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fdarlene491's review
4.0
I love these characters, Luke & Hope are unusual people for a historical romance. They speak their minds & push the envelope of societies rules almost to the breaking point. One wrong move and they both would have gone down in flames. Hope is a lovely character, she's educated and from a fairly liberal and eccentric family While she has her doubts she also doesn't give up. Luke is between a rock and a hard place. He didn't want the title, didn't train to run an estate & his relationship with his father and half-brother was toxic. He's working so hard to learn & keep up that he'd like to go home. Please? There's a sister-in-law from hell thrown in just to aggravate Luke & the reader. A couple of balconies, 2 people sneaking time together, talking all night long. This is such a lovely story and I had fun with the characters.
marifox's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
theeclecticreview's review
4.0
Virginia Heath is my go-to author when I want to read a fun Regency romance. Her characters are feisty, sensitive, and fierce in their convictions and her plots are well thought out and intriguing.
Miss Hope Brookes is the middle daughter of a famous opera singer and a famous painter. Her passion is writing which is a bone of contention with her family because they think it is frivolous at best. She doesn’t seem to measure up to her sister Charity who is following in her mother’s shoes, and sister, Felicity, who is an artist like her father. The Brookes sisters are known for their scandalous behavior, Charity with her outrageous flirting, and Hope with her knack for vigorously thwarting lecherous men’s unseemly intentions towards her. These unsavory men have the notion that because she has a sinfully voluptuous body, that they may take certain liberties both verbally and physically. Which leads to how she pushes a drunken Lucius “Luke” Nathaniel Elijah Duff, Marquess of Thundersley, into a water fountain at a party. Not that she knew his title at the time or that she actually enjoyed the kiss he bestowed on her to rid her of her latest lustful suitor.
Luke Duff, Marquess of Thundersley, is a very charming man forced into his new title by the death of his vile and vengeful brother. Years ago he and his mother were banned to Cornwall by the elder Marquess due to his mother’s mental unstableness due to post-partum depression or as they called it, insanity of childbirth. And when Luke’s father died, Luke’s brother did the unthinkable and placed his mother in a less than reputable madhouse for three years where Luke could not help her because of his young age. Luke was thrown into his role of Marquess with no education and no experience living in London, but he is a determined and likable man who is welcomed into the Brookes family with open arms. After all, he lives next door, to Hope’s consternation.
Luke and Hope are made for each other with his down-to-earth personality and intelligence and her equal intelligence and caring nature. Luke is such a pleasure with his wit and playfulness as well as his attraction to Hope’s intelligence. He is such a natural as a Marquess because he is so persuasive, adaptable, and has knowledge of running a slate business in Cornwall. Hope is stubborn, fiery, and someone you can trust despite Luke’s slip up toward the end. I love the ways Hope retaliates against the uncouth men who treat her disrespectfully. Most of all I enjoy the witty banter and kinship they have as they meet secretly from the balconies of their home. Not to mention the sexual tension between them.
I am delighted to highly recommend this lovely Regency romance with complex characters that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon all in one sitting.
Thank you to Ms. Heath for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Miss Hope Brookes is the middle daughter of a famous opera singer and a famous painter. Her passion is writing which is a bone of contention with her family because they think it is frivolous at best. She doesn’t seem to measure up to her sister Charity who is following in her mother’s shoes, and sister, Felicity, who is an artist like her father. The Brookes sisters are known for their scandalous behavior, Charity with her outrageous flirting, and Hope with her knack for vigorously thwarting lecherous men’s unseemly intentions towards her. These unsavory men have the notion that because she has a sinfully voluptuous body, that they may take certain liberties both verbally and physically. Which leads to how she pushes a drunken Lucius “Luke” Nathaniel Elijah Duff, Marquess of Thundersley, into a water fountain at a party. Not that she knew his title at the time or that she actually enjoyed the kiss he bestowed on her to rid her of her latest lustful suitor.
Luke Duff, Marquess of Thundersley, is a very charming man forced into his new title by the death of his vile and vengeful brother. Years ago he and his mother were banned to Cornwall by the elder Marquess due to his mother’s mental unstableness due to post-partum depression or as they called it, insanity of childbirth. And when Luke’s father died, Luke’s brother did the unthinkable and placed his mother in a less than reputable madhouse for three years where Luke could not help her because of his young age. Luke was thrown into his role of Marquess with no education and no experience living in London, but he is a determined and likable man who is welcomed into the Brookes family with open arms. After all, he lives next door, to Hope’s consternation.
