Betrayed & Blessed: The Viscount's Shrewd Wife

Love's Second Chance Complete Series #4

by Bree Wolf

Two strangers. One masked ball. And an irresistible attraction.

TRISTAN TURNER, VISCOUNT ELTON, is haunted by a night he cannot remember.
Abandoned by his beloved sister, Tristan finds himself in a world devoid of love and acceptance, a world without hope. All that is left are the hushed whispers of London society about the madness that drove his parents into an early grave. A madness that taints his own blood.
Until fate intervenes…and his path crosses that of a young lady.

BETH WALKER is driven to uncover a secret.
Left alone after her mother's untimely death, Beth feels utterly betrayed by those she trusted. With only the clothes on her back, she travels to London, following the only clue to her mother's past. Posing as a maid in a nobleman's household, she finds herself at a masked ball… and catches the eye of a young gentleman.
But when all secrets are revealed, will their love have a chance?



This USA TODAY bestselling Cinderella story shows that where you come from does not determine where you end up, featuring a strong-willed heroine and for once a leading man who needs to be saved.

If you like marriage of convenience stories with a touch of mystery, a dash of humour as well as heartfelt emotion, then you’ll love this instalment of Bree Wolf’s emotionally charged Love’s Second Chance Series. Buy BETRAYED AND BLESSED, grab a cup of tea, settle into your favorite reading spot and start this swoon worthy romance now!



Love's Second Chance Series

#1 Forgotten & Remembered - The Duke's Late Wife (Rosabel & Graham)
#2 Cursed & Cherished - The Duke's Wilful Wife (Anna & Edmond)
#3 Despised & Desired - The Marquess' Passionate Wife (Ellie & Frederick)
#4 Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife (Henrietta & Connor)
#5 Ruined & Redeemed - The Earl's Fallen Wife (Charlotte & Sebastian)
#6 Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife (Beth & Tristan)
#7 Deceived & Honoured - The Baron’s Vexing Wife (Madeline & Derek)
More to follow:
#8 Sacrificed & Reclaimed - The Soldier's Daring Widow (Meagan & Edward) (Bonus Novella)



A Forbidden Love Novella Series

#1 The Wrong Brother
#2 A Brilliant Rose
#3 The Forgotten Wife
#4 An Unwelcome Proposal
#5 Rules to Be Broken
#6 Hearts to Be Mended
To Follow:
#7 Winning her Hand
#8 Conquering her Heart

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Clean Romance, Regency Romance

297 pages, ebook

First published September 12, 2017

About the author

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Excited for my new series? The Flames of Winter Series:

An epic love story that spans across an entire series. Ensure that you have a good cup of tea, something to nibble on and perhaps a box of tissues at hand before you dive into this slow-burn Regency romance full of enchanting moments between Sarah and Keir, the little wisp and the highlander.

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betrayed and Blessed is a lovely read that brings Beth back to London after escaping as a child from an abusive father. What Beth doesn't remember is the "why" of her life alone with her Mother and when she arrives in London, she is hired as a maid.

The backstory is well written in the beginning so that we understand more about the history of Beth and Ellen than Beth does. We watch her look for answers and find a man she is irresistibly drawn to. We also learn about the foggy past of Tristan. He is in a very rocky place in his life and when he is drawn to Beth he struggles to move forward.

This book shows how the past can cause grief and torment even years later. It also shows that there is the possibility for broken people to find happiness if they work at it. Another fantastic book by Bree Wolf. I have loved every one of the books in this series. They just keep getting better and better.

Another 5 stars from me for Betrayed and Blessed.

