Oct 23, Ursula rated it it was amazing Shelves: emotional-rollercoaster , independent-woman , adorable-heroine , angsty-goodness , adorable-hero , historical-romance , super-sexual-tension , favourites , 5-stars , bluestocking-heroine. I have very few 5 star reviews or favourites. I thought I had read all the books in this series and with the last one fresh in my mind I did not enjoy it I felt the series was done and dusted. I had really loved some, but not all of them.
But some GR friends were talking about the series and I realised this was one I hadn't read. I am a bit obsessive about finishing a series, so I gave it a shot. This book. I was not expecting the depth. I was not expecting the fluent, articulate even erudite s I have very few 5 star reviews or favourites. I was not expecting the fluent, articulate even erudite style of writing.
The word-play is witty and often wickedly amusing. The description of the shallow, fashion-crazy ton is often hilarious who would have thought an awkward stumble, fall to the knees and then an accidental flinging of your waltz partner across the room would turn into a dance-craze?
I was not expecting the many-layered character development, nor the insightful actions and conversations of the MCs. When two people from very different walks of life and with very different expectations and life-goals meet, sparks fly and the air sizzles. The connection was palpable.
The sexual tension seemed to shimmer off the page for me. Julian is a very self-disciplined, organised aristocrat. He witnessed the near-ruin of his estates by a profligate father, spent years building everything up again and thus made himself into the person simply everyone in his family depended upon. There was no room for spontaneity, no possibility of deviation from the path he had set himself. He is, to quote Phoebe, very contained. Then he meets her. Phoebe is an amazing character. The fierce intellect and courage of this young woman, who lived in St Giles until she was ten, just blew me away.
She is no beauty, although she is very attractive because of her sparking personality, but sensibly JAL does not go on and on about her being plain.
Phoebe could never be plain because she is so much more than the sum of her parts. Julian is very reluctantly made aware of all this, and we feel that reluctance in Chapter 1, where we meet Julian, a bullet in his shoulder, slightly tipsy, saying: She's not even pretty.
Then: Beautiful, though Damn her eyes. He continues: Don't want to close my eyes. She's all I see. And the clincher: "She doesn't love me" he said softly, finally. The next chapter starts at a time six weeks earlier, so we realise all the action we are about to experience will lead us back to this point. A great way to start, and I was hooked: JAL has written a lovely story of how a man grows and changes because of his love for a woman.
A woman who challenges him, stimulates him, attracts him and actually knows who he is. Not the impeccable, perfect man of fashion, not the powerful, wealthy Marquess, but the lonely, even exhausted man who is there for everyone else but has nobody there for him , nobody who will comfort him or upon whom he can depend, no shoulder on which to lay his head and simply be held. JAL describes so beautifully the vulnerable man beneath the facade.
I was angry with him, because he initially could not think outside the box into which he had shoe-horned his life. He needed a massive wake-up call.
And Phoebe was the one to give it to him! She is truly my heroine. What a girl. I loved that she spouted Marcus Aurelius and named her cat Charybdis, that she spoke 5 languages and used words like carapace and I giggled when she made jokes about using words with lots of syllables. She refused to dumb herself down, she refused to accept second-best and she refused to show her devastation and humiliation to the ton that so cruelly mocked her in the end.
When she finally sleeps with the marquess it is on her terms and for her and she retains her dignity, self-respect and independence. For me, very few HR novels have managed to achieve this balance of strength and tenderness, courage and vulnerability, in both the hero and the heroine. Usually one compromises all for love. Often, it is the heroine. The reason I don't like the mistress trope is because I cannot rid myself of the feeling that the woman was satisfied with second-best. It is not a moral issue.
It is about personal integrity and a belief that you deserve to be first in your chosen man's eyes. If you are not, then he does not love you enough. End of discussion for me. JAL has delivered this balance perfectly for me. I think this will be a book I will return to again and again, for the writing, the characters and for the author's passionate statement that, yes, love is enough to conquer ALL.
Jun 01, Nabilah rated it it was amazing Shelves: historical-romance. Oh, this one was so good as well! It was hilarious and filled with witty banters between the MCs.
A bit of angst as well right at the end. Long is becoming one of my favourite authors. I do have to agree with the other reviewers, though - the side characters were a bit flat hence, 4. And the cat bits were so good. If you have a cat, you would know that Ms. Long's gave an accurate description on cat behaviour because mine's the same too. View all 11 comments. I so loved this book! I've only discovered Julie Anne Long recently but already am quite taken with her historical romances and her wonderful writing.
I'm already on the hunt for my next fix so this review shan't take long, I'm afraid. The witty dialogues, the angst, the pining, the yearning, the steam and the incredible swoon of it all, I swear you're in for a treat and will have trouble putting the book down or even let go of the characters in the event you've been greedy—like me— and finished I so loved this book! The witty dialogues, the angst, the pining, the yearning, the steam and the incredible swoon of it all, I swear you're in for a treat and will have trouble putting the book down or even let go of the characters in the event you've been greedy—like me— and finished the book much too quickly.
Heartfelt and endearing characters and a cat! Do read it! View all 10 comments. Dec 27, Beanbag Love rated it it was amazing. I liked both leads, the tension of the various situations not just sexual was apparent and accessible, and the ending was satisfying.
This series is about two families that hate each other: the Everseas and the Redmonds. They both live in Pennyroyal Green but they don't interact at all if they can help it.
The books switch off as to which family is featured. For some reason the Redmonds always seem to come off negatively although I liked Miles Redmond's book quite a bit. There's some small bit of redemption at the end for one of the characters and a good comeuppance for another, but still I feel the Everseas are portrayed much more positively. This actually isn't really even a "Redmond" book. The female lead is a short-term paid companion to a member of the Redmond family. This family member shows up throughout the book, but the connection is really tangential.
So I guess we can't really say we know what's going to happen next in any Pennyroyal Green novel, can we? I did love this book, though. It was poignant, romantic and laugh-out-loud funny at several points. Nice Christmas gift for me. Feb 08, Shaz rated it really liked it Shelves: books-i-own-to-be-read , mad-about-series-challenge. I liked both H and h, loved the banter between them.
It was a funny and sad read. Mar 05, Chloe Liese rated it it was amazing Shelves: historical-romance , favorites. I have a problem. I read a Julie Anne Long book, fall in love, declare it my favorite Okay, bear with me. Once again, Phoebe is on the fringes of the aristocracy: respectable, chaste, intelligent. She's a schoolteacher with a squeaky clean reputation but a flair for wit, sarcasm, and a fierce though often I have a problem. She's a schoolteacher with a squeaky clean reputation but a flair for wit, sarcasm, and a fierce though often concealed need to be loved and to belong.
She hides her vulnerability behind her work and propriety, that is, until she meets Julian, Marquess Dryden, who has spent his whole adult life cleaning up his reprobate entitled father's mess. He is the portrait of duty and restraint and his cool aplomb has turned him into the It Guy. Everyone wants to be Dryden and fears Dryden.
And nobody actually knows the real him. He's made sure of it. Until Phoebe shows up and brings out the fiery, passionate, playful side of this otherwise perfectly composed man. These two were fated mates, an OTP that I will never forget. They turned each other inside out, made each other laugh, inspired each other, challenged each other, and they longed for each other with such tortured, sarcastic, sharp restraint I was in agonies.
Agonies, I tell you! Their connection was written brilliantly, intelligently, and it was so damn sexy. This was a slowwww burn, but baby, it burned. I loved it. I will be buying this book, rereading this book, never ever forgetting this book.
It was tender and smart, just the right pitch of angsty yet dappled with hilarious comedic moments that lightened it up. It was sensual and powerful and original—everything I love in a historical romance.
