Thanks Kensington Books and netgalley for this ARC.

Quick, fun, and just the right mix of dumb hero/smart herione to make it stand out.

Iris jilts Finn twice! But this seems to bring him around to actually wanting to pursue her romantically. He is also determined to keep her away from Lord Wrexley who is a rogue and a rake. Iris has good reasons to refuse Finn, that Finn changes his demeanor is a bit unbelievable but welcome because we are cheering for Iris’ happiness.

I loved this book and the humor that Ms. Bradley brings to the story. I highly recommend this book.

More or Less a Marchioness by Anna Bradley was a fun read! I enjoyed meeting the main characters of Finn and Iris. Finn is Phineas Knight, the Lord of Huntington. He has decided that it is time to marry and through a card wager (which was not a good choice) he has determined that Iris was the woman he was going to marry. Iris Somerset has agreed to the marriage, until one day she overhears a conversation not meant for her ears. This is the eye-opening she needs. Iris doesn’t want to marry someone she cannot be open and honest with. She struggles with her choice, not wanting to ruin her sister’s chance for marriage. This is the moment when everything turns around… but for who and why?

Iris and Finn need each other, but they of course do not realize it. Gossip, wily behaviors and misunderstanding abound. The book is a historical romance that promises two more books in the series to come. More or Less a Marchioness by Anna Bradley was a good read.

I DNF'd this book 10% of the way through. At this point, the hero/heroine haven't met on the page yet and the hero is still interacting with his former mistress (though not by choice). The lack of a meet-cute coupled with the wordy writing style of the author make for a book that's not appealing to me.

In return for being given this ARC, I am giving a fair and honest review for this ARC. Delightfully written tale with so many multifaceted characters woven into an intricate story. You won't regret buying this book.

More or Less a Marchioness (The Somerset Sisters, #1)
by Anna Bradley
Anna Swedenmom's review Jan 25, 2018 · edit
really liked it

Its a good read. In my own opinion not her best ...however, it is a buy book. One to read on a cold winters day. It has much to offer from the characters to the story line to the expectations of the next adventure or outburst. It has elements that were unexpected and some of the usual. However, it is a slow start and finally it opens up and you start engaging your interest in the characters themselves. It has passion and up and down romance. It is witty at times, humorous at others. All in all a very enjoyable read. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Regards, Anna

Iris Somerset is all set to marry Phineas "Finn" Knight, Lord of Huntington. Before they tie the knot, she wants a kiss from him to see if they suit one another. Unfortunately, chasing Finn out into the gardens at a party proves to be a mistake. Finn turns down her advances, the proceeds to leave her behind to meet with his mistress. As if that is not hurtful enough, Iris learns Finn has no feelings for her. In fact, she is not even his first choice for a bride, but he had to settle for her. Iris does not want a cold marriage, so she jilts Finn. With the help of "wicked widow" Lady Annabel Tallant, Iris determines to learn more about who she really is and what she really wants.

Finn is shocked when Iris turns down his offer of marriage. It forces him to take a step back and examine the woman he thought he knew... the woman he was going to marry. Iris is hiding her real reasons for jilting him and Finn means to discover what they are, although he may not like what he learns. When another man pursues Iris, Finn cannot allow it. He wants Iris for himself, but will she ever give him a second chance?

Reviewed via NetGalley for honest review. It's easy to see why author Anna Bradley has earned herself a spot among my top 10 historical romance writers list already this year. Her latest novel, a great start to her SOMERSET SISTERS series btw, MORE OR LESS A MARCHIONESS, is enthralling. Ms. Bradley gives readers a worthy heroine and a noble, albeit slightly arrogant hero. Finn's attitude is a little frustrating throughout most of the book, but I promise, there is a reason for it, and he does learn to open up and express his feelings to Iris. Iris gives him a merry chase and makes him work to prove himself. Watching their love story unfold is a beautiful thing. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in Ms. Bradley's SOMERSET SISTERS series.

Iris Somerset is a debutante who decides she is not going to do what is expected of the young ladies of the ton after she accidentally hears her betrothed, Finn Huntington, and his former mistress in the garden. That moment changes the course of her life. She decides to take control of her future, becoming bold, strong and self-reliant. One of the reasons Finn was interested in her, at first, was because he thought he saw a spark of something in her eye that might make her a non-compliant wife.

Iris begins by bating Finn about some of the comments he and his former mistress made about her. Some of her jabs were about Finn’s relationship with his former mistress. Either way, Finn has difficulty believing she is breaking their betrothal. It takes a while for her witty comments to make him realize she knows more about why he offered for her and the card game than she should. His rival, Lord Wrexley, takes full advantage of the break in their betrothal to move in to make Iris his. Lord Wrexley is cousin to Iris’s good friend, so she has known him for some time. Iris trusts Lord Wrexley never having reason not to do so.

More or Less a Marchioness is a good representation of the life of ton members. Men married quiet women who left them alone. Husbands kept mistresses while wives looked the other way. The awakening of Iris, with the help of Finn’s own mistress’s words and the help of a wicked widow, leads to a female who makes her own decisions and stands by them.

This is a great book for a light-hearted, fun read. Anna Bradley keeps you entertained from beginning to end, even adding in portions from a naughty book of the era.

Iris Somerset has had to hide her strong willed, impetuous nature under the veneer of a pliable placid debutant in order to secure an engagement to one of the Ton’s most eligible bachelor, Lord Huntington. However, as she discovers, its soul destroying to hide ones true nature and a chance meeting at a garden party precipitates her rebellion with unforeseen consequences. Entertaining.

Loved this book! I love the cold Marquess, I like Iris, just a little bit too feminist for me, during that era! She finds out he won her in a water, however, he lost his first choice. Iris finds out, by listening in a garden , in a conversation between his Mistress, and himself. She decides to jilt him, without telling anyone, if society finds out, she will be ruined! He is in absolute shock, that anyone would dare jilt him! Then they are invited to a house party, she has no idea, that he will be there. Then, the game is on!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

I took a bit of a hiatus from reading historical romance, so I was excited to jump back into it and read More or Less a Marchioness. The first third of the book is a bit frustrating, not because of the plot, but because of the writing. It was slow to get going and the narratives were very repetitive. But, once I got past the first third it was awesome. Great story and well written.

Lord Huntington is difficult to figure out. He's seems to be a gentleman, but at the same time has a rebellious side. The story opens with Huntington participating in a card game with the prize being who is going to marry which debutante. While Huntington didn't get hist first choice, he was nonetheless happy.

Iris Somerset can't believe she landed Lord Huntington and will be marrying him soon. He's nothing but a perfect gentleman. That is, until she overhears him in the garden with his mistress and finds out that she was won in a bet and he's not quite the gentleman she thought he was.

The story goes on with the focus of both Huntington and Iris trying to figure things out. Iris finds a side of herself she knew was always there, but didn't think she could show. Huntington realizes that the boring and polished bride may not be what is the best for him.

This is an entertaining story about a titled man, Lord Phineas, or “Finn”. He has decided it is time for him to marry and since in his mind one debutante is about the same as another, he places a wager with two of his friends over which gentleman can court which young woman. Finn loses out on his first choice, and so he begins to court Iris.
Lady Iris has been raised to be the perfect wife, as is the norm for a girl of her station. She is quiet, plays an instrument, has hobbies, and behaves appropriately at all times. Not because she wants be good, but because it’s expected of her.
Finn and Iris become betrothed and while at a garden party, Iris discovers that she may have made a mistake in saying yes to Finn. A bit of eavesdropping helps her with this revelation. She may have made mistakes in a number of things. This is where the story begins and becomes amusing.
There are several ancillary characters from whom Iris seeks advice or assistance, and others from whom she keeps secrets. Finn on the other hand becomes embroiled in a quest of his own.
The two of them discover that each is not what they seem, but may be vastly different, possibly better.
There is humor, a bit of intrigue, longing, and a smoldering heat that builds up between the two that is wonderful! I truly enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to stories involving other characters from this book- especially Violet, Iris’s sister. I highly recommend this to readers of historical romance who enjoy a laugh or two with their happy endings.

Well, I have to add another author to my list. I loved this battle of the sexes between Finn the Marchioness and Iris, his betrothed. He wanted a docile, quiet obedient wife who is what society make the female gender adhere to, while the boys will be boys was AOK with the ton as long as it was discreet. After Iris hears him talking to his ex mistress, she stages a rebellion and jilts the proud man. He didn't think he would like a woman with a spark in her eyes, but he finds himself unable to turn her loose. I loved Finn and Iris and the author paints a multi-layered portrait of life in the ton. Loved this story!

I’ve enjoyed this author in the past, and this was another good read. This is the story of Iris and Lord Huntington. They are betrothed, but really don’t know each other. She decides to get better acquainted and he rebuffs her, and she spots him in the garden with a former mistress. Though nothing really happened in the interlude, she breaks the betrothal. He is stunned, and nothing makes a man want someone more than knowing he can’t have it. They meet up at a house party and begin to know one another better though she rejects him again. Another gentleman begins to pursue her, and our H warns her of his nefarious behavior. Meanwhile a “wicked widow “ takes Iris under her wing, educating her in the ways of Men. Both the h and the H are headstrong and frustrating at times, but there is an excellent HEA. I look forward to the next in the series!

I enjoyed this tale , it was well written and had some great characters, I felt in parts the story lacked but two pages later it picked up again., so overall it was entertaining and worth the read

We finally get to meet the younger Somerset sisters and they’re wonderful. This is Iris’, the middle of the 5 sisters, story. Her “hero” is the Marquess of Huntington (Finn). He has decided it’s time he marry but I won’t divulge how he picked Iris. Finn’s mother ran off to Scotland when he was young, then his father died, and he was shipped off to school. Unlike the loving home Iris grew up in until her parents were killed in an accident. He assumes Iris will be honored he proposed to her.

Iris, Violet and Hyacinth live with their grandmother in London. Iris understands she needs to marry and is very attracted to Finn though would like it if her fiancée kissed her. When she overhears him talking to his prior mistress she is hurt. She calls off the engagement but does not tell her family.
Finn can not believe she dumped him, a marquess!

Iris, Violet and their friend Honora are attending a house party at Charlotte and Julian’s estate. Charlotte’s brothers are married to Iris’s older sisters. Since Finn was invited to the house party she was going to, he decides to attend with his friend, Lord Derrick. Also at the party is Lady Anabel Tallant, a wicked widow who gives Iris advice and Honora’s cousin Lord Wrexley. Iris is annoyed he is there, but she is still attracted to him.

Iris and Finn do get back together, but many things happen along the way which I will not spoil. Best line from Finn to Iris: “You’re everything I never knew I wanted, and everything I can’t live without”. Thanks to Anna Bradley and her publisher for allowing me this ARC. No one required me to write this review. This book is out February 6th. I loved it!

Finn and Iris' story is one I could not wait to turn the page to see what was going to happen next.. Their story captivates the heart and had the reader rooting for the two to end up together. No one wants to be a second choice and Iris comes to realize she can do something about it. No simpering miss in this story. I would definitely reccomend this book.

I would actually give this book 4.5 starts. It had funny parts and had a wonderful supporting cast of characters. Finn was betrothed to Iris but was not really interested in her since he was really desiring a biddable, demur wife. When Iris overhead a conversation between Finn and his old mistress, she decided to end the betrothal. Finn realizes slowly what he missed and was also protecting her from scandal. There was also Lord Westerley who was trying to mislead Iris because he wanted her dowry. I liked the characters and how Finn and Iris had people supporting their relationship. I would have like Iris to start being bolder in her wardrobe and I would have liked Finn to be more open about decisions earlier than he was. I would also have liked to understand a little bit more of their backgrounds. It was a fun read, thank you!

I have read, and enjoyed, other stories by this author, so I have to admit his one was a bit of a disappointment to me. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not invest myself in these characters or their story. I feel as though the characters fell flat - Iris jilts him without at first giving him a real reason, and Finn treats her like the toy he lost on the sandbox. He wasn't overly interested in her until someone else wanted her. And of course that someone else must be a villain - its cliche for a reason. I didn't even see where Annabel really even took her under her tutelage other than to suggest she read erotic (and therefore highly inappropriate) books, and place an idea in a head here or there, merely for her own amusement as she says several times.

I think this book could have been so much better with just a few changes, and I know what this author is capable of so I feel she could have done better than this. All things considered however, I do believe this story will still appeal to those who enjoy historical romance novels.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This is Iris and Finn’s story. They’re betrothed. Iris overhears Finn’s former mistress talking to him about inappropriate things. She tries to break off the betrothal. He won’t let her. He thinks she will be the perfect marchioness. He follows her to a house party. They find out things about each other that will make for a passionate marriage. There are many twists and turns in their relationship. True love finds them. This book made for great reading.