The Matter of a Marquess

Jess Michaels

Aug 2020 · The Duke's By-Blows Book 3 · The Passionate Pen

About this ebook

The third in USA Today Bestselling Author Jess Michaels’ latest series. 

Viscountess Aurora Lovell has been in love with one man her entire life, but life intruded and never allowed her to be with him. She came to accept it, marrying for title rather than love. Now a widow, she’s busy trying to figure out how to manage a scandal about to destroy her world when she is invited to a country party. Desperate to escape the realities of her life, she accepts. 

Nicholas Gillingham has always lived his life between two worlds. Raised by a servant, but secretly the illegitimate son of the infamous Duke of Roseford, he never felt he belonged. Injured saving others, he is now a war hero and improbably in line to be gifted a title for his service. A way to never feel so helpless as he did when he lost Aurora the first time. But to influence the right people, he needs his brother’s help and finds himself at a country party.

Time and distance mean nothing when Aurora and Nicholas meet again. But can they overcome a tangled past filled with bitter betrayal, a scandal that could ruin the future AND a very intrusive dog in order to find their way back to each other? Or will love be just as painful the second time around? 

Length: full length book / 70,000 words

Heat Level: Fire extinguishers at the ready.

This is the third book in the Duke's By-Blows series, but can be read as a standalone novel.

Ratings and reviews

The Matter of a Marquess by Jess Michaels The Duke’s By-Blows #3 Second chances for happy endings are not easily come by so when Nicholas and Aurora meet again it is anyone’s guess whether or not the two will be able to work through the past to make a future together. What I liked: * Aurora: a wonderful caring person that loves deeply, cares for her friends and has made some decisions that have changed her life. I liked her and liked her with Nicholas. * Nicholas: a man who protects those he cares for, does what is right and is (usually) in control of his emotions. I liked him and liked him with Aurora. * Robert: a truly kind and giving man that has brought his by-blow half siblings into a family they are creating together – loved his wife, too. * Fortescue – a wonderful dog :) * The way the main leads eventually worked through what happened in the past, dealt with issues in the present and came up with a solution for the future. * The mature way Nicholas and Aurora chose to discuss rather than pout, flounce, and shout. * Having a chance to catch up with the couples in the previous books and the setup for book four. * The high regard Nicholas had for the man who raised and called him son. * Wondering if perhaps we will see Aurora’s brother in a story of his own in the future. * The way the story was written. * Knowing there is another book in the series to look forward to. What I did not like: * The fathers of both Aurora and Nicholas – truly reprehensible characters * Being reminded that even today women without means often have no other option but to rely on their bodies to pay the rent. Did I enjoy this book? Definitely! Would I read more in this series? As soon as a book is available! Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen, LLC. for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

Such an amazing series and The Matter of a Marquess adds another fabulous story! Having fell in love when they were young, they were parted by circumstances but they never forgot each other. Now, Nicholas has returned from war a wounded hero who about to be bestowed a title from the crown. His half brother throws a house party for him to help him obtain support for the title and he runs into none other than Aurora, his love from long ago. Lady Aurora is a widow, and through searching for her lost friend and done damage to her reputation by visiting a brothel. When they see each other, the spark and love is still there and before long they talk and the truth comes out about what parted them long ago. I adored these characters and as always Jess Michaels pulled me in from the beginning and did not let go until the last page. Yes, I loved it!

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Jess Michaels began writing full-time in 1999. In 2003, she sold her first novella and since then she has published over 50 novels and novellas under three different pen names with several major publishers, small presses and via self-publishing. Jess is the author of The Wicked Woodleys, The Notorious Flynns, The Ladies Book of Pleasures, The Pleasure Wars Series and other series and stand-alone titles.