Killing Colonel Brandon

by Kate Raven

22-year-old Marianne Dashwood Brandon travels to London to hire a hitman to kill her saintly husband in this second-chance romance.

It's canon. . . just barely!

This is a novella with a guaranteed HEA and some steamy scenes.

Genres: Historical

56 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully goofy Austenian spoof.

Summary:
Colonel Brandon is too kind and perfect, and Marianne Dashwood Brandon can no longer abide it; her husband must die.

Review:
If you also enjoyed this book we should be friends.

Pithy humor, affection for the original work, period-appropriate register, and a good degree of creative license all lend themselves to this playful and absurd Sense and Sensibility spin-off.

[Rita Deodato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

Marianne Brandon has the perfect husband! Colonel Brandon is kind, wealthy, and admired for his good character and generosity towards her family. However, after three uneventful years of marriage, she secretly longs for a husband who is thrilling, passionate, and seductive, rather than saintly, virtuous, and predictable. Frustrated with her dull life, she hires a hitman to kill her husband! But as one failed attempt after another unfolds, Marianne begins to see a side of Colonel Brandon she never knew existed and discovers she might actually be in love with the man she’s trying to kill.

This short novella is funny, sexy, and engaging. The story is overall very entertaining, and I enjoyed how each murder attempt brought Marianne and Colonel Brandon closer together. With a high steam level (appropriate for adults), I also appreciated seeing how sexy Colonel Brandon could be (he truly proved himself the perfect husband).

Although I understand that Colonel Brandon’s reserved portrayal at the beginning of the book was consistent with his personality and necessary for the plot to work, I wasn’t particularly fond of it, as it made him appear a bit boorish. I would also have appreciated more insight into the reasons behind his transformation, particularly in his more intimate behavior towards Marianne. While I can infer why he was so controlled, the book doesn’t fully explore why it took him three years to evolve from a reserved partner into an irresistible passionate lover.

Additionally, I was a little disappointed by his reaction at the end when he discovers Marianne’s attempts to have him killed. This felt like a missed opportunity for the author to extend the story and add an interesting, humorous twist.

Nevertheless, this was a highly entertaining short story that I enjoyed immensely and wholeheartedly recommend for its originality, humor, and sensuality. It’s a unique tale that can be read quickly and offers plenty of enjoyment!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange, strange story. The writing is good, although it's way too modern. I never clicked with the plot - just seems like a wacky Sense and Sensibility sequel dream wherein Marianne Brandon can't abide her saintly husband and hires an inept hit man to kill him.

But someone with a different sense of humor from mine might like it.

Content is not at all clean.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***

>>Rating: Mature: Steamy, sex scenes, and crazy violence
>>Angst Level: Stressful, tempered with humor
>>Source: I borrowed this from KU [2-6-25] and volunteered to leave a review. This was novella length at 56 pages with a read time of about an hour.

The blurb described this as a screwball Sense & Sensibility Variation. That was true. Marianne Brandon née Dashwood was a spoiled, pampered, and frustrated wife too young to realize how well she had it. During a particularly boring time, she decided to off her husband. Yep, Colonel Brandon had to die. The poor girl hired the most incompetent killer in England. Of course, he had been suggested by an equally incompetent relative. This was hilarious bordering on the macabre and was sandwiched between lusty encounters between Marianne and Brandon. Oh, good grief. With a read-time of about an hour, it was a quick read. Hopefully, Brandon wasn’t—just saying.

[Tommi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheeky and funny!

This felt true to her original character. And seeing Brandon’s wilder side was great. The ending was not what I expected but this was well worth the read!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

delicious quick read!!

My second book by Ms. Raven and what can I say it did not disappoint!! I cannot wait for the next release!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Sense and Sensibility sequel, three years have passed since the marriage of Colonel Brandon and Marianne Dashwood. She finds his kindness oppressive, and decides the only solution is to kill him. Mature content.
An entertaining story.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marianne Brandon is annoyed with her husband because he's considered such a saint for marrying her. She feels patronized and sexually frustrated. So she does what any disgruntled wife might do and hires a hitman. But the hitman is not very good at his work (It is so hard to find good help these days!) This was an amusing story and I had no idea what to expect. When things come to light the reaction is rather nonchalant and blasé, and I thought somebody might be just a tiny bit more upset finding out what their family does at their leisure.

Steam level: There is some intimate content but I wouldn't call it steamy. The sex bits stick out a bit because the rest of it is written in a more laconic, humorous style.

I got this as a freebie for Kindle with no expectation of a review.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

In this very short variation we have Marianne Brandon bored with her "oh, so perfect and perfectly in control" husband so she hires a hitman to do away with him. After several failed attempts, we read of a change in her husband...his passions are awakened and she finds herself falling in love. Now what to do about that killer?

This does have some descriptions of sex scenes so is rated MA.

[Tamotha clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Brandon

She has a husband who well off Colonel Brandon, he helped her family with their lives, and treated her well. She wanted a husband that not a Saint or a good two shoes. He was known for his good character. She secretly wants excitement, passionate, and seductive husband.

[Mustang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ended up being funnier than I thought

For me, this started off a little slower than I would have liked. It really was getting good towards the end and I would have liked a bit more development but it is a very quick read.

[Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was very cute. and i like the writing style, so I'll be reading more from this author.

[cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting plot.
I wish h did not have an ex she loved before.

[Cristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about half of this book, stopped when I realized I was bored.

[Fiatgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, silly little novella.

[Kate Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

bonkers obvs

Unhinged and edited down to the bone but fun. I think she’s funny without at all trying? I’d like to see her voice expanded.

[Jen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never did like Marianne
:)