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Becomes Her #1
Scandal Becomes Her
New York Times bestselling author Shirlee Busbee weaves the intricate, unforgettable story of a chance meeting, a forced marriage—and the surprise of a love so passionate it cannot be denied...
Love Is Sweetest When It's Unexpected
Nell Anslowe and Julian, Earl of Wyndham, are an unlikely couple in every respect. Injured in a riding accident ten years ago, Nell was left with a fiancé who abandoned their engagement and the firm belief that she will never marry.
The abrupt end of Julian's unhappy marriage formed his resolve to remain a bachelor until the end of his days. But as Julian chases down his reckless stepsister, he seeks shelter from a summer storm in a cottage—and finds it occupied by Nell, who has escaped from a fortune-seeking libertine bent on carrying her off to Gretna Green.
Discovered together by Nell's family, the couple's hasty wedding is the only way to save Nell from scandal. But the polite union each of them expects soon ignites into something much more powerful...
Love Is Sweetest When It's Unexpected
Nell Anslowe and Julian, Earl of Wyndham, are an unlikely couple in every respect. Injured in a riding accident ten years ago, Nell was left with a fiancé who abandoned their engagement and the firm belief that she will never marry.
The abrupt end of Julian's unhappy marriage formed his resolve to remain a bachelor until the end of his days. But as Julian chases down his reckless stepsister, he seeks shelter from a summer storm in a cottage—and finds it occupied by Nell, who has escaped from a fortune-seeking libertine bent on carrying her off to Gretna Green.
Discovered together by Nell's family, the couple's hasty wedding is the only way to save Nell from scandal. But the polite union each of them expects soon ignites into something much more powerful...
362 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2007
150 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Shirlee Busbee
51 books271 followersShirlee Elaine was born 9 August 1941 in San Jose, California, USA. She was the first daughter of a career naval officer, later she had two sisters and three brothers, they raised traveling the world. She went to the institute in Kentri, Morocco, after which she returned to California and she went to Burbank Bussines College of Santa Rosa, where she received a certificate in 1962.
Shirlee married with Howard Busbee in June 22, 1963. Now, they live in hills of California, where they raise for pleasure Standard Schnauzers, Standardbred horses, and other many animals.
She has worked as a receptionist for the Marin County Title and Abstract Co., as plant supervisor for Fairfield Title Co., and as secretary and drafting technician for the County Parks Department of Fairfield, California, where she met her life-long friend and mentor Rosemary Rogers. Published since 1977, Shirlee Busbee is the proud author of over 18 novels, including seven New York Times bestsellers. With over nine million copies of her books in print, she is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in writing, including the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and Affaire de Coeur's Silver and Bronze Pen Awards.
You may write to Shirlee Busbee care of C/O Warner Books, Inc., Time and Life Building, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
Shirlee married with Howard Busbee in June 22, 1963. Now, they live in hills of California, where they raise for pleasure Standard Schnauzers, Standardbred horses, and other many animals.
She has worked as a receptionist for the Marin County Title and Abstract Co., as plant supervisor for Fairfield Title Co., and as secretary and drafting technician for the County Parks Department of Fairfield, California, where she met her life-long friend and mentor Rosemary Rogers. Published since 1977, Shirlee Busbee is the proud author of over 18 novels, including seven New York Times bestsellers. With over nine million copies of her books in print, she is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in writing, including the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and Affaire de Coeur's Silver and Bronze Pen Awards.
You may write to Shirlee Busbee care of C/O Warner Books, Inc., Time and Life Building, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 18, 2024
Reread: 10/1/24
ReRead: 7/13/20
Read: 2010 & 2015
It was a great start to a series. Highly recommend!
ReRead: 7/13/20
Read: 2010 & 2015
It was a great start to a series. Highly recommend!
March 26, 2011
If the description of this book gave you the impression that it would be an angsty historical where the long-suffering heroine is set free by scandal, let me disabuse you. It seems as if the author decided to mash together as many romance popular trends as she could, so here we have a regency-scandal suspense plot with paranormal undertones and a former spy for a hero. After reading these doozies, I was expecting the hero to be a Highlander in disguise.
It’s not a surprise that with that many plots, the book wouldn’t be good at any of them. Instead of excitement by mixing all these themes, we got a really boring, plodding story with few interactions between the hero and the heroine (I don't think they spent a quarter of the book in each other’s company) and long winded descriptions of time passing. The scandal was non existent, the suspense plot was trite and the harebrained paranormal facet was just a way to tie the first two together because without it, there was no way to mix the pseudo scandal with the serial murderer plot (this is mentioned in the first page of the book, so don’t fear this is a spoiler.)
Both main characters were just plain caricatures and they didn’t seem to feel any lasting trauma for the events of their past. The heroine was 29 going on 13 and the hero was just a commonplace regency lord. They were so dull, together and apart, that it’s not worthy to go into much details about them.
Overall, a really dull and silly story, only recommended if you are insomniac and need something to help you sleep.
It’s not a surprise that with that many plots, the book wouldn’t be good at any of them. Instead of excitement by mixing all these themes, we got a really boring, plodding story with few interactions between the hero and the heroine (I don't think they spent a quarter of the book in each other’s company) and long winded descriptions of time passing. The scandal was non existent, the suspense plot was trite and the harebrained paranormal facet was just a way to tie the first two together because without it, there was no way to mix the pseudo scandal with the serial murderer plot (this is mentioned in the first page of the book, so don’t fear this is a spoiler.)
Both main characters were just plain caricatures and they didn’t seem to feel any lasting trauma for the events of their past. The heroine was 29 going on 13 and the hero was just a commonplace regency lord. They were so dull, together and apart, that it’s not worthy to go into much details about them.
Overall, a really dull and silly story, only recommended if you are insomniac and need something to help you sleep.
November 14, 2010
The story started out strong for me, leading up to Nell and Julian's engagement and wedding. But the addition of the supernatural elements didn't feel like it fit with the story and all these strong and interesting characters, particularly Julian, Marcus, and Charles. I think that the murderer plot could have been furthered without her nightmares. Also strange to me was how big a role her family seemed to play in her life, but after the wedding they dropped out of the story; considering her father and brothers aren't married, why wouldn't they visit at the holidays, for example. I'm going to continue the series because I liked Charles and Marcus, and want to see if there are stories are any different.
June 12, 2011
Nell Anslow is a firmly on the shelf spinister heiress who is also crippled and suffers from debiliating nightmares in which she sees murders. But along comes a gentleman who is in need of a fortune and attempts to kidnap her only to be outwitted by the heroine who is discovered to be taking shelter with no other than Julian, the Earl of Wyndham, in a hunter's cottage. They are forced to marry and Nell spends her days feeling sorry for herself because her husband appears to be in love with his deceased first wife...Meanwhile, Julian's family - a very large and extended family, thanks to a very virile grandfather, is on the outs after the heir who murdered and his heir committed suicide...oh, and there is a madman out there killing women...Yep...it appears as if the author managed to take every bit and piece from every historical romance novel she has ever read and managed to pack it all into one story...
For me, this was way too soap operaish. Initially the story starts out actually quite interesting, but then there was just too too much going on that it was focusing more on the plot than on any real development of romance between the hero and heroine - and yes, Nell has her share of TSTL moments where you want to throw the book against a wall - but since it was on an ereader that would have been even more tragic than the actual book.
For me, this was way too soap operaish. Initially the story starts out actually quite interesting, but then there was just too too much going on that it was focusing more on the plot than on any real development of romance between the hero and heroine - and yes, Nell has her share of TSTL moments where you want to throw the book against a wall - but since it was on an ereader that would have been even more tragic than the actual book.
April 28, 2014
Scandal Becomes Her is an enjoyable enough read, but nothing really grabbed my attention: not the writing, not the characters and definitely not the plot.
I think the book lacked development in all sorts of departments.
For example, both Julian and Nell, our protagonists, could have been immensely tortured characters.
