The Mad Marquis

Rating:
Summary: What a fun read!
Review: Even if you don't know thing number one about horses, you can get engrossed in this tale of two horse-mad people who are thrown into a marriage of convenience. (Shouldn't there be a horse on the cover, too?) Our heroine is a thoroughly single-minded woman with her own definite set of priorities, and our hero is wonderfully paranoid about his dotty family and reputation.

Though I had some quibbles about small things here and there, I noticed myself chuckling, "heh heh heh" quietly as the reader was let in on jokes that our hero and heroine were too busy fretting about to appreciate. Tension builds to a page-turning frenzy as each stonily refuses to give in to the other. It's increased by the pressure exerted by well-meaning people around them to bring them together.

Two dynamic leads and a solid plot gave me a very enjoyable afternoon's reading!

Rating:
Summary: Ordinary except for the strong emotional pull of the heroine
Review: Julia is a very strong heroine who has eschewed the more feminine pursuits in favor of her beloved horses. Because she is a comparatively large woman and not particularly attractive (as opposed to the picture on the cover) as well, she is seen as "mannish." That description, however, really never makes sense; it is said over and over but never convincingly. On the other hand, Julia definitely believes herself to be unattractive, clumsy, and incapable (except where her horses are concerned). Carr does a splendid job of making Julia's doubts and emotional pain real. Tears welled in my eyes repeatedly on Julia's behalf.

Henry, however, is not nearly as sympathetic, and one has to wonder why she had ever developed a crush on him. He softens by the end of the book, but for so long, he was simply cruel (regardless of his reasons). And arrogant is some of the worst ways, never able to conceive that he might be wrong. Not the most sympathetic hero ever created.

The secondary characters have potential, but it is largely unrealized. The writing style is clean, but unexceptional. The plot is the usual fare, but almost overburdened by the emphasis on horses. While the love scenes have some sizzle, there is always a melancholy or harsh feel to them.

The book is readable, but there are so many much better options.

Rating:
Summary: Just Awful...
Review: Marriage of convenience stories have been done so many times they need a new take on them to be interesting. But this one does not. Yet another story of the virgin bride lusting for her husband, who also lusts for his wife. It seems our lusting hero, Lord Henry, can not keep his hands off is new bride, Julia. But why? On page 100, "accepting his lips with a curious questing as her supple, big-boned mannish body..." At every turn, Henry thinks she is not attractive. The author goes out of her way describing all the reasons why Julia is mannish. So what is up with the attraction thing? And I did not like Henry. He refers to Julia is his thoughts at his virgin bride and a virgin bride she will stay. That is, actually, cruel. Of course, they get together, but this reader had no respect for Henry or Julia, for that matter. Also, way to much horse stuff in the book. Frankly, Julia was a bit batty re. her horses.

Rating:
Summary: fabulous nineteenth century romance
Review: More comfortable with horses than with men, Lady Julia Westfall wants to inherit the stable when her ailing beloved father dies. She detests the types of things her female peers love while being very competitive with men when it comes to steeds.

Widow Lord Henry Pelham wants the horses also and needs a mother for his cherished daughter Isbeau. He offers Julia a business arrangement. They marry, share the horses, but not the bedroom as Henry fears insanity flows through his bloodlines with his uncle and aunt as proof. Julia figures he cannot bed a "horseface" like her, but agrees to his terms. They marry and she moves into the loony bin that is the Pelham extended household. She quickly becomes a favorite, beloved by all, but the one she needs the most remains beyond her reach as she believes her love for him is unrequited. In reality Henry loves her and wants to consummate his marriage, but fumbles each time he tries to talk with Julia.

This reviewer realizes that a zillion historical romance novels center on the marriage of convenience theme. THE MAD MARQUIS is the zillion and one tale to employ that overkilled motif. Yet in the capable hands of Fiona Carr, readers receive a terrific tale starring a strong cast that leads to a delightful novel. The story line hooks the audience from the moment Julia enters the asylum as the audience meets the inmates who are only eccentric and lovable. The relationship between the lead couple evolves so that fans find themselves immersed in a fabulous nineteenth century romance.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Mad indeed
Review: This story in theory and in the blurb is interesting - Lady Julia Westfall marries Lord Henry Pelham in an arrangement benefitting both, but without consideration for love. Julia is obsessed with her horses and wants to keep both them and control of their welfare, but her father is ill and will not make it easy - he desires her marriage. Henry has a young daughter and desperately wants some normal female influence in her life to counter his aunt and uncle. He regards them as more than merely eccentric and believes there is bad blood tending, to madness, in the family. Indeed he fears it for himself and wants no more children.
Sounds promising - a much used theme, but often effective. Not here unfortunately.
Julia is simply an hysterical pain in the neck who needs to mature a good deal before either marrying, or being given charge of a child. She agrees unreservedly to a marriage of convenience without a physical relationship or love and immediately becomes angry when that it is not on offer. In addition, she is obsessed with her so-called 'mannish' appearance, height and awkwardness.
Henry is only one notch better - he thinks he can control her by a display of passion to stop her mouth. Naturally she suddenly becomes all allure and woman to him.
The tale then proceeds in a series of confrontations between the pair, especially over Julia's handling of the horses and the daughter. Each is sillier than the next. What is especially painful to read, is the escalating way in which Henry uses sex as a weapon in the fight and Julia tries to do the same. It begins to take a slightly sickening tinge.
I do not like giving up on a book and not finishing it, but this turgid tale came near to being closed well before the last page.
Not recommended in any way.