What do you think?
Rate this book
Saved from Disgrace #2
Beauty and the Brooding Lord
Ruined by a rake…
Rescued by the reclusive Baron!
Following the death of his fiancée, Lord Quinn has sworn off all matters of the heart. But when he happens upon an innocent lady being assaulted his sense of honour insists he step in and rescue her…even if that means marriage to protect Serena’s reputation! However, his new wife remains distant—a stranger to his bed. Can Quinn help Serena fight her demons and finally defeat his own?
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2018
36 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mallory
211 books117 followersSarah Mallory is the pen name for Melinda Hammond.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Read
December 9, 2019This surprised me. In a good way.
I was expecting some light fluff about a grumpy man and a vivacious lady (please note: I am always here for light fluff about grumpy men and vivacious ladies) but what I got was this incredibly tender slow-recovery-from-trauma story that, well, super worked for me.
The heroine, Serena, is flirty and wilful with a scandalous mother--and kicks off the book in the stultifying care of her semi-well-meaning guardians. Hoping to have a naughty adventure at Vauxhall with a notorious rake, she's instead abducted and assaulted, and rescued by Lord Quinn, the titular brooding lord.
What follows is a marriage of convenience / healed by love story that runs along, I suppose, fairly predicable lines. But then if you ask me 'unpredictability' is an overrated quality in books. I read romances for character-work, emotional connection, and warm fuzzies. If I wanna be gripped solely by the plot of something I can pick up a thriller or a mystery.
And the character-work here is, for me, *chef's kiss*. I will say, I'm wary in principle of "healed by lurve" especially as pertains to sexual trauma but I guess these things always come down to how you do it. And I felt it was done well in this instance--a combination of time (the book is no rush to get its heroine 'over it'), the overwhelming wonderfulness of the hero, and the heroine making active choices about her desires.
I think part of the reason I was willing to put aside my cynicism / suspend disbelief / accept what the book was telling me was that it seemed pretty clear that all these factors were working in harmony to help Serena re-discover who she was. For all that Quinn was a hugely positive influence on her, there are two distinct occasions in the text where it's very clear that it's ultimately Serena who has to step forward. He helps, yes, by being a decent person. But her recovery is all her own.
Despite its rather traumatic opening, this is an incredibly gentle book. It takes its time with its characters. It allows them plenty of warm scenes together, building not just passion but intimacy. In my last review I whined a bit about category romances sometimes feeling too emotionally compressed for my tastes: this one has a really strong focus on its heroine and her growth, both on her own and with the hero, that, for me, the arc developed beautifully, even on the tighter timescale. It felt a little bit like a masterclass, actually, in how to do consistent and plausible emotional development on a tight schedule. I be very admiring.
I also need to mention the hero very briefly here. I do think he's oversold as brooding - more slightly abrupt sometimes, and I say that as a Brit with a culturally over-developed sense of politeness! He's supposed to be the rudest man in London but he's an epic cinnamon roll, and I loved it. He's perilously close to too-fucking-perfect, honestly. But I loved Serena, and she goes through a lot, so the author giving her a big shiny perfect man felt entirely appropriate. Quinn's arc is much simpler compared to hers: it's basically, "I was in love with a fridged woman, and while I will always still care for the fridged woman, I can also love this new woman, isn't that nice? ps I should probably try to be slightly less abrupt with people but ehhhh" Which as far as "dead previous woman" arcs go, is about as good as it gets.
With my "must analyse everything" hat on, I think it was a wise choice for category to couple a very intense character arc with a much less intense one. Also, since so many heroes are total wankstains, there's always something deeply satisfying to me in reading a lovely man being lovely and everything is lovely. The romance genre will have to change a lot, and I do mean *a lot*, before I ever criticise this or get bored of it.
The book comes unstuck a teeny tiny bit towards the end: there's a medium-sized misunderstanding between Serena and Quinn when she thinks she's randomly taken a mistress, when actually he's trying to take down the dude who assaulted her. And I'm iffy on the whole taking-down-that-dude angle: I guess it feels like necessary closure to some people but, and let me make it clear this is entirely personal, I think I'd like there to be more space in the genre for getting closure on abuse entirely detached from your abuser. I mean, as soon as you get into the "person who loves you starts taking revenge on your abuser for you" plot then suddenly it's all about the abuser, and the person who loves you has made your abuse all about them, and meh. Blah.
I think, for me, this book would have worked just as well (better?) without these sudden very plotty interventions towards the end. The strength of the characters could have brought it home.
But yeah, this is up there with the Rake's Enticing Proposal for me.
I was expecting some light fluff about a grumpy man and a vivacious lady (please note: I am always here for light fluff about grumpy men and vivacious ladies) but what I got was this incredibly tender slow-recovery-from-trauma story that, well, super worked for me.
The heroine, Serena, is flirty and wilful with a scandalous mother--and kicks off the book in the stultifying care of her semi-well-meaning guardians. Hoping to have a naughty adventure at Vauxhall with a notorious rake, she's instead abducted and assaulted, and rescued by Lord Quinn, the titular brooding lord.
What follows is a marriage of convenience / healed by love story that runs along, I suppose, fairly predicable lines. But then if you ask me 'unpredictability' is an overrated quality in books. I read romances for character-work, emotional connection, and warm fuzzies. If I wanna be gripped solely by the plot of something I can pick up a thriller or a mystery.
And the character-work here is, for me, *chef's kiss*. I will say, I'm wary in principle of "healed by lurve" especially as pertains to sexual trauma but I guess these things always come down to how you do it. And I felt it was done well in this instance--a combination of time (the book is no rush to get its heroine 'over it'), the overwhelming wonderfulness of the hero, and the heroine making active choices about her desires.
I think part of the reason I was willing to put aside my cynicism / suspend disbelief / accept what the book was telling me was that it seemed pretty clear that all these factors were working in harmony to help Serena re-discover who she was. For all that Quinn was a hugely positive influence on her, there are two distinct occasions in the text where it's very clear that it's ultimately Serena who has to step forward. He helps, yes, by being a decent person. But her recovery is all her own.
