His Wanton Marchioness

Lustful Lords #0.5

by Sorcha Mowbray

She waited her whole life to be married, and she refuses to let anyone interfere with her happiness...not even her new husband.

Elizabeth Grafton, the Marchioness of Carlisle, just married the man of her dreams. Or, he was. Now, he barely spends time with her. But most disturbing, he comes to her bed under the cloak of darkness―the man won't even light a candle!―and insists she keep her nightgown on until he leaves.

Alexander Grafton, the Marquess of Carlisle, is deeply, madly in love with his wife. But, he wants to do things to her that a man could only do to his mistress. He's struggling to keep his baser instincts in check, and that was before his wife decided to seduce him. If she knew what he really wanted...she'd run away.

Armed with "professional" advice, Elizabeth sets out to thwart all of her husband's best intentions and show him just how shameless she can be. Can her wanton nature tempt her husband, or will he win their battle of wills?

Genres: Historical Romance, Novella, Historical, Romance, Erotica, Spicy

ebook

First published June 25, 2021

About the author

Sorcha Mowbray is a mild mannered office worker by day…okay, so she is actually a mouthy, opinionated, take charge kind of gal who bosses everyone around; but she definitely works in an office. At night she writes romance so hot she sets the sheets on fire! Just ask her slightly singed husband.

She is a long time lover of historical romance, having grown up reading Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. Then she discovered Thea Devine and Susan Johnson. Holy cow! Heroes and heroines could do THAT? From there, things devolved into trying her hand at writing a little smexy. Needless to say, she liked it and she hopes you do too!

Reviews

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together: 3% (almost immediately)
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: No
Format: Bought e-book
(Descriptions of ratings found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to the Lustful Lords series

Basic plot:
After his wedding, Carlisle tries to hide his kinky side from his new, innocent wife.

Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1859
- touch of heroine seduces husband
- higher steam for a novella – 3 full scenes plus spanking
- novella length
- hero falls first (happens off page)
- huge hero/tiny heroine (hero is 6’3” and heroine is petite and about a foot shorter)
- light scene of primal play/chasing
- this would be a great intro to spanking in a romance

First line:
Elizabeth Graham, the Marchioness of Carlisle, spun around as her heart skipped a beat.

My thoughts:
I loved this little novella so much!

I adored that it was character focused and I loved how many of my favorite romance things were in this book. I thought it was steamy, fun and a little angsty. I never expect to come across any kind of primal play/chasing in HR and damn do I want more of it haha! I also was so happy with the heroine trying to seduce her hero vibes. This was such a pleasant read and definitely made me more eager to get to the rest of her Lustful Lords series.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:


“My, he sounds like a strapping man.” Marie grinned.
Lizzy giggled. “Oh, he is, and terribly handsome, to boot. I never understood why he picked me, but I refuse to give him back. He’s mine, and I mean to fight for him, even if I have to fight him.”
----

This is one my favorite things!

Marie chuckled. “No, I would think he was holding on to that table to keep his hands off you. You were quite close to pushing him over the edge. The question is, what might help break through that self-control of his?”
----
“Yes, husband. If you wish to fuck me, then first you will have to catch me.” She flashed him a grin and then turned and threw the study door wide as she darted down the hall to the right.
For a moment, she couldn’t hear anything but her own heart thudding in time to her breathing. But then a dull thud sounded behind her, and she knew the chase was on. As a thrill shot through her at successfully baiting her husband, she wondered how long it would take him to catch her. And once he did, what precisely would he do with her?
Carlisle watched the hem of the sheer nightgown float around a corner and then disappear. It was bloody difficult to run with a full-on cockstand, but by God, he’d teach his wife not to tease him in such a manner. When he caught her, he would do unspeakable things to her. He would undoubtedly spank her lush backside, and then he would do as she had requested. He would fuck her. Thoroughly.
---
“Heaven help all women whose husbands think to protect their wives from them. What she needs is not your protection. She needs your love, your attention, and most certainly the use of your cock.”



Content warnings:

- hero was manipulated by his mistress and gave him some kink shaming


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex: They are married and monogamous. Though they don’t want children yet and there is a mention of sponges used as a contraceptive measure
4% - 🔥 kisses, breast play, oral for her, missionary, doggy style with a spank then the hero is horrified by his behavior and ends it
17% - mention of sex
36% - hero masturbation (short)
51% - 🔥 chasing scene that leads to spanking for heroine, fingering for her, her on top
74% - 🔥 spanking, fingering for her, blow job (incomplete), her on top, bent over the couch sex


Extra stuff like what my review breakdowns mean, where to find me and book clubs

Full break down on what my ratings above mean here:
Overall: How I felt about it everything considered!
Readability: How ‘readable’ was the book? Did I fly through it? Did I have to tell myself to pick it back up repeatedly? Were any passages confusing?
Feels: Totally subjective to each person but did the book give me any tingles? Any butterflies? Did it rip my heart out (in a good way?)
Emotional depth: How well do I feel I know the characters at the end? How much did I feel their emotions throughout the story?
Sexual tension: Again, subjective, but how strong was the wanting and longing to me between the characters? A book might have strong sexual tension without a single touch.
Romance: Was there romance? Did romantic things happen? This can be actions/words/thoughts of the characters and again is subjective.
Sensuality: This is how the intimate scenes are written. Kisses and sexual scenes – how sensual were they? Were they on the mechanical side? Was there emotional pull tied in? Were the details explicit or flowery? These are subjective but generally (1) too short to get a good judgement (2) not all what I'm looking for - very vague or flowery prose (3) either not explicit enough or not enough emotional pull (too mechanical/physically descriptive without the emotions) (4) what I love in a scene (5) absolute perfection - perfect balance of emotional longing and explicit descriptions
Sex Scene Length: How long the bedroom scenes are (generally (1) is 1-3 sentences (2) is a few paragraphs to a page-ish (3) is about average, a few pages (4) more well developed scenes, quite a few pages with descriptions (4) the majority of the book takes place in the bedroom. This is always hard to tell for me on audio!
Steam Scale: Generally, each flame is a scene. If scenes are super close together I sometimes combine them. If a scene is super short or so vague I don’t know what’s happening, I don’t count it. There’s some levels of grey but generally the number of flames is how many sex scenes there are (I max out at 5 so I’ll put a + after if there’s more than that)


Book Clubs

The Ton and the Tartans (Historical Romance)
Upturned Petticoats and Undone Cravats (Historical Romance with Steam Requirements)
A Love Less Ordinary (Science Fiction, Paranormal, Monster, Fantasy)
Modern Manuscripts (Contemporary Romance)
Words for the Wicked (Contemporary Romance with Steam Requirements)
Vintage Romance (Old School Romance – published 2000 and prior)


- - -

Find me
Instagram || The Storygraph || Bookbub ||

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short read with too much lack of communication and a focus primarily on a newly married couple’s bedroom activity problems. Their courtship happens prior to the start of the book and while each claimed to love the other, I didn’t feel that come through given their situation and interactions. Other friends seemed to like this more and wrote detailed reviews. It just fell flat for me.

Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (though two different times servants offer themselves to the H and he shuts them down). H not a virgin and h is a virgin. Brief mention of a past experience with the H and a mistress that gave him negative feelings about his interest in spanking and roughness.

[Christina (stinarinareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)
Rating System (1-5):
Writing = 2.5
Plot = 2
Characters = 3.5
Romance = 4

SPICE SCALE (1-5): 🔥 🔥

Trope/Setting Highlights
✔ “Virginial not but really” FMC x “I’m a monster 'cause I like a little spanking” MMC
✔ Short novella
✔ Already married/prior relationship development off-page
✔ Low-stakes, internal character-driven angst
✔ HEA
Christina’s Corner (personal tropes/elements/warnings I dislike and usually want to know if included in book – some might be super niche but want to add if helpful to others!)
✘ Closed-door romance (give me smut or give me death)
✘ Love triangles (Book has to be DIVINE for me to conveniently gloss over inescapable love triangles)
✘ Cheating (beyond normal OM/OW jealousy as minor angst because I can eat that shit UP sometimes)
✘ Hung up on [ex, dead] partner
✘ Unexpected pregnancy
✘ Tragic end
✘ Graphic DV/abuse
✘ Generally soft-avoid friends-to-lovers/second-chance romance
✘ Generally soft-avoid stories with characters under 17 (perspective tends to feel too young for me, that’s all!)

