mamamelreads 's review for:

Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare

3.0

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A cute book with the type of strong lead heroine that I've come to expect to find in Tessa Dare's writing. Clio has been waiting eight long years for Piers to finally get around to actually marrying her after they became engaged when she was only eighteen. For whatever reason Piers never bothers to take any time to explain why he cannot marry her, so Clio becomes more and more convinced that he doesn't truly want to get married. She has finally decided that she is done waiting for him. She is going to break the engagement. Unfortunately, in order to make that happen she needs the signature of Piers's brother, Brandon, an unconventional aristocrat who has turned to the boxing ring to make his living, making him the subject of much gossip in the ton. Brandon wants to keep Clio from breaking her engagement to his brother for reasons that I am still hazy about after finishing the book. It turns out that Brandon is the one who truly loves Clio, and all his work to show Clio why she should marry Piers is actually showing Brandon exactly why he is the one who loves her. Complications ensue. That's the story. It was enjoyable, but I wouldn't say that it stood out from other stories in this genre. I may not have been in the right mood to appreciate it, though, so others may find much to love. There were so many scenes that I know were meant to seem funny or quirky, but they felt forced to me ... maybe a little too slapstick. On a different day I may I have felt differently, but it just didn't work for me today. Three stars. I liked it.