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London Libertines #1
Henry's Bride
Thrust together when a duel goes wrong, can an awkward debutante and a libertine lord find love in a marriage of circumstance?
Jeanette Claybone, newcomer to society thanks to her father’s recent baronetcy, struggles to navigate the waters of the ton during her first season. When an evening walk with the wrong hungry suitor ruins her reputation, she calls a duel for her honor but is left injured. Disowned by all, she finds an unlikely savior in renowned rake Henry Drayton.
Believing her reputation ruined, and determined to enjoy the sin she’s already been punished for, Jeanette succumbs to Henry’s passion. Upon discovering Jeanette told the truth about her virtue, Henry asks for her hand.
The hasty marriage pleases neither of them. Jeanette wanted to marry for love, not convenience. A committed bachelor, Henry, believes he’s been duped. At night, their shared passion is addictive but by day, Henry seems to want nothing to do with his new wife. However, behind his cold demeanor lies a secret burden. He is one of few men who have noticed the rise in disappearances of London’s prostitutes.
Soon, Henry’s investigation into a profitable slave ring draws him and his associates into danger. When Jeanette’s inquisitive nature leads her to become caught up in it, Henry must reveal his heart or lose all that he holds dear.
Can a ruined woman and a renowned rake find love in their unlikely union?
London Libertines
Book 1 - Henry's Bride
Book 2 - Hawthorn's Wife
Book 3 - Roderick's Widow
Jeanette Claybone, newcomer to society thanks to her father’s recent baronetcy, struggles to navigate the waters of the ton during her first season. When an evening walk with the wrong hungry suitor ruins her reputation, she calls a duel for her honor but is left injured. Disowned by all, she finds an unlikely savior in renowned rake Henry Drayton.
Believing her reputation ruined, and determined to enjoy the sin she’s already been punished for, Jeanette succumbs to Henry’s passion. Upon discovering Jeanette told the truth about her virtue, Henry asks for her hand.
The hasty marriage pleases neither of them. Jeanette wanted to marry for love, not convenience. A committed bachelor, Henry, believes he’s been duped. At night, their shared passion is addictive but by day, Henry seems to want nothing to do with his new wife. However, behind his cold demeanor lies a secret burden. He is one of few men who have noticed the rise in disappearances of London’s prostitutes.
Soon, Henry’s investigation into a profitable slave ring draws him and his associates into danger. When Jeanette’s inquisitive nature leads her to become caught up in it, Henry must reveal his heart or lose all that he holds dear.
Can a ruined woman and a renowned rake find love in their unlikely union?
London Libertines
Book 1 - Henry's Bride
Book 2 - Hawthorn's Wife
Book 3 - Roderick's Widow
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2019
659 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Emily Royal
41 books192 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Emily Royal is a mathematics geek who grew up in Sussex, England and has always had a passion for romance and bad boy heroes in need of redemption. Emily graduated from Oxford University with a Chemistry degree, but returned to her mathematical roots to work in financial services, while indulging in her dream of becoming a pilot, and enjoying a brief international sporting career.
She now lives near the Highlands, with her Scottish husband, two daughters and menagerie of rescue pets including Twinkle, an attention-seeking boa constrictor. When not working on algebra, dreaming about her heroes, or keeping Twinkle from slithering over her keyboard, Emily enjoys painting, playing the piano and keeping her family well stocked with cake.
She now lives near the Highlands, with her Scottish husband, two daughters and menagerie of rescue pets including Twinkle, an attention-seeking boa constrictor. When not working on algebra, dreaming about her heroes, or keeping Twinkle from slithering over her keyboard, Emily enjoys painting, playing the piano and keeping her family well stocked with cake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 20, 2021
I had to finish it... Spoilers may be below
I did finish the book. The hero was a pig but I don't think he cheated after they married but I am not sure. The things he did were pretty cruel but I just stopped caring. Jeanette the heroine was a good person but she just made some dumb decisions. The hero slept with three women in the space of 12 to 14 hours at the beginning of the book. Two within minutes of each other. It was just disgusting. The heroine is compromised by his friend and she challenges him to a duel and he shoots her. While recovering the pig hero took her against a wall. She was innocent so he decided to marry her. I didn't get that one. And he forced her hand but then said she trapped him. Made absolutely no sense. Also he had a child with a prostitute she brought him to the house and said this is your child now. I loved how she took care of the boy. I still don't like the hero even though he said nothing happened with him and one other woman but Obama not so sure . She said something that contradicted that so who knows. And actually by the end I didn't care. There are prostitutes being kidnapped and killed, tons of his former lovers causing trouble, and just way too much sadness for me. The writing is done well but I just don't like these type of stories. Bodice ripper for sure. Again it is a case of me not you. I should have abstained.
I did finish the book. The hero was a pig but I don't think he cheated after they married but I am not sure. The things he did were pretty cruel but I just stopped caring. Jeanette the heroine was a good person but she just made some dumb decisions. The hero slept with three women in the space of 12 to 14 hours at the beginning of the book. Two within minutes of each other. It was just disgusting. The heroine is compromised by his friend and she challenges him to a duel and he shoots her. While recovering the pig hero took her against a wall. She was innocent so he decided to marry her. I didn't get that one. And he forced her hand but then said she trapped him. Made absolutely no sense. Also he had a child with a prostitute she brought him to the house and said this is your child now. I loved how she took care of the boy. I still don't like the hero even though he said nothing happened with him and one other woman but Obama not so sure . She said something that contradicted that so who knows. And actually by the end I didn't care. There are prostitutes being kidnapped and killed, tons of his former lovers causing trouble, and just way too much sadness for me. The writing is done well but I just don't like these type of stories. Bodice ripper for sure. Again it is a case of me not you. I should have abstained.
April 13, 2022
A hot, contradictory mess. I'm not sure I have to energy to expound on that. The social etiquettes weren't being observed at all. The characterization is all over the place. By the end of the book, I was left feeling baffled, flummoxed and flabbergasted. Oh, well, at least it was free on kindle.
October 7, 2019
Henry and Jeanette are amazing together, and their chemistry is through the roof.
Read full review in the 2019 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
avoid
June 15, 2023Self note
Moc.
Manwhore H.
He brings a Baby he had with a whore.
Questionable fidelity.
Not for me.
Moc.
Manwhore H.
He brings a Baby he had with a whore.
Questionable fidelity.
Not for me.
August 10, 2020
Most depressing "romance" ever. Virtually everyone sucks. She's ruined as a bet because the men of the idle rich are bastards. The ton is full of bitches. They all think they're superior thanks to an accident of birth, and everyone from servants to the working poor to doctors, lawyers, and even wealthy families of trade are beneath them. Even her parents shamelessly use her as a means of social climbing.
Oddly enough, we're supposed to believe these fine young men care so much about whores dying that they devote months to finding the killers responsible because the Law can't be bothered to care.
So Henry encourages his fine friend by betting Rupert can ruin her, which he does. Guilt makes him force her to marry him when even her parents reject her but thanks to his nonsensical hobby playing detective, Henry feels he must "protect" her by being an utter cunt to her so the villains won't think he loves her and therefore not worth killing to get him to stop snooping around. The only one who befriends her is a former courtesan who's nuts.
Through all this, our heroine (whose name I can't even remember already because she was such a boring martyr) goes along with everything--letting her parents use her (to make it easier for her sisters to marry well), being dumb enough to meet Rupert alone and thus be ruined (no actual sex involved), and when someone calls out her abusive husband, she staunchly defends him. Even when her husband pretends he's not raping her because he tells himself she's getting her pleasure first, she goes along with it as her duty and comes to crave it (people of this era have very little control over their urges, it seems).
Frankly, it's depressing from start to finish and the most unlikable "hero," " heroine, " and damned near everyone else. Even the great modiste makes no sense when she insists the perfect gown to show off her eyes will be bright red silk with green trim. No Christmas party in sight. Seriously, nothing about this story made sense, and I feel poorer for having read it.
Oddly enough, we're supposed to believe these fine young men care so much about whores dying that they devote months to finding the killers responsible because the Law can't be bothered to care.
So Henry encourages his fine friend by betting Rupert can ruin her, which he does. Guilt makes him force her to marry him when even her parents reject her but thanks to his nonsensical hobby playing detective, Henry feels he must "protect" her by being an utter cunt to her so the villains won't think he loves her and therefore not worth killing to get him to stop snooping around. The only one who befriends her is a former courtesan who's nuts.
Through all this, our heroine (whose name I can't even remember already because she was such a boring martyr) goes along with everything--letting her parents use her (to make it easier for her sisters to marry well), being dumb enough to meet Rupert alone and thus be ruined (no actual sex involved), and when someone calls out her abusive husband, she staunchly defends him. Even when her husband pretends he's not raping her because he tells himself she's getting her pleasure first, she goes along with it as her duty and comes to crave it (people of this era have very little control over their urges, it seems).
