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Utterly Ruined
UTTERLY RUINEDIn the glittering, ruthless world of London society, the Whitmore and Ashford families have been locked in a bitter feud for generations, one fueled by scandal, secrets, and a hatred that has shaped the lives of everyone caught between them.
Emma Chandler has survived by being careful. As the ward of the Duke of Ashford, she knows her place in the world and the price of stepping beyond it. Her reputation is her only shield, and she guards it fiercely, knowing that one misstep could destroy not only her future, but the fragile security she has fought to preserve.
Sebastian Darby has no interest in restraint. As the second son of the powerful Duke of Whitmore, he has charm to spare and a wound that has never healed. Convinced that the Ashfords are responsible for the seduction and death of his beloved sister, he returns to London with a single vengeance. He intends to expose their secrets, dismantle their influence, and make them suffer as he has.
Emma was never meant to be part of his plan.
When an act of vengeance goes catastrophically wrong, Emma and Sebastian are bound together by a devastating mistake that leaves her reputation in tatters and his carefully constructed revenge unraveling. Guilt, temptation, and an unexpected connection complicate everything he thought he wanted, especially when the woman he has wronged refuses to be broken by him.
As passion flares and truths surface, Emma and Sebastian are forced to confront the cost of a war they did not start but may be doomed to finish. Because in a world ruled by bloodlines and betrayal, loving the enemy is the ultimate act of defiance, and redemption demands far more than revenge ever did.
Utterly Ruined is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers Regency romance featuring a morally gray hero, a fiercely resilient heroine, mistaken identity, scandal, kidnapping, and a love hard-won against impossible odds.
This is the first book in the Heirs and Enemies series.
Emma Chandler has survived by being careful. As the ward of the Duke of Ashford, she knows her place in the world and the price of stepping beyond it. Her reputation is her only shield, and she guards it fiercely, knowing that one misstep could destroy not only her future, but the fragile security she has fought to preserve.
Sebastian Darby has no interest in restraint. As the second son of the powerful Duke of Whitmore, he has charm to spare and a wound that has never healed. Convinced that the Ashfords are responsible for the seduction and death of his beloved sister, he returns to London with a single vengeance. He intends to expose their secrets, dismantle their influence, and make them suffer as he has.
Emma was never meant to be part of his plan.
When an act of vengeance goes catastrophically wrong, Emma and Sebastian are bound together by a devastating mistake that leaves her reputation in tatters and his carefully constructed revenge unraveling. Guilt, temptation, and an unexpected connection complicate everything he thought he wanted, especially when the woman he has wronged refuses to be broken by him.
As passion flares and truths surface, Emma and Sebastian are forced to confront the cost of a war they did not start but may be doomed to finish. Because in a world ruled by bloodlines and betrayal, loving the enemy is the ultimate act of defiance, and redemption demands far more than revenge ever did.
Utterly Ruined is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers Regency romance featuring a morally gray hero, a fiercely resilient heroine, mistaken identity, scandal, kidnapping, and a love hard-won against impossible odds.
This is the first book in the Heirs and Enemies series.
407 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
13 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
okay I really loved this one soo much! I usually don't go for regency historical romance but I'm so happy I picked this up!
Very Bridgerton x Romeo and Juliet x Sherlock Holmes type of vibes!
You immediately are thrown into the middle of London society and quickly meet our FMC Emma Chandler, Ward to the Ashton family - the outsider in her own life. You briefly catch the swirl of drama and tension as she locks eyes with our MMC, broken, self loathing Bastian Darby. Bastian and Emma, despite their high society standings couldn't be any more different yet they are more alike than they have yet to discover - both love intensely, self sabotage like it's second nature and don't understand how loved they truly are. Driven by the darkest monster, grief, Bastian makes a hastily and destructive plan of revenge for the Ashton family in a red haze of rage, pain and a nightmare he can't escape. What he didn't plan for was Emma being in the picture. Ignorant to the truth of his captives identity, the only thing he managed was to invite comfort and attraction that fosters an undeniable pull and passion that pushes them over the line they never wanted to cross - falling for the enemy. When all the cards are laid on the table, hearts are broken - they return to the belly of the beast, London society, confronting several truths/realities and one that could very well cost Emma her life but give Bastian the answer his heart deserves. They are faced with an impossible fact... that they are both utterly ruined and together they make the most beautiful ruin of all.
Utterly Ruined is beautifully woven to contain elements such as enemies to lovers, mistaken identity, scandal, kidnapping, slow burn with a morally grey MMC and a fierce FMC who fall in love despite the intense history behind their family feud!
Very Bridgerton x Romeo and Juliet x Sherlock Holmes type of vibes!
