Review: The Marquess and the Runaway Lady by Samantha Hastings

         

Print Length: 288 pages

Publisher:  Harlequin Historical (February 21, 2023)

From Goodreads.com: Will this disheveled runaway…

Become the diamond of the Season?

When the Marquess of Cheswick—Wick—takes in a mysterious woman, he’s shocked to discover she is Lady Louisa, an heiress who’s escaped her cruel aunt! Grieving the loss of two siblings, Wick avoids opening his heart to anyone else and stays away from the marriage mart. But when Louisa needs a husband in order to claim her inheritance, Wick’s determined to help—even if it means stepping back into his worst nightmare: the Season!

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

If you're looking for a cute, clean romance with little depth to the characters, then you will probably enjoy this one! 

Sadly, while I enjoyed this story to an extent, the writing was solid, and the story moved at a decent pace; the characters were both lackluster and forgettable. In fact, I am more interested in Wick's sister Mantheria and her story than I was in Wick and Louisa. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that, as previously stated, there is little depth to any of the characters. 

Wick's younger sisters are all painted as hoydens who are incapable of keeping a governess for very long due to their antics, but aside from one minor instance involving a snake, you never really see them doing anything that isn't commonplace for a young lady. It is obvious from their interactions with each other, with their brother, and with Louisa that they have genuine affection for each other and their family and friends. Louisa's guardians, uncle and cousin, are painted as over-the-top villains who either steal from her, attempt to compromise her, or simply refuse to lift a finger to help her despite knowing how dire her circumstances are. 

And then you get to our two main characters and their supposed instalove which honestly? Made no sense whatsoever. 

Wick has resolved never to marry after losing two of his siblings to scarlet fever years ago and blaming himself. But of course, when he sees Louisa, there is just something about her that he is attracted to, so of course, he must find a way to rid himself of her. Or avoid her when it appears that he will either have to endure her being around him and his family, or he has to send her back to her wicked "guardians" (although it was stupid that although she became of age at twenty-one and therefore didn't need guardians anymore, she was unable to access the trust left to her until she had either married someone her guardian's approved of or wait until she turned twenty-five). 

Louisa has been held prisoner in her childhood home for over a decade since her parents died, left penniless by her conniving aunt and uncle, who used her allowance for their own upkeep while she was left in clothes that were little better than rags and boots that didn't fit. Upon learning that she is to be married to her cousin as soon as "he is ready to marry," she runs away, hoping to find help from another family member. Understandable, but then she seems to be in love with Wick only days after meeting him, or well, I suppose being rescued by him is a more appropriate way of putting it. 

Instead of feeling a genuine connection between them, it felt more along the lines of, well, he saved me, and his sister is giving me a season; therefore, I must love him. While he figured he had a claim on her for helping her because seeing her dance with anyone else, even someone who wanted to marry her, made him green with envy. 

Overall, I think there are definitely some things that could have been improved on that would have increased my enjoyment of the story, but all in all, I don't think it will stop others from enjoying it more than I did. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                     The Marquess and the Runaway Lady is available on Amazon.com