Anticipation. There was so much tension in this story, I had a hard time putting it down. Finn and Iris leapt off the page in every scene they were in. Just the right amount of witty conversation, double entendre and angst-filled remarks. There is so much going on with who is courting who and who will they end up with and the whys of their switching around. Love this author and love this story.

The one thing I did not like about the book was Lord Derrick. Don’t mistake, I loved him but not his end circumstance. Just saying...

More or Less a Marchioness is a book about discovering who you are behind all of the masks we wear. Finn Knight, Lord Huntington, knows he needs to settle down with a wife. He wants a proper wife who will produce heirs and then leave him to live his life. So he and his friends make a wager and Finn wins Iris Somerset as the woman he will become betrothed to. Iris is quiet and shy and will obey him and be a proper marchoness. What Finn does not anticipate is the wager he made will be revealed and the fact that he has dark desires will also be revealed. Iris is heartbroken to learn that she is nothing but a wager and that Finn does not care for her at all. She breaks off the engagement.

Finn does not anticipate Iris will disobey him. No one disobeys him, so the fact that Iris does only intrigues him and draws him to her. He sets off to win her back. But there is another Lord who has less than honorable intentions towards Iris and he also plans to win her. Finn and Iris begin to reveal who they really are to each other and she begins to see people for who they really are. When Finn and Iris finally come together (in a rather steamy way) things seem settled but when Iris asks Finn to stand by her when she follows her heart, he struggles to be the man she needs him to be.

I thought the book was well written. I liked the characters, especially Iris. She didn't want to lose herself in her marriage, she wanted to be the person she was meant to be and marry for love. Finn also develops nicely in the book.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Anna Bradley’s novel and More or Less a Marchioness is no exception. This is the first novel in her series “The Somerset Sisters”. This story follows Iris Somerset who overhears her fiancé Lord Huntington (Finn) telling his former mistress, Lady Beaumont that he wants to marry Iris, simply because she is ‘naïve, docile and predictable’. She also hears Lady Beaumont say that Iris was not even his first choice. Consequently, Iris decides to jilt Finn and as a result, he sees her in a new light. Finn decides to pursue Iris which is where the story becomes interesting.
As the story progresses, Finn becomes more likeable whilst Iris becomes more confident in her own actions. Lady Annabel who is considered to be the ‘wicked’ or slightly risqué widow, is particularly enjoyable and she adds depth to the novel. Whilst this is the first book in the series, there are connections to the previous series “The Sutherland Sisters’ which make me want to go back and read through this series again. I look forward to reading more about the Somerset sisters in the future.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A truly lovely historical romance.

I really enjoyed More or Less a Marchioness by new-to-me author, Anna Bradley. I'm going to have to snatch up Anna Bradley's entire backlist if she has more like this up her sleeve!

I don't think I like anything more than an antihero in romance. In More or Less a Marchioness, Finn started off the story as someone I was firmly rooting against. I found him to be cold, ruthless, and just... bleh. However, as the story progressed, I grew to understand him and love him, and he completely won me over.

I also don't think I'll ever tire of strong-willed, bold female MCs, especially in historical romance. I really liked Iris, and my love for her also got stronger as the book went on.

I liked how there was so much excellent chemistry between the two MCs. I read SO much romance that I can find myself bored or uninspired by a pairing, but I just though that Iris and Finn smoldered. I love a story where attraction and sexual tension builds over time, and by the time Finn and Iris truly got together I was READY for it.

Other than some pacing issues and some deviations in the plot that I found to be awkward, I really adored the story. I didn't want to stop reading, which is always the best sign for me. This book put Anna Bradley and this series on the top of my "to-watch" list, and I can't wait to read more about the entertaining Somerset sisters.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

What an utterly enchanting love story! I absolutely adore Finn and Iris’s characters that are hiding their real selves from the world but go through a phase of self discovery as they work their way to a HEA with each other. This book is sexy, emotional and difficult to put down. I adored it so much that after reading it the first time, I immediately went back to read it again and savor the parts of the story that I absolutely adored. This is book one in the Somerset sisters series. I cannot wait for Violet to get her own story. My heart broke for her in this book and I really wish she gets her own HEA next. Highly recommend this book for the heartthrob hero and brave heroine.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

„More or Less a Marchioness“ by Anna Bradley is the first novel in her new series „The Sumerset Sisters“. I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all this is not my first Anna Bradley novel, I already enjoyed „The Sutherland Sisters“ so I already mixed those up in the beginning.

