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Mastering the Marquess (Bound and Determined Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Lavinia Kent (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,355 ratings
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One night of fierce passion and unbound pleasure leaves two strangers craving much more in Lavinia Kent’s sumptuous novel.
 
The time has come for the widow Louisa, Lady Brookingston, to move on, but she refuses to remarry at the cost of shaming her late husband’s memory. Their six years together were wedded bliss—even if a war injury prevented him from fulfilling his marital duties. Only one woman can help Louisa: Madame Rouge, the discreet proprietress of a club where London’s elite explore their wildest fantasies.
 
Geoffrey, the Marquess of Swanston, has no intention of agreeing to deflower an anonymous virgin. But when Madame Rouge tempts him with the absolute power he’ll have over a woman who knows nothing of carnal delights, he’s intrigued. Control is the one thing he cannot resist—and control is what he loses during his night with the blindfolded beauty. He longs to take her further, to leave his mark upon her perfect behind, but the mystery woman refuses to see him again. Instead Geoffrey reluctantly agrees to take a wife, the widow of his dear friend, Lord Brookingston—fating them both to a wicked surprise.
 
Mastering the Marquess is intended for mature audiences.
 
Praise for Mastering the Marquess
 
“Steamy . . . Kent’s lively prose keeps the reader drawn in from start to finish.”—Library Journal (starred review)
 
“Sexy, steamy . . . an entertaining read.”—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
 
“[A] tale of sexual exploration and liberation . . . the hottest historical romance story I’ve ever read.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers
 
“A very sexy read.”—Chelle’s Book Report
 
“A wonderful historical romance . . . sweet and an enjoyable read. Romance lovers, if you want something with some heat, then this is a book you'll want to check out.”—Imagine a World

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from other Loveswept titles.
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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Bound and Determined
  2. Print length
    400 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Loveswept
  6. Publication date
    July 29, 2014
  7. File size
    1424 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Steamy . . . [Lavinia] Kent’s lively prose keeps the reader drawn in from start to finish.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Sexy, steamy . . . an entertaining read.”—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

“[A] tale of sexual exploration and liberation . . . the hottest historical romance story I’ve ever read.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers

“A very sexy read.”—Chelle’s Book Report

“A wonderful historical romance . . . sweet and an enjoyable read. Romance lovers, if you want something with some heat, then this is a book you'll want to check out.”—Imagine a World

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00IHMEBQM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Loveswept (July 29, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1424 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,355 ratings

About the author

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Lavinia Kent

Lavinia Kent

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Lavinia Kent never knew that most people don't make up stories in their heads to pass the time. She still has a hard time understanding how those who don't survive the doctor's waiting room or a grocery store line without another world to escape into.

As the mother of three, Lavinia finds "leisure time" to be ever-elusive, but when she is not reading romance novels, she watches far too much HBO and reality television. It must also be noted that she has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Buffy and the new Doctor Who.

One of her latest passion is CW's Arrow which she discusses weekly on USA Today's Happy Ever After blog with NYT bestseller, Allison Brennan. http://www.usatoday.com/blog/happyeverafter/

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,355 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mimi Foster
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth the read
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
There were parts to this book I loved and parts I hated. When all was said and done, I gave it five stars because I still walked away loving it.

The characters were believable, detailed, and the improbable plot was made probable. I liked them both, but agree with another reviewer who pointed out that the lack of recognition lasted too long. It was poignant, well paced (at least the first part), and HOT.

<SPOILER>
What I didn't like about it is that I thought it should have ended before the scene with the Countess (it was certainly long enough to end there). They had worked out their differences, they had come to a wonderful working relationship, and then the kidnapping was thrown in. To my way of thinking, this should be broken into two books for at least three reasons - (1) whoever likes the first part is not necessarily going to enjoy the second part (2) conversely, if the last part is appealing, then the first part isn't necessarily of the same taste, and (3) the whole tempo and emotion completely changed with the kidnapping and frustrated me to no end just wanting it to be over.

I very much enjoyed Louisa and Geoffrey, and even Madame Rouge was well played. I'm not sure I've ever given a five star review to a book that was this conflicting, but I think that speaks to the power of the first half. Just my opinion.
3 people found this helpful
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Roslynn
4.0 out of 5 stars review of mastering the marquess
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
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This story by Ms. Lavinia Kent was pretty interesting at first then the story as it progressed just got a little bit bizarre and weird to me. I felt like I was reading almost two entirely different stories and I had to go back and reread the first part a few times to make sure I understood what was going on.
Louisa the beauteous somewhat shy heroine after losing her beloved husband John at a mere twenty-six and still a virgin decides to go to a brothel to honor her husband since she is ashamed to admit the fact that she is still a virgin to lose her virginity in a brothel. One night a “wedding night” only with a guy the handsome mysterious secretive hero Geoffrey Marquess of Swanston who is masked at first but then the roles are reversed and she ends up masked.
Okay easy enough at first but then Geoffrey the hero had this secret BDSM kind of lifestyle that I don’t remember reading about. I kept thinking is this really the same guy in the first part a night without masks? Oh wait he’s playacting so it’s okay but it seemed the latter half of the book unmasked he was also playacting too because it really didn’t seem like the same person? He never had these BDSM tendencies that he acted on to bind, gag and light torture Louisa in their supposed “wedding night.” Okay well maybe wearing the mask showed a little bit of his BDSM lifestyle and he did want to tie her in his head to the bed but he never actually did it. That’s why when I reached the last half I had to reread the whole book again because I was just lost and it really did seem as if Ms. Kent wanted to just use this BDSM antics of Geoffrey as filler and to make the story a little longer which is fine but I wasn’t ready for him to turn an about face and become somebody else. Louisa I think seemed too submissive and passive to Geoffrey that I really stopped having any respect or even liking her. I don’t mind the heroine showing some submissiveness and it’s okay to be passive to a certain degree but she was just stream-rolled over I felt. Okay she did show some strength when one of Geoffrey’s sexual partners the Countess decides to torture Louisa but I didn’t think it was a fitting end for the Countess either and then she kind of just drops out of the story. I do like strong heroines and not ones that kind of agree to things I was just waiting around for Louisa and the Countess to get some big lesbian action after being in the same position because it was building up to a big lesbian scene and they should of gotten it on but no Louisa is put off by the Countess of her actions but not of Geoffrey sick twisted tendencies. What sick twisted tendencies? Well his emotional dialogue of actually doing BDSM with previous others when did this happen did I miss something where was this in the book? Maybe if Geoffrey would have made it a threesome between himself, Louisa, the Countess and then the Countess’s husband shows up to watch or something then I could see Geoffrey as being sick and twisted. Then all of a sudden the story just ends happily Louisa and Geoffrey actually get to do all that BDSM that they have been dreaming about and I felt like I missed that part of the story. So the only thing that intrigued me was the first half of the book a night without masks but after they supposedly unmasked themselves I felt as if the book should have ended then but no it just drags on and on. Now after saying all this how in the world could I rate this book as high as a four star? Well the writing was decent hardly any spelling errors and they was a story with a plot even though it became convoluted and I got lost but maybe that’s just me; I did enjoy the first 27% of the book and even part of the middle at least. Ms. Kent does write some strange and interesting characters too which I wanted to know more about so I will try another of her books and if I wanted to reread this book again I would just read the first two parts a night without masks and the masquerade.
2 people found this helpful
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Debra Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Awesome! I highly recommend this book to all Adult Romance Lovers.
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
Mastering The Marquess by Lavinia Kent is an Erotic Historical Romance.
OUTSTANDING!
I don't normally read Historical Romances. I have read a few, some good, most stilted and boring. I can not say that about this book. It was amazingly well written. It was never boring. Fast paced, the words and conversations flowed with ease.
The main characters, Louisa and Geoffrey, were well defined. They were both interesting and complex. I found Louisa to be brave and strong. She knew what she wanted and did what she needed to do to accomplish her goals.
Though Geoffrey showed and taught Louisa about passion, it was Louisa who taught Geoffrey how to let go of things you can't control. I would love to say more, but I don't want to give the story away.
This story is very provocative and most definitely mature.
The love making scenes were truly EROTIC. They were sensuous, hot and risqué. I warn you now, you WILL 'Fan Yourself, and gasp 'OH MY'. You will definitely feel 'The Heat'!
There was often amusing scenes that made me grin. Others that filled me with dread of what may happen. It kept me on my toes and completely engrossed. I could not put it down.
I highly recommend this book to all Adult Romance Lovers.
 Mastering the Marquess (Bound and Determined Book 1)
One person found this helpful
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Rural Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars An Average Rating Of Just OK
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2015
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This book is written in three parts, so that is how I am going to review it. Also, the warning that this book is for mature readers, should also include for open-minded readers. That said, this book is very well written and the characters are complex and interesting when they are not annoying or intimidating. I especially liked supporting character Ruby.

I loved part one. It was erotic, but in a innocent, tender and sweet way. The interaction between Grace and Charles in part one is why I kept reading further into the book.

I found part two to be between like and just ok. The angst dance was tedious between Grace/Louisa and Charles/Geoffrey and I just wanted them to open their eyes and move forward.

I was more put off by part three. For me it was less than just ok. I understood Geoffrey had certain sexual proclivities, but he was just such a jerk until he finally came to his senses. It was a real downer. Although Louisa finally set some parameters to their relationship, for most of this part I just found myself shaking my head over some of her actions and moving through the story to get to the end.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sandy N
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
Like most lavinia Kent books, I was not disappointed with this one. Very good interactions between the characters, well written. I am looking forward for the next book in the serie.
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Emma
5.0 out of 5 stars SUPER HOT
Reviewed in Germany on January 5, 2017
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Amazing book, great romance, lots of really amazing erotic encounters between two great personalities. Let yourself be swept away, om a great journey.
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Heidiho
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2019
Verified Purchase
Sensuous, exciting, mysterious, heart wrenching, intriguing, kidnap and torture. What more do you need in a book?
Not for the prudish amongst us but full of the strength of a woman and the uncertainties of a man.
Very good indeed.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Authors writing period pieces should always check the origin of ...
Reviewed in Canada on March 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
Authors writing period pieces should always check the origin of expressions that they use in their works, such as "Call the shots" and not use ones that don't fit into the period/location they're portraying. Also, proofreading is an invaluable tool for all writers. Errors such as typos, punctuation and grammar all take a reader out of the story.
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Melba Hard
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2017
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I am not sure exactly what I was expecting from this book but I was captivated from the beginning to the end.. and can't wait to read more in this series
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