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Reformed Rakes #1
To Love a Marquis
Miranda Jayne Whittier flees to London, escaping marriage to the Marquis of Melbourne, a man she's never met who is surrounded in rumors she can't overlook. With the last of her pin money spent, she accepts employment at Lady Constance’s House of Reform. Assigned to Viscount Harken, a handsome but difficult man who doesn't make their association easy, she is determined to help him and, in the process, solidify her position. She soon discovers he deserves better than he believes.
Anson Greenleaf, Marquis of Melbourne, thought collecting his betrothed would be a simple matter, but he'd been wrong. Miss Whittier has taken on a position in the city, which presents him with a unique opportunity. Using one of his lesser known titles, he poses as a client. Instead of learning why she ran from him, he finds himself drawn to her and is determined to charm her. Before long, he forms an intense desire for her. One he must fight.
When Miranda discovers the Marquis of Melbourne followed her to London, she fights against the need to leave the position she loves and the man she's come to care for. As her life falls apart, she's forced to give up the viscount. When she learns of the Marquis's deception, she realizes she can't marry him. After all, she knows exactly what he wants in a bride. And, she knows it's not her.
Anson Greenleaf, Marquis of Melbourne, thought collecting his betrothed would be a simple matter, but he'd been wrong. Miss Whittier has taken on a position in the city, which presents him with a unique opportunity. Using one of his lesser known titles, he poses as a client. Instead of learning why she ran from him, he finds himself drawn to her and is determined to charm her. Before long, he forms an intense desire for her. One he must fight.
When Miranda discovers the Marquis of Melbourne followed her to London, she fights against the need to leave the position she loves and the man she's come to care for. As her life falls apart, she's forced to give up the viscount. When she learns of the Marquis's deception, she realizes she can't marry him. After all, she knows exactly what he wants in a bride. And, she knows it's not her.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2018
663 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Langston
19 books36 followersJenn Langston is a writer and a lover of historical romances. She developed her love of reading romance novels at a very young age. What began as the simple joy of reading developed into a passion to write.
She lives in the beloved state of Texas where she was born and raised. With her husband, three beautiful children, and three cats, she has a full house. There is never a dull moment, but always time to read and write.
She lives in the beloved state of Texas where she was born and raised. With her husband, three beautiful children, and three cats, she has a full house. There is never a dull moment, but always time to read and write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 18, 2019
What a great regency story! New author for me and I'll look forward for more of her books.
Not a usual plot, it was a total pageturner for me.
Broken hero, he was a bit of manhorrish before meeting heroine. But thank God, we don't get any scenes with OP, or we don't meet ex hook ups!! Thank you, author, for this!
Heroine was brave, strong and sometimes bold!
Don't give 5 stars: because hero waited too long for me to accept his love for his girl... Too much time with his head up his ass!!
Safe. Celibate since meeting each other.
Not a usual plot, it was a total pageturner for me.
Broken hero, he was a bit of manhorrish before meeting heroine. But thank God, we don't get any scenes with OP, or we don't meet ex hook ups!! Thank you, author, for this!
Heroine was brave, strong and sometimes bold!
Don't give 5 stars: because hero waited too long for me to accept his love for his girl... Too much time with his head up his ass!!
Safe. Celibate since meeting each other.
May 6, 2021
Don't read if you don't want to learn a few home truths about the story.
This guy is such an arrogant arse. If I had been the Heroine, I would have run from him as well. And did the author actually point out, even though he was trying to retrieve his betrothed, that he visited a brothel after their first meeting? Unbelievable! That actually proved to the reader he was not worthy of the Heroine.
The Marquis's sister also lied to Miranda, saying she was a friend and not admitting to being his sister. His friend, the Viscount, although knowing the truth, also chose not to tell her. Did no one know the value of honesty in this book? Even after revealing who he truly was, he chose to continue lying to her. Why?! Did the author really think this was a good premise for a love story?
There was a small bit of chemistry, a touch of passion here and there, but in general, these two main characters should really never have been together. There was a great deal of drama and angst and little to no humor. This was an all-around bad story.
The Marquis didn't want an emotional attachment with Miranda, yet he didn't like that his friend could make her smile and laugh either. If he truly only wanted to marry her, then why didn't he say so? And if it were to be an emotionless marriage but he knew that's not what she wanted, why couldn't he let her go?
Miranda was treated like crap by all involved: the Marquis, his sister, her father as well as her stepmother (who was a regular byotch). The very fact that her father sold her to the Marquis in the first place was distasteful, but to learn that, if she didn't accept marriage with him, then her father would sell her to the highest bidder was definitely worse.
Although they married, the Marquis was still very much an arrogant, emotionless man who showed little to no respect for his new bride. And then, not more than a week after getting married, he decided to go to London, at first by himself, but upon seeing her downfallen look, he changed his mind to take her and his sister as well, although his sister chose not to go.
It was a long, drawn-out 16 chapters, most of it repetitious and dull. And let it be said again what an atrocious family Miranda had!
While the book did have a HEA, it in no way made up for the rest of the book's disappointment. This was definitely not an auspicious beginning to the Reformed Rakes Series. It left much to be desired and never did the Hero truly exonerate himself from the hateful man he started out as. I would say this book definitely did not merit the Keeper for the Shelves award.
This guy is such an arrogant arse. If I had been the Heroine, I would have run from him as well. And did the author actually point out, even though he was trying to retrieve his betrothed, that he visited a brothel after their first meeting? Unbelievable! That actually proved to the reader he was not worthy of the Heroine.
The Marquis's sister also lied to Miranda, saying she was a friend and not admitting to being his sister. His friend, the Viscount, although knowing the truth, also chose not to tell her. Did no one know the value of honesty in this book? Even after revealing who he truly was, he chose to continue lying to her. Why?! Did the author really think this was a good premise for a love story?
There was a small bit of chemistry, a touch of passion here and there, but in general, these two main characters should really never have been together. There was a great deal of drama and angst and little to no humor. This was an all-around bad story.
The Marquis didn't want an emotional attachment with Miranda, yet he didn't like that his friend could make her smile and laugh either. If he truly only wanted to marry her, then why didn't he say so? And if it were to be an emotionless marriage but he knew that's not what she wanted, why couldn't he let her go?
Miranda was treated like crap by all involved: the Marquis, his sister, her father as well as her stepmother (who was a regular byotch). The very fact that her father sold her to the Marquis in the first place was distasteful, but to learn that, if she didn't accept marriage with him, then her father would sell her to the highest bidder was definitely worse.
Although they married, the Marquis was still very much an arrogant, emotionless man who showed little to no respect for his new bride. And then, not more than a week after getting married, he decided to go to London, at first by himself, but upon seeing her downfallen look, he changed his mind to take her and his sister as well, although his sister chose not to go.
It was a long, drawn-out 16 chapters, most of it repetitious and dull. And let it be said again what an atrocious family Miranda had!
While the book did have a HEA, it in no way made up for the rest of the book's disappointment. This was definitely not an auspicious beginning to the Reformed Rakes Series. It left much to be desired and never did the Hero truly exonerate himself from the hateful man he started out as. I would say this book definitely did not merit the Keeper for the Shelves award.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2021
DNF
I am not super demanding of these kindle freebies, and sometimes they are very enjoyable. This one is embarrassingly bad, absurd nonsense.
I am not super demanding of these kindle freebies, and sometimes they are very enjoyable. This one is embarrassingly bad, absurd nonsense.
May 18, 2019
Preposterous and idiotic
Generally good editing hardly improves a story built on an utterly preposterous premise and featuring an unlikable hero and idiotic heroine. Other flaws include errors in etiquette, dialogue that doesn't ring true, and, again, protagonists that neither charm nor intrigue the reader.
Generally good editing hardly improves a story built on an utterly preposterous premise and featuring an unlikable hero and idiotic heroine. Other flaws include errors in etiquette, dialogue that doesn't ring true, and, again, protagonists that neither charm nor intrigue the reader.
June 6, 2019
Stupid Premise
Disclosure: I only read the first quarter of this very disappointing book. The basic premise is one of the most ridiculous I have ever encountered, and I can only encourage this author to switch from historical fiction to pure fantasy, where her imagination will be put to better use. Her characterizations and dialogue are excellent. It is a shame to see them wasted on such a stupid plot.
Disclosure: I only read the first quarter of this very disappointing book. The basic premise is one of the most ridiculous I have ever encountered, and I can only encourage this author to switch from historical fiction to pure fantasy, where her imagination will be put to better use. Her characterizations and dialogue are excellent. It is a shame to see them wasted on such a stupid plot.
Want to read
May 15, 2019FRee on Amazon 15th May 2019
May 19, 2019
Believable characters, interesting plot, easy reading; leaves you wanting more.
