Guest Review: When a Marquess Loves a Woman by Vivienne Lorret

Reviewer: Tracy
When a Marquess Loves a Woman by Vivienne Lorret
Series: Season's Original #3
Also in this series: This Earl is on Fire (Season's Original #2)
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Publication Date: October 4th 2016
Add It: Goodreads
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Series Rating:

As a young, penniless gentleman, Maxwell Harwick knew he had little to offer Juliet White—the most beautiful debutante of the season—except his love, and one thoroughly scandalous kiss. But when they were discovered in a compromising position, a nearly ruined Juliet fled into the arms of a rich, older lord... taking Max’s heart with her.

Now a widow, Lady Juliet Granworth intends to use the fortune she inherited from her odious husband to build a new life in London. Five years have passed, but she’s never forgotten Max… or his soul-searing kiss. Yet it’s clear the newly-minted Marquess of Thayne has not forgiven her—after all, the infuriating man can barely stand the sight of her. But Juliet has endured far too much to give up without a fight and if it’s a battle of wills he wants, it’s a battle he’ll get.

He hates her for breaking his heart. She detests him for destroying her future. But beneath all the loathing simmers an intoxicating passion that neither can ignore… and the harder they resist, the harder they will inevitably fall.

Maxwell only has eyes for his friend and neighbor, Juliet.  Unfortunately Juliet only has eyes for Maxwell’s half-brother – a Marquess (different fathers).  When Juliet finds out from Max that his brother is going to marry someone else she takes his comfort in the form of a kiss but they are caught.  He leaves the house that night at her father’s bidding but returns in the morning with a ring and a plan to head to Gretna Green.  When he gets to her house she and her family are gone and she’s off to marry a titled gentleman.  Maxwell is pissed and plans to never forgive her.

Now it’s 6 years later and Juliet’s horrible husband is dead. Max inherited a title from a far off uncle and is now a Marquess. Juliet’s returned to London but Max will stop at nothing to get her out of his city.  Their mothers are friends so they put up a good front but they end up making a bet – whoever can name the season’s original will get to own the house that Juliet grew up in.  If she loses Juliet has to leave London forever.  The playing out of the bet puts Max and Juliet in close proximity of each other and they finally figure out what they thought was hate was actually love.

This is definitely a book that made me feel a varying range of emotions. I really liked Max and my heart hurt for him when he found Juliet and her family gone.  He loved her so much and I just felt so bad for his situation.  Now there is a fine line between never forgiving someone and outright hating them, at least in my opinion.  I guess the years had just let him stew and it had grown out of proportion.  I did like him quite a bit though and was happy that he turned out to be a much better man than he showed us when first seeing Juliet again.

Juliet – oh I felt horrible for her.  She was forced to marry her husband because of her father’s debt and her husband had only wanted her as an object he could possess.  He kept telling her that she wasn’t worth anything but what was on the outside and once that faded he’d throw her away.  Oh man that had to suck for her!  What a jackass.  Luckily for her she didn’t have to experience that (the throwing away) as he died not long after they got married.  I loved the way Lorret had Juliet slowly falling in love with Max and realizing that she always had been in love with him – not his brother.

The end was a bit convoluted but it still made me smile.  I really liked the HEA in this one and was happy to see Max and Juliet finally figure it all out.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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