Marriage For Music by Elizabeth Bailey

An average historical marriage of convenience,Lilly just wants a grand piano and Vincent Earl of Wintringham to get his inheritance. An ok read

Vincent needs to marry or he loses his inheritance, unfortunately his reputation for debauchery has proceeded him and no one is letting him near their daughters. Then he encounters Lily, who is an orphaned poor relation to a good family, and treated like a servant. He's willing to offer her anything to get her to the alter quickly, as he is running out of time but all she wants is a piano and a place to play it. He agrees, and soon he realizes his new wife is a gifted piano genius, and she realizes that Vincent, despite his reputation, is actually a very kind and intelligent man. Their growing respect for each other turns into love and they realize that the marriage of convenience they had planned, isn't convenient at all, for the life they both begin to want.

A marriage-of-convenience story in which a dissolute young lord marries that standard of fiction — the unfortunate poor relative — with a twist. All she wants is a grand piano so she can continue to make music, while his marriage means he comes into his inheritance. Lily Daubney and Lord Vincent Wintringham barely know each other and the story, of course, is how these strangers come to appreciate each other and fall in love.
There is an interfering sister, Dolly, the mean family where Lily was raised, and the usual misunderstandings to sort out as they come to know each other. This is a sweet story, one of individuals learning to make the best of a difficult situation, and by doing so, finding a HEA they never dreamed was possible. (I received an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions mine.)

Fairly standard marriage of convenience story wherein the man has to marry to get his inheritance and the soon-to-be wife is considered plain and in an untenable position. They don't know each other, but he needs a wife and she needs to get out of her current situation. They make a deal -- he gets his wife in name only and she gets the piano she wants, hence the "marriage for music" title. I enjoyed this book because I prefer a marriage of convenience trope wherein the husband and wife have a "slow burn" to get to know each other and have time to develop feelings for each other without an immediate "I have the hots" attitude wherein the husband just can't keep his thoughts out of the gutter and the wife gets all hot and bothered every time he touches her. This story provides the slow approach. The characters are well developed and you can appreciate how and why they come together in the end. It is well written with good editing (no glaring typos or grammar mistakes and has the proper use of terms of address). I can recommend this one if you appreciate a story wherein the H and h don't immediately jump into wild, passionate sex with no emotional context. And this one ends with the intimacy implied as the marriage becomes a true marriage. So a clean historical romance but well written with interesting characters. I can recommend this book. #NetGalley #MarriageforMusic

Books about social class disparity really pull me in. This is one of those books, tender and romantic, a very easy read. The premise is fun, as are the historical bits.

In 1805 England, Lily, a sweet and spirited young woman, lives with her outspoken and arrogant relatives, the Guineafords. The mother and daughter look down their noses at her, as befitting to their station in their minds. Lily is given the opportunity to attend a ball, albeit with ill-fitting clothes which are not hers, in return for a possible future favour. She meets rumoured wild Lord Vincent Wintringham at the ball who is looking for a wife to fulfill expectations and conditions. He is taken by the unusual and is tired of tedious gossipy girls, and Lily intrigues him greatly. They speak briefly and he quickly proposes the next day as his time is running out. She has conditions. The story follows the two as they embark into a new world. We also meet his family and her dear friend and maid. Watching personalities evolve is satisfying.

Though the story is charming and enchanting, it wasn't as substantive as I like and did not engage me quite enough. However, that is a personal preference. I have read and enjoyed other books by this author and will continue to read others. I encourage those interested in romance with their Historical Fiction.

My sincere thank you to Sapere Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

What a beautiful, sweet romance♥️
A marriage of convenience for the gift of a piano....
So much fun watching Lily and Vincent’s relationship blossom. You get drawn into the apprehension of their relationship as well as the humor. It was exciting and intriguing to see them both grow and mature.
Overall, this is a sweet, clean romance that I highly recommend.
This is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Bailey and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. I will look forward to reading more of her books.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lily Daubney is an orphan who was taken in by the Guineaford family and educated along with their daughter, Cynthia. Lily was made to live in a tiny room and received the occasional castoff dress from Cynthia or her mother. Lily’s good friend is Meg, a maid in the household. She has taken Lily under her wing and cared for her. Lily’s is a talented pianist and loves to play.