September 17, 2023
This book is a mess: Anson's (the hero) manipulation and unkindness is explained away as a result of his fear of being hurt again, but his backstory doesn't explain or justify his behavior; the h's behavior makes little sense; the villains' motivations are all over the place; the secondary characters are poorly established, and, again, their motivations don't make much sense; and the place that's supposed to be the linchpin of the series (the Reform School) is sketchily established.
Anson is a widower who lost his wife and child under tragic circumstances. His wife (Beatrice) was someone he grew up with, and, although fond of her, he was never in love with her. For much of the book, Beatrice is depicted as being in love with Anson but suffering from what seems like post-partum depression, such that she commits suicide, and the child dies, too (). Anson, who is a young man (though his age is never specified), decides, within a year of this tragedy, that he must marry again and procure an heir. The only justification for his urgency is a throwaway line that his father died young.
He therefore decides to purchase a bride, sight unseen, so he can get his heir but otherwise ignore her. Given that he spends a good portion of the book recognizing that he didn't love Beatrice, and that she committed suicide, taking his daughter with her, it's unclear why he thinks that the best possible way to secure a living/surviving heir is to treat his wife as an "acquaintance" that he has children with. He's also paranoid about becoming too close to his new wife, fighting to absent himself and ignore her because he likes her too much! Given that his backstory is that he didn't love his first wife (though he did love his child), thus has no reason to fear being in love, his emotional abuse (rudeness, followed by flirtation, followed by sexual intimacy, followed by withdrawal, etc., etc.) of the h is illogical and inexcusable.
Miranda, the h, is sold into marriage by her father and barely-older-than-her stepmother, so she runs away to London. Does she have a plan? No. She has barely enough money to get her there. Does she have any marketable skills? No. But she procures a position at Lady Constance's Reform School. What the school does is not very clear. At first, it seems like a place where noble men, who need wives but have social deficits, are taught how to win over a woman, through various, mostly unspecified, lessons (dancing, conversation, flirtation, etc.). But apparently there are several women clients, who are seeking husbands. What this place has to offer them is unclear. And Miranda is hired for no reason other than she clearly needs a job, and she's sent in to her first (and only) client, Anson, without any apparent training. She has no idea what to do (Anson has tracked her down but wants to find out why she ran from him in the first place, even though he supposedly doesn't really care who he marries, so he uses one of his more obscure titles to covertly get to know her).
Anson is rude and abrasive (but, of course, hot), and he and Miranda have some uncomfortable encounters. Then he decides to be charming, and the author skips over any episodes that might show how Anson transformed himself from jerk to Miranda's love object. The plot becomes increasingly convoluted--Miranda and Anson have pre-marital sex a couple of times, but, of course, he doesn't think he's in love and she says she doesn't want to marry him; then they suddenly marry and seem happy, only for Anson to start the whole "I have to keep my distance from her" nonsense, then there are various and sundry villains who interfere, and a revelation before they get their HEA.
The villains are Miranda's father and stepmother, Anson's former mother in law, and, posthumously, his first wife. Miranda's father just seems to want money all the time; at first I thought he was besotted with his young wife, and just spent a ton of money on her. But, no, he apparently married her for her money but then is either terrible with money, spends it all on whatever she wants (even though he doesn't seem that enthused by her), or both. Her stepmother is portrayed as treating Miranda cruelly from the start; she's all in favor of the forced marriage (even as she makes weak attempts to seduce Anson and his friend). Buth when she and the father collude to kidnap Miranda and sell her into another marriage--even though Miranda is already married with a living husband--their motivation is supposedly, in part, because they thought Miranda was in an unsafe situation because there are rumors that Anson murdered his first wife. Of course, they knew of those rumors when Anson first proposed buying Miranda, but, somehow, Miranda decides that they were (very slightly) motivated by her best interests at the end--despite all evidence to the contrary.
Anson's former mother-in-law is also hostile to them, but her hostility is all over the place. She resents Miranda's status as the new wife, and she doesn't want Anson to be happy, but, at least initially, it seems like she intends to kill Miranda, before disclaiming, at the end, that she ever intended to hurt her.
The key secondary characters--Anson's friend, Simon; his sister, Hannah; and Kaylee, Miranda's friend and one of the founders of the Reform School--are badly drawn, too. According to Anson's inner dialogue, he hasn't seen Simon in at least a year, but, of course, Simon seems willing to drop everything to support Anson--including trying to meet Miranda while she's still at the school, but meeting Kaylee instead--and then befriending Miranda (well, if one scene at a ball counts as truly befriending someone). There's one super-weird scene where Anson--after months of naval gazing--decides that he should ask Simon how he's doing; Simon, who clearly has something going on, deflects the concern, and Anson swiftly returns to obsessing about himself. I guess this is Langston's way of "proving" that Anson isn't really as selfish as every other page of this book demonstrates.
Then there's Hannah, who's unhappily married to an older man and appears to be developing an alcohol problem. Supposedly the siblings are close, and Hannah spends the winters at Anson's estate, but Anson really has no idea what's going on with Hannah and her marriage. As best I can tell, he's never even bothered to ask. And Hannah, it turns out, has been hiding a major secret from Anson about Beatrice, which makes no sense, given Anson's emotional issues (including guilt) post-Beatrice's death ().
Finally, the through-line of Langston's Reformed Rakes series is the Reform School, but, as noted above, it's barely established in this book. Yes, we meet a few people, but almost all of the teachers/founders are sketchily drawn. Kaylee (and I hate the anachronism of using an America 20th century name) is the character we see the most, and her introduction is bizarre. Miranda and she are suddenly hanging out and being great friends, even though this is the first scene in which Kaylee appears (she's not even mentioned before this). I actually wondered if the author had intended the scene to be with another founder (Regina), who Miranda had already met and established a rapport with, and the author just forgot the character's name. It's that kind of book.
Anson is a widower who lost his wife and child under tragic circumstances. His wife (Beatrice) was someone he grew up with, and, although fond of her, he was never in love with her. For much of the book, Beatrice is depicted as being in love with Anson but suffering from what seems like post-partum depression, such that she commits suicide, and the child dies, too (). Anson, who is a young man (though his age is never specified), decides, within a year of this tragedy, that he must marry again and procure an heir. The only justification for his urgency is a throwaway line that his father died young.
He therefore decides to purchase a bride, sight unseen, so he can get his heir but otherwise ignore her. Given that he spends a good portion of the book recognizing that he didn't love Beatrice, and that she committed suicide, taking his daughter with her, it's unclear why he thinks that the best possible way to secure a living/surviving heir is to treat his wife as an "acquaintance" that he has children with. He's also paranoid about becoming too close to his new wife, fighting to absent himself and ignore her because he likes her too much! Given that his backstory is that he didn't love his first wife (though he did love his child), thus has no reason to fear being in love, his emotional abuse (rudeness, followed by flirtation, followed by sexual intimacy, followed by withdrawal, etc., etc.) of the h is illogical and inexcusable.
Miranda, the h, is sold into marriage by her father and barely-older-than-her stepmother, so she runs away to London. Does she have a plan? No. She has barely enough money to get her there. Does she have any marketable skills? No. But she procures a position at Lady Constance's Reform School. What the school does is not very clear. At first, it seems like a place where noble men, who need wives but have social deficits, are taught how to win over a woman, through various, mostly unspecified, lessons (dancing, conversation, flirtation, etc.). But apparently there are several women clients, who are seeking husbands. What this place has to offer them is unclear. And Miranda is hired for no reason other than she clearly needs a job, and she's sent in to her first (and only) client, Anson, without any apparent training. She has no idea what to do (Anson has tracked her down but wants to find out why she ran from him in the first place, even though he supposedly doesn't really care who he marries, so he uses one of his more obscure titles to covertly get to know her).
Anson is rude and abrasive (but, of course, hot), and he and Miranda have some uncomfortable encounters. Then he decides to be charming, and the author skips over any episodes that might show how Anson transformed himself from jerk to Miranda's love object. The plot becomes increasingly convoluted--Miranda and Anson have pre-marital sex a couple of times, but, of course, he doesn't think he's in love and she says she doesn't want to marry him; then they suddenly marry and seem happy, only for Anson to start the whole "I have to keep my distance from her" nonsense, then there are various and sundry villains who interfere, and a revelation before they get their HEA.
The villains are Miranda's father and stepmother, Anson's former mother in law, and, posthumously, his first wife. Miranda's father just seems to want money all the time; at first I thought he was besotted with his young wife, and just spent a ton of money on her. But, no, he apparently married her for her money but then is either terrible with money, spends it all on whatever she wants (even though he doesn't seem that enthused by her), or both. Her stepmother is portrayed as treating Miranda cruelly from the start; she's all in favor of the forced marriage (even as she makes weak attempts to seduce Anson and his friend). Buth when she and the father collude to kidnap Miranda and sell her into another marriage--even though Miranda is already married with a living husband--their motivation is supposedly, in part, because they thought Miranda was in an unsafe situation because there are rumors that Anson murdered his first wife. Of course, they knew of those rumors when Anson first proposed buying Miranda, but, somehow, Miranda decides that they were (very slightly) motivated by her best interests at the end--despite all evidence to the contrary.
