I liked several individual parts to this book I liked when their dates started to bring them closer- he was willing to ruin his boots to keep her safe, he started seeing things through her eyes, he shared elicit knowledge with her because he knew how much it meant to her (the carriage scene was great). And later on I liked how even though he felt very conflicted about her he couldn't keep away. But goodness, I think Bradley was trying her damnedest to contrive as much drama as possible into this one, even when she had to really stretch plausibility to do it. Some of the stuff was just ridiculous and it was obviously done purely to create some big scene/tragic misunderstanding/etc later on. All writers add a degree of this of course, but this often lacked all subtlety or reason! You could see it all from miles away. I was so tired of it by the end I could hardly muster any care for any of it. ( )

He's a notorious rake. She's a headstrong spinster. They share nothing in common, except for matchmaking grandmothers and few duress promises to keep. She's protecting her sister. He's protecting his way of life. Neither expected to feel fireworks. Nicholas and Violet are about to learn that when it comes to love there is no tried and true plan, only emotion. More or Less a Countess steamrolls it's way right into your heart. A steamy battle of hearts. ( )

I was charmed...

...by this rather wonderful story of the proverbial bad boy, driven to action because he never measured up, and the wayward Bluestocking who despite all odds worms her way into a small corner of his heart.
Nicholas Balfour, the Earl of Dare, had never met anyone like Hyacinth Somerset, but then he didn't meet Hyacinth he met her sister Violet who is certainly one of a kind. And Violet determined to teach this rake a lesson doesn't dispel Nick's understanding that he's meeting with Hyacinth. After 'all a lady didn’t marry a gentleman who mistook her for her sister.'
Violet is the middle of a grand effort, producing a book about London entitled 'A Treatise on London for Bluestockings and Adventuresses,' and the Earl of Dare has arrived just in time to become a model for the chapter “Gentlemen, Rakes, and Rakes who Pose as Gentlemen”. What fun!
The jaded Nick finds himself drawn pellmell into Violet's world, and surprisingly finds himself challenged by this petite, beautiful woman with a surprising intellect.
Of course the lively plot is ripe for misunderstandings and disappointments.
A rather delicious read!

A NetGalley ARC ( )

Violet Somerset just wanted to die. In More Or Less A Countess, what she was enduring was a fate worse than death. Having to listen to her friend extol the virtues of her beloved new husband throughout the dinner party was more pain than she could bear. What her friend didn’t realize was that Violet was in love with Lord Derrick too.

The worst part was that Lord Derrick was clearly in love with his wife. In an effort to avoid the unintentional pain inflicted by her friend, Violet escapes to the library after dinner. It is here that she encounters Lord Dare for the first time.

Stealing into the library with another woman, Lord Dare is unaware of Violet’s presence. Unable to make herself known before they begin their assignation, Violet finds herself in the awkward position of listening.

Lord Dare has been summoned home from his European travels to do his duty, find a wife and have an heir. When Violet realizes that Dare has set his sights on her sister, Violet knows she must act. Her sister Honoria would be no match for a rake like Lord Dare. When Dare mistakes her for Honoria, Violet does not correct him.

Mistaken Identity

And so it begins. This is a classic of the genre, an initial lie which later begins to consume the author of the lie. Once it is uttered it is very difficult to get out of a lie gracefully, Violet finds this out the hard way.

I enjoyed how the author portrayed Dare as the ultimate (and unrepentant) rake. He and Violet seem to be very well matched pair.

The book is second in The Somerset Sisters series, following More or Less a Marchioness. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the release of the next in the series, More or Less a Temptress.

Reviewed for LnkToMi iRead in response to a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in hopes of an honest review. ( )

More or Less a Countess by Anna Bradley
The Somerset Sister #2

Awkward, tone deaf, klutzy, brilliant Violet Somerset has given up on marriage after her first year on the marriage market. Instead her dream is to write and illustrate a book and with that in mind she is willing to risk life and limb to go to sometimes unsavory places to get her sketches. Nobody really understands her quest to write the book of her dreams but her sisters Iris and Hyacinth support her as they can.

One night Lord Dare, Nicholas or Nick to his friends, shows up for an evening event at his friend’s home…a friend that Violet had a crush on until HER friend ended up married to Lord Derrick crushing Violet’s dreams. Lord Dare, in need of an heir, thinks Hyacinth might be suitable with her ability to play Haydn on the pianoforte with such ease and beauty. Well, Violet is not willing to let her sister be courted by a roguish rake so when Nick mistakes Violet for Hyacinth she does not open his eyes and tell him who she really is.

No matter who tells Violet she is playing with fire by keeping the fake name of her sister she won’t listen. No, she uses Lord Dare for her own reasons to get…sketches. And, the house of cards she builds thinking, nobody will be hurt, does eventually come tumbling down at about midway through the book. With both Nick and Violet keeping secrets and hiding how they really feel it takes quite a bit of time for them to work out a way to be happy together but in the end…it is oh so very worth the pain they go through to get there.

I loved the interactions between Nick and Violet whether funny or steamy. The fact that Nick was not turned off by a bluestocking but intrigued instead said a lot. The issues from his childhood and hers from her year in society worked against them both. Their jumps to conclusions without communicating with one another were also a problem they needed to learn to surmount. I really enjoyed this book and the way it all came together. I wanted to smack one or the other a time or two but only to make them see sense.

Did I like this book? Definitely
Do I want to read Hyacinth’s story? Without a doubt
Is there anything I didn’t like in the book? Can’t think of anything.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Press for the ARC ~ this is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )