Flaming June

Rogues & Gentlemen #10

by Emma V. Leech, Diana Rubin (Editor)

When the beautiful Lady Isabella Scranford finds herself in the family way and her lover refuses to do the honourable thing, she knows her life is at an end. With a reputation for being a cold-hearted bitch, there will be no sympathy for her, only shame and ridicule. Finding that even her best - and only - friend refuses to be associated with her any longer, Isabella decides she cannot go on and makes a fateful decision.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Regency, Marriage Of Convenience, Historical Fiction, Fiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2018

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

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Isabella, unwed and pregnant, is thrown out of her home by her hateful mother with nothing but a carpetbag. Attempting suicide, she throws herself into a river but is rescued by a frightful man known as "the bear." Locals think him insane but Isabella, with no where else to go, is taken in by him and his faithful servant. The author paints a vivid and realistic picture of that madman, Henry, who obviously has an autistic spectrum syndrome. Henry turns out to be anything but crazy and Isabella learns he is a genius at painting. The pair, with painful patience, proceed together to open each other up and she marries him with much trepidation, just to survive. Isabella, a formerly nasty spiteful woman like her mother and Henry, a total recluse fearing human contact, give it a "go." The romance, unlike any other I have read is a page-turning fascinating story. The only drawback for me were some of the more graphic sexual encounters (well, they are married!) but I still give it five strong stars. This one is truly special!

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

Not sure why I ended up reading this book first, when I was in the middle reading a different book!
Probably the story just grab me in and won’t let me go until I finished! LOL.

Okay, if you’ve read and love ‘The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie’, there’s a chance you will like this one too. Our hero, Henry have a mental illness, I’m not sure what it is, Autistic? With all his illness, he was a very kind man and a talented artist.

While Isabella, well, she was a very flawed heroine, she wasn’t Beth, and she was more like the OW type from vintage Hplandia books than the usual lovely HR’s heroine. 😳😂
I didn’t like her at all up to one third of the book, but slowly she managed to change my minds and at the end of the day, I convinced she was the right person for Henry 😍☺️.

❤️❤️❤️

[Lori ◡̈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✍️ Writing - my first time reading anything by this author, and I would say you could read this as a stand-alone. The heroes from Books 6 & 7 are mentioned in this story, but I never felt lost having started with this book. The writing was engaging and kept my interest the whole way thru.

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine - it is explained to us at times thru the story how our heroine Isabella was the ice princess mean girl in the previous stories. So I started this with reservations, and yes…. The first chapter shows Isabella being nasty to her maid. But my good friend Izzah reviewed that she gets redeemed nicely, so I put my big girl panties on and forged ahead! And I’m glad I did. I was able to easily understand thru the storytelling just how easy it would be to act mean and nasty when you are surrounded by toxic family and are such an unhappy person inside. Once Isabella was removed from the proximity of her royal bitch mother, she was able to slowly see the world a bit more clearly with having non-hateful people around her. And of course, the adoration from the hero helped. True case of love heals all.

🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero - I think we are all going with the diagnosis of autism for Henry. Crippling social anxiety, easily overwhelmed and hides, sudden strongly felt emotions, preoccupied in his own world at moments, extremely intelligent and artistic, so honest and open with his feelings of love… a virgin too. Henry was uneducated in the ways of human sexual activities, as his loving father kept him isolated for years (to avoid someone trying to put Henry in an asylum for being ‘mad’). He knew plenty of how animals went about it, but not humans. So that was interesting to see their love slowly develop and how they went about their growing relationship.

“Aren’t you tired of drawing me yet, Henry?” she asked, turning to smile at him and squinting into the sun.
“I could never get bored drawing you,” he said, the words quiet and thoughtful, not the throwaway comment that slipped from a glib tongue. “You’re more beautiful every time I look.”
Isabella sighed, shaking her head. “It will make me impossibly conceited if you keep saying such things. You make me feel like I’m something special.”
“You are,” he replied, the words honest and simple, and Isabella knew he meant them.”

