Reviewed by: Kate Garrabrant
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 30
Rating: 3 stars


My Wicked Marquess is the first book in “The Inferno Club” series from Gaelen Foley. Max. St. Albans, Marquess of Rotherstone has returned to England after Napoleon has been defeated. Max is part of a top secret group called the Order of St. Michael. The Order is in a constant fight against the evil Promethean Council who want to take over Europe. These two groups have been after each other for hundreds of years. Max is now retired from the Order and has a new mission. He must find the perfect woman to marry and settle down with and begin to produce some heirs. He has been given a list of five suitable women from his solicitor. One candidate from the list, a Miss Daphne Starling, catches his eye. Daphne is the darling on the ton and is very kind and generous. Daphne helps those who cannot help themselves. She ends up going into dangerous places where no respectable woman should even know about. Daphne enjoys helping the orphan children who are close to ending up on the streets.

While Daphne is tending to her orphans, she is almost attacked by some unruly men. Max, who has been watching her from a brothel, comes to her aid. Max is very good at donning disguises and pretends to be a drunk and takes on the gang who would do Daphne harm. Daphne is grateful to this mysterious stranger, even though he looks like he can’t hold his liquor and has just come from a house of ill repute. Max saves the day and decides that Daphne is the woman for him.

The next time Daphne and Max see each other is at a ball. Daphne is surprised by the change in Max. She is not sure what to make of him and when Daphne hears the rumors about Max, especially the one about him being nicknamed the Demon Marquess, she knows she should keep her distance from him. Max likes a challenge and he will do whatever he can to seduce the fair Daphne so she has no choice but to become his wife.

These two try to outwit each other. Daphne doesn’t want to settle down and Max wants her to become his Demon Marchioness. Max has quite a handful with Daphne on his hands and also has to make sure that Daphne never finds out about his affiliation with the Order. In order to keep her safe, he must lie to her. And when Daphne figures out that Max lives another life full of spying and intrigue, she is heartbroken. Max may have thought spying was hard, but when it comes to a woman’s heart, he will have the ultimate challenge in gaining her trust and love.

I have found the past few books by Gaelen Foley to be either hits or misses. You never can tell with an author like Ms. Foley. But I am happy to say that My Wicked Marquess it not one of the misses. This book is better improvement that has some laughs and great interaction between Max and Daphne. Max is an adorable hero who has a nice personality and doesn’t venture too far into the tortured and angsty territory. He is a well rounded character even with his past where he was forced into joining the Order and has never forgiven his parents for making him. But Max rolls with the punches. Daphne may come across as too perfect because she is the type of heroine who wants to save every parentless child in the world. If she saw a sick animal on the street, she would probably take it home and care for it. I loved how Daphne doesn’t fall right into Max’s arms. Max has a bit of an ego and can’t understand why Daphne wouldn’t want to be his wife and give her all the things in the world.

The only downside to My Wicked Marquess is the way too overused storyline of various English lords who are spies for the country. Foley ends up using a great deal of unneeded pages all about this Order Max is a part of and a secondary plot about one of his spy friend being tortured and taken by the enemy. I found that to be incredibly boring and wanted to action to stay on Max’s wooing Daphne. Foley is a very talented writer, especially when it comes to the relationship between the hero and heroine, but this whole drama about underground spies is getting a bit out of hand.

My Wicked Marquess has some nice moments and Max and Daphne have great chemistry. If you don’t mind waddling through pages of spy action, this is one historical romance you will enjoy.