Anson's former mother-in-law is also hostile to them, but her hostility is all over the place. She resents Miranda's status as the new wife, and she doesn't want Anson to be happy, but, at least initially, it seems like she intends to kill Miranda, before disclaiming, at the end, that she ever intended to hurt her.
The key secondary characters--Anson's friend, Simon; his sister, Hannah; and Kaylee, Miranda's friend and one of the founders of the Reform School--are badly drawn, too. According to Anson's inner dialogue, he hasn't seen Simon in at least a year, but, of course, Simon seems willing to drop everything to support Anson--including trying to meet Miranda while she's still at the school, but meeting Kaylee instead--and then befriending Miranda (well, if one scene at a ball counts as truly befriending someone). There's one super-weird scene where Anson--after months of naval gazing--decides that he should ask Simon how he's doing; Simon, who clearly has something going on, deflects the concern, and Anson swiftly returns to obsessing about himself. I guess this is Langston's way of "proving" that Anson isn't really as selfish as every other page of this book demonstrates.
Then there's Hannah, who's unhappily married to an older man and appears to be developing an alcohol problem. Supposedly the siblings are close, and Hannah spends the winters at Anson's estate, but Anson really has no idea what's going on with Hannah and her marriage. As best I can tell, he's never even bothered to ask. And Hannah, it turns out, has been hiding a major secret from Anson about Beatrice, which makes no sense, given Anson's emotional issues (including guilt) post-Beatrice's death ().
Finally, the through-line of Langston's Reformed Rakes series is the Reform School, but, as noted above, it's barely established in this book. Yes, we meet a few people, but almost all of the teachers/founders are sketchily drawn. Kaylee (and I hate the anachronism of using an America 20th century name) is the character we see the most, and her introduction is bizarre. Miranda and she are suddenly hanging out and being great friends, even though this is the first scene in which Kaylee appears (she's not even mentioned before this). I actually wondered if the author had intended the scene to be with another founder (Regina), who Miranda had already met and established a rapport with, and the author just forgot the character's name. It's that kind of book.
May 19, 2019
Childish romance
This was disappointing but I did finish the book. The guy was a jerk and the romance (read sex) scenes were contrived and a little juvenile. Don't waste your time unless you like steamy excuses for love.
This was disappointing but I did finish the book. The guy was a jerk and the romance (read sex) scenes were contrived and a little juvenile. Don't waste your time unless you like steamy excuses for love.
July 15, 2019
The premise is absurd. I might still have bought into it but hero's interview with the company (whose very existence is farcical at best) is patently absurd. It doesn't improve when he finally meets the heroine who is supposed to make him presentable in the marriage market. DNF at 7%
September 29, 2019
This was a light, entertaining regency romance. The plot was pretty predictable and there was a bit of repetition, but it was a sweet story with a happy ending. Miranda had been sold off from her Count of a father (literally - boom!) to Ansen, a Marquis, whose land lays close by to her own family's. Miranda's father is a jerk who is just chasing the highest amount he can get for her and has remarried a viper only a few years older than Miranda herself. Hearing that the Marquis' previous wife was rumoured to have been killed by Anson, she runs out of fear, finding work at a reform school that focusses on helping men and women become refined, skilled and/or married. Anson finds that his runaway bride is in London at the above establishment and goes to get her himself under the guise of being a client. After a rocky start, they begin to learn more of each other and attraction blooms. But alas, love is never simple so there's Anson's desire to have a wife who is only an acquaintance, his deceitfulness in meeting Miranda, family drama, the rumours surrounding the death of Anson's wife and their daughter and the former wife's bitter mother.
Apart from a few typos, the writing was pretty solid throughout the novel. I liked both Anson and Miranda for the most part, but unfortunately there was a bit of repetition and back and forth that frustrated me. Anson was your typical, arrogant Lord who believes women are mostly beneath him and there to help produce an heir. At first I wanted to punch in him the throat and thought he'd be a bit of a problem for me in the story, but his character did become more likeable and therefore made me less ragey. He was possessive so those that are into that will enjoy this aspect of his character as even when he struggles with his feelings, he knows he wants Miranda. Anson was firm that he didn't want to establish feelings with his new wife, so he'd be all over her and then distant as well as constantly lamenting his situation of how he can't form an attachment and can't be with her, mainly because of the issues surrounding the death of his previous wife. Then there was Miranda's woe is me moments where she didn't want to be married to the Marquis, he was a potential murderer, doesn't he like her and so on and so forth. This got a bit old pretty quickly and didn't add a lot to the overall story.