I know already it will be an all time favorite. It was incredible! I cried and laughed and swooned and cried some more!!!!! The heroine Phoebe was utterly charming and sweet and wrecked me and the hero Jule's - Jullian made me fall in love. Their angst kept me tethered to my kindle. What a dreamy read.
I was absolutely romanced by it. This is only my second Julie Anne Long book, but man! Really have to thank Alleskelle for recommending OMG! Through her I found this author and I've fallen in love. Soooooooo good. Phoebe Vale, teacher and broadsheet lover, has no clue her life is going to change when she goes into a shop to admire a bonnet and get the latest gossip.
When she hears the latest scandals of Lord Ice, Julian Spenser, Marquess Dryden, she is rather amused but she is quickly startled because who just happens into this shop? None other that Julian in all his black and white glory. With just a cursory glance about the shop, Julian asks to see the fans and purchases the best one as everything is th Phoebe Vale, teacher and broadsheet lover, has no clue her life is going to change when she goes into a shop to admire a bonnet and get the latest gossip.
With just a cursory glance about the shop, Julian asks to see the fans and purchases the best one as everything is the best for Julian. Everything is neat and tidy and has its place in life and he is on the hunt for a wife and not just any wife, oh no. He is courting the perfect, beautiful heiress Lisbeth Redmond. And Lisbeth is the last piece of his future he needs to finally clear up his fathers gambling mess as Lisbeth will bring the lands that were lost in a card game.
But even though Phoebe feels like she was not even noticed in the shop, Phoebe is on his mind but he has to dismiss her as she does not fit in with his plans. When Phoebe receives an offer to be Lisbeths companion for a few days she initially hesitates but then decides to go and earn some more money for her future plans to travel to Africa. It just happens to have the added bonus of running into Julian again The sparks, the attraction, the desire all continue to grow especially as Julian lets down some walls and lets Phoebe see the real him, not the Marquess that all of society loves and tries to emulate.
Stolen kisses and heated embraces that are almost caught lead to some absolutely delightful situations for our pair to try to overcome! But when the ton starts to take serious notice of Phoebe, only then does the story start to take a shaky path that leads to heartbreak but Julian takes strides to right the wrongs all while possibly endangering the perfect future he had mapped out. Overall, this was an absolutely delightful book! I really adored Julian! When Phoebe hits him in the head and it leaves a bruise on his forehead, he is forced to have a forelock to cover it and all of society copies him.
The results, hilarious. But beneath the perfect facade is just a man who wants to be loved for him and seen past his fathers failures and Phoebe is just the woman who sees him. Sigh, yeah, I was in love with him then and I knew how deep his love was for Phoebe.
And Phoebe was a true delight as well. She is smart and witty and fought her way from the slums to become a teacher of girls who have the impulses and desires as she did at their younger age. Together, these two are near perfection and it is only that little shaky bit near the end I disliked. I just personally do not like that type of storyline but I have to say, I was very proud of the way Phoebe stood up for herself and Julians eventual resolution of the situation.
Overall, if you enjoy an instant attraction story with some great laugh-out-loud moments this is a perfect story for you. Julie Anne Long has made it onto my auto buy list for all future books with this delicious, sparkling, witty book. View 2 comments. Dec 05, Princess under cover rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. One of my all time fav historical romances!
Read it more than 3 times. The dialogue and wit are unsurpassed. And Charybdis! I want one! That scene made me laugh so hard I spewed my juice. Shelves: godzilla-facepalm , romance , auto-buy-author , historical. This book was such a dilemma. This part was great. Totally great. Julie Anne Long knows exactly how to built a very intense romance and put it into words with enough power to evoke reader's emotion. He seemed taller than And suddenly all the hats and ribbons and buttons and gloves seemed like gaudy props arranged on a stage, awaiting just his arrival all these years.
