Jane Ashford pens another great historical romance. I love reading about books where they met as kids, grew up hating each other but then as adults they fall in love. A book to take to the book for a great escape.

I got this book and How to Impress a Marquess confused. I believe I reviewed one book on the other books feedback page. I am so sorry and embarassed. I thought I had already reviewed this one.

A lame entry in the series with a hero who isn’t terribly appealing. Other than reddish hair, we don’t get much of a sense of what Roger looks like. However, his personality is less than stellar. Socially awkward, prone to anger, doesn’t treat children well, etc. On the other hand, Fenella goes from being a shrinking Violet, cowed by her father’s disdain over the fact she wasn’t born a boy. When she’s 17, their fathers try to arrange a marriage between them. Roger insults her, saying he’ll never marry her, and takes off for London. She defies her father’s wishes and escapes to her grandmother’s in Scotland. In her 5 years away, she discovers her own strength and fortitude, a very appealing transformation that gets Roger’s attention. What starts out as a fledgling attraction between them takes on a life of its own when circumstances force them to take drastic measures. There’s a subplot of an anonymous letter writer who has homicidal designs on Fenella that brings some tension to the last part of the story, but it does little to improve the overall dullness.

The thread that ties the series together is the interest Earl Macklin shows to 4 young men who have experienced grief. His goal is to help them heal, but he’s not above a little matchmaking or at least steering two people attracted to each other towards love. The problem with this is that Roger feels no grief over the loss of his wife, only guilt that her death brought relief from a miserable marriage he was tricked into. So, it’s really hard to feel any sympathy for him since it was his own foolishness and arrogance that landed him in the mess in the first place. Bottom line is that he doesn’t deserve Fenella’s love and forgiveness, so the romance seems rather forced and lacking.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I loved reading this story of hurt, lust, betrayal and undisguised intrigue. How to Cross a Marquess is a tale told many times, but with a voice that makes everything seem new! Great book and I recommend to all readers of the romance genre.

I received a free copy of How to Cross a Marquess in exchange for an honest review. I honestly don't know where to start with this review. I didn't realize this was part of a series, and maybe that is why I had a difficult time immersing myself in this story.

I like the beginning plot, that Roger and Fanella had gone their own way, and Roger married another. There would have been more plot development if Roger had married for love and lost his first wife, but that was not the case.

One thing I really enjoyed is the development of Fanella's grandma. I'm always a sucker for strong willed grandma's.

Overall, this was an average read. With so many options I probably would have passed on this one.

This book was edgy, inventive and steamy, with characters who will leave you wanting more! Ms. Ashford launches another well-conceived book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

The author transported me to a simpler time (but more difficult in others). Their pattern of speech is more formal than that of today and thus required me to really use my e-reader's dictionary. It is a great way to learn. I was completely enthralled with Fenella Fairclough and Roger, The Marquess of Chatton. These two were neighbor children who grew up together. Their fathers decide to settle a feud over a piece of land by having them wed. How this decision affected these two characters was such a enchanting tale.

This is the third book of the series. I have not read the prior two. This book can be read as a stand-alone though. I was intrigued by the character the Earl of Macklin. As the Prologue eludes to, it appears that the Earl is something of a matchmaker. A group of men have dinner at White's (a gentleman's club) and it is there that Macklin meets with four men who have suffered from death of a loved one. It appears that the matchmaking of these men are at the core of the series.

I adored the story being told in a dual POV format. Seeing into both characters' minds (especially Roger) was really helpful. Roger is not the most eloquent with words and his struggle is charming. Most male protagonists are portrayed as almost perfect specimens. It was endearing to read about two characters that almost seemed life-like.

This was a clean romance that really anyone could read.

This was my first book by Jane Ashford. I will continue to read her. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with each other. A solid book choice, I would recommend to others.

Other books have to read before this one as the main characters have met before. Otherwise, the book was enjoyable and flowing.

Story line was good, and the characters well developed, but the story seemed to drag a bit for my tastes.

The Marquess of Chatton and his neighbor Fenella Fairclough have known each other all their lives. They refused to marry each other years ago when their parents demanded it, and they won’t concede now—even if circumstances have brought these former enemies much closer than they ever could have anticipated
This was a great story by a great author. I’ve read a number of her books and they don’t disappoint. I really liked both main characters as well as the plot. I recommend to anyone that enjoys this genre.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This book is charming, and while I like Ashford's books, I'll admit I have enjoyed others more quickly than this one.

I enjoyed reading Roger and Fenella's story from the ill-fated agreement between their fathers for them to marry, to their individual escape from this eventuality, to the culmination of the trials they find themselves in upon their reunion years later.
Roger and Fenella fight against the pull they now feel toward each other, as Fenella's father is still pushing toward a match, with neither wanting to give him the satisfaction. They go through much, with each looking to make a match elsewhere, or not at all, even though they feel a strong pull toward each other.
After much strife and misunderstanding, will Roger and Fenella realize that they belong together and come to the understanding that neither can stand the thought of the other with anyone else?
I highly recommend the purchase of this book to all who enjoy a good Regency Romance with a HEA.

Firstly and super importantly: the male cover model has the best laughing eye crinkles ever. I'm a huge fan.

This novel is a slow burn to start, and I'm not opposed to that. But I need high drama to compensate for that. This book is medium drama. And low to medium heat (it's a fade to black - which is fine if you like that!)

There's a play within the novel. The rehearsal scenes are very funny and were my favourites in the book, although it was weird that the theme of the play seemed to be that the man who the hero was playing was going to rape the woman that the heroine was playing, and they were kind of .... flirting about it? Weird flex. Rape aside, it did kind of make me think of Kirk's weird play in Gilmore Girls Seasons.

This line was the sickest burn I've ever read: “Helena Ravelstoke hadn’t been this sharp, Arthur thought. Or he hadn’t noticed if she was, his attention being on other elements of her person."

And my feelings on this are that Helena either was always that smart and the dumb dude didn't notice, or she wasn't, but had to play dumb to be belle of the ball. Classic trick.

But my fave was: "his urges were his problem." Yessir, they are.

The family premise and the history between the families was really good, but I thought the tension (both romantic and dramatic) was a little low for a historical.

There's also a LOT of roasting Arabella, the hero's late wife. That started to feel very repetitive and done by the halfway point.

High: the rehearsal scenes
Low: the slow pace

2/3 stars.

Fenella and Roger were childhood friends, but when they got old enough their parents told them to marry in another. Neither of them wanted to marry so went their separate ways. Through the years they both have changed and you would think that one they meet again they could get along now that they are neighbors once again.
Rogers wife has passed away and Fenella is caring for her ill father. Once they both realize they are attracted to one another there is someone who want s to cause problems for the two of them that will draw them closer.

This was a good read I enjoyed reading it very much. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Roger Berwick, Marquess of Chatton, has known his neighbor Fenella Fairclough all of their lives. Ten years ago, their parents attempted to arrange a marriage between them and they refused to get married. Now, they are thrown together and the sparks start to fly.

I liked this Regency novel. Roger was a spoiled and bratty heir until he had to mature. Fenella was belittled by her father and escaped to her grandmother's estate. Her grandmother helped her grow a backbone. The story was engaging and the characters were fun.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!

This is my first book by Jane Ashford. I know, right? So here’s my first impressions.

How to Cross a Marquess, is the third book from a series, but it did not really felt like it, which is good for people like me who just randomly picked out a romance novel to read.

I was drawn in by the blurb, which shows two of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers and second chance romances.

Did the book deliver? For me, not so much. I was seeking more of an exposure to the enemies to lovers trope, but for the most part, there was nothing interesting about it.

The Marquess Roger Chatton and Fenella Fairclough were supposed to be matched by the parents years ago, but circumstances came about and they both ran away from it, despite how attracted they were to each other. (Aka teenage angst plus denial)

Fastforward to a few years later, Roger was dealing with the death of his wife by blaming her accident to Fenella, who was said to be a close friend.

When their paths meet again, they find away to reconcile their wounded relationship, as well as dealing with the messes life has thrown upon them.

In terms of plot building, I have to say I was not really impressed. Lots of conflict points were weak to me. The transitioning and fitting everything together also felt rushed with so many missing pieces.

I was not attached with the characters, as Roger felt a little too weak, and Fenella felt a little too gullible. I was trying to hard to immerse myself in the story, but I was not really rooting for them and I just felt like a casual observer.

Romance wise, this was a very light one. I was expecting things to be a little steamier, but this was written in a fade-to-black style.

Drawing the conclusion felt a little rushed to me. And, I did not like how things ended in a foreshadowing note towards the next novel. I wish the exact end was about the main couple instead.

But then again, I was reviewing an ARC and things might have changed in the final copy.

So, there you have it. This book had potential but it was not met.

Would I pick up another Jane Ashford book? Maybeeeee.

About 40% chance, to be honest.

This was nice wholesome story. I would have liked the romance to be steamier. I found the beginning to be repetitive but the main characters grew on me by the end. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Roger and Fenella, friends since childhood, were told by their parents to marry. Both of them refused and went their separate ways. Fenella to Scotland where she grew a backbone courtesy of her grandmother and Roger went to London where he got married. Roger is single again and Fenella is back from Scotland when they cross paths again. As they did before they went their separate ways, they continue to butt heads.

But circumstances bring them together and they realize that they might not hate each other after all. But enemies are lurking around and putting a damper on their romance. Can these two find their way back to each other?

I really enjoyed this third installment to the Way to a Lord's Heart series. All of the antics of the H/H and the supporting characters had me riveted to my seat. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

This is a low-burn romantic regency novel.
I liked that both Fenella and Roger weren't portraied as perfect, but with both their flaws.
We do get the usual meddling of relatives and some little adventures following Fenella's 10-year-old nephew John.
It was an okay read. Not extremely exciting or memorable, but still entertaining and what I expected from it.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.