Some of the story line, particularly regarding the estranged couple, was a little bit rushed. Miranda went from arguing with Anson to wanting him, to being cranky that he was distant to loving him. A little bit of extra detail and development would have helped with this rather than jump from section to section, leaving out the good bits such as the wedding and their first week as a married couple. The writing then also went to the opposite extreme where some plot elements were excessively repeated, for example Miranda not wanting to see/marry Anson and them not getting anywhere substantial in their relationship as well as being constantly melancholy about how things were turning out due to their personal hang-ups.
There was a small amount of action thrown in that was entertaining to read and I loved the epilogue - it was really sweet and a nice finish to the story. We're given small teasers of a possible relationship between two secondary characters which does indeed blossom into Book 2 in this series, the first chapter being included at the end of this story. I enjoyed it enough to want to continue to Book 2 at some stage in the future. It was a short and enjoyable story with some good detail regarding the regency period without being over the top and just the palate cleanser I was after.
Apart from a few typos, the writing was pretty solid throughout the novel. I liked both Anson and Miranda for the most part, but unfortunately there was a bit of repetition and back and forth that frustrated me. Anson was your typical, arrogant Lord who believes women are mostly beneath him and there to help produce an heir. At first I wanted to punch in him the throat and thought he'd be a bit of a problem for me in the story, but his character did become more likeable and therefore made me less ragey. He was possessive so those that are into that will enjoy this aspect of his character as even when he struggles with his feelings, he knows he wants Miranda. Anson was firm that he didn't want to establish feelings with his new wife, so he'd be all over her and then distant as well as constantly lamenting his situation of how he can't form an attachment and can't be with her, mainly because of the issues surrounding the death of his previous wife. Then there was Miranda's woe is me moments where she didn't want to be married to the Marquis, he was a potential murderer, doesn't he like her and so on and so forth. This got a bit old pretty quickly and didn't add a lot to the overall story.
Some of the story line, particularly regarding the estranged couple, was a little bit rushed. Miranda went from arguing with Anson to wanting him, to being cranky that he was distant to loving him. A little bit of extra detail and development would have helped with this rather than jump from section to section, leaving out the good bits such as the wedding and their first week as a married couple. The writing then also went to the opposite extreme where some plot elements were excessively repeated, for example Miranda not wanting to see/marry Anson and them not getting anywhere substantial in their relationship as well as being constantly melancholy about how things were turning out due to their personal hang-ups.
There was a small amount of action thrown in that was entertaining to read and I loved the epilogue - it was really sweet and a nice finish to the story. We're given small teasers of a possible relationship between two secondary characters which does indeed blossom into Book 2 in this series, the first chapter being included at the end of this story. I enjoyed it enough to want to continue to Book 2 at some stage in the future. It was a short and enjoyable story with some good detail regarding the regency period without being over the top and just the palate cleanser I was after.
September 26, 2018
To Love A Marquis
Reformed Rakes Book 1
Jenn Langston
The first book in another wonderful series written by an amazing Author.
The story of Miranda Jayne Whittier and Anson Greenleaf the Marquis of Melborne.
Miranda is on the run from an arranged marriage by her father and step mother, the man she is betrothed to is Anson Greenleaf. She has heard horrible stories of the Marquis and has no intention of marrying him so she runs. She takes a job working at Lady Constance's House of Reform where she trains the young ladies to be acceptable wives. The perfect hiding place, or so she hopes it is.
Meanwhile, Lord Aberdeen (Miranda's father) has descovered where his run away daughter is and sends the Marquis to fetch her. Afterall the Marquis has already agreed to purchase his new bride from her father.
Anson Greenleaf wants an heir, he needs a wife although he doesn't really want another one but he needs one to get the other.
He hunts her down and realizes the situation is perfect for him to find out why she ran from him without even knowing him. He poses as a man in need of the help that is offered from the Reform House.
Now let the games begin!
If he can get Miranda to open up to him and fall in love with him without knowing who he really is he can bring her home without having to throw her over his shoulder and carry her away. Easy right? Sometimes plans can backfire though can't they?
Time for him to find his bride and bring her home where she belongs and make sure she never runs again.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To Love a Marquis
Reformed Rakes Book 1
Jenn Langston
The first book in another wonderful series written by an amazing Author.
The story of Miranda Jayne Whittier and Anson Greenleaf the Marquis of Melborne.
Miranda is on the run from an arranged marriage by her father and step mother, the man she is betrothed to is Anson Greenleaf. She has heard horrible stories of the Marquis and has no intention of marrying him so she runs. She takes a job working at Lady Constance's House of Reform where she trains the young ladies to be acceptable wives. The perfect hiding place, or so she hopes it is.
Meanwhile, Lord Aberdeen (Miranda's father) has descovered where his run away daughter is and sends the Marquis to fetch her. Afterall the Marquis has already agreed to purchase his new bride from her father.
Anson Greenleaf wants an heir, he needs a wife although he doesn't really want another one but he needs one to get the other.
He hunts her down and realizes the situation is perfect for him to find out why she ran from him without even knowing him. He poses as a man in need of the help that is offered from the Reform House.
Now let the games begin!
If he can get Miranda to open up to him and fall in love with him without knowing who he really is he can bring her home without having to throw her over his shoulder and carry her away. Easy right? Sometimes plans can backfire though can't they?
Time for him to find his bride and bring her home where she belongs and make sure she never runs again.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To Love a Marquis
May 17, 2019
Miranda Jayne Whittier is running away from an arranged marriage. She is betrothed to Anson Greenleaf, the Marquis of Melborne. She has heard rumors that the Marquis murdered his first wife and thinks he will do the same to her. So she runs away and takes a job working at the House of Reform. The Marquis has already bought and paid for his bride and doesn't understand why she ran. He tracks her down at the House of Reform and hires her to figure out why his intended ran away. Of course, he has major problems of his own which become apparent as the story goes along.
Aside from the fact that the whole story was not plausible, it did hold my interest. I liked the heroine and bought into her fears and the developing love between the couple and their HEA. I thought the story bogged down about half way through, and I got really disgusted with the hero and his attitude towards love and marriage. I kept reading anyway, and he redeemed himself but not enough for me to give the book more than 3 stars.
Aside from the fact that the whole story was not plausible, it did hold my interest. I liked the heroine and bought into her fears and the developing love between the couple and their HEA. I thought the story bogged down about half way through, and I got really disgusted with the hero and his attitude towards love and marriage. I kept reading anyway, and he redeemed himself but not enough for me to give the book more than 3 stars.
May 23, 2021
Don't love me, and I won't love you.
Her fears made Miranda flee her unwanted betrothal.
His need to know the reason for her flight made the marquis go after her.
To Love a Marquis by Jenn Langston is an easy read with light and dark moments. I really liked the writing style and the well constructed story. I also liked both lead characters, as well as the supporting characters.
All in all this was an enjoyable read with a satisfying happy ending.
Content 411: This book contains a small amount of swearing, some passionate kissing and a mildly described love scene.
Her fears made Miranda flee her unwanted betrothal.
His need to know the reason for her flight made the marquis go after her.
To Love a Marquis by Jenn Langston is an easy read with light and dark moments. I really liked the writing style and the well constructed story. I also liked both lead characters, as well as the supporting characters.
All in all this was an enjoyable read with a satisfying happy ending.
Content 411: This book contains a small amount of swearing, some passionate kissing and a mildly described love scene.
May 28, 2021
Very enjoyable
Delightful book. The characters were complex and well-defined. At times, there was so much ambivalence on the part of both characters, it became tiresome. But I could see how that could happen in our own lives when we are faced with frightening decisions. I very much enjoyed the storyline; it was original and intriguing. Unfortunately, there were quite a few typos, syntax and grammatical errors which bothered me quite a bit. I find it detracts from the enjoyment of my reading. All in all, though, it was a great read.
Delightful book. The characters were complex and well-defined. At times, there was so much ambivalence on the part of both characters, it became tiresome. But I could see how that could happen in our own lives when we are faced with frightening decisions. I very much enjoyed the storyline; it was original and intriguing. Unfortunately, there were quite a few typos, syntax and grammatical errors which bothered me quite a bit. I find it detracts from the enjoyment of my reading. All in all, though, it was a great read.
May 16, 2019
Fabulous characters
Miranda and Anson are fabulous characters! Their pasts drives their actions and their reactions. There were several times during the book when I thought oh here's the happily ever after, and then something else would come up, and the book continued. Fabulously written! I highly recommend this book.