Frankly, it's depressing from start to finish and the most unlikable "hero," " heroine, " and damned near everyone else. Even the great modiste makes no sense when she insists the perfect gown to show off her eyes will be bright red silk with green trim. No Christmas party in sight. Seriously, nothing about this story made sense, and I feel poorer for having read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2020
Trigger warnings: murder of sex workers, disappearance of sex workers, cheating, gun violence, sexual assault, dubious consent.
DNF somewhere around page 100.
I picked this up on a whim because it was free and I was in dire need of new historical romances to read. But this was a mess from the get go. The hero is a HUGE bag of dicks. He's some form of nobility that I forget, and yet he's SUCH a rake that he's having multiple affairs with married women AND visiting multiple sex workers regularly, to the point that he has a child with at least one. So he's the only person who notices that sex workers are disappearing and turning up dead. Sure, Jan.
He also makes a bet with his douchey best friend that said best friend can't seduce the heroine within a certain timeframe. He tells himself that putting a timeframe on it is protecting her because there's no possible way his douchey best friend could achieve that. Except that he can. He finishes things off by sexually assaulting the heroine, ruining her reputation. She demands a duel(????) and ends up shot. The hero arranges for a doctor to come to his rooms and treat her, thereby further ruining her reputation. Somewhere along the way he decides his best friend's sloppy seconds isn't such a bad thing after all and after kissing the poor heroine once, sticks his dick in her and is shocked to discover that she was a virgin all along and now he has to marry her ew.
And that was about the point where I gave up. Nothing about this was romantic. Nothing about the hero was likeable in any way. Nothing about the dynamic between the hero and the heroine was likeable in any way. The hero seemed to spend at least 50% of his life with a boner and the other 50% thinking about sex. I just...yeah. No. No thank you. Hard pass.
At least it was free?
DNF somewhere around page 100.
I picked this up on a whim because it was free and I was in dire need of new historical romances to read. But this was a mess from the get go. The hero is a HUGE bag of dicks. He's some form of nobility that I forget, and yet he's SUCH a rake that he's having multiple affairs with married women AND visiting multiple sex workers regularly, to the point that he has a child with at least one. So he's the only person who notices that sex workers are disappearing and turning up dead. Sure, Jan.
He also makes a bet with his douchey best friend that said best friend can't seduce the heroine within a certain timeframe. He tells himself that putting a timeframe on it is protecting her because there's no possible way his douchey best friend could achieve that. Except that he can. He finishes things off by sexually assaulting the heroine, ruining her reputation. She demands a duel(????) and ends up shot. The hero arranges for a doctor to come to his rooms and treat her, thereby further ruining her reputation. Somewhere along the way he decides his best friend's sloppy seconds isn't such a bad thing after all and after kissing the poor heroine once, sticks his dick in her and is shocked to discover that she was a virgin all along and now he has to marry her ew.
And that was about the point where I gave up. Nothing about this was romantic. Nothing about the hero was likeable in any way. Nothing about the dynamic between the hero and the heroine was likeable in any way. The hero seemed to spend at least 50% of his life with a boner and the other 50% thinking about sex. I just...yeah. No. No thank you. Hard pass.
At least it was free?
June 11, 2019
A man could put his life at risk being out at night and investigating murders in London, thought Henry as he saw the Bow Street Runners carrying the body of a dead prositute. But they acted like it was not unusual and there had already been three of them the month before.
Jeanette Clayborne feels so uncomfortable under the eyes of the ton. Her mother is pushing her to make a match, due to her father's recent title, the expectation is high. When she sees Henry, Lord Ravenwell her gaze lingered. "Tall, broadshouldered, with a toned athletic build and hair longer than ws socially exceptable and brilliant blues eyes. Deep longing pulsed in her stomach."
But he was a rake and all the ladies would love to snare him as a husband. Unfortunately Henry seems to have set an example that his friends try to follow in his footsteps with the ladies.
Thus Henry and Jeanette find themselves married due to Henry's honor but can these two ever find love?
This author does an amazing job of weaving suspense, drama, strong emotions and of course romance together for a journey that had me captivated until the end! With the underlying mystery of the murders and the emotions that are stirred to the surface, this story grabbed me and did not let go until the end. I look forward to reading more by this author and cannot wait for the next in this series!
Jeanette Clayborne feels so uncomfortable under the eyes of the ton. Her mother is pushing her to make a match, due to her father's recent title, the expectation is high. When she sees Henry, Lord Ravenwell her gaze lingered. "Tall, broadshouldered, with a toned athletic build and hair longer than ws socially exceptable and brilliant blues eyes. Deep longing pulsed in her stomach."
