Elisa Braden

When a rake beyond redemption… A walking scandal surviving on little more than wits, whisky, and wicked skills in the bedchamber, Benedict Chatham, the new Marquess of Rutherford, is at the end of his rope. Deeply in debt and down to his last farthing, he must marry nothing short of an absolute fortune, or risk utter ruin. Must marry for money… Enter Miss Charlotte Lancaster, unfashionably tall heiress to just such a fortune and a clumsy, redheaded disaster in her five London seasons. While she dreams of leaving England for a life of trade in America, her father schemes to trade her dowry for a title—and Marchioness of Rutherford will do nicely. Charlotte wants her independence, not a husband, and certainly not a disreputable devil who renders her weak and wobbly with a single scorching glance. But she’s a practical sort, and a year with the devil might buy her freedom … provided she can resist his seductive charms. That shouldn’t prove a problem, for he could not possibly want someone like her, and the feeling is mutual. Really. It is. Love grows in the most unexpected places… When her father demands a startling price for his daughter’s hand—one year of fidelity and sobriety—Chatham must change his libertine ways … at least temporarily. And when he does, Charlotte begins to see him in a new light—not as the scandalous charmer she married, but as the husband she just might adore.

The Devil Is a Marquess

azliana aziz

i always love when H/h talk to each other lot. not so much bantering but like really talk just about anything. Charlotte was such a good character. she maybe lacking, unconventionally not pretty physically as per the standard of that era but she was never bitter and did not continue to beat herself or everyone else with it. Chatham, well what can i say, that armpit hair notwithstanding i truly love how Barden managed to somehow made his character redeemed without much of that dreaded character transplant.

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

The Devil is a Marquess is the 4th installment in her "Rescued from Ruin" series. This is a author that is so hyped up right now and I have been curious. I had heard that this one is one of her best books and that it had some relatability to "Devil in Winter", while it has some slight similarities, it doesn't even come close to that book but it has its own merits that are apart from that one. I do think its good to know that this author can take a while to get into, her books start out slow but then once you are into it, then you can't put it down. That was my experience with this one, I almost DNF'd it, but I am happy that I stuck with this one because it turned out to be a solid one.

When Chatham loses his father who left behind a lot of debt and now Chatham is poor as a church mouse and only has one property that is entailed and the only home he has left. He then agrees to a arranged marriage when Charlotte's father comes to him with an offer that he can't refuse. Charlotte knows that she will have little chance of moving to America, as her father will cut her off if she doesn't go into the marriage willingly. As Charlotte and Chatham enter into this marriage together, there is growth and healing that will occur and only when they accept what is building, will they be able to embrace what they have toghether.

I will be honest in that this book might be hard for some readers. But if you hear its comparable to Devil in Winter and is even better, that is just NOT true. Nothing against this book, it has a great redemption arc, however, it is nothing close to the magic of Devil in Winter. I heard from quite a few people that it was better and I was like well it needs to be dang good to be one of the best books ever written. Despite my surprise that it was not what I was expecting, it was a solid romance and in fact if it hadn't been for what I had been told by others about it, which I do think some content creators are overplaying this book. But it also had a super slow start, so I didn't quite get into it until about 35%. But once you get to about a third of the story, then you are instantly pulled into this story. I was fine not having read the previous books so it can be read as a standalone.

The romance itself was truly wonderful though once it got off the ground. I loved the bantering between these two but especially the heroine was so wonderful. She is the type of heroine that we need to see more in adult romance. I loved the way in which she stood up to the hero, but at the same time she also knew when to back down. She didn't demean him at all, but she was firm in the boundaries. I really enjoyed her character because while she was strong willed, she also had plenty of feminine characters and the way in which she respects the hero, builds him up and supports him and is invested in him and their estate was just magical.

There were some misunderstandings that didn't quite make sense sometimes but I really enjoyed the way in which these two worked together and they just fit just right. Loved the balance in the story. I am definitely eager to explore more of this author's work though.

I found The Devil is a Marquess to be a stunning installment that fed my romantic heart, delivered on captivating emotion and had me leaving a satisfied mess!

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
The Devil is a Marquess is the 4th installment in her "Rescued from Ruin" series. This is a author that is so hyped up right now and I have been curious. I had heard that this one is one of her best books and that it had some relatability to "Devil in Winter", while it has some slight similarities, it doesn't even come close to that book but it has its own merits that are apart from that one. I do think its good to know that this author can take a while to get into, her books start out slow but then once you are into it, then you can't put it down. That was my experience with this one, I almost DNF'd it, but I am happy that I stuck with this one because it turned out to be a solid one.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Benedict Chatham
-Alpha Male
-Sensual
-Rake
-Anti Hero

The Heroine: Charlotte Lancaster
-Wallflower
-Bluestocking
-Feminine characteristics
-Strong Willed
-Attentive

Summary
When Chatham loses his father who left behind a lot of debt and now Chatham is poor as a church mouse and only has one property that is entailed and the only home he has left. He then agrees to a arranged marriage when Charlotte's father comes to him with an offer that he can't refuse. Charlotte knows that she will have little chance of moving to America, as her father will cut her off if she doesn't go into the marriage willingly. As Charlotte and Chatham enter into this marriage together, there is growth and healing that will occur and only when they accept what is building, will they be able to embrace what they have toghether.

My Outlook
I will be honest in that this book might be hard for some readers. But if you hear its comparable to Devil in Winter and is even better, that is just NOT true. Nothing against this book, it has a great redemption arc, however, it is nothing close to the magic of Devil in Winter. I heard from quite a few people that it was better and I was like well it needs to be dang good to be one of the best books ever written. Despite my surprise that it was not what I was expecting, it was a solid romance and in fact if it hadn't been for what I had been told by others about it, which I do think some content creators are overplaying this book. But it also had a super slow start, so I didn't quite get into it until about 35%. But once you get to about a third of the story, then you are instantly pulled into this story. I was fine not having read the previous books so it can be read as a standalone.

The romance itself was truly wonderful though once it got off the ground. I loved the bantering between these two but especially the heroine was so wonderful. She is the type of heroine that we need to see more in adult romance. I loved the way in which she stood up to the hero, but at the same time she also knew when to back down. She didn't demean him at all, but she was firm in the boundaries. I really enjoyed her character because while she was strong willed, she also had plenty of feminine characters and the way in which she respects the hero, builds him up and supports him and is invested in him and their estate was just magical.

There were some misunderstandings that didn't quite make sense sometimes but I really enjoyed the way in which these two worked together and they just fit just right. Loved the balance in the story. I am definitely eager to explore more of this author's work though.

Overall View
I found The Devil is a Marquess to be a stunning installment that fed my romantic heart, delivered on captivating emotion and had me leaving a satisfied mess!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover: 4
Hero: 4
Heroine: 5
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 5
Overall View: 4

Tori Jarrett

I’m obsessed with this series and this book has been my favorite so far. 

I’m in love with how Elisa Braden writes her books. They still feel very modern and fun while maintaining the key elements of historical romances that I love so much. Sometimes historical romances can be too… stiff. The H is TOO broody or it takes FOREVER for the MC’s to actually fall in love. Elisa totally takes those aspects out and gives us just enough push and pull to not be instalove without making it 90% before the MC’s admit they love each other. It’s literally put her in my top five HisRo writers and I grew up with the OG’s of historical romances. The H’s in her books aren’t soft and gentle. They’re possessive and alpha, but in a good way. Her settings and writing are absolutely beautiful. I feel like I’m watching a regency movie while I’m reading. The pace and plot always delivers and I’m picky as HELL on historicals. So for me to rave about this series is seriously an achievement on Elisa’s part. I love her and her books so so much. 

I was pleasantly surprised at Chatham’s character. He’s brash, broody, flippant, and calculating. He sleeps with women for money and trades secrets to the highest bidder. He’s not the typical womanizer that we usually see. He’s aware that he’s an alcoholic and doesn’t care to change it until Charlotte’s father strikes his bargain. Chatham goes from a man that doesn’t care about anyone or anything to a man that would die for love of his wife. That’s my form of crack in any book, but in a HisRo??? Double crack. His character development was so good and so satisfying. When he shows Charlotte his burns and it’s the markings from her flask that he kept with him at all times??? Swoon city, dudes. 

Charlotte is such a take no shit h and I loved her for it. She begins to realize that her dreams of America are nothing if she has no one to share it with. I love that she wanted to stay with Chatham and build a life with him. We see her running away from her father’s expectations and trying to be the complete opposite of what he wants her to be in the beginning of the book. But after marrying Chatham and beginning to run a household and land and utilize her enterprising mind to better it, she realizes that she doesn’t have to have a career or the love of her life. She can have both. 

I love that these two come together and forge a path that blends what they both want and need in order to be happy. 

Im reading these all out of order so far but I’m starting Henry and Maureen’s next because the snippets of them in Jane and Harrison’s book has me foaming at the mouth. 

I love this this series so much and wish Elisa had a bigger backlog cause I’m going to be so sad when I’m all caught up on her current books.