Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What a fun read!, April 14, 2003
Even if you don't know thing number one about horses, you can get engrossed in this tale of two horse-mad people who are thrown into a marriage of convenience. (Shouldn't there be a horse on the cover, too?) Our heroine is a thoroughly single-minded woman with her own definite set of priorities, and our hero is wonderfully paranoid about his dotty family and reputation.Though I had some quibbles about small things here and there, I noticed myself chuckling, "heh heh heh" quietly as the reader was let in on jokes that our hero and heroine were too busy fretting about to appreciate. Tension builds to a page-turning frenzy as each stonily refuses to give in to the other. It's increased by the pressure exerted by well-meaning people around them to bring them together. Two dynamic leads and a solid plot gave me a very enjoyable afternoon's reading!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous nineteenth century romance, April 12, 2003
More comfortable with horses than with men, Lady Julia Westfall wants to inherit the stable when her ailing beloved father dies. She detests the types of things her female peers love while being very competitive with men when it comes to steeds.Widow Lord Henry Pelham wants the horses also and needs a mother for his cherished daughter Isbeau. He offers Julia a business arrangement. They marry, share the horses, but not the bedroom as Henry fears insanity flows through his bloodlines with his uncle and aunt as proof. Julia figures he cannot bed a "horseface" like her, but agrees to his terms. They marry and she moves into the loony bin that is the Pelham extended household. She quickly becomes a favorite, beloved by all, but the one she needs the most remains beyond her reach as she believes her love for him is unrequited. In reality Henry loves her and wants to consummate his marriage, but fumbles each time he tries to talk with Julia. This reviewer realizes that a zillion historical romance novels center on the marriage of convenience theme. THE MAD MARQUIS is the zillion and one tale to employ that overkilled motif. Yet in the capable hands of Fiona Carr, readers receive a terrific tale starring a strong cast that leads to a delightful novel. The story line hooks the audience from the moment Julia enters the asylum as the audience meets the inmates who are only eccentric and lovable. The relationship between the lead couple evolves so that fans find themselves immersed in a fabulous nineteenth century romance. Harriet Klausner
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Just Awful..., May 23, 2003
By A Customer
Marriage of convenience stories have been done so many times they need a new take on them to be interesting. But this one does not. Yet another story of the virgin bride lusting for her husband, who also lusts for his wife. It seems our lusting hero, Lord Henry, can not keep his hands off is new bride, Julia. But why? On page 100, "accepting his lips with a curious questing as her supple, big-boned mannish body..." At every turn, Henry thinks she is not attractive. The author goes out of her way describing all the reasons why Julia is mannish. So what is up with the attraction thing? And I did not like Henry. He refers to Julia is his thoughts at his virgin bride and a virgin bride she will stay. That is, actually, cruel. Of course, they get together, but this reader had no respect for Henry or Julia, for that matter. Also, way to much horse stuff in the book. Frankly, Julia was a bit batty re. her horses.
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