But he was a rake and all the ladies would love to snare him as a husband. Unfortunately Henry seems to have set an example that his friends try to follow in his footsteps with the ladies.
Thus Henry and Jeanette find themselves married due to Henry's honor but can these two ever find love?
This author does an amazing job of weaving suspense, drama, strong emotions and of course romance together for a journey that had me captivated until the end! With the underlying mystery of the murders and the emotions that are stirred to the surface, this story grabbed me and did not let go until the end. I look forward to reading more by this author and cannot wait for the next in this series!
June 5, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💋💋
I really enjoyed this book .
I was a breath of fresh air to read.
Such a good book deserves high praise , it has everything you could want from a story in spades.
These two characters are awesome together , they have a chemistry all their own that hooks you from the first page.
From their meeting to their unfortunate marriage, to their anxious relationship.
Their emotions are brilliant and compliment each other perfectly.
As you work through the book you find yourself lost in their world , feeling their ups and downs in life , their achievements and disappointments, tensions and passions . An adventure that’s addictive even though it’s heartbreaking at times .
It’s been a pleasure to read, and I can’t wait to repeat the experience with the next book in the series.
I would highly recommend this to others , I’m sure it will thrill you as much as it did me .
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
I really enjoyed this book .
I was a breath of fresh air to read.
Such a good book deserves high praise , it has everything you could want from a story in spades.
These two characters are awesome together , they have a chemistry all their own that hooks you from the first page.
From their meeting to their unfortunate marriage, to their anxious relationship.
Their emotions are brilliant and compliment each other perfectly.
As you work through the book you find yourself lost in their world , feeling their ups and downs in life , their achievements and disappointments, tensions and passions . An adventure that’s addictive even though it’s heartbreaking at times .
It’s been a pleasure to read, and I can’t wait to repeat the experience with the next book in the series.
I would highly recommend this to others , I’m sure it will thrill you as much as it did me .
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
June 6, 2019
Miss Jeanette Claybone hates the so called high society her family has been recently elevated to. Especially because her mother is pushing her to find a titled husband when all she wants is an ordinary man to love her. The "ton" look down their noses at her and never miss a chance to belittle her.
Henry Drayton, the Marquess of Ravenwell is one of the most sought after bachelors in town and a well known rake. His superior attitude encourages his friends to follow the worst of his behavior. They don't know what he is really up to.
There is something evil happening in London but nobody seems to care because it's just the whores that are suffering.
This is an incredibly emotional story where I wanted to smack the hero so often. How our poor heroine puts up with all that emotional abuse shows how brave and strong she is. There is a reason behind it all and it will change many lives.
Keep the tissues handy.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Henry Drayton, the Marquess of Ravenwell is one of the most sought after bachelors in town and a well known rake. His superior attitude encourages his friends to follow the worst of his behavior. They don't know what he is really up to.
There is something evil happening in London but nobody seems to care because it's just the whores that are suffering.
This is an incredibly emotional story where I wanted to smack the hero so often. How our poor heroine puts up with all that emotional abuse shows how brave and strong she is. There is a reason behind it all and it will change many lives.
Keep the tissues handy.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
August 29, 2020
I hated this book, and that is pretty rare.
I will never understand how such books can be called romance. Basically, we have a horrible man who emotionally abuses his wife from start to finish and somehow this is okay? Because she loves him. Apparently. Why, I have no idea. His only redeeming quality would appear to be that he's good in bed. He cheats on her constantly, frequently abandons her, deliberately humiliates her at every opportunity and makes it clear he doesn't want her. Then he apparently changes his mind and she's perfectly fine with that.
Uh, no. Pass.
I will never understand how such books can be called romance. Basically, we have a horrible man who emotionally abuses his wife from start to finish and somehow this is okay? Because she loves him. Apparently. Why, I have no idea. His only redeeming quality would appear to be that he's good in bed. He cheats on her constantly, frequently abandons her, deliberately humiliates her at every opportunity and makes it clear he doesn't want her. Then he apparently changes his mind and she's perfectly fine with that.
Uh, no. Pass.
Want to read
February 3, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/3/2020)! 🎁
September 1, 2025
3 stars - he was not worthy and in spite of the heavy handed descriptions of class, her being a “farmer’s daughter” and he her “better”, the message that the working class was good and the ton bad was too stark to be interesting. He treated her like the prostitutes he was trying to protect (his only positive quality) and she accepted it over and over again. Their behavior didn’t make sense in light of the characters they portrayed.
June 7, 2019
Jeanette Claybone has been thrust into London society, due to the recent baronetcy of her father. She is struggling to steer the current of her first season, finding it to be very problematic. After taking a turn in the garden with the wrong rake, she finds herself ruined and challenges the rake to a duel. Her honor is gone, she is left injured and worst of all, disowned by her family. Believing that she is ruined and determined to enjoy the sin she has already been punished for; Jeanette decides to succumb to Henry’s passion. But when Henry discovers that her virtue is still intact, he asks for her hand. This turns out to be an interesting read and the characters are especially well defined. I enjoyed Emily Royals book one and can not wait to read her next adventure.
June 15, 2019
Henry’s Love
I enjoyed reading Henry’s Bride!! I realized that the ton was so snobbish the I am glad that Jeanette Claybone was raised on a farm with her family. Her father was given a baronet and her mother is from France. All Jeanette wants is to be free and help her father with his ledgers.
Things do not work out as planned. She ends up married to Henry, Lord Ravenwell.
Henry is on a mission to find out who is killing the women for hire. They are frightened and Bow Street Runners are not helping.
This is a good story and there is so much more that happens. It really should be read!!
I enjoyed reading Henry’s Bride!! I realized that the ton was so snobbish the I am glad that Jeanette Claybone was raised on a farm with her family. Her father was given a baronet and her mother is from France. All Jeanette wants is to be free and help her father with his ledgers.
Things do not work out as planned. She ends up married to Henry, Lord Ravenwell.
Henry is on a mission to find out who is killing the women for hire. They are frightened and Bow Street Runners are not helping.
This is a good story and there is so much more that happens. It really should be read!!
June 10, 2019
Jeanette Claybone, newcomer to society thanks to her father’s recent baronetcy and it’s her first season in London. She makes an unwise decision and her reputation is ruined. Well known rake Henry Drayton, the Marquess of Ravenwell is one of the most sought after bachelors. Jeanette ends up in a duel and Henry rescues her and takes her to his townhouse making things worse thanks to his conscience and a bet he should have never had made. He finds himself trapped by honor into marriage. This marriage starts out on shaky ground, I love watching these two grow closer together, their witty banter and passions unfold. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
August 16, 2020
Naw just skip it
She's a pretty decent character. He's not. I'm sorry don't matter the excuse a man ever treats me like he treated her and they'd never find the body. And he never respected her even at the end of the book he called her the infamous name she received in the paper. It's like a man calling me stupid, it's just disrespectful, even if he does in in a loving way.
She's a pretty decent character. He's not. I'm sorry don't matter the excuse a man ever treats me like he treated her and they'd never find the body. And he never respected her even at the end of the book he called her the infamous name she received in the paper. It's like a man calling me stupid, it's just disrespectful, even if he does in in a loving way.
June 16, 2019
Romance
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
August 22, 2020
Not worth reading
Problems with pacing and very little romance. It feels like I read a rough draft, as there is a lot of refinement required.
Problems with pacing and very little romance. It feels like I read a rough draft, as there is a lot of refinement required.
March 18, 2023
The writing was addicting, I could not put the book. After the last historical I read lacked conflict, there was an abundance of it here and I was eating it up!
I loved Jeanette, how stubborn and brave she was. Yes there were times when her actions came off almost martryish, but I liked how she knew which battles to pick and while to let lie. I loved how smart she was portrayed, how she doesn’t let her farming background hold her back, but instead uses it to save the estate. I loved how she immediately came to cared for Edward, the hero’s illegitimate son, and took him under her wing as a mother. Their bond was the sweetest!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stand Henry, our supposed “hero”. He’s a rake but I found the way he was portrayed felt me feeling disgusted. And once the marriage of convenience happens and he treats his wife horribly by insulting, humiliating, and then abandoning her, my opinion of him didn’t improve. He’s downright cruel to her and I found it unbelievable that she fell in love with him. I had hoped the grovel would be just as intense and satisfying after all this buildup, that he’d suffer for what he for her through, but it’s all resolved in one conversation. Sighs.
I also found the characterization of Oakville jarringly inconsistent. At the beginning of the novel, he’s portrayed on par if not as worst as Henry. And then, after the marriage or convenience happens, he suddenly has a change of heart and becomes good? And he stays good? I found that unbelievable.
I enjoyed the author’s voice and appreciated that she wrote a female lead strong enough to stand up to the unlikeable hero. I just wish he had grovelled more after all that he put her though. I’m not sure I want to read the rest of the series if all the heroes will be portrayed this way.
I loved Jeanette, how stubborn and brave she was. Yes there were times when her actions came off almost martryish, but I liked how she knew which battles to pick and while to let lie. I loved how smart she was portrayed, how she doesn’t let her farming background hold her back, but instead uses it to save the estate. I loved how she immediately came to cared for Edward, the hero’s illegitimate son, and took him under her wing as a mother. Their bond was the sweetest!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stand Henry, our supposed “hero”. He’s a rake but I found the way he was portrayed felt me feeling disgusted. And once the marriage of convenience happens and he treats his wife horribly by insulting, humiliating, and then abandoning her, my opinion of him didn’t improve. He’s downright cruel to her and I found it unbelievable that she fell in love with him. I had hoped the grovel would be just as intense and satisfying after all this buildup, that he’d suffer for what he for her through, but it’s all resolved in one conversation. Sighs.
I also found the characterization of Oakville jarringly inconsistent. At the beginning of the novel, he’s portrayed on par if not as worst as Henry. And then, after the marriage or convenience happens, he suddenly has a change of heart and becomes good? And he stays good? I found that unbelievable.
I enjoyed the author’s voice and appreciated that she wrote a female lead strong enough to stand up to the unlikeable hero. I just wish he had grovelled more after all that he put her though. I’m not sure I want to read the rest of the series if all the heroes will be portrayed this way.
August 27, 2024
The Mystery Kept Me
This was an infuriating story. The hero treats the heroine badly from the moment they meet. He continues for the entire book, whether to protect his heart or protect her life. All he does is endanger her, and convince her he doesn’t love her. Then when she decides to leave him everyone calls her a fool and a coward. It pissed me off, and this would have been a DNF if it wasn’t for the murder mystery.
This was an infuriating story. The hero treats the heroine badly from the moment they meet. He continues for the entire book, whether to protect his heart or protect her life. All he does is endanger her, and convince her he doesn’t love her. Then when she decides to leave him everyone calls her a fool and a coward. It pissed me off, and this would have been a DNF if it wasn’t for the murder mystery.
June 14, 2019
What a great story
This is my first read by this author and she didn’t disappoint. There was never a dull moment. I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
This is my first read by this author and she didn’t disappoint. There was never a dull moment. I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
March 10, 2022
Wow, I was shocked at how bad this book is
Probably like most people, when I buy a book I look at the ratings and not just the story line. If it sounds like a good story and the majority of stars are 5 then I get it. I sometimes read the low ratings reviews but on this book I didn’t. I figure the story is just not a person’s “cup of tea” and that’s the main reason they didn’t like it and gave it low stars. After reading this book I went back and read the low reviews and sure enough, they said the same things I thought, “did the 5 star reviewers read the same story!” This book started out promising. The H wasn’t that bad and it seemed like he admired the h from the beginning but the characters in this story jumped all over the place. There is no way in h*$&ll an intelligent woman would or could fall in love with a man, no matter how good looking he is, when he treats her so cruelly! What was there about his character that made her see anything desirable in him. The reader may see he was trying to protect her and he had a messed up childhood so he was afraid of love but, his cruelty in private and public was something I’ve never ever read before. The h didn’t know anything about him so she didn’t know he had a loveless childhood and was afraid of falling in love nor did she know he was trying to protect her from harm. She just knew he practically raped her every time he saw her (and she enjoyed it-stupid) and verbally treated her so cruelly in front of servants, friends and strangers. Yet her body gets so turned on to him when just hearing his voice, so ridiculous. And the H’s friend. He was so cruel, spoiled, creepy, ridiculous and magically made 180 turn around and fell for the h. What!!? The worst part of the story was the end of the book. The h’s behavior became so stupid and awful that I skipped pages to get through it. The ending was the worst I have ever read. Everyone’s behavior was just ridiculous and bizarre and it was a terrible ending. The writing and storyline became so juvenile and the bad guy was revealed so early but of course it was meant to me a shock at the end. I really have no idea how people could like these characters and give this book anything above 3 stars.
