Title:  When A Marquis Chooses A Bride
Series:  The Worthingtons #2
Author:  Ella Quinn
Genre:  Regency Romance, Historical Romance
Published:  August 30, 2016
Publisher:  Keningston Books – Zebra Shout
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

The Dowager Lady Worthington isn’t quite sure what to make of country-girl Dorothea Stern. As the granddaughter of the Duke of Bristol, Dotty is schooled in the ways and means of the nobility. But her sharp wit and outspoken nature has everyone in a tizzy. Especially their cousin, Dominic, the Marquis of Merton.

Prematurely stuffy, Dom was raised by his cheerless uncle to be wary of a host of things, including innovation, waltzing, and most perilous of all: true love. Still, there’s something about Dotty, beyond her beauty, that Dom cannot resist. But the odds are against him if he intends to win her as his bride. Will he choose loyalty to his family—or risk everything for the one woman he believes is his perfect match…

Titles in this series include:  Three Weeks To Wed – When A Marquis Chooses A Bride – The Second Time Around (#2.5) -It Started With A Kiss

When A Marquis Chooses A Bride is a charming, and at times heartbreaking romance between total opposites that will captivate and entertain even the most hardened heart.  I mean, come on – we have abandoned kittens… what’s not to love about a heroine who rescues kittens, and the man who is learning to open up his softer heart that’s been hidden away for far too long.

When we first meet Dom, he is very easy to dislike.  He’s an arrogant, pompous jerk who sees love as foolish, taking pity on the less fortunate irresponsible and is about to pick out a bride form a list.  A list.  Really?  The reality is that Dominic is the product of his upbringing, unfortunately interrupted by his father’s death and his mother’s unfortunate miscarriage at that time.  His uncle had him during his very formative years, and that old coot didn’t like anyone or anything.  Fortunately for Dom’s future he’d sent his list to his mother for advice.  Expect a bit of behind the scenes maneuvering from this wise lady.  Dom’s political views and actions put him at odds with the Worthingtons, which makes his involvement with their house guest… rather awkward.

Dotty or Thea, as she is called by Dom, is truly a sweet heroine with a strong, stubborn streak when it comes to the harmed, underprivileged, fallen upon hard times creatures of the world whether they be human or animal.  She is a rescuer and is completely unashamed about that part of her personality.  While she hopes to make a good match during her first, shortened Season – there is something about Dom that draws her.  Even when it seems he keeps her at arms length, and friends and family warn her against getting involved with him.  To her, he is a totally different person from the stranger others describe.

I completely enjoyed When A Marquis Chooses A Bride on several levels.  One of my favorite plots in romance is the pompous, arrogant jerk becoming humanized by love, no matter the genre… but considering the historical implications, it’s delicious when it happens in a Regency.  I enjoyed how each of the main characters was changed by the love of the other.  Of course, Dom was the most drastically changed, but Dotty did as well.  Watching Dom become a totally different man under the influence of the woman he fought loving was fun, amusing and at times heart wrenching.  Oh, they definitely had their steamy moments, but the best pars for me were watching a man change his views, his life and his emotions all for the love of one sweet woman.  That was priceless, and it hits me in the “feels” every single time.

If you love strong heroines with an air of innocence, watching an arrogant man fall for the one woman who could make him a better man simply by loving him – then you’d enjoy this story.  I would definitely recommend this story and this series to anyone who enjoys a good love story with believable characters.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this novel. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this story.*

Available for the Kindle and other formats