You immediately are thrown into the middle of London society and quickly meet our FMC Emma Chandler, Ward to the Ashton family - the outsider in her own life. You briefly catch the swirl of drama and tension as she locks eyes with our MMC, broken, self loathing Bastian Darby. Bastian and Emma, despite their high society standings couldn't be any more different yet they are more alike than they have yet to discover - both love intensely, self sabotage like it's second nature and don't understand how loved they truly are. Driven by the darkest monster, grief, Bastian makes a hastily and destructive plan of revenge for the Ashton family in a red haze of rage, pain and a nightmare he can't escape. What he didn't plan for was Emma being in the picture. Ignorant to the truth of his captives identity, the only thing he managed was to invite comfort and attraction that fosters an undeniable pull and passion that pushes them over the line they never wanted to cross - falling for the enemy. When all the cards are laid on the table, hearts are broken - they return to the belly of the beast, London society, confronting several truths/realities and one that could very well cost Emma her life but give Bastian the answer his heart deserves. They are faced with an impossible fact... that they are both utterly ruined and together they make the most beautiful ruin of all.
Utterly Ruined is beautifully woven to contain elements such as enemies to lovers, mistaken identity, scandal, kidnapping, slow burn with a morally grey MMC and a fierce FMC who fall in love despite the intense history behind their family feud!
January 22, 2026
Hailee Golden has done a great job crafting a fast paced, compelling read, which features one of my favourite plots. That's right, it's a revenge plot 😍 The emotions and stakes run high, and as it inevitably is in a revenge plot, there's the wonderful moment that the hero realises he's a big dum dum and is in fact acting like a colossal *ss.
Emma is ward to the Ashfords, a powerful family that's as influential as they are caring. When she's mistaken for the Dukes daughter, Charlotte, she does not correct the assumption in an attempt to protect her (practically) sister. Bastian has vengeance on his mind, but when he goes through with it, he finds himself captivated by his victim. Things get explosive, messy, and downright murderous before they muddle their way to a HEA.
Ah, the fun logistics of a man who literally kidnaps a young woman with the intention of destroying her and her family, only for him to somehow end up taking the moral high ground. It never fails to provoke a strong emotional response, and thankfully, in this case is followed up by a very decent grovel. If guilt and self recrimination manifested as sweat, it would be pouring out of him like he'd just spent half the day in a sauna. Absolutely lovely. Golden does a good job of keeping the stakes high even after Emma and Bastians relationship looks like its in rubble. They have to work their way to a HEA (ok, mainly Bastian has to work), and it always hits better when it's well-earned.
This is a very solid read, featuring strong characters caught up in their circumstances and tangled in a deadly little pickle. I can think of at least two other banger series which open on a revenge plot (Lorraine Heath's Sins For All Seasons and Elisa Braden's Rescued From Ruin), and I have high hopes this author will continue her series in similar footsteps.
Emma is ward to the Ashfords, a powerful family that's as influential as they are caring. When she's mistaken for the Dukes daughter, Charlotte, she does not correct the assumption in an attempt to protect her (practically) sister. Bastian has vengeance on his mind, but when he goes through with it, he finds himself captivated by his victim. Things get explosive, messy, and downright murderous before they muddle their way to a HEA.
Ah, the fun logistics of a man who literally kidnaps a young woman with the intention of destroying her and her family, only for him to somehow end up taking the moral high ground. It never fails to provoke a strong emotional response, and thankfully, in this case is followed up by a very decent grovel. If guilt and self recrimination manifested as sweat, it would be pouring out of him like he'd just spent half the day in a sauna. Absolutely lovely. Golden does a good job of keeping the stakes high even after Emma and Bastians relationship looks like its in rubble. They have to work their way to a HEA (ok, mainly Bastian has to work), and it always hits better when it's well-earned.
This is a very solid read, featuring strong characters caught up in their circumstances and tangled in a deadly little pickle. I can think of at least two other banger series which open on a revenge plot (Lorraine Heath's Sins For All Seasons and Elisa Braden's Rescued From Ruin), and I have high hopes this author will continue her series in similar footsteps.
January 25, 2026
Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book has angst, drama, and a splash of suspense. It opens with a dark and tragic scene, but it is important because it is our MMC’s villain origin story. Lord Sebastian Darby is fueled by hate and rage after a long term family feud costs him his twin sister. Now vengeance is the only thing that keeps him going. He wants to ruin his enemy’s sister the way his sister was ruined. After a kidnapping, a little mistaken identity, and spending two weeks falling for his captive, things get messy. If you enjoyed Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, then this book is for you.
💋 Kisses Only
🫑-🫑🫑🫑 Steamy/Closed Door
🌶️-🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy/Open Door
This book has angst, drama, and a splash of suspense. It opens with a dark and tragic scene, but it is important because it is our MMC’s villain origin story. Lord Sebastian Darby is fueled by hate and rage after a long term family feud costs him his twin sister. Now vengeance is the only thing that keeps him going. He wants to ruin his enemy’s sister the way his sister was ruined. After a kidnapping, a little mistaken identity, and spending two weeks falling for his captive, things get messy. If you enjoyed Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, then this book is for you.
💋 Kisses Only
🫑-🫑🫑🫑 Steamy/Closed Door
🌶️-🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy/Open Door
Review of advance copy received from Author
A touching emotional rollercoaster with ducal families feuding, a masquerade mistake, tree hollow cuddles, kindred spirits, a sibling cavalry, heartbreak & regret, a kitten named Goose and a dastardly surprise villain.
Emma & Sebastian – the ward and the spare
She’s a wallflower well-aware of her precarious position in Society. He’s the merry rake turned bitter avenger who holds her guardian’s son responsible for his twin’s ruination and haunting demise.
Thinking he’s kidnapping the duke’s daughter, he accidentally grabs her companion – and she, thinking of protecting her friend, deliberately fails to set him straight.
Naturally nothing goes as planned... they’re waylaid by highwaymen, forced to sleep under the stars and stay with farmers, but eventually do make it to his estate – and that’s just the beginning!
A lovely and enthralling debut! While the writing needs some polish, the captivating scrumptious plot completely drew me in. The mystery held till the very end, and I enjoyed this book so much!
I loved both MCs; every setback revealed a little more of their true nature. They had depth, growth and genuine connection. She’s an easy-going kidnappee – I adored her moxie – and he’s blinded by guilt and grief, but always made her feel safe. They feel this strong need to take care of each other, and it was wonderful seeing them go from enemies to friends to lovers.
The first half of this book is witty, entertaining, delicious and light until – tum tum tummm – the big heartrending mid-story break-up. Alas, every kidnapping, however delectable, comes to an end... Scandal, sorrow and sadness followed by an intriguing quest for the truth. Suddenly enemies become allies, friends turn foe, and one foolishly stubborn MMC needs his audacious FMC to rescue him right back.
There were quite a few side characters. All of them engaging, never overcrowding, and with great sequel potential... I’m invested, and I would definitely love to read more by this author!
Emma & Sebastian – the ward and the spare
She’s a wallflower well-aware of her precarious position in Society. He’s the merry rake turned bitter avenger who holds her guardian’s son responsible for his twin’s ruination and haunting demise.
Thinking he’s kidnapping the duke’s daughter, he accidentally grabs her companion – and she, thinking of protecting her friend, deliberately fails to set him straight.
Naturally nothing goes as planned... they’re waylaid by highwaymen, forced to sleep under the stars and stay with farmers, but eventually do make it to his estate – and that’s just the beginning!
A lovely and enthralling debut! While the writing needs some polish, the captivating scrumptious plot completely drew me in. The mystery held till the very end, and I enjoyed this book so much!
I loved both MCs; every setback revealed a little more of their true nature. They had depth, growth and genuine connection. She’s an easy-going kidnappee – I adored her moxie – and he’s blinded by guilt and grief, but always made her feel safe. They feel this strong need to take care of each other, and it was wonderful seeing them go from enemies to friends to lovers.
The first half of this book is witty, entertaining, delicious and light until – tum tum tummm – the big heartrending mid-story break-up. Alas, every kidnapping, however delectable, comes to an end... Scandal, sorrow and sadness followed by an intriguing quest for the truth. Suddenly enemies become allies, friends turn foe, and one foolishly stubborn MMC needs his audacious FMC to rescue him right back.
There were quite a few side characters. All of them engaging, never overcrowding, and with great sequel potential... I’m invested, and I would definitely love to read more by this author!
January 28, 2026
Could not put it down! LOOOOVE!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely loved this book. It pulled me into the world immediately and left me wanting more and more! The perfect mix of love, spice, suspense, and betrayal kept me turning the pages. I’m officially hooked and counting down to the next release!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely loved this book. It pulled me into the world immediately and left me wanting more and more! The perfect mix of love, spice, suspense, and betrayal kept me turning the pages. I’m officially hooked and counting down to the next release!
March 19, 2026
A must read!
It's got wit, mystery, love, and spice! 🔥 The writing is exceptional and effortless. The tone and flow of the story easily emerses the reader into their world. Definitely some Bridgerton vibes in the best way! I can't wait for book two! Highly recommend!
It's got wit, mystery, love, and spice! 🔥 The writing is exceptional and effortless. The tone and flow of the story easily emerses the reader into their world. Definitely some Bridgerton vibes in the best way! I can't wait for book two! Highly recommend!
February 5, 2026
Amazing!!
Trust me — you’ll be sucked in within the first few pages. Full of twists and turns! A must read!
Trust me — you’ll be sucked in within the first few pages. Full of twists and turns! A must read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews