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The Sweetest Revenge
Three Determined Women, One Fallen Man
When the Earl of Leothaid took Isabelle Frasier’s innocence, the resulting scandal drove Isabelle to England in humiliating exile. Seven years later, she befriends Anna Newton and Susan, Lady DeLinn, two other women whom Leo has similarly debauched and abandoned.
Isabelle joins with her friends to seek vengeance on the man who ruined them. But when they choose Isabelle as the instrument of their revenge, she faces an impossible choice: stand by Anna and Susan, or betray them by surrendering to her reawakening feelings for the wicked earl.
When Leo lost the woman he loved, he sank into a life of depravity and vice. Now, nothing and no one can seep into his hard shell of a heart. But when three mystery women abduct him and shackle him in a dark cellar, Leo just might rediscover his humanity…and a love that may lift him back into the light.
This book does not shirk away from the dark consequences of a dissolute rake’s behavior. It contains rough language and erotic situations. You’ve been warned.
When the Earl of Leothaid took Isabelle Frasier’s innocence, the resulting scandal drove Isabelle to England in humiliating exile. Seven years later, she befriends Anna Newton and Susan, Lady DeLinn, two other women whom Leo has similarly debauched and abandoned.
Isabelle joins with her friends to seek vengeance on the man who ruined them. But when they choose Isabelle as the instrument of their revenge, she faces an impossible choice: stand by Anna and Susan, or betray them by surrendering to her reawakening feelings for the wicked earl.
When Leo lost the woman he loved, he sank into a life of depravity and vice. Now, nothing and no one can seep into his hard shell of a heart. But when three mystery women abduct him and shackle him in a dark cellar, Leo just might rediscover his humanity…and a love that may lift him back into the light.
This book does not shirk away from the dark consequences of a dissolute rake’s behavior. It contains rough language and erotic situations. You’ve been warned.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2012
About the author
Dawn Halliday
17 books54 followersRaised on a boat in the South Pacific and in the quiet rainforests of Hawaii, Dawn Halliday had plenty of time to develop her overzealous imagination. Between exploring deserted atolls, swimming in churning seas, and exploring lava tubes, Dawn started dreaming up stories of love and adventure before she could read them.
When she's not traveling to exotic lands (which she can always justify as "research"), Dawn lives with her True Love and three rambunctious children in Southern California. She writes passionate historical and contemporary romance, and loves every minute of it.
When she's not traveling to exotic lands (which she can always justify as "research"), Dawn lives with her True Love and three rambunctious children in Southern California. She writes passionate historical and contemporary romance, and loves every minute of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 30, 2013
Not my normal genre, but it fit a book challenge I was doing & I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It was free Kindle download, which I often find are free for a reason - they are poorly written & thus very disappointing. But this one was well paced and entertaining. Also, it was a bit different from your usual romance because the boy had already gotten the girl... and another girl... and another. Therefore, several of the women unite to carry out their revenge on the nasty rake. Of course, love finds them in the end; it's still a romance after all.
March 24, 2013
Wonder why 20 chapters when less than 10 would of done the job.
Really don't like how some authors keep repeating themselves on some descriptions or scenes over and over again just to add pages to the book.
I just read that description a couple of pages before and I do remember it, it's not like it took 3 years to read the book. And it was another of those books where the story is written around the sex...no sex no story. Sorry but not what I expected at all.
Really don't like how some authors keep repeating themselves on some descriptions or scenes over and over again just to add pages to the book.
I just read that description a couple of pages before and I do remember it, it's not like it took 3 years to read the book. And it was another of those books where the story is written around the sex...no sex no story. Sorry but not what I expected at all.
March 31, 2013
Ahhh...It was OK. I just found myself fast forwarding through pages because it just became that boring. They just kept talking around each other and it just felt that it was dragging on and on. I got very bored.
January 4, 2013
I was intrigued by this novel's premise, but the execution left much to be desired. My greatest issue was with the characters.
While I could appreciate Anna's character on some level, Lady Susan failed to engage my sympathy. Not only did I think her too manipulative, but her history with Leo did not strike me as adequately horrifying (especially in light of Anna's history). As a widow and a member of the ton, I would have expected her to be more worldly in her knowledge and demeanor no matter her personal experience. This is why I didn't buy into her reasons for "punishing" Leo.
In regards to Leo, I knew going into the story that the author decided not to soften his perception or actions as a rake. However, no matter his dark history, I expected to feel a certain level of sympathy and understanding -- at the very least, a modicum of pity. This was not the case. His relationships with his friends and Isabelle were not satisfying, and I found him to be too gullible for my taste.
Finally, I could not find much in Isabelle to incite my sympathies. I understand that as a "ruined" female, her character is expected to be plagued with a measure of misfortune. However, I expected this misfortune to be addressed with some gumption and/or fortitude. Not so with Isabelle. Instead of taking the reins, Isabelle became a victim and remained a victim. For me, this was the most abhorrent aspect of this novel. When she realizes her steadfast feelings for Leo, she still caves to her friends. When she returns to her aunt and uncle's, Isabelle continues her monotonous and tedious lifestyle as a doormat. When she is turned out by said relatives, she prays for a rescuer of the male variety. Ultimately, when Leo interrupts Sutherland mid-seduction in order to win her back, Isabelle remains with Sutherland out of a misplaced sense of duty. Sutherland is the one who urges her to return to Leo.
When all is said and done, this novel's defects lie within the characters. Nevertheless, this novel received two stars for premise and writing style.
While I could appreciate Anna's character on some level, Lady Susan failed to engage my sympathy. Not only did I think her too manipulative, but her history with Leo did not strike me as adequately horrifying (especially in light of Anna's history). As a widow and a member of the ton, I would have expected her to be more worldly in her knowledge and demeanor no matter her personal experience. This is why I didn't buy into her reasons for "punishing" Leo.
In regards to Leo, I knew going into the story that the author decided not to soften his perception or actions as a rake. However, no matter his dark history, I expected to feel a certain level of sympathy and understanding -- at the very least, a modicum of pity. This was not the case. His relationships with his friends and Isabelle were not satisfying, and I found him to be too gullible for my taste.
Finally, I could not find much in Isabelle to incite my sympathies. I understand that as a "ruined" female, her character is expected to be plagued with a measure of misfortune. However, I expected this misfortune to be addressed with some gumption and/or fortitude. Not so with Isabelle. Instead of taking the reins, Isabelle became a victim and remained a victim. For me, this was the most abhorrent aspect of this novel. When she realizes her steadfast feelings for Leo, she still caves to her friends. When she returns to her aunt and uncle's, Isabelle continues her monotonous and tedious lifestyle as a doormat. When she is turned out by said relatives, she prays for a rescuer of the male variety. Ultimately, when Leo interrupts Sutherland mid-seduction in order to win her back, Isabelle remains with Sutherland out of a misplaced sense of duty. Sutherland is the one who urges her to return to Leo.
When all is said and done, this novel's defects lie within the characters. Nevertheless, this novel received two stars for premise and writing style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2015
Earl of Leothaid is notorious as rake and scoundrel breaking hearts wherever he goes. Leo doesn't have a heart since the loss of his love seven years earlier. Isabelle Frasier knows only heartache where Leo is concerned. Isabelle along with Lady DeLinn and Anna seek out to exact revenge on Leo for what he's done. Can Isabelle face the Leo again? Will they get their revenge? Your answers await you in The Sweetest Revenge.
April 21, 2013
Wow this was different this is an awesome story three ladies getting even for stealing his virtue lock him up in there cellar and torment him only to find out he thought one of the ladies his true love was dead but here she is alive, This book kept me interested from page one well written I recommend this book to everyone!
March 24, 2013
What can you say everyone had their own plan of revenge. Just when you think the book is coming to a happy ending another twist of fate. I would have liked to hear that Anna and archer got married too.
Want to Read
December 26, 2012Free on amazon
January 2, 2013
I loved this book.
January 11, 2013
the novel was great love it.
February 21, 2013
I Loved it! !!! It was Great! !!! :)
August 7, 2019
Devilishly scandalous
I really enjoyed this book. Every page was either full of scandal, humor or some type of drama. I’m so glad Leo found his Belle again. But before that the ladies had to make him pay for how he used them. Great read.
I really enjoyed this book. Every page was either full of scandal, humor or some type of drama. I’m so glad Leo found his Belle again. But before that the ladies had to make him pay for how he used them. Great read.
August 22, 2013
Revenge can be as cruel as it is said to be sweet and if it is to be exacted, the judge and jury should not be the proclaimed victims. In The Sweetest Revenge, three women plot together to take revenge on the Earl of Leothaid. They believe he debauched each of them and ruined their chances for future happiness. By their own admission, they engaged in their trysts willingly yet he was targeted and kidnapped by them to account for their sins as well as what they considered to be his own. During his imprisonment, Leo's understanding dawns (his treatment of women) and he realizes revenge has its own rewards. He is rewarded with the discovery that one of his captors, Isabelle Frasirs, is the love he thought long dead and gone from his life forever and he is able to forgive his captors as he comes to understand that his captivity brought something good back to his life.
Seven years since her supposed death, Leo has refused relationships bound by love or marriage. Seven years later, Isabelle is still ignorant of what his intentions were toward her and agrees to a plan to seduce him and leave him as she believes he did to her and her friends. Once the plan of seduction begins, Isabelle and Leo each recognize the resurrection of their feelings for each other, yet Isabelle continues in the plan devised by her friends to seduce and leave him. While Isabelle demonstrated acceptance and respect for the individuality of her friends, they did not give her the same respect and acceptance but rather they instructed her in behaviors not of her character. They used her as a pawn. Their scheme was akin to the " pot calling the kettle black".
Their story is a true indication of how the story favors the storyteller until the other side is heard which adds witness that vengeance should be left to a higher power otherwise the truth rings even louder in that we judge others by our own intentions and will be judged the same.
Seven years since her supposed death, Leo has refused relationships bound by love or marriage. Seven years later, Isabelle is still ignorant of what his intentions were toward her and agrees to a plan to seduce him and leave him as she believes he did to her and her friends. Once the plan of seduction begins, Isabelle and Leo each recognize the resurrection of their feelings for each other, yet Isabelle continues in the plan devised by her friends to seduce and leave him. While Isabelle demonstrated acceptance and respect for the individuality of her friends, they did not give her the same respect and acceptance but rather they instructed her in behaviors not of her character. They used her as a pawn. Their scheme was akin to the " pot calling the kettle black".
Their story is a true indication of how the story favors the storyteller until the other side is heard which adds witness that vengeance should be left to a higher power otherwise the truth rings even louder in that we judge others by our own intentions and will be judged the same.
March 25, 2013
I had to read this for the premise alone. Halliday takes a historical romance and twists it on its ear. Kudos to her for trying out a complicated story idea though it fell a little short in execution.
Halliday wrote three distinct personalities in Isabelle, Anna, and Susan. I appreciated their friendship and support of each other. They don't argue or undermine each other and that was refreshing in a group of women.
As a whole, their reasons for kidnapping Leo and keeping his hostage make sense. If you look at each women individually the reasoning weakens some but the understanding is Leo has wronged them and must pay somehow. It's the "somehow" that looses me a little. In the end they discussed a plan but the reader is not brought in at the beginning on what they want from him and I did get a little irritated waiting for it.
Where the book stumbled the most is in two areas. One is the additional players in the story. The author has two other stories going with Anna and Susan. Those stories hit the middle, too much story it becomes distracting when only viewed from Isabelle's POV, and too little for the reader to really care about them. It's hard to say if she's turning this into a series or not.
The second is the emotional connection. Of the three, Leo hurt Anna the most but even after they explain the incident, I didn't feel moved by her story. And the biggie here, Leo repenting for what he did, was actually well done but that's all he had to do. I wanted him to actually prove what he said not just say it earnestly.
It was different enough though that I'm glad I read it and hope she writes some additional non conventional stories.
Halliday wrote three distinct personalities in Isabelle, Anna, and Susan. I appreciated their friendship and support of each other. They don't argue or undermine each other and that was refreshing in a group of women.
As a whole, their reasons for kidnapping Leo and keeping his hostage make sense. If you look at each women individually the reasoning weakens some but the understanding is Leo has wronged them and must pay somehow. It's the "somehow" that looses me a little. In the end they discussed a plan but the reader is not brought in at the beginning on what they want from him and I did get a little irritated waiting for it.
Where the book stumbled the most is in two areas. One is the additional players in the story. The author has two other stories going with Anna and Susan. Those stories hit the middle, too much story it becomes distracting when only viewed from Isabelle's POV, and too little for the reader to really care about them. It's hard to say if she's turning this into a series or not.
The second is the emotional connection. Of the three, Leo hurt Anna the most but even after they explain the incident, I didn't feel moved by her story. And the biggie here, Leo repenting for what he did, was actually well done but that's all he had to do. I wanted him to actually prove what he said not just say it earnestly.
It was different enough though that I'm glad I read it and hope she writes some additional non conventional stories.
July 24, 2013
I love a good revenge tale, but this one just doesn't make the grade. There were probably way worse rakes in London, so it's hard to see this one, with a certain degree of moral restraint, as being "the worst" and singled out for such over-the-top vengeance. The punishments didn't always fit the crime and were excessive and too long drawn-out. It's not like he would serve as a warning to other would-be rakes, since all this had to be kept secret. It was just an unbelievable amount of risk and trouble to achieve such little results, and just what were they trying to accomplish anyway? The characters, as drawn, and their subsequent choices just didn't seem to add up--except for Anna who was the most injured and with the loosest moral character, so I could see her being sociopathic enough to proceed with such a plan. However, Isabelle had so many regrets right from the beginning that I don't even know what she was still doing there. The ringleader Susan was the weakest link in the story and made no sense at all since she was awfully vehement over what had been a relatively minor offense to her--she was an experienced worldly game-player, like no guy ever broke up with her before? She just had too small a dog in the fight to justify all the excessive emotional investment, the greatest risks (this is a serious crime after all, and the justice systems in Victorian England weren't exactly lenient), and all the expenses. All this over some new-found feminism, seriously, Susan, why bother? And it did drag on and on, enough already, Susan, revenge is a dish best serves cold, but how long can you serve the same cold leftovers before they get monotonous?
January 13, 2013
UNCONVENTIONAL, INTRIGUING AND UTTERLY BRILLIANT
Leo Earl of leothaid is the worst rake in London, possibly all of England. He has left a trail of broken hearts, and reputations ruined wherever he goes.
Then three women who have suffered at Leo's hands, plan their revenge. Abducting him, and imprisoning him in the cellar. Shackled and blindfolded Leo has no idea what these three women want from him. They call themselves Lady M, mistress Jane and mistress Juliette. Leo demands to be freed, but they just laugh at him.
The three women are in reality, Lady DeLinn who is the accepted leader, it is her house that Leo is being kept in. Anna Newton is the second. Then the third woman is Isabelle Frasier a farmers daughter. All three are determined that Leo will pay for his sins.
Loved this historical romance. with a totally original plot, which I assume is unlikely for the time. But who knows anything is possible! What I enjoyed most about this,is the writing, well balanced and flowing. The three wronged women's tales are gradually told as the story unfolds. We learn how Leo ruined or humiliated each and every one of them. But Leo is not the only one to learn a lesson here, the three women are forced to face how they played their own part in their downfalls. Something that had not happened before. As up until now they had been eaten up with revenge.
This has great characters, a great plot, it's wickedly sensual and I loved every page. I hope the author is considering writing some of the other characters stories, I would definitely be onboard with that.
Leo Earl of leothaid is the worst rake in London, possibly all of England. He has left a trail of broken hearts, and reputations ruined wherever he goes.
Then three women who have suffered at Leo's hands, plan their revenge. Abducting him, and imprisoning him in the cellar. Shackled and blindfolded Leo has no idea what these three women want from him. They call themselves Lady M, mistress Jane and mistress Juliette. Leo demands to be freed, but they just laugh at him.
The three women are in reality, Lady DeLinn who is the accepted leader, it is her house that Leo is being kept in. Anna Newton is the second. Then the third woman is Isabelle Frasier a farmers daughter. All three are determined that Leo will pay for his sins.
Loved this historical romance. with a totally original plot, which I assume is unlikely for the time. But who knows anything is possible! What I enjoyed most about this,is the writing, well balanced and flowing. The three wronged women's tales are gradually told as the story unfolds. We learn how Leo ruined or humiliated each and every one of them. But Leo is not the only one to learn a lesson here, the three women are forced to face how they played their own part in their downfalls. Something that had not happened before. As up until now they had been eaten up with revenge.
This has great characters, a great plot, it's wickedly sensual and I loved every page. I hope the author is considering writing some of the other characters stories, I would definitely be onboard with that.
August 18, 2013
Historical revenge romance with A careless selfish Earl of Leothaid and a few disgraced ladies who get their revenge by kidnapping him the first chapter. So needless to mention that this is a unique kidnapping and redemption story because it is the women who have control of the man for the better part of the story and still the author finds a way to a decent HEA.
Isabelle Frasier fell in love when she was 18 with a neighborhood noble, Leo who was of the same age and about to leave Scotland to England for university, but they are caught and 'Belle' is ruined and abandoned by her father and then she 'died' so that Leo would leave that little romance alone and finish university. So Leo does not deal well with the breaking of his heart and then ruins and whores through a lot of women.
Lady DeLinn and Miss Anna Tomkins want revenge by reforming Leo and making him understand the suffering and ruin that he was made with his careless affairs. So there is revenge for most people and no one is innocent or purely good in this story, much like lots of young children running around with sharp knives. Well written and angst ridden love story in a historical English society.
300 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
Isabelle Frasier fell in love when she was 18 with a neighborhood noble, Leo who was of the same age and about to leave Scotland to England for university, but they are caught and 'Belle' is ruined and abandoned by her father and then she 'died' so that Leo would leave that little romance alone and finish university. So Leo does not deal well with the breaking of his heart and then ruins and whores through a lot of women.
Lady DeLinn and Miss Anna Tomkins want revenge by reforming Leo and making him understand the suffering and ruin that he was made with his careless affairs. So there is revenge for most people and no one is innocent or purely good in this story, much like lots of young children running around with sharp knives. Well written and angst ridden love story in a historical English society.
300 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
April 1, 2013
Alright, I must admit the premise of this book sounded fun. When I started reading it however, I was a bit put off, I guess is the right word. It wasn't exactly how I thought it would be and that's alright. This one for me though dragged on a bit. I do say, I skipped a few pages here and there just to get back to some action.
It seems like everyone had it out for Leo. Not just the three women who kidnapped him and trussed him up. I suppose he deserved most of what happened to him. He knew what the right thing to do was and yet he didn't listen to himself. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who wants to read this, I'll just say that a little forethought would have gone along way. I suppose it's ultimately best he didn't listen to himself but still.
I suppose if we skipped a lot of boring parts it would have been a lot better. I did and I still got the idea of the story. For me this wasn't terrible but it wasn't amazing either.
It seems like everyone had it out for Leo. Not just the three women who kidnapped him and trussed him up. I suppose he deserved most of what happened to him. He knew what the right thing to do was and yet he didn't listen to himself. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who wants to read this, I'll just say that a little forethought would have gone along way. I suppose it's ultimately best he didn't listen to himself but still.
I suppose if we skipped a lot of boring parts it would have been a lot better. I did and I still got the idea of the story. For me this wasn't terrible but it wasn't amazing either.
October 2, 2013
For me it was just an okay'ish read .... not mind blowing. Which is a shame really as the description held just a bit more promise than the actual delivery.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it .... and I'll just have to put it down as the fact that the undefinable je ne sais quoi was missing for me.
As always, I would encourage you to read it (obviously if you are into historical fiction, if you're a horror fan or something other, then just ignore that remark).
There were a few errors picked up, but not many, and obviously that wasn't the reason it got just 3 stars from me. If you could bottle the catalyst that turns it from okay to great sometimes for a particular reader, you'd be onto a fortune from willing writers'.
As usual, I will detail the Errors/Bug Bears on my blog post, which will be #385 in October 2013.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it .... and I'll just have to put it down as the fact that the undefinable je ne sais quoi was missing for me.
As always, I would encourage you to read it (obviously if you are into historical fiction, if you're a horror fan or something other, then just ignore that remark).
There were a few errors picked up, but not many, and obviously that wasn't the reason it got just 3 stars from me. If you could bottle the catalyst that turns it from okay to great sometimes for a particular reader, you'd be onto a fortune from willing writers'.
As usual, I will detail the Errors/Bug Bears on my blog post, which will be #385 in October 2013.
March 24, 2016
The Earl of Leothaid took Isabelle's innocence as a young lady and years later, after having to have lived a life away from the wold she meets other women who have been wronged by him and plot their revenge. They keep him hostage until he realizes what he's done, but nothing is as it seems.
I've read this novel before. As I was reading the story line kept coming back to me. It's a solid read with good characters and an interesting plot. It's also, the only HR novel I've read of it's kind. There's a lot of revenge stories but nothing like this. Fun, interesting and misleading at parts.
I've read this novel before. As I was reading the story line kept coming back to me. It's a solid read with good characters and an interesting plot. It's also, the only HR novel I've read of it's kind. There's a lot of revenge stories but nothing like this. Fun, interesting and misleading at parts.
May 22, 2013
Really poor and boring. Forwarded through the pages until I gave up at about 50%. I ended up feeling sorry for the poor guy these 3 women kept in the cellar for a week. No matter what he did he didn't deserve that. Very difficult to believe that Belle loves Leo when she is ok with him being kept captive, even after she finds out that he thought she had died and didn't actually leave her. Not at all romantic and not at all sexy.
March 26, 2013
Amazing !! This story is just beyond great ! I loved all the characters & the role they played ! I love how strong these women are after what they have gone through & forgave Leothaid . Forgiveness will set you free . One of my favorite lines : You desire her for her beauty now , but all beauty fades , doesn't it ?
March 27, 2013
I had a difficult time getting involved with this one and a difficult time believing anything good could come of the women's actions.
The characters weren't that developed, though Belle nd Leo were marginally better than the others.
The characters weren't that developed, though Belle nd Leo were marginally better than the others.
July 29, 2013
A romance book for sure. The storyline was entertaining. Three women are going to get back at a man. I am downloading Kindle books and this is where I got this one. If you like romance books etc. this is a quick, cute read. The guy gets the girl, the girl gets the guy is always fun!
December 13, 2013
4.5 STARS
I loved it because it was nicely written, and completely different from the usual type of story. I had to read it in one sitting ! I was entertained throughout, which is what I look for in a book - escapism for a few hours.
I loved it because it was nicely written, and completely different from the usual type of story. I had to read it in one sitting ! I was entertained throughout, which is what I look for in a book - escapism for a few hours.
January 5, 2015
I rather enjoy a little historical romance here and there and for it having been a free kindle book I found it was surprisingly a nice read. It didn't leave me feeling like I wasted a day I will never get back. all in all it wasn't too shabby.
October 8, 2015
This was a darker story. Women work together to seek revenge against a man that harmed them and others. Will the revenge be achieved? Will Leo and Isabelle find what they need apart or with one another?
January 5, 2013
The suspence was finished by a quarter way through the book. Interesting read but not the best romance I've read. Lacked a bit of originality but I did enjoy it all the same.
January 11, 2013
I was really worried about not getting a happy ending on this one. I've been in a bit of historical mood so this was just perfect.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews