After her father and stepmother die, Meredith Burnley devotes herself to looking after her wealthy yet ailing step-sister Annabel. Alone Meredith ably manages the household, the finances, and Annabel's health issues. Then suddenly her aunt and uncle arrive, declaring her unfit. The uncle, Annabel's legal guardian, informs Meredith that she will marry his son or Annabel will be placed in an asylum.

Meredith, not one to be blackmailed into anything, flees with Annabel to ask Annabel's bitterly estranged grandparents for assistance. They reluctantly agree to help. Everyone decides the simplest and happiest solution would be for Annabel to marry. The perfect prospective husband is the grandmother's nephew, Stephen Mallory, the Marquess of Silverton. Or he would be if Silverton wasn't so darn attracted to Meredith.

Mastering the Marquess is a perfect gem of a Regency romance. The characters shine. They're unique and real and not-at-all perfect. Meredith, having had three parents die, expects everything to go wrong. She paints distressingly dark and rather gory paintings. She is also accustomed to being in control and doesn't give up this control easily. Silverton, in contrast, likes everything to be just so. He arranges his perfect world so no unpleasantness touches him. When Mr. Icy Perfection is faced with the gloomy, controlling beauty, the air between them sizzles. There's challenge and attraction and real emotion. Mastering the Marquess is what a modern Regency romance should be.

Reviewed by: Kimber