Review: Seducing the Marquess by Callie Hutton

Print Length: 214 pages

Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC (October 17, 2016)

From Goodreads.com: Richard, Marquess of Devon is satisfied with his ton marriage. His wife of five months, Lady Eugenia Devon, thought she was, too, until she found the book. Their marriage is one of respect and affection, with no messy entanglements such as love. Devon’s upbringing impressed upon him that gentlemen slake their baser needs on a mistress, not their gently bred wives. However, once married, he was no longer comfortable bedding a woman other Eugenia. When 

she stumbles onto a naughty book, she begins a campaign to change the rules. 

Lady Eugenia wants her very proper husband to fall in love with her. But her much changed and undeniably wicked behavior might inadvertently drive her confused husband to ponder the unthinkable—his perfect Lady has taken a lover. But the only man Eugenia only wants is her husband. The book can bring sizzling desire to the marriage or it might cause an explosion.

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

This book had such potential that I am sad to be rating it only 3 stars. 

The writing was good, the characters were ok - but the story itself fell flat. Instead of it progressing at a normal rate, it felt as though the reader was caught in a hamster wheel - Eugenia follows the advice in her book, Devon starts to want her in a more sexual way, he backs off, she gets confused - they both begin to think that the other has taken another lover. And instead of confronting these thoughts head on with each other - they keep doing the same dance. Over and over for almost the entire book. 

It wasn't until the last chapter or so that things actually start to get resolved - and that was another disappointment. I would have been ok with the character's having conflicted emotions about one another had there been more than the same story over and over. I would have preferred to see them act on their passion - and then wonder about it later. And in that discovery, I feel it would have made their overall story-arc and the conclusion make more sense. 

Instead we get two characters who understandably have had certain aspects of married life and "proper" life drilled into their heads from a young age just STOP listening to that inner voice condemning them and go for it. Instead it seemed to go from one extreme to the next, which lead to repetitive reading while the characters tried to figure out just what they wanted.  Where was the drama? Sure they both felt the other had a lover - but there was no confrontation over it. In fact if certain things weren't overlooked (I can't say what without giving away an important spoiler) - they still wouldn't have trusted one another! 

All things considered however, I would read more from this author, and I do believe this story will still appeal to those who enjoy historical romances that have just a bit of marital sex included.  

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. 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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                               Seducing the Marquess is available from Amazon.com