The Matchmaker and the Marquess

A matchmaking spinster winds up accidentally betrothed to a jilted rake in this page-turning historical romance from Scott (the Sinful Suttons series), the first in the multiauthored Second Chance Manor series. Ambrose, Marquess of Dorset, arrives at a country house party looking to indulge in a little more of the libertine behavior he’s been known for since his betrothed jilted him years before the start of the book. He’s not pleased to find Lady Clementine Hammond, the meddling woman he blames for his broken engagement, also in attendance. Though he loathes her, chivalry requires him to come to her aid after a bee stings her leg—and inevitably, the pair are walked in on while he’s still fumbling under Clementine’s skirts. He manages to save her reputation by announcing their “betrothal,” and they agree to maintain the farce for the duration of their time at Fangfoss Manor. The resulting enemies-to-lovers romance flies by, and Scott supplements the love story by introducing a fascinating group of friends who will become the heroines of other series installments. It’s a lighthearted escape complete with clever banter and a charming British countryside setting. (Self-published)