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How to Marry a Marquis

How to Marry a Marquis

List Price: $6.99
Your Price: $6.29
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hilarious!!!!!!
Review: Out of all the Julia Quinn books I have read (excluding Brighter Than the Sun) this has to be the most charming and funny books she has written. I adore the scene after the costume ball when Elizabeth finds out who James is,and he gets very angry at Caroline Ravenscroft from To Catch An Heiress and her husband Blake Ravenscroft. James is trying to be serious and pissed off but Caroline and Blake keep making inane comments on every threat he makes. But, the best scene in the whole book is the day after the ball and absolutely comes to Elizabeth's cottage to talk some sense into her about her relationship with James. So many mishaps and accidents happen in that one short period of time it's very amazing that Elizabeth didn't go insane. Also, Lady Danbury, Elizabeth's employer, is a very witty and eccentric character, not to mention hiliariously sarcastic. And to add to closing, I love the fact that Ms. Quinn sees fit to add Lady Danbury in The Viscount Who Loved Me. Even though she is barely in the novel, she is in there and is her regular funny self. All in all, I loved this novel and will gladly recommend it to anyone who has and appreciates a sense of humor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Funny, delightful A MUST READ KINDA BOOK!
Review: I have read three other books from Julia Quinn, I must say that so far all of them have been good books. Julia has a way to bring the humor into her books. This book was light a funny, and a charming love story. It just goes to show that an aunt who is very devious know just how to get two people to fall in love. James Sidwell is the Marquis of Riverdale in disguise, and meets the lovely Elizabeth Hotchkiss, a decided he will help her marry a marquis. Elizabeth doesnt know that James seaton the estate manager shes falling is love with is what she is looking for in a husband RICH, and a Marquis to boot. Its not the title she cares for but the money to help her respectable but poor family. Its a great book and I most definatly loved it. I felt like an idot though cause I couldnt figure out why the name James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale sounded so familar and it took me until half way through the book to realize exactly who he was. If you remember Blake and Caroline in To catch an heiress, the figuring out Riverdale shouldnt be a problem. Yes, Blake and Caroline are in this one too. Caroline and Lizzy become fast friends, and are two peas in a pot. They are so much alike in attitude, I think you will like the Characters Julia put in this book, like the others you will laugh all through this book, a cry a little. It all turns out all right in the end.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Average
Review: I am a big fan of Julia Quinn's romance novels. Usually the characters just connect and its a wonderful romance. I did not enjoy this book. In fact, I thought the characters were a little annoying, especially the heroine. Elizabeth Hotchkiss works as a companion to an elderly woman so she can keep her and her brothers and sisters together. They are a very poor by happy family. James, the Marquis of Riverdale has been summoned by his aunt (who is also Elizabeth's employer) to help her hunt down a blackmailer. James desquises himself as his aunt's man of affairs and arrives. He and Elizabeth meet and are attracted to each other. Throw into this mix a book that Elizabeth just happens to discover in her employer's library entitled "how to marry a marquis." In it, are steps to take to marry a marquis probably written by a spinster. This novel is awful and contains all of the wrong information. Elizabeth though reads it and decides the only way to save her family is to follow the instructions and to entrap a husband. The story line is okay, it's just that the characters did not click, and they were so annoying I found myself grinding my teeth. This novel is just okay, Julia Quinn definitely has better work out there.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A True Romantic Page Turner
Review: Another winner from Julia Quinn. In this story Elizabeth is caring for her sisters and brothers after the death of her parents. She and they are just barely making due with her salary from Elizabeth's work as Lady Danbury's "companion". She finally decides (Elizabeth) that she must marry before they wind up in the poor house. She happens onto a book about "How to Mary a Marquis" and against her better judgement takes it home to read. Well she and her sister (mostly her sister) decide that Elizabeth needs to start following the rules in this book.

But, then along comes the new Estate Manager James. Who is actually Danbury's nephew but is incognito to try and help find a blackmailer. The problem is that Elizabeth knows she cannot marry an estate manager as it will not get her brother to Eton. So though she is falling in love with James she tries to resist it. Little does she know that James is really a Marquis.

What a fantastic story! It was a definate page turner. JQ gives her characters such fantastic personalities. I stayed up until after 1am (had to be up at 5:30 for work) as I could not put the book down. I wanted to see what was going to happen next!

I recommend this story and I also recommend The Duke and I also by JQ. If you like the Bar Cynster series by Laurens you will like this one!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: You've come a long way, baby
Review: This was the first Julia Quinn book I had ever read. I'd heard the buzz about her books, and really liked the premise of the story (having the heroine following "The Rules" to catch a rich titled man). That's why I was so dissapointed when it didn't work for me. I liked her fresh, breezy style of writing, but the characters never became real to me. Worse, they annoyed me. The hero and heroine lacked any sort of depth and the book came too close to farce, something I'm not wild about. And all too often I thought, "no sane person would react this way."

Still, there was enough light hearted warmth in her style that I gave her another chance and tried The Duke and I. And I'm so glad I did! I loved the book and now consider Julia Quinn's books one of my few automatic buys. I even tried a few of her back list, and can see just how far she's come. Now, her books not only have the sense of fun and light-hearted comedy of her earlier novels, but they have rich, believable characters and poignant romance as well.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: There are better Quinn novels!
Review: Elizabeth Hotchkiss is a young, pretty blonde companion for the elderly Lady Agatha Danbury. The Hotchkiss family is suffering immensely due so what option does the lady of the house have? Marry a nobleman! But Elizabeth Hotchkiss is confused as to how to do it so she sees the book 'How to marry a marquis'. However, James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale, is residing at the Danbury residence posing as an estate manager to help Lady Danbury with a certain something that has been eating away at her. However, a friendship grows between the companion and the disguised marquis and he offers to help her find a husband - from the point onwards,the story unravels.

Thoughts: James Sidwell is a striking character. Worked in the War office, unbelieveably handsome, fights for his woman - which lady of the Regency could refuse him? However, I just can't feel the passion between him and Elizabeth. His mysterious attitude and intriguing confidence does not flow with her tiresome determination and irritating charm.I got the vibe of incompatibility from both characters. Furthermore, there were not enough moments between the two for a true sense of emotion to develop. In other Quinn novels such as 'Dancing at Midnight', the protagonists let their love grow whereas here it feels as if everything was rushed.

I wouldn't say this was a must-read -- it felt unfinished but don't let that put you off Julia Quinn. She is a great author - get 'Dancing at Midnight' instead!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delightfully charming!!!
Review: I was fortunate to get an advance read of HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS and all I can say is, *WOW!* This is Julia Quinn at her best. In HTMAM, we meet Elizabeth Hotchkiss, an impovershied gentrywoman whose life turns upside down after she discovers, in her irascible employer's library, a seemingly-innocuous little book entitled HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS. With two sympathetic and lovable lead characters as well a quirky, totally engaging supporting cast that includes an autocratic but delightful schemer of an old lady, a precocious family, a hilarious cat, and two all too nosy and hopelessly interfering best friends whom readers will know instantly from Julia's acclaimed TO CATCH AN HEIRESS, this is a book of blazing 5-star magnitude. I can't recommend it highly enough. Well done, Julia Quinn!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great book!
Review: I loved this one. The characters were great, the story was great, and I loved all of the tension and sparring. I loved that there was no nefarious subplot about murder or intrigue. It was a simple, straight-forward love story with a matchmaking twist.

As with all J.Q. books, the love scenes were dull and NOT exciting at all. This is the reason I only gave it 4 stars. But that really didn't take away from the story too much. Overall, definitely one of my favorite J.Q. books.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Such a good read!!!!!!!!!
Review: I love all JQ's novels but this one was really really good. Now I must go and get all of her books I have not had the chance to read yet. I love the plots,the characters,the loyalty and possesiveness of the characters, but most of all I love the humor!!! Even when my 2 sons look at me wierdly when I laugh out loud! I look for authors who put plenty of humor in the story. It only takes me 1 to 2 days to read JQ's books because I can't put them down. I started to love the historical romances after I read a Julia Garwood book, and then I found Jill Barnett. I almost gave up on finding any other author I liked so much until I came across a Julia Quinn novel. Now I've found a new favorite!! Bravo Julia Quinn, you've found yourself another fan!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertaining Romp
Review: How To Marry A Marquis is my favorite Julia Quinn novel so far. It showcases her talent with delightful, witty dialogue with fewer of the plot and character problems evident in some of her earlier efforts.

Elizabeth Hotchkiss has been barely able to support her three younger siblings for the last five years since her father died and she went to work as a companion for Lady Danbury. Lady D, as she's affectionately called, is a forceful, outspoken older matron with a heart of gold buried under her intimidating exterior. Elizabeth, a self-possessed and outspoken young woman herself, is one of the only people who can hold her own with Lady D.

Kind, generous, warm and witty, Elizabeth cannot, however, be carefree. Her life is clouded by the despair of her imminent failure to provide enough food for the family to eat (it is hard to support four on the salary meant for one). She realizes she has no option but to marry for money. When she finds a slim book entitled How To Marry A Marquis in Lady D's library, Elizabeth first resists the temptation but soon is reading the rather hilarious advice offered there.

In the meantime, Lady D has summoned her beloved nephew, whom she raised, to come to her estate and pose as her estate manager while he tries to determine who is blackmailing her. James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale, has unsuccessfully tried to find a woman to marry who could see past his wealth and title to the real man. He's almost grateful to be summoned to his Aunt's as he is so weary of the conniving, grasping women he's been meeting in London. Having worked for ten years as a spy for the War Office, he is used to operating undercover.

What James is not used to is meeting a woman as intelligent, witty and refreshing as Elizabeth. He convinces himself that he's cultivating her acquaintance to investigate if she could possibly be the blackmailer, but his heart knows better. When he catches the mortified Elizabeth with the Marquis book, he offers to give her lessons in how to find a husband.

But the more time they spend together, the more Elizabeth is sure she could never love anyone but the humble estate manager who inflames her senses every time he is near. And James soon realizes that he could never bear to see Elizabeth in anyone's arms but his own. But when James' true identity is revealed at the wrong moment, he fears he may have lost Elizabeth forever.

The real nature of the blackmail scheme was transparent from the moment it was introduced, but this didn't really mar the story (though it could have been fun had it come as more of a surprise). How To Marry A Marquis is a very entertaining romp that explores a broader range of emotions than Quinn usually tackles and to delightful results. It is a lot of fun watching the developing relationship between Elizabeth and James, two very likeable characters who strongly carry the novel to the end without the need for complex plot twists (though it would be nice if Quinn would give the reader some unexpected plot some of the time). For an enjoyable light read, I warmly recommend How To Marry A Marquis.


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