How to Marry a Marquis

Author: Julia Quinn
Published: April 1999 (Avon)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 7/10
Quote of Choice: He is a man, after all, and therefore stupidly proud.

How to Marry a Marquis follows To Catch an Heiress in this duology, telling the story of James, best friend to Blake Ravenscroft. If you haven't read TCAH, James comes along to reveal that Caroline isn't the spy Blake thought her, and pushes the reluctant Blake along in the courtship, offering the ultimatum that if Blake will not have Caroline, then he will make her his marchioness instead. I love supporting characters like that in romances, so when the prospect of reading James' story came, I was quite excited.

When Elizabeth Hotchkiss stumbles upon a copy of How to Marry a Marquis in her employer's library, she's convinced someone is playing a cruel joke. With three younger siblings to support, she knows she has to marry for morney, but who might have guessed how desperate she's become? A guidebook to seduction might be just the thing she needs - and what harm could there be in taking a little peek?

James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale, has been summoned to rescue his aunt from a blackmailer, a task that requires him to pose as the new estate manager and his primary suspect is his aunt's companion, Elizabeth. Intrigued by the alluring young woman with the curious little rulebook, he gallantly offers to help her find a husband... by practicing her wiles on him. But when practice becomes all too perfect, James decides that there is only one rule worth following - that Elizabeth marry her marquis.

One of my pet peeves in historical romances is mistaken identities. It's one thing where the ruse is kept up for a very short time, like in The Spymaster's Lady, but when it's for a good chunk of the book, and hurts someone's feelings, I get annoyed. James, using his position as the humble estate manager, gets closer to Elizabeth first for the purposes of the investigation, and then to romance her. Then he has to deal with the fallout of her discovering the truth when Caroline and Blake make their entrance and expose him.

Of course, my being annoyed at this one aspect doesn't mean that this was a bad book! Lady Danbury, a very amusing supporting character in the Bridgerton books plays a large role, as Elizabeth's boss and James' aunt. Lady D being Lady D, she's actually concocted this whole blackmailing scheme to play matchmaker for these two young people she loves and knows will be right for each other. There's also Malcolm the cat, who saves the day, despite Elizabeth's claims that he is a "stupid cat."

Definitely read this if you're a Quinn fan. Maybe you won't be like me, waiting for most of the book for the shoe to drop, knowing that Elizabeth will be angry and hurt by James' deception.