Mastering the Marquess (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: the marquess, Lady Stanton, Miss Burnley, Vanessa Kelly (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An amazing talent who will capture the hearts of romance readers everywhere." - Julianne MacLean (Avon author)"

Product Description

Since the loss of her parents, Meredith Burnley has contented herself with a solitary life looking after her half-sister, Annabel. But Meredith's peace is shattered when her uncle schemes to marry her off to his son in order to gain her inheritance. Desperate, Meredith has only one choice: to flee with Annable to their estranged grandparents' home. But their arrival soon reignites a family scandal - and kindles unexpected romance...Happily reunited with the girls, Annabel's grandmother resolves to convince her nephew, Stephen Mallory, the Marquess of Silverton, to abandon his rakish lifestyle and wed Annabel. Stephen is clearly captivated - but with the wrong sister! Determined to make Meredith his own, Stephen embarks on a seduction that will leave her with no choice but to surrender to his touch...

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420106546
• ISBN-13: 978-1420106541
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128,116 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous story!, May 6, 2009

By	E. Ramer (Richfield, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The best stories start off with an orphan heroine or hero, from Cinderella to Harry Potter. Meredith Burnley joins the line-up. She's devoted herself to taking care of her sickly half-sister, Annabel, but now her unpleasant uncle (there's always an evil relative in these stories) wants to marry her off to his loutish son. If Meredith refuses, he'll put Annabel in an asylum.

The two girls escape to her sister's estranged aristocratic grandparents. Now the grandmother wants to match Annabel with her nephew, the Marquess of Silverton, who is enthralled by Meredith. Meanwhile, the evil relatives aren't going away.

This book was a page turner. I enjoyed it from the first to the last page. I loved the main characters, and was drawn into their story. The secondary characters were as real as the hero and heroine. And the scenes with Silverton and Meredith sizzled.

Most of all, the story touched my heart and made me feel emotion. My favorite kind of book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mastering the Marquess, May 9, 2009

By	M. Nix "Joyfully Reviewed" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Meredith Burnley's half-sister, Annabel, is an heiress and her guardians are threatening to have her locked in an asylum. Meredith goes to London to seek help from Annabel's grandparents. Despite a rocky past, Annabel's grandmother welcomes the two women into their lives.

Annabel's grandmother, Georgina, wants to sponsor both ladies for a Season, something Meredith is not comfortable with. While Annabel is an heiress, Meredith is just a common woman.

Lord Silverton is cousin to Annabel and the titled head of his family. He agrees to take the ladies under his wing, but family charity is only part of the reason. His inappropriate attraction to Meredith is a surprise to the closed off lord, but something he can't deny.

As the family spends more time together and secrets come out, Silverton and Meredith have to fight more than just society to be together - they have to fight themselves.

I really liked the characters in Mastering the Marquess. The love that grows between Silverton and Meredith actually has obvious cause, not just ephemeral chemistry, which is hard to demonstrate on paper. All the characters are well-fleshed out and each serve a purpose in the overall story. The plot is twisty and veers in unexpected directions, and keeps the reader on their toes. Overall, this is an excellent story with characters you will remember after the last page is done.

Niki Lee
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Gothic Regency, April 18, 2009

By	Teresa "Omnivorous Reader" (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

Mastering the Marquess has a feisty heroine on a mission to protect her sister, a hot hero who will never, never fall in love (:D), and smart villains determined to get their way. With plenty at stake and spot-on historical accuracy, this one will make you feel like you're living in the Regency. Don't miss the climactic scene in the madhouse!