[Teri Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series. I'll start about by saying that this book can certainly be read as a standalone. If it's your first book in the series, I encourage you to go back to the beginning. Although I have read each book as they have been published, I have promised myself that someday I will read them in order, without interruption. Yes, they are all that good, this one included, to re-read again.
Beth grew up with a loving mother. They both escaped a mean and abusive father and husband when Beth was young. Tristan and his sister grew up under the watch of their mean spirited uncle after their parents died with they were young. Beth is strong and wants to know more about her birth after finding a mysterious letter in her deceased mother's belongings. Tristan fears going mad like his deceased father. They are destined for each other.
With her words, Ms. Wolf makes the reader feel the heartache and angst of each of these characters. I truly wanted Beth to get her happily ever after and I wanted Tristan to realize he could love and find happiness.
From the opening words, I was instantly drawn into the story. Like all of Ms. Wolf's other books, once I started the book, I could not stop until The End.
There were twists and turns along the way to the conclusion that held my attention on every page.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead: Infuriating at times. At one point I thought that if that idiot Tristan didnt end up getting killed I would certainly do the job and wring his stupid neck for him. Jeez, these characters were beyond dense at times. Hellooo! Wicked uncle is psycho!!! I saw that miles away! But, I DID like Beth and also only the vaguely hinted prospect of Derek (whom I really LOVED) getting his own HEA redeemed this book/series. For the sake of those 2 this book is a 2.5 star read

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love these series and I wanted so much to read Tristan’s story!!
I loved this one also very much and I highly recommend every one to read it as a stand-alone book or better to read the whole series! Although it is a clean romance it has so much power, passion and desire you can’t stop reading!
I received a fee copy for exchange of an honest review! Thank you so much Bree!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short review. Another wonderful edition to the Love's Second Chance series. The chemistry between Tristan and Beth is full of so much passion and love, it's easy to see why they are instantly drawn to each other. I admired Beth's resolve to not give up fighting to free Tristan from the hold that those who meant to do him harm had on him, both her and Derek are the type of people you want in your life. I felt so bad for Tristan, all he wanted was to be loved by his family and to not be seen in the same bad light as his father. His struggle to see the truth and release himself from the hold of manipulation by those he trusted most was moving, luckily for him he had two people in his corner who were willingly to stand beside him and fight with him for control of not only his life but his happiness and love.

[Monique Takens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaahhh what a wonderful strong heroine ! This book is not to be missed , especially if you have read volume 4 of this series .

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would.

The blurb made the story sound more interesting than it actually was.

While Beth is a strong character and Tristan stubborn, the story focuses more on Tristan overcoming his past, leaving Beth's story unresolved. While Beth does learn more about her past, that is all she learns. The only person who helps her with this is her grandmother. Her father and half-siblings remain unaware of her existence. It would have been nice to see some sort of conclusion (happy or not) regarding this.

[vaneeta naik · Rating 2 out of 5]

first of all i would like to mention " ***I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for a true and honest review.***

dis is d 6th book in d series ...i was very excited to read Tristan's story as in book 4 d end was about Henrietta discovering d truth about her uncle rushes to save her younger brother Tristan from being killed...book 4 had an abrupt ending...
i am disappointed with dis book .... leaving d heroine Beth who's character is strong, sensible,rationale,brave & shrewd...d book has nothing else... the storyline was weak... wat ails Tristan
i still couldn't understand ....he should ve been a strong character as he was raised with love & protection by his sister ...he was shielded by her but still he is slow witted, dumb ,weak & very insecure...
i didnt like it as it made no sense ...as in Bree's other stories in dis series d characters ve a reason to be as dey r whether strong or weak...also her stories show characters overcome there problems by fighting against all odds ...here in dis book till d end d Hero is shown not only dumb but doesnt make any effort to watever problems he has or he presumes he has ...sorry but it was pointless...
this was an honest Review & not intent to hurt....The author Bree's books r always so full of life, emotions , complexities & presentations ...descriptions of characters so excellently portrayed & dealt with dat dey make a story interesting & captivating...
so maybe with dis story i had a lot of expectation ....

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

DON'T BLINK OR YOU'LL MISS IT!!!
A well written, easy to follow, heart pounding, mouth dry and lies galore tale with surprises around every corner. With so many twists and turns its hard to catch your breath. A world where nothing is as it seems and hidden dangers at every turn. This is one read that will keep your attention and your seat until the last word.