Julian made a terrible match and was very unhappy in his marriage. We know he never loved his previous wife, just as she never loved him. She didn't give a fig about him, flaunted her lovers in his face and blamed him for all the ills in the world.
So we know his first marriage was bad. We even know some minor details about it. But I don't think we know enough to have a better understanding of how unbearable it was. I certainly didn't feel any deep emotion concerning the issue.
Some flashback scenes or even mere thoughts and emotions from Julian's part would have remedied that.
About Nell, ten years ago she had an accident and fell from a cliff. She was unconscious for weeks and when she woke up she was really confused and with a seriously injured leg, which her fiancé used as an excuse to ditch her. From that moment on, society dubbing her half-mad and a cripple, she chose to bury herself in the country.
So, we know what happened to Nell and we know she suffers, not so much for being ditched or considered crazy, but because she is a 'cripple', since she remains with a limp to this day.
The thing is, I never really got the sense she was all that affected by those things. She only mentioned the cripple thing once but never again.
I can't possibly believe she feels strongly about that when she only mentions it once and then seems to forget.
Another thing that definitely needed development was the sex scenes. I don't think I have ever read a historical romance where there is so little description.
I am a very visual person, therefore I need something more than vague words to describe an act that is supposed to be special and incite some deep emotion in me.
I already know the basics, so please give me more than 'he pleasured her thoroughly' or something along these lines.
There are many things I would like to see changed, so there's no use talking about them. Read this book if you're looking for something light without much depth.
September 27, 2017
de mis escritoras preferidas que para mi es garantia lo unico que no me gusto la parte de asesinatos creo que venian de mas.
November 15, 2019
Wow, I didn’t see that coming; but it makes sense when you get to the end of this book
Why would they set a fire in the dowager house?? Because if I was a madman (woman) in would not draw attention to my dungeon...
Why would they set a fire in the dowager house?? Because if I was a madman (woman) in would not draw attention to my dungeon...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2023
Skimmed through most of it.
February 6, 2011
When I began this book, I really wasn't sure what I would think of it. I love historical romances, but judging from the cover, I was concerned that it may have a lot of steamy sex scenes. I don't mind those scenes as long as they are within the confines of marriage. I know I'm old-fashioned, but that is just me.
I was instantly enthralled with the book. I loved Nell--I always love strong females, especially from bygone eras. And I also love books that take place in England. Both were true of this book. I was so glad that nothing happened between Nell and Julian until they were married. I also enjoyed the way in which the love and passion grew between them.
The story was basically a standard historical romance formula, but the author did insert a bit of a mystery. And this really made the story intriguing. I was pleased to have nearly figured out the mystery, and it certainly made me hungry for more. I was pleased to realize there are two sequels to this book (at least), and I plan to put those on my to-read list.
In conclusion, if you like a good historical romance with a bit of intrigue, I think you would like this book. The intimate scenes were steamy but not too steamy. And there was thankfully very minimal profanity--nothing too bad, which was nice.
I was instantly enthralled with the book. I loved Nell--I always love strong females, especially from bygone eras. And I also love books that take place in England. Both were true of this book. I was so glad that nothing happened between Nell and Julian until they were married. I also enjoyed the way in which the love and passion grew between them.
The story was basically a standard historical romance formula, but the author did insert a bit of a mystery. And this really made the story intriguing. I was pleased to have nearly figured out the mystery, and it certainly made me hungry for more. I was pleased to realize there are two sequels to this book (at least), and I plan to put those on my to-read list.
In conclusion, if you like a good historical romance with a bit of intrigue, I think you would like this book. The intimate scenes were steamy but not too steamy. And there was thankfully very minimal profanity--nothing too bad, which was nice.
March 10, 2010
I just finished it and I have to admit that it was really really nice.
At first I had thought it would be a romance book - but - it was nothing like the others :) At first, Nell (the heroine) is found abducted and the Earl of Wynho saves her from the ton's gossip by marriyng her. But when she realises that she is in love with him but he is in love with his late wife, she falls in dispair. And her nightmares about a madman killing women by torturing them seems to make her lose yet again her happiness...
A really interesting novel. Lots of unexpected mystery and plenty of romance...
At first I had thought it would be a romance book - but - it was nothing like the others :) At first, Nell (the heroine) is found abducted and the Earl of Wynho saves her from the ton's gossip by marriyng her. But when she realises that she is in love with him but he is in love with his late wife, she falls in dispair. And her nightmares about a madman killing women by torturing them seems to make her lose yet again her happiness...
A really interesting novel. Lots of unexpected mystery and plenty of romance...
September 15, 2014
First time I have read Shirlee Busbee
love this book. it keeps you going and not wanting to put the book down. well written and good story line. . read it ___you will not be sorry.
love this book. it keeps you going and not wanting to put the book down. well written and good story line. . read it ___you will not be sorry.
January 16, 2015
Interesting yet entertaining read. I found the whole mysterious side of it a bit odd, but loved how the relationship started. I may just continue with the series.
October 28, 2015
Enjoyed this book very much. Recommended!
January 22, 2014
fun historical romance
November 25, 2022
This is maybeeee a 2.5 star.
This was oddly good sometimes but also bad haha. I think she can really write banter between all the dudes. It's witty, it's sarcastic, it's very old boy's club. And occasionally 1/4 of the prose is good. And then there's the other bits that are just shit =) Sometimes the prose goes on and on and on and it just makes you want to skim everything. There's so much waffling for no reason. I like an inner monologue as much as the next person but sometimes it's like following a train of thought in the real time, except this is a fucking book - she should condense it!!
Also what the fuck is with the dialogue between the MMC and FMC =) It was a bloody cheesecake factory. Very non-sexy and it kinda killed the mood tbh. There's so many exclamation points, I could not keep a straight face. And kinda TMI but when he's getting down and dirty with her and suddenly she says "Oh yes, my lord, yes!" or some shit, and not in the way where she's thanking some higher power, but in reference to his literal title :) Bro. Had she said his name I would have let it pass =)
Look, if you're scrapping the bottom of the barrel, like me, when it comes to connivence books then sure, by all means, read this one. It's not as heinous as a wallpaper historical. But if you've got other options then don't read this lmao.
This was oddly good sometimes but also bad haha. I think she can really write banter between all the dudes. It's witty, it's sarcastic, it's very old boy's club. And occasionally 1/4 of the prose is good. And then there's the other bits that are just shit =) Sometimes the prose goes on and on and on and it just makes you want to skim everything. There's so much waffling for no reason. I like an inner monologue as much as the next person but sometimes it's like following a train of thought in the real time, except this is a fucking book - she should condense it!!
Also what the fuck is with the dialogue between the MMC and FMC =) It was a bloody cheesecake factory. Very non-sexy and it kinda killed the mood tbh. There's so many exclamation points, I could not keep a straight face. And kinda TMI but when he's getting down and dirty with her and suddenly she says "Oh yes, my lord, yes!" or some shit, and not in the way where she's thanking some higher power, but in reference to his literal title :) Bro. Had she said his name I would have let it pass =)
Look, if you're scrapping the bottom of the barrel, like me, when it comes to connivence books then sure, by all means, read this one. It's not as heinous as a wallpaper historical. But if you've got other options then don't read this lmao.
August 2, 2019
Lo que me mantuvo tan enganchada a la historia, es el misterio que rodea a la protagonista (Nell), y las cosas que suceden. Me intrigaba saber quién era el culpable, pensé en varios sospechosos pero si que me sorprendí un poco al descubrir la verdad.
Sin embargo hay cabos sueltos que nunca se logran saber en toda la historia, como el por qué de ese extraño "poder" que tiene Nell. Y también, no hay coherencia entre el título con la historia.
Ahora bien, la historia de amor entre Nell y Julian no fue nada del otro mundo (al menos en estas historias románticas de época), bueno, sí precipitado en la situación en la que se encontraron, aunque admito que su desarrollo no estuvo mal.
Insisto, el misterio me mantuvo pegada al libro, casi sin soltarlo.
Sin embargo hay cabos sueltos que nunca se logran saber en toda la historia, como el por qué de ese extraño "poder" que tiene Nell. Y también, no hay coherencia entre el título con la historia.
Ahora bien, la historia de amor entre Nell y Julian no fue nada del otro mundo (al menos en estas historias románticas de época), bueno, sí precipitado en la situación en la que se encontraron, aunque admito que su desarrollo no estuvo mal.
Insisto, el misterio me mantuvo pegada al libro, casi sin soltarlo.
August 16, 2020
Romance book club. This managed to be both too full of plot and boring. Extensive waiting for the weather to clear up so the next action could happen. Unnecessary detail down to each dish on the dinner menu. Weirdly in everyone's POV, especially her family at the beginning, which never paid off when her family disappeared from the plot very early on. Lots of characters reminiscing in dialogue and internally to recap the past in detail. A lot of relationship "development" through characters thinking about each other, little through actual dialogue or interaction. No character growth.
February 11, 2018
Nell, who suffers from nightmares of her past, is taken by a fortune hunter. After rescuing herself, she is placed in an accidental compromising position with Julian, Earl of Wyndham, resulting in her becoming the Countess of Wyndham. Julian and Nell settle in the country with love slowly growing between the two. However, Nell's nightmares become more frequent and solving the mystery of her past becomes urgent. (However, I felt the story ended very abruptly.)
April 27, 2021
This book read in a very connect-the-dots manner to me. It was okay, but I never felt super invested in any of the outcomes. The plot moved in a first this, then that, then this other thing manner. There was also some odd hopping from one perspective to another mid-scene that drew me out pretty abruptly.
There was potential here, but it was never fully realized by the execution. Perhaps later books in the series improve?
There was potential here, but it was never fully realized by the execution. Perhaps later books in the series improve?
July 23, 2023
Una verdadera pena que no tradujeron la continuación porque la autora elaboró una gran trama, te atrapa conforme avanzas en la lectura y por desgracia al llegar al final encuentras que NO hay epílogo 🙄😒 y para colmo es una serie que tiene continuidad que como es lógico debes leer el siguiente para saber más sobre los primeros protagonistas.
Así que si leen este libro asegúrate y quieres continuar debes sí o sí saber inglés.
En fin, gracias por leer.
Así que si leen este libro asegúrate y quieres continuar debes sí o sí saber inglés.
En fin, gracias por leer.
February 13, 2024
This used to be one of my faves when I was younger, though now I am hard-pressed to say why. Likely, little baby me was intrigued by the element of paranormal and thought that was so cool. Older, more worldly me, knows there are better paranormal, historical, and paranormal historical books out there. That being said, it’s an okay read. I should probably have given it a three, but I just can’t. It was good to baby me and baby me would’ve given it a five. So here’s a compromise.
October 10, 2020
A load of melodramatic drivel. I feel like the book should be prefaced with “I forced a bot to read one thousand historical romances and then write one...” because it’s hard to believe an author chose to try to cram so many different tropes into two characters. Every character in the story felt wooden and fake. I felt like I was watching low paid actors in a B-movie.
October 13, 2020
This was a fun and entertaining read. Nell and Julian were extremely likable, I couldn't help but root for them and their happiness. The bad guys were seriously bad and there was just enough suspense, excitement and mystery to make this addictive. Looking forward to reading the others in this series.
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November 23, 2025DNF. I tried to get into this novel, but about halfway through, I found that the novel wasn't for me. Watch more of my thoughts here: https://youtube.com/shorts/7WPVBrPzFSA
January 11, 2018
3.5. Think I will continue the series. I liked the cousins that I think the series will follow up on.
April 22, 2018
Gefiel mir wirklich ganz gut.
April 11, 2020
A good whodunnit that wasn’t easily solved. It was hard to put down.
June 21, 2020
Me enamoré de Julian
June 24, 2020
Divertida, romántica, con una dosis de situaciones paranormales bien llevadas.
August 26, 2020
I really love historical romances, so I was disappointed in this one. Looks like I'm not the only one to feel that way. The plot didn't entertain me the way I had hoped.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews