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Jun022010
BOOK REVIEW: My Wicked Marquess by Gaelen Foley
by Carolyn • Posted in 4 Star Reviews, Authors E-H, Book Reviews, Gaelen Foley, Historical Romance, Romance
Title: My Wicked Marquess
Author: Gaelen Foley
Publisher: Piatkus (UK) / Avon (US)
Publication Date: Sept 2009 (UK)/ Aug 2009 (US)
Paperback: 425 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
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Rating: 8/10
Goodreads Summary:
To London’s aristocracy, the Inferno Club is a scandalous society no proper young lady would acknowledge. But though they are publicly notorious for pursuing all manner of debauchery, in private they are warriors who would do anything to protect king and country.
The Marquess of Rotherstone has decided it’s time to restore the family’s good name. But as a member of the Inferno Club, he knows there is only one way to redeem himself in Society’s eyes: marry a lady of impeccable beauty and breeding, whose reputation is, above all, spotless.
Someone quite unlike Daphne Starling. True, she’s temptingly lovely, but a jilted suitor has nearly ruined her reputation. Still, Max cannot resist her allure—or the challenge of proving London’s gossips wrong. He would do anything to win her hand . . . and show that even a wicked marquess can make a perfect husband.
Review:
My Wicked Marquess is the first book in The Inferno Club series by Gaelen Foley. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and have only read a handful of historical romances, so didn’t know what do expect. What I got was a delicious, passionate romance combined with intrigue and suspense.
The Inferno Club on the outside is a scandalous club where rich men of society go, and ladies of society do not as it’s full of wantonness and depravity. But this is only a disguise of course, for what really lies within is a secret society of warriors who protect the land, and one of these warriors is Max, the Marquess of Rotherstone.
Max is a spy for the secret society behind The Inferno Club and is completely gorgeous. He’s protective and dominant on the surface but underneath he’s sensitive and caring. He is also in need of a wife to restore his family’s name and to do this he needs a virtuous woman.
Max sets his sights on Daphne, who isn’t exactly virtuous having declined three proposals, and in polite society this is a big no-no. Max, however, is a bit full of himself at times, and thinks that Daphne will just fall into his arms. Unfortunately for Max, Daphne is afraid to marry, afraid to trust anyone, so when Max sets his sights on marrying her, she just wants to run!
When Max finally does show Daphne a ring, Daphne feels so out of control and trapped she declines his proposal, which obviously comes as a complete shock to Max and his ego!
Since Daphne’s mother’s death she has been very independent and doesn’t get on well with her father’s second wife, who wants her wed and out of the house. She fills her time with helping orphans. I did like Daphne, but her hesitancy with regards to Max, which I could completely understand, just went on a tad too long for me and I was almost screaming at her to just marry the man!! 
The dialogue between Max and Daphne is witty and smart and I just loved their banter. The descriptive detail about the time period and surroundings was just lovely and added to the entire feel of the novel. I had a clear vision of every scene because of the authors great writing style. The passionate scenes were written very well, and I didn’t cringe with embarrassment once *is proud*
I really enjoyed the several sub-plots running alongside the romance between Max and Daphne, which had more to do with the secret society and spies. The one that comes to mind which I especially enjoyed was with Drake, another member of the ‘secret society’, who was presumed dead, but is actually being held captive. Drake is being tortured for information by another organisation, which he will not give up but sadly at the price of his sanity *poor Drake*. I thought all additional plots gave the book depth and set us up for future books in the series.
Although the next instalment is the story of Rohan, The Duke of Warrington, and a lady named Kate, which I am very much looking forward to, I do hope one of the books in the series will be about Drake and the woman who brings him out of his broken and confused mind… *sigh*
Verdict:
This book is pure escapism and is full of everything you would want from a romance and more – a real keeper in my opinion. Bring on My Dangerous Duke!
Source: This book was purchased by me.
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You can find out more about the author here:
4 Comments
Ooh, sounds really good!! Thanks for your review. I'll be adding this to my TBR pile
♥Isalys
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Awesome! I want this one for myself!! As always another fantastic review.
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Book Soulmates – It is a really great historical romance, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it!
Shera – Thank you! Yes, definitely read this one!
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I love anything with wicked in it.
Btw, I have an award for you:
http://melissawatercolor.blogs.....award.html
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