4/5
I liked this a lot
I liked this a lot and loved the two leads who were both spoiled and stubborn and perfect. I read the first two parts of the series after this book
The Worth Series, 3
For three years, Lady Lydia Powell has maintained a secret corespondence with a famed gossip columnist. Of course, she never expected to be on the receiving end of the chatter. Now, with her name appearing in an engagement announcement to her worst enemy, Lydia is shocked! Surely there’s been some sort of mistake?
The Marquis of Quinton, Benedict Davies finds himself with a rare opportunity. Having suspected for a while that Lydia has been behind a defamation campaign against him, Benedict can’t help but dream of exacting his revenge on the hot-blooded beauty.
While London rejoices that the two former foes have fallen in love, not everyone is thrilled. Danger seems to be lurking behind every corner and soon the couple are left wondering if their relationship is worth dying for.
Excerpt:
Davies stared at her with such contempt Lydia could only deduce he outright hated her. She had finally pushed him over the edge.
“It wasn’t completely my fault,” she said, suddenly prompted to explain everything. “I mean, I may have stoked the flames early on.” He made a noise somewhere between a grunt and a laugh, which made her furrow her brow. “But it was never my intent for your name to be attached to mine.”
“Had you only asked, sweet, I would have offered for you.”
Lydia was startled by his words, but the expression on his face was teasing.
“Seeing as how you were so smitten with me.”
She stiffened. “I have never been smitten with you. In fact, you are the last man on this earth I would consider marrying.” She said it as if it were some filthy word. “Nothing has given me more trouble these past few months as your fiancée, and I cannot wait until this farce of an engagement is over.”
The mischief seemed to leave his eyes as he came toward her, his steps slow and predatory. She had said something he didn’t like. When he spoke, all traces of teasing were gone, and she heard a voice she hadn’t from him in a long time.
“That you would stoop that low—”
“Believe me, I find it equally distasteful.”
“And yet you arranged it.”
“I had nothing to do with it.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Why shouldn’t you!”
Before she could blink, before she could think, Davies had reached for her, gathering her into his arms, and covered her mouth with his in the most sensual and erotic kiss she had ever experienced.
She was momentarily frozen, shocked in place as he kissed her. Lydia had been kissed before, in fact had enjoyed it quite a bit, but never like this. This was deep and searching, a scalding, confusing kiss that seemed to shatter everything she held to be true.
She hated Davies, and he hated her.
Didn’t he?
She started to try to push him off, but as her fingers curled, they caught his lapels. Rather than push him away, she drew him toward her so aggressively that she wasn’t sure what she was doing. His tongue swept into her mouth as his arms tightened around her. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, the tips of which had hardened in response to him. She was amazed all the buzzing hatred she felt for him that lingered just beneath the surface had suddenly turned, revealing itself to be more erotic than anything.
This was a feeling she had never known before. A yearning, desperate need for something she didn’t understand.
Lydia moaned into his mouth, but it had come out more like a grunt, and Davies slowed his kiss. She tightened her fingers on his coat, unwilling to let him go. He pulled back unhurriedly, his eyes wide with a strange emotion as he looked at her, a mixture of heat and marvel displayed on his face.
“Why did you—” she tried to say after a moment. She stopped herself from asking why he had stopped and shook her head while he held her in his arms. “Why did you do that?”
He only stared at her, seemingly unsure of his actions. Then he let his muscled arms relax and untwine from her, and she suddenly felt unbalanced and missed the heat of him.
“I’ll ask you to, to…” Stopping, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening them, she saw a seriousness in his eyes that she never had before, and she felt suddenly panicked. “I’ll ask you to keep your hands to yourself.”
A long silence held between them before he spoke.
“No,” he said, his body perfectly still as he watched her.
Good heavens. She shivered. He looked as dangerous as she felt breathless.
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t think I will keep my hands to myself. In fact,” he said, his head tilting a fraction. “I think I require an audience with your brother.”
Pure alarm filled her, and she took a step toward him. “Whatever for?”
“I should like to ask his permission on a matter,” he said, turning.
- Series:
- /series-the-worth-series/
Product Reviews
4/5
Enjoyable read
This is the 3rd book in the Worth Series. This is Lady Lydia Powell and the Marquis of Quinton, Benedict Davies' story. It is a story that has everything you would like to have in a regency book. you have drama, enemies to lovers, danger, twists and turns. Not everyone is happy with the marriage of these two, why? and who is the one trying to separate them?
