The Young and the Ruined: Compromised

The Braydens #10

by Janna MacGregor, Tammy Andresen, Meara Platt

These members of the peerage are young, beautiful and full of trouble... the sort that might just get a lord or lady ruined. Don't miss out on this set of six stories of romance, passion and a fair bit of societal difficulties...

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor - Lady Nellwyn 'Nell' Whitton and Mr. James Richardson hate each other. A jilting will do that to a betrothed couple, no matter the reason. After eight years, fate steps in when Nell stumbles upon a house party where James will pick a new wife. They must reconcile their past when Nell’s sister and James’ cousin are found in a compromising position. One ruination leads to another. Only this time, will it make it right?

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen - Lady Sophia Everclear doesn’t regret fleeing the rake who attempted to trap her into marriage, But perhaps she should not have stowed away on a ship bound for Scotland. The problems? There are too many to count. But the largest, most annoying one is Captain Ewan McLaren. The tall and brawny Scot says exactly what he thinks, and he doesn’t think much of Sophia. Still. He’s all she’s got, and fortunately, for her, his heart is even bigger than his lectures. Which makes her wonder. What else, beside talking, might his mouth be good at?

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt - Annie Whitcomb often helped out her father in his medical practice in their quiet seaside village, and his worst patient without doubt was Major Peter Croft. His surly disposition and abuse of spirits and opium to ease the pain of his battle injuries left him fit company for no one. Yet, when her father unexpectedly passes away, leaving her destitute and with nowhere to turn, it is Peter who comes to her with a startling proposition... marry him.

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer - Lady Diana Pickwick has hated John Darrow, Lord Whitlock for years, so why can’t she seem to stay away from him? John has had his eye on Diana from the moment they met, and baiting her has been so much fun. But when they are accidentally caught in a compromising position and forced to marry, their games are over. Or have they just begun?

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders - Miss Collette Jones, as the illegitimate daughter of a baron, is determined to become a respectable teacher. The Duke of Bedwell isn’t interested in respectable teachers. He’s interested in being proper, honorable, and fulfilling his duties to his title. So what is Bedwell to do when honor demands he show more than a little interest in one particular respectable teacher? Why, marry the chit, that’s what.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite - Younger brothers have become a bane to Miss Garnett Younghusband’s existence. As she travels out one night to drag them back from Vauxhall before they destroy the family soap business, she finds that she is the one compromised at the hands of the infamous Lord Rafe Pembroke! Can anything good come from such a brief torrid affair?

Genres: Historical Romance, Anthologies, Romance, Historical, Regency Romance, Historical Fiction, Marriage Of Convenience

694 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers.

Visit her at www.JannaMacGregor.com.
Twitter: @JannaMacGregor
Facebook: Janna MacGregor
Sign up for her newsletter at www.JannaMacGregor.com

Reviews

[🦉Maggie Whitworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Ruins make a Right
Janna MacGregor
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Lots of things not to do at a house party/ How to empty a house of prospective wives in 2 minutes.
These could be alternative titles for the book.

It’s wonderful reading with great characters, a lovely story of new love and second chances.
Two couples get there HEA, Janna doesn’t need a big novel to jam all the feelings into a story.
Very enjoyable
————————
Laird of Longing
Tammy Andresen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💋💋

This is so awesome, exciting, dramatic and entertaining.
It’s Tammy at her best.

This is Ewan & Sophie’s tale
If you’ve read Tammy’s series Lords of Scandal, you will remember Devonhall and Menace, Isabella and Eliza who also have parts in this story, well Ewan is their cousin.

These two are fate joined, she stows away avoiding a match with a rake, he owns the ship that she chooses to leave on.
It’s a wonderful love story, and some tense moments in there too.
Great stuff from Tammy
————————
A Rescued Heart
Meara Platt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💋💋

In Meara’s world this story is Connected to Aislin, Genalynn and Earl Of Westcliff, to give you a quick idea of the family tree. These books are the Brothers and sister of our Hero Major Peter Croft.
I’m sure Meara will be writing more of the adventurous family.

Peter and Annie’s story is one of Betrayal, loss and finding a perfect love, one you never knew was there, but had been looking you in the face all along.

It’s beautiful and real, romantic and satisfying.
I adore Meara’s stories she puts so much heart into the telling it’s delightful.
————————
Trapped With a Duke
Annabelle Anders
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💋💋

Absolutely Stunning peace of writing, Annabelle has once more taken my breath away with one of her books.
Some of the passages she’s written had me sighing with pleasure and enjoyment.

“You, my love.” His voice reached inside and squeezed her heart. “You are the sunshine on my soul. All my life I’ve felt a darkness inside and since the moment we met, you’ve been bringing me light.”

So beautiful and emotional.

This is Addison Duke Of Bedwell and Collette Jones who is the sister of Chase from Cocky Baron.
It’s a wonderful love story, one of Denial, passion, acceptance and a lot of emotional experiences.
It’s a great addition and side story to Baron Chase and Bethany’s book.

————————

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Young and the Ruined: Compromised
Anthology
Janna MacGregor, Tammy Andresen, Meara Platt, Merry Farmer, Annabelle Anders, Tabetha Waite.
Release Date 04/06/2021
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H7ZF7BF/...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

These members of the peerage are young, beautiful and full of trouble... the sort that might just get a lord or lady ruined. Don't miss out on this set of six stories of romance, passion and a fair bit of societal difficulties...

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀

𝑇𝑤𝑜 𝑅𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑅𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ʙʏ 𝐽𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑎 𝑀𝑎𝑐𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑜𝑟
° Lady Nellwyn ‘Nell” Whitton and Mr. James Richardson hate each other. A jilting will do that to a betrothed couple no matter the reason. After eight years, fate steps in when Nell stumbles upon a house party where James will pick a new wife. They must reconcile their past when Nell’s sister and James’ cousin are found in a compromising position. One ruination leads to another. Only this time, will it make it right?


𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 :
Will she let her past win the ultimate game ...

One thing is certain the author make an outstanding job to make her characters flesh and blood.
While I loved James, I much dislike Nell, I was sad at first for her but soon it is my shoes wardrobe I would thrown at her face.
I confess I did not understand Nell, she has done her duty by her family, so why sacrifice her sister in the same way she had too. More particularly when it did not stop ruin to continue. She should tear her blinders and accept the truth that some people can never be changed and keep them away from her life. Instead she acts like shrew determined to make her sister miserable for all the wrong reasons.
And while she could not have avoided to be the sacrificial lamb to her family’s altar, she does not have her sister to follow in her footsteps.
Thankfully, she has her epiphany before ruining her sister’s dreams, of how she had become the worst possible version of herself, no better than her own selfish and greedy parents.
James was her first victim when she left him to follow her kin’s edicts. He might lied to himself convincing himself he just hates her now. When fate reunites them, all the longing and pent-up ire resurface.
Will he get his answers or will fate play him another trick. Right at the same time, he is looking for to remarry, all for his daughter Valentina, a bundle of energy and sweetness.
4.25 stars

𝐿𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 ʙʏ 𝑇𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑦 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛
° Lady Sophia Everclear doesn’t regret fleeing the rake who attempted to trap her into marriage, But perhaps she should not have stowed away on a ship bound for Scotland. The problems? There are too many to count. But the largest most annoying one is Captain Ewan McLaren. The tall and brawny Scot says exactly what he thinks and he doesn’t think much of Sophia. Still. He’s all she’s got and fortunately for her his heart is even bigger than his lectures. Which makes her wonder. What else, beside talking, might his mouth be good at?

𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤
Will his fears keep him from happiness...

Ewan was a shadow in the previous books of the Lords of Scandal series, so it is nice to see him come into the light.
It was less a tale of dazzling chemistry than one of trust and love won one moment at a time.
The story begins at the heart of the plot, Sophia unmasked as the lost stowaway she is.
And while she easily charms her way in the crew’s heart, the captain is less prone to be seduced yet still fall for her easy smile.
Ewan is man who has seen what a mismatched union can do to people, so no thanks for himself. But the lovely interloper he is determined to protect, makes him review his path to marry only when he will have reached his old years.
Sophia is on the run from a man who will stop at nothing to get his hands on her large dowry. Now, discovered, her fate is once again in an other’s hands. Will she be luckier this time, as her rescuer is so dashing and kind.
A fun and sweet addition to the series but a couple who will have to learn to trust and have faith in the other.
4.5 stars


𝐴 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡 ʙʏ 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑎 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑡
° Annie Whitcomb often helped out her father in his medical practice in their quiet seaside village, and his worst patient without doubt was Major Peter Croft. His surly disposition and abuse of spirits and opium to ease the pain of his battle injuries left him fit company for no one. Yet, when her father unexpectedly passes away, leaving her destitute and with nowhere to turn, it is Peter who comes to her with a startling proposition...marry him.

𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤
Will his past and her one lapse in judgment keep them apart ...

Both characters have been ruined by their own actions, Annie is a fallen woman when Peter had to battle his worse demons to leave his addictions behind. They are flawed, and are paying or have paid the price of their errors. Yet in their time of need, they meet again and together will find what they thought they do not deserve or have lost the right to.
The author gift us here a beautiful tale of second chance free of judgement.
4.5 stars

𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑜 𝐴𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑎 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑙 ( 𝑂𝑟 𝑁𝑜𝑡) ʙʏ 𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝐹𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑟
° Lady Diana Pickwick has hated John Darrow, Lord Whitlock for years, so why can’t she seem to stay away from him? John has had his eye on Diana from the moment they met, and baiting her has been so much fun. But when they are accidentally caught in a compromising position and forced to marry, their games are over. Or have they just begun?

𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤
To come

𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑢𝑘𝑒 ʙʏ 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟
° Miss Collette Jones, as the illegitimate daughter of a baron, is determined to become a respectable teacher. The Duke of Bedwell isn’t interested in respectable teachers. He’s interested in being proper, honorable, and fulfilling his duties to his title. So what is Bedwell to do when honor demands he show more than a little interest in one particular respectable teacher? Why, marry the chit, that’s what.

𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤
Will they let Society’s unforgiving lenses decide for them ...

I just loved Collette and Addison, those are two persons who have to adapt with their birth circumstances.
Addison is the obedient son but he would have loved to never be the heir of a dukedom, he had to learn to hide in true self for self preservation but also because it was in total opposition with his duties.
So he goes out always wearing his societal mask until a fated encounter which he lets slip there is more to him than his title.
From there, he is determined, when fate plays him a new trick, to make Collette see him for the man he is and not his rank.
Collette grew up knowing she would never be like any other ton miss. She is born ruined, bearing her parents sins. Why she always was in search for an secured position because nothing is guaranteed in life, and even less when you are born on the wrong side of the blanket. And marriage is definitely not on her list of achieved goal.

They should never have meet and they should have nothing in common. Yet from the first moment, something clicked right for both of them. But will she have the courage to face society’s scorn and will he stand by her side.
5 stars

𝐴 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑒 ʙʏ 𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎 𝑊𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑒
° Younger brothers have become a bane to Miss Garnett Younghusband’s existence. As she travels out one night to drag them back from Vauxhall before they destroy the family soap business, she finds that she is the one compromised at the hands of the infamous Lord Rafe Pembroke! Can anything good come from such a brief torrid affair?

𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤
Will their sham engagement turn to more...

This last novella is a sweet tale of of girl meets boy by accident. And to prevent some pot stirrers to spread rumors and cause damage to Garnett’s family business , Rafe takes matter in hands and announces they are engaged.
From there begins a short courtship, with lies, and villains set on tearing them apart.
Rafe is a man whom after enjoying the many pleasures life has to offer to a Peer’s son, seeks now a bit of peace in his today’s life. Yet he does not like to be pressured to get married.
Garnett is all devoted to her father’s enterprise and by trying to prevent a scandal, she is now caught in a web of deceit.
Their chance encounter puts in motion a journey they did not expect, but and as they spend time together playing their charades game, they learn to appreciate the other. But what of other jealous persons set on some ill-advised retaliation...
4 stars


I ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɢʀᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀs, ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴍʏ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴʙɪᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Rainelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Ruins Make a Right, by Janna MacGregor. What a charming love story to read before bed. The author really tugged at my heart strings with this book. Nell and James the presumptive couple intended to fall in love, battled each other consistently. Harry and Charta had no idea of what it was about, but these two had their own troubles to work through. I enjoyed the entertainment and the humorous moments from the characters.
James daughter, Valentina gave everyone in the household a challenge every time they tried shielding her from the daily life of an adult. I think that Valentina would make an excellent lawyer with the expertise of negotiations. I found the drama to be what’s normal in a household where family wants only what’s best for the people that they love. I was pleased with reading the drama, the happiness that the characters shared with each other. The writer did a great job with the telling of this story.
This love story gives readers the sentiment of being happy and reading a couples happiness.


Laird of Longing, by Tammy Andresen. I simply enjoyed this very cute romantic short story. Yes the passion and heat from Sophia and Ewan made the story exciting to read, but I found the suspense and drama from the ton even more interesting. I loved that Ewan makes a promise to always be there for Sophia. With this promise, it made Sophia appear as a shrinking Violet, but that was not the case. I was impressed at how Sophia held her own against the nemesis that threatened her. I was glad that the writer kept the flow of the story with the drama that gave the story some realism. I enjoyed everything about this story. The writer did a great job.


A Rescued Heart, by Meara Platt
I found this story to be a soft and romantic story of two people who start out afraid to admit how the feel. I like how the character Peter without hesitation, steps up to protect Annie. Annie, character for me was more of a quite mouse type. I think that the love and administration that Peter has for Annie stands out in this story.


Avoid a Scandal (Or Not), by Merry Farmer. I enjoyed reading this love story. I found the love match between Diana and John the most fun loving match there is. The constant need to out do one another was the entertaining part for me. If Diana and John only sat down and actually talk to each other, I think that would elevate a lot of their troubles. I like the realism about love matches among long a term friends to have some truth to it. The romance between the two was a joy to read.

Trapped with the Duke, by Annabelle Anders. I loved reading this story about a young unmarried woman, Collette, who did care what the ton said or thought about her. Collette is determined to make decisions about herself on her own. Collette and Bedwell unbeknownst to them find themselves trapped in a stairwell. I liked that the writer uses this moment for the two to get to know one another. The story focused primarily on Collette and what was best for her. Bedwell, being the gentleman that he is tried on numerous occasions to be her savior, but in time things seem to change for him. I enjoyed reading the romance and the story of a man who loves a woman who stands for herself without help from the people around her.

A Captivating Compromise, by Tabetha Waite. I had a fun time reading Rafe and Netties charming love match. I enjoyed the humor and the entertainment. The lighthearted moments of the story for me made the book read with a fast pace. The drama wasn’t intense, but it made the book for me an intriguing read. I loved everything about this short story and I definitely loved the sweet romance between the two characters.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Young and the Ruined: Compromised is a collection of six quick reads, offering something different in each story. Some I enjoyed, whereas others were simply okay for me.

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor was a three-star rating. This was an interesting story, but there wasn’t quite enough of their backstory for me. Due to this, I never quite felt the connection to them that I had expected to. It was interesting, but it wasn’t quite enough to make me fall in love with it.

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. Although I enjoyed the development of this one, things happened a little too easily for me. I adored the way things progressed, but it was too close to instalove for me to love it.

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt was a three-point-five-star rating that I rounded down. Some of the details were a bit too quick and predictable, and I wanted a bit more depth from the romance, but I enjoyed the way things progressed.

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer was a three-point-five-star read that I rounded up. Although this one felt a little bit childish with the way the male acted, it was entertaining to watch the way things developed. It was silly and entertaining, which had me happy to devour it.

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders was a four-star rating. This was my favourite of the collection. It’s possible I enjoyed this the most as it’s the only story where I was aware of the link to the author’s series, and I’m a big fan of the Regency Cocky Gents series. It grabbed me right away and had me unable to put it down until I saw how everything came together.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite was a two-star rating. This one had a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite work for me. Things were far too quick for me, with cliché after cliché playing out. Thus, this one was too predictable for me and didn’t quite have the depth I had hoped for.

All in all, The Young and the Ruined: Compromised has the kind of variety that is sure to grip many with the stories within. As always, I enjoyed some more than others, but each had me devouring it in no time.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great collection! I love everything each of these authors write individually!

Two Ruins Make a Right
by Janna MacGregor
A wonderful second chance a love story of a couple pulled apart years ago by misunderstandings and circumstances. Nell and James had been engaged, but as often happens, Nell is unexpectedly married to another. James also ended up marrying, but eight years later they find themselves together at a house party. What is so adorable, is the party is for James to try to find a new wife. What happens is so charming and adorable I could hardly stand it! As always Janna keeps me smiling and happy!