Review:

All that angst for what?? A little light consensual spanking?? Carlisle PLEASE

(Quick little palette cleanser, stars are mostly for the sexy chase scene cause gotta love those AND the fact that they agreed to wait on children for a while at the end and WHEN does that happen in HRs??? LOVE IT)

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooooo, some would think, I'm strange, BUT, I thought this was the sweetest most romantic book!!!

I fell in Love with Alex like, in seconds! Protecting Lizzy from his proclivities! However, as naive as she is, is she wanting protection?

These two have to learn to better communicate! Once they figure that out, I think they're going to singe the corners of my e-reader!

This was so much fun to read! I found myself smiling, and yep, doing some squirming too! Good squirming!

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is only my 5th book by Sorcha Mowbray. I have really liked her writing and her stories. She is Victorian and I am more Regency (Victorian sometimes tends to read too modern for me) but since she is early Victorian it doesn't read as modern. At the time I originally read this series, I wasn't really reading any novellas so missed this one. I am now going back and reading more of them from my various authors.

I enjoyed Lizzie and Alexander. Super quick read but good. Some mild spanking with their heavy sex. Seems like a cute couple.

[Michelle Quintana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great intro for The Lustful Lords Series

I read Lizzie's sister Theo's story first and wanted to read Lizzie's story. I liked both Lizzie and Carlisle. Again, this book shows the viewpoint men had about how things should go in the bedroom regarding their wives. Things were steamy between Lizzie and Carlisle on their wedding night until Carlisle started thinking. Lizzie is thinking that things aren't going the way her mom described and she's actually liking what Carlisle is doing. Of course, nothing goes as planned. After months of nothing exciting happening, Lizzie decides to take matters into her own hands. I'm glad that Lizzie is showing up in the other books so I can know what's going on with her.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

"His Wanton Marchioness" is an enjoyable piece of sexual fluff and frustration.
On their wedding night Alexander Grafton, Marquess of Carlisle, gives his new wife, Elizabeth, a thorough introduction to the art of love. In the throes of passion he actually smacks her bottom (I kid you not!).
Come daybreak he is consumed by guilt:- "He was sorry for spanking her, for handling her so roughly, for treating her like a common whore." He decides to put his passion for her to one side and treat her like the delicate angel she is - no more adventurous antics in the bedroom for her, just an irregular quickie.
She's not happy and tells him to bring it on. He thinks she has a dose of the vapours, his Elizabeth could never, ever participate willingly in his brutish desires.
It's time for Elizabeth to call in the big guns, in this case a former madame, for expert advice.
Alexander turns to putty in her hands, only to revert to form the following morning.
Will they ever get it right - of course they will.
It's all very silly but is written with a deft hand. There's a little humour, some genuine emotion, steamy sex, and an interesting, though limited, cast of characters.
It might have gained an extra Star had it been longer and added some greater depth.
3 Stars.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book opens on the wedding night. The bride is a virgin (of course). The groom has been quite the rake (of course) who thinks wives don't enjoy steamy sex, but gets carried away by the allure of his wife. She really enjoys her fist foray into wedded bliss, but he is concerned she was too overwhelmed to understand what he did. The entire time I was reading this story I was yelling "TALK TO EACH OTHER". Not really an enjoyable addition to this series. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review

[Sisi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alexandre Carlile e Lizzie
Com exceção de MY DIRTY DUKE, q e simplesmente MARAVILHOSO, não costumo gostar de novelas, são curtas demais e não conseguem dar profundidade aos personagens.
O resumo dos personagens são tão concisos que acabam sendo so aquilo. Carlile chega a ser ridículo com seu medo de machucar a esposa, e suas atitudes são grosseiras e inadequadas e não demonstram nem carinho qtos mais a tal paixão avassaladora.
Num romance maior, esse medo poderia ser explorado de uma forma que não o transforma se em uma caricatura.
Um cara q faz questão de ser um parceiro de cama pífio, com certeza não merece uma esposa apaixonada, q e a caricatura traçada p Lizzie.
Espero que os livros da série sejam melhores. E realmente a última chance da autora comigo.

[Gloria Pastorino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lord married to a sweet-tempered young woman is trying to hide his particular tastes to his new wife, but she won’t have it!
Wow, what a novella! Scorching hot, but funny and brimming with emotions! I laughed quite a lot at Lizzy’s attempts at seduction and at her thoughts during her wedding night and was frustrated as much as she when Alex didn’t seem to understand his wife’s desires. I loved Lady Heartfield: she was a perfect side character. Mowbray writes beautifully and is able to give her characters surprising depths despite the shortness of the novella. And she deals with a particular brand of kink that I love!

[Renee Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

“His Wanton Marchioness” is the Novella by Sorcha Mowbray that tells the story of
Elizabeth the Marchioness of Carlisle and her husband Andrew Grafton the Marquess married for love. Or so Elizabeth thought. After the marriage, Andrew became distant and rarely spent time with her. Elizabeth had enough and asked for “Professional” help from her friend Lady Hatfield the former owner of The Market. Armed with her newly learned skills Elizabeth tries to make a connection with her husband. Does her ploy work? Or does she have to resort to more drastic measures? I enjoyed this quick read that wraps up the Lustful Lords series.

[Ruchika Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a short ,steamy and fun read.Lizzie and Alex are attracted to each and get married .they don't express their feelings to each other.
Alex is a big guy and is afraid of hurting his wife. So he maintains distance. Lizze loves her husband and doesn't understand his behavior.
How they sought out their differences forms the story .a must read.
I received a free copy in exchange for honest review.

[Maggie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to get a taste of the author’s writing before buying the series. I am encouraged. The characters were interesting, they could have been more dynamic but I think it was an appropriate level of fleshing them out for such a short book. Not a lot happened other than internal conflict and sex, but the sex was good and the emotions felt realistic. The historical aspects were slightly less realistic but not so anachronistic to be jarring. 3.5 stars rounded up for spanking.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Wanton Marchioness: A Steamy Victorian RomanceI
I love this book. I've read the entire series multiple times.

[Josee A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

What can I saw about this series. It is totally amazing. The intensity and drama had me completely enthralled. I love how this authors writing style literally has me being able to see and feel what is going on. Definitely steamy. I will definitely continue to read Sorcha Mowbray.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all get by with a little help from our friends, right? I did not need any help getting through this luxurious story. I could see the story with not so much imagination needed. The study, dining hall, grounds, etc. we’re lovely backdrops to the story of Elizabeth and Carlisle!

[K. King · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok novella. I got tired of the constant miscommunication and there wasn’t a whole lot of depth to the story. Since this was my first book by this author I’ll give it one more try before I decide if she’s for me or not.

[Lakeisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good quick romantic naughty book. Not only did it have sassy naughty characters, but it’s also a period piece which I have never read until now. I truly enjoyed reading this. I could not put it down.

[Melinda Greathouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this quick, super-steamy novella by Sorcha Mowbray. I thought she did a nice job with character development considering the short length of the story. I highly recommend this novella for an evening’s read.

[Sandy N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Steamy novella. Standalone story in the series. Easy read. Recommended.

[Tawny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is fantastic! I love this series. I can’t wait to read the 5th book.

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and steamy read. Hits all the spots with emotion, temptation and passion. Elizabeth and Alex build trust and love into their marriage towards a very satisfying happy ending.

[Lisa C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of Elizabeth Grafton, the Marchioness of Carlisle and her husband Marquess Alexander Grafton. Sure that his wife will be disgusted and leave him if he shows her his real self, Alex tries to stay away from Elizabeth. Luckily for them and us readers, Elizabeth is having none of that. Highly recommend.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was silly and full of anachronisms but it was fun and smutty so three stars for that lol

[Saška · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, entertaining even if the the male lead is a bit of an idiot