BOTM 1 - September 2021 - The Devil is a Marquess

[Sam I]

Discussion thread for the First BOTM of September 2021. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)

Happy Reading!



The Devil Is a Marquess

When a rake beyond redemption...

A walking scandal surviving on little more than wits, whisky, and wicked skills in the bedchamber, Benedict Chatham, the new Marquess of Rutherford, is at the end of his rope. Deeply in debt and down to his last farthing, he must marry nothing short of an absolute fortune, or risk utter ruin.

Must marry for money...

Enter Miss Charlotte Lancaster, unfashionably tall heiress to just such a fortune and a clumsy, redheaded disaster in her five London seasons. While she dreams of leaving England for a life of trade in America, her father schemes to trade her dowry for a title—and Marchioness of Rutherford will do nicely. Charlotte wants her independence, not a husband, and certainly not a disreputable devil who renders her weak and wobbly with a single scorching glance. But she's a practical sort, and a year with the devil might buy her freedom... provided she can resist his seductive charms. That shouldn't prove a problem, for he could not possibly want someone like her, and the feeling is mutual. Really. It is.

Love grows in the most unexpected places...

When her father demands a startling price for his daughter's hand—one year of fidelity and sobriety—Chatham must change his libertine ways... at least temporarily. And when he does, Charlotte begins to see him in a new light—not as the scandalous charmer she married, but as the husband she just might adore.

[Laura]

Loved this book and am looking forward to reading it again. Unfortunately haven't read another book by Elisa Braden that comes close.

[Leena]

ditto

[Mariana]

I am definitely planning to join in on this one, but I may not get started until after Labor Day.

[Preeti]

I have read it but will not mind a re-read, this one was a fun read. Not to mention I would love to listen to Mary Sarah's narration.

[Lady Nilambari]

Oooh this one definitely worth a re-read!

[Leena]

I just love this book. I agree with Darbella, for me too it's the growing relationship between Charlotte and Chatham. I don't think I've read any other where their relationship building is dealt with so maturely.

[Lauren]

This so enjoyable. I'm on pg 115 and had to stop to sleep (grrr) or I would have finished it in one sitting. Why did I let Colin stop me from continuing the series?

Darbella, I agree. Her side characters have sparked my curiosity, even Lucy at 5yrs old.

I like that the author does show his painful withdrawal from alcohol but, I think a longtime alcoholic who quits coldturkey would have been close to death. A 4 day carriage ride would have been very dangerous.

[Missy]

I thought my library had this book but they don't have any books by Elisa Braden at all! 😭 So I can't join this BOTM.

[Lauren]

sorry to hear that Missy

[Mamacita aka MawMaw]

Missy wrote: "I thought my library had this book but they don't have any books by Elisa Braden at all! 😭 So I can't join this BOTM."

😳🤔

[Sandra]

Missy wrote: "I thought my library had this book but they don't have any books by Elisa Braden at all! 😭 So I can't join this BOTM."

Missy, if you can read the ebook, I can send it to you. Send me a message

[Leena]

@ Darbella, the Viola story is really pathetic. its likes the author ran out of her creative juices once this one got written. sad, since it had so much promise..

[Leena]

In my opinion, this bk by far is the best in the series.

[Leena]

@ Sandra, its easily available on Scribd and Scribd has a 30 day free reading period.u can avail of it and then cancel it if u aren't interested in continuing the account.

[Leena]

@ Sandra, its easily available on Scribd and Scribd has a 30 day free reading period.u can avail of it and then cancel it if u aren't interested in continuing the account.

[Lauren]

Finished! This was such an enjoyable read. I will say that book 1 is still my favorite, though this book came close.

Leena aluru, Scribd has a free trail? I don't think I'll see my family for awhile. Thanks for the tip!

[Leena]

ur welcome!.

[Sandra]

I get all my ebooks for free .

[Sandra]

To read this one I have to read the first four books of the serie... so, it will take a while to reach this one.

[Leena]

hey Sandra, it's not necessary. they are pretty stand alone. I started this series with this one and then I read it again atleast a coumore times till I actually got around to read the first one.

[Sandra]

I prefer to read the serie ;)

[Susan in Perthshire]

Not read this author before- what a mistake. I absolutely loved it - so I’ll be reading more of her books. This was simply delightful. Romantic, sexy, funny, adult, exciting and what a joy to have such amazing MCs in our h/H.

[Merry]

I have one audible credit I need to use and it looks like this book has been enjoyed by most here I think I will join this months read. It is a new to me author also. So it will be fun.

[Merry]

I am up to chapter 5 in the Audio book. I would have chosen a different reader than than Mary Sarah. I do not dislike her reading but its not as I would imagine the voices of the characters. The main characters are my favorite type. Strong willed woman and a rake that is bankrupted by circumstances.
@Darbella I read your first 2 spoilers and totally agree.

[Merry]

I ended up listening to the book all day as I had no plans and was able to listen while doing a few chores. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading books 1-3. What I liked was showing the effects of long term alcohol use. The positive attitude and hard work that Charlotte maintains. I also like how Rutherford buckles down to learning and becoming part of a team with his wife. I came to enjoy Mary Sarah narration. It was a 5 Star read till the mothers visit. My thoughts about the end of the book (view spoiler)[ I found that Rutherford's threatened drinking about his wife moving to America as planned and then his mother being a total witch burning down the library and spilling the beans about the money for the baby to just be a bit too much and I dropped it a star. (hide spoiler)]

[Susan]

I really enjoyed this, especially as it combined my two favourite things...what appears to be a completely unredeemable rake and a marriage of convenience.

I have only read one book by this author before and it was a DNF, so I was pleasantly surprised.

I agree that she did the (view spoiler)[ alcohol withdrawal well. It reminded me of another excellent book, the Rake by Mary Jo Putney (which also has an unredeemable alcoholic rake.... (hide spoiler)].

I liked the relationship between Charlotte/Chatham and their non-ton neighbours. I think it illustrated how badly both had been treated by the the ton and the true natures/values of Charlotte and Chatham that they did not hesitate to embrace the friendship offered by the lovely couple and were no longer interested in hob nobbing with the ton.

And I agree with someone else's comment - what a horrible father Charlotte had!!

[Merry]

@ Susan It definitely made you aware of how daughters were property and had little recourse other than marriage.

[Susan]

I have been thinking about this book (...and I guess if I am thinking about it 4 days later it must have been a good book) and I think one of the things I really liked was that the H and h actually really liked each other. Often in these historical romances there is a whole lot of lust, but not much else. With these two, while there was still a sexual connection they just really liked being together. They spent nights lying in bed chatting and when conflict meant that they spent time apart, that intimacy was what they really missed. A true romance....not just good sex.

[Merry]

Susan I think you have really hit the nail on the head. I think intimacy is harder to convey and this book did a wonderful job of it.

[Leena]

I agree too. it's bang on their
relationship .

[Leena]

another book that really deals with their relationship is The Hired Wife by Cari Hislop. the entire bk is very OTT,but the H & h are brilliant.

[Padma]

Agree Susan, Merry, Leena. Was a wonderful read. Loved it.

[Missy]

It was a struggle for me to get into the book from the beginning. I'm almost 80% into the book and it's an okay read so far. I did skim a few times though. I'm much more intrigued by Viola Darling's pursuit of Tannenbrook. Turns out their book is next in the series!

I haven't had a chance to read everyone's comments yet but I will after I finish the book.

[Sandra]

I'm starting this book but I really have a problem with Lord Chatham, I don't even want to read the book. I'm reading it but I'm frowning all the time!! 😩😩😩

[Sandra]

Darbella wrote: "O no Sandra.....you are having the same problem I am having with book three of this series. /hug. Good luck and I hope it gets better for you and I hope Colin (whom I think is a dud so far starts t..."

Yes, darbella, sadly so! :D I hope Colin can make you change your mind!!

[Sandra]

Darbella wrote: "Chapters 1-9. I do like that the chapters start out with a quote from The Dowager Marchioness of Wallingham.
The beginning chapter I found it hard to read. I am not a fan of [spoilers removed]
I..."

Totally with you in the 3 first spoilers!!

About the father (view spoiler)[I really hope, that along the book, he has some kind of an explanation for obligating the daughter marrying with a low life cad!!!! really.... (hide spoiler)]

And the fact that she (view spoiler)[refers the house as a female, love it!! (hide spoiler)]

[Leena]

Darbella i agree with you Colin was terrible and I'd dnf the bk 30% into it. Chatham on the other is truly wonderful. he redeems himself and how!

[Sandra]

One of the things I've liked in Colin´s (view spoiler)[redemption has that he wanted to be better not because of a girls love, but because he chose to do so. Off course the girl´s love had a strong role, but she appeared in a time that he was already trying to changed. Usually the rakes only changed because of the girl, until she apears he dont care about stop being this or that... (hide spoiler)]

[Susan in Perthshire]

Susan wrote: "I have been thinking about this book (...and I guess if I am thinking about it 4 days later it must have been a good book) and I think one of the things I really liked was that the H and h actually..."

Yes, I totally agree! The intimacy that developed was so lovely and natural. I loved it.

[Susan in Perthshire]

Darbella wrote: "Susan in Perhshire, I am so happy you enjoyed this one. After Lemonade- I had my fingers crossed for you. hehe
Merry Jewelhound, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one.
Leena, thanks for ..."

Thanks Darbella! this was a great discovery for me because I had never read this author before. This was a superb introduction!

[Anshi]

I really like Elisa Braden. Chatham's addiction struggle was covered well.

Chatham gets jealous (view spoiler)[of Charlotte's friendship with Tannenbrook! (hide spoiler)] Aww.....

While it was apparently common during the era to pay for even a useless, aristocratic son-in-law over untitled people, I did not like Charlotte's father's approach but (view spoiler)[Chatham's mother was despicable. (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra]

I think that´s a go to usual in HR for keeping the intrigue running, but for heaven's sake, make the guys talk with each other, please!! Its not to much to ask and that happens a lot in almost every HR, the confusion that arises from the heroes not speaking, it´s a way of keep the plot going but is a to easy solution and its getting on my nerves! Sorry for the outburst!! :D

PS I also know that it's supposed to be a men's thing but in here it's also a woman thing!