Lord of Longing
by Tammy Andresen
Part of a great series, the Lords of Scandal (of yes, if you have not read these, load on your kindle right now!) Sophie becomes desperate to get away from her disgusting suitor. One she was being forced to marry when he purposefully put her in a compromising position! So she ran and ended up hiding on a ship, that she had no idea where it was going... Little did she know that Laird Ewan McLaren, yes a scrumptious Scot was going to confront her as a stowaway! Humor, witty banter, a strong attraction and a fantastic romance make this a fantastic story!!

A Rescued Heart
by Meara Platt
One thing I am certain of in life, is when I read one of Meara's stories, my heart will become involved and this story is a perfect example. Peter and Annie have both been through so much. She with being let down by a man she thought to marry, and Peter having been wounded in body and mind and having been nursed back to health years ago by Annie. When they find each other again, Peter only want to marry Annie, and they travel a sweet road to a happy ever after. Sigh (yes I do that to all Meara's tales!)

A Captivating Compromise
by Tabetha Waite
Stealing a kiss can sometimes end up in matrimony. Or at least pretending to be engaged and that is where Garnett and Rafe find themselves! Fortunately fate steps in and the two begin to wonder should it really be pretend! A delightful story as only Tabetha can create. Her characters and settings are the best and I could only smile as I turned the last page! Love her writing!!

Trapped With a Duke
by Annabelle Anders
Annabelle always engages my heart and senses with her stories. Thrown together in a most unexpected way, being locked in a stairwell no less, Miss Collette Jones and Addison, the Duke of Bedwell are forced to converse. Well, he is panicked, small spaces you know, and she is trying to distract him. That is until he distracts her with a kiss. Ah yes, that kiss. Being of an honorable nature, he decides he needs to marry her but she refuses. What happens next is truly romantic and so Annabelle Anders, that shows what makes her writing so memorable and lasting. Loved every second. Sigh. Double Sigh

How to Avoid a Scandal
by Merry Farmer
It is said that love and dislike are close partners and that is where we find Diana and John. John had love Diana forever, but unfortunately he hides it by constantly being glib and teasing her. She of course was constantly on the defensive and not treating John very nice. But when circumstances force them together, it seems Diana will still make things hard for John. Can these two ever find love?

[Kat Tolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Young and the Ruined


Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor:

Wow… Great Read!!! This original regency story is a second chance at love and was a true delight to read. This is so beautifully written and easy to read. James and Nell’s romance is sizzling and I just loved Jame’s daughter, Valentina!! So very adorable and smart. My heart just goes out her and her dolly, Abigail. This story has a broken betrothal, a family in ruins due to gambling and over indulging, a marriage for money, a widow and widower, heartbreak, needing a daughter’s approval, a house party to pick a bride, a sister’s love and protection, being caught in a scandalizing position, a secret love, misunderstandings and a long lost love. Do James and Nell even have a second chance at love or is the hurt between them standing in the way? You will just have to read this story to find out and I highly recommend that you do.


Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen:

TERRIFIC!!!! I am so enjoying this collections with some of my favorite authors and Laird of Longing is part of the Lords of Scandal series and what a series. What I really loved about this book is the instant connection the Ewan and Sophie had. The characters are so very well written in this book and the story on so original. You get the real feel of the regency era and just a true delight to read. This story has a stowaway, marriage of convenance, a forced marriage, being sexually abused, fear, protection, not wanting to marry, horrible parents, an evil man, attempted kidnapping, and love at first sight. I highly recommend this book as I said is it a true delight to read.


Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders:

FANTASTIC!!! What a great and original story form Annabelle!!! I have read most of her books and have never been disappointed and I always get so excited when she has a new release coming out. What I loved about this book is that the hero and heroine are trapped in a stair well together and he is claustrophobia so you can only imagine how this turns out. I absolutely love a damaged hero, no one is perfect and it makes a much more interesting read. Annabelle is truly one of the most gifted writers of today and this book is very very well written. This story has a women that is a teacher, a duke that is claustrophobic, losing one’s job because they are a bastard, a mother that is prejudice, a loving half brother and sister-in-law, honor and duty, a scandal that no one knows about, liking each others company, a writer, an horrific incident, over coming one’s fear, rescue, two wonderful dogs and love at first sight. It has it all and I am highly recommending you read this book. It is really that good!!

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Full Length Historical Romances💕 by 6 Authors📚

ADULT Historical Romances 💕by Well known Authors📚.

What if my favorite ADULT Historical Romance💕 Authors📚 got together and put together a fun, exciteding, and fast paced anthology of full length novels about the pitfalls of young💘Love in high society England during the Regency and Victorian eras? Well, they did, and this is it!, And I love💕 it!

The strong minded women characters are usually ruined in some way, due to their own downfall,💔 or family circumstances beyond their control. The young men they fall in love💕 with are broken by failed love💔 , or monetary failures. Never fear, true love 💘seems to right all wrongs and conquers🔪all adversity!

ARC Provided by Bookfunnel 🌀 via Author Merry Farmer📚
I also got this ebook for 99¢ from Amazon.

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every well written ADULT novel in this anthology by six well known historical romance💕 authors📚. Some of the language and societal customs were not true to the periods, but I still loved💕 the book! I Highly recommend for many hours of reading pleasure !

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Janna MacGregor as part of her street team and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

While I’ve often been burned by a new-to-me historical author of late, especially when they write tropes I dislike, I will do what I can to support the authors who’ve earned my trust. So, in spite of not having read a number of the authors in this collection before, I was eager to support Janna MacGregor and Tabetha Waite, so I was willing to keep an open mind, even if the blurbs of a couple stories already raised concerns.

Janna MacGregor’s contribution, “Two Ruins Make a Right” felt a bit busy, with that one really embracing the soapy love triangles of The Young and the Restless, which provided inspiration for the anthology concept. I felt at times that the other couple stole page time that could have been better spent fleshing out James and Nell, especially given it was so short. And this is something that will clearly be a selling point for everyone but me, but I’m going to say it: they had sex, but I just didn’t feel like there was anything substantial between them, which I needed to believe in the relationship. I would love to see this one fleshed out into something longer, or a companion piece for the other couple, since they did divert so much attention.

“They had sex, but I didn’t feel it was love” was a problem I had with “Laird of Longing” by Tammy Andresen. The story felt a bit more focused, since it was just the one couple, but I just didn’t feel anything for them.

“A Rescued Heart” by Meara Platt is the gem of this collection. Characters with a long acquaintance and platonic affection have always appealed to me as a great basis for a novella, and I really felt that with Annie and Peter. Their relationship felt realistic, starting off with practical concerns and then focusing on their developing feelings.

These next two troubled me to the point where I couldn’t get beyond the first chapter of either, and it’s all down to the heroes. I know, I should have continued to see if it got better, but I feel like there’s lines you shouldn’t cross. Merry Farmer’s is slightly less troubling, but not much. Basically, an adult man is teasing the object of his affection because he likes her. Um, that’s not romantic, and I don’t blame Diana for not liking him and don’t know if there’s anything he could do to ease my mind after that.

As for Annabelle Anders’ contribution…it just exemplifies my aversion to most Dukes. His High-and -Mightiness doesn’t think this girls’ school is good enough for his sister, but while he’s there, he’s ogling the teacher. Ew. I know it’s a historical, but you’re writing for a modern audience of largely women in the age of MeToo, who more recently has dealt with some particularly shocking events that have reinforced their lack of safety in public spaces. I can understand if people can forget about that when they escape into a historical romance, but I cannot.

After the double dose of shock, “A Captivating Compromise” by Tabetha Waite is a nice respite. The quirky names, like Garnett Younghusband, are an immediate attention-grabber, and while I felt the romance took a bit to get going, compared to the others, I liked this one and how romance bloomed from being compromised, which is not always the easiest thing to pull off.

I can’t say I’m too surprised at the outcome being more lukewarm, with the ones I expected to like being the ones I did and the ones I knew I would have issues with not giving me enough early on to think it would be worth investing in. But there was at least one hidden gem I found by an author I had not tried before. Either way, definitely take my opinions with a massive grain of salt. If you love the fantasy of a sexy alpha Duke, an accidental abduction, or the trope of the guy who can only seem to communicate their affection through teasing, then at least one or all of the stories will capture your fancy. And if you’re like me, and one of the ones I liked (even with caveats) worked, then there’s something for you too. That’s always the beauty of an anthology: there’s something for everyone.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor 4.5 Stars
Lady Nellwyn ‘Nell” Whitton and Mr. James Richardson hate each other. A jilting will do that to a betrothed couple no matter the reason. After eight years, fate steps when Nell stumbles upon a house party where James now heir to a dukedom, will pick a new wife. They must reconcile their past when Nell’s sister and James’ cousin are found in a compromising position. One ruination leads to another. A lovely second chance romance with a precocious six year old stealing he novella

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen 5 Stars
Lady Sophia Everclear doesn’t regret fleeing the rake who attempted to compromise her. But perhaps she should not have stowed away on a ship bound for Scotland. The problems? There are too many to count. But the largest most annoying one is Captain Ewan McLaren. The tall and brawny Scot says exactly what he thinks and he doesn’t think much of Sophia. Still. He’s all she’s got and fortunately for her his heart is even bigger than his lectures. A delightful story with strong characters & a very well paced story

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt 4.5 Stars
Annie Whitcomb often helped out her father in his medical practice in Torquay their quiet seaside village, and his worst patient without doubt was Major Peter Croft. His surly disposition and abuse of spirits and opium to ease the pain of his battle injuries left him fit company for no one. However gradually Peter recovered & beat his addiction Yet, when her father unexpectedly passes away, it is Peter who comes to her with a startling proposition...marry him.

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer 5 Stars
Lady Diana Pickwick has hated John Darrow, Lord Whitlock for years, or doth the lady protest too much? John has had his eye on Diana from the moment they met, and baiting her has been so much fun. But when they are accidentally caught in a compromising position and forced to marry, their games are over. Highly entertaining romance, which I read in a sitting. There was the added bonus of characters from other series making appearances – I just loved it.

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders 5 Stars
Miss Collette Jones, as the illegitimate daughter of a baron, is determined to become a respectable teacher. The Duke of Bedwell isn’t interested in respectable teachers. He’s interested in being proper, honourable, and fulfilling his duties to his title. Another brilliant read, strong characters plus it links to the Cocky Gents series

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite 5 Stars
Miss Garnett Younghusband travels out one night to drag her younger twin brothers back from Vauxhall before they destroy the family soap business but she finds that she is the one compromised at the hands of the infamous Lord Rafe Pembroke! Can anything good come from such a brief torrid affair? Another lovely romance, well written with lovely characters
Six short stories from six of my must read authors, all of them different but all delightful & I spent six late evenings reading one a night knowing that those authors wouldn’t keep me awake until silly o’clock this time!
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Luz T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Young and the Ruined: Compromised
an anthology of 6 novellas by several authors.
Overall rating of the anthology is 4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given for review. All opinions are my own.

*Two Ruins Make a Right*
Janna MacGregor
Rating: 5 stars
This was one of my favorites. We have James and Nell, who after 8 years of not seeing each other they find true love again. Theirs was a second chance at romance and I enjoyed reading that after some hurtful things were said and done that their heart always belonged to each other.

*Laird of Longing*
Tammy Anderson
Rating: 4 stars
A marriage of convenience is what Sophie and Ewan find themselves in after he finds her as a stowaway on ship. I loved that he married her to protect her from an unsuitable suitor and that he also learns that not all marriages are the same. Therefore, he risks his heart to find the love that he deserved.

*A Rescued Heart*
Meara Platt
Rating: 3 stars
This is the story of unrequited love and of marriage of convenience between Peter and Annie. This one had a good start, but as the story progressed I got a little bored. There's a part in the end that I was not happy that happened.

*How to Avoid a Scandal (or Not)
Merry Farmer
Rating: 3 stars
This is Diana and John's story. They have been attracted to each other for many years but both act very juvenile towards each other and it is because of this that they find themselves married. This one was not to my liking either. I felt that both leads were very immature and the revenge plot on her end seemed a little infantile. He was avoiding adding more social stress to her life as she carried on being hurt that he didn't ask her for financial advice. *sigh*

*Trapped with a Duke*
Annabelle Anders
Rating: 5 stars
This one was also one of my favorites. I really liked Addison and Collette. Their love story was very sweet and I could I actually see them falling in love with each other. I liked that he respected and admired her passion to be a teacher. The more he got to know her the more attracted he was to her and vice versa.

*A Captivating Compromise*
Tabetha Waite
Rating: 5 stars
I also loved this one! I just enjoyed how Garnett and Rafe met and all that happened afterwards during their fake engagement. I liked how they questioned falling in love with each other so soon after meeting. I liked that the author did that. You will find a couple of villains who try to thwart their love, but in the end love conquers all.

[BookBubbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Young and The Ruined

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor. 5 stars! Great start to the book. In such a short format Janna managed to give us characters with depth and real emotions. This was a wonderful story of two people who cared deeply, but were kept apart due to circumstances and others. Watching them unravel the past hurts and misunderstandings was lovely.

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen 4 stars
This story is part of a series so some of the characters were familiar. The Laird was likeable, but not enough time for real depth. Sophie was a sweetheart. Her bravery, directness, and sunny disposition were the perfect foil for Ewan. Nice fast paced, fun story.

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt. 3 Stars
This was a sadder tale, but with good emotional depth. The characters were nicely rounded and well developed. I much preferred the Major! Their coming together was believable and balanced. This story had a few noticeable typos.

How to Avoid a Scandal by Merry Farmer 2 stars
This story was not to my taste at all. John is portrayed as a bumbling fool and Diana a spiteful witch. Just so much political agenda literally shoved down your throat in such a short tale. It was distracting and unnecessary. Women need to vote, women need financial control, women need to be sexually educated, m/m couple with child. Shoved. Down. My. Throat. I am reading this during modern times, I understand ALL of this. I do not enjoy stories that hawk politics so unnecessarily. I just want to roll my eyes and say “duh!” The characters were off putting. I nearly skipped this story about halfway through, but to be fair I felt I had to finish it. It didn’t get better. Diana remained a controlling, manipulative, unlikeable, spiteful diva ‘til the end. I would have dumped her in a heartbeat.

Trapped with a Duke by Annabelle Anders
Wonderful! So much packed into this story! Both characters have their own hang ups but somehow this works to bring them together. Great supporting characters too. Update on a past couple, and a brother who I hope gets his own story. Realistic conclusion with the dowager. Overall super enjoyable read. 5 stars.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite 3 stars
A lot going on for such a short story! Almost too much. Luckily it was fast paced and most of the loose ends were tied up. Sometimes less is more, this story would have benefitted from that philosophy.

[iread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Ruins Make a Right - Janna Macgregor 4*
I liked Nell and Jame’s second chance romance. I thought the addition of little Valentina added charm and wit to the book. I loved the relationship between James and his daughter. It is heartwarming and engaging. There are a few laugh-out-loud moments and a steamy scene thrown in for good measure.
Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen 5*
I loved this book. I think Sophie is one of my favorite heroines. She is kind and honest with her feelings. I have grown weary of hard-edged women in many romances. There are a few twists in the plot that I didn’t expect.
Trapped with a Duke by Annabelle Anders 4*
I enjoyed this story. Addison and Collette’s story has so much depth. Anders does a great job of peeling back the layers of her characters. It was a little bit slow at first but quickly picked up the pace. There are a few steamy scenes too.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trapped by a Duke by Annabelle Anders
I enjoyed this story very much. I liked the characters of Collette Jones and Addison, Duke of Bedwell. Collette was illegitimate and had always felt herself as not quite belonging. The attitude of some members of society, did not help either. Addison had been raised to be honourable and to consider only certain ladies as suitable to marry. They were very attracted to each other and this deepened as they spent more time together. However, could they overcome the objections to them being together? There were a number of interesting secondary characters, particularly Addison’s brother, Rowan. I would love him to have his own story.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the stories in this set.

[Gigi’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Trapped with a Duke by Annabelle Anders.
I enjoyed the love story of Collette and Addison. She is an illegitimate daughter new to society where she fears she does not fit in and is trying to pave her way as a teacher. He is a duke who suffers from being entrapped as a child and then punished for this fear by his father. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the stories in this anthology. I received an ARC and chose to post my review.

[Michelle Rupe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.

There are so many authors in this anthology that I like, but I felt myself really struggling to connect with these stories.

[SusieQ_Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Trapped with a Duke” is a story about seeing past the facade in order to uncover the true person. How can you not love a couple that thumbs their noses at society and chooses to put their happiness first..

Addison to Collette:
-You are the sunshine on my soul. All my life I’ve felt darkness inside and since the moment we met, you’ve been bringing me light……

That says it all my romance reading friends. Yet another winning read from Annabelle Anders.

[Amy Alvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor - 5 star

James and Nell had plans to marry, but she married another to save her parents from financial ruin. She is now widowed and is chaperoning her sister at a house party where she runs into James. He is now looking for a wife. Do they have a second chance at love?

I adored James and Nell's story!! I always love ruin stories and MacGregor hit it out of the pack with this one!

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders - 4 stars

Annabelle is working at the school that the Duke of Bedwell's sister attends. This is the scene of their chance encounter. Addison shows a side of himself to Annabelle that he has shown no one else and he can't seem to forget about her. But do a duke and and illegitimate daughter of a baron have a chance at love?

I really enjoyed Annabelle and Addison's story! Addison really needed someone that he could be himself with and Annabelle was the one!

[Julie Eichelberger-Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Young and The Ruined: Compromised is a collaboration of six amazing authors creating six wonderfully written novellas of love, seduction and the aftermath of being caught in a compromising situation.

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor - Lady Nell and Mr. James Richardson were young and in love but family circumstances ripped them apart creating heartbreak and hard feelings. Now years later, Lady Nell and her sister become stranded and stumble upon a house party in which James is trying to select a new wife and mother for his little girl. When Nell's sister and James' cousin are caught in a compromising embrace, James and Nell must work together to resolve the situation but past hurts and secrets threaten to break the truce they are working towards. As the secrets are revealed, love develops a second chance at first love. A beautiful second chances story with engaging characters that have you believing they can make it if they just trust in each other.

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen - Lady Sophia has no choice but to run away when her father tries to force her to wed the rake who attempted to compromise her into marriage. Now she finds herself on a ship full of men heading for Scotland and when she meets the captain, she isn't sure what will happen. Captain Ewan McLaren is not happy to discover Lady Sophia on his ship and is making plans to have her transported back to England when he realizes that the scoundrel who is trying to trap her is also the one he believes is stealing from his company. As they work to come up with an alternate plan for her, they are met by someone who threatens her freedom which makes Ewan announce that they are married. This is a wonderful story of pretend becomes real and love can happen at any time.

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt - Miss Annie Whitcomb has always helped her father in his medical practice but when her father passes away unexpectedly, she finds that what she thought was love was only a ruse to take her innocence and leave her unexpected straights. Major Peter Croft was once one of those patients that Annie and her father saved. He was always enamored of Annie and planned to tell her but the military took him away for an extended assignment and now he has returned to find Annie desolate so he offers to marry her and raise the child as his own. As they prepare to begin their new life, the past threatens to destroy what they are building but when Annie learns the truth she knows that she has truly found her happily ever after. A beautiful story of love overcoming obstacles and learning that love can save you.

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer - Lady Diana is fighter for women's rights and promoting their intelligence when it comes to finances but when she is caught in a compromising situation with John Darrow who has been a thorn in her side with is mischievous antics, she loses standing in society. John has wanted to marry Diana for a few years but bad investments have prevented him from offering for her and now he feels he has lost the chance to win her heart. When is loan is called in by a new owner, he scrambles to make arrangements but when the owner of the debt is revealed he knows that his heart has always been in the right place. An enjoyable story of tit for tat in the practical jokes that lead to happily ever after.

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders - Miss Collette Jones is the illegitimate daughter of the former baron but has been recognized along with her sisters by the current baron, her step-brother. Not feeling comfortable entering society, she begins to live her dream job as a teacher at an exclusive school for girls where she meets the Duke of Bedwell. Bedwell believes his little sister should be home being tutored but agrees to allow her to attend school and when he goes for the opening day celebrations, he becomes trapped in a stairwell with Miss Jones and when is fear of enclosed spaces arises she distracts him with talk and touch but hides so as not to be discovered with him when the doors are finally opened. Bedwell hasn't forgotten her in the month that follows and learns that she was dismissed the next day, thinking he was responsible, he wants to offer for her but she refuses several times until she realizes that they must marry. Both are hiding the love they are feeling because they are afraid that love will get in the way of their happiness but love will not be hidden. A great story of love overcoming the expectations of society.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite - Miss Garnett Younghusband is trying to retrieve her younger from brothers from causing mischief and threatening their father's business but when she turns down one of the dark walks in Vaux Hall, it is she who is caught kissing a man who recovered her shawl from a drunkard who tried to attack her. Lord Rafe Pembroke is the younger son of a baron and not looking to settle down but after witnessing Garnett being assaulted and then handling the situation on her own, he is intrigued but when they are caught kissing by the two biggest gossips in the ton, he announces they are betrothed. Rafe then suggests to Garnett that they pretend to be engaged for a little while and then break up but as they begin to spend time together, feelings grow and when outside influences then to destroy what they are building, they must decide if the feelings are real or not. A wonderful story of fake feelings to happily ever after.

I was at first intimidated to reading this collection just because of the size of the volume but I have to say I am truly happy that I began turning the pages because each story was delightful and entertaining with fun, engaging characters. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

[Glittergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good anthology. I'm not usually wild about anthologies but this set of authors are quite good at their craft and the stories are theme related. Each story had something to do with the hero & heroine finding themselves in a situation that others read as an indiscretion. I was delighted to see several authors, at the end of their short story, directed us to the series or book that the characters came from. I love that I don't have to dig through their backlist if I want to read connecting character's stories. I only found one story to be weak for me but that's because I didn't care for Merry Farmers hero & heroine. Otherwise, I will be putting several books on my wish list for future reading.

Janna MacGregor's Two Ruins Make a Right is a second chance story. James Richaradson and Nellwin Leighton were in love in their youth but James was the nephew of the Duke of Danby and his land steward. Nellwin's parents fell into financial ruin and convinced Nell that she had to marry a wealthy Marquess to save the family's finances & her younger sister's chances to make a good match. Years later James is now Duke and her parents are once again at the brink of bankruptcy. Nell's younger sister has to step up to the plate to save her parents. When she falls for James' cousin all sorts of chaos ensues.

Tammy Anderson's Laird of Longing is full of spies thieves and a stowaway. Lady Sophie Everclear the diamond of the first water according to society runs away from a suitor who assaulted her to force marriage. In her panic to disappear she stows away on a ship. She's discovered when hunger drives her to the galley. The ship's Captain, Laird Ewan McLaren takes her to his cabin to decide what to do with her. He can't toss her overboard and eventually drags her story out of her. Turns out her attacker is known to his family. He's wanted because he's involved with thievery from the family's shipping company. Turns out Ewan has powerful connections through his cousins.

Meara Platt's A Rescued Heart is a story of a woman with a broken heart and pregnant. The father of her baby, son of a wealthy local landowner, let her think they would marry when he really just wanted her for his mistress while he marries a rich daughter of an Earl. She is the daughter of the local doctor who recently died. Major Peter Croft is a former patient of her father's that she helped recover from horrible war wounds & opium addition because of the pain. He's back as commander of the port and quickly comes to her rescue. It's taken time but he has discovered he loves her and steps up to take responsibility for her.

Merry Farmer's How To Avoid A Scandal (Or Not) is an enemies to lovers, revenge story. I found it the weakest of the anthology mostly because I really didn't care for the heroine. The story is well crafted but Lady Diana Pickwick went too far trying to teach Lord John Darrow a lesson. He has been in love with Diana for years but instead of letting her know he's been teasing and picking on her for years. He's found himself in debt with bad investments and wants to be back in the black before he approaches Diana. I found him honorable on one hand and juvenile on the other. Lady Diana is a suffragette who is fighting for the rights of women to be equal in status as men. She is strong, intelligent and capable. She's amassed quite a fortune with insightful investing. Unfortunately when they find themselves in an embarrassing situation because of John's actions they must marry. Diana decides John must be taught a lesson in seeing her as an equal before there will be peace in their relationship. I think she took it too far.

Annabelle Anders' Trapped with a Duke is a touching story of a illegitimate daughter of a Baron and a Duke who is the second son who's older brother is illegitimate as well. They find themselves locked in a tight stairwell for hours and he's claustrophobic. She quickly figures it out and seeks to keep him from panicking during the ordeal which leads to a kiss. She makes sure no one knows she was alone with him when he's let out but he's an honorable man and decides they must marry regardless. He finds she really sees the man inside him and not the station he's trying to live up to. She on the other hand doesn't feel worthy of being a duchess and will be shunned by society. It's further complicated by his society matron mother who has a chip on her shoulder given the infidelity of her husband. I really liked this story.

Tabetha Waite's A Captivating Compromise is a story about being in the wrong place at the wrong time leading to a fake engagement. Miss Garnett Younghusband has been trying to keep her twin brothers in line since their mother dies when she was 4. When she tries to chase them down at Vauxhall one night she literally runs into Lord Rafe Pinehurst. When he takes advantage of the situation and steals a kiss they are observed by two of the biggest gossips in town. He takes matters into his hands and announces they're engaged so no harm done. This leads to them pretending to be engaged so she can break up with him in the near future. That doesn't happen when they fall in love for real aided by one of his friends working out a revenge plot against him.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely set of stories. Loved reading them all. All worthy 5 stars. Fab plots and very HEA's.
Overall 5☆

[Lana Birky · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

TWO RUINS MAKE A RIGHT by Janna MacGregor - What a wonderful, second chance love story. James Richardson, nephew & presumptive heir to the title of Duke of Darnley was at a house party at his aunt & uncle's estate to choose a wife. Nellwyn Leighton, widowed Marchioness of Whitton's carriage broke an axle in front of Duke Darnley's estate & is seeking help from them. James & Nell were in love, eight years ago, when James was only a steward assistant for his uncle, but Nell & James were going to marry - until she sent a note, she couldn't marry him & was marrying the Marquess of Whitton. James eventually married but his wife died & now he had a six-year-old daughter, Valentina, who needed a mother. The shock & the reuniting made for a wonderful story & Valentina will steal your heart!

LAIRD OF LONGING by Tammy Andresen - Laird Ewan McLaren, he is a ship captain & partner in Carrington Shipping, he is handsome, rich & does not want to marry for a few years. He is 1/2 Scot/1/2 English & has recently reunited with his cousins - one of which is now a duchess. Lady Sophie Everclear, daughter of the Earl of Templeton is a Diamond of the First Water, kind, honest & running from a menacing suitor. We she is discovered as a stowaway on Ewan's ship, & after explaining why she was there, the decision of what to do with her starts an exciting adventure. This was such a romantic & entertaining story with lovable characters.

A RESCUED HEART by Meara Platt - Major Peter Croft has loved Annie since she & her doctor father had saved him from the pain from war wounds & addiction to opium. Annie Whitcomb has made a mistake that will last her a lifetime & has suffered the loss of her father. She has nowhere to turn when Peter shows up unexpectedly after being away for six months. This wonderful couple & heartwarming story teaches us that anything is possible with love.
​
​HOW TO AVOID A SCANDAL (OR NOT) by Merry Farmer - What a fun romance, forced marriage & paybacks from a woman that fights for women's rights & then proves herself to her new husband. Lady Diana Pickwick is a force to be reckoned with, her secret financial investments have made her quite wealthy & outwardly she hates Lord John Darrow but she loves him on her inside. John has loved Diana for years but can't ask her to marry him because he has made several bad, large investments & now they are being forced to marry - this cannot turn out good or can it?

TRAPPED WITH A DUKE by Annabelle Anders - Miss Collette Jones is the illegitimate daughter of a baron & after his death, her half brother wants her & her sisters to come out in society but Collette refuses to be a part of their snubbing of their birth. She wants to be a teacher & has been hired to teach at a private refinement & education school for girls. ​Addison Holden Brierton, Duke of Bedwell is serious, proper & honorable but today he is also irritated. He has delivered his sister to a girls school - she should be at home being tutored privately but she insisted on Mrs. Pimm's school & he could not deny her wishes. The meeting of the duke & the teacher is great as Collette is very outspoken with him & no one speaks to him that way or do they & this was just the beginning? This was sweet, funny, romantic & it will leave you smiling!

A CAPTIVATING COMPROMISE by Tabetha Waite - Miss Garnett Youghusband's sixteen year old twin brothers are mischief makers & tonight she is at Vauxhall Gardens to find them & bring them home before they do something to bring shame upon her father's chandlery name. In her rush she ran, literally into a handsome Adonis, Mr. Rafe Pinehurst, youngest son of Baron Peregrine. After falling to the ground & becoming wrapped up in each other - he kissed her & she was willing. That was bad enough but the two worst gossips in society & two of her father's customers caught them - somehow Rafe stayed calm enough to tell them that he & Garnett were betrothed. This faux engagement would work for both of them; she would not cause any scandal & his mother would quit nagging him to get married. When it all blew over, Garnett could cry off, but we need a HEA & their romance & love grows even with some outside forces trying to keep them apart. This is full of lovable characters & a fun story!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Young and the Ruined and the views expressed are my honest opinions. Following the premises of the Young and the Restless, this is a collection of novellas in which ruination is the rule of the tale. While I wasn’t certain I was going to enjoy them all, I must say some novellas were pretty captivating, some more than others.

In Janna MacGregor’s Two Ruins Make a Right, Nell’s carriage breaks down at the door of her first love, James, whom she had to sacrifice years ago in order to save her family. Now both having lost their spouses, will they rekindle their passions for each other or is their hate too strong to overcome? This novella elicits emotions in the reader through the strong characters and the emotions they experienced while untangling past actions and hurts. 5 stars

In Tammy Andersen’s Laird of Longing, Sophie stows away on a boat in order to escape a betrothal to an unwanted suitor and fortune hunter. Thankfully, it belongs to Ewan, a Scottish Lord with powerful English cousins. Unforeseen circumstances make Ewan change his mind to help the lovely Sophie. But will the beauty capture his affections too, despite his vows to never marry? This novella had elements of mystery and danger, making it one of my favourites. 4 stars

In Meara Platt’s A Rescued Heart, Peter, had just arrived back in Torquay after his return to the continent. He had suffered serious wounds at war and had been close to losing his life, apart from himself. It was thanks to Annie, his avenging angel and her father, the local physician, that he could now have a second chance at life. However, Peter had never told Annie his true feelings for her. When a situation happens in the beginning of the novella, will Peter take this opportunity to plead his case or will Annie feel too unsuitable to be his companion? While being a standalone, Peter’s siblings all had stories of their own. It is definitely an original storyline and some parts tug on the reader’s heartstrings, making it also another favourite. 4.5 stars

In Merry Farmer’s How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not), Diana is the only single lady among her friends due to a persistent bee in her bonnet, namely the dashing John. As they say, there is a fine line between love and hate and this is definitely seen with Diana. John, on the other hand, has been in love with Diana for years but kept awaiting a better financial situation before asking for her hand in marriage. However, scandal struck and the modern-thinking beauty finds herself on the way to the altar will John. However, will John’s secret keep the couple from experiencing the wedded bliss they had hoped for? This novella has elements which make it original and modern. However, I wasn’t too keen about the way the relationship progressed. 3 stars

Annabelle Anders’ Trapped with a Duke was my favourite by far. Addison, a Duke born and bred meets Collette, a teacher at the academy his sister got enrolled in. Despite being trapped in a innocent but potentially compromising situation, the couple manage to get free unscathed and still single, despite Addison proposing marriage out of honour. A few weeks later, their cross paths again but some circumstances had changed. Will Addison keep his Dukely demeanor or will the real Addison appear, the one who fights for what he really wants? I love how the reader can see Addison and Colette grow throughout the progression of the novella. The characters are larger than life and I am very much interested in reading more about the characters involved. 5 stars

In Tabetha Waite’s A Captivating Compromise, Garnett finds herself in a compromising position with Rafe while looking for her twin rascals she calls brothers in Vauxhall. While this novella was ok, there was a lot going on, sometimes too much for such a short story. Immediately, Rafe and Garnett started talking and portraying themselves as if they were indeed bethrothal couple rather than a pretend couple. After some inconsistencies, it was difficult to finish the novella. 3 stars

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all six books in this anthology and enjoyed them. I found that each story is a standalone and comes to a good conclusion.

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor - When his precious, and somewhat precocious, Valentina dramatically points to a lady and declares, “She's the one”, the last person he expects to see standing in the doorway is Lady Nellwyn who jilted him just prior to their planned marriage. Lady Nell has many regrets, and James Richardson is the one that has caused her sleepless nights for years. This heart-breaking story of duty above love that caused so much pain, makes one want to weep for the main characters. Fortunately, the most important people in James' life know the truth, but breaking down Nell's barriers of guilt takes ingenuity on the part of both James and Valentina. This is a well-written and touching romance.

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen - Part of the Lords of Scandal series, we finally find out who the Scotsman is. Lady Sophia Everclear has stowed away on Laird Ewan McLaren's ship after being trapped into an unwanted betrothal by a rake of the worst kind. Unfortunately, she has also discovered that her father has no sympathy for her and would rather preserve his own image before worrying about his daughter's happiness. Despite his strong feelings on the matter, Ewan discovers in Sophia a young woman of beauty and courage, who negotiates with wit and overcomes her fear with bravery. The story is well-written and entertaining, making one smile and cheer the characters on.

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt - Betrayed by her friend, Annie Whitcomb finds herself facing disgrace. Major Peter Croft, whom she and her father nursed back to health some years previously, returns to Torquay and immediately seeks Annie out. He quickly discovers the truth of the matter and proposes marriage. Annie reluctantly accepts, but not for the reasons one would think, and they discover that they make a good team as they work together. Admitting to love takes a bit longer, but ultimately this story of brokenness and disgrace comes to a happy conclusion.

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer - At odds with one another, an accident results in a marriage that Lady Diana resents. However, that does not prevent her from planning her revenge on her tormentor. There is a certain humour to this story and despite the constant bickering between the main characters, the story does end on a positive note.

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders - Rather than take her half-brother up on a season, Miss Collette Jones chooses to rather pursue her passion for teaching. On her first day as a new teacher, she accidentally finds herself locked in with the Duke of Bedwell, who is harbouring secrets that are inadvertently revealed when at close quarters with Collette. To assuage his guilt, Bedwell offers marriage and is surprised when he is rejected. The story is one of soul mates finding one another and overcoming the great divide between classes. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written novella that comes to a happy conclusion.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite - Caught in an awkward situation with Lord Rafe Pembroke, Miss Garnett Younghusband has no alternative but to accept his stance that they are engaged. Little does she realise that the young man has more backbone than she originally thought, but unfortunately he also has friends who prove to be less than honourable. Rafe discovers that there is more to the history of their two families than he thought, but when he almost loses Garnett, he realises that it is time to fight for the most important person in his life.

I received this boxset as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

6 novellas with the common theme of ruination turning into HEA. The stories are mostly not clean (last one is least steamy), but nothing extreme happens in any of them. Each is a 60-90 minute read, so you get a pretty decent bang for your buck with the collection. Several of the stories are connected to others by their authors, so you may be familiar with a few of the scenarios.

2 Ruins make a right—Widowed Nell arrives at a house party to discover the man she spurned as a younger woman also in attendance. James, heir to a Duke and also widowed, is hunting for a wife to mother his young daughter, Valentina. Upon Nell’s arrival, Valentina spies her and declares her to be the mother she’s been waiting for. It’s good this wasn’t longer, because James’ stubbornness over Nell’s refusal of him years earlier tested all of my patience with him. He won’t forgive her, even though she had a good reason for marrying her late husband, and she’s a very nice person. They get their HEA, but I’m not sure James deserves her.

Laird of Longing—Ewan and Sophie are a charming couple. Ewan finds Sophie stowed away on his ship after she runs away from home following an assault from a rogue determined to compromise her in order to get her dowry. Of course Sophie finds Ewan irresistible, and he falls for her too. This maybe could have been spun out into a longer book, but the novella was able to include a complete story. It’s loosely tied into the Lords of Scandal series—the Marquess of Menace appears here.

Rescued Heart
Annie is in an Interesting Condition and the squire’s son is not willing to marry her. Peter has just returned from a military assignment. Annie, the late doctor’s daughter, nursed him back to health after previous war injuries had led him into addiction. When he discovers her situation, he offers immediately to marry her. This story is their journey to HEA, and is very sweet (and slightly steamy). Peter is the brother of the Crofts of Glenalynn, Aislin, and the Earl of Westcliff, other Meara Platt stories.

How to Avoid a Scandal (or not)—Maybe the last of Farmer’s May Flowers? Lady Diana and Lord John have been poking at each other like a couple of middle schoolers for a while, but this time one of Lord John’s shenanigans has ended up compromising Lady Diana. They marry immediately, but she plots revenge. John is heavily in debt, and Diana has plenty of money, but he won’t admit to her that he is in financial trouble. His insistence that women are clueless about money is annoying, but the lengths Diana goes to in order to teach John a lesson with her revenge scheme (the bulk of the story here) are just mean. Farmer is a master at packing a full story into a novella, and this is no exception. I just wish I could like Lady Diana more.

Trapped with a Duke—Collette is one of Chase’s (The Cocky Baron) illegitimate sisters. She starts a teaching position, and on her first day is trapped in a stairwell with Addison, Duke of Bedwell. His honor demands that he offer her marriage, but she refuses, knowing that her illegitimacy makes her unsuitable to be a duchess. However, Addison and Collette fall for each other, making them both want to figure out how to be together. This story is more eventful than I expected for its length, and I really liked both characters.

A Captivating Compromise—Garnett literally crashes into Rafe at Vauxhall and lands on top of him in front of the two biggest gossips in London, when all she was really doing was trying to keep her younger brothers out of trouble. Rafe invents an engagement on the spot and the couple’s fake engagement eventually becomes a real affection for each other.

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard giving this an overall star rating. There were some stories I loved and others that I was less keen on.

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor 

This was yet another so called historical romance, packed full of modern language and characters that just don't fit the time. There's talk of feeling just being a crush, people quitting things and other such anachronistic terms. I can cope with these style of romances when the storyline grabs me, but I didn't really care for either of the main characters and just didn't buy their romance.
This one was not for me, sorry.

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen

I enjoyed this one much more than the first book. Our hero and heroine seem to be a good match and I liked the way that she saved herself as much as he saved her. It was a bit of a disney land take on Scotland, as often seems to happen. (Various reasons for saying this, but the fact that the hero kept saying 'Feck' when there was no obvious connection with Ireland would make you think that the author thinks that this is a Scottish expression.) I'm also not really sure that the author understands what a Laird is, his wife certainly isn't a Lairdess. Even so, the story was enjoyable.

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt

I really enjoyed this novella by Meara Platt, as I usually do. I think what appealed to me the most here was that our heroine was the daughter of a doctor, not some titled gentleman. Our hero had a little higher social standing, but was a Major and not titled himself. This romance deals with a hero and heroine who have both had a difficult hand dealt to them, but manage to work their way through it to find one another and happiness.

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer

I quite en joyed this one. There was quite a bit that I wasn't entirely sure would have been likely (there are characters with very modern attitudes, particularly to do with women as well as two men who are a couple and have an adopted child. The other characters seem to have accepted this without blinking an eye). Overall though, I enjoyed the interaction between our main characters and enjoyed the romance.

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders

I really enjoyed this romance between school teacher Collette and Addison, who is a Duke. They were very sweet together and despite their differences in station, the romance between them worked. All in all a good read.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite

This little romance is set a little earlier than the others in the book. It tells the story of Garnett Younghusband and Rafe Pinehurst. After finding themselves in a compromising position by accident they pretend to be betrothed. For Garnett this means that her father's business won't be ruined and for Rafe the chance to get his mother off his back. I quite enjoyed the story, although the surname Younghusband irritated me. It's a real (if very unusual) surname, but it's so long and cumbersome that it just annoyed me each time I had to read it.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six delightfully entertaining stories by six delightfully talented authors.

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor
When Valentina Richardson attends a house party where her father means to find a new wife, she is quick to point out the woman she believes will be her new Mama. Not if her father has anything to do with it. James Richardson, heir to the Duke of Darnley, and his cousin Harry Knollwood step up to save Nell (a woman from his past and the woman Valentina has chosen for her Mama) and her sister Christa from the schemes of irresponsible and greedy parents. James and Nell get a second chance, and help Harry and Christa find their HEA.

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen
Lady Sophie Everclear is running away from an abusive suitor and an unwanted marriage. She hides on Ewan McLaren’s ship. Sophie and Laird Ewan McLaren have something in common other than her stowing away on his ship. It turns out that the suitor she does not want is wanted by Ewan’s shipping company – for theft. They embark on an adventure to get Sophie home, and nothing else. Good luck with that. The attraction is strong, and a chance encounter leads to some unexpected, but happy consequences.

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt
Annie Whitcomb has made a mistake. She should not have trusted the man who fathered her babe. Her father has died and she has no one to turn to. Years ago, Annie helped Major Peter Croft recover from his war wounds and addiction to opium. When she tells him of her predicament, he offers to marry her, in part because she helped him and in part because they are friends. Everything does not work out the way they would like, but they have a chance to build a life together.

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer
These two need a good spanking. John teases her unmercifully to hide the fact that he has serious financial problems, and that he loves her. She hates him for the annoyance and the fact that he can’t get his courting act together, and she loves him. When they are forced to marry, she discovers and recovers his finances. John has no idea how much money Diana has from her investments. She doesn’t tell him what she has done. It’s payback time. She teases (tortures) him right into a HEA.

Trapped With a Duke by Annabelle Anders
When Collette Jones’s half-brother offered to bring her and her sisters, his father’s illegitimate offspring, out in Society, she declined. She wanted to be a teacher. She found employment at Miss Primm’s Private Seminary for the Refinement and Education of Ladies. On the day of the Parent Picnic, she is accidentally locked in a stairwell with the Addison, the Duke of Bedwell, the brother of one of her students, and her life takes a drastic turn. Addison is claustrophobic due to a traumatic incident in his youth, and panics when he realizes they are trapped. Sophie is able to calm him, and somewhere along the way, he kisses her. Now he believes the honorable thing to do is to marry her. She resists strongly and frequently, but Addison is determined to make the feisty woman his duchess. It’s a lot of fun seeing it all play out.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite
Garnett Younghusband is out looking for her younger brothers when she meets Rafe and his friends. When Rafe steals a kiss, they are seen. To avoid a scandal, they agree to a pretend engagement. To make it look real, they spend a good bit of time together. Pretty soon, they wonder if it might be time to make the fake engagement the real thing.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading a collection like this it is usually hard to rate because some stories are better than others but in this case, all the stories in this book are delightful. Although, it is hard to imagine how many people in the ton manage to literally fall into relationships - actual tripping and falling and getting caught.
In A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt the heroine is actually ruined before meeting the hero. Luckily, when he was injured and a drug addict, she had helped her father heal him. Now that she needs to marry he steps up to the plate. But it's not a marriage of convenience because the come to find that they have been in love all this time.
Merry Farmer's How to Avoid a Scandal (or Not) two long-time frenemies are forced to marry after a fall brings scandal. He had been avoiding a proposal because he was in debt all the while never thinking to admit his predicament to her and that she could do anything to help.
A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite has a heroine with a woman whose last name is Younghusband - who could resist after that. Another fall leads could to ruin, but Rake Pembroke comes up with a plan for a fake betrothal to get them out of trouble. But even a fake betrothal can grow to real love – will his past liaisons get in the way of their happiness?
In Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders A teacher is caught in a stairwell with a Duke who has come to drop off his sister. He insists that they must marry since she is ruined but she insists that nothing happened and as an illegitimate daughter of a baron, she was unsuitable as duchess material. A kiss between them begs to differ. There is something between them and the Duke won’t stop until he has convinced her that she is good enough.
In Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen – when a rake ruins a woman intentionally to secure her dowry what choice does she have then to stowaway on a boat to get out of town. When Sophie was finally found on the ship, she was brought to the captain Laird Ewan McLaren. While planning to have relatives help marry her off to someone safe, they are seen together in Scotland and marry to avoid scandal or force her return home. No surprise, the marriage turns out to be better that either could imagine.
Janna MacGregor's Two Ruins Make a Right has a Bachelor-like house party is being held to help the Duke’s heir find a wife and mother for his young daughter who decides that the woman she has selected as her new mama isn't any of the invited women but an old flame who had dropped him years ago to marry for money. She's now a widow and the sparks are still there.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great anthology with meaty stories all centering around a couple finding themselves in a compromising situation. That situation of course leading to the heroines ruin or potential ruin. If you are looking for some new to you authors or love these writers then I highly recommend a read!

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor was such a sweet story. A second chance romance for a bitter Duke looking to find a wife and mother for his daughter. I loved the daughter, Valentina. Children can be so difficult to write and MacGregor does it perfectly. I loved the two love stories unfolding and family secrets!

Laird of Longing by Tammy Anderson was so good! Lady Sophie Everclear is a stowaway on a ship to avoid a forced marriage. She is eventually discovered and the whole ship is love with her. Even the
Captain, Laird Ewan McLaren feels instant sparks. I love how they solve things together and she finds an instant friend in Ewan.

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt is a story with marriage of convince and friends to lovers themes. I loved Annie and Peter. This is a long story with a lot of background, but loved its heart and humor. Hoping their are connected stories.

How To Avoid A Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer is so funny. The beginning starts with a fabulous tableau of great women in history. Lady Diana Pickwick set it all up but ends up in a compromising situation with her enemy Lord John Darrow. The entire book revolves

Trapped with a Duke by Annabelle Anders is a great historical with a teacher and a Duke! Themes of illegitimacy and scandal and overcoming fears. CW: Claustrophobic situations, Flashback to Child Abuse. I loved the families in this one!

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite was a an interesting read with a mix of classes. The characters in the story grew on me as I got to know them. I also am always down for a fake engagement story. Garnett Younghusband chases after her teenage twin brothers at Vauxhall one night, hoping to save her family's reputation. Her father is the official candle maker to the Queen and she tuns a successful soap making branch.

Thank you to #JannaMacgregor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these full length stories - highly recommended box set.

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor - Eight years ago Nell gave up her happiness for her family. Now she wants to protect her sister by enabling her to have a comfortable life without worries but Christa has a mind of her own and Nell herself is tied up in knots over her first love and his adorable daughter. Can ruin and scandal be prevented?

Laird of Longing by Tammy Andresen - Sophie is terrified when her father insists she must marry the man who attacked her to save her reputation and flees her home in the dead of night finding refuge on a a boat going who knows where. For two days she manages to hide from the crew but is eventually caught, luckily for her the Captain, whilst he threatens to throw her overboard as a stowaway, has a soft spot for a woman in trouble...

A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt - Major Peter Croft who fell in love with the girl who nursed him back to health, comes to her rescue when he finds her in trouble. But can she learn to love him?

How to Avoid a Scandal (Or Not) by Merry Farmer - John Darrow feels unable to ask Diana to be his wife because of his financial situation, so instead he teases and taunts her, until he goes too far and marriage is the only solution. Diana is infuriated and determined to teach John a lesson!

Trapped with the Duke by Annabelle Anders - Although Collette has been raised as a gentlewoman society will always hold her birth against her. All she wants is to be independent and teach but even with the help of her brother that proves problematic. Add to that a duke determined to do the honorable thing even though no one knows of their “incident” and Collette finds herself torn between reality and her heart.

A Captivating Compromise by Tabetha Waite - A temporary betrothal to avoid a scandal quickly becomes more for both parties but others are determined to split them apart permanently.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this boxset from one of the authors. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

NOTE: Neither The Wicked White nor Ruined by Design were in the stories I received in this ARC.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

Two Ruins Make a Right by Janna MacGregor – I adored this story. The author really knows how to make you feel for the characters. I felt such anguish for Nell. She was forced to marry for money and not love by her parents. After accepting James’ proposal, she goes home to discover people in the home and taking everything of any worth! She sends a letter to James informing him of her withdrawal and marries another. After a few years pass, Nell is a widow and seeing her younger sister married well and away from her parents.

Now I was becoming despondent. Now Nell was becoming like her parents but from getting that glimpse with the dual POV format, I the reader saw that it was to protect her sister and not to take advantage of her.

I fell in love with both James and Nell. The writer really had my emotions going all over the place really speaks to how well the story is written and why she is favorite of mine.

This is a slightly sexy story that should be read by someone over the age of 18.



Laird of Longing – Tammy Andresen

This is a wonderful tale of a young woman who steals away on a merchant ship. She had been accosted by a male admirer of dubious intent and background. Her father tells her that she will have to marry her attacker to preserve her name. Fortunately for Sophie, Ewen is the captain of the ship. The two are forced to marry when they reach Scotland.

Will Sophie’s attacker try to attack her again? Will her father agree to let the two of them have an English wedding?

This story is written in a dual POV format. It is also a slightly sexy read for someone over the age of 18.


A Rescued Heart by Meara Platt

This was a delightful tale of two people coming together to overcome an indiscretion. Boy times back then were especially hard for a woman. This story was one that completely enchanted me and I had a hard time putting it down to make dinner.

This is a story that shouldn’t be missed if you love historical romance.

I have not completed the entire selection of stories. Hopefully I will be successful in editing my review as I finish the stories.