[Kety · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book as the other of this series.
The story is sweet with strong and willful characters and a villain.
This story will bring you in a fantastic world and that keeps you enthralled until the last word.
A book for all that love sweet romance with some mystery.

[Judy Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristan & Beth

Caught in a comprising situation at a masked ball Tristan is forced to do the honorable thing by Beth. Tristan is full of angst but Beth is a loving and carrying woman who helps him to feel loved. Add to that the mental trauma Tristan endures from his uncle. Great story with a number twist and turns. Bee Wolf is a great author and I will be reading more of her works..

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, I loved this book so much! I think it is my favorite from this series, with my second favorite being the one about Henrietta (even though I couldn't stand her in the 2nd book) I personally think these books must be read in order, especially this one. They reference the other characters too much. I finished it in a few hours, I couldn't put it down.

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read all of this series and this I liked the least. I felt Tristan is a rather weak "hero"; he's an adult, but doesn't seem to have a spine or a bit of drive. The heroine Beth has a stronger personality and empathy. She seems to easily "read" other people and their relationships, which helps her in her new situation in London after her mother's death.
The storyline is not the usual historical romance fare, but at times a bit predictable and at other times a bit suspenseful. After the bantering between Tristan and Beth when they meet for the first time on the dance floor, I hoped for more of this kind of lively dialog between the two. Unfortunately for our two lead characters, their situation quickly changes and there is a bit of sulking and pondering and little conversation.
I received a free advance ebook copy and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very happy to see the conclusion of the cliffhanger from the epilogue in the fourth book in the series. The fourth book leaves off with Henrietta, Tristan's sister, discovering that their uncle has been plotting to kill Tristan in an attempt to transfer the title to his own son.

Although their uncle's plotting is the main underlying theme for this book, we don't see it really come together until very near the end of the book, when it's almost too late.

This addition to the series is a good read, but likely the least occurs in this one than any the others preceeding it. Besides the intrigue involved in his uncle's plotting and the strange and dangerous situations Tristan finds himself in as a result and getting married, there is not much happening.

I truly liked Beth, I thought she was sweet and determined and a likable character. She was willing to travel to a new and unknown place to discover the secrets to her mother's past and to fight for her marriage even when Tristan made it difficult for her.

I did like Tristan as well, but he's was so blind to what was in front of him for about a solid 97% of the book and I wanted to throw something at him. Blind about his marriage, his feelings, his uncle, his relationship with his sister, the attacks. Even when his wife and his best friend were trying to open his eyes and save him from his own naivety, he won't  see sense. He just loses his temper with them and chooses to believe that they're both lying...instead of the very obvious that his uncle is an awful man who is manipulating him and does not have his best interests at heart.

*mild spoiler maybe*
The often conflicting relationship between Beth and Tristan doesn't truly feel like it is resolved before the close of the book. Yes, he leaves her the letter that clears up how he is feeling towards her and yes, he realizes she was looking out for him and his well-being while he was being difficult. But considering how back and forth he was before, it just felt unresolved; like he was likely to flip-flop again. I guess what I'm trying to say is that their relationship didn't feel as solidified as others' have by the end of the book.


Many thanks to Bree Wolf, who sent me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, we find out why Henrietta’s brother Tristan (from “Abandoned and Protected”), did not come home for her wedding. Just as Henrietta suffered long term effects from the abuse in their family, so too has Tristan. Whereas it forged Henrietta into a strong woman, determined to be able to defend herself, Tristan has allowed the verbal abuse of his uncle to lower his self esteem, and be submissive to him even as an adult, hopeful that somehow he will gain approval from this uncle.
Add a third victim of abuse, Beth, whose mother took her away from a physically sbusive father and raised her on her own. Beth was told her father had died when she was young, and she never thought to question her mother about her father’s family. When Beth’s mother abruptly dies, she is left with a clue to her mother’s past and she begins her search for further information on her family. Beth turns out “normal”, as she was removed from the abuser so young.
Although abuse and its effects are an undercurrent, this book still is a romance, and does have a happy ending. Ms. Wolf has again successfully drawn in old characters and added new ones, whose own stories may well be told in future books.
This was a clean book, with no cursing (despite what one reviewer wrote) and no description of the intimacy that is alluded to. Romance readers of all ages will enjoy this book. It also brings to the fore the various effects that abuse can have on adults.
I received this book as a gift.

