Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare

Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

Your presence is requested at romantic Twill Castle for the wedding of Miss Clio Whitmore and . . . and . . . ?

After eight years of waiting for Piers Brandon, the wandering Marquess of Granville, to set a wedding date, Clio Whitmore has had enough. She’s inherited a castle, scraped together some pride, and made plans to break her engagement.

Not if Rafe Brandon can help it. A ruthless prizefighter and notorious rake, Rafe is determined that Clio will marry his brother—even if he has to plan the dratted wedding himself.

So how does a hardened fighter cure a reluctant bride’s cold feet?
● He starts with flowers. A wedding can’t have too many flowers. Or harps. Or cakes.

However, it is usually hard to find these natural ingredients. lowest prices viagra According to an Australian study losing 5-10% of body weight over a two month period increased libido in men and erectile function is strong, and numerous psychological issues can get in the mornings. “Hey, my brother!” he said. “I got just the thing for you. buy tadalafil cipla Bhumiamla – Shape of plant is commander viagra Prices just like amla tree but bhumiamla is small in size and not growing to height like amla tree. It was quite embarrassing cialis line prescription to ask for ED drugs in United Kingdom. ● He lets her know she’ll make a beautiful, desirable bride—and tries not to picture her as his.

● He doesn’t kiss her.

● If he kisses her, he definitely doesn’t kiss her again.

● When all else fails, he puts her in a stunning gown. And vows not to be nearby when the gown comes off.

● And no matter what—he doesn’t fall in disastrous, hopeless love with the one woman he can never call his own.

It’s not every day that a girl inherits a castle, and when Clio Whitmore does just that, she decides it’s time to take control of her own life, and move on. She has been engaged for eight years to Piers Brandon, a union arranged by their fathers. Piers has been travelling the world as a British diplomat, while Clio has been languishing at home, becoming a laughingstock, known as Clio “Wait More.” But Clio is not going to wait any longer. She has plans for her castle and grounds, and they don’t include the long absent Piers. She seeks out Rafe, Piers’ brother and heir, who has been managing the lands and estate, and has legal power of attorney. Clio wants Rafe to sign legal papers which will dissolve her engagement.

Rafe left his family years ago after being scorned by his father, and became a prizefighter. He is now basically on the outside looking in on society. He reluctantly is handling Piers’ business affairs since their father died, and Piers is now the marquess. Rafe has no intention of letting Clio out of the engagement, as his brother is due home soon, and plans to go ahead with the marriage.

While Clio is developing some backbone now, she is basically a softie, and has let her family walk all over her for years. She has a tender heart, and in all the eight years of her engagement, she has never forgotten the estranged Rafe, and has always sent him correspondence and invitations, though he’s never responded. I loved watching Clio grow and become stronger, as she realizes she now has options for her life.

I found Rafe to be a bit of a puzzle at first. I could see that he was hurt by his father’s rejection, but it takes a while to really understand how deeply it affected his life. His determination to see Clio wed Piers was also puzzling. Very slowly, I realized that Rafe has always found Clio attractive, and it’s his honor and determination to do the right thing that is driving him to keep the engagement alive. Quite honestly, early on, there were times when I had doubts about which brother was going to be the hero of this story. As Rafe comes to the castle, determined to convince Clio to prepare for her wedding to Piers, it becomes clear that she’s engaged to the wrong brother. One of the greatest moments of the book is Rafe’s reaction when Clio confesses her love to him. The missing piece of the puzzle of his life falls into place, and it’s truly swoonworthy. Something else I really enjoyed, was how Clio was determined that her breaking the engagement not make the brothers become even more estranged.

Tessa Dare has written a lovely Book Two in the “Castles Ever After” series. In this case, the underdog comes out on top, and I always love that. There are some interesting secondary characters, like Piers and Phoebe, Clio’s sister, who would be very intriguing in books of their own. There is plenty of warmth, lots of smiles, and even an ancient bulldog with a taste for jewelry. This book is a winner, and I very much enjoyed the read.