• Say Yes to the Marquess

  • Castles Ever After
  • By: Tessa Dare
  • Narrated by: Carmen Rose
  • Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (856 ratings)

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Say Yes to the Marquess  By  cover art

Say Yes to the Marquess

By: Tessa Dare
Narrated by: Carmen Rose
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Publisher's summary

Your presence is requested at romantic Twill Castle for the wedding of Miss Clio Whitmore and... and...?

After eight years of waiting for Piers Brandon, the wandering Marquess of Granville, to set a wedding date, Clio Whitmore has had enough. She's inherited a castle, scraped together some pride, and made plans to break her engagement.

Not if Rafe Brandon can help it. A ruthless prizefighter and notorious rake, Rafe is determined that Clio will marry his brother - even if he has to plan the dratted wedding himself.

So how does a hardened fighter cure a reluctant bride's cold feet?

  • He starts with flowers. Ladies can't have too many flowers. Or harps. Or cakes.
  • He lets her know she'll make a beautiful, desirable bride - and tries not to picture her as his.
  • He doesn't kiss her.
  • If he kisses her, he definitely doesn't kiss her again.
  • When all else fails, he puts her in a stunning gown and vows not to be nearby when the gown comes off.
  • And no matter what, he doesn't fall in disastrous, hopeless love with the one woman he can never call his own.

©2015 Eve Ortega (P)2015 Harper Collins Publishers

What listeners say about Say Yes to the Marquess

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    94
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    15
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Performance
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    466
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    85
  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

My first Tessa Dare miss. I'm so sad.

Vastly, hugely disappointing.

I probably should have given less than 2 stars because I paid a lot of money for the ebook + audiobook and I could barely finish it. I'm utterly devastated because I loved the first in the series, but this was such a let down.

First of all, the plot really made no sense. The whole conflict with Rafe trying to convince Clio to marry his brother though NO ONE wanted that scenario was very weak. I usually think that Tessa Dare does a brilliant job with plotting, but this one dragged with a plot that felt half-hearted. And the whole thing with Rafe prize fighting and being ejected from society, though he was a son of a marquess, also didn't make much sense. It was all such a mess, honestly, and I struggled my way through it.

Clio belonged in a contemporary romance, not a historical romance. The whole book had no bearing on anything historical. Ugh.

The narration was fair at best. I was annoyed at the narrator, and she didn't grow on me like she did in the first book in the series.

I'm telling you, skip right over this one. My first Tessa Dare miss.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Say Yes to the Marquess.

An enjoyable and entertaining Story. If you want a few hours away from every days busy life and relax this would be a good book to do it with. There is not to much angst and it has a good Heroin and Hero. and the problems where solved with not to much complication. If live where just that easy. I do also love a good ending. Just wished I had a little more info why it took eight years for the fiancé to finely come back from the government job he was doing..

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun enjoyable read.

This was a fun read. I am a fan of Tessa Dare for sure. I really enjoyed the heroine Clio, she was strong, smart, witty, clever and had a mind of her own. The hero, Rafe was strong and handsome. They had some great chemistry and sex. The sex scenes are great, not erotica but more than mild, and very nicely written.

The story line was good. There was a lot of great dialogue throughout the book.

As for the secondary characters, I absolutely adored Clio's sister, Phoebe and I do hope she gets her own book. She is a fantastic character.

As for the narration it was pretty good, I did speed it up to 1.25 speed at times and it seemed much better, she did try and deepen her voice for the male characters and read with emotion. I would listen to her again.

Not my favorite Tessa Dare Book but still worth the credit for sure!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my Favorite Authors Does it Again

What made the experience of listening to Say Yes to the Marquess the most enjoyable?

The most enjoyable part of Say Yes to the Marquess is the superb story. As always, Tessa Dare presents the reader with exceedingly relatable characters that you would want to hang out with, swoon over, or kick in the shins. The unique story of a prize-fighting second son who has always been in love with his older brother's betrothed is captivating. The H and h are perfectly imperfect and I love their story so much!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Say Yes to the Marquess?

Well, I don't think I can type it here ;-) It did involve a too tight wedding gown, but not a wedding night...I think my earbuds were steaming!

Which character – as performed by Carmen Rose – was your favorite?

Probably Chloe was my favorite character Carmen Rose performed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Don't keep a good girl waiting.

Any additional comments?

Carmen Rose isn't my favorite performer, but she did the book justice. There is nothing wrong with it, it just isn't amazing. Worth a credit, for sure.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Frothy, flirty regency gold

Bruiser: “There’s my secret weapon.”
Rafe: “A quizzing glass. Really?”
Bruiser: “Someone talks over your head: quizzing glass.
Someone asks a question you can’t answer: quizzing glass.”
The conflicts are contrived. The happenstances that get them alone together are cliche. The family are ridiculously oblivious to the real Clio, Rafe, or what would make them happy. But the humor, dialogue, and heart turn everything to regency romance gold.

“Is that a squirrel?”
This story is more than just Clio and Rafe: there are a gaggle of colorful characters, from Bruiser to Phoebe to the world’s oldest bulldog. There’s also an effortless portrayal of minor behavioral hurdles within the cast (difficulty reading and what could be mild autism). I loved the way each person fights for their independence and better yet, I loved the way Clio fights for the happiness of those around her as well. Bump the speed up a smidge and this is simply delightful.

Rafe: “You make cake sounds!”
Clio: “You make cake sounds too.”
Rafe: “Those aren’t cake sounds.”
Of course, this is romance, so it’s not just enough to have a fun, frothy story. This author writes in my nooky-Goldilocks zone: not too cozy and not too crass. It takes a bit to get from stray kisses to the delicious parts, but the payoff is three sexy scenes starting at 7.5 hrs. I laughed, I swooned, I want to bring back monocles!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

This was fun!

I liked this book a lot. Clio is a strong, independent woman and Rafe is a strong, very strong, opponent for her. I love their banter and the unfolding relationship.

This has been a great series so far. The characters aren't connected from book to book (at least so far) but I'd love to read Phoebe's story at some point. It would be good to see how she ties up - get it? - her life. Narration was great.

This book gets 4.5 stars from me. Brava, Tessa Dare!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good enough

This book was cute enough but I don’t really feel any desire to move on in the series. The story was a bit redundant, and about a third of the way in I found myself looking forward to listening because it was almost over. Ot wasn’t bad, and I didnt want to quit listening... I just wanted to be done.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Okay

I liked it but the story didn't seem to have the historical facts of objects right in some areas. If that doesn't bother you then it's an awesome book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved It! :)

Read/Listened for Fun (Kindle/Audible)
Last book read in 2014
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.75

Audio Rating: 4.00 (Not Part of the Overall Rating)

First Thought when Finished: Say Yes to Marquess by Tessa Dare was a great way to end 2014! Rafe was so very Alpha (all protective and beat on your chest kind of way). Clio was smart as a whip (Yet she still managed to hold very well to the time--tricky to pull off but done very well). Together they made an unconventional pair that was a delight to read! I do so hope that Clio's sister eventually will get a book (when she is a tad bit older).

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Carmen Rose / Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins


This is the 2nd Historical Romance (the other being Sophie Jordan's Good Debutantes Guide to Ruin) that I have listened to narrated by Carmen Rose. She is becoming a narrator to watch for in my book. She handles the fine line of lady/spitfire very well!

Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, Done! Reviews

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Don't put baby (err Clio) in the corner! LOL

This was a wonderful listen, with great narration from Carmen Rose. She captures male voices well, and despite 10+ characters, she did a great job moving seamlessly from one to another.

I am not the kind of reviewer to recap the entire story, suffice to say - this rough-around-the-edges Lord has the fight of his life with his childhood friend/secret sweetheart. The hero really shows his fierce loyalty, devotion and protection of the heroin and is so passionate about it. It was nice to see him rooting for her so fervently.

Often in romances, they fall in love in 2 chapters, which is unrealistic even for us hopeless romantics. What I loved about this is that it was a very believable story of love that grew since childhood, which made the friendship and romance scenes that more realistic and special.

Steamy is an understatement once the bodice comes off, whew! Overall, great story, great narration, absolutely worth a credit. Here is hoping that Clio's little sister get's her own happy ending in the next book of The Castles Ever After Series.

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