Customer Reviews

The Marquess

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased this book from what was to me a "new" writer based on an Amazon.com review. I was not disappointed. I was particularily impressed with the use of language in this book. The dialoge was clever, spicy and real. It avoided the trap of trite treacle that tends to be common in romance stories. While our hero was a damaged man in need of saving his damage seemed both romantic and realistic. Further his damage did not mar his essential humanity. Dillian, our heroine, was clever, smart, and well balanced with a fine sense of humor and a generous heart. I ended up liking all of the characters and wondering if some of them would show up in books of their own. You have to love an author who calls her heroine a "saucebox". This was a wonderful, fastpaced and intelligent read.

Patricia Rice comes up with some pretty interesting characters. Gavin, the American who hides his horribly scarred face from the world, has a brother, Michael, who's in the habit of bring home strays. Little does Gavin know at first of all the trouble he's brought home this time. Michael has just rescued Blanche from a fire and didn't know Dillian, her cousin, came along for the ride. Dillian spends some time living in the manor like a ghost until Gavin starts noticing things missing and moved around.The ghost hunt begins. I enjoyed this book. There's romance and mystery. Dillian isn't a beauty and Gavin is quite the beast he thought he was.

this was my first book by Patricia Rice. I found, for the most part, that this adventuresome, mildly gothic regency a delight. I agree with other reviewers that it does drag a bit in parts though (it took me 5 days to read :(). But I do feel like it's worth sticking with it.

It would have been nice if the hero, Gavin, would have realized his romantic feelings earlier on, and not so much on the sexual nature of their relationship. I don't like the way the story ended either-without going into it-the last 25 or so pages were very cliche' and these two characters turned very unsure of themselves and wishy-washy. In fact I would have given the book 5 stars if not for the ending.

This book is still worth it for historical romance fans who like tortured, brooding alpha heroes and just as strong heroines as well:) If for no other reason-read the book for Gavin's delightfully roguish brother Michael. A very charming character who deserves his own book.

4 stars.

I must admit, the characterizations are wonderful and really interesting. The book is really good, and the story is nicely written, but at times i can't help but wonder why it's taking so long to finish the darned story. At some places it hardly even moves. But for these lagging points, the book would be excellent.

The story is basically about a scarred man who hides from society thinking he's ugly. But his brother ends up rescuing a heiress from a fire and brings her home. the lady's companion, Dillian, sneaks into the house and lives there like a ghost, since she's worried that the two men mean the heiress harm. She is eventually discovered (that was the most fun part of the book...the 'ghost' of the mansion being discovered). It is from this point that the story lags. They try to find out who set the fire, and who is responsible for trying to end the hieress's life. Interwoven in this is the romance between Gavin, the scarred brother, and Dillian. He thinks he's an ugly beast, while she tries to convince him he's not. But in the end all works out. Dillian is the best character of all. She fiesty and spirited and kind and generous...etc. On the whole it was nice...but definitely not recommended for anyone who hates historicals.

I was very pleased to discover that Ms. Rice decided to tell the story of Gavin Lawrence, the scarred marquess from America. He was a secondary character in another book, The Genuine Article (which was about Gavin's English cousin, Lady Marian), and was interesting enough for me to wonder. And this book did not disappoint. The characters are sympathetic and the dialogue is funny and intelligent.

Patricia Rice is supreme! The Marquess offers readers of the Regency era a truly unique combination of Gothic setting with American wit. In her story of a tragically scarred Gavin Lawrence, an American who inherits the title Marquess of Arinmede along with a ruined castle, and Dillian Whitney, companion and champion of her wealthy younger cousin Blanche. They lead us on a merry chase from the ruins of Arinmede to the ballrooms of the ton. Ms. Rice pulls us into the story immediately with the dark and stormy prologue introducing the Marquess, cloaked in black and his own wry humor, on his way to his inheritance with his companion/brother Michael. In the first chapter we find Dillian and her cousin, Blanche, fighting for escape from a burining building. How they all get together is a master's stroke of plotting. After a series of delightful hautings, Gavin and Dillian form an alliance based on Dillian's desparate plot to save her cousin and Gavin's pragmatic and cold need to protect himself. The plot is cleverly unveiled little at a time and we become privy to the secrets each charater holds: fiercly loyal and undaunted Dillian, wounded and cyncial Gavin. I found especially entertaining O'Toole, Gavin's brother who floats throughout the book, at turns a master of disguise or a prince of manipulation. It is a book that you will keep in your library to read and re-read. Patricia Rice has given us the best of the era in a study of dark and light, greed and shame, love and lust: the forces that dirve us all, no matter what the time period.---Priscilla Burroughs

The cover notes weren't too compelling on this one, but I bought it anyway, and was pleasantly surprised. There's plenty of plot twists, secret passages, passion, an evil relative trying to steal the fortune of an innocent, two heroes and heroines, and, of course, a happy ending. I'd buy it again - which is my personal standard for romance novels.

The description on this one doesn't go into much detail, but I've been happy with Patricia Rice books in the past and decided to give this one a shot. I have to say that if you like her other books you'll like this one as well. It tells the story in her style with a nice heroine that's not too shy to stand up for herself (my fave)

this one's worthy of a read (or two) imo

The narrative was compelling and romantic as well as humorous. I laughed out loud many times while reading. Brings to mind Judith McNaught and Mary Balough, two of my very favorite authors in this genre. If you liked "Slightly Dangerous" by Balough, you will love this book. The character development of the Marquess was very interesting, whose change was brought about by the introduction of a very sexy and opinionated woman in his life. He emerged from his lonely existence as recluse because of the scar on his face to learning to accept himself because of her nonchalant acceptance (and later love) of him. I loved her because she was no shrinking violet, but gave him a challenge and brought out the hero in him. I was a prisoner of this book until I finished it.

I thought that this was a great book. I am sure that I will read it again and enjoy it just as much. Is there a book about Michael and Blanche or someone else? I thought the characters and the story were great.