The Naked Marquis
Sally MacKenzie
ISBN# 0-8217-7832-3
Zebra Historical Romance, 2006
Regency England
(US) $4.99 (CAN) $6.99
Reviewed by Dorie
January 2006
Charles Draysmith has recently acquired the title of Marquis Of Knightsdale, due to his brother and wife dying unexpectedly and mysteriously in Italy. He is none to pleased about it, considering he had never wanted the title and all that it entails. He was accustomed to and liked his somewhat carefree lifestyle, though he had been through war and had seen suffering. When he sees his childhood friend/worshiper, Emma Peterson again it has been years and he is quite smitten with her. She had filled out in the most pleasing of ways and an idea strikes him. Instead of enduring the marriage mart and all the eligible young misses, he thinks that marrying Emma and securing an heir will be quite suitable for him.
Emma Peterson had been brought to Knightsdale, from the vicarage to help out with the late Marquis' children, Isabelle and Claire. When she runs into Charles again, quite unexpectedly, he is handsome and charming, and it brings back her memories of him and her crush. Emma is considered a spinster at the ripe old age of twenty-six but had never been looking to marry, she is happy to take care of her younger sister and father. So when Charles suddenly proposes to her, she is angered that he would marry her simply because it was an easy solution to his problem. The problem is she feels an even stronger attraction to him, even after all these years.
Underneath her spectacles, Emma is quite a spitfire and contains a passionate nature. She is a great match for Charles, who delights in causing her to blush at some of the outrageous things he says. I liked the secondary characters in this book, especially Aunt Beatrice and all of her funny, fashion faux pas and her outspoken tongue. I also thought that Isabelle and Claire was a delightful edition. They were such sad and neglected children but really bloomed under Charles and Emma's attention. Their little matchmaking schemes were also very cute.
Sally MacKenzie has written a book filled with steam and humor, in fact the perfect combination. This book made me smile and simply enjoy the banter and the heat between the characters. There is a bit of mystery, humor, and sensuality in this book, something for everyone. If you enjoy witty dialogue and crackling tension, then you will enjoy this book and will look forward to the next in this series, The Naked Earl.