5/5
To know and not to know
This is the third book in the series and can be read as a stand alone but to get the most of the story I advise you to read the other two since the stories are intertwined. Lydia is the beloved little sister, raised by foremost her brother and her sister. She is spoiled and has been able to do thinks and behave more freely than other young ladies of the ton. But she is also very shielded and not aware of what happens between man and woman. She is forever bickering with her brothers best friend Benedict, lord Davies. And when the gossip writer Paula Pry throws a spanner in the works everything can happen. A book well worth reading!
5/5
Enjoyed
I liked book and enjoyed it. The plot was so intriguing that I couldn't put the book down. The characters were so realistic.
5/5
To know and not to know
This is the third book in the series and can be read as a stand alone but to get the most of the story I advise you to read the other two since the stories are intertwined. Lydia is the beloved little sister, raised by foremost her brother and her sister. She is spoiled and has been able to do thinks and behave more freely than other young ladies of the ton. But she is also very shielded and not aware of what happens between man and woman. She is forever bickering with her brothers best friend Benedict, lord Davies. And when the gossip writer Paula Pry throws a spanner in the works everything can happen. A book well worth reading!
5/5
Love happens
The third book in the Worth Series. Lady Lydia Powell and the Marquis of Quinton, Benedict Davies' story of drama, suspense, danger, villains, enemies to lovers, twists, turns and a mystery. I enjoyed reading their story. I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4/5
Lydia and Benedict's Surprise Engagement
Lady Lydia Powell found a very disconcerting piece of news as she found her own engagement announced there in the newspaper. However, she was NOT engaged! She and her alleged betrothed have, in fact, been in a constant bickering battle for many years! The Marquis of Quinton, Benedict Davies, a known rake, has made sure he is not ever snared into marriage since he invites affairs with married women. But this time, the thought of marrying Lydia does not seem unpleasant. Will he actually try to make this a true marriage? Will he be able to convince her that they could be successful if she will cooperate? Yet not everyone is happy that the two of them have apparently fallen in love. How far is someone willing to go to stop their relationship “dead” in its tracks? Is it truly worth putting their lives at risk? Or will neither of them want to give up on each other now?
4/5
Worth Dying For!
This new "Worth" story is about Benedict, the Marquis of Quinton, and Lady Lydia Powell. This is such a good read from start to finish. I absolutely love the characters!! The story is intriguing and keeps you engaged through out the story. She has been corresponding with a gossip columnist. He has been involved with women in hopes of not becoming permanently bound. When their engagement is announced very publicly they are both shocked; for obvious reasons. She and her nemesis are now publicly engaged. What will they do?? I found this story very interesting and seeing how their story develops even more so. What a read.
4/5
Fun read
This is a new to me author and I haven’t read any previous books in this series but I was able to follow the plot and story. It can be read as standalone. The story has enemies to lovers vibes. Lydia and Benedict didn’t have great relationship and now the most notorious gossip column has announced their engagement. I enjoyed the characters and the banter between them. It was an enjoyable , entertaining and captivating read.
4/5
Irritating, contradictory characters
I would have given this book 3.5 stars, but I’m rounding up since in one scene it was able to make me laugh out loud. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so this will be purposely vague. My main dissatisfaction is the character’s portrayal. Lydia is supposed to be strong willed, independent and intelligent, but is actually thoughtless, cruel, a liar, and worse. I disliked her so much that about 40% through the book I no longer cared when bad things happened to her because it felt like karma. Despite the feistiness that is supposed to be part of her character, when things get real her reaction is contradictory, making her a wimp in the face of conflict. Having characters lie in a story is a pet peeve of mine because the drama from it is manufactured by the lies which are not necessary. Lydia’s lying was countered by Benedict’s lying because he was too much of a coward to tell the truth, which is also contradictory to his character. All this lying and deceit is belabored to the point that it bogs down the pace of the story. Either the book should have been shorter, or the lying should have stopped far sooner. There were also numerous typos and grammatical errors which for me are just too distracting and interrupt the story. Two mysteries should have been enough to keep a reader’s interest without having characters lie to add drama.
5/5
So much fun!
