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

by Tessa Dare

[Amanda]

As the first book I read in 2015, Say Yes to the Marquess is going to be difficult to equal -- or top. All the swoons for Say Yes to the Marquess. All. The. Swoons.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm not a fan of books where the hero or heroine is engaged to someone else. But Tessa Dare makes this one work, likely for two reasons: one, Clio has been waiting for eight long years for her fiance to show up and marry her (bad form, Piers, bad form), and two, Rafe Brandon.

Because Rafe Brandon is the reason for all those swoons. Despite being a prizefighter and convinced of his unworthiness for ton society at large, he cares. He cares a lot. And he's determined to make things right. Even though his version of right is quite wrong. (Because right doesn't involve Clio marrying Rafe's brother.)

As for Clio, she was nice. Too nice, almost, because she let people walk all over her. Part of her transformation in Say Yes to the Marquess was to stand up for herself and what she wanted, rather than let her family dictate who and what she was.

And when you put Rafe and Clio together (who have some fun chemistry and plenty of history, having grown up together), you get one ridiculously awesome book. But I expect nothing less from Tessa Dare. The deeper I get into writing, the harder it is to remove the analytical side of reading, where it feels easy to guess the author's intentions. But Tessa Dare? I was just a reader reading an awesome story.

Also, I kinda want Piers's story now (because his reason for staying away was interesting) and I also want Phoebe's story, because she's got character. Frankly, I just liked all the characters. And I want MOAR. And to reread this book. And all the other Tessa Dare books. Because Tessa Dare.