[Carma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth goes to England to find out the truth her mother had been keeping from her for most of her life. She has only one clue as to where to start her search, a letter addressed to Clementine at a home in town. She found this mysterious letter after her mother’s funeral and has no idea what the truth behind the letter is. Hoping to get some answers she ends up being mistaken for a maid and put to work in the home.

Tristan is a walking accident, or accidents seem to find him. Either way he isn’t sure how he is still alive after everything he’s been through. Forget the ton linking him to his dead father who’d gone mad, but no matter how hard he tries he can’t seem to please his uncle at all. He goes with his friend Derek to a masquerade ball in hopes of forgetting all his problems but finds what he’d been looking for all along.

Beth and Tristan marry even after it is revealed she is just a maid. His uncle is furious and he feels like he’s been duped. Beth tries to explain she didn’t set out to marry but felt an attraction to him the first time they met. She ends up helping him realize he can never please his uncle no matter how hard he tries.

Plenty of twists and turns and we get to see Henrietta again as she fights to save her brother. Also Matthew, cousin to Tristan, who gets his own storyline a few books ahead. The main storyline for Beth also continues in a further book down the series line. Another great historical read, 4 ½ stars.

[Crazychriss889 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mhm... Bit conflicted about this one.

Writing style was very good as always with Ms Wolf. Only noticed one or two spelling mistakes. The rest of the story flowed, seemed to be well edited. Plus, (something that I think is quite unusual for historical romances dealing with that specific period) we actually get a detailed ending, an ending where family members reconcile, where we know what happened to the bad guy, etc. Well done.

Characters?
They are the reasons why I am a bit conflicted...
On the one hand, the heroine was honestly a very mature woman who knew what she wanted and would do everything to get that (her husband in that case after their wedding. She would reason with him again and again, lead honest and straight forward conversations with him and so on. Soo, you could das she was too good to be true? Haha, no I loved her cause she didn't play any games but then... She also put up with the hero... And he was not an easy guy. I for sure would not have been so considerate.

The Hero? He has a lot of problems. It's like he hates himself and then he keeps doing the sh#t that puts him in danger and that makes him hate himself. Moreover, he is incredibly naive, thinks family won't ever do anything to hurt him, thinks the man who always puts him down actually loves him,... He is a bit pathetic, honestly.
So to sum that Up, I didn't like him at all. Thank god his sister and his wife are in his life.

Can't give more than 3 stars cause of the Hero, sorry.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

TRISTAN TURNER, VISCOUNT ELTON, is haunted by a night he cannot remember.
Abandoned by his beloved sister, Tristan finds himself in a world devoid of love and acceptance, a world without hope. All that is left are the hushed whispers of London society about the madness that drove his parents into an early grave. A madness that taints his own blood.
Until fate intervenes…and his path crosses that of a young lady.

BETH WALKER is driven to uncover a secret.
Left alone after her mother's untimely death, Beth feels utterly betrayed by those she trusted. With only the clothes on her back, she travels to London, following the only clue to her mother's past. Posing as a maid in a nobleman's household, she finds herself at a masked ball… and catches the eye of a young gentleman.
But when all secrets are revealed, will their love have a chance?

I was drawn to Beth's story, but I could not appreciate Tristans's. I realize there has to be conflict along the way to build the story line on, but this one was hard accept. Several incidents and characters were contrived to the point of unbelievability (my new word!) The ending was better than I had expected, but then I had read the earlier book that shared characters and overlapping stories and that is always fun to see enjoyable characters pop up from other books. That added another half star = 3.5 stars.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying how much I adore this series. I have loved every book so far. I was looking forward to reading Tristan’s story. Not to mention I wanted to know what was going to happen with Beth and her family situation. What I wasn’t prepared for was how much Tristan got on my nerves. I loved that he wasn’t a huge alpha male and that he had his insecurities and issues. That wasn’t the problem. What annoyed me to no end was how he refused to see what was going on with his uncle’s intentions almost the whole book. Also, how timid and submissive he was towards whatever his uncle told him to do. I just wanted to shake some sense into Tristan! At the same time I liked seeing Tristan slowly come to the correct views of what was happening in his life.

As for Beth, I loved that she didn’t hold back. She was openly honest in not only her feelings but her wants as well. I enjoyed watching her push Tristan into actually having a relationship with her. I just wish we would have gotten to see her finally stand up to her uncle. But I also understand why she couldn’t.

Overall I enjoyed this book, even when I was frustrated with Tristan. I can’t wait for Derek’s story! I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading some of the reviews of this book I found that some people found the Hero, Tristan Turner, to be weak. If you really pay attention and were a little empathetic of the way Tristan was brought up, you would see why he was the way he was. Low self-esteem can make people seem weak. However, when it really came down to doing what was right and standing up, Tristan came through for himself and his wife.

This is the story of Henrietta Turner's little brother from a previous book. He meets Beth Walker at a ball and is immediately smitten. The events that enfold from then on are intriguing and though I did get a little frustrated with Tristan at times, I still could understand why he was considered to be weak.

I absolutely loved Beth's character and thought she made up for Tristan's weakness. They came together when it really mattered. I thought this book was well written and the characters well developed.

If you like clean, historical romances, you will like this one. Check it out and Enjoy!

I received this book from the author and voluntarily present my review in my own words.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suspenseful Regency romance, this book is well written but at times I found myself getting frustrated with the hero Certainly Tristan displays the results of a lifetime of conditioning and brainwashing, making one realise just how scary propaganda of any type can be. Beth on the other hand has lived in the shadows, not understanding that her life is very different to what it could have been. Both young people have been living a lie, but in her way Beth is the stronger of the two personalities. Fortunately Tristan has a faithful friend in Derek, who realises that someone is plotting against Tristan, but circumstances are manipulated so cleverly that the truth remains hidden. It is only when events culminate in a crisis that the blinkers eventually come off and Tristan can see the truth of the matter. Although this book is part of a series, it is nevertheless a standalone. I does help the reader to read the books in order as this story builds on previous books. This novel does however come to a satisfactory conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 4- I guess, but I am enjoying this author of clean regency type romance, and all of her books are interrelated, moving from one character's story to another's. Sweet stories, nice character development. This one has the wife in the story as the strong character helping the wounded husband find himself. She's got her own demons to slay of course, but their synergy together is effective. It was also fun to have the appearance of his older sister whose story with her healing took place in another good book, Abandoned & Protected: The Marquis' Tenacious Wife. This one has a slight Cinderella retelling angle in it... I'm glad I found author Bree Wolf, and she has a lot out there!

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a very shrewd lady Beth is! She is clever and loving, has a mystery to solve about who her father is but when she finds out that is when her real troubles begin.
Tristan we learned about in book 4 of this series as he is Henrietta's baby brother. There is someone who wants his downfall and his life and thoughts are manipulated constantly.
When Tristan and Beth meet it is definitely the beginning of a love that cannot be contained and it goes without say that there is the normal "does he/she? doesn't he/she?" thing going on between them.
Bree Wolf always seems to have the extremely interesting characters and storyline to write about and has not failed me yet. I loved this story and am very happy to recommend it as well as the rest of this series.
I received a free copy of this ebook and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.

