Make Mine a Marquess by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

Make Mine a Marquess by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

 

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Description:

He lost everything. Now he’s come to take it all back—along with her—in this entrancing romance that’s ideal for fans of Sophie Jordan and Eloisa James.

Everyone thought that the Marquess of Landon was lost at sea. Instead, Robert Kirkian defied all the odds and survived. Now he’s returned to London to reclaim his title, his property, and his lands from the foul snake who tried to have him killed: his own cousin. But proper vengeance requires patience—and the perfect weapon. Which is precisely when Robert meets his cousin’s charmingly spirited betrothed…

Miss Phoebe Dawson is everything an ambitious gentleman could desire in a wife. Wealthy, exceedingly lovely, and with a sparkle in her blue eyes that could entice even the most reluctant suitor. But Phoebe’s come too close to ruin—the humiliation of it!—to be fooled by yet another handsome face and silken words . But oh, how he makes her feel. So flustered, so flushed…and so thrillingly alive.

Phoebe knows that love is a fool’s game, even if the Marquess does play his hand like an expert. Her reputation can nary afford the tiniest spark of scandal, let alone those slow, deep kisses that leave her breathless. But she’s about to discover the only thing more dangerous than a rogue is a wronged man hellbent on revenge…

 

Review:

Make Mine a Marquess begins with Robert Kirkian, Marquess of Landon (who typically goes by Landon), peering inside a ballroom as he stands in the shadows outside. The costume ball is the beginning of a weeks long house party that is being hosted by his cousin, Lord Willard, whom he spots quickly. As Landon steps back into the shadows, Lord Willard and a beautiful blond woman, Miss Phoebe Dawson, step out onto the terrace. After a brief chat, Willard goes back inside as Landon approaches Phoebe. Learning that Phoebe was Willard’s betrothed, Landon approaches her and the two speak for a brief time before Phoebe heads back inside not knowing to whom she had been speaking. All she knows is that the handsome pirate piqued her interest.

The following day, Landon, along with his friend, Aram, approaches the country estate where the house party is being hosted and lifts the brass knocker. The butler answers the door to discover that the true Marquess has returned home after being lost at sea for five years. In Landon’s place, his cousin, Lord Willard, had taken over all that was rightfully Landon’s.

Once Landon makes himself known to those in attendance at the house party, it is hard to say who is more shocked: Lord Willard or Phoebe Dawson, albeit for vastly different reasons. What follows is a cat and mouse game as Landon tries to ferret out the truth of his ship going down and exactly why Phoebe intrigues him so.

Make Mine a Marquess is another wonderfully written tale by Ms. Gabrielle. Her stories draw you in from the beginning and the worlds she creates are easy to see in your mind’s eye. Landon and Phoebe were beautifully written, and their chemistry leapt off the page. The secondary characters were a bonus that gave the story depth. If you are a fan of regency romance novels, you will never go wrong with one of her books. Well done, Tina Gabrielle! Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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How to Best a Marquess by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

How to Best a Marquess by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

 

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Description:
Lady Ellie Swift learned at an early age that men were more trouble than they’re worth. Now she’s all grown up and is the toast of society. Only she has secret ambitions to run her brother’s infamous gambling establishment—the Raven Club. Everything is progressing as planned until the man who broke her heart, Hugh Vere, the Marquess of Deveril, wants to take over the club. Dark, dominant, and strikingly handsome, Hugh’s reputation for sin precedes him, and suddenly, her dreams—and her heart—are in jeopardy.

As rakish as Hugh appears, he has a sharp mind for business. No one stands in the way of what he wants, not even the fiery-haired beauty from his past. From the moment he sees her again sparks fly, but he knows better than to fall for the lady. According to Ellie, the battle lines have been drawn and Hugh doesn’t stand a chance. But the nearly combustible chemistry between them is hard to ignore, and soon the club is not the only prize he wants…

 

 

Review:

How to Best a Marquess begins with Lady Ellie Swift attending her brother’s infamous gambling establishment – the Raven.  Her brother is getting ready to retire and she wants to be the one to take over the running of the business.  She has already taken over the books for her sister-in-law and knows her way round the club.  She finds herself in the boxing area and is transfixed by what is happening inside the ring.  As she gets closer to the ring, she finds herself in a precarious situation:   one of the fighters, whom she knows, kisses her quickly as she walks by.  Thankfully, all women are required to be masked, so he will have no idea who she is.  A little embarrassed at her reaction to the kiss, she quickly makes her way to another part of the Raven.

Hugh Vere knows that there is only one woman who has hair that particular color:  Ellie Swift.  He has been back in town for a while now, but, hasn’t made any attempt to see her.  He knows that he broke her heart a long time ago and that she will never forgive him.  He has only one thing on his mind – buying the Raven.

A while later, Ellie makes her way to her brother’s office, only to have Hugh arrive as well.  Even though Ellie thought the club would be hers, seems her brother has other ideas.  He makes it a competition between Ellie and Hugh to see who can come up with plans to make the Raven even more prosperous and gives them a time limit.  Whomever does the best gets the Raven.  Ellie is, of course, furious at the turn of events, but lets Hugh know she has no intention to lose to him.  He very quickly informs her he feels the very same way………. Game on.

How to Best a Marquess is a smartly written story of second chance love.  Ellie isn’t your typical Lady and her ambitions are believable.  I love her loyalty to her brother and his wife, but I adored her secret endeavors when it came to helping abused women.  Hugh was well written as well, and it was a relief to read about a male character who wasn’t brooding all of the time.  This one has some different elements that drew me in immediately.  I loved the fact that this story showed women doing something other than what we usually read in historicals, namely, a woman wanting to run a place like the Raven.  I also loved that once Hugh got over his ‘I know what’s best for you’ ways, he was completely open and honest with Ellie about what he wanted………which was for her to be happy.   If you’re a fan of this genre, you’ll truly enjoy How to Best a Marquess.  The chemistry is there, along with a little mystery and a bit of danger and it will pull you in pretty quickly.  Well done, Tina Gabrielle!  Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

 

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The Duke Meets His Match by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

The Duke Meets His Match by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

 

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Description:
The daughter of an infamous art forger, Chloe Somerton grew up poor. Desperate to aid her sisters, she’d picked a pocket…or two. Now circumstances have changed, and Chloe has a chance to marry a young, wealthy lord. Only his mentor—a dark, dangerous duke—stands in her way. The duke knows about her past, and she’ll do anything to keep him from telling.

The moment Michael Keswick, the Duke of Cameron, sees Chloe Somerton, he recognizes her as a fraud. The stunning beauty with sapphire eyes and golden hair now appears to be a proper lady, but he knows better. What begins as a battle of wills soon escalates into a fierce attraction. In Chloe, Michael finds peace from the memories of war, but he refuses to marry…and she won’t settle for anything less.

 

Review:

The Duke Meets His Match begins with Chloe attending a party with her sister, who is bound and determined to play matchmaker for Chloe.  Of course, Chloe had rather make her own match, but appreciates her sister’s interest….most of the time.  As Chloe sets her eyes on a handsome young Earl named Henry, she can’t help but notice Michael Keswick, the Duke of Cameron, who just happens to be Henry’s guardian.  Michael and Henry’s father were in the war together, and only Michael made it home.  Henry’s father took a bullet meant for Michael, which has caused Michael a great deal of guilt.  Once home, he has made it his mission to teach the young Henry about managing his estate and his affairs. 

Once Michael sees Chloe, he immediately recognizes her and knows that there is a shady past that Henry knows nothing about.  He attempts to warn Chloe away from Henry, and call her bluff (if you will).  What he does not expect is Chloe’s reaction.  As their mutual attraction grows, the Duke knows that he has indeed, met his match….

The Duke Meets His Match is a wonderfully written story that has relatable characters.  I love the Somertons, and Chloe is by far my favorite.  Don’t get me wrong, I like the other two books and their heroines, but I LOVED Chloe.  Determined to distance herself from her torturous past, she stands up for herself in a way that will endear herself to everyone who reads her story.  Michael was a bit of a surprise for me.  Yes, he started out as an antagonist whom I couldn’t see myself liking (at all!), only to turn out to be a multi-layered character that I fell in love with.  His reasons for saying he would never marry are actually valid ones, but Chloe being Chloe, makes him see reason.  She also makes him see that asking for help does not make you weak.  The Duke Meets His Match is ultimately a story about pushing past preconceived notions to truly see a person for whom they really are.  If you’re a fan of this genre, you will never go wrong with any of the Somertons’ stories, but this one will make you a true fan of the author.  Well done, Tina Gabrielle!  Very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

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