When the Marquess Met His Match: An American Heiress in London

Written by Laura Lee Guhrke

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

In the first of a dazzling new series, USA Today bestselling author Laura Lee Guhrke introduces London's most renowned matchmaker—and a scoundrel intent on seducing his way to the altar.

She's the matchmaker . . .

Lady Belinda Featherstone's job is to guide American heiresses to matrimony, and away from men like Nicholas, Marquess of Trubridge. But the charming, disreputable marquess needs a wealthy bride, and he hires Belinda to help him find one. Her task seems easy: find that scoundrel the sort of wife he so richly deserves. But Nicholas's hot, searing kiss soon proves her task will be anything but easy.

He's the perfect match . . .

Nicholas plans to wed a rich, pretty young darling to restore his fortune, and he's happy to pay a marriage broker to help him. But one taste of Belinda's lips and Nicholas's sensible scheme to marry for money goes awry, and he yearns to show his beautiful matchmaker he's the perfect match . . . for her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9780062289827

Laura Lee Guhrke

Laura Lee Guhrke spent seven years in advertising, had a successful catering business, and managed a construction company before she decided writing novels was more fun.  A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Laura has penned over twenty-five historical romances. Her books have received many award nominations, and she is a two-time recipient of romance fiction’s highest honor: the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. She lives in the Northwest with her husband and two diva cats. Laura loves hearing from readers, and you can contact her via her website: www.lauraleeguhrke.com.

Reviews for When the Marquess Met His Match

[UchennaEzeh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am totally loving Laura and her books. This is my third in a week. So exciting and witty. Loved Belinda and her principles and especially how she got to understand and love Nicholas. Lovely book

[ladypembroke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd not read any of Guhrke's novels before, but when I saw three of them at the library, I figured they were worth a shot. I am glad I checked them out because this first one was really good. I loved the OTP; they made sense, their chemistry was apparent, and they grew together as a couple should. There wasn't some overarching plot to keep them apart even though the hero's father overshadows his life. They were honest with each other, which was refreshing. I am definitely going to read the other two novels I have.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When the Marquess Met His Match
4 Stars

After his father cuts him off from his trust fund, Nicholas Stirling, Marquess of Trubridge, is forced to curtail his rakish ways and find a bride with a large dowry. Enter Lady Belinda Featherstone, matchmaker to the haut ton, who has gained a reputation for pairing wealthy American heiresses with penniless peers. Naturally, Nicholas is eager for her services, but Belinda is having none of it. Now if only she can ignore the undeniable attraction between them.

When the Marquess Met His Match has all the right elements for a wonderful love/hate romance - a rakish yet sincere hero, a sympathetic and relatable heroine, excellent chemistry and witty banter.

Although Nicholas is presented as a notorious womanizer and rake determined to marry for money, there is nothing sly or underhanded about his intentions. On the contrary, he is scrupulously honest and direct, which makes him a very appealing hero despite the circumstances.

Some readers may be turned off by Belinda's initial prejudice and hostility toward Nicholas. However, once the reasons for her actions are revealed, it is impossible not to empathize with her feelings even if she is mistaken about his true nature. Moreover, her desire to protect her clients and her willingness to admit when she is in the wrong make her all the more admirable.

Nicholas and Belinda's interactions make for entertaining reading as they exchange verbal volleys and battle for supremacy while trying, in vain, to ignore the sparks that fly every time they get together.

If there is one small problem with the plot, it is the unsatisfying resolution of Nicholas's conflict with is overbearing father. Guhrke builds toward an exciting confrontation, which ultimately falls rather flat.

That said, the story is well-written and set in an interesting period - Victorian London at a time when social mores were changing slowly but surely. The set up for the next book is very tantalizing and I look forward to seeing how it plays out.

[myab-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book all the way up till about 84% then I started to lose a bit of interest. There were a few scenes that were repetitive and personally had they just had the one.. it would have kept the pace nicely. It was a good book, though and I look forward to reading the next in the series. This is the first time I have read this author.

[kasey007 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Laura Lee Guhrke has started off her new An American Heiress in London series with a bang. I really liked the two main characters. These well-written characters have each been hurt in the past and are wary of letting anyone get close, but as they interact and get to know each other, any fool can see how perfect they are for each other. It is fun to watch this engaging couple let down their walls and fall in love.When the Marquess Met His Match is the story of Lady Belinda Featherstone, a matchmaker, and Nicholas, Marquess of Trubridge, a poor scoundrel in need of a rich heiress. Belinda was an American heiress married to a poor aristocrat. The marriage was unhappy. Her husband only married her for her money. Since his death she has cultivated her reputation as a matchmaker for rich American heiresses who want to find British husbands. She is now accepted in London society and has done very well for herself. Whereas Nicholas needs to find a rich wife. His father has cut him off and he needs to find a rich bride soon. He comes to Belinda to hire her. His reputation has proceeded him and she won't help him at first, but he soon changes her mind. In fact, the kisses they share put a monkey wrench in both their plans. Maybe marrying for money is too high a price for Nicholas to pay? Maybe staying single and not taking a chance on happiness is not in the cards for Belinda? It's fun to watch these two change each other mind about the other.I enjoyed this enchanting historical romance. I was rooting for these delightful characters from the get-go. And I look forward to the next in the series, How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days, the story of Belinda's good friend, another American heiress who married a British aristocrat.

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fun start to the new series. Belinda has gained an excellent reputation as a matchmaker. As a former American heiress she now spends her time helping her countrywomen find suitable husbands and steering them away from disreputable fortune hunters. She's not happy when Nicholas shows up, wanting her help finding a wealthy wife. He is exactly the type of man she doesn't like.Nicholas is desperate to find a wife with money. His controlling father has cut him off, trying to force him to marry his choice. Nicholas has spent his adult life doing the opposite of anything his father wants, and isn't about to change now. He's certain that Belinda can find him what he needs.The sparks flew between Belinda and Nicholas from the moment they met. She has absolutely no trouble telling him exactly what she thinks of him. Nicholas reminds her far too much of her late husband, and that isn't a good thing for him. Her determination to stop his plans leads her to pull a pretty underhanded trick, one that comes back to haunt her when he blackmails her into helping him.The sparks aren't all antagonistic. Nicholas is, after all, young, handsome and charming when he wants to be, and Belinda is horrified to discover that she is attracted to him. For his part, Nicholas is just as attracted and delights in trying to get to Belinda. There is constant back and forth between the two during the first half of the book, as Belinda puts forth the worst possible candidates for Nicholas, and he gets even by being even more outrageous around her. Their confrontations come to a head during a house party, when a young woman accosts Nicholas, who has to deal with the man who is interested in her for himself. Fortunately, Belinda is on hand to protect him from the consequences, but the attraction between them nearly gets out of hand. Belinda is rather blunt when she tells Nicholas exactly what she thinks of his actions, his reasons for them, and her opinion of him. Up to this point I had some issues with both of them. I thought that Belinda was a bit too judgmental, especially since she didn't really know him. She was basing her attitude on his perceived similarities to her late husband and her brother-in-law. She took a lot of joy in making things as hard as possible for him. She also gave off a lot of mixed signals, sometimes giving in to his advances and other times pushing him away. Nicholas also came across as rather immature. Yes, his relationship with his father was terrible, thanks mostly to his father's manipulations. But Nicholas didn't help matters by doing the opposite of whatever he knew his father would want. Then Nicholas looks at taking the easy way out of his problems by marrying money. He also makes his advances to Belinda, knowing that nothing can come of it if he's going to marry someone else.But their confrontation at the house party becomes a turning point for Nicholas. Once he gets past his anger at the things Belinda said to him, he has to admit that she was right about him. He also realizes that she means more to him than just someone he wants to sleep with, and is determined to find a way to earn her respect and her love. I loved the plan he came up with and how he went about implementing it. The difference in him was amazing. I loved the effect it had on Belinda, as she realized that there was more to Nicholas than she had expected. I loved seeing them grow closer through letters as Nicholas worked on his project. Once again, things are going wonderfully for Nicholas until his father finds out what he is doing and once again uses his power for evil. I ached for Nicholas as once again his father tries to destroy his dreams. But this time, dear old dad didn't count on an upstart American and the love she finally admitted she had. I loved seeing what Belinda did and both the Earl's and Nicholas's reactions. It was a fantastic ending.

[ktleyed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute story of rakish marquess who is in need of a rich wife. The only thing is he's attracted to London's best matchmaker - who has it out for him - despite the mutual attraction. After virtually ruining his chances of making a "material" match, she re-considers and tries to help him, only to find she's sabotaging her own matchmaking! Not up to Guhrke's earlier novels, but it was fun, though I tired of the constant battling between the two before Belinda gives in and admits Nicholas isn't nearly the ne'er do well she thought he was.

[ladywesley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

17 July: At last! Another new title from one of my favorite authors. Fingers crossed that I'll get an ARC.

3 Aug: So pleased to get the ARC from edelweiss!

11 Aug: 3.5 stars rounded up, just because it's LLG. I'll post a full review in October.