He swept the shop with a glance, taking in ribbons, gloves, Phoebe, hats, watches, her students, reticules, shawls and Postlethwaite, in that order and with equal dispassion. His coat and boots were black. His shirt and cravat were white. I was captivated from that moment and the romance hadn't even started yet. But there's one thing his money can't buy, his mother's property which is now belongs to the Redmonds. He needs it. It's the reason he's courting Lisbeth Redmond when he meets Phoebe.
I felt the strong physical, mind, and feeling chemistry between Julian and Phoebe everytime they met. Their relationship has grown slowly but deadly. Phoebe is the only person who sees Dryden beyond the figure of a wealthy and ruthless marquess.
She sees him as a man with enormous burden and responsibility. And Dryden knows what she has always wanted, a man to care and protect her. He wants to be that man. However, Dryden is an aristocrat and Phoebe isn't. They believe they can't be together so they control them selves very well, for a while.
I was so excited with the waiting and wondering when they will finally kiss and who will surrender first. There's also this gifts exchange between Dryden and Phoebe. His gift for her was so incredibly sweet.
It wasn't about the gift, but how he knew it's the gift she wanted. The sweetest thing indeed. Unfortunately, this amazing part of the book ended for me the moment view spoiler [he asks her to be his mistress and she said no. From that moment through the ending. This part was like a whirlwind. The result was a chain of chaos. You see, Dryden is a trendsetter.
It was clear from the beginning of the story. He's very popular. Everyone wants to be like him, they imitate him. His hairstyle, his horses, his outfits, his taste, everything. I thought that was cool. When I finally knew the plot had everything to do with the 'trendsetter thing', it wasn't cool anymore.
It was clearly a disaster. They make love. Yes, finally. Although I didn't like the way it started because both of them are angry but they make up. The lovemaking was super hot. So I thought everything would be great again. And then she leaves! After she makes love with Dryden.
That wasn't the worst yet because before she leaves, he says he loves her. But she goes anyway. Dryden doesn't stop her, instead he calls the bad guy for a duel. The bad guy gets terrified, he apologizes for his mistakes, Dryden accepts it. The Duel is off. And somebody from nowhere shots Dryden.
NO WAY!!!!! Phoebe realizes she can't leave him. She's sorry. He asks her to marry him. They are married and lived HEA. So, the first part of the book worth 5 stars while the second part worth..
I'm still not sure. Overall, 3. I wouldn't recommend this book as the first read from Julie Anne Long, and definitely not as the first read of HR. For her fans? View all 3 comments. Jul 27, Jan rated it liked it Shelves: historical , regency. A pleasant read with some funny moments. Not my fav trope, though. A marquess falls in love with and marries a lowly teacher who grew up in London's slums.
This kind of story always seems way too far-fetched for me, and I struggle to 'suspend my disbelief'. The growth of their love was quite nicely done, though, and as a reader you do feel that the MCs really 'see' each other. The silliness and occasional nastiness of London society was depicted quite humorously. But overall, the 3 to 3. But overall, the book didn't fully draw me in or totally satisfy me as a reader. I also wasn't really convinced during the big sex scene.
A Regency-era virgin eagerly getting it on with fellatio? It didn't feel convincing to me. Interestingly, the characters from the other books in this series, the Everseas and the Redmonds, are just side characters in this one. I also read this book as a buddy read with the same group. This was amazing! Watching Jules and Phoebe fall in love was magical.
And tense cause you just knew they were going to fight it or ignore it cause society deemed to keep them apart, not to mention Jules's desire to plan all of his life the way he thinks it should go. Thankfully, the end up together : I'll reread this book at some point. It was that good : This was amazing! It was that good View all 9 comments.
Aug 09, Ane Vass rated it really liked it Shelves: 4-stars , favourite-authors. Again, another well written slow burn romance with wholesome and witty characters. I've enjoyed it very much.