Despite its rather traumatic opening, this is an incredibly gentle book. It takes its time with its characters. It allows them plenty of warm scenes together, building not just passion but intimacy. In my last review I whined a bit about category romances sometimes feeling too emotionally compressed for my tastes: this one has a really strong focus on its heroine and her growth, both on her own and with the hero, that, for me, the arc developed beautifully, even on the tighter timescale. It felt a little bit like a masterclass, actually, in how to do consistent and plausible emotional development on a tight schedule. I be very admiring.
I also need to mention the hero very briefly here. I do think he's oversold as brooding - more slightly abrupt sometimes, and I say that as a Brit with a culturally over-developed sense of politeness! He's supposed to be the rudest man in London but he's an epic cinnamon roll, and I loved it. He's perilously close to too-fucking-perfect, honestly. But I loved Serena, and she goes through a lot, so the author giving her a big shiny perfect man felt entirely appropriate. Quinn's arc is much simpler compared to hers: it's basically, "I was in love with a fridged woman, and while I will always still care for the fridged woman, I can also love this new woman, isn't that nice? ps I should probably try to be slightly less abrupt with people but ehhhh" Which as far as "dead previous woman" arcs go, is about as good as it gets.
With my "must analyse everything" hat on, I think it was a wise choice for category to couple a very intense character arc with a much less intense one. Also, since so many heroes are total wankstains, there's always something deeply satisfying to me in reading a lovely man being lovely and everything is lovely. The romance genre will have to change a lot, and I do mean *a lot*, before I ever criticise this or get bored of it.
The book comes unstuck a teeny tiny bit towards the end: there's a medium-sized misunderstanding between Serena and Quinn when she thinks she's randomly taken a mistress, when actually he's trying to take down the dude who assaulted her. And I'm iffy on the whole taking-down-that-dude angle: I guess it feels like necessary closure to some people but, and let me make it clear this is entirely personal, I think I'd like there to be more space in the genre for getting closure on abuse entirely detached from your abuser. I mean, as soon as you get into the "person who loves you starts taking revenge on your abuser for you" plot then suddenly it's all about the abuser, and the person who loves you has made your abuse all about them, and meh. Blah.
I think, for me, this book would have worked just as well (better?) without these sudden very plotty interventions towards the end. The strength of the characters could have brought it home.
But yeah, this is up there with the Rake's Enticing Proposal for me.
October 29, 2018
4.5 stars
I’ve been bemoaning the fact for months that 2018 has been a pretty poor year for historical romance. Thankfully, however, some authors are bucking that trend and many of those write for Mills & Boon (Harlequin) Historical. Authors such as Louise Allen, Marguerite Kaye, Virginia Heath and Janice Preston have provided some excellent reads lately, and to that list, I’m adding Sarah Mallory, whose latest release, Beauty and the Brooding Lord is a rather lovely compromised-into-marriage tale in which a society beauty and a brusque, somewhat anti-social lord have to work at a relationship formed under difficult circumstances.
Serena Russington (whose half-brother, Charles, was the hero of(The Ton's Most Notorious Rake ) is in her second Season and has yet to choose a husband. She’s beautiful and has a considerable dowry so has no shortage of suitors… the trouble is that they’re all rather dull and she can’t face the prospect of spending a lifetime with a man who bores her and has no interest in her beyond her money and value as a potential brood-mare. Having seen Charles fall in love and settle down, she has the (rather ill-conceived) idea that perhaps a rake – who will reform, of course – will make her a good husband, and to that end, arranges to attend an event at Vauxhall Gardens with the handsome Sir Timothy Forsbrook. Unfortunately, however, she fails to take into account that his intentions may not be honourable, and instead of a trip to Vauxhall, finds herself being borne off to Gretna and to a hasty marriage. It’s a long journey though, and when they stop for the night at an inn, Forsbrook is intent on sealing the deal by rape if necessary – but Serena’s screams are heard by another traveller who bursts into the room, sees immediately what’s going on, knocks Forsbrook out and takes Serena away.
This traveller is Lord Rufus Quinn, whom Serena had met briefly at a ball earlier that week and with whom she’d had a brief exchange during which she’d thought him rude and boorish. But Serena is too shaken up and scared to think of anything but the terrible events that have overtaken her; and as there is no suitable female to remain with Serena until such time as her family can collect her, Quinn takes her to his home – which is close by – where he entrusts her to the care of his housekeeper. But while he has ensured Serena’s physical safety, keeping her reputation intact could prove problematic. Quinn sends for her brother and sister-in-law – who doesn’t stop haranguing Serena about her thoughtlessness and ruined reputation – and they take her back to London, hoping that other scandals will prove juicier than any she has created, but word soon gets out that Serena was away overnight and it’s not long before the gossip starts. Forsbrook is putting it about that Serena persuaded him to an elopement, and it doesn’t help that her mother – her father’s second wife – infamously ran away with her Italian lover, and society is quick to paint Serena with the same brush. There’s only one thing to be done – Serena must be married off and removed from London until things die down and she can be made respectable again.
Through all this, nobody but Quinn notices how entirely subdued Serena has become. Their one previous encounter showed her to be a lively, spirited young woman, but since the night he rescued her from Forsbrook, she’s been a pale shadow, self-effacing and drab – and he’s surprised to discover how much he wants to see the vivacious side of Serena again. After a couple of weeks in the country, hearing from friends how much worse things are getting for her, Quinn heads to London to see for himself – and ends up offering for her.
Sarah Mallory does an excellent job in this novel of developing the relationship between Quinn and Serena and of getting across just how badly her near-rape has affected her. The plotline of the heiress being abducted and compromised into marriage is a common one, but often, the villain is foiled before he can force himself upon the heroine; here, however, even though Ms. Mallory doesn’t show the violence brought to bear on her, the danger to Serena feels real, as do its after effects. She loses herself for a while, attempting to fade into the background and to turn herself into the sort of quiet, biddable wife her sister-in-law insists men want. She knows she behaved irresponsibly and now doubts her every instinct as a result, allowing her sister-in-law’s harsh criticisms to inform her decisions and mistrusting her new husband’s words and gestures of affection.
