Say Yes to the Marquess (Castles Ever After, #2)

by Tessa Dare

[Berls]

I'm so glad that Kara and Lillian wanted to read this book! It it weren't for our buddy read it likely would have stayed on my TBR list for years to come. And I really enjoyed these characters so much, so I'm glad I got to read it!

I think my favorite thing about Say Yes to the Marquess was Clio. She's a fantastic character - unapologetically feminist (to a potentially anachronistic degree, but I would--and have -- argue that there were feminists long before we coined the term). She's an older character for HR romance, having been waiting 8 years since her debut for her intended to come home and finally wed her. During that time, she's grown and learned so much and now that she has the opportunity to live independently it's what she wants. I loved watching her continue to grow in her self-confidence and Rafe really helped her do that.

Which is what makes him my second favorite thing about this book. He is exactly what a hero should be, he sees Clio and doesn't think of all the ways she's wrong. He loves exactly who she is and wants her to love herself for those things too. And she returns the favor. They've both suffered from (potentially, jury's still out for me on some of them) well-meaning family who have put them down and diminished them. And, as Lillian perfectly put it in our buddy chat "He pushes her out of her boundaries and she builds him up." They're a fantastic pair!

There's some other really great characters in this book, from Rafe's trainer (really fantastic comedic relief), Clio's sister Phoebe (seems to be on the spectrum), and a loveable old dog. I also really enjoyed the less-obvious directions Tessa Dare took the plot. I continue to really enjoy everything I've read by her and won't hesitate to try others.

Qualifies for COYER Fall Scavenger Hunt Item #19 - Read a Book by an author you've previously read and given 5 stars.