[Elda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not know how to express my thoughts and feelings about this book. Ms Bree writes about some pretty heavy psychological stuff in her books. This one regards Tristan and Beth. Both have suffered the effects of mothers who have been seriously abused by their husbands and who have since passed on although by different means. At first I thought Tristan was a woos. But as I read further I realized that he was a confused man who was being highly manipulated by his uncle. His redeeming grace was his new wife Beth and his friend/bodyguard, Derek. Tristan had a pivotal moment when he was very nearly murdered. But then we reach the end of the story and find our HEA. I highly recommend reading this book. The next book in this series is about Derek and his love interest. I’m very much looking forward to reading it.

[K B]

4. Book 4: Betrayed & Blessed: The Viscount's Shrewd Wife :5 stars
I received a free copy of the clean historical romance Betrayed & Blessed: The Viscount's Shrewd Wife (Love's Second Chance: Tales of Lords & Ladies) by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Betrayed & Blessed is a well written full length clean Regency Romance which has it all. Tristan and Elisabeth rise above family abuse and treachery to form a happy and loving marriage. Tristan’s Sister Henrietta and her husband Connor’s mad journey, to save Tristan, is continued in the end of this novel. The Dowager/Grandmother is a strong woman who is not afraid to give her opinion and is skilled in subtle manipulation and insults. Hints are given regarding who I think will be the next couple in the series. And of course, the happy ending.

[Candy Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristan Turner, Viscount Elton, lost his parents when he was young. His uncle took over care of his sister and him. But he abused them. Elizabeth Walker's mother died recently and she found out, they were not who she thought. She went looking for answers.
The characters are amazing, the things they go thru in this story, may make you feel uncomfortable. There are plenty of lies, danger, intrigue and even a couple of murders. There are some twists to the plot but the author has managed to, again take a delicate subject and turn it into something marvelous and treated it with great care. It is consistent, smooth and well paced. I loved the tale and was so glad I was given a chance to read it. I was given this book by the author and I voluntarily reviewed the book.

[Tika Maruka · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

I think it is a nice quick read for summer, the story flows well, if somewhat predictably.

I liked to heroine, but couldn't get rid of the feeling that she was too "modern" for the time and place the story suppose to take place in. She is very outspoken, even though she belongs to the "lower" class at the beginning of the story. It didn't always fit...

I honestly didn't like the hero at all, too weak and doesn't seem to be able to form an independent thought or judgement. I actually liked Secondary characters and looking forward to reading their story.

Overall, however, it was a clean, enjoyable historical romance.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances

Another wonderful book by Bree Wolf! Beth came to London after her mother passed to find out about her past! She obtained a maids job and started asking questions. When the Dowager Countess sees Beth she says Ellen and Beth asks if she knew her mother. When the Dowager tells her the truth Beth then becomes her companion but knows they can not tell her father the truth.

Tristian has nothing but bad luck. Ifs her not robbed, he’s then attacked for no reason at all. So discouraged with his life he believes he is turning out like his father. He’s also afraid to be alone for the rest of his life. When he meets a masked woman at a ball he believes he might have found Mrs. Right!

A wonderful heartfelt read with an amazing ending.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mesmerized by a vision of loveliness, Tristan Turner. Viscount Elton, made his way across the ballroom. Capturing the essence portrayed by her masked blue eyes bespoke of confidence, delight and integrity. The dance ended before Tristan learned her name. He searched for her and due to the circumstances soon found himself engaged. The plot weaves around deceit, danger and betrayal for Viscount Elton aided by the many rescues of his champion Baron Ainsworth. Honesty, love and courage personifies Tristan's wife Elisabeth. Would she fulfill his heart's desire to love him no matter the misfortune or event that would occur in his chaotic life?

[constance m slagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful, yet lighthearted at times.

Although I'm a great fan of Regency novels, I haven't read one in awhile.
I' m glad I choose this one to revisit this genre. It was just what I needed after reading a fairly dark psychological thriller. Ms. Wolf's characters proceeded to take me along on their journey. I fell in love with Beth and Tristan, enchanted with their love story. It touched my heart and made me smile. I recommend this one to those who also may be in need of a feel good read.