How to Marry a Marquis (Avon Romantic Treasure): Amazon.co.uk: Julia Quinn: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

Elizabeth Hotchkiss needs to marry a wealthy man, and fast. The oldest child of four well-bred orphans, she has managed to keep the wolf from their door for years, but she's running out of options. The only marriage prospect in sight is her landlord, Squire Nevins, but his lecherous gaze makes Elizabeth's skin crawl. So when she discovers the book How to Marry A Marquis in her employer's library, she impulsively stuffs it into her reticule and takes it home. Encouraged by her insistent sister, Elizabeth reluctantly agrees to learn the book's rules well enough to catch a monied husband. But first, she must find a man to practice her wiles on. Enter James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale. Posing as the new estate manager per his beloved Aunt Danbury's instructions, he just happens to arrive at the Danbury estate on the very day that Elizabeth discovers the book. Is it too coincidental that James's Aunt Danbury needs his assistance in catching a blackmailer at the precise moment that Elizabeth needs a guinea pig? Perhaps, but neither Elizabeth nor James have reason to suspect that they are being lovingly manoeuvred.

James begins to search for a blackmailer, and Elizabeth is high on his list of suspects. While purposely spending time with her to explore her guilt or innocence, however, he's irresistibly drawn to her beauty and kindness as well as her practicality and sharp tongue. And when he learns that she's practising to entice a husband, he can't resist offering to tutor her in courtship. Before long, the two realise their growing feelings for each other. But the course of true love never did run smoothly, and the lovers encounter a few obstacles along the way. Will the evil Squire Nevins easily give up his designs on Elizabeth and her sisters? What about the nefarious blackmailer? And how will Elizabeth react if she discovers that James is not who he pretends to be?

How To Marry A Marquis is a delightful read with witty dialogue that sparkles, wonderful secondary characters--including the difficult Aunt Agatha and an impossibly arrogant cat named Malcolm--sensuous love scenes and a hero and heroine that readers will fall in love with. --Lois Faye Dyer

Review

'Quinn has a smart, funny touch ... that's reminiscent of Helen Fielding' Time Magazine 'reminiscent of Bridget Jones' Time Magazine 'smart, funny' Time Magazine 'Delightful' Nora Roberts 'Elizabeth Hotchkiss needs to marry a wealthy man, and fast. The oldest child of four well-bred orphans, she has managed to keep the wolf from their door for years, but she's running out of options. The only marriage prospect in sight is her landlord, Squire Nevins, but his lecherous gaze makes Elizabeth's skin crawl. So when she discovers the book How to Marry A Marquis in her employer's library, she impulsively stuffs it into her reticule and takes it home. Encouraged by her insistent sister, Elizabeth reluctantly agrees to learn the book's rules well enough to catch a monied husband. But first, she must find a man to practice her wiles on. Enter James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale. Posing as the new estate manager per his beloved Aunt Danbury's instructions, he just happens to arrive at the Danbury estate on the very day that Elizabeth discovers the book. Is it too coincidental that James's Aunt Danbury needs his assistance in catching a blackmailer at the precise moment that Elizabeth needs a guinea pig? Perhaps, but neither Elizabeth nor James have reason to suspect that they are being lovingly manoeuvred. James begins to search for a blackmailer, and Elizabeth is high on his list of suspects. While purposely spending time with her to explore her guilt or innocence, however, he's irresistibly drawn to her beauty and kindness as well as her practicality and sharp tongue. And when he learns that she's practising to entice a husband, he can't resist offering to tutor her in courtship. Before long, the two realise their growing feelings for each other. But the course of true love never did run smoothly, and the lovers encounter a few obstacles along the way. Will the evil Squire Nevins easily give up his designs on Elizabeth and her sisters? What about the nefarious blackmailer? And how will Elizabeth react if she discovers that James is not who he pretends to be? How To Marry A Marquis is a delightful read with witty dialogue that sparkles, wonderful secondary characters--including the difficult Aunt Agatha and an impossibly arrogant cat named Malcolm--sensuous love scenes and a hero and heroine that readers will fall in love with.' - Lois Faye Dyer, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Refreshing, humorous and light-hearted romance 26 Aug 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

For those readers who have grown tired of the heavy-handed, overly-dramatic romances, this is the book for you. I don't want to read another book where the unyielding, yet sympathetic, hero finds himself bleeding on the battlefield only to realize that he loves the beautiful heroine. Will he live long enough to express his true feelings? Of course! How to Marry a Marquis is the antithesis to the heavy-handed romance. Julia Quinn has crafted a charming story about a beautiful (of course), uncoordinated, soft-hearted girl who falls in love with a man who is not what he pretends to be. I laughed out loud while reading the book! I am looking forward to reading Quinn's next endeavor.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

This is one of those can't miss books! 19 April 1999

This is one of those books that you just can't put down until you read the final page. The characters are so realistic, it's almost like they are real people instead of characters in a book. The heroine, Elizabeth, is not a milk-water miss, but a woman with morals and ideals. She has raised her sisters and brother for five years since the death of her parents until circumstances force her to come to terms with the need to marry so her family won't go hungry. The lady she works for, Lady Danbury, takes things into her own hands by asking her favorite nephew to come to her, not as the Marquis of Riverdale, but as ordinary Mister James Sidwell, to solve a blackmail plot and to meet Elizabeth. When the Marquis found Elizabeth with the book "How to Marry a Marquis" he thinks at first he's been found out. Then he offers to help her to practice what she's read on him. The dilemma-she has fallen head over heels in love with James Sidwell, but when he is revealed to be the Marquis as well, she believes he has been making fun of her the entire time.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Dynamic Characters Make for a Great Read 22 May 1999

This was the first Julia Quinn book I have read. I will be purchasing more in the future. The characters in this delightful story were well-rounded and multi-dimensional. Miss Quinn created a robust, funny, emotional tale that sucks you in from the first chapter. One of the few romance novels where characters other than the hero and heroine are well-developed and entertaining. This was one of those books you can't put down, but you hate to get to the last page, because you're enjoying the book so much you don't want it to end!!! I'm looking forward to the next book from this author.