View all 4 comments. I was really tempted to give the book 2 stars, because I did not like the story. But to pay respect to the fine writer that Julie Anne Long is, I gave the book 1 more star. It took me more than 3 months to read the book, that alone says a lot about how I felt about the book. JAL's Pennyroyal Green series has been of uneven caliber in my eyes. While all well-written, some of the stories appeal less to me. How the Marquess was won is one of those less-appealing. Strictly speaking I don't think thi I was really tempted to give the book 2 stars, because I did not like the story.
They are somehow related, yeah. But I think the connection rather forced. Jules was pursuing a Redmond heiress, Lisbeth, to regain control over his mother's dowry land, which now was part of Lisbeth's dowry.
Phoebe was a schoolteacher who appeared in the same social circle as Jules only because she had been asked to be Lisbeth's companion for the duration of that particular house party. Apparently Phoebe had some kind of a connection to Lyon Redmond, by way of a pair of gloves, which was originally a gift from Lyon to Olivia. Phoebe ended up with the pair of gloves because Olivia refused Lyon's gift.
I must say I do not get the point of this little ruse. If it was to set up a future scene for Lyon and Olivia, I get it. But I don't know what it did for Phoebe and Jules. My biggest problem with the book was I did not feel Jules and Phoebe's attraction. It is naturally a personal view. They both liked each other and their only conflict was that Jules wanted to marry Lisbeth so he could regain his mother's lost dowry and that left Phoebe with the position of his mistress. If that isn't a forced scenario I don't know what is.
Phoebe refused Jules' proposition outright, good girl, I say. I wouldn't have minded if she accepted either as long as she did not harbor false hopes about her liaison with Jules. But that is irrelevant, she flat out refused him. So the entire book, we are presented this farce that for a piece of land, Jules must marry Lisbeth and could not marry Phoebe.
In between we are gifted with a kiss here and a kiss there, all rather forced in my eyes because I never could feel the attraction between them. And the big conflict when the real reason for Phoebe's "false" popularity in ton came out I really lost it then. This WAS the big letdown of the century?
That painted Phoebe such a superficial ninny in my eyes, I couldn't tolerate that. In short I found Jules' passions ungrounded, his reason for not marrying Phoebe idiotic, I am not so offended by his "proposition", I am not that much a prude. But I had expected a more significant reason for offering to make the woman you love your mistress.
I found Phoebe shallow. Wasn't she supposed to be level-headed? But she rejoiced at her popularity in ton, secretly taking great pleasure in believing that men actually showed her interests. I don't know what is worse: the fact that she was this shallow, or the fact that her reaction showed how emotionally deprived and desperately in need of some male attention she was as a woman. I found Jules and Phoebe's relationship rather passionless, despite JAL's efforts in instilling passion in their relationship.
My favorite thing about the book is the dress on the cover. Again, if it was not written by JAL, this book would have gotten a 2 stars rating from me.
View 1 comment. She's not afraid to play with fire I've really come to like Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green series, some books more than others, but most are good reads. This one is among the better ones.
He's so autocratic, dignified and oh so proper. He knows he should concentrate on Lisbeth, but he can't stop thinking about Phoebe. And Phoebe for her part, is incredibly attracted to Jules. There's so much good between them, but duty means a lot to Jules, and the situation does seem hopeless.
Although, I think that it was given too much attention, after all Jules is a rich marquess, it would hardly be the end of the world if he did marry a poor schoolteacher. I love Phoebe and Jules together. Their dialogues are always entertaining, and they never try to deny that there is something between them.
Something beautiful and rare, breathtaking. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the Redmonds. Lisbeth is a spoiled brat, and at this point of time I hope she doesn't get a book soon - she needs a lot of growing up to do first. I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series, IMO they get better and bettter. Feb 18, Lisa - Aussie Girl rated it it was amazing Shelves: romance-historical , nbrc-mango-tango , read-in Oh, how I love the Pennyroyal Green series.
Clever heroines, gorgeous men, the family feud between the Redmonds and Everseas, witty banter Two unlikely lovers, Phoebe Vale the schoolteacher from the wrong side of the tracks, and the Marquess Dryden, Julian Spenser nicknamed "Lord Ice" make you believe in love at first sight despite all the obstacles. Just magic. Mar 20, T. Going into this, I was instantly intrigued by the surprising and mysterious prologue, but I hadn't an inkling that this might become my absolute favorite book within the series so far.
How the Marquess Was Won was intelligent, charming, angsty, swoon-worthy, and witty! Not just witty, but snickering-out-loud funny with a couple of the most clever protagonists, as well as a cantankerous cat and a conformist Ton. Insert a few conniving antagonists on top of the hero's agenda to marry in exchange for a lost family estate and there began some wild tension - romantic and otherwise. Angsty as heck, but Julian and Phoebe's slow burn romance was delicious. The banter, the undeniable attraction, their integrity, Julian's honor, and Phoebe's discerning intelligence all helped shape two of my favorite JAL characters.
It's been three weeks since I finished this book and I still get a little giddy just thinking about it. Definitely a keeper. Aug 30, Mahima rated it liked it. Climax was amazing.
Something in between was not as great as anticipated. Plotting is great. Writing style is lovely. Oct 10, Becca rated it it was amazing Shelves: on-my-shelf. Phoebe and Jules fell in love not at first sight, but first conversation. How the Marquess Was Won was a book full of innuendo, heartfelt confession, and wit.
Jules and Phoebe truly loved to talk to each other. It was refreshing to encounter characters that were friends as much as they were lovers. This book was not quite as good at What I Did for a Duke, though the concept was similar.
This story also takes place at a house party, although to be honest, because this book focused so much on conve Phoebe and Jules fell in love not at first sight, but first conversation. This story also takes place at a house party, although to be honest, because this book focused so much on conversation, there was little attention given to setting, secondary characters, or a plot for that matter. In a way, this book truly explored the development of a deep, unexpected love between two unique individuals.
Phoebe and Jules, while from completely different backgrounds, fit together like two puzzle pieces. Since there was no real plot or setting, this tale explored attraction in its rawest form.
There was a spark, recognition, yearning, love, all told in sizzling detail. If the story had a little more substance in the form of well sketched secondary characters and vivid setting, it would have been just as good as What I did for a Duke. However, while the interactions between the leads were deeply romantic, they were not grounded by any reality and it sometimes made me feel like I was reading something abstract. Beautiful, but still not quite real. However, I still recommend it, simply because some of the passages were so rich in feeling that it felt like a fairytale for adults.
Edit: Since it has been some time since I read this book and I still think about it and want to reread it, I have bumped up the rating to 5 stars. This one stuck with me. Julian Spenser, Marquess Dryden, has developed a reputation for being ice cold, an unwitting trendsetter, scrupulously selecting only the best of everything. His choice of bride is no different: Lisbeth Redmond, the woman whose dowry will restore to him the final piece of land his father lost.
But when Jules meets schoolteacher Phoebe Vale, who is working as paid companion to Lisbeth, he is completely bowled over. Quiet, clever Phoebe sees him for who he truly is beneath the 4. Quiet, clever Phoebe sees him for who he truly is beneath the frigid veneer he presents to the world. They both feel the inexplicable connection but giving in to it would mean giving up everything else each thought they wanted.
I really loved that this heroine was a bit of an outcast and an underdog and that she got the prize fish of London society. Jules was harder to know, rather enigmatic, but also a very interesting character. I really liked how the class difference was handled here and the fact that Phoebe refused to settle for anything less than a full commitment. May 20, Aila rated it it was ok. If you see a Google Drive link instead of source url, means that the file witch you will get after approval is just a summary of original book or the file has been already removed.
Loved each and every part of this book. I will definitely recommend this book to romance, historical romance lovers. Your Rating:. Your Comment:. Read Online Download. Great book, How the Marquess Was Won pdf is enough to raise the goose bumps alone.
Add a review Your Rating: Your Comment:. Say Her Name by James Dawson. Loving the Marquess by Suzanna Medeiros.
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