Purchase from
Amazon.com

The Naked Marquis

by Sally Mackenzie

reviewed by Valarie Pelissero

March 2006, 349 pages, Publisher: Zebra, ISBN: 0821778323

Major Charles Draysmith never wanted to be the Marquis of Knightsdale, or have the responsibility that goes with it – that was his brother Paul's life. But, with the death of his brother and sister-in-law, Charles is left with more than the responsibility of the marquisate, he has also inherited the responsibility of his nine year old and four year old nieces, who desperately want a family to love them. Needing an heir and a mother for his nieces, Charles hosts a country house party to find him marchioness, but with a hord of aristocratic ladies on his doorstep, Charles finds the perfect lady in his childhood friend Emma Peterson. Now Charles just has to convince Emma that she has stolen his heart.

Emma Peterson has been in love with Charles Draysmith all her life. She used to follow Charles and his friends around begging to be allowed to play with them. When she got older Emma used to dream of being more than just a playmate to Charles. Now, a spinster at twenty-six, Emma's dreams are about to come true – almost. When Charles finally returns to Knightsdale and recognizes Emma, he immediately proposes to her thinking that marrying her will solve all of his problems, but Emma wants Charles's love, not just to be his means of getting an heir, so Emma does what any sensible woman would do, she throws a china figurine at his head. And thus begins the courtship of Emma and the Marquis, aided by a little matchmaking help from Charles's nieces.

The Naked Marquis by Sally Mackenzie is a pure delight. It is filled with very loveable characters, and perhaps the sexiest hero I've read in long, long time. I don't remember much about how Charles's looks were described, but I do remember every time he teased Emma. I remember his tenderness, gentleness, and patience with his nieces. And I remember the little things he did for Emma, and it is those little things that make him stand out in my mind. While he wasn't a paragon, there was something indefinable about how he was portrayed that makes him my favorite hero.

Emma was one of those heroines that you don't often read about; she was truly naïve and innocent, without being Too Stupid Too Live. She lost her mother at a young age and she didn't have any friends her own age to talk to, so when her feelings for Charles overwhelmed and frightened her, the reader could empathize with her character, without wanting to mock her for being too naïve. It is a fine line, and Ms. Mackenzie treads it very skillfully.

I enjoyed the childhood reminiscences between Emma, and Charles and his friends; they reminded me a bit of following around my own brother and his friends and added a very homey element to the story. Emma's reaction to her father's new love was understandable, if not a bit childish, but as she had done everything for her father and younger sister, she had a hard time accepting that they had their own lives, and it was time for her to find hers.

I enjoyed revisiting Charles's friends from Ms. Mackenzie's first book, and am looking forward to her next – I can't wait to see what she has in store for us. Pickup up your copy of The Naked Marquis – you won't be disappointed in this fun and delightful story.