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Season of the Furies #1
A Terrible Beauty
Nurse, Annabelle Winslow, returns to London from the Crimean War to face the misdeeds of her past. Five years ago she ruled the ballrooms of fashionable society as Lady Arabella Winslow, The Incomparable Araby, a singular beauty who rent hearts and hopes at will. Facing her past means facing the man who betrayed her – the man she loved who in exchange for her heart, ruthlessly stripped away her pride and her dignity for the sake of revenge.
Michael Lassiter is handsome, wealthy, powerful and a natural rogue. Still, Araby captivates him like no other woman until her thoughtless words devastate his younger brother and destroy his future. In his anger, Michael sets in motion a chain of events that will alter all of their lives and five years later force him into a confrontation with a young woman who continues to haunt him, who he has never been able to forget, nor forgive.
Michael Lassiter is handsome, wealthy, powerful and a natural rogue. Still, Araby captivates him like no other woman until her thoughtless words devastate his younger brother and destroy his future. In his anger, Michael sets in motion a chain of events that will alter all of their lives and five years later force him into a confrontation with a young woman who continues to haunt him, who he has never been able to forget, nor forgive.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2016
About the author
Stephanie Patterson
8 books40 followersI began my writing career at age three by designing my own alphabet using symbols to represent words. Thankfully school got me back on track with mainstream communication and I've has been creating stories ever since. Words are magic to me and writing is my first love. I owe my beginnings in the romance field to the kindness of Katherine Falk and the vision of a new, up and coming publishing house she profiled in “Romantic Times Magazine.” My first romance, "Playing For Keeps," was published by Genesis Press under the pen name, Stephanie Salinas for their Tango 2 line. "The Woman in Question," a contemporary romantic thriller, was published under my own name a couple of years later. My current projects include a new historical romance series entitled, "Season of the Furies." The first book in the series, "A Terrible Beauty," was released March 4, 2016. Book 2 is scheduled for release in late Fall of 2016.
I live in northern Oregon in a town long the banks of the Columbia River. St. Helens is an interesting mix of both pioneer and nautical history. It’s a place steeped in tales of mystery and dark deeds like shanghaiing and murder. Our town has appeared on several ghost investigation shows and it was the filming location for Disney’s original “Halloween Town” and the first movie in the “Twilight” franchise. Every year we hold a month long festival commemorating the Disney film.
I’ve been a legal assistant for a criminal defense attorney for more than fifteen years, working all sorts of criminal cases from petty theft to capital murder and murder for hire. When I'm not writing I practice and teach the ancient divination art of cartomancy - a fancy way of saying I read tarot cards. Every Halloween I read cards at a local restaurant noted for its haunted history. As if that isn't weird enough, I'm also a belly dance hobbyist and perform at various festivals around the Pacific Northwest.
As I write this I’m deep into research for my next book in the “Season of the Furies” series.
EMAIL: stephaniepattersonwriter@yahoo.com
You can follow my FaceBook page dedicated to "Season of the Furies" at https://www.facebook.com/seasonofthef...
and my Pinterest Board for "A Terrible Beauty" at
https://www.pinterest.com/galhal2000/...
I live in northern Oregon in a town long the banks of the Columbia River. St. Helens is an interesting mix of both pioneer and nautical history. It’s a place steeped in tales of mystery and dark deeds like shanghaiing and murder. Our town has appeared on several ghost investigation shows and it was the filming location for Disney’s original “Halloween Town” and the first movie in the “Twilight” franchise. Every year we hold a month long festival commemorating the Disney film.
I’ve been a legal assistant for a criminal defense attorney for more than fifteen years, working all sorts of criminal cases from petty theft to capital murder and murder for hire. When I'm not writing I practice and teach the ancient divination art of cartomancy - a fancy way of saying I read tarot cards. Every Halloween I read cards at a local restaurant noted for its haunted history. As if that isn't weird enough, I'm also a belly dance hobbyist and perform at various festivals around the Pacific Northwest.
As I write this I’m deep into research for my next book in the “Season of the Furies” series.
EMAIL: stephaniepattersonwriter@yahoo.com
You can follow my FaceBook page dedicated to "Season of the Furies" at https://www.facebook.com/seasonofthef...
and my Pinterest Board for "A Terrible Beauty" at
https://www.pinterest.com/galhal2000/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 11, 2026
5 + This is a crown jewel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! There is no coming back from this. I did not want to go to bed last night and when I woke up, it felt like Christmas morning because I got to finish it❤️
“Legends of the Fall” meets “War and Peace”, meets “Bridgerton.” 🙌
This is a story of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and self love, in the epic saga of Michael and Belle’s lives and their way back to each other. ❤️❤️🩹
This created a tsunami of strong feelings for me, and it climaxed in a heartbreaking and heartwarming love story. ❤️
Okay, let me take a deep breath.
This is really the story of Belle, and I am going to miss her. I loved everything about her.
Prologue:
Belle is a nurse at the war front in Crimea, 1850. We know something happened to put her there. 😢
Beginning:
Belle is the diamond of the season alongside her two best friends. They are called the Furies because they rule the season, in a mean girl way. But there is more to the story…
Michael and Drew are brothers. Michael is the scoundrel who is attracted to Belle, and Drew is the sweet boy who loves the idea of Belle.
Belle does atrocious things to get her way. Her stepfather is physically abusive to both her and her mother, and he manipulates Belle’s actions by harming her mother. But no one knows this, except Drew.
When Belle publicly rejects Drew because she must adhere to her stepfather’s plans or be punished, he leaves in despair to join the army and battle in Crimea.
Michael is furious about this because Drew is a bit of a weakling, and he decides to ruin and punish Belle for it. And boy! This man is a villain. 🖤
Belle is now engaged to a Marquess of her stepfather’s choosing. All Michael wants is to ruin her life completely and utterly, and he begins to set up her total ruination. He seduces her with attention, and their attraction is palpable. Belle is already falling in love with Michael and is desperately trying to escape her stepfather’s control and abuse. She is very young and very naive.
One night at a ball, Michael sweet talks her with words of love and promises of marriage 😭 all to get her into a compromising position. With her dress down, a group of selected “gentlemen” enter the room, and her ruin is complete, along with her heart and trust. ❤️🩹 This is where we start.
This single event creates ripples that spread through all their lives, like rings in water or a snowball growing bigger and bigger… it is superbly done.
One careless action can cause a ripple effect that leads to complete devastation.
But Belle is fierce, and she rises from the ashes like a phoenix. 🐦🔥
The story depicts the power these men had over women, and how little, they actually knew or cared about what the ramifications actually were for these young girls once ruined.
The complete disregard or ignorance of the price they had to pay, for the men’s slightest impulses.