Probably like most people, when I buy a book I look at the ratings and not just the story line. If it sounds like a good story and the majority of stars are 5 then I get it. I sometimes read the low ratings reviews but on this book I didn’t. I figure the story is just not a person’s “cup of tea” and that’s the main reason they didn’t like it and gave it low stars. After reading this book I went back and read the low reviews and sure enough, they said the same things I thought, “did the 5 star reviewers read the same story!” This book started out promising. The H wasn’t that bad and it seemed like he admired the h from the beginning but the characters in this story jumped all over the place. There is no way in h*$&ll an intelligent woman would or could fall in love with a man, no matter how good looking he is, when he treats her so cruelly! What was there about his character that made her see anything desirable in him. The reader may see he was trying to protect her and he had a messed up childhood so he was afraid of love but, his cruelty in private and public was something I’ve never ever read before. The h didn’t know anything about him so she didn’t know he had a loveless childhood and was afraid of falling in love nor did she know he was trying to protect her from harm. She just knew he practically raped her every time he saw her (and she enjoyed it-stupid) and verbally treated her so cruelly in front of servants, friends and strangers. Yet her body gets so turned on to him when just hearing his voice, so ridiculous. And the H’s friend. He was so cruel, spoiled, creepy, ridiculous and magically made 180 turn around and fell for the h. What!!? The worst part of the story was the end of the book. The h’s behavior became so stupid and awful that I skipped pages to get through it. The ending was the worst I have ever read. Everyone’s behavior was just ridiculous and bizarre and it was a terrible ending. The writing and storyline became so juvenile and the bad guy was revealed so early but of course it was meant to me a shock at the end. I really have no idea how people could like these characters and give this book anything above 3 stars.
June 8, 2019
Henry Drayton, Marquis of Ravenwell is a rake who can be cruel and he also can be kind he finds himself trapped by honor into marriage, thanks to his conscience and a bet he should have never had made. Jeanie finds herself humiliated, angry and lonely with no one to turn to even her loving Papa has abandoned her. The one man she ends up turning to was a part to her humiliation..... A great read
April 9, 2022
The H is so despicable that it makes it impossible to even tolerate reading this book. And the h? She's supposed to be intelligent, but nothing she does shows this alleged intelligence. She's an idiot. She gets ruined by another despicable character .(no wonder he's a friend of the H) without doing nothing to stop him, and she's not even attracted to him or enjoying herself! So why??? Not happy to be disgraced and cast out by her family, she gives away her virginity to the H, 'cause 'since I'm already ruined i might as well...' What kind of reason is that? And to a man that has contributed to her ruination, treated her like a whore, and deflowered her in the most callous way, assuming his dear friend had already done the deed. I can't even! But it get worse, the H's behavior towards his wife (yes, for some unfathomable reason he marries her) is so appalling that even his friend the rake protests against it. Mind blowing. On top of everything, the author doesn't have the faintest idea of what the Regency period was like. She doesn't get even the simplest detail right, from undergarments to dresses, to habits, places, language, should i continue? It's like watching a train wreck in real time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2019
Henry and his friend Rupert, as they peruse the debutants introduced in their first season, are very disparaging of them. As they continue to discuss them, one stands out to both: Jeanette Claybourne. A bet is made and won, but at the cost of Miss Claybourne’s reputation. As the story progresses, Miss Claybourne and Henry marry. There is much sympathy for Miss Claybourne and her predicament-caused by the two men. However, the Hero is not very likable. In most stories, the rogue is redeemed, in this one, not so much. Even though they marry, there is every indication that he continues with the “ladies” after the vows are spoken. They do find their Happily Ever After, but one wonders if Miss Claybourne settled, as she had no choice.
April 30, 2022
Yeah I didn't care for this book. I didn't like either of the hero or the heroine and the plot just didn't work for me. I know now why others didn't care for this book.
May 24, 2022
What the actual fuck did I just read? DNF 58%
Edit - I finished it. Fuck this book.
Edit - I finished it. Fuck this book.
May 31, 2022
There was too much crammed into this book, too much going on and the characters weren’t consistent.
October 10, 2019
BETRAYAL, WHORES, MURDER, & LOVE
5 STARS for the LLB1 series, an action packed story full of colorful emotional scenes that Emily Royal has packed the start of her series for her readers. It's a Historical Regency Romance that involves the Ton and the craziness of the Season & The Marriage Chase the unmarried girls just out & the titled men unmarried play at Unfortunately, those girls could easily lose their auroa of white virginity if they are perceived to have been compromised. They only have to be missed or simply accussed with a rumour, the perception itself could be enough to ruin a girl's reputation for a good marriage and unless the man who is associated with her, has honor, ask to marry; she has to quit society. This happened with Jeanette, & the man did not marry her, all assumed they had intercourse. Henry, heir to a Duke, felt sorry & sought to help her so he had her at his home while trying to locate the heel who ruined her. Emotions ran high, Henry desired Jeanette & kissed her thinking she wasn't a virgin, she kissed back, thinking ok, at least I can have 1 night to remember. This was the beginning of the couple not talking openly & with complete honesty to each other that causes all kinds of upsets, heartbreak, danger, escapades in whore houses, involvement in white slavery/sex rings and the murder of whores. Amazing, how so much power these topics can hold and definitely hold your interest. E.R. gave an old topic a make over, complete with a newly written song; and it got up performed, tap danced, and got a standing ovation! E.R. your audience is awaiting Book 2 .
Great fleshed out characters. Some of the food you can almost taste. I wanted to slap 1 of the Ton's women. Descriptions were great of houses, outsides and just overall clothes.
5 STARS for the LLB1 series, an action packed story full of colorful emotional scenes that Emily Royal has packed the start of her series for her readers. It's a Historical Regency Romance that involves the Ton and the craziness of the Season & The Marriage Chase the unmarried girls just out & the titled men unmarried play at Unfortunately, those girls could easily lose their auroa of white virginity if they are perceived to have been compromised. They only have to be missed or simply accussed with a rumour, the perception itself could be enough to ruin a girl's reputation for a good marriage and unless the man who is associated with her, has honor, ask to marry; she has to quit society. This happened with Jeanette, & the man did not marry her, all assumed they had intercourse. Henry, heir to a Duke, felt sorry & sought to help her so he had her at his home while trying to locate the heel who ruined her. Emotions ran high, Henry desired Jeanette & kissed her thinking she wasn't a virgin, she kissed back, thinking ok, at least I can have 1 night to remember. This was the beginning of the couple not talking openly & with complete honesty to each other that causes all kinds of upsets, heartbreak, danger, escapades in whore houses, involvement in white slavery/sex rings and the murder of whores. Amazing, how so much power these topics can hold and definitely hold your interest. E.R. gave an old topic a make over, complete with a newly written song; and it got up performed, tap danced, and got a standing ovation! E.R. your audience is awaiting Book 2 .
Great fleshed out characters. Some of the food you can almost taste. I wanted to slap 1 of the Ton's women. Descriptions were great of houses, outsides and just overall clothes.
September 26, 2020
Almost But Not Quite
My first Emily Royal book. The libertine part of the title really stood out in the theme of the book. It was written well enough but somehow the events were not wholly satisfying for me as plot.
Of course the hero is portrayed as a rake/libertine. He even wagered in support of the ruination of the heroine to be done by his best friend who compromised the heroine in a very public way (no sexual intercourse but it was concluded by the ton that there was). The hero out of guilt took care of the heroine after she was injured by the best friend in a duel. And then the hero compromises her by taking her virginity and then out of guilt weds her (asking his best friend the same one who ruined the heroine to be the best man what a dream wedding it turned out to be) and then shuns her when he had doubts about her character and his suspicions that she trapped him in marriage. The author painted a really bad picture of the hero with him talking bad about the heroine, calling her names and abandoning her and humiliating her in public. I had high expectations that the groveling and the repentance would also be as grandly described or even better. But alas the reconciliation did not match the intensity of the build up of the conflict. And the heroine had to mingle and be in good terms with the past women who the hero had relations with. But then title did say London Libertine. I thought the reformation of the libertine would be cataclysmic but it was not as I expected.
My first Emily Royal book. The libertine part of the title really stood out in the theme of the book. It was written well enough but somehow the events were not wholly satisfying for me as plot.
Of course the hero is portrayed as a rake/libertine. He even wagered in support of the ruination of the heroine to be done by his best friend who compromised the heroine in a very public way (no sexual intercourse but it was concluded by the ton that there was). The hero out of guilt took care of the heroine after she was injured by the best friend in a duel. And then the hero compromises her by taking her virginity and then out of guilt weds her (asking his best friend the same one who ruined the heroine to be the best man what a dream wedding it turned out to be) and then shuns her when he had doubts about her character and his suspicions that she trapped him in marriage. The author painted a really bad picture of the hero with him talking bad about the heroine, calling her names and abandoning her and humiliating her in public. I had high expectations that the groveling and the repentance would also be as grandly described or even better. But alas the reconciliation did not match the intensity of the build up of the conflict. And the heroine had to mingle and be in good terms with the past women who the hero had relations with. But then title did say London Libertine. I thought the reformation of the libertine would be cataclysmic but it was not as I expected.
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