Nearly Ruining Mr. Russell

Rogues & Gentlemen #5

by Emma V. Leech

Miss Violette Grey is a damsel in distress.

The devil of it is, she just won't accept it.

Alone and far from home in the big city, Violette is on a mission to find her missing brother - a war hero who never made it home - and she doesn't want a chaperone. But the chivalrous Aubrey Russell doesn't care.

Accidentally thrust into the headstrong young lady's path, he decides she needs a protector.
Determined that the girl should not ruin herself in pursuit of the truth, Aubrey dogs her every step ... and finds himself in a spot of bother.

Violette may be an innocent but she has an uncanny knack for finding trouble, and one way or another Aubrey is determined to save her from ruin.

The only question is, will he be able to save himself?

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

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2017

About the author

Bestselling author hiding mostly in 19th-century England, venturing out only for chocolate and tea.

Emma V. Leech is the award-winning author of multiple bestselling series across Regency romance, Regency mystery and paranormal romance. Fall in love with swoon-worthy rogues, bold heroines, witty banter and deeply romantic happily-ever-afters. Follow Emma on BookBub for new releases and exclusive deals.

EMMA’S BOOKS

Rogues And Gentlemen
Regency romance – 17-book series (ongoing)
Sexy, tumultuous and irresistibly romantic. From pirates and smugglers to earls and dukes, these unforgettable rogues will sweep you away!

Winter Rogue
A Regency Christmas romance within the Rogues & Gentlemen world
A scandal-weary earl, a runaway heiress and a crumbling country estate snowed in for Christmas. A sensual, heart-tugging holiday novella about redemption, desire and a love neither of them expects.

A Rogues and Gentlemen Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
A collection of three romantic holiday stories featuring beloved Rogues & Gentlemen characters. Expect snowstorms, sizzling tension, unexpected proposals, mistletoe moments and heart-melting happily-ever-afters – a cosy festive escape for Regency romance lovers.

The Girl Is Not For Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
Miss Olivia Penrose is the only thing standing between her family and ruin when a brooding aristocrat crashes into her carefully laid plans. Sparks fly amid family secrets, snowy scandals and irresistible festive longing in this passionate, witty and deeply romantic winter read.

Girls Who Dare
Regency romance – 12-book series
Inside every wallflower is the heart of a lioness. When these overlooked young women make a pact to change their lives, rules are broken, reputations are risked and love becomes the most daring adventure of all.

Daring Daughters
Victorian romance – 19-book series and two compilations
The next generation of the Girls Who Dare. Their mothers risked everything for love – now their daughters are ready to be even bolder. An ongoing series of fiercely romantic stories set in a rapidly changing world.

Wicked Sons
Victorian romance – 12-book series
Their mothers dared all for love. Their sisters did the same. Now it’s the sons’ turn… dangerous, tempting and determined not to fall – until the right woman brings them to their knees.

The Venturesome Ladies Of Little Valentine
Regency romance – my current series
A quiet seaside village, a wave of scandalous newcomers and local ladies who refuse to be swept aside. A warm, witty Regency series full of secrets, second chances and delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

The Regency Romance Mysteries
Regency romantic suspense – 3-book series
Dashing heroes, wicked villains, murder, mystery – and heroines who refuse to sit prettily and wait to be rescued. Perfect if you like your Regency romance served with danger and intrigue.

The French Vampire Legend
Paranormal romance – 4-book series
A dark, dramatic and heart-wrenching tale of courage, sacrifice and a love that not even time, war or monsters can destroy. Gothic atmosphere, high stakes and a romance that refuses to die.

The French Fae Legend
Fantasy romance – 4-book series
An award-winning saga with close to sixteen million online reads. Moving between modern-day France and the Fae Lands, these books weave powerful magic, danger and an all-consuming love that proves stronger than any enchantment.

The Book Lover
A standalone paranormal romance novella
A book-obsessed young woman, an infuriatingly charming stranger and the unnerving sense that stories might be bleeding into real life. A short, intensely romantic tale for anyone who has ever fallen in love with books… and perhaps with something not entirely of this world.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun mix of action, mystery, romance and humor, and there's a nice bit of character development, too.

Aubrey Russell doesn't think he's anyone special. Certainly, his father doesn't think so. Aubrey is pretty low on the social ladder, having no title and not much in the way of wealth. His father gives him an allowance, but it's not a generous amount, nowhere near what his friends have to spend. Fortunately, he's handsome, polite, honorable, and dances well, and he does have the right friends, who ARE titled and/or wealthy. Aubrey is welcome at most society events as long as he doesn't try to form an attachment with a lady above his social sphere. This is the guy who always gets stuck in the dreaded "friend zone" with the girls.

On his way back to his lodgings one evening, Aubrey comes across a lady in distress. Her name is Violette, but she won't give him her full name because she refuses to be sent back to her guardian. All her money was stolen, and she was thrown from a hackney cab when she requested to be taken to the Seven Dials, the most notoriously dangerous part of London. Although she has the appearance and manners of a gently bred woman, Violette is travelling without a proper companion. She searches for a man, Eddie, who had been reported killed in Waterloo but appears to have survived. Having become aware of a current threat on his life, Violette is desperate to find and warn him. Again, she refuses to provide Eddie's last name, telling Aubrey it's for his own protection that he not know their identities.

Thus starts a wild roller coaster ride of a story. Aubrey quickly falls in love with Violette but recognizes that her attachment to Eddie puts her out of his reach. Since he IS an honorable gentleman, Aubrey does his best to follow clues and find the missing war hero. This throws him into circumstances that give him the appearance of a rake, and various scandalous stories about him start to circulate around the ton, ruining his previously spotless reputation. This rollicking story also involves fisticuffs, attempted murder, attempted seductions (initiated by more than one lady), a challenge to a duel, and amnesia.

Aubrey enlists the aid of his cousin, Alex Sinclair, the Earl of Falmouth, and his wife Celeste. Aubrey has always looked up to Lord Falmouth and felt himself to be quite inferior by comparison. Aubrey's low self-image and his relationship with the rest of his family is an interesting side story woven into this plot.

I read this as a stand-alone without having read any other books in this series, and I enjoyed it immensely. The writing has a nice light tone, and there's correct grammar and spelling throughout with only a rare exception or two. I'm sure some of these characters- particularly Lord Falmouth and Celeste- must have full books devoted to them in this series, but all are depicted well enough here for the purposes of this story.

My only real complaint is that, with all the fear, mystery and danger surrounding the villain of the piece, the reader really should have the satisfaction of learning more detail about his comeuppance. Instead, it's left frustratingly vague.

There are MA scenes.

[Juliana Veale · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, you want to strangle both characters. THe hero keeps on reverting to the "TallyHo old chap" type and the heroine is so pathetically useless, you want to shake her into common sense. Fortunately, the second part of the book the characters develop by becoming actual people. The hero finally addresses his insecurity and the simpering heroine seems to regain at least half of her previously undiscovered rare brain cells.
Whilst I really liked the second part of the book, the first part really brings the book down.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had me chuckling! Can you imagine a man who has managed not to be termed a rake--is always polite and tries to help others when he can--having his name besmirched because he tried to help a lady in distress? Well that is what happens when Aubrey decides that Violette needs a protector! She is definitely a woman to be reckoned with. She is bound and determined to find a gentleman and to not get anyone else in trouble--which obviously gets them in trouble!!

What is a gentleman supposed to do when a lady ties him up in knots---and who is this mysterious man she is so determined to find.

Read this delightful book to find out!!
Nearly Ruining Mr. Russell

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical English romance with a young lady coming to dangerous London to find her long lost Eddie with the help of some strangers.
Miss Violette Greyston has a plan, but she has Mr. Aubrey Russell to keep out of too much danger, Mr. Russell's friends and family join in this adventure to find the long lost Lord Edward, Lord Winterbourne who has a type of amnesia, but with his 'real' life coming to save him, he is coming back into his old life.
Violette is the lady in charge, which is going to make Aubrey have a very exciting life. Violette does a series of actions that makes Aubrey look very bad, but his entourage knows better then to believe the circumstantial evidence.
Cute fluff story.
271 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars

[miss p obodo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book

I was not expecting to enjoy this story about Aubrey Russell as in the previous books when he was mentioned he just seemed immature but he is quite a character. You could see how his feelings for Violette made him grow up to be more mature. I also like the part Celeste and Alex,the earl of Falmouth played in this story. You can read about them in the second book in the series. I also enjoy how the author weaves all her characters. Already the next character in the next book has already been mentioned. I would recomend this book.Really enjoyable and romantic read.cannot wait to start next book in the series.

[Laura J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this story. Aubrey wasn’t the typical romance lead. He was thoughtful, polite, well manner, and kind. As the story unfolds, he was also courageous and loving. Violette at first appeared to be a bit ditzy but was also determined and resourceful. The story slowed down for me when Vi’s brother appeared. I never felt that he was a developed character.

[Martha B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

His ruination was also his destiny.

As he ran toward the dark ally in response to her scream, Mr. Aubrey Russell should have realized that his life was about to take an abrupt turn, never to be the same again.

She was on the run and on a mission. But keeping her identity a secret was as much for Miss Violette's protection, as it was for the protection of those who were helping her find Eddy.

I'm a fan of Emma V. Leech's historical romances. Her descriptive writing and believable dialogue brings her characters to life. Nearly Ruining Mr. Russell is another example of an entertaining story in the Rogues and Gentlemen series. I really liked Aubrey and Violette and I was sympathetic to her plight, which ultimately becomes his plight. I also enjoyed their interaction with Alex and Celestine from book 2, The Earl's Temptation. With a bit of humor added to the mix, this read was a pleasant way to fill the hours of a rainy day.

All in all this was an enjoyable read that I heartily recommend. With the exception of a mildly described marital scene, this is a clean and sweet read.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nearly Ruinning Mr. Russell is the fifth book in the Rouges and Gentlemen series. This is Violette and Aubrey's story. I wasn't really excited for this story. I am only reading it because I am invested in the characters in the series. After reading Gabe's book (7th book), I wanted to get a better understanding of what happened that led up to Gabe's story. I probably could have skipped this one though.

The first half of the book was boring and there was hardly interaction between the main characters. Violette is in the need to find Eddie. Who is this Eddie? We don't know, but she's willing to do ANYTHING to find this man. Aubrey has no title nor money, but he has honor. He helps Violette find Eddie, who could be her lover. REALLY?!

The second half of the book gets better, but good grief, we get a glimpse of Winterbourne and he's already exhausting and this isn't even his book. Don't even get me started on the steam or should I say, lack there of?

I didn't like this book at all. I found it boring and lack-luster. Totally skippable.

[S.K. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey, Aubrey, Aubrey, we fell in love with you in the last series and wanted your own story, so here it is. But really, how could you fall into such a trap? Goodness! You really should take heed of your friends' advice. Alas, Aubrey, our sweet treasure, could always see past the surface of a situation. Leech takes us into the Seven Dials poverty area of London, where few dare to tread in a romance novel. Introducing us to yet another broken man who lives by his fist, but without his memory. He demands his own story in the future, but first, we must save our dear, darling Aubrey, who Violette is determined, albeit not intentionally, to soil because she just can't help herself and must save her brother. Leech also introduces us to another future, truly, beyond saving, irredeemable villain (sure, believe that if you will). However, we must save our beloved Aubrey first, who is our hero from beginning to end. Just when I thought Leech couldn't get any better.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Violets and Aubreys story!!! Violet believing her brother is alive she escapes to London. When Aubrey rescues her he tells her he will help her find her brother. When he awakes the next day he finds Violet is gone. Worrying about her he sets out for Seven Dials. He finally finds her. She says she needs to ask a particular courtesans but Aubrey says he will go for her. When he’s caught people start to think he is a rake. He brings Violet to his cousin Alex’s and he agrees to help. When Violet disappears again they all head to seven dials and not only find her but her brother who was though dead over 2 years ago. It seems he had amnesia. When her brother is injured again trying to flee Aubrey, Alex and his rage tag of pirates he seems to have regained his memory but not why he was hiding. This is a wonderful story with an even better ending.