Luke and Hope are made for each other with his down-to-earth personality and intelligence and her equal intelligence and caring nature. Luke is such a pleasure with his wit and playfulness as well as his attraction to Hope’s intelligence. He is such a natural as a Marquess because he is so persuasive, adaptable, and has knowledge of running a slate business in Cornwall. Hope is stubborn, fiery, and someone you can trust despite Luke’s slip up toward the end. I love the ways Hope retaliates against the uncouth men who treat her disrespectfully. Most of all I enjoy the witty banter and kinship they have as they meet secretly from the balconies of their home. Not to mention the sexual tension between them.
I am delighted to highly recommend this lovely Regency romance with complex characters that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon all in one sitting.
Thank you to Ms. Heath for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
bilbo87's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
saorsa32's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a fun romantic read. The character development was good. I also liked the information about mental health and how it was treated during this time period. I enjoyed this book a lot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
nicole_defran's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
onebookmore's review
5.0
I’m thrilled to be a part of the blog tour for The Marquess Next Door, a delightful historical romance by Virginia Heath! The story follows Lucius (Luke) Duff, the Marquess of Thundersley, and Hope Brookes, next-door neighbors who unexpectedly find love. When avoiding unbearable Lords at a ball, a helpful but drunk an comes to Hope’s aid.
Luke Duff has recently become a Marquess and is just learning all of the responsibilities that come with it. He is completely out of his element and wants nothing more than to return to his old home and life. However, after he meets the beautiful and intelligent Hope, he can’t stop thinking about her. Hope, too, can’t stop thinking about Luke, and as their paths continue to cross and their relationship grows, they both must decide if their friendship can lead to something more.
Hope and Luke are well-developed and interesting protagonists. Hope wants nothing to do with men, who have generally only been interested in her beauty and voluptuousness. An aspiring Gothic novelist and woman ahead of her time, Hope refuses to be treated as an object to be won. Luke, a good, honorable, and responsible man, is the first to treat Hope differently.
I like that Hope and Luke develop a strong friendship first. While living next door to each other, they begin chatting on their respective balconies. These private and secret conversations become a special part of their days. Hope and Luke become so close, and they share things that they don’t share with anyone else. They have such a deep and strong connection, and the fact that they become best friends first is lovely. Of course, their attraction to each other is plain to see. They are completely drawn to each other, and their chemistry is fantastic. When they are around others, they struggle to hide their growing affection for each other, which makes for some interesting gatherings.
The couple also has a shared love of literature that further connects them, and I adored their discussions about favorite books and genres. Since no one in her family has an affinity toward books and reading, Hope is happy to find someone who understands her feelings about literature. I love books with characters who have a passion for reading!
Hope and Luke have so many unique and wonderful people in their families. Hope’s parents and sisters are strong, assertive, and dynamic, each talented and well-known for their gifts. Hope’s mother and sister are hysterical, and Luke’s mother is charming. I love that Hope’s family is so honest and open. They know who they are, and they own it. There is such vibrancy and passion in Hope’s family, and they’re are all so charming and welcoming. I love that they embrace Luke and his mother so easily into their fold, and the messages about family, understanding, and acceptance are wonderful.
I also like that the story includes topics like mental health, postpartum depression, and gender inequalities. I don’t often read about mental health issues in historical romances, and the treatments used were truly horrific. It’s clear that society didn’t know much about postpartum depression and many other mental health struggles, and the practices were often more detrimental to a patient’s health. The book handles these topics honestly and with care while also exploring the often detrimental effects of being treated for depression at this time.
This is a heart-warming and engrossing historical romance that I really enjoyed reading. Hope and Luke have a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance, and I loved the characters and messages. Though this is the second book in The Talk of the Beau Monde series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I think readers who enjoy regency romances will love this story as much as I did, and I’m so thankful to Virginia Heath, Harlequin, and Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Luke Duff has recently become a Marquess and is just learning all of the responsibilities that come with it. He is completely out of his element and wants nothing more than to return to his old home and life. However, after he meets the beautiful and intelligent Hope, he can’t stop thinking about her. Hope, too, can’t stop thinking about Luke, and as their paths continue to cross and their relationship grows, they both must decide if their friendship can lead to something more.