Behold the beauty of Michael’s devastation when he slowly learns that all his preconceived notions of Belle were wrong, and how much tragedy he caused in the wake of one arrogant, careless action. 🗡️🗡️
Belle is now a highly respected nurse, and she returns to London as an expert in rehabilitating soldiers and victims of war. Long gone are ball gowns and tea parties. And this is how she lands on Michael’s doorstep again to help his younger brother Drew back to life.
Michael’s cruelty and contempt continue, but he becomes more and more conflicted about what he believes and has been told, in contrast to what he is actually seeing. 🙌
The tension was amazing, the chemistry between them was hot, and the anger we feel at Michael while he slowly sees the error of his ways was incredible. ⭐️
It’s about Belle’s journey to find herself and break free from the expectations of the Ton, only to be looked down upon by her old peers because she is helping the sick.
Belle always keeps her head high because, on the battlefield of the wounded, she finds that her value comes from herself and not from her peers.
This book is fantastic. Nothing less than that.
Should you read it?
Yes. I want to buy it for everybody like Oprah!
I don’t understand how I missed this author for so long. 😢
Why have only 2 or 3 of my GR friends read this? This is the biggest mystery of 2026! 😂
Merry and Grisette — you get the biggest shoutout of the decade. Thank you. ❤️
WOW! There is no coming back from this. I did not want to go to bed last night and when I woke up, it felt like Christmas morning because I got to finish it❤️
“Legends of the Fall” meets “War and Peace”, meets “Bridgerton.” 🙌
This is a story of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and self love, in the epic saga of Michael and Belle’s lives and their way back to each other. ❤️❤️🩹
This created a tsunami of strong feelings for me, and it climaxed in a heartbreaking and heartwarming love story. ❤️
Okay, let me take a deep breath.
This is really the story of Belle, and I am going to miss her. I loved everything about her.
Prologue:
Belle is a nurse at the war front in Crimea, 1850. We know something happened to put her there. 😢
Beginning:
Belle is the diamond of the season alongside her two best friends. They are called the Furies because they rule the season, in a mean girl way. But there is more to the story…
Michael and Drew are brothers. Michael is the scoundrel who is attracted to Belle, and Drew is the sweet boy who loves the idea of Belle.
Belle does atrocious things to get her way. Her stepfather is physically abusive to both her and her mother, and he manipulates Belle’s actions by harming her mother. But no one knows this, except Drew.
When Belle publicly rejects Drew because she must adhere to her stepfather’s plans or be punished, he leaves in despair to join the army and battle in Crimea.
Michael is furious about this because Drew is a bit of a weakling, and he decides to ruin and punish Belle for it. And boy! This man is a villain. 🖤
Belle is now engaged to a Marquess of her stepfather’s choosing. All Michael wants is to ruin her life completely and utterly, and he begins to set up her total ruination. He seduces her with attention, and their attraction is palpable. Belle is already falling in love with Michael and is desperately trying to escape her stepfather’s control and abuse. She is very young and very naive.
One night at a ball, Michael sweet talks her with words of love and promises of marriage 😭 all to get her into a compromising position. With her dress down, a group of selected “gentlemen” enter the room, and her ruin is complete, along with her heart and trust. ❤️🩹 This is where we start.
This single event creates ripples that spread through all their lives, like rings in water or a snowball growing bigger and bigger… it is superbly done.
One careless action can cause a ripple effect that leads to complete devastation.
But Belle is fierce, and she rises from the ashes like a phoenix. 🐦🔥
The story depicts the power these men had over women, and how little, they actually knew or cared about what the ramifications actually were for these young girls once ruined.
The complete disregard or ignorance of the price they had to pay, for the men’s slightest impulses.
Behold the beauty of Michael’s devastation when he slowly learns that all his preconceived notions of Belle were wrong, and how much tragedy he caused in the wake of one arrogant, careless action. 🗡️🗡️
Belle is now a highly respected nurse, and she returns to London as an expert in rehabilitating soldiers and victims of war. Long gone are ball gowns and tea parties. And this is how she lands on Michael’s doorstep again to help his younger brother Drew back to life.
Michael’s cruelty and contempt continue, but he becomes more and more conflicted about what he believes and has been told, in contrast to what he is actually seeing. 🙌
The tension was amazing, the chemistry between them was hot, and the anger we feel at Michael while he slowly sees the error of his ways was incredible. ⭐️
It’s about Belle’s journey to find herself and break free from the expectations of the Ton, only to be looked down upon by her old peers because she is helping the sick.
Belle always keeps her head high because, on the battlefield of the wounded, she finds that her value comes from herself and not from her peers.
This book is fantastic. Nothing less than that.
Should you read it?
Yes. I want to buy it for everybody like Oprah!
I don’t understand how I missed this author for so long. 😢
Why have only 2 or 3 of my GR friends read this? This is the biggest mystery of 2026! 😂
Merry and Grisette — you get the biggest shoutout of the decade. Thank you. ❤️
January 22, 2023
I very much enjoyed this novel. It has everything I enjoy in a historical romance with a strong female character that overcomes obstacles. The book starts off with Florence Nightingale arriving with our heroine in the Crimea. Then flashes back to what happened to Arabella as a 19-year-old debutante. The book has a well woven story line that spans 5 years and what happens when Michael seeks revenge. Interesting premise of what happens to the girls "ruined" during their season. I have read about women who leave in disgrace, but this book is about what happens to Arabella in 1st book (3 book series). She becomes a nurse with Nightingale & why. What happens at home to cause one to be mean girl. Physical abuse behind the scenes. The book deals with abuse and war and high angst. It also tells the reader about heroes that improved conditions for soldiers and the ill. I have already downloaded book #2.
March 9, 2026
Unpopular opinion here, but for me this was middling, with the good outweighing the bad. It did carry me along, I never considered DNFing, but it was a bumpy ride: a superbly written scene that resonated emotionally followed closely by a scene that made me wince over immature characters, predictable outcomes, or just didn’t make sense.
The characters felt more like actors delivering lines or following a script than human beings, serving the plot instead of breathing on their own. The FMC, Araby, while labeled the season’s Incomparable, was the domestic abuse victim of her stepfather, and, along with her mother, lived in constant fear amid a sea of bruises. As her stepfather’s puppet, her mission was to snare a wealthy titled husband in order to finance her stepfather’s vices and increase his standing. A sympathetic heroine, yes? No. She and two friends, known as The Furies, ruled society and liked to pluck the wings off lesser mortals, deriding and crushing anyone who threatened their supremacy or who seemed easy pickings. Drew Lassiter, a persistent young puppy who loved Araby and knew her secret, that she was being abused, was a vulnerability she couldn’t allow so she heaped a special kind of cruelty on him.
Why didn’t she just explain to Drew how his attentions heightened her danger from her stepfather and ask him to leave her alone? Because Book Reasons, I suppose.