[Vania Nunes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Aubrey Russell, son of a baron, leads his own life without high expectations. Cousin of millionaire Earl "Pirate", he knows he will never be as successful as Alex.
When a lady shows up one afternoon asking for help, Aubrey, like the gentleman that he was, can't refuse to help her. Besides, she was too beautiful - and too naive - to be alone in the city. So Aubrey goes to ask her cousin Alex and his wife, Céleste, for help.

Miss Violette Grey ran away from home with the firm purpose of finding a man who had been presumed dead at Waterloo.
With her 21st birthday approaching, she needed to succeed in her quest, or she would end up being forced to marry the new Marquess of Winterborne, and see him steal her inheritance.

A story of instant love, but with many misunderstandings in the beginning until finally the couple has a remote possibility of being together.
4 stars

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey finds Violets sitting on the ground with her band box open and her belongings scattered about. Wondering what a young lady is doing out alone at night he offers to take her to his flat. She is looking for Eddie. She refuses to give her last name and will not tell Aubrey who Eddie is to her. He offers to help her find Eddie, but he must know a little more about him. It seems he died at Waterloo a hero. But he’s been seen in Seven Dials days ago. Thus the search begins for the missing man. But Violets refuses to sit still and let others do the searching. A very exciting and romantic book.

[E Oygard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read

Aubrey and Violette are the subjects of this story. Aubrey was introduced in previous stories as the cousin of Alex Sinclair who married Celeste. Aubrey discovers malady all alone in the middle of the night in London. She a searching for someone she thought had died in the Battle of Waterloo.
His reputation with the ton is in danger as he and his family help Violette in her search, while Aubrey loses his heart.
I liked the characters in the story and there was the usual humour and wit one expects with Emma Leech. One criticism though. I do wish she would omit the word'febrile' from her stories once in a while. Surely not everyone has febrile eyes!

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violette is looking for a man all on her own in London when Aubrey literally picks her up out of the gutter. He takes on her troubles, searching for the man in the Seven Dials.

As they work together, Aubrey is accused of more and more debauchery, all in the name of finding Violette’s stranger.

Once found, it is cleared up that the man has had amnesia, and he’s being pursued by a relative who wants him dead. Meanwhile, Violette and Aubrey fall in love, and let nothing stand in their way.

Good adventure, nice to have Aubrey’s cousin and his wife along, making things more exciting.

KU

[Merrilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Emma Leech’s Best

You don’t find many wonderful men like Mr. Russell in books, and It would be very difficult to find even one outside a book’s cover! When Mr. Russell sees a well dressed beautiful girl all alone and lost at night in a decent part of London who is looking for a man in the worst slums of London,all of his protective instincts come out in full force. The fact that she won’t tell him her name or even the name of the man she’s looking for doesn’t deter him a bit in helping her.

[Danielle Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very funny considering it is about Aubrey Russel. I met him in "The Earl's Temptation". Aubrey steps in to help a woman running around London looking for a man. Violette nearly ruins Aubrey with the things he does for her, but his heart is falling in love with her. Violette in my opinion is a nymph sent to torment Aubrey, but she does have the decency to be grateful and fall in love with him. Unfortunately, they have a very large problem they will have to overcome, Violette brother, the Marquis of Winterbourne.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible
3.5 stars I think. I enjoyed it but it would have been better as a novella. I kept thinking it was close to the end but then an entirely new story line would begin. This happened three times! But there's no bad guys really and only a little action. Although Aubrey and Violet fall in love really quickly it's very sweet. The part with Dotty the courtesan was super random!!
Phillip Battley does an incredible job reading again. I really really like his pacing and voices and inflection! Absolutely amazing!

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly Ruining Me Russell (Rogues and Gentlemen Book 5)

The love story of Viotette and Aubrey. Viotette has come to London to find. Her brother and get out of the clutches of her crazy cousin. Than she met Aubrey who want to help her but by help her his reputation is ruined. He is label a rogue and a libertine. Can he get his reputation back? Will Viotette found her brother? Great story.

[Bettye McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The search for a lost brother

Violette has run away from her guardian to London where she is robbed of all of her money. Aubrey Russell comes to her rescue and finds a safe place for her to stay. Her brother, who supposedly died at Waterloo, has been seen in London, and she must find him, for he is in grave danger.

Don't miss this intriguing Regency story.

42

[Melba Hard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book.

I love all the books in this series but still haven't got around to reading the first in the series as I a m always to keen to read the next in line.

I especially enjoy the portrayal of the characters and the vocabulary which appears very authentic for the period unlike a lot of books.

Each book includes humour,Romance and danger.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the writing, but.. in certain places bad research or revision is palpable, such as mentioning that climbing the bed is as climbing Everest; knowledge like so is impossible as the plot is set in 1817 and Everest was firstly documented only in 1856 :(. It is certainly not real in any way for Aubrey to make such comparison.

[Linda Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Strong Lady

If you want to read a book about a strong woman I still be an innocent then you picked up the right book. This book had so many twists and turns it made it hard to put it down. The characters were well rounded and easily understood. The plot was engaging and made this book a must finish one in one reading. I enjoyed it I think the author did a good job.

[Nicole LaBoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Mr. Russell's story

You get a few glances into Aubrey thur out the series. He fun and loving but not all that confident. It's take the find a lady in the street and helping her out and trying to find her missing brother.
It was well written. A page turner. The book took you have some twists you didn't know was coming.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author did a good job making me angry with the characters in this book. There is no resolution with the villain. I know he gets his own book later, where he is annoying. I read these out of order. Also, someone really needed to pop the heroine’s brother in the mouth. I’m so fed up with the brother I’m not going to read his book.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. The characters just felt so immature, and I think they're supposed to BE young, and fairly inexperienced, but still. Maybe they were just written in kind of a childish simplistic way. They're kind enough I suppose, but both were just young and a bit daft. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't grab me as I might hope.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. The Series is Great.

Poor Aubrey Russell. He's fallen madly in love with a mystery woman and is destroying his up till then stirling reputation while trying to save her's. He's linked to the Dasher, blamed for a baby in Seven Dials, and has a Viscount dueling after him. And he still doesn't know who she is.

Excellent plot, people and a great continuation of the series with appearances from the former books appearing and in on the action.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The old story of the headstrong Regency miss and the sensible protector. I felt like there was a lot going on in this story, perhaps a little too much, You didn't know which way the plot would twist and how many more tropes could be introduced. If you like soap operas and action mied together, you might like this one.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series by Emma Leech, who is a new-to-me author. However this story was a bit of a disappointment. I'm hoping she is back to her sparkling level in book #6, which is due out in a few days.

[Phil Ellenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need more stars

This earned more than five stars. The characters were great across the board. I found myself either chuckling o laughing out loud throughout this delightful march to a fitting ending to an uncertain romance.

[Ann Marie Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars winner!!!

This was a wonderful story!! It took me a couple of chapters to get into it but then wow such drama!!
There were a lot of typos in this story but I managed to get through it. Good story!! Thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!!