Hope and Luke are well-developed and interesting protagonists. Hope wants nothing to do with men, who have generally only been interested in her beauty and voluptuousness. An aspiring Gothic novelist and woman ahead of her time, Hope refuses to be treated as an object to be won. Luke, a good, honorable, and responsible man, is the first to treat Hope differently.
I like that Hope and Luke develop a strong friendship first. While living next door to each other, they begin chatting on their respective balconies. These private and secret conversations become a special part of their days. Hope and Luke become so close, and they share things that they don’t share with anyone else. They have such a deep and strong connection, and the fact that they become best friends first is lovely. Of course, their attraction to each other is plain to see. They are completely drawn to each other, and their chemistry is fantastic. When they are around others, they struggle to hide their growing affection for each other, which makes for some interesting gatherings.
The couple also has a shared love of literature that further connects them, and I adored their discussions about favorite books and genres. Since no one in her family has an affinity toward books and reading, Hope is happy to find someone who understands her feelings about literature. I love books with characters who have a passion for reading!
Hope and Luke have so many unique and wonderful people in their families. Hope’s parents and sisters are strong, assertive, and dynamic, each talented and well-known for their gifts. Hope’s mother and sister are hysterical, and Luke’s mother is charming. I love that Hope’s family is so honest and open. They know who they are, and they own it. There is such vibrancy and passion in Hope’s family, and they’re are all so charming and welcoming. I love that they embrace Luke and his mother so easily into their fold, and the messages about family, understanding, and acceptance are wonderful.
I also like that the story includes topics like mental health, postpartum depression, and gender inequalities. I don’t often read about mental health issues in historical romances, and the treatments used were truly horrific. It’s clear that society didn’t know much about postpartum depression and many other mental health struggles, and the practices were often more detrimental to a patient’s health. The book handles these topics honestly and with care while also exploring the often detrimental effects of being treated for depression at this time.
This is a heart-warming and engrossing historical romance that I really enjoyed reading. Hope and Luke have a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance, and I loved the characters and messages. Though this is the second book in The Talk of the Beau Monde series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I think readers who enjoy regency romances will love this story as much as I did, and I’m so thankful to Virginia Heath, Harlequin, and Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
jessbookishlife's review
5.0
If you have ever read Virginia Heath's books you expect many things. One is amazing and relatable characters. The other is sassiness. Maybe sassy is not the right word, but there is this powerful element with some smirk in the mix, if that makes any sense. It's this quality of the characters that makes me want to be their friends and sometimes it makes me want to be them.
This story follows Hope, and our lovely female MC is not the typical character one may read in a Historical Romance. Hope is not nobility, although her family is important in the high society class. And I loved that, because I could relate to her even more. Then there is our handsome Marquess next door, Lucius, Marquess of Thundersley.
Every time I read Virginia Heath's books I have that need to grab a fan and just join the moment and alleviate the heat going through my skin. I loved the steamy interactions between Hope and Lucius, and I loved even more that they not only had the attraction going, they also had a growing friendship.
Another thing I loved about this book was Lucius' modesty and honesty. I loved how he acted. I loved the refreshing elements in this book that made it so different from others I have read by the author. And I actually believe that so far, this is my favorite book/story so far.
Overall, I don't even know what else to say. There is drama, there is romance, there is family and friendship, there is a more common element of the society. And if you don't know Virginia Heath after all the reviews I have done, you should stop and go get this book.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Virginia Heath for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
This story follows Hope, and our lovely female MC is not the typical character one may read in a Historical Romance. Hope is not nobility, although her family is important in the high society class. And I loved that, because I could relate to her even more. Then there is our handsome Marquess next door, Lucius, Marquess of Thundersley.
Every time I read Virginia Heath's books I have that need to grab a fan and just join the moment and alleviate the heat going through my skin. I loved the steamy interactions between Hope and Lucius, and I loved even more that they not only had the attraction going, they also had a growing friendship.