Her cruelty brought her to the attention of Drew’s older brother, Michael. Araby needed to be taught a lesson and Michael was just the man to do it, and the fallout was disastrous for everyone.
Araby rose from the ashes of her former life like a Phoenix, training as a nurse and serving in the Crimean War. After returning home, she continued to work with war survivors, which brought her back into the orbit of Drew and Michael Lassiter and her past comes back to bite her some more.
And some more.
The kerfuffle at the end was exciting and a good way to close out the story.
Overall, too many things happened for Book Reasons. There was really no reason for Araby to keep her big secret a secret; she was all “woe-is-me” because no one would help her when no one knew she needed help. Too many characters acted like particularly immature teenagers too long. Araby became too saintly after her comeuppance and let people blame her for everything without explaining anything. But the biggest reason this book fell short for me was that the plot driver was assumptions. Everything in this book happened because someone assumed something and then proceeded as if their assumption was reality. Real people do sometimes make assumptions and act upon them. But most of the time real people ask questions, observe, and try to gather information on which to base their actions. Otherwise, they just look foolish, like the characters in this book.
The characters felt more like actors delivering lines or following a script than human beings, serving the plot instead of breathing on their own. The FMC, Araby, while labeled the season’s Incomparable, was the domestic abuse victim of her stepfather, and, along with her mother, lived in constant fear amid a sea of bruises. As her stepfather’s puppet, her mission was to snare a wealthy titled husband in order to finance her stepfather’s vices and increase his standing. A sympathetic heroine, yes? No. She and two friends, known as The Furies, ruled society and liked to pluck the wings off lesser mortals, deriding and crushing anyone who threatened their supremacy or who seemed easy pickings. Drew Lassiter, a persistent young puppy who loved Araby and knew her secret, that she was being abused, was a vulnerability she couldn’t allow so she heaped a special kind of cruelty on him.
Why didn’t she just explain to Drew how his attentions heightened her danger from her stepfather and ask him to leave her alone? Because Book Reasons, I suppose.
Her cruelty brought her to the attention of Drew’s older brother, Michael. Araby needed to be taught a lesson and Michael was just the man to do it, and the fallout was disastrous for everyone.
Araby rose from the ashes of her former life like a Phoenix, training as a nurse and serving in the Crimean War. After returning home, she continued to work with war survivors, which brought her back into the orbit of Drew and Michael Lassiter and her past comes back to bite her some more.
And some more.
The kerfuffle at the end was exciting and a good way to close out the story.
Overall, too many things happened for Book Reasons. There was really no reason for Araby to keep her big secret a secret; she was all “woe-is-me” because no one would help her when no one knew she needed help. Too many characters acted like particularly immature teenagers too long. Araby became too saintly after her comeuppance and let people blame her for everything without explaining anything. But the biggest reason this book fell short for me was that the plot driver was assumptions. Everything in this book happened because someone assumed something and then proceeded as if their assumption was reality. Real people do sometimes make assumptions and act upon them. But most of the time real people ask questions, observe, and try to gather information on which to base their actions. Otherwise, they just look foolish, like the characters in this book.
March 9, 2026
REVIEW
Rating: 3.75/5
POV: 3rd, multi
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers; Second Chance; Boss/Employy; Class Difference; Found Family; a little love triangle
Heat Level: 2.5/5
Kinks: N/A
Likes:
* First 50% or so, the angst was angsting and the plot was flowing!
Dislikes:
* The lack of romance.
Conclusion:
Hmmm. I enjoyed this but I also didn’t. The first 50% (or so) had me captivated. I was eating up the angst and drama and just loving how mean Michael was to Araby, aka Belle.
Then Araby becomes Belle, grows up/matures, becomes a wonderful person and then I got bored.
The second chance/romance between Belle and Michael really doesn’t start back up until around 75%ish and it just felt like from 50-75% The author was trying to convince the reader that Belle was now a good person. She didn’t have to try hard. It was clear! It was clear she was the way she was because of life circumstances, lack of maturity, and age. I feel like more time could’ve been spent having more moments between Belle and Michael to better build their second chance.
From friends who have read this book and then already continued on to the next book and then to the 3rd, they do recommend they are read in order and you don’t skip. I was planning to skip Katherine’s book and just read Sarah’s but I’ll do what my friend recommended. However I won’t be jumping into reading the next book.
Oh, I do want to say though that this was a good book for a debut story BUT there are tons of editing errors. FYI to any future reader.
Lori, thank you for BR this doozy with me! 🫣😂💕
Quote:
Drew, who allowed blind adoration to break his heart and drive him headlong into a war; Michael, whose blind devotion to his brother had inspired an act of vengeance with consequences more far-reaching than he could possibly have imagined; for herself, for her own weakness of character and blind faith in the power of love to make everything happy in the end.
Rating: 3.75/5
POV: 3rd, multi
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers; Second Chance; Boss/Employy; Class Difference; Found Family; a little love triangle
Heat Level: 2.5/5
Kinks: N/A
Likes:
* First 50% or so, the angst was angsting and the plot was flowing!
Dislikes:
* The lack of romance.
Conclusion:
Hmmm. I enjoyed this but I also didn’t. The first 50% (or so) had me captivated. I was eating up the angst and drama and just loving how mean Michael was to Araby, aka Belle.
Then Araby becomes Belle, grows up/matures, becomes a wonderful person and then I got bored.
The second chance/romance between Belle and Michael really doesn’t start back up until around 75%ish and it just felt like from 50-75% The author was trying to convince the reader that Belle was now a good person. She didn’t have to try hard. It was clear! It was clear she was the way she was because of life circumstances, lack of maturity, and age. I feel like more time could’ve been spent having more moments between Belle and Michael to better build their second chance.
From friends who have read this book and then already continued on to the next book and then to the 3rd, they do recommend they are read in order and you don’t skip. I was planning to skip Katherine’s book and just read Sarah’s but I’ll do what my friend recommended. However I won’t be jumping into reading the next book.
Oh, I do want to say though that this was a good book for a debut story BUT there are tons of editing errors. FYI to any future reader.
Lori, thank you for BR this doozy with me! 🫣😂💕
Quote:
Drew, who allowed blind adoration to break his heart and drive him headlong into a war; Michael, whose blind devotion to his brother had inspired an act of vengeance with consequences more far-reaching than he could possibly have imagined; for herself, for her own weakness of character and blind faith in the power of love to make everything happy in the end.
