Annie Burrows is one of my favorite authors and this book is a wonderful read. Ms Burrows has the knack for telling a tale and making you fall so in love with her characters. The Marquess Tames His Bride is a must read

2.5 Stars
Clare Cottam is on her way to her new position as a companion. Her father, a vicar, has recently died, and none of her brothers can be bothered to provide a home for her. While waiting to board her stage, she encounters her nemesis, Robert Walmer, Marquess Rawcliffe. As a child, Robert used to play with her brothers until they drifted apart. Clare, in fact, had a serious crush on Robert, who used to be kind to her until "the incident" happened. When she was sixteen, she emerged from a pond where she had just been attempting to rescue a sack of puppies who had been tossed in. Of course, Robert was there to see her as a sodden, dripping mess, and makes a sarcastic comment about marrying her. Little does she know that Robert seriously wanted to marry her, and was callously refused by her father. From that day forward, Robert decided to hide his true feelings for Clare behind biting comments and being antagonistic to her. In turn, Clare does her best to snub Robert. At this present meeting, however, Clare's temper explodes, and in public, she punches him.

When the innkeeper threatens to call the law, Robert announces that Clare is his fiancée, and they just had a lover's tiff. Clare is even more infuriated as Robert whisks her into a private parlor to discuss their predicament. Of course Clare has no intention of marrying Robert, but he convinces her that his public announcement has sealed their fate, and they marry. Their relationship is constantly snarky, as each continues to hide their true feelings as a defense mechanism. Still, they manage to have a scorching hot physical relationship.

To make this difficult situation even worse, Robert is tasked with investigating jewel thefts, and the trail seems to lead directly to Clare's brother. To her credit, Clare isn't blind about her brother, and keeps an open mind to the possibility that he's a criminal. As this discordant couple faces the struggles due to this investigation and their hasty marriage, they continue to burn up the sheets behind closed doors.

I struggled with this couple, and they way they each chose to handle their feelings. I can understand having a temper, but I can't justify striking another person, especially in public. Clare also later took great pleasure in throwing objects. Robert's actions weren't physical, but were just as hurtful, as he baited and sniped, and his remarks were often cruel. Both of their actions showed a decided lack of maturity and a lack of basic decent behavior. Had either of them just initiated an honest conversation, all of their animosity and the breach in their relationship could have been healed. I can't love a book when I can't warm up to the main characters, and I found the storyline frustrating.

Marry in haste ... ?

Feisty vicar's daughter meets old childhood chum ... and things just couldn't go any more awry. Complicated truths need complicated excuses to bring things around--or not!
Robert Walmer, the Marquess of Rawcliffe meets the quick tempered Clare Cottam, the woman he's always loved, by happenstance in an inn. Clare, in badly dyed mourning clothes, is off to be a noble woman's companion after the death of her father. And now here she is, confronted by her nemesis, desperately hiding her secret love for him. No wonder she hauls off and punches him. Rawcliffe takes the opportunity to declare that they must we'd to avoid a public scandal. Right from their wedding night it seems that these two are more attuned than was thought. In fact their bedroom antics do take up rather a lot of space in the novel. But there are other happenings afoot including the death of one of Rawcliffe 's friends. And it seems Clare might be the key to unlocking that mystery.
The ending has us poised on the edges of the cliff. That's a problem for me as a reader. I would like some resolution of the problem. Despite this I enjoyed Rawcliffe and Clare's story. I am looking forward to the next in this series.

A NetGalley ARC

Clare Cottam, the daughter of a vicar, is always perturbed every time she runs into Robert Walmer, the Marquess of Rawcliffe. His comments are cutting and mocking. They have known each other since they were children. Ratcliffe has been nicknamed Zeus because he acts like he is above all mortals.

Clare’s father has passed away and she needs to find a new home. Her brother is a curate but claims that there is no room for her in his home. As she is heading to find a job and waiting for a coach at an inn, she sees Rawcliffe. His remarks anger her so that she punches him in the nose. When people notice what she has done, he calls her his fiancee. He puts her in his coach and takes her to London. There, he leaves her with his friend, Lady Harriet, while he procures a marriage license. Harriet is to marry Lord Jack Becconsall, nicknamed Ulysses.

Rawcliffe and Clare are married at the same time as Harriet and Jack. As Clare tries to get to know and understand Rawcliffe, she finds that he talks down to her which hurts and angers her. She is unsure how to go on with him as he is so hurtful to her.

When he tells her about a smuggling operation going on and being organized by a clergyman, she wants to learn more. But it may be too dangerous for her to do so.

Good grief. This Rawcliffe guy is a total jerk. Clare is much too trusting and she should have sent him packing when he called her his fiancee. I did not care for this story and wanted to smack both of them.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received this ARC free from netgalley.

This steamy, marry for reputation historical romance is a well crafted growth of a relationship based on a misunderstanding. When it gets cleared up I yelled in triumph. I felt for both of the main characters, especially when they are irritated with the other. If a man liking a woman because she is cute when angry makes you mad, you will not enjoy this. There is a lot of banter that becomes hurtful.

It was unsatisfying that the take down of the villain wasn't in this story. Maybe it will be in another book that will use a side character from this one.

I love this story. It was romantic with a feel of mystery that kept me reading until the end. Lord Rawcliffe and Clare make a great couple and readers will not feel disappointed with their story.

The Marquess Tames His Bride (Brides for Bachelors #2)
by Annie Burrows

BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY!
I have to say that for all the things happening in this book, normally it would be a no go for an of interest to read. HOWEVER; this authors gift of writing makes the entire book fantastic! I loved the characters, the plots the different things happening and all in between. I would say this is a keeper and a read that is easy and enjoyable. The author shows talent all the way through and her writing is magnificent. A nice solid pace with lots of things happening that keeps your attention. So buy the book and enjoy! I was given this book in return for an honest review.

I need to begin by saying this: don’t let the title put you off. I hate any romance title where the word “tamed” is used – it’s so bodice ripper era!

I enjoyed The Marquess Tames His Bride for a number of reasons. There were quite a few plot points that would have turned me off in the hands of a different author, but somehow Annie Burrows turned things around.

The hero has been in love with the heroine for years, but when he proposed she thought he was mocking her and was joking. She is ranked far below him, and has been emotionally abused by the men in her family her whole life.

Since then, he has disguised his hurt feelings by being indifferent and sometimes even unkind to her, so when they find themselves stuck in a socially disastrous situation and he announces they’re engaged, she thinks he’s mocking her all over again.

Now, I do NOT enjoy scenes where the heroine hits the hero. It’s a terrible double-standard. However, this is the only book I can think of where it seemed *almost* justified. I was not okay with it at first, but as we learnt more about the situation I softened a bit.

I am also not always okay with a hero who is unkind to the heroine for no good reason, but I think the author did a pretty good job of showing how mixed up both characters were. Both thought the other was repulsed by them. Sometimes a scenario like this can drag out for too long, but I think it was pulled off nicely here.

I also enjoyed the change of pace of the characters visiting a few out of the way places that took them away from other aristocrats.

Overall, this was not a story without its issues, but I really, really liked reading it, and found the author’s ability to create two flawed characters fascinating.

I think the hero redeemed himself at the end.

This is the story about two people who fell in love with the other when Clare was 16. But Rawcliff was turned away and thought she rejected him when he proposed marriage. Ever since then they have had a love/hate/jealous/rebellious relationship. Until one day they run into each other at an inn.

Rawcliff does not know C's father has died and says some mean things so she slaps him, and thats when she is compromised and is forced to get engaged to him. Meanwhile R is very happy to finally have C's hand in marriage. But he believes eventually she will hate him, because he knows her brother is up to no good.

R and C's married life sorta blew hot and cold. But once R starts enjoying being married to C, thats when this book gets wonderful. I truly loved this romance. It was fun and romantic and sweet all at the same time.

This is Rawcliffe and Claire’s story. He has loved her for years. She has been besotted with him. Her family has kept them apart. A meeting at an inn where she loses her temper sees her married to him. He wants to catch her brother in a criminal act. There are many misunderstandings. True love conquers all. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.