Lydia and Benedict have had a “love to hate you” relationship since she made her debut at eighteen. So when a gossip sheet announces their engagement, all of London is shocked. Including Lydia and Benedict. Will Lydia repudiate the news, or can Benedict convince her to marry him? The banter between these two is delicious. I love enemies to lovers when it’s done well, as it is here. There’s also a mystery subplot to keep the tension high. While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
4/5
A sweet and whimsical love story
When I first started reading this book I thought it was going to be an enemies to lovers type of book, and although some of those characteristics are in the book this is not true. We of course don’t find this out till the end. I enjoyed the characters and all of their stubborn behavior it made the book quite entertaining. To read. The world building was done pretty well, and I feel that if I had read the previous books in the series it may have helped my understanding, but this book can definitely be read as a stand alone. The little twists and turns throughout the book ensured that I kept on reading waiting for another moment of near death or mishap when it came to the main characters. The big twist towards the end was evident in the book long before it was revealed, but it was done in such a way that it was still a bit of a surprise. If you like more historical romance books then this is a great book to read.
5/5
They couldn’t see the forest for the trees.
The title did not make a great deal of sense to me right at first but about mid way I understood and could see where this was going. I thought the villain would be someone else right at first but the author’s chose was excellent. It is a really good story about these two who both had a devil of a time getting together. They did not realize they really did have someone on their side. That said there is action and danger and that kept me on the edge on my seat. Great characters and plot the book was highly entertaining and I am happy to recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
5/5
Worth Dying For
Captivated my attention instantly, leaving me no other choice but to devour in one sitting... I simply loved this story and cannot wait to see what comes next in this series...
5/5
Historical romance with a great amount of spice
There’s nothing like seeing your engagement announced in the newspaper—except when you didn’t know you were engaged! That’s what happens to Lydia and Benedict, who’ve been antagonizing each other for years. Even worse, this engagement news is shared in London’s most notorious gossip column! Yet Benedict—known for his affairs with married women to avoid the snare of marriage himself—finds himself strangely drawn to the prospect of marriage to Lydia. And he’s willing to use every skill and trick he knows to make this false engagement into a real marriage. Lydia and Benedict are two fabulous characters. She is strong-willed and naïve all at once, both brave and credulous. Benedict is both the layabout lord and someone deeply caring of those he loves. Lydia and Benedict’s disputes recall the old adage of protesting too much, and you can see, especially on Benedict’s part, that they seek one another out for more than just verbal sparring. Watching them move their unexpected marriage to something real and lasting makes Worth Dying For great fun to read. But that title is there for a reason: there’s a threat to Lydia when various attempts are made on her life. The villain is abundantly evident in this book; I really wasn’t surprised at the last-quarter actions this villain takes. I did think there were some lapses in logic in this book. For example, Benedict dislocates his shoulder, but upon his return to his house he not only embraces Lydia but picks her up and carries her! I shudder to think how that felt with his injury. And he’s freely using both hands even though he enters the house in a sling. There’s great use of secondary characters in Worth Dying For. Lydia’s siblings (the focus of earlier books in this series) play vital roles in helping or thwarting Lydia and Benedict’s relationship. And Benedict’s brother William is someone I hope gets his own story one day. So if you’re looking for a fine historical romance with a great amount of spice (both verbal and physical!) between its leading characters, give Worth Dying For a chance!
