Review: The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle

Having awaited the return of her husband for half a decade, Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, has no intention of reconciling with her misbehaving marquess. But when he insists he needs an heir-immediately-she must confront her own lingering desires. Can she protect her heart while attempting to win his once again?

(This was originally published in the e-book anthology THREE WEDDINGS AND A MURDER.)

Note: I saw this on netgalley and grabbed it, not realizing I’d read it in the anthology called Three Weddings and a Murder. Each story from that anthology is now available as a standalone. I can’t recommend enough each story.

My original review of Three Weddings and a Murder can be found here

4.5 stars

Leigh LaValle has a great story about love, betrayal and forgiveness. My favorite part was that the H/h are a married couple, and this story takes place 5 years after the wedding. Right after they got married, Cat was accidentally compromised, sort of. It was innocent enough, but it made a cuckold of her new husband, and his solution was to bail.

He left her.

For 5 years.

And in this story, it all begins with a pair of boots.

Cat is walking out the door to go riding when she spots a pair of boots resting on an ottoman. Surprise, surprise, her missing husband is not missing anymore. He’s home, and he didn’t even bother to let her know. He figured she’d happen upon him at one point or another.

This story is a bittersweet tale of love, anger, and redemption. Watching them try to hurt each other with their verbal barbs, and angry words is nothing compared to the forgiveness they look for. How can he forgive her transgression? How can she forgive his purposeful absence? It was a lovely story, and I am very glad I have her novel The Runaway Countess.

***I originally bought the anthology, but I did receive this particular novella through netgalley.com