One evening, Lily is allowed to attend a ball given by the Guineaford family. There she meets Vincent Clowes, the Earl of Wintringham. His father was cruel to him and has now died, but has left a stipulation that Vincent must marry by a certain time or he will lose his inheritance. Lily and Vincent are intrigued by one another. The next day, he asks Lily to marry him and they do so right away. He agrees that she can live at his estate and he will remain in London to be with his friends where he enjoys his drinking and fun life. Lily also requests that he buy her a piano to which he agrees.

On their way to his estate, Lily sees Vincent get drunk and it makes her very mad. Upon arrival, Lily sees that Wintringham estate is very large and elaborate. Their relationship is quite tenuous as he tries to avoid alcohol until one night, he gets raging drunk. With Lily furious at him, he flees to London.

When Vincent’s bossy sister arrives to tell Lily how to run the estate and how to dress, she is ready to scream and wishes Vincent would come home. If he does, can he and Lily make a go of their marriage?

This is the first book I have read by Elizabeth Bailey and found her writing to be quite good. The tension and humor between Vincent and Lily is well written which made this unlikely couple appear to be heading toward a great marriage. Enjoy this clean, sweet romance.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Orphaned Liliana Daubney has been a drudge in her relative's house ever since she was a child. Lord Wintringham must marry to inherit his fortune, and time is running out. A bargain is struck, but will this marriage of convenience become something real?

The answer, of course, is yes. The fun is how they come around to the idea themselves. Lily agrees to the marriage in exchange for a piano of her own, as she loves music. She'd noticed Vincent before and was intrigued by the rumors about him, wondering if there was more to the man's dissolute reputation. Vincent, who is growing more desperate as the date he is to marry draws closer, has tried to pursue other young ladies, but all know the situation he is in. He is fascinated by the young lady who hides in corners but is also forthright when he speaks to her.

Once they are married, both must adjust to their new circumstances and come better acquainted with each other.

There were a few plot threads that didn't really go anywhere. Lily's cousin Cynthia arranges for her to attend a ball in exchange for a favor. That favor is never called in. Vincent's cousin is furious at losing out on the fortune, vows to make society think ill of Lily, and then he just vanishes from the story.

Overall, this is well written and well paced. I would recommend this to readers looking for a clean and sweet Regency romance.

Could their marriage of convenience lead to something else ...

I very much love the author’s work, she has such a talent with words, engaging her characters in witty banters and emotional schemes.

While I understand Vince’s plight, I even firstly pitied him but soon he shows his recklessness, carelessness and self-absorption are as much part of his renown than his father’s will to chastise him. Still it was difficult to stay upset with him for long.
When all had been an act of rebellion to begin with, alas in time it became a routine. Yet it was also the only answer a lonely little boy knew to give when put in his last retrenchments. But now how to break free of what has become a bad habit.
Lily had been relegated for most of her life to stay in the shadows at the beck and call of her “benefactress”. And while she dreams sometime of escaping, she has no way to do so. Until an improbable proposal. Rational, Lily is also passionate and uses music as an emotional outlet. But outside the music room, she is like a brand new sheet, she has to learn and experience a lot.
And this story is their ups and downs toward their HEA, the mistakes and progresses they make about the other as they must rein on their temper and allegations until they get the right to it.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 : some kissing.

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was very excited to read this book and really wanted to love it but ultimately I was pretty disappointed. The writing is good and the concept itself is a fan favorite (who doesn't love a fake marriage?) but there is a lot of unnecessary small drama to keep the story interesting. I think if it had been a little shorter if would have done the trick.
What really annoyed me though and for me lowered the rating from 3 stars to 2 is the way the other women in the book are portrayed. To make Lily interesting to Vincent it is very often highlighted that "she isn't like other women". Vincent literally says that and even Lily herself often prides herself on being "different" because she doesn't talk about fashion all day or is controlling and demanding. I really just hate it when books have to rely on tearing other women down to make the female protagonist stand out. It also to me just screams the male protagonist does not respect women, just his love interest.

Another relaxing read from Elizabeth Bailey. A quick marriage and slow burning romance between an enchantingly silly pair. This book was a quick and entertaining read.