March 10, 2026
4.75 stars
It has been a long time since I have read a book with such a good, thoroughly satisfying cryfest. The number of gut punches was magnificent and the depth of emotional angst was devastating. SP is a new to me author but damn if I am not impressed. The cover might not be the finest one, but the writing, the story, the storytelling intelligence - just wow 😳🤯
The h, Belle, is the shining star of the whole story. Beside her, every other character paled and even the romance took a backseat. Her character was complex, powerful and I loved how she was such a queen 👸 through everything she went through. In the first third of the book, she appears as an anti-heroine playing the cruel queen bee, yet some of her hidden depths could already be seen around her edges. Past that first part, she was just royal 👑.
When the climactic betrayal scene hit (30% mark), it was raw, brutal and so heartbreaking. It also made me rage at the arrogance of little men, old and young, and how they so easily place themselves on a higher moral ground *scoff* 🤬 and appoint themselves as judge, jury and executioner against women. Instead of squaring it with the real culprits like real men, they chose to bully and destroy helpless young girls without batting an eye lash. Belle might have been no saint at this point of the story but she did not deserve what they did to her, esp. how they did it 🤬🤬. But as Belle would concur, it also proved to be the means of her own personal salvation as she used it to grab control of her life, elevate herself and destroy her shackles.👸👸👸
By the end of the story, I still held a big grudge against the H, Michael for his cruelty and ruthless action. Worse, his total self-centeredness in always considering only *his* wants, *his* desires, *his* anger without the least regard for Belle's made me want to throttle him. I wanted to bash his head so many times as he was persisting against all reason to vilify Belle. He kept thinking how he could not grant her his forgiveness. *His* forgiveness, my foot 🤬. It was so satisfying when Belle calmly rammed all the truths he was blind to and at last the dumbass realised how so many ugly things took place while he was busy navel gazing. So did I believe in the romance? Certainly not thanks to Michael (he spent 5 years blithely never actively wondering what befell her after she disappeared from society, instead indulged into more navel gazing 😤). But I did for Belle. She was much too gracious for all of them, but she forgave the idiot, bless her. Like I said, queen 👸.
Male characters in this story were more often than not despicable (the only decent ones imho were the Duke of Branfel, Dr Duncan and Drew). It wasn't even just for the sake of fiction. I do think their characterisation reflected the realities of the times. Though it was not a main part of the story, I loved how SP included powerful historical women in through Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole and celebrated their contribution to History against the supreme stupidity of men.
Small things I wanted: that Lord Ambrose got his comeuppance on page (I hope he is roasting slowly in that very hot place) and a proper epilogue. This story was nevertheless gloriously stellar. I wish I had much better words to praise this wonderful book. 💯x💯 recommended. Read it for its heroine, read it for its plot, read it for its message.
P.S.1 The quality of the writing style was undeniable but some readers might be frazzled by the number of mis-typings. Nothing a good proofreader could not remedy. It didn't impact my reading experience at all.
P.S.2 The other Fury whose story intrigue me the most is Sarah. This heartbreak sounds very painful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2026
" What day is it?"
It's the day I declare this book a ♡marvel♡.
First!! Thank you Annika for bringing this book to my attention because it's simply splendid!
This book is beautiful, ugly, repulsive, intriguing and so so complicated!!
Michael and Araby/Belle are not your typical MC.
They are flawed, controversial, morally grey and far from perfect. Both have been molded by their parent figures and their upbringing.
This book is about making impulsive mistakes and regret them later on.
It's about falling victim to vice and immorality but where good finally prevails.
It's vanity and pride wrapped in a ribbon of survival.
And finally comeuppance at it's best and finding redemption and forgiveness after.
I am not going to include a lot of details in my review because I definitely want to re-read this book at some point in the future.
~~Just some wool gathering here:~~
Favourite characters,
1. Andrew Lassiter: intuitive, observant with a heart of gold. And his character growth is just beautiful to witness.
2. Leo Iredale: What. A. Gentleman! I absolutely loved his character.
3. Dr. Duncan Gillian: a force to be reckoned with and a big catalyst in Belle's transformation.
4. Finally Belle: I loved her character growth. I loved that even when humbled in the worst of ways, she's still proud and strong and stands her ground. Her journey from a spoiled and vain brat (even though she had her reasons to be like that) to an independent, accomplished and compassionate woman is absolute perfection!
This book is unlike any I've ever read. It is flawed and far from perfect. It's realistic and humbling. But it is beautiful in all its broken pieces.
2026 Bingo Challenge 🥳
#47 Title starts with a T
🟣|21|36|46|🟣|40|🟣|23|
🟣|🟣|17|🟣|🟣|04|🟣|30|
18|26|55|33|🟣|16|🟣|🟣|
🟣|05|43|60|🟣|🟣|13|38|
🟣|🟣|29|15|09|🟣|22|19|
10|🟣|🟣|28|54|🟣|56|02|
🟣|🟣|51|07|🟣|24|32|53|
🟣|49|20|🟣|39|🟣|41|11|
It's the day I declare this book a ♡marvel♡.
First!! Thank you Annika for bringing this book to my attention because it's simply splendid!
This book is beautiful, ugly, repulsive, intriguing and so so complicated!!
Michael and Araby/Belle are not your typical MC.
They are flawed, controversial, morally grey and far from perfect. Both have been molded by their parent figures and their upbringing.
This book is about making impulsive mistakes and regret them later on.
It's about falling victim to vice and immorality but where good finally prevails.
It's vanity and pride wrapped in a ribbon of survival.
And finally comeuppance at it's best and finding redemption and forgiveness after.
I am not going to include a lot of details in my review because I definitely want to re-read this book at some point in the future.
~~Just some wool gathering here:~~
Favourite characters,
1. Andrew Lassiter: intuitive, observant with a heart of gold. And his character growth is just beautiful to witness.
2. Leo Iredale: What. A. Gentleman! I absolutely loved his character.
3. Dr. Duncan Gillian: a force to be reckoned with and a big catalyst in Belle's transformation.
4. Finally Belle: I loved her character growth. I loved that even when humbled in the worst of ways, she's still proud and strong and stands her ground. Her journey from a spoiled and vain brat (even though she had her reasons to be like that) to an independent, accomplished and compassionate woman is absolute perfection!
This book is unlike any I've ever read. It is flawed and far from perfect. It's realistic and humbling. But it is beautiful in all its broken pieces.
2026 Bingo Challenge 🥳
#47 Title starts with a T
🟣|21|36|46|🟣|40|🟣|23|
🟣|🟣|17|🟣|🟣|04|🟣|30|
18|26|55|33|🟣|16|🟣|🟣|
🟣|05|43|60|🟣|🟣|13|38|
🟣|🟣|29|15|09|🟣|22|19|
10|🟣|🟣|28|54|🟣|56|02|
🟣|🟣|51|07|🟣|24|32|53|
🟣|49|20|🟣|39|🟣|41|11|
March 10, 2026
Rating 4.5
Wow, talk about angst, this is a romance filled with it.
Revenge.
Heartbreak.
Redemption.
Fast paced.
Chemistry galore.
Alpha/Jerk.
Strong and lovely Heroine. There are reasons people do things in life, sometimes we don't know why till later or sometimes we never find out. My heart broke for the heroine.
Great secondary characters.
Excellent story line.
I was engaged and totally invested in their lives and the HEA they both deserved.
Wow, talk about angst, this is a romance filled with it.
Revenge.
Heartbreak.
Redemption.
Fast paced.
Chemistry galore.
Alpha/Jerk.
Strong and lovely Heroine. There are reasons people do things in life, sometimes we don't know why till later or sometimes we never find out. My heart broke for the heroine.
Great secondary characters.
Excellent story line.
I was engaged and totally invested in their lives and the HEA they both deserved.
December 5, 2025
Impactful story, but I had issues with the characterization of the FMC
I can't help but be reminded of Taming Ivy by April Moran. Not the historical content, since they are from different periods, but the catalyst for the MCs meeting. Avenging a younger relative and the way they decide to go about it.
I'm not going to compare plot points because the stories are both completely original and completely detached from each other. In fact, I would argue 'A Terrible Beauty' was more thoroughly researched if less well edited.
What I am going to do is use Taming Ivy's MMC, Sebastian, as a basis on how I judge Michael.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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I can't help but be reminded of Taming Ivy by April Moran. Not the historical content, since they are from different periods, but the catalyst for the MCs meeting. Avenging a younger relative and the way they decide to go about it.
I'm not going to compare plot points because the stories are both completely original and completely detached from each other. In fact, I would argue 'A Terrible Beauty' was more thoroughly researched if less well edited.
What I am going to do is use Taming Ivy's MMC, Sebastian, as a basis on how I judge Michael.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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February 1, 2023
Outstanding! The h is viewed as avaricious by others. The H judged her and set terrible things in motion. He's a great character who is horrified when the truth bout the h is finally revealed. She's a wonderful character, strong and fiercely competent. Great writing.
March 16, 2026
Lately I haven’t been very inspired when it comes to writing reviews, which is kind of ironic because I’ve actually been having some pretty good reading experiences this year 🤷♀️ (especially when compared to certain years)
There’s a lot of angst, and both the hero and heroine are allowed to be flawed and sometimes frustrating. In some ways it reminded me of older historical romances I tend to prefer, where characters weren’t so softened.
The hero can be quite cruel at times, and his tendency to assume the worst of the heroine did annoy me, but I still appreciated their dynamic.
I also liked the friendship between the heroine and the two other girls even if it’s mostly present in the earlier part of the story.
Safety/ Spoilers
- No sharing or cheating
- Virgin Heroine. Experienced hero.
- Light OM drama (hero’s brother initially believes he is in love with the heroine)
- No OW drama (But it's made quite clear that the hero was not celibate while they were apart.)
There’s a lot of angst, and both the hero and heroine are allowed to be flawed and sometimes frustrating. In some ways it reminded me of older historical romances I tend to prefer, where characters weren’t so softened.
The hero can be quite cruel at times, and his tendency to assume the worst of the heroine did annoy me, but I still appreciated their dynamic.
I also liked the friendship between the heroine and the two other girls even if it’s mostly present in the earlier part of the story.
Safety/ Spoilers
- No sharing or cheating
- Virgin Heroine. Experienced hero.
- Light OM drama (hero’s brother initially believes he is in love with the heroine)
- No OW drama (But it's made quite clear that the hero was not celibate while they were apart.)
March 5, 2026
Probably my review won't do this book any justice. And I have to thank Annika because she had me intrigued with her updates. I thought this was pretty good. And you will at first be irritated and frustrated with Belle until you are given all the truths of her situation. But it didn't change the fact that she was an immature mean girl of the ton. But hurt people hurt others and her homelife was atrocious. But she more than pays her dues. Before with the set-up that Michael concocted and after with her attack from her evil stepfather. But her going to the front lines as a nurse probably took the cake. I was also frustrated with Michael going back and forth with his feelings of wondering if he could stay faithful to her. He was very much misunderstood, but an asshole non the less. And also knowing her attacker was getting closer and closer with his obsession with Belle. Overall I enjoyed it, and I do want to read the next books in the series.
March 19, 2026
3.5 to 3.75 stars
I greatly enjoyed this and LOVED the first half. It was the angst filled tragedy fest that I want my historical romances to be. The second half, specifically the last 30%, tied up too neatly. I skimmed the last 80 pages because the fmc and MMC made up by that point and the villain just had to be dealt with. Great read and I love that the author did her research on the Crimea War.
The other reason for the half star rating was the MMC needed to commit more on the revenge front. He wasn’t that into “ruining” Araby even when he was trying to. He’s still what I would consider a “cruel hero” but he was too aware of his own arrogance at times 😅 He would have these moments of “maybe this is too cruel and she doesn’t deserve this”. I want my historical romance MMCs to be cruel all the way with a little bit of groveling at the end.
I greatly enjoyed this and LOVED the first half. It was the angst filled tragedy fest that I want my historical romances to be. The second half, specifically the last 30%, tied up too neatly. I skimmed the last 80 pages because the fmc and MMC made up by that point and the villain just had to be dealt with. Great read and I love that the author did her research on the Crimea War.
The other reason for the half star rating was the MMC needed to commit more on the revenge front. He wasn’t that into “ruining” Araby even when he was trying to. He’s still what I would consider a “cruel hero” but he was too aware of his own arrogance at times 😅 He would have these moments of “maybe this is too cruel and she doesn’t deserve this”. I want my historical romance MMCs to be cruel all the way with a little bit of groveling at the end.
March 19, 2016
I was browsing through the Romance Review site when I came across this book which I thought would be a light read. I was also a little hesitant as I did not know the author...but boy am glad I took the plunge.
It was a fantastic read, Nurse, Annabelle Winslow, returns to London from the Crimean War to face the misdeeds of her past. Five years ago she ruled the ballrooms of fashionable society as Lady Arabella Winslow, The Incomparable Araby, a singular beauty who rent hearts and hopes at will. Facing her past means facing the man who betrayed her – the man she loved who in exchange for her heart, ruthlessly stripped away her pride and her dignity for the sake of revenge. Michael Lassiter is handsome, wealthy, powerful and a natural rogue. Still, Araby captivates him like no other woman until her thoughtless words devastate his younger brother and destroy his future. In his anger, Michael sets in motion a chain of events that will alter all of their lives and five years later force him into a confrontation with a young woman who continues to haunt him, who he has never been able to forget, nor forgive.
So you know how in historical books its implied that she was ruined or that x will carry out his/her revenge but they never actually do ???? In this book, you get all the details on the ruination and the revenge..I liked the way the author took us from the present day after the Crimean war back to 5 years earlier and the events that led an Incomparable to become a Nurse.
Araby whose face was to be the family fortune, was the darling of the ton and the queen of cutting quips, that's what everyone saw but there was so much more to her. Her and her friends the furies as they were called ruled the ballrooms, they were catty, vicious and downright mean. Araby's one goal was to make the right match and save the family, she was controlled in that aspect by her brutal step father. In going after one man she and her friends made a terrible mistake and made some very powerful enemies.
This is a somewhat gritty ready and since its book 1 of the furies, I can't wait for the other books to come out.
It was a fantastic read, Nurse, Annabelle Winslow, returns to London from the Crimean War to face the misdeeds of her past. Five years ago she ruled the ballrooms of fashionable society as Lady Arabella Winslow, The Incomparable Araby, a singular beauty who rent hearts and hopes at will. Facing her past means facing the man who betrayed her – the man she loved who in exchange for her heart, ruthlessly stripped away her pride and her dignity for the sake of revenge. Michael Lassiter is handsome, wealthy, powerful and a natural rogue. Still, Araby captivates him like no other woman until her thoughtless words devastate his younger brother and destroy his future. In his anger, Michael sets in motion a chain of events that will alter all of their lives and five years later force him into a confrontation with a young woman who continues to haunt him, who he has never been able to forget, nor forgive.
So you know how in historical books its implied that she was ruined or that x will carry out his/her revenge but they never actually do ???? In this book, you get all the details on the ruination and the revenge..I liked the way the author took us from the present day after the Crimean war back to 5 years earlier and the events that led an Incomparable to become a Nurse.
Araby whose face was to be the family fortune, was the darling of the ton and the queen of cutting quips, that's what everyone saw but there was so much more to her. Her and her friends the furies as they were called ruled the ballrooms, they were catty, vicious and downright mean. Araby's one goal was to make the right match and save the family, she was controlled in that aspect by her brutal step father. In going after one man she and her friends made a terrible mistake and made some very powerful enemies.
This is a somewhat gritty ready and since its book 1 of the furies, I can't wait for the other books to come out.
April 28, 2026
Finally I managed to finish this book (not because I didn’t like it but because I was reading it at night completely exhausted and falling asleep after a few minutes!) and I am happy to report that this read felt very nostalgic- like some older historical romance novels that I used to read in secret from my mother’s library ☺️
There are many reviews containing details about plot, mine will be a succinct one containing my feelings and thoughts:
I found it very satisfying to see Araby- Belle’s character growth- from a somewhat mean girl to a mature woman- definitely influenced by the horrors of the war but also her unfortunate circumstances.
She remained celibate and a vrgin - but considering the war circumstances and her trauma this might be considered a blessing….)
MMC - Michael was a frustrating character- always ready to assume the worst about FMC (- Araby)and I was ready to throw hands when his actions were unraveling 😵💫 (He wasn’t celibate during their separation but there are no detailed scenes with OW only mentions!) 🙄
The only downside is the fact that this novel has an audio narrted by AI - on audible and that sucks - I wish authors wouldn’t do that - because it cheapens the experience- This story is so well written that it deserves a proper human narrated audiobook!- I read the kindle edition!
There are many reviews containing details about plot, mine will be a succinct one containing my feelings and thoughts:
I found it very satisfying to see Araby- Belle’s character growth- from a somewhat mean girl to a mature woman- definitely influenced by the horrors of the war but also her unfortunate circumstances.
She remained celibate and a vrgin - but considering the war circumstances and her trauma this might be considered a blessing….)
MMC - Michael was a frustrating character- always ready to assume the worst about FMC (- Araby)and I was ready to throw hands when his actions were unraveling 😵💫 (He wasn’t celibate during their separation but there are no detailed scenes with OW only mentions!) 🙄
The only downside is the fact that this novel has an audio narrted by AI - on audible and that sucks - I wish authors wouldn’t do that - because it cheapens the experience- This story is so well written that it deserves a proper human narrated audiobook!- I read the kindle edition!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2024
I am a bit of a historical romance purist and there are some things that are non-negotiable for me and a hero who ruthlessly ruins a young woman by letting her be discovered with her dress off is one of them. Michael was a detestable character despite the excuses he made up for his behavior. He told himself he was doing it for his brother but was he thinking of this brother when he made out with his brother's love interest multiple times?
I didn't mind that Belle had a history as a mean girl because there was more to her story and the book does a good job detailing her redemption arc. Belle suffered so much more than anyone in the book and like a phoenix, rose from the ashes of her past to become someone with a worthy vocation.
I can't say I would recommend this book because the men are f*cking awful and the way they destroyed multiple women's lives was so off putting that the books in this series should not be categorized as romance. I have zero interest reading about the other books in the series because I don't like to read about heinous fictional male characters who get happy endings.
I didn't mind that Belle had a history as a mean girl because there was more to her story and the book does a good job detailing her redemption arc. Belle suffered so much more than anyone in the book and like a phoenix, rose from the ashes of her past to become someone with a worthy vocation.
I can't say I would recommend this book because the men are f*cking awful and the way they destroyed multiple women's lives was so off putting that the books in this series should not be categorized as romance. I have zero interest reading about the other books in the series because I don't like to read about heinous fictional male characters who get happy endings.
May 9, 2023
I'm not a huge fan of second-chance romance, but I loved the story's first half. Arabella's behaviour was explained by her circumstances, so the reader doesn't hate her, and Michael's was also understandable. However, once they were reunited, the story fell flat for me. Maybe I just don't like to read about characters who want to be together but don't because of their stubbornness.
Also,
Also,
March 12, 2026
Re-read, still easily 4 stars.
February 7, 2023
Annabelle (Araby/Belle) and Michael. Chefs kiss. Loved this one. An Epic story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2019
A Terrible Beauty
By Stephanie Patterson
5 stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Subgenres: 1850s (Victorian?), Crimean War
Heat Level: spicy
Between A Terrible Beauty and a head cold, I haven’t had much sleep the last couple of nights. I could have read this in one sitting. In fact, I would put it right up there with some of the best books I’ve read this past year.
Let me go through some of the things I really liked about the book, and then I’ll bring up one thing I had to overlook:
Stuff I liked:
I admit I never knew much about the Crimean War and the nurses like Florence Nightingale who gave up comfortable lives to save soldiers on the front lines. I learned a lot in this book without feeling like I was being fed a history lesson. This book is gritty, but it needed to be.
The heroine is easily one of my favorites. She went from being the talk of the ton to a nurse in the front lines in the space of a few months. Some authors talk about how they torture their characters. Patterson really does, but every step of it was believable.
The plot is tightly woven. Before they see the error of their ways, the hero, heroine and secondary characters are always scheming. Patterson manages to thread these schemes together like pieces of a puzzle to create an amazingly intricate whole.
The heat level is spicy, with several explicit loves scenes and one rather crude one early on, but it is a necessary component of the plot and reveals quite a bit about the character of the hero if one bothers to read closely. I could have done without some of the later love scenes, but they weren’t overly gratuitous.
I like the overall theme. Essentially, you never really know why someone acts the way they do until you hear (and really listen to) their side of the story.
Last but not least, a Terrible Beauty is available on Kindle Unlimited (at least as I write this), so it was low risk to give it a try. I LOVE finding new authors this way, and I have already downloaded the next book in the series, Mrs. Lady.
One teensy tiny thing I didn’t…
There are quite a few typos in the book and the use of commas is sketchy at best. The typos aren’t egregious…it’s usually a missing article or the use of “nor” when it should be “not.” It’s the kind of stuff an author doesn’t often catch, but a copy editor should have. I might have set a less well written book aside, but the story was so captivating it became easier and easier to overlook these errors.
By Stephanie Patterson
5 stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Subgenres: 1850s (Victorian?), Crimean War
Heat Level: spicy
Between A Terrible Beauty and a head cold, I haven’t had much sleep the last couple of nights. I could have read this in one sitting. In fact, I would put it right up there with some of the best books I’ve read this past year.
Let me go through some of the things I really liked about the book, and then I’ll bring up one thing I had to overlook:
Stuff I liked:
I admit I never knew much about the Crimean War and the nurses like Florence Nightingale who gave up comfortable lives to save soldiers on the front lines. I learned a lot in this book without feeling like I was being fed a history lesson. This book is gritty, but it needed to be.
The heroine is easily one of my favorites. She went from being the talk of the ton to a nurse in the front lines in the space of a few months. Some authors talk about how they torture their characters. Patterson really does, but every step of it was believable.
The plot is tightly woven. Before they see the error of their ways, the hero, heroine and secondary characters are always scheming. Patterson manages to thread these schemes together like pieces of a puzzle to create an amazingly intricate whole.
The heat level is spicy, with several explicit loves scenes and one rather crude one early on, but it is a necessary component of the plot and reveals quite a bit about the character of the hero if one bothers to read closely. I could have done without some of the later love scenes, but they weren’t overly gratuitous.
I like the overall theme. Essentially, you never really know why someone acts the way they do until you hear (and really listen to) their side of the story.
Last but not least, a Terrible Beauty is available on Kindle Unlimited (at least as I write this), so it was low risk to give it a try. I LOVE finding new authors this way, and I have already downloaded the next book in the series, Mrs. Lady.
One teensy tiny thing I didn’t…
There are quite a few typos in the book and the use of commas is sketchy at best. The typos aren’t egregious…it’s usually a missing article or the use of “nor” when it should be “not.” It’s the kind of stuff an author doesn’t often catch, but a copy editor should have. I might have set a less well written book aside, but the story was so captivating it became easier and easier to overlook these errors.
June 26, 2022
This is a novel that will stay with me for a while.
I appreciate very much when real historical characters are pictures in HR, when the historical context is well described and I do not shy away from the grittier details. The above together with a catching plot, deeply emotional characters and a well developed passage from enemies to lovers made this book delightful to me.
I am an angst sucker and here you have it aplenty, a cruel H who slowly comes to realise his errors and and h who’s not without sin and payed dearly for it.
All secondary characters were interesting and left you wondering what will become of them.
Sex scenes were present and were well inserted in the narrative not gratuitous.
The sole bad point was the editing.
I appreciate very much when real historical characters are pictures in HR, when the historical context is well described and I do not shy away from the grittier details. The above together with a catching plot, deeply emotional characters and a well developed passage from enemies to lovers made this book delightful to me.
I am an angst sucker and here you have it aplenty, a cruel H who slowly comes to realise his errors and and h who’s not without sin and payed dearly for it.
All secondary characters were interesting and left you wondering what will become of them.
Sex scenes were present and were well inserted in the narrative not gratuitous.
The sole bad point was the editing.
March 26, 2016
Normally I tend to avoid romances, they tend to bore me. This book was suggested to me by a friend and I can say, that I'm not dissapointed. The character development, the historical part, the romance, can be described as wonderful. I loved the most how Bella transformed from the belle of the ball to the dedicated nurse. At times it had me almost in tears and angry at the same time, but I couldn't stop reading. When I reached the end of the book, I was glad I decided to read it. I'm so looking forward to the next book.
May 18, 2022
3.5. Interesting and captivating setting (Crimean war and Florence Nightingale), very good storyline (like a HR remake of the 90ies movie Mean girls that turns into a dark saga), super angsty with a cruel and hateful hero seducing the heroine just to ruin and humiliate her.
A bit disturbed by bad editing, a bit uneven pacing.
A bit disturbed by bad editing, a bit uneven pacing.
January 12, 2024
I liked it but the ending dragged, drama felt a but forced. When H and h finally were ready to get intimate, I wasn’t anymore invested in their relationship. Emotional depth was a bit immature at times, with all the characters. Melodrama I didn’t care for.
February 16, 2025
A nurse of aristocratic heritage is hired to nurse a wounded soldier back to health, but she has to contend with his older brother—the man who ruined her Season five years prior.
Wonderful regency romance that explores themes of privilege, vengeance and redemption. I loved how both main characters have a redemption arc, but for very different reasons.
Arabella aka "Araby" aka "Belle" is not all that likable at first. She's the ringleader of a trio of women known as the Furies--basically a "young, single and ready to mingle" squad who revel in their status as society darlings, but sometimes to an unkind degree.
The story does a good job of setting up the social politics surrounding a Season, the importance of making a good match, and how quickly a lady's future can change. Michael hates Araby because she repeatedly insults his younger brother Drew (whom she considers an inferior match). There is a slow wind up of tension for the first third of the book as Araby gets caught up in her schemes, until she does something to Drew that Michael considers unforgiveable and he orchestrates his vengeance.
Once Michael and Araby meet again five years later, he is shocked to realize Araby, now Belle, has done a whole lot of growing up. I liked that, in true enemies to lovers fashion, he doubles down on being a dick and believing the worst of her. But her previous haughty confidence has been honed into calm maturity, and he falls fast for her.
While I mostly loved this book, a few things kept it from being a 5 star read. There were quite a few typos. The cover is... yeah, it exists. Finally, some key pieces of information felt abrupt in their delivery. The story could have built more suspense by gradually hinting at circumstances before confirming them.
Wonderful regency romance that explores themes of privilege, vengeance and redemption. I loved how both main characters have a redemption arc, but for very different reasons.
Arabella aka "Araby" aka "Belle" is not all that likable at first. She's the ringleader of a trio of women known as the Furies--basically a "young, single and ready to mingle" squad who revel in their status as society darlings, but sometimes to an unkind degree.
The story does a good job of setting up the social politics surrounding a Season, the importance of making a good match, and how quickly a lady's future can change. Michael hates Araby because she repeatedly insults his younger brother Drew (whom she considers an inferior match). There is a slow wind up of tension for the first third of the book as Araby gets caught up in her schemes, until she does something to Drew that Michael considers unforgiveable and he orchestrates his vengeance.
Once Michael and Araby meet again five years later, he is shocked to realize Araby, now Belle, has done a whole lot of growing up. I liked that, in true enemies to lovers fashion, he doubles down on being a dick and believing the worst of her. But her previous haughty confidence has been honed into calm maturity, and he falls fast for her.
While I mostly loved this book, a few things kept it from being a 5 star read. There were quite a few typos. The cover is... yeah, it exists. Finally, some key pieces of information felt abrupt in their delivery. The story could have built more suspense by gradually hinting at circumstances before confirming them.
February 19, 2018
Not your usual romance.
Not your usual romantic fare. Yes the star crossed love and the misunderstandings are everywhere. The character development makes this such a good read. Not quite on board with loving the guy who humiliated you and ruined life as you know it.....but the growth of the characters was great.👍👍
Not your usual romantic fare. Yes the star crossed love and the misunderstandings are everywhere. The character development makes this such a good read. Not quite on board with loving the guy who humiliated you and ruined life as you know it.....but the growth of the characters was great.👍👍
April 8, 2023
Easily the best book I have read this year.
April 4, 2025
Excellent enemies to lovers book!
December 21, 2025
Holy SHIT. The MC of this book and the next two are fucking EVIL.
The women did stuff that was unpleasant (but the worst thing they did — assisting in a kidnapping — was forced, and Arabella did everything she could to save the victim.)
I don’t think I can read the next two though because Rafe is the fucking devil, and so is Jonas.
The women did stuff that was unpleasant (but the worst thing they did — assisting in a kidnapping — was forced, and Arabella did everything she could to save the victim.)
I don’t think I can read the next two though because Rafe is the fucking devil, and so is Jonas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2025
Araby/Belle was a mean girl during her come out season with her friends. They almost ruined another girls life. There were circumstances why she did certain things, but ultimately she made the choice to be a horrid person. The story starts off(prologue) with her in the future where she's a nurse in battlefield during the Crimea war. Then we get into why things happened the way they did. The girl they almost ruined set up a chain of events with people around them to basically ruin her and her friends' lives.
I'm not sure how realistic it is that three debutantes would have that much power to be so mean and terrible to everyone around them. Especially two that weren't really that high in the peerage. Araby is really hard to like in the early chapters. I felt for her, while staring wide eye at how she treated people who did nothing to her. The mmc Michael is the brother of someone who was one of her admirers. She treated him very badly in front of everyone, repeatedly. Michael decides to get revenge by ruining her.
What I didn't like: The trajectory of her life changed, her life was ruined, she became a better person, she paid for the things she did. She tried to atone for her mistakes. But the men who ruined the lives of three young girls continued to live their lives like nothing happened. The mmc continued to have his mistresses and affairs, his business grew, and his life moved on. If she hadn't come back into his life five years later, it wouldn't have mattered to him. (and yes, she was still a virgin). We see hints of guilt and remorse but nothing substantial. We see Belle taking responsibility for the wrongs she did, but she so easily forgave and excuses the mmc and his friends' behavior.
I'm not sure how realistic it is that three debutantes would have that much power to be so mean and terrible to everyone around them. Especially two that weren't really that high in the peerage. Araby is really hard to like in the early chapters. I felt for her, while staring wide eye at how she treated people who did nothing to her. The mmc Michael is the brother of someone who was one of her admirers. She treated him very badly in front of everyone, repeatedly. Michael decides to get revenge by ruining her.
What I didn't like: The trajectory of her life changed, her life was ruined, she became a better person, she paid for the things she did. She tried to atone for her mistakes. But the men who ruined the lives of three young girls continued to live their lives like nothing happened. The mmc continued to have his mistresses and affairs, his business grew, and his life moved on. If she hadn't come back into his life five years later, it wouldn't have mattered to him. (and yes, she was still a virgin). We see hints of guilt and remorse but nothing substantial. We see Belle taking responsibility for the wrongs she did, but she so easily forgave and excuses the mmc and his friends' behavior.
January 4, 2026
Notes (and spoilers) for me
Araby and friends Katherine and Sarah are known as the three furies. They cruelly rule the London season.
Araby debutante seems cruel but reader sees reason behind actions
Drew third son thinks he in love with her
Michael second son Drew’s brother
A’s stepfather - cruel and beats A and her mother. Has inappropriate interest in A. Insists she marry for money and title for his sake.
Originally had a long review. Don’t think I will forget this book.
Michael kisses Araby. Drew finds out and is broken hearted and leaves to war.
Michael is so angry. At 31% he sets up a situation to ruin A. It made my stomach hurt watching it play out. A confessed her love to M thinking he felt the same. He sets up a scene with her in a room at a ball so her fiancé comes in and sees everything.
Araby is beaten so severely in the street. She fakes memory loss in the hospital. She becomes a nurse in the war.
This story is beyond cruel. It’s so devastating to know why A actually acts how she does to protect herself. Not sure if Michael can redeem himself. Plus the next two men are cruel as well.
One review said she totally changed her life and improved. He stayed doing the same thing with no consequences. His business flourished, he had at least 10 mistresses (he says he never stayed with one more than 6 months). That is disappointing.
375 pages, but felt longer.
Araby and friends Katherine and Sarah are known as the three furies. They cruelly rule the London season.
Araby debutante seems cruel but reader sees reason behind actions
Drew third son thinks he in love with her
Michael second son Drew’s brother
A’s stepfather - cruel and beats A and her mother. Has inappropriate interest in A. Insists she marry for money and title for his sake.
Originally had a long review. Don’t think I will forget this book.
Michael kisses Araby. Drew finds out and is broken hearted and leaves to war.
Michael is so angry. At 31% he sets up a situation to ruin A. It made my stomach hurt watching it play out. A confessed her love to M thinking he felt the same. He sets up a scene with her in a room at a ball so her fiancé comes in and sees everything.
Araby is beaten so severely in the street. She fakes memory loss in the hospital. She becomes a nurse in the war.
This story is beyond cruel. It’s so devastating to know why A actually acts how she does to protect herself. Not sure if Michael can redeem himself. Plus the next two men are cruel as well.
One review said she totally changed her life and improved. He stayed doing the same thing with no consequences. His business flourished, he had at least 10 mistresses (he says he never stayed with one more than 6 months). That is disappointing.
375 pages, but felt longer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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