It took me quite long to get into this story because I really felt no connection towards Iris, the female lead, in the beginning. I think it took me more than 15 percent of the novel but I did not want to put it away though I was shortly before.

Lord Huntington and his friends wager over cards and he loses, so he cannot court his first choice but has to court and wed Iris, one of the three headstrong Sumerset sisters. In the beginning she seems dull and boring and it took me quite long to get behind her facade. She plays the boring and dull lady to hide her rebellious streak.
It is not like Lord Huntington is really into her but he is a man of his word, so he courted her, asked for her hand in marriage, she agreed to it and they kind of set a date for the marriage already when she finally jilts him because … well because of a few reasons. Without going into too many spoilers: there is a frivolous mistress involved, a kiss, the wagering …

As soon as I got over the initial boring first 15 percent I really enjoyed the story and I fell for Huntington, I did not really connect with Iris though. She is a nice character, well developed but not my cup of tee.
But my favourite character was Lady Annabel, the wicked widow. She is the connection between those two strong headed adults, who really enjoys paring those two off. She is not shy to introduce Iris to erotic literature and that is one of the aspects I really enjoyed about the novel, those references to existing erotic novels and the missing education. Women had no clue about the amorous activities. They knew little about their body and their pleasures, respectively taking their pleasure.
Another part of the story I really enjoyed is „Chaos“, the huge horse. This strand of the plot was different from the usual involvements of animals in Regency novels.

All in all – a 4 Star Rating.

I enjoyed the story line but did get a bit confused at times because of the character perspective hopping. The author switches first person between main characters and secondary characters which at times had me wondering who the story was about. Once I got passed the confusion, i settled confortablely into the book. The characters are colorful and interesting, the plot line keeps you intrigued. Looking forward to the next book

I'm a fan of Anna Bradley's work and I enjoyed this read about the romance between Finn and Iris. I liked how Iris bucked convention and jilted Finn who was sadly, completely disinterested in her. I quite disliked Finn in the beginning of the story and was interested to see if the author could redeem him in my eyes, which she did as I grew to like and understand Finn more by the end of the story. I really enjoyed this read and it was one I'd recommend!

Do you remember when you were a child and you had a toy you never played with or you despised and when your mum gave it away you had the sudden urge to retrieve it swearing that it was your favourite toy and that you couldn’t live without it? Well this is what happened to Finn when his sweet betrothed, the most proper lady, oveheard him and his mistress engaged in a goodbye conversation in which she called her dull and predictive and he, instead of defending his sweetheart, agreed with her because that was precisely what he wanted in a wife.

Of course Iris jilted him, and not only for that, there were also other reasons, like… for example courting her because he lost a wager, or her not being his first choice… who wants to be second choice? No one. It’s not like Iris expected him to love her, no, but that coldness, that lack of empathy, that unbearable propriety… She wanted more of him, and of course she didn’t care about his wealth and his title. Did he really think that all ladies wanted to marry and become invisible? Not our Iris. So she jilted him… TWICE.

Here’s the story of a man who learns that women need to be seen as they are. That they aren’t interchangeable clones. And here’s the story of a young innocent woman who learns to know herself and her own desires better. But in order to get them together we need a small house party, a greedy rake for a rival and a wicked widow acting as a Celestine to these two.

Speaking of the rival; the animosity between Finn and lord Wrexley reminded me of Bridget Jones (stop reading if you haven’t seen the movie). There’s two men and one woman; one man loves her but his pride and sense of propriety stops him from sharing his feelings, the other man seems to care a lot for her and shows her all the time, but in the end he only cared for himself (and her money). Our Iris is improper and unpredictable, unsuitable for the title of marchioness, but she’s also funny and sensual… well actually Finn likes that she’s improper and unpredictable… and he had thought her dull! So there, I thought of Bridget, Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver. There are more similarities but I don’t want to spoil the book for you, you’ll have to read it. Sorry!

Our Celestine is the wicked widow Lady Anabel Tallant (are you familiar with the figure of Celestine? She was a wise woman in the town of Salamanca who, for a little sum, would sell you love potions for your sweetheart, the book didn’t end well for the lovers). Instead of love potions she meddles with the lovers by giving Iris some advice and by recommending some erotic literature so she can teach herself. Basically Lady Anabel gives Iris some degree of sexual education which, as you well know, has never been considered important although it actually basic. Iris learns to please a man thanks to these books and, well, Finn discovers her reading… and realizes that although the sex ed is considered scandalous, the lack of knowledge in a woman is what actually makes her dull. Not knowing what to do, of course she’s boring!

That leads me to the aspect of the novel that I liked the most. When Finn and Iris have sex for the first time he asks her what she’s learned from the books, and while she’s telling him he teaches her something; the books are all about how to pleasure men, the woman’s pleasure is secondary if anything. Finn wants Iris to please herself, to know her own body reactions so she can ask for pleasure in bed, she can tell him what she wants him to do to her once she knows herself. He explores her body so she gets to recognize her pleasure spots and when she tells him that she had been masturbating when reading the saucy books he tells her that it’s natural and that there’s nothing wrong with it. In that moment I fell in love with Finn too.

Once I got sucked by the story (because that was what happened) I couldn’t stop reading, and it was quite late at night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book especially because of what I said in the paragraph above and for many other conversations between Iris and Finn. These conversations are so important while at the same time so sexy and such fun to read. I only wished that Finn wasn’t so despicable at the beginning or that the characters had a little bit more depth.

This is the second book by Anna Bradley that I read. The first one being “Twelfth Night with the Earl”, which is my favourite Christmas romance now and the reason why I requested “More or Less a Marchioness”. I want to read more of her books now.

This is the first book of the series. It made it clear that you always want something you can't have. This had fun characters. A lot of ups and downs without being outragous. I liked how they were getting to know each other and they already thought they knew and liked them anyways. Well written

Another Winner from Bradley. The pacing is excellent and the characters shed their layers like onions, as you would if you had never bothered to get to know each other before getting engaged. Is the villain perhaps a little too villainous? Maybe, but I am not complaining about it. I read it all in one sitting and maybe got a little teary-eyed near the end. The premise was unique, how many women jilt a handsome man with a title and money because he doesn't seem to be all that interested in her? That takes guts and it was nice to see the heroine realize that by pretending to be some perfect debutante rather than herself, it is no wonder that her fiance thinks she is interchangeable with her friend. Oh, and reading the dirty books int he library was a nice touch.

4.5 stars - A wonderful historical romance! More or Less a Marchioness, is just what a day by the fire calls for. We know immediately who the two stars of our romance drama are, but not all goes smoothly before we get our HEA. He has some bending and opening up to do and she wants to remember and embrace her true self. She does a few dumb things (which is so typical of a historical heroine that I don't even know why I always expect more). What we discover about both of them, and they about each other is that the hero is a gentleman in the streets and a freak in the bed (the very best kind) and the heroine is eager to be his student. Also, the heroine learns that you can't just demand acceptance, but have to be willing to give it as well.

It a great read and I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. More Or Less A Marchioness is the first book from Anna Bradley’s new series The Somerset Sisters. Characters from her previous series appear in this book, so fair warning you will probably be intrigued enough to want to read them too after reading this book. Phineas (Finn) Lord Huntington is looking for a bride, one with no complications, a good dowry, beautiful, obedient. Love is a complication that does not interest him in his hunt for a bride. Iris Somerset has been doing all the things she is supposed to do as a diamond of the first water on the marriage mart and here she is betrothed to a Marquess but shouldn’t there be something more? When Lord Huntington firmly rejects her request for a kiss and she overhears a very enlightening conversation with his ex mistress about dark passions Iris tells him she no longer wishes to marry him. Shocked that the chit would have the temerity to reject him a marquess, Finn begins to look at Iris for the first time and comes to realize perhaps a lack of complications is not what he truly wants. Iris realizes that in attempting to be the prize on the marriage mart she is losing herself and begins to explore who she is and what she wants. A dastardly villain, a house party, some erotic literature, and a horse race all add up to a quite steamy story that you won’t be able to put down.

I wish there were more stars, because More or Less a Marchioness, deserves a few extras. Iris is quiet a surprise, Finn is at a loss for words several times. That was the best parts for me. Everytime she shocked him I smiled and giggled. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I'm a fan of Anna Bradley and have read all her books. I was excited to see that we're getting to the rest of the Somerset Sisters. This series can stand alone since they are only briefly mentioned as having existed in previous books but we never actually see them or learn about them. Additionally, characters from the other books aren't really seen here too much. This story is about Iris and Finn. At the start of the book, Iris and Finn are already engaged. Iris has been the perfect miss, restraining herself from everything improper to the point that she's lost herself. This has helped her to win Finn as her future husband since he was been looking for a quite, biddable, mild mannered woman to be his future marchioness. When Iris realizes that things aren't quite what she wants for herself, she breaks off the engagement and slowly finds herself again. I loved the characters and found Finn to be endearing as he slowly changes throughout the book. He can be difficult to love in the beginning but the character develops throughout. We also see a bit of Iris's younger sisters and it's got me hooked on wanting to hear their stories. Loved this book as a quick historical romance and looking forward to more!

Regency romance, with a reluctant hero and a heroine rebelling against strictures that pressure women to be demure, colorless and obedient. Lucky, after being a jerk, hero realizes he wanted more than a colorless brood mare.

I received a complimentary arc from netgallery for review purposes.

I don't read a lot of historicals anymore. But I have enjoyed this authors stories and this sounded like a fun story. For the most part I enjoyed it. I liked both main characters once the story got going. However I felt the beginning was very confusing. Too many characters and too many Sommersets, I was confused who the heroine was until I got about 20% in.

I like stories that are more direct so I know who everything is early on. But once I hit 20% I started to figure out who was who and get into the story. I was a fun historical novel and I fell hard for Iris. I found Finn wanting a woman he can control. made me not love him but I really loved Iris.

Lord Phineas Knight, Marquess of Huntington finds his betrothed Lady Iris Somerset biddable and docile which what he requires from a wife. Unbeknownst to Huntington, Iris has a wild, passionate streak just simmering on the surface but she tamps it down.

It took me a few chapters to warm to the hero. He's cold, controlling, and with unhappy disposition. Though as the story progresses, his grim demeanour was justified. There's a vigorous, intense as well as honourable gentleman underneath that icy exterior. Propriety deemed it necessary for the heroine to conduct herself in public as meek and mild but her desires couldn't be quelled, her true self was unleashed.

This is a novel which depicts the heroine's unsettled state of adolescence and the rite of passage that lead to her womanhood. The characters are equally passionate creatures, their inevitable union is akin to firestorm.

This is an eGalley arc from the publisher. My review is impartial and honest.

I received this novel from net galley for an honest review. Thank you!!

This novel was a good read. There are a few characters from Ms. Bradley's series, the Sutherland sisters. In this book, the characters realize they cannot hide behind the face they show society. They need to accept who they are, even though it might hurt some. Iris Somerset shows the ton that she is a proper young lady even though she has a rebellious streak, including horse racing and speaking her mind. She becomes betrothed to Phineas "Finn" Knight, Lord of Huntington. Finn believes her to be the ideal candidate for a marchioness and portrays himself as a gentleman. However, Finn has dark desires that he would never expect his wife to do for him and wants a wife who is safe due to his own childhood. When Iris jilts him, he cannot understand why any woman would not want to be a marchioness. He follows her to a house party and tells himself he is trying to protect her from a fortune hunter. Iris gives Finn her reasons for breaking their betrothal, but it is far from the truth. Both Iris and Finn have lied and this house party helps them to understand each other. Both see sides to the other that change their opinions and new revelations open Iris' eyes to the man Finn truly is. Both begin to fall in love with the other, but a situation will arise that will test this newfound love and trust. Can they overcome the obstacles in their path to have the happiness they both desire?

Iris has a temper, the woman holds grudges and all hell breaks loose and the hell that breaks loose is all on Finn, she drives him mad, “Are you making a list, my lord? Very well, then. If you must know, I believe I’ve bent my stays.” Finn’s gaze snapped to her bodice, and once it was there, it took all his concentration to tear it away..." I really don't think Finn knows what to do with his woman, “ah.” She looked up at him, the tiny smile still curving her lips. “That, Lord Huntington, is what the book is for.” Finn didn’t often find himself speechless, but all he could do now was stare at her with his mouth open, like a fish dangling on a hook." I really liked this book, I loved that Iris was strong willed.