The Reluctant Marquess by: Maggi Andersen

THE RELUCTANT MARQUESS is a charming historical romance about a country-bred girl and a reluctant marquess’ journey to love. Maggi Andersen provides readers with a memorable experience into a world filled with intrigue and scandal.

Charity Barlow suddenly finds herself alone and penniless after her parents’ death. Arriving at the Castle St. Malin to live with a godfather she barely knows, Charity discovers that he had passed away weeks before her arrival. His heir, Lord Robert, the new Marquess of St. Malin, informed her that his uncle wished for them to marry. Feeling she has no choice, especially if she wishes to keep a roof over her head, Charity agrees.

Lord Robert is a mystery. He keeps to himself and doesn’t like to talk. Not sure what life has thrown her way, Charity tries to make the best of her situation. She is determined to learn more about her new husband.

According to his late uncle’s will, Lord Robert needs to marry Charity to keep his new title. Picturing himself settling with a family many years down the road, Robert is not keen on taking a new bride this soon. Charity is definitely not the type of woman he would’ve chosen. He is quite content being a bachelor living it up in London. Yet he accepts his duty and hopes that his uncle’s wishes will not interfere too much with his life. He will not be tied down to any woman.

I really liked Charity’s passion for life and her honesty, although that tends to be a quality most heroines in these stories have.  Her desire to have a family of her own and to belong somewhere has lead her to fall in love with a cold and restraint marquess. It was frustrating that Robert hardly attempted in getting to know Charity until it was almost too late.but then again that is a man of this period for you.

All in all it was a good read but I really wished for more.