Stand alone HEA, with hints of further books to come.
Contains sex scenes, few swear words, and violence (punches, suicide).
Miranda and Anson are fabulous characters! Their pasts drives their actions and their reactions. There were several times during the book when I thought oh here's the happily ever after, and then something else would come up, and the book continued. Fabulously written! I highly recommend this book.
Stand alone HEA, with hints of further books to come.
Contains sex scenes, few swear words, and violence (punches, suicide).
Read
June 20, 2019To Love a Marquis (Reformed Rakes Book 1)
The love story of Anson, the Marquis of Melbourne and Miranda. After Anson lost his first wife, he wants nothing to do with love, so he but his next wife.
Miranda Lear she has been betrothed to a man she had not meet she run to London. She find a job at a place that help people find a spouse. Anson find her there and hires her to help him. Can they find happiness and love?
The love story of Anson, the Marquis of Melbourne and Miranda. After Anson lost his first wife, he wants nothing to do with love, so he but his next wife.
Miranda Lear she has been betrothed to a man she had not meet she run to London. She find a job at a place that help people find a spouse. Anson find her there and hires her to help him. Can they find happiness and love?
May 23, 2019
To Love A Marquis (Book 1) By Jenn Langston
Five stars, this was good, it had a bit of everything...Touch of sensuality, drama and mystery..Again wanted a wife and a child, but without the feelings of love..He paid for Miranda, she fought it..Regardless she ended up living him..Anson had baggage from his first wife, in order to love he had to conquer those out to harm them.
Five stars, this was good, it had a bit of everything...Touch of sensuality, drama and mystery..Again wanted a wife and a child, but without the feelings of love..He paid for Miranda, she fought it..Regardless she ended up living him..Anson had baggage from his first wife, in order to love he had to conquer those out to harm them.
May 19, 2019
Ok
I feel like this story is similar to others I've read before, with one-dimensional villains, and a very confused hero. There's no humor. Not much fun. I can appreciate the writing, but not the plot or character development.
I feel like this story is similar to others I've read before, with one-dimensional villains, and a very confused hero. There's no humor. Not much fun. I can appreciate the writing, but not the plot or character development.
June 8, 2019
TO LOVE A MARQUIS: is an interesting read. Our hero is such a jerk in the beginning of the book I almost gave up. The story is good, an arranged marriage, unloved heroine, venomous mother -in - law, deceased ex wife....a little bit of everything that turns out well.
July 17, 2019
Tremendous read.
Really enjoyed this story. It was exciting and caring, Miranda knew who she was in love with and how to get him to love her so she went after him. When she found out all that he had gone through it made her love him more. Thanks Diane DeMoulin
Really enjoyed this story. It was exciting and caring, Miranda knew who she was in love with and how to get him to love her so she went after him. When she found out all that he had gone through it made her love him more. Thanks Diane DeMoulin
September 4, 2019
I quite liked the storyline for this book. I actually read it all in one sitting. Though intimate scenes were included, they were tasteful rather than crass. My only problem with this novel was the editing and some grammar choices. There are enough to make me lean toward a 3.5 rating for this book.
May 27, 2021
This book has an interesting story but it hedges on verbal and mental abuse. It was frustrating to read but I know there was no help for PTSD and women were expect to have little self esteem nor stand up for themselves. So glad that has changed. No woman should except abuse.
December 12, 2018
Loveable story
Good characters, a nice believable story, and mystery in the mix. I enjoyed reading this book. I will look for another book by this author.
Good characters, a nice believable story, and mystery in the mix. I enjoyed reading this book. I will look for another book by this author.
April 11, 2019
Very little veil - you can see right through the story. But it's fun and was an entertaining read.
April 26, 2019
To Love a Marquis (Reformed Rakes Book 1)
A great Regency Romance! You will not want to put it down from the first chapter. Miranda and Anson realize they love each other!
A great Regency Romance! You will not want to put it down from the first chapter. Miranda and Anson realize they love each other!
May 18, 2019
To Tame A Marquis
The story had you engaged from beginning to end. It was full of intrigue, romance and mystery. A book that kept you reading well into the night. I loved it.
The story had you engaged from beginning to end. It was full of intrigue, romance and mystery. A book that kept you reading well into the night. I loved it.
May 19, 2019
Kindle-Free-Bookbub
May 19, 2019
Romance
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
May 21, 2019
Th Love A Marquis
I liked this story very much and was pleased with the way it finished. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I liked this story very much and was pleased with the way it finished. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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