Quinn might have a reputation for being the rudest man in London, but when it comes to Serena he’s nothing but kind and thoughtful. The majority of the book is dedicated to building the relationship and the trust between Quinn and Serena and it’s beautifully done. Quinn’s kindness and attentiveness gradually coax Serena out of the protective shell she’s drawn around herself, and their affinity for one another and the emotional connection between them is palpable. Sadly, however, the final few chapters of the book suddenly shift the focus away from the romance to a somewhat convoluted revenge plot which gives rise to a Big Mis on Serena’s part. It’s a big tonal shift and if felt rather out of place, coming as it did at the end of what had been a gently moving, character-driven romance; I knocked off half a star/grade point as a result.
Even so, I’d definitely recommend Beauty and the Brooding Lord to historical romance lovers for its engaging and well-rounded principal characters and superbly developed romance.
I’ve been bemoaning the fact for months that 2018 has been a pretty poor year for historical romance. Thankfully, however, some authors are bucking that trend and many of those write for Mills & Boon (Harlequin) Historical. Authors such as Louise Allen, Marguerite Kaye, Virginia Heath and Janice Preston have provided some excellent reads lately, and to that list, I’m adding Sarah Mallory, whose latest release, Beauty and the Brooding Lord is a rather lovely compromised-into-marriage tale in which a society beauty and a brusque, somewhat anti-social lord have to work at a relationship formed under difficult circumstances.
Serena Russington (whose half-brother, Charles, was the hero of(The Ton's Most Notorious Rake ) is in her second Season and has yet to choose a husband. She’s beautiful and has a considerable dowry so has no shortage of suitors… the trouble is that they’re all rather dull and she can’t face the prospect of spending a lifetime with a man who bores her and has no interest in her beyond her money and value as a potential brood-mare. Having seen Charles fall in love and settle down, she has the (rather ill-conceived) idea that perhaps a rake – who will reform, of course – will make her a good husband, and to that end, arranges to attend an event at Vauxhall Gardens with the handsome Sir Timothy Forsbrook. Unfortunately, however, she fails to take into account that his intentions may not be honourable, and instead of a trip to Vauxhall, finds herself being borne off to Gretna and to a hasty marriage. It’s a long journey though, and when they stop for the night at an inn, Forsbrook is intent on sealing the deal by rape if necessary – but Serena’s screams are heard by another traveller who bursts into the room, sees immediately what’s going on, knocks Forsbrook out and takes Serena away.
This traveller is Lord Rufus Quinn, whom Serena had met briefly at a ball earlier that week and with whom she’d had a brief exchange during which she’d thought him rude and boorish. But Serena is too shaken up and scared to think of anything but the terrible events that have overtaken her; and as there is no suitable female to remain with Serena until such time as her family can collect her, Quinn takes her to his home – which is close by – where he entrusts her to the care of his housekeeper. But while he has ensured Serena’s physical safety, keeping her reputation intact could prove problematic. Quinn sends for her brother and sister-in-law – who doesn’t stop haranguing Serena about her thoughtlessness and ruined reputation – and they take her back to London, hoping that other scandals will prove juicier than any she has created, but word soon gets out that Serena was away overnight and it’s not long before the gossip starts. Forsbrook is putting it about that Serena persuaded him to an elopement, and it doesn’t help that her mother – her father’s second wife – infamously ran away with her Italian lover, and society is quick to paint Serena with the same brush. There’s only one thing to be done – Serena must be married off and removed from London until things die down and she can be made respectable again.
Through all this, nobody but Quinn notices how entirely subdued Serena has become. Their one previous encounter showed her to be a lively, spirited young woman, but since the night he rescued her from Forsbrook, she’s been a pale shadow, self-effacing and drab – and he’s surprised to discover how much he wants to see the vivacious side of Serena again. After a couple of weeks in the country, hearing from friends how much worse things are getting for her, Quinn heads to London to see for himself – and ends up offering for her.
Sarah Mallory does an excellent job in this novel of developing the relationship between Quinn and Serena and of getting across just how badly her near-rape has affected her. The plotline of the heiress being abducted and compromised into marriage is a common one, but often, the villain is foiled before he can force himself upon the heroine; here, however, even though Ms. Mallory doesn’t show the violence brought to bear on her, the danger to Serena feels real, as do its after effects. She loses herself for a while, attempting to fade into the background and to turn herself into the sort of quiet, biddable wife her sister-in-law insists men want. She knows she behaved irresponsibly and now doubts her every instinct as a result, allowing her sister-in-law’s harsh criticisms to inform her decisions and mistrusting her new husband’s words and gestures of affection.
Quinn might have a reputation for being the rudest man in London, but when it comes to Serena he’s nothing but kind and thoughtful. The majority of the book is dedicated to building the relationship and the trust between Quinn and Serena and it’s beautifully done. Quinn’s kindness and attentiveness gradually coax Serena out of the protective shell she’s drawn around herself, and their affinity for one another and the emotional connection between them is palpable. Sadly, however, the final few chapters of the book suddenly shift the focus away from the romance to a somewhat convoluted revenge plot which gives rise to a Big Mis on Serena’s part. It’s a big tonal shift and if felt rather out of place, coming as it did at the end of what had been a gently moving, character-driven romance; I knocked off half a star/grade point as a result.
Even so, I’d definitely recommend Beauty and the Brooding Lord to historical romance lovers for its engaging and well-rounded principal characters and superbly developed romance.
October 18, 2018
Oooh, I do really love this book, The Beauty and the Brooding Lord has a simple yet fully engrossing plot that will have the reader hooked. I will admit that it was only last year that I was introduced to this wonderful author’s work but each one I have read so far has been brilliantly written with memorable plots and character’s that keep you wanting to read more, I think that this book could be the best I have read by Ms Mallory to-date.
Lord Rufus Quinn is a man holding on the shards of his broken heart, after the death of his fiancée, he is adamant that this is it for him, he will never open up his heart to anyone again. He is known for being rude, brooding and not at all very pleasant. He isn’t one for society, and only enters it when necessary, which is when he meets an alluring creature with real fire and wit, a woman who makes his blood boil with lust.
Serena Russington is fed up of her sister-in-law trying to match make her with every dull man of their acquaintance, she knows that she must marry as she cannot keep living with her brother and her sister-in-law, getting in the way but she wants something more than a marriage of convenience, she wants more than what most of society have. She wants excitement, and she has her eyes on the more…notorious men. Any woman can relate to Serena, her head is turned not by prim and proper gent’s but by rakes and bad boys. But her quest for excitement leads to finding herself in a dangerous situation, one that changes her life.