Another thing I loved about this book was Lucius' modesty and honesty. I loved how he acted. I loved the refreshing elements in this book that made it so different from others I have read by the author. And I actually believe that so far, this is my favorite book/story so far.
Overall, I don't even know what else to say. There is drama, there is romance, there is family and friendship, there is a more common element of the society. And if you don't know Virginia Heath after all the reviews I have done, you should stop and go get this book.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Virginia Heath for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
bookmadjo's review
5.0
Although this is book two of The Talk of the Beau Monde series, I had not read the first book in the series and did not feel disadvantaged because The Marquess Next Door can definitely be read as a standalone. Having enjoyed it so much though, I have already purchased the first book The Viscount’s Unconventional Lady to read very soon.
The protagonist in The Marquess Next Door is Hope Brookes who is a real firecracker of a Regency heroine. She is an aspiring writer of gothic fiction who wants to be published in her own name, but feels burdened by the talents of not only her parents, but of her sisters Faith and Charity too. Hope stands out in society with her voluptuous figure, which is really not suited to the style of Regency dresses, and which gains her some unsavoury attentions from many suitors who judge her to have morals that match the way she looks with her red hair and her curves. Adept with words, Hope has perfected the most pithy acerbic put-downs, but sometimes words are not enough.
When she tries to avoid a persistent suitor at a ball, she asks a gentleman to come to her rescue. The resulting passionate kiss shocks her, and ends with her pushing the gentleman into a fountain. That is her first introduction to Lucius (Luke), Marquess of Thundersley. When he moves into the house next door to the Brookes family, Hope and Luke become firm friends, talking to one another from their adjoining balconies.
I loved the connection that Hope and Luke have, and what’s not to love with a tall hunk with a definite pirate vibe. Luke was a self made man who had inherited his title following the death of his brother. He was a caring man who had done everything possible to support his mother. I loved how supportive he was of Hope wanting to become a published author against all odds. I enjoyed the glimpse into the world of publishing, where it was considered to be detrimental to publish under a woman’s name, even with most readers being women! I loved the way in which Hope used shrewd negotiating in order to achieve what she wanted.
There was also a sensitive look at mental health, and in particular postpartum depression and the barbaric methods used to help women in the past. I found Luke’s mother to be so gently written that in spite of her being a minor character with such awful experiences her quiet determination made her one of my favourite characters.
The Marquess Next Door was Regency romance at its best, full of humour and a wonderful romance that had me rooting for Hope and Luke from start to finish!
The protagonist in The Marquess Next Door is Hope Brookes who is a real firecracker of a Regency heroine. She is an aspiring writer of gothic fiction who wants to be published in her own name, but feels burdened by the talents of not only her parents, but of her sisters Faith and Charity too. Hope stands out in society with her voluptuous figure, which is really not suited to the style of Regency dresses, and which gains her some unsavoury attentions from many suitors who judge her to have morals that match the way she looks with her red hair and her curves. Adept with words, Hope has perfected the most pithy acerbic put-downs, but sometimes words are not enough.
When she tries to avoid a persistent suitor at a ball, she asks a gentleman to come to her rescue. The resulting passionate kiss shocks her, and ends with her pushing the gentleman into a fountain. That is her first introduction to Lucius (Luke), Marquess of Thundersley. When he moves into the house next door to the Brookes family, Hope and Luke become firm friends, talking to one another from their adjoining balconies.
I loved the connection that Hope and Luke have, and what’s not to love with a tall hunk with a definite pirate vibe. Luke was a self made man who had inherited his title following the death of his brother. He was a caring man who had done everything possible to support his mother. I loved how supportive he was of Hope wanting to become a published author against all odds. I enjoyed the glimpse into the world of publishing, where it was considered to be detrimental to publish under a woman’s name, even with most readers being women! I loved the way in which Hope used shrewd negotiating in order to achieve what she wanted.
There was also a sensitive look at mental health, and in particular postpartum depression and the barbaric methods used to help women in the past. I found Luke’s mother to be so gently written that in spite of her being a minor character with such awful experiences her quiet determination made her one of my favourite characters.
The Marquess Next Door was Regency romance at its best, full of humour and a wonderful romance that had me rooting for Hope and Luke from start to finish!