines), and it is my dream to one-day fly in a hot-air balloon over Africa.

I adore all things chocolate, shamelessly dive into ice cream of any flavor, and guzzle Kona coffee by the gallon. A Doctor Who fanatic (everyone says my house is bigger on the inside), I am a terrible cook who hopes to one day use my oven for something other than shoe storage. When I'm not writing, I like to spend my time trying not to kill the innocent rose bushes in my garden.
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