Quinn comes across the very woman who he met that night at a ball, the woman who had much fire and brimstone running through her vein’s. He saves her from being attacked, Quinn knows that as she is an innocent he must do the right thing and marry her. Once married their problems don’t just disappear, both have issues that they need to work past to finally be happy, they have to learn all over how to be themselves and how to love. Which I really think those moment’s when they are learning about each other, the little caresses are very sensitive and beautifully portrayed.
Serena has changed from her ordeal, she is a shell of the feisty woman that caught Quinn’s eye, she has become reserved and mouse-like, even her clothing has had a drastic overall – thanks to her pushy sister-in-law. She is still reliving that moment when she was attacked and blames herself for her foolishness. She is just a woman that needs that security that she finds with Quinn, she wants to be herself and free of the constraints of society. Yes, she acted rash and made a silly mistake, but I think that meeting Quinn was the making of her.
Oh, how much do I love Quinn? ….Way too much to count, he is a wonderfully complex character that has real depth, I really like how the readers get to know Quinn through the book, he has issues with allowing others into his guarded heart, but I have to say that any woman who has that privilege to have this man’s love, are hugely fortunate. It really Quinn is the perfect man to gently bring her out of her shell, all of society may think that he is rude but he isn’t, he is honest and forward, he says what is on his mind he just isn’t very good with small talk and compliments – after all who is? I like his quiet, gentle and brutally honest persona. He is a breath of fresh air and not like other heroes – dare I say, he has a wee but of Heathcliffe in him? 😉
I love, love that we can a peek into how Russ and Molly are faring from the previous book ‘The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake’ I loved that story, it is great to see the rakish Russ now he is happily married with Molly.
Oh, I have to talk about the cover too…I am so in love with it, and the scene it depicts is such a great one. 🙂 The Beauty and the Brooding Lord is a wonderful fairy-tale style story that will leave the reader feeling very warm, the message I got from this is that no matter what has happened in your life or who you are there is always someone out there. Which is exactly what happened with Quinn and Serena. The story is very character driven, their journey to their happy ever after is an enjoyable, passionate and thoughtful tale that will keep the reader turning the pages. Quinn and Serena a wonderfully pared couple, I love the little looks and caresses between them which proves that even the smallest detail can be very sexy and romantic and Ms Mallory has once again proved what a wonderfully skilled writer she is.
A utterly romantic and enchanting tale, and highly recommended
Lord Rufus Quinn is a man holding on the shards of his broken heart, after the death of his fiancée, he is adamant that this is it for him, he will never open up his heart to anyone again. He is known for being rude, brooding and not at all very pleasant. He isn’t one for society, and only enters it when necessary, which is when he meets an alluring creature with real fire and wit, a woman who makes his blood boil with lust.
Serena Russington is fed up of her sister-in-law trying to match make her with every dull man of their acquaintance, she knows that she must marry as she cannot keep living with her brother and her sister-in-law, getting in the way but she wants something more than a marriage of convenience, she wants more than what most of society have. She wants excitement, and she has her eyes on the more…notorious men. Any woman can relate to Serena, her head is turned not by prim and proper gent’s but by rakes and bad boys. But her quest for excitement leads to finding herself in a dangerous situation, one that changes her life.
Quinn comes across the very woman who he met that night at a ball, the woman who had much fire and brimstone running through her vein’s. He saves her from being attacked, Quinn knows that as she is an innocent he must do the right thing and marry her. Once married their problems don’t just disappear, both have issues that they need to work past to finally be happy, they have to learn all over how to be themselves and how to love. Which I really think those moment’s when they are learning about each other, the little caresses are very sensitive and beautifully portrayed.
Serena has changed from her ordeal, she is a shell of the feisty woman that caught Quinn’s eye, she has become reserved and mouse-like, even her clothing has had a drastic overall – thanks to her pushy sister-in-law. She is still reliving that moment when she was attacked and blames herself for her foolishness. She is just a woman that needs that security that she finds with Quinn, she wants to be herself and free of the constraints of society. Yes, she acted rash and made a silly mistake, but I think that meeting Quinn was the making of her.
Oh, how much do I love Quinn? ….Way too much to count, he is a wonderfully complex character that has real depth, I really like how the readers get to know Quinn through the book, he has issues with allowing others into his guarded heart, but I have to say that any woman who has that privilege to have this man’s love, are hugely fortunate. It really Quinn is the perfect man to gently bring her out of her shell, all of society may think that he is rude but he isn’t, he is honest and forward, he says what is on his mind he just isn’t very good with small talk and compliments – after all who is? I like his quiet, gentle and brutally honest persona. He is a breath of fresh air and not like other heroes – dare I say, he has a wee but of Heathcliffe in him? 😉
I love, love that we can a peek into how Russ and Molly are faring from the previous book ‘The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake’ I loved that story, it is great to see the rakish Russ now he is happily married with Molly.
Oh, I have to talk about the cover too…I am so in love with it, and the scene it depicts is such a great one. 🙂 The Beauty and the Brooding Lord is a wonderful fairy-tale style story that will leave the reader feeling very warm, the message I got from this is that no matter what has happened in your life or who you are there is always someone out there. Which is exactly what happened with Quinn and Serena. The story is very character driven, their journey to their happy ever after is an enjoyable, passionate and thoughtful tale that will keep the reader turning the pages. Quinn and Serena a wonderfully pared couple, I love the little looks and caresses between them which proves that even the smallest detail can be very sexy and romantic and Ms Mallory has once again proved what a wonderfully skilled writer she is.
A utterly romantic and enchanting tale, and highly recommended
October 22, 2018
I gave this a B- at All About Romance.
I enjoyed Sarah Mallory’s last book, The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake, and looked forward to reading its loosely linked follow-up. Beauty and the Brooding Lord is similarly charming and romantic, featuring an appealing pair of principal characters – opposites who bring out the best in each other – and the romance hooked me from beginning to end. Unfortunately, what should have been a simple transformative love story is overburdened with one too many subplots, and the traumatic event that initially linked the principal couple isn’t treated with quite the gravitas it deserves. This is a charming and romantic novel masquerading as something darker… and it only partly succeeds.
Lady Serena longs to meet a man who engages both her heart and mind, but after two years on the marriage mart, she still hasn’t met him. Her eldest half-brother (and guardian) Henry continues to introduce her to wealthy and eligible suitors, but she’s dismissed each of them: too old, too boring, too dull… none of them excite her. Witnessing her beloved half-brother Russ (Charles Russington from The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake) fall head over heels in love, she’s decided to find a rake of her own.
When the story opens, she’s agreed to a secret rendezvous with renowned libertine Sir Timothy Forsbrook, and escaped the watchful attention of her sister-in-law, Lady Hambridge. Arriving at the assignation, she’s anxious but hopeful… until she realizes the man in front of her isn’t Sir Timothy. This man is a big, towering and scowling stranger. He brusquely informs her that there was another gentleman there, but that he kicked him out after he presumed to suggest he should leave instead. The man then scathingly tells her she’ll have to find somewhere else for her lovemaking, and teases her when she refutes his assumptions. Serena flees back to the tedium of the ballroom, only to discover her grumpy stranger is Lord Rufus Quinn, a wealthy and reclusive bachelor. Spotting him engaged in conversation with another guest, she surreptitiously studies him and his slightly scruffy appearance, and decides he isn’t worthy of her attention.
Rufus Quinn rarely ventures into London. He has no time for or interest in society, and only attended Lord Grindleshams’ ball in order to arrange the purchase of a painting that Grindlesham was selling from his collection. He later discovered his attendance was wholly unnecessary – Quinn had only to name his price and the painting was his, so the evening was a waste of time spent amongst people he hates. After getting a late start leaving town for his home in Hertfordshire, he stops to refresh himself at a local inn. Nearing midnight he’s reading his curricle to depart when he hears a faint cry. When that cry is followed up with a sharp scream, Quinn doesn’t hesitate. He barges into a guest room, knocking out a man who attempts to attack him, and spots a young lady cowering in the corner. He manages to coax her out and gently wraps her trembling, bruised body in a blanket before escorting her out of the room. After a brief conversation with the innkeeper reveals there are no suitable females available to act as chaperone for her return journey to London, he opts to take her to his home and place her in the care of his housekeeper. He issues a warning to the innkeeper to forget the incident ever happened, and departs with the lady bundled up on the seat beside him.
The near victim, as you might have guessed, is Lady Serena. After agreeing to another rendezvous with Sir Timothy at Vauxhall, he kidnapped her – intending to bed her and marry her for her fortune. But his plan goes awry when Serena resists and is then rescued by Quinn. Romancelandia fans know where this story is going (and the blurb reveals it if you don’t), but Ms. Mallory shakes things up – focusing instead on the repercussions of the near rape on our heroine. Serena is devastated and depressed after the attack, and she loses interest in all the things that once brought her pleasure. She mistrusts herself and her instincts, and doubts Quinn’s gestures of affection. Quinn persists, giving her space and coaxing her into believing in herself once again, but she struggles. Her sister-in-law, who barely tolerated Serena whilst she was living with them, plants additional seeds of doubt and failure, and the bulk of the novel is spent watching Serena struggle to regain confidence in herself and her feelings for Quinn. There has always been a thread of attraction between them, and she must learn to forgive herself for the bad decisions that led her into Sir Timothy’s clutches. It’s a painful journey of self-discovery.
With its depiction of a heroine struggling to overcome the trauma of an attempted sexual assault, Beauty and the Brooding Lord is darker than the fairytale-esque (she’s the beauty, he’s the beast) marriage of convenience it purports to be. Serena’s recovery and the sweetly evolving relationship with the ever protective and loving Quinn are highlights of the story. Unfortunately, the author tacks on several unnecessary subplots – Quinn’s revenge on Sir Timothy, Serena’s unpleasant relationships with her vindictive sister-in-law and selfish, absentee mother, and a last minute misunderstanding with Quinn – and they overcomplicate this love story. Like Russ in the previous book, Quinn is a wonderful hero; strong, handsome, gentle, tender and protective, and he somehow intuits exactly what Serena needs to overcome her demons. Serena, like Molly before her, takes a while to warm up to; she’s complex, but frustrating. Formerly bright and vivacious, her confidence and happiness are diminished by the attack; she perseveres anyway – breathing new life into Quinn’s quiet existence, and gently nudging him out of his comfort zone – even as she struggles to break out of her own. Unfortunately, her propensity for impulsive, hasty decisions with disastrous consequences challenged this reader, and when she nearly sabotages her chance at happiness with Quinn by jumping to inaccurate conclusions I wanted to shake some sense into her. Although I liked them separately and together very much, I think it’s a bit of a stretch for Ms. Mallory to imply love heals all. Sir Timothy’s much deserved comeuppance also reads as slightly contrived and ridiculous. Ultimately, I wish the author had focused more on the evolving dynamic between Quinn and Serena, and her recovery, and less on ancillary subplots that add little value to the novel.
Beauty and the Brooding Lord is...
The rest of this review is available at All About Romance.
I enjoyed Sarah Mallory’s last book, The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake, and looked forward to reading its loosely linked follow-up. Beauty and the Brooding Lord is similarly charming and romantic, featuring an appealing pair of principal characters – opposites who bring out the best in each other – and the romance hooked me from beginning to end. Unfortunately, what should have been a simple transformative love story is overburdened with one too many subplots, and the traumatic event that initially linked the principal couple isn’t treated with quite the gravitas it deserves. This is a charming and romantic novel masquerading as something darker… and it only partly succeeds.
Lady Serena longs to meet a man who engages both her heart and mind, but after two years on the marriage mart, she still hasn’t met him. Her eldest half-brother (and guardian) Henry continues to introduce her to wealthy and eligible suitors, but she’s dismissed each of them: too old, too boring, too dull… none of them excite her. Witnessing her beloved half-brother Russ (Charles Russington from The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake) fall head over heels in love, she’s decided to find a rake of her own.
