Review: This Is Romance!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2013
What can a reader possibly do but love an author who writes what they want most? More! Was it even possible to write a story as engaging and absorbing as this author's previous work, The Letter? Yes! Ms. Owens has continued her superb, captivating writing style of the Regency Era with A Training of the Marquess.Chastain Warren, the Earl of Kensington, known as Chase to his friends, who just happens to be the son of the lovely, adorably witty Lady Kensington we got too quick of a glance of in The Letter, has lost his wife and child. Even though Teresa loved him only as a friend, she died with the name of her previous husband Harry, on her lips. In despair, that his long time love and child is lost and thoughts that he will never have more time to try and win her love, Chase spends a sorrowful night on a park bench. He wakes up to the feeling of a little hand of a street urchin trying to pick his pockets. Ironically, his name is Harry. In his loneliness, Chase decides to takes Harry home and make him his ward, only to find out Harry has a delightful double in his twin Bensey. Vowing never to love again and devote all of his time to his two new sons, Chase is appearing to enjoy his life.Then he discovers he is the one left in line to inherit the title and estate of The Marquess of Derebourne. Upon arriving at his new estate he discovers it contains the widow of the late Marquess, Lady Claire. Claire is in mourning, not as much for her late husband Thomas, but for her precious infant son, Andrew, who died a short time after her husband of fever. With a new Marquess soon to arrive, she fears the loss of her home, but more so her horse breeding and training program, which has been the focus of her life. Hillcrest Manor is known for its prime horses and because Claire is a woman, everyone had assumed her late husband was the superb horsebreeder. Will she be able to convince the new Marquess to let her keep her beloved horses? Forming a harsh, sight unseen, opinion of him based on her past, she is alarmed when she discovers she is immediately drawn to the handsome and charming Chase Warren and his delightful, talented and loving twin boys, Harry and Bensey.Chase at first is disturbed by the presence of Claire. She is not only physically beautiful with silken white blond hair and clear blue eyes, but she also has inner beauty, strength, and innocence that he is drawn to. Chase fights his attraction, convincing himself that he will be pleased for Claire to have a season in London and find another man to marry. As their attraction grows, Claire decides she yearns to be a part of this loving family. Can she convince Chase that her love is true and that she is not like his former wife, Teresa? Chase had love at first sight once, and it did not turn out well for him. He acknowledges he is attracted to Claire, but works hard at denying anything more than a mere attraction and continues to fight his feelings, denying that he could ever love again, but more, feeling that if he did grow to love Claire and she then found someone else while in London, that he would never be able to survive another heartbreak. Claire has a plan. Unaware of her attractiveness, Claire, having been sheltered by marrying early and not having a season of flirting and courting, knows nothing about how to attract a man. But she does know how to break in a skittish horse. Thus, she devises her plan To Train a Marquess.So now the fun begins, as this is where this author's talent shines! Mix a handsome Lord, a beautiful Lady, attraction and romance, two precocious boys; one with a love of horses, another with an astounding talent in art, the Lord's delightfully witty mother coming to chaperone with an agenda to match Chase with Claire, Claire's plan of how To Train a Marquess, together with snappy dialogue, and you have a steamy, charming read. Once again, Sandra Owens has written a storyline the reader cannot put down. This author has an astute ability to write emotions in such a way that the reader becomes engaged not only in the story, but with what the characters are feeling. Claire and Chase are enchanting together. Harry and Bensey are a shear delight. It is so much fun to get to know Lady Kensington, but also, as in The Letter, all of the secondary characters from Chase's valet to the vicar's wife Mrs. Fisherman who is constantly nosing around trying to match her daughter Rhonda with Chase, are interesting. Once finished, although thoroughly satisfied, the reader wants more, patiently waiting another release! If you have already had the pleasure of reading To Train a Marquess, then you will understand when I say I love the way Sandra Owens writes a Regency Romance "above all things!"