💭Final thoughts - it was a great story of learning to trust, to love and to find their self worth. Sex scenes were on page and somewhat described, yet not overly described. Focus was more on their falling in love. I would say that time moves quickly in this story, from one chapter to the next a few weeks or months could pass by. I do have to say that the shootout scene read like a historical western story though. I don’t remember ever reading a scene like that in Regency. Not a big deal, just an observation. My only issue, I wish the book cover had a pic with the hero (not just the heroine). Normally that doesn’t bother me, but I had such a hard time imagining this hero as an adult male. I couldn’t help but see him in my imagination as young, like a teenager. The heroine mentioned many times in the beginning as seeing him as childlike, dim-witted as well. So had I a better image from the book cover, I think that would have helped me. Regardless, it was a nice love story!

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.65*
Henry and Isabella - the oddest couple ever and that's the magic. Bumping up a star for the delicious, devastating way Henry loves Isabella and against all odds, she learns to love him back.

Lady Isabella is a bad, bad girl - cold, cruel, snobbish, grasping, self-seeking and enjoys hurting others. Or that's how she was in the previous books and for a short period in the beginning of this book. Of course, the influence of her vile mother has something (or most everything) to do with it. But in her moment of complete ruin, her callous mother throws her out, hinting that she should perhaps kill herself. And that's what the h decides to do. But she gets saved on time by the H.
She's ruined (pregnant) and has to marry and she tries to list mentally the men in the area who'd have her. But she never bargained for Henry! The reclusive Bear of Barcham Wood, a giant of a man considered mad by the locals.

Her journey from a shallow person to a warm, loving woman is actually the shedding off of her mother's and society's influence and Henry helps her become who she was always supposed to be.
(Although tbh, one has to question the absolute character transformation that we get.)
She's heard of him but never met him. And now she doesn't know what to make of this man with a face like a 'fallen angel' whom she considers 'dimwitted and peculiar'. Having no real choice, she marries him but slowly as she gets to know him, the 'strange and wonderful' man becomes very dear to her.

Henry is special, not just in the special needs way but also because he has all the best human qualities - honesty, kindness, empathy, compassion, gentleness and he's nonjudgmental. Although I love how he becomes stubborn and contrary at times and certainly isn't putty in her hands.
He perhaps has autism spectrum disorder, a high functioning type and most times the author depicts him believably but then sometimes he goes off character- verbose, understands and depicts emotions, makes long speeches on human foibles and behavior (like one on her mother) and is amenable to touch. And he helps deliver her baby.
But in any case, as a character he's absolutely, yummiliciously PERFECT!

After she comes into his life, he too becomes a different man, a man more open to life - the man he too was supposed to have been. He's smitten on sight, and he wants her - to keep her with him, to protect her and care for her and her unborn child. He's a brilliant painter and paints her all the time and she's 'resigned to be his muse, his flawless beauty' but he sees something more in her - the 'goddess of love and of marriage, yet Juno was a warrior too'.

These bare bones of the story do not portray the thoroughly sweet and fantastic chemistry and connection between these two. They kept me hooked for every minute of their beautiful journey as they help each other to become whole as persons.
Jack, his loyal retainer deserves a special mention. In fact, it's a three way human and empathetic connection between them.

Some minor irritants -
Of course, her incredible transformation and his periodic over-functional-ness.
Understandably, Henry abhors company and doesn't want any strangers to come into the house. But even later when the h's guests start to come, it's difficult to accept that Jack alone, even with the h's help, can manage everything servants are supposed to do in such a huge house.
The h learns to cook - or bake. And they are forever eating cakes! Please learn something else as well.
The wrap up after the big action drama takes time and the tension is lost here. The previous mcs too settle in for a longer stay. But yes, his talent needs to brought out in front of the world - as it'd ensure his future safety from unscrupulous people.

The epilogue is delicious.

[Izzah ꒰Duchess of Cabria ಇ ⭑✧ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴛʀᴇᴏɴ ✧ ⋆꒱ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best villainess redemption story ever.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. The writing style was pretty simple. Sex scenes not at all hot. There is some emotion, some development, but written sort of in the vein of airy historicals not the modern, more dramatic, more witty historicals. Like Austen with less wit and more sex but not enough sex to compensate for less wit… something like that.

I did like Henry. I always have a soft spot for people like him. Isabella redeemed herself after the first 30-40% of the book. She sure was a bitch early on tho. I dunno, nothing too compelling… maybe it’s just the style I don’t like much. Likely won’t read more by this author.

[Nabilah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has one of my favourite tropes - heroes with disabilities! I loved the author's depiction of Henry, our hero who is most probably autistic. He was a brilliant painter. A genius, in fact. I loved the fact that Ms. Leech didn't sugar coat his issues and at the end, he still had his issues but at a manageable level. I believe she did her research well. The whole premise seemed believable. I didn't quite like the heroine, Isabella initially as she was a spoiled brat (I love my heroine to be kind, gentle and fierce, but she was all those and more throughout the book!). It was amazing to watch how they both helped each other and discover love at the same time. The side characters were great as well esp. Jack. It made me want to read the rests of the series. This book totally threw my sleep schedule off so high praise indeed (I've been reading a string of okay reads, but not great). It was a very heartwarming read and I was glad that I picked it up.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Isabella Scranford is both beautiful and cold, not well liked amongst the ton, but feared. When she finds herself facing an unplanned pregnancy and the father is unwilling to marry her as he promised, she knows her way of life is over. When her mother boots her from the house, she has no friends and receives no sympathy. When her only friend also turns her away for fear of tarnishing her own reputation by association, Isabella contemplates a bleak future, only to meet a man who changes everything for her, and she for him.

I’m not really sure what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn’t this and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it. While I didn’t love it the way I thought I would, I did wind up enjoying it much more than I thought I might after I got through the first few chapters of audio. I was close to throwing it down at first because the heroine was unlikeable (she’s meant to be) and I was afraid there would be too much angst thanks to the hero’s idiosyncrasies that made an asylum a lingering threat for him. Fortunately, the heroine exhibited tons of character growth after meeting Henry and getting away from her hateful mother. As she came to know Henry as a real person, she came to know herself out from under the shadow of her mother’s expectations and it made her much more likable. She was protective of Henry and gave him the understanding he needed as well as pushing him when he needed that too. These two taught each other so much about love and trust and I think that was really lovely. I also loved the friends they made and the fact that this story had drama while steering clear of angst and instead using that drama to show strengthened and solidified friendships. This was one of the best representations of neurodiverse heroes I’ve yet read and the first time I’ve ever really liked a former mean-girl heroine. So, while I didn’t adore this quite like I thought I would, I definitely still enjoyed it. This book was worth the read and I’ll read more from this author and series.

Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The h had been an awful person in previous book, so it was surprise to like this book. We learn about her life, and the impact of the extremely introverted H. It's a sweet and sad story with all kinds of significant threats for the couple to overcome. I loved seeing the h become a true heroine, she was so brave. Great to see other characters from previous books.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I loved this book. Isabella was a character I didn’t previously like but I was instantly drawn to her in this book. Henry was such an amazing character. I don’t think I’ve read such a beautiful and accurate story about how it is for someone with Autism to live. His behaviours are on the more severe end of the spectrum and yet his personality and heart were able to shine through. Many will dismiss those who are non verbal (or who speak rarely) as unfeeling or crazy. This books shows how the opposite is actually true for many. I have 2 kids with Autism/ASD and so I understand about it and I get frustrated when authors don’t get it. But Emma gets it and this book is beautiful for that reason.
I will add that I loved the plot and character development along the way as well 😁

[T Rojo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning set Henry up to be too childlike and it kind of gave me the ick for the rest of the book.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/4/2019)! 🎁

[Karen Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. I love a beautiful, brave heroin. I love an imperfect, virgin, reclusive hero. I think I will read the other two books that mentioned two other heros.

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Historical romance with a fallen from grace, mean girl FMC + neurodivergent MMC.

I almost DNF’d this near the beginning because Isabella was so unlikeable, but I’m glad I stuck with it because Isabella and Henry’s love story was seriously heartwarming. Great character and relationship development — it was all about the journey in this one.

I did get a bit tense around the 70% mark, as I just wanted these two to live happily ever after but there were so many minutes left in the audiobook!! Thankfully it was a very satisfying wrap up.

[Sonia N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and Beautiful Storyline ❤️

This author is new to me, and she’s so good at writing this heart wrenching book.
Lady Isabella finds herself disgraced and homeless. (that’s what I strongly dislike about a lady in trouble, she is automatically the bad one) She tries to drown in a river and is saved by Henry.
Henry lives with his caregiver Jack. As the story progresses, I found myself in love with Henry. He has a behavioral problem but Isabella understands him. This is a beautiful romance book. Emotional and powerful storyline where love and patience brings out the best in Henry and Isabella. Henry is an incredibly talented artist. His paintings become famous.
Throughout the story there are dramatic and angsty scenes. They are lucky to have such good friends in high places!
This is just a must read, it’s incredibly beautiful and romantic! Henry and Isabella found and healed each other 💕

[Yasmin Allithy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual book as expected.
I have to say the author is so talented. She makes u feel as if u r the one who is experiencing these situations.

It is very beautiful representation for autism and how your childhood experiences don't determine who you are.


I have tons of quotes

Quotes:

He snorted at the surprise in her face. “You only see the surface, my lady. You think he’s deranged, a half-wit; well, he ain’t anything of the sort. Henry’s much more than a flighty creature like you could understand, with your la-di-da ways and your ton and your rules and manners. He don’t fit into your world, so you all reckon he’s worthless. He don’t talk or act like you, so you think he needs locking up.” He sat forward now, his expression fierce, the words full of heat. “Well, you’re wrong. More wrong that you can imagine, but he won’t show you. Not unless he trusts you.”



Jack nodded, his expression stark now. “The detail is staggering,” he said, sounding so full of wonder that Isabella’s throat tightened. “You’ve not seen some of his big canvases, but when you do, you’ll understand better because I think it’s how Henry sees the world,” he said, the words simple but giving Isabella a glimpse of what Henry experienced. “There’s so much detail, so much to take in, it overwhelms him. You add a couple more people to the mix, too much noise, too many emotions, and he can’t endure it.”


“Henry, I’m sorry.” The words hung in the air and Isabella realised she’d never apologised before. Never apologise, never explain. That was one of her mother’s many rules of life. Well, Isabella didn’t have to abide by those rules now. In fact, she felt determined to break as many of them as possible. “I am,” she added as he still didn’t react


Isabella gave a crow of triumph, delighted by his words. Why his opinion mattered so much, she didn’t know, but it did, and she took pleasure in his approval.




Isabella had given out many insults in her days, some of them designed to cut to the quick. She spoke without care for the results, without bothering to consider the effect of her barbed comments. That she had said such a thing to Henry, though … She wanted to cut out her own tongue




“You make my heart hurt,” he said, his eyes serious.

Isabella frowned, her mouth opening in shock, not understanding what he meant. “Why?” she asked, worried that she’d done something wrong.

Henry shook his head, looking puzzled. “I don’t know,” he said, a crooked smile at his lips. “But when I’m with you, I … I want to touch you, I want … I want to always be with you and the feeling fills me up. It’s like I …”



Mother said the only way to make amends was to ensure I caught Vi … another title,” she amended. She’d seen the fury in Henry’s eyes, there was no need to give him a name to focus it on. “She said I had to do whatever it took to get him to marry him.”

Isabella blinked, trying to stop the tears that gathered as she remembered her mother’s rants. Isabella was useless, worthless, ugly, and pathetic. It was little wonder no man of worth wanted her.




When she dies, no one will mourn her, she’ll leave no mark on this world because there was no weight to her, no depth to her heart. Not like you.”





Everyone deserves a second chance at happiness. Circumstances make people say and do things they would not if life wasn’t so hard.”





His lovely Isabella had endured a life without love, without kindness or understanding, and he would never allow either of them to be hurt ever again. Possessiveness was a living thing beneath his skin, the desire to protect his family and keep them safe something that prowled with sharp claws and sharper teeth. He let out a shaky breath, unsettled by such powerful emotions, torn between laughter and tears as he gazed upon them




Henry shook his head, though she could see longing in his eyes. He was afraid, fear of doing harm an anxious glint in his eyes. Isabella smiled at him, knowing this wasn’t the time to push.



He still hadn’t held Marine, too afraid of her tiny size and frailty, though she knew he wanted to more than anything. She wouldn’t push him into something he wasn’t sure about.



How she could ever have believed herself cruel and unkind, he did not understand. She had been nothing more than a wild thing kept in a cage, snarling to protect herself. It had taken little time to discover the real woman hiding beneath that frightened façade




But in my experience, if a man wants to do something enough, he’ll do it.



“You’re everything I want or need. I wouldn’t change a thing about you, other than those things that make you unhappy, and that’s for your sake alone, not mine. You are perfect to me, just as you are.”


Isabella thought it was perhaps because children had no side to them, no hidden agenda or care for propriety and manners and rules. They were honest and had not yet learned to wear the masks that troubled him so.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely done historical romance story with a hero on the spectrum.

[Kelspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book checked a lot of boxes for me and I thought I would like it, but it ended up pretty mid for me. It was good enough, but nothing super special. The writing didn't really catch my attention or entice me to pick up another book in the series. It was just kinda eh 🤷‍♀️

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prometeu mas não me encantou.

[CharlieB · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Ltlmer2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching and different story

I usually don't like pregnant or bad-girl-redeemed heroines, but this was not like any other I have read and done so well that I very much enjoyed it. I jumped into the series with this book, so perhaps there is more evidence of Isabella's bad attitude/behavior in previous books, but here there is just enough for you to get a glimpse of it before her world drops out from under her and everything changes. This helped for me, as she was presented as an unlikeable character but not so much that you couldn't feel for her. And this book is all about the feels. There are a few moments of "spice" but they are not graphic and go with the emotion of the moment rather than providing "heat" per se. Being on the spectrum, I love seeing autistic characters in romance and Leech's portrayal of Henry was very well done and realistic---which was both incredible and a little problematic for me. Henry has such a child-like innocence or fragility sometimes that it was a little difficult to think of him in a smexy way, and in a way that is what kept me from giving it a full 5 stars when most would likely rate it as such. Now I know, and it is pointed out, that he is not actually child-like and is a grown man with all the intelligence and emotional capacity of any adult, but it was still a bit difficult for me at first to be comfortable with that side of things ( though the author does give the characters and the reader plenty of time for the relationship to develop). This wasn't because is isn't written well either, because it is. It is hard for me to say why exactly, but it was a bit of a challenge for me and may be for others also. Perhaps because it was such a special and different sort of hero, it was hard for me to get past my preconceived notions of romance, but that is not to say Henry did not become a wonderfully romantic hero. And all that said, I was extremely emotionally invested in the story and didn't want to put the book down. As their relationship moved along, I kept waiting for the big conflict and when it came I was very pleased that it was woven in so well and not done with the big drama that can sometimes be found in the genre (though I love this genre and sometimes love a good villainous plot, I was glad that wasn't how things played out here).

This was my first from Leech. I definitely plan to read more from this author, likely going back to read the whole series (or maybe going directly to Gabriel's story first and THEN go back for the rest 🤭)

[Xiamorah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stareted reading it on the 19.5.23 and finished 20.5.23

A redditor recommend this book to me cause i wanted to read a hr with an autistic character. Okay i was really anticipating reading this book for the whole week and when Friday came I started reading it but for some reason it just didn’t hit so I decided to stop reading it and started reading another book. But as I was reading the other book this one kept calling me so I finally decided to pick it up. And i am so happy I did cause this book was just incredible it told so much even though it isn’t that long the characters are written beautifully and have so much depth. This author may be my new favourite hr author. I’ve never read any books by her until this one and I just know all her other books are going to hit. DeMorte really intrigued me and I was so happy to discover that he has his own book. I can’t wait wait to read it

[fia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is so utterly wonderful and unique, i feel almost ill thinking i could have gone my entire life without reading it.

i was so moved by isabella, growing up with a heartless mother who cast her out at the lowest point in her life, finding love and happiness with someone as lovely as henry. he was just so, so good. a brilliant artist, a kind and loving husband and father, and someone deeply appreciative of the richness of the world around him. i am not on the autistic spectrum myself, but this was - i feel - a very thoughtful depiction. henry was not a caricature, his character was written with respect and nuance, and he was not appreciated despite being different, but in great part because of that very fact. furthermore, i will honestly say i ended up liking him so much i started to question what i even saw in many other heroes i have loved in the past. like what do they have going for them, really.

as for isabella, she was also amazing, and i especially enjoyed that she was allowed to grow - and fast. so many 'bitchy' heroines are written to be just that, but as henry says isabella only acted the way she did in the past because that was all she ever knew and how she believed she must be to survive in her environment. i did not in the least think her progress was rushed, i appreciate the good sense the writer showed by allowing the heroine of her story to be intelligent and recognize she had no need to snap at and be awful to people who welcomed her and gave her a chance to be as good as she dared nearly from the get go.

i loved jack too, how he treated henry as his own son and later isabella as a daughter as well, how he ended up as marine's doting grandfather. he clears all the generic family members and friends written specifically to be endearing in most other historical romance novels i have read with ease.

the romance was so sweet but still passionate and, as henry says, true. i fell in love with their love, i rarely root for a couple as fervently as i did for them but they were perfect so what else was i to do. happy to report henry and isabella are now firmly on my top ten historical romance couples of all time and i would bet will continue to be regardless of how many other books i read in the future.

the pregnancy and birth and everything related to the baby in general was incredible, i loved every minute and was giggling and kicking my legs the whole way through as i read. my only complaint is that there was not nearly enough of henry holding and generally interacting with marine :( but i loved the book too much to take even one star away, so five stars it is. i will think about this book for months, years maybe, not exaggerating in the least. my profound thanks to redditor stevenassantisfoot who recommended this to me and is probably the only reason i came across this amazing story at all

[Winnifred D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very, very rarely give books 5 star reviews, but this book touched my heart so unexpectedly I couldn't help it. This was actually a re-read for me and I'm going to buy it (also rare for me with KU books). While the editing isn't 100% perfect, the few errors I saw detracted in absolutely no way from the story. I have read other entries in this series, liking some and not being crazy about others, but this one blew me away emotionally. Especially if you have a family member who is on the spectrum for autism, you will relate to what the hero of this book goes through, and those around him. The heroine is a character whom you dislike initially, then grow to understand and admire as she herself changes. She is able to redeem herself through selfless love for another.

Responding to critical reviews: Is this book an examination of how someone with serious mental health issues would have dealt with life in the 1800s? No, it's still a romance book at the end of the day; publishers know readers aren't going to flock to a book that's a downer at the end. So, if you don't care for that trope I don't know what to tell you, skip the romance genre and watch the news, I guess. I read for escapism, and I was rooting for this couple to have their HEA more than in any other book I've read in months. I respect this author for crafting a heroine, and, especially a hero, who are so different than the usual fare. Any author who can open readers' eyes in a heartwarming, non-condescending manner to those who deal with mental health issues gets applause from me.

Just FYI this book brings together characters from books 6 and 7 in the second half but is fine as a standalone. And don't worry if you weren't crazy about books 6 and 7. I had nitpicks with how the topics of PTSD and OCD were handled in those books, but I loved this one.

The language is PG rated and there is some semi-descriptive sex. If you're into "sweet and clean" books you'll want to skip those short segments (I didn't find them offensive at all, but different strokes).

[Sooz Malinoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am skipping around this series, but each one can be a stand-alone. It took me a while to warm up to Isabella, but she became quite the warrior at the end and became a character you could root for. In the beginning, she was spiteful and petty. She had not known a loving family, nor had she ever learned compassion.

While it isn't stated, Henry is autistic. She uses him as a means to give her illegitimate child a name, and a place for her to stay since her family tossed her out. The scene where the butler, Jack, sizes her up correctly but gives her a chance is a good one. It set the tone for their relationship and let Isabella know she was not to play Henry for a fool. It was nice to see Henry come out of his shell and Isabella treat him with respect and love.

In the end, she not only stood up for herself but stood her ground for her husband.

You also get to see Crecy and Edward here, which was a delight!

With each book I read by Emma V Leech, I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan! I read this one while on the elliptical and had some great workouts because I wanted to keep reading!!

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Isabella is cruel, spoiled...and in deep trouble. She's five months pregnant and unmarried, and when her social-climbing mother finds out, Isabella is turned out into the winter countryside in only her silk gown. She is saved by the local "madman," who agrees to marry her so he can use her as a model for his paintings.

I liked the first third of this so much more than I expected. Both Isabella and Henry have strong personalities and decided preferences that interfere with each other, and I enjoyed seeing them begin to understand and like each other. It had a wonderfully Beauty-and-the-Beast vibe to it. Alas once they really liked each other, Henry became more and more neurotypical and Isabella became so much more honest and kind, and really the whole thing became like any typical Regency romance novel, complete with all the couples from the author's previous novels showing up to show off their Happily Ever Afters, and of course a last chapter that showcases the ~fifty healthy children they all have.

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabella begins as a selfish, angry woman who is pregnant and abandoned by the man she slept with to try to draw him into marriage. All due to her evil mother, who then rejects her and tells her she’d be better off killing herself.

Isabella is desperate, and starts to drown herself, then changes her mind, too late, swept away by the tide.

Henry is a recluse who sees her, rescues her, and marries her so he can paint her beauty. At first, she’s afraid because he’s big and quiet, but he’s a sensitive artist, and they fall in love.

Excellent story about people who don’t fit society, but rise above and live more happily out of it than they would in it.

This series has a mix of problems, personalities, and life challenges met and conquered. Wonderful.

KU

[AmazingJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming, Traumatic, Angst & Love.

A Wonderful Story, I had a hard time putting the Book down.
Isabella is known as "A Cold Hearted Bitch.
Henry is known as "The Bear of Barcham Wood",
Everyone believes he should be in an Asylum.
Henry didn't talk much but was a Genius when it came to drawing & painting, Isabella, well her Mother raised her without Love & guidance.
The mental disorders was written in exceptionally well.
I look forward to reading Charity & Lucas's story in the next book in this series.

[ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

watching bridgerton season two made me wanna read a historical romance so bad. i loved this. a hero with disability and a selfish, vapid heroine. the thing about such a character is you love watching them grow. the way henry described isabella made me fall in love with him. she was his flaming june, indeed. they both saved each other, loved each other, and made adjustments so they could live a fulfilling life together. a beautiful story about love and compromises.