The Marquis Takes a Bride - Regency Romance Novel for Historical Fiction Lovers

This was an interesting regency. I loved and hated all the characters in equal measure with the exception of the true villain who was incredibly nasty. For some reason the hero was a fop even though he wasn't and the heroine was a spoiled child though she really wasn't. I don't really understand why the marriage happened and I certainly don't think the hero did either. Apparently he fell in love with the woman he saw within the child and went ahead with the betrothal. The subplot was little better. Somehow the two best friends get together even though they are horribly mismatched in temperament. This of course only adds to the drama. My conclusion is that these characters are people with very human flaws. I don't understand why the hero feels the need to put on the disguise of being a dandy, but he does. Perhaps it is his social armor, a way of keeping society at a distance since he came home from the war. The genius of this book is the subtlety. At first glance this book is merely a regency Rom com, but the questions it forces the reader to ask show a hidden depth. Masterfully done. An Excellent work. Very highly recommended for all Regency Romance lovers.