When the story opens, she’s agreed to a secret rendezvous with renowned libertine Sir Timothy Forsbrook, and escaped the watchful attention of her sister-in-law, Lady Hambridge. Arriving at the assignation, she’s anxious but hopeful… until she realizes the man in front of her isn’t Sir Timothy. This man is a big, towering and scowling stranger. He brusquely informs her that there was another gentleman there, but that he kicked him out after he presumed to suggest he should leave instead. The man then scathingly tells her she’ll have to find somewhere else for her lovemaking, and teases her when she refutes his assumptions. Serena flees back to the tedium of the ballroom, only to discover her grumpy stranger is Lord Rufus Quinn, a wealthy and reclusive bachelor. Spotting him engaged in conversation with another guest, she surreptitiously studies him and his slightly scruffy appearance, and decides he isn’t worthy of her attention.
Rufus Quinn rarely ventures into London. He has no time for or interest in society, and only attended Lord Grindleshams’ ball in order to arrange the purchase of a painting that Grindlesham was selling from his collection. He later discovered his attendance was wholly unnecessary – Quinn had only to name his price and the painting was his, so the evening was a waste of time spent amongst people he hates. After getting a late start leaving town for his home in Hertfordshire, he stops to refresh himself at a local inn. Nearing midnight he’s reading his curricle to depart when he hears a faint cry. When that cry is followed up with a sharp scream, Quinn doesn’t hesitate. He barges into a guest room, knocking out a man who attempts to attack him, and spots a young lady cowering in the corner. He manages to coax her out and gently wraps her trembling, bruised body in a blanket before escorting her out of the room. After a brief conversation with the innkeeper reveals there are no suitable females available to act as chaperone for her return journey to London, he opts to take her to his home and place her in the care of his housekeeper. He issues a warning to the innkeeper to forget the incident ever happened, and departs with the lady bundled up on the seat beside him.
The near victim, as you might have guessed, is Lady Serena. After agreeing to another rendezvous with Sir Timothy at Vauxhall, he kidnapped her – intending to bed her and marry her for her fortune. But his plan goes awry when Serena resists and is then rescued by Quinn. Romancelandia fans know where this story is going (and the blurb reveals it if you don’t), but Ms. Mallory shakes things up – focusing instead on the repercussions of the near rape on our heroine. Serena is devastated and depressed after the attack, and she loses interest in all the things that once brought her pleasure. She mistrusts herself and her instincts, and doubts Quinn’s gestures of affection. Quinn persists, giving her space and coaxing her into believing in herself once again, but she struggles. Her sister-in-law, who barely tolerated Serena whilst she was living with them, plants additional seeds of doubt and failure, and the bulk of the novel is spent watching Serena struggle to regain confidence in herself and her feelings for Quinn. There has always been a thread of attraction between them, and she must learn to forgive herself for the bad decisions that led her into Sir Timothy’s clutches. It’s a painful journey of self-discovery.
With its depiction of a heroine struggling to overcome the trauma of an attempted sexual assault, Beauty and the Brooding Lord is darker than the fairytale-esque (she’s the beauty, he’s the beast) marriage of convenience it purports to be. Serena’s recovery and the sweetly evolving relationship with the ever protective and loving Quinn are highlights of the story. Unfortunately, the author tacks on several unnecessary subplots – Quinn’s revenge on Sir Timothy, Serena’s unpleasant relationships with her vindictive sister-in-law and selfish, absentee mother, and a last minute misunderstanding with Quinn – and they overcomplicate this love story. Like Russ in the previous book, Quinn is a wonderful hero; strong, handsome, gentle, tender and protective, and he somehow intuits exactly what Serena needs to overcome her demons. Serena, like Molly before her, takes a while to warm up to; she’s complex, but frustrating. Formerly bright and vivacious, her confidence and happiness are diminished by the attack; she perseveres anyway – breathing new life into Quinn’s quiet existence, and gently nudging him out of his comfort zone – even as she struggles to break out of her own. Unfortunately, her propensity for impulsive, hasty decisions with disastrous consequences challenged this reader, and when she nearly sabotages her chance at happiness with Quinn by jumping to inaccurate conclusions I wanted to shake some sense into her. Although I liked them separately and together very much, I think it’s a bit of a stretch for Ms. Mallory to imply love heals all. Sir Timothy’s much deserved comeuppance also reads as slightly contrived and ridiculous. Ultimately, I wish the author had focused more on the evolving dynamic between Quinn and Serena, and her recovery, and less on ancillary subplots that add little value to the novel.
Beauty and the Brooding Lord is...
The rest of this review is available at All About Romance.
March 11, 2020
Um... Historicals are really not for me. Or most of them aren't.
The story is actually all right and quite decent once you think about it. Serena is a great character, although I liked her more in the previous book The Ton's Most Notorious Rake, where she is a carefree, rash, wild girl. And Quinn is not bad at all himself.
My main problem here is that when I look for a romance I want to read about people being cute and all. I want to be happy because the people in the relationship portrayed are happy themselves. And while I think Beauty and the Brooding Lord is a good book, I also think there's a time and space for the portrayal of abuse and the overcoming of it to be front an center in the story, and a romance in which I'm searching for warm, fuzzy feelings is not it.
In both books of the series abuse is prominent for the character makeup of the heroine and I'm not down with that. From the blurb I knew that something happened to Serena and that Quinn somehow stepped in and that's how the relationship started. But I guess I wasn't prepared to constantly and relentlessly read about Serena being hit, choked and almost raped. Although nothing is explicit, the book deals mostly with Serena dealing with the abuse and with Quinn learning to navigate the love for his wife in the context of that abuse. Which makes for a fine book and a beautiful story. Just not for the experience of the romance I wanted.
My point is I mostly spent the time reading this book feeling appalled. And that is the exact and precise thing I *don't* want to feel when I reach for a Romance.
I also think that in both books of the Saved from Disgrace Series that I've read so far, some serious forewarning is missing about all the content that ranges from .
I seriously hope the third book doesn't follow the same path because I unfortunately already have it.
I only applaud this book for not ending with a pregancy/ children.
The story is actually all right and quite decent once you think about it. Serena is a great character, although I liked her more in the previous book The Ton's Most Notorious Rake, where she is a carefree, rash, wild girl. And Quinn is not bad at all himself.
My main problem here is that when I look for a romance I want to read about people being cute and all. I want to be happy because the people in the relationship portrayed are happy themselves. And while I think Beauty and the Brooding Lord is a good book, I also think there's a time and space for the portrayal of abuse and the overcoming of it to be front an center in the story, and a romance in which I'm searching for warm, fuzzy feelings is not it.
In both books of the series abuse is prominent for the character makeup of the heroine and I'm not down with that. From the blurb I knew that something happened to Serena and that Quinn somehow stepped in and that's how the relationship started. But I guess I wasn't prepared to constantly and relentlessly read about Serena being hit, choked and almost raped. Although nothing is explicit, the book deals mostly with Serena dealing with the abuse and with Quinn learning to navigate the love for his wife in the context of that abuse. Which makes for a fine book and a beautiful story. Just not for the experience of the romance I wanted.
My point is I mostly spent the time reading this book feeling appalled. And that is the exact and precise thing I *don't* want to feel when I reach for a Romance.
I also think that in both books of the Saved from Disgrace Series that I've read so far, some serious forewarning is missing about all the content that ranges from .
I seriously hope the third book doesn't follow the same path because I unfortunately already have it.
I only applaud this book for not ending with a pregancy/ children.
July 28, 2019
I thought the story started off o.k., but I lost interest. I didn't like the character Serena; I thought she was silly, but I did like Quinn's character. I did finish reading to the end, bit it didn't grab me, I'm afraid. 3☆
July 12, 2020
Beauty And The Brooding Lord is a Regency romance. Serena is fast approaching spinsterhood unless she can find a husband. However, she doesn’t want to marry someone stable and conventional; she is drawn to men of rakish behaviour, although she knows that they may be too much of a risk. What she would really like to do is 'sample the goods' before choosing.
Serena arranges an unchaperoned visit to the Vauxhall pleasure gardens with Sir Timothy, but events take a sinister turn. Luckily, Lord Rufus Quinn, known for his rudeness and cold-heart, uses his sense of honour to make a daring rescue and save Serena’s reputation.
I enjoyed the story of Serena and Quinn and how their relationship grew. My only regret was that the ending felt rushed and a little unconvincing, which was a shame as the rest of the story suited the genre well.
Serena arranges an unchaperoned visit to the Vauxhall pleasure gardens with Sir Timothy, but events take a sinister turn. Luckily, Lord Rufus Quinn, known for his rudeness and cold-heart, uses his sense of honour to make a daring rescue and save Serena’s reputation.
I enjoyed the story of Serena and Quinn and how their relationship grew. My only regret was that the ending felt rushed and a little unconvincing, which was a shame as the rest of the story suited the genre well.
October 30, 2018
Story was a bit dull and predictable.
January 6, 2019
Serena Russington didn't make the wisest choice when she agreed to an assignation with a young man whose intentions weren't particularly honourable. Rescued from a situation that had every intention of turning nasty, Serena is fortunately saved from complete ruin by the taciturn Rufus Quinn, but with her reputation in disarray, Serena is faced with the option of either a life of permanent disgrace, shunned by respectable society, or agreeing to a marriage of convenience with the brooding Lord Quinn. Choosing the latter option makes for interesting reading and whilst Serena and Quinn's partnership is unashamedly romantic, only time will tell if they can make their complicated relationship work. Serena has been psychologically damaged by her ordeal at the hands of the unscrupulous rake but patience and understanding are Quinn's gifts to Serena and as the story progresses we get to understand just what makes this complicated man into such an all round good guy.
The vagaries of Regency society with all of its petty prejudices and social complications comes gloriously to life and once again this author has given us a story which is alive with romance and smouldering with brooding passion. The author does this genre very well and the lovely light and easy touch to the narrative makes this such a delightful story to read. I was enchanted by Serena and more than a little enamoured of Rufus Quinn who is a delightful leading man. I become so immersed in the story that I am sorry when it all comes to an end. I find that I am, as always, eagerly looking ahead to the next one.
It's worth mentioning that there's a wonderful link to the previous book with a mention of Russ and Molly who were the main characters in The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake. But don't worry of you haven't read this one as it really doesn't matter as Beauty and the Brooding Lord stands comfortably alone in its ability to charm and entertain.
The vagaries of Regency society with all of its petty prejudices and social complications comes gloriously to life and once again this author has given us a story which is alive with romance and smouldering with brooding passion. The author does this genre very well and the lovely light and easy touch to the narrative makes this such a delightful story to read. I was enchanted by Serena and more than a little enamoured of Rufus Quinn who is a delightful leading man. I become so immersed in the story that I am sorry when it all comes to an end. I find that I am, as always, eagerly looking ahead to the next one.
It's worth mentioning that there's a wonderful link to the previous book with a mention of Russ and Molly who were the main characters in The Ton’s Most Notorious Rake. But don't worry of you haven't read this one as it really doesn't matter as Beauty and the Brooding Lord stands comfortably alone in its ability to charm and entertain.
March 20, 2025
DNF @ p. 220. So honest to god I really tried to finish reading this, but even I know when to cut my losses.
This is a book about two excruciatingly dull and uninteresting people who get married to avoid a scandal. She is a 'wounded bird' who flinches away from all human contact and spends the entire book looking at her feet, wringing her hands and flittering away like a fragile oh so scared butterfly. He is 'brooding' apparently but he isn't that at all, he is boring. He spends the entire book avoiding the heroine and withdrawing from her wounded bird routine.
I have endured over 200 pages of these two walking on eggshells, misunderstanding each other, and hiding their feelings behind tedious polite conversation. The main 'conflict' of the book is 'but what will the gossips in London think?' These gossips are wholly nameless and faceless. Who cares? Really, who caaaaares?
The lack of actual romance in this book is killing me. Now I am the first to complain when there is too much in the way of lusty looks and too many sex scenes in a book (I know I know) but all we've had so far is a peck on the lips and even then she wasn't sure if she was into it. I've seen more sexual tension at a train spotting convention.
I'm way too bored and annoyed to continue with this book. Snore.
