Review - The Wrong Marquess by Vivienne Lorret

First off, Vivienne Lorret is legitimately one of my very favorite authors. Her books create worlds that I don't want to leave, and find myself still thinking about days later, wishing I could unread them just to experience them again for the first time. I've probably re-read her books more than any other romance authors, just because I love them so much. 

I had already pre-ordered The Wrong Marquess when I received an e-ARC, and I'm so glad that I did. There are some books that you just want to have a physical copy of, just to have them, and this is one.

Elodie Parrish has been waiting for her impulsive neighbor to propose for years. All her plans hinge on him being the one. When her path crosses again and again with Brandon, the Marquess of Hullworth, however, she starts to wonder if her plans are so concrete, after all.

In all romances, the main characters have to be right for each other (obviously), but Lorret creates characters that are just so perfectly perfect for each other, and it's amazing. In The Wrong Marquess, Ellie is a worrier, and is anxious about things a lot. Brandon, who is "odious and overbearing", however, sees through her insecurities and gently helps her overcome them.

One of the things I think Lorret does best is the pining hero. In quite a few of her books the hero is doing some serious longing, and honestly it's like catnip to me - give me alllll the yearning!! Brandon is *sigh* so amazing.

I loved this book so so much, and can't wait for the next installment in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/HarperCollins for the ARC! (Note that this in no way affected my review, all opinions are my own.)

Review - My Kind of Earl by Vivienne Lorret

Vivienne Lorret’s books are automatically on my-must purchase list, and My Kind of Earl shows yet again why that is. Her books are consistently amazingly well-crafted stories with tight plots and well-developed characters.

My Kind of Earl features Jane Pickerington, plain, wallflower, bluestocking, eldest of eleven children. She and her friends are writing a book on how to determine a gentleman from a scoundrel, and in her research Jane meets Raven. Black-haired and silver-eyed, Raven is the second-in-command at a very successful gambling club, and he’s fought his way to be there. Abandoned as a baby at an orphanage then sold to a workhouse, Raven has learned the hard way that you can’t rely on anyone. When Jane learns about Raven’s odd birthmark, however, she believes he could be connected to a family of aristocrats with a mysterious past, and together they search for the truth.

I loved both of these characters so much. Jane is so refreshingly different. Her quirks, which set her apart from society endear her to Raven, who is himself so different from your garden-variety rogue. Both are outsiders, which is relatable to almost anyone, as is the longing they both feel to belong and to be valued. This is a truly heartwarming story that packs just enough heat!

Overall this book is amazing. I’m loving the Rules of Scoundrels series, and I can’t wait to see what Vivienne Lorret comes up with next!

Thanks to Avon Romance, HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book!