4/5
Enemy to lover romance
Spark Flew When Every Time They Met! When Lady Lydia Powell and the Marquis of Quinton, Benedict Davies first set eyes on each other at a ball, they were instantly drawn to each other. Unfortunately Benedict spurned her! He would not accept what he felt for her and was known as one of the biggest rakes around, changing women whilst already with another women. He was also her brother’s best friend. Three years later, Benedict had been in and out of her life and every time they met, sparks would fly and they ended up arguing. They were sworn enemies to the ton, so it was quite a surprise when an announcement was made in one of the local papers that they were engaged! Lydia for the past three years had struck up a friendship with one of the writers in the papers and quite a few times mad jabs at Benedict. This time when the announcement was made, she was entirely innocent and denied any knowledge of being involved with the latest gossip! Benedict didn’t believe her and was convinced it was revenge to get back at him but he really wanted her quite madly and after three years of denying himself, decided it was time to claim her and would not retract the engagement. After her brother and Lydia denied the betrothal, Benedict decided to compromise her so they had to get married. I really enjoyed this story. It was full of repressed passion and steam with the mystery of who was trying to kill Lydia. I loved the way Benedict’s character came over and how he cared for his brother William. Lydia had her own quite spoiled personality and it was great to see how she grew up and acknowledged her feelings for Benedict. This is the first I have read from this author and will be looking to read more. I love a good enemy to lover romance and this hit all the marks for me. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC copy and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
4/5
Benedict and Lydia are meant to be together
Benedict and Lydia are meant to be together. Through lies and a fake engagement announcement they overcome their problems. For three years, Lady Lydia Powell has maintained a secret correspondence with a famed gossip columnist. Of course, she never expected to be on the receiving end of the chatter. Now, with her name appearing in an engagement announcement to her worst enemy, Lydia is shocked! Surely there’s been some sort of mistake? The Marquis of Quinton, Benedict Davies finds himself with a rare opportunity. Having suspected for a while that Lydia has been behind a defamation campaign against him, Benedict can’t help but dream of exacting his revenge on the hot-blooded beauty. While London rejoices that the two former foes have fallen in love, not everyone is thrilled. Danger seems to be lurking behind every corner and soon the couple are left wondering if their relationship is worth dying for. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
4/5
Matilda Madison writes like magic
When I knew of “Worth Dying For” being published soon I thought it would be the last installment of the “Worth” series with the three Powell Siblings (Edward, Catherine and Lydia) as the protagonists, now I’m hoping Lydia’s book is not the last one, for there is a character whom I’d love to know more of, but that’s a story for another day. Matilda Madison sets the cards for this round in the introduction. This part is set three years prior to the events in the previous book and this book as well. Lydia is the youngest of the Powell siblings who was mostly overlooked by her cruel father who had been a monster to Edward and Catherine. The two had taken charge of her after the man died and they’ve spoiled her a little. Lydia has a strong personality, she’s impulsive, and she’s used to get what she wants, but she’s sweet and lovable and quite generous too. As it happens, Lydia is quite attracted to Benedict Davies, the Marquis of Quinton and her brother’s best friend, so once at a ball she asked him for a kiss… and he refused. They’ve been enemies ever since. Benedict spends three years constantly in and out of the Powell’s company. The day he refused to kiss Lydia had been one of the most difficult days of his life because he is attracted to her and he’s not the right man for her. He’s a rake with the most notorious fame, but he’s also loyal to a fault and as mischievous as Lydia is. When he reads in the papers of a surprise engagement with himself and Lydia as the protagonists, he decides to make it true by seducing her and trapping her into marriage, anyway no one believes it wasn’t her who published it. They move to his ancestral home and there they begin their marital life with the sole company of a very grumpy young man, William, Benedict’s brother who, due to a sickness long ago, is in a wheelchair. Miscomunication, lies and misunderstandings added to Benedict’s difficult past and someone threatening Lydia, won’t make life easy for the couple but the chemistry between them is explosive and their love is tattooed in their hearts since the kiss that never was. I read once that reformed rakes make the best husbands, and in this book that is the case. At the beginning I thought that Lydia was very well portrayed because she’s very straightforwards, she is who she is and that’s clear from the beginning. But with Benedict it was like unwrapping a present. He introduced himself as the kind of rake we read about in every other novel, but then he surprises the reader by showing his feelings and thoughts and how deeply he loves Lydia and has loved her since always. He’s so protective and caring, though sometimes he patronizes her, which is exactly what she needs to grow out of her spoiled personality. He helps Lydia mature but not in an overbearing way, Lydia blooms as a woman, not because of him but with him, because he lets her be herself. The Lydia we see in the second half of the book is slightly different to the Lydia that lived under her brother’s wing. She’s more realistic than the hopeless romantic child she was, she’s more understanding and a little less impulsive. The writing in this book matches Lydias vibrant personality, that’s how we get to meet her well. The pace changes with her moods and make a perfect picture of what’s happening all the time. Then I think that Matilda Madison writes like magic because she appeals directly to her readers’ hearts with her beautiful writing and the way she delivers her characters feelings of love, doubt, worrying, strength. Her words fly out of the page and takes us into the book making us Benedict’s and Lydia’s secrets keepers. This is exactly the kind of writing that I love the most, the kind that makes you participate of the story and even though she did write her previous book in the same way, she still managed to surprise me. I’m now going to read the first book which is the one I’m missing, while I wait for her to write about… oh, spoilers.