This is a book about two excruciatingly dull and uninteresting people who get married to avoid a scandal. She is a 'wounded bird' who flinches away from all human contact and spends the entire book looking at her feet, wringing her hands and flittering away like a fragile oh so scared butterfly. He is 'brooding' apparently but he isn't that at all, he is boring. He spends the entire book avoiding the heroine and withdrawing from her wounded bird routine.
I have endured over 200 pages of these two walking on eggshells, misunderstanding each other, and hiding their feelings behind tedious polite conversation. The main 'conflict' of the book is 'but what will the gossips in London think?' These gossips are wholly nameless and faceless. Who cares? Really, who caaaaares?
The lack of actual romance in this book is killing me. Now I am the first to complain when there is too much in the way of lusty looks and too many sex scenes in a book (I know I know) but all we've had so far is a peck on the lips and even then she wasn't sure if she was into it. I've seen more sexual tension at a train spotting convention.
I'm way too bored and annoyed to continue with this book. Snore.
September 4, 2019
This is a low-stakes, well-written romance with two likable main characters where the bad guy gets what he deserves in the end. It also handles PTSD with what I found to be a pretty even hand. It would have been very easy for the hero to be written as a piece of shit for extra drama, but he wasn't, which was nice. He was perfectly pleasant. You'd think that wouldn't be such a tall fuckin order, but here we are.
I've probably read the same book about ten times (with a dash of plot points from Georgette Heyer's Black Sheep--I called this one pretty early on and was not surprised by the reveal--and Venetia thrown in), but that's not really a mark against it, because I keep coming back. Three stars.
I've probably read the same book about ten times (with a dash of plot points from Georgette Heyer's Black Sheep--I called this one pretty early on and was not surprised by the reveal--and Venetia thrown in), but that's not really a mark against it, because I keep coming back. Three stars.
December 25, 2018
I don't normally read romance books, haven't in years, but I have been in a horrible reading slump, so I decided to go with a different genre and something that wasn't four or five hundred pages. It's a Regency novel, but if you are expecting it to be chaste and pure, it's not. It's chock full of a wonderful and sensuous love between a couple thrown together at the beginning into a quick marriage to save the woman's reputation. Delightful scenes of parties and conversations of those who are part of the Ton that existed a couple of centuries ago.
August 16, 2020
This is close to perfect brain candy until about 80% and then it kinda unravels. I don’t understand at all why the subterfuge about the asshole was necessary, and if Quinn really wanted to do that—why not tell her?? It also doesn’t quite ring true for her brother, tho that’s harder to be sure of since we only get one glimpse of Russ. Also... I really wanted Dorothea to get what was coming to her but that was not to be. The ending was super abrupt and this is one of the few times I’d have liked a “two years later” epilogue. No such luck, however.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2021
3.5 stars. The title is kind of silly and misleading because they're both kind of "brooding," but probably the heroine moreso than the hero. Anyway, this is a sweet romance that's mostly about the heroine recovering from trauma with the hero's help. There's a last-minute misunderstanding that felt pretty contrived and unnecessary, but other than that the characters felt pretty believably like (I mean this in a much better way than it probably sounds) normal people muddling along trying to sort themselves out.
October 12, 2018
3.5 stars.
I did enjoy this book but for me, there was something missing.
I liked the character of Quinn, but Serena i didn't like so much. I just can't put my finger on what is about her character, but I found myself rolling my eyes more than once. It is a good book and it's definitely worth a read but it could have been better in my opinion. This is my first book my Sarah Mallory but I will read more by her.
I did enjoy this book but for me, there was something missing.
I liked the character of Quinn, but Serena i didn't like so much. I just can't put my finger on what is about her character, but I found myself rolling my eyes more than once. It is a good book and it's definitely worth a read but it could have been better in my opinion. This is my first book my Sarah Mallory but I will read more by her.
July 11, 2022
Serena makes plans to marry a rake as she doesn't want to end up married to a complete bore. However her plans go awry when she is kidnapped and assaulted by her potential suitor. Lord Quinn, a grumpy introvert comes to her rescue and her reputation is on the line agrees to marry her.
The rest of the story is them getting to know each other, their friendship growing. After the attack Serena withdraws , becoming a faded version of herself. I loved how patient and understanding Quinn was, allowing her time and space to heal. He wants the real spirited her and does what he can to bring her back.
Despite her mistakes Serena learns to trust herself and others again.
Sweet slow burn romance
The rest of the story is them getting to know each other, their friendship growing. After the attack Serena withdraws , becoming a faded version of herself. I loved how patient and understanding Quinn was, allowing her time and space to heal. He wants the real spirited her and does what he can to bring her back.
Despite her mistakes Serena learns to trust herself and others again.
Sweet slow burn romance
July 4, 2019
Nice historical romance about an independent-minded young woman who wants an interesting husband but gets more than she bargained for when she attempts a secret outing to Vauxhall. She's rescued by "the rudest man in England," and when gossip about her escapade gets out, he offers to marry her. It's a good read. I liked it.
December 29, 2019
Probably more like 2.5 stars. It was okay. Low bar, but I liked how the hero didn't blame the heroine for what happened to her at the beginning of the story. He cleared the bar with lots of room though because he's considerate, patient and very conscious of consent issues. However, the rest of the story was a bit unremarkable and it was wrapped up too quickly.
March 11, 2020
I basically read this because of alexis hall's review, and I was not disappointed. I really liked the main characters and I liked that even though it was sort of a fake marriage trope, there was still a level of honesty between them that gave the relationship a good foundation.
December 14, 2018
This book seems an exact copy of other books on the same subject. It is also boring
February 1, 2019
This was a fun read with charming characters and some sexy bits spiced by falling love. A delightful read overall and has a feel good to it that is so nice.
January 8, 2020
Decent enough book, but I didn't really feel like the characters truly came to life the way they do in other novels I've read.
February 5, 2020
Fine but didn’t finish
February 1, 2021
Absolutely fantastic!!! Took only two days!!! Fantastic writing. If you love Jane Austen then you’ll too love this book!
February 18, 2024
Konflikt třetí strany byl nelogický, nedostatečně zasazený do zbytku děje (kde se tam najednou vzala Sereny matka?)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 11, 2018Miniseries: Saved From Disgrace
Read
December 10, 2018Miniseries: Saved From Disgrace
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews