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The Bluestocking War #1
The Beast's Bride
Lady Augusta Penworthy is in dire straits. Her father has spent every last coin, and she and her sisters cannot even afford coal. One chance encounter and a torn gown change everything. While one might think a sudden marriage to a wealthy lord would be a relief, if that marriage is to to the Duke of Blacktower, one would be vastly mistaken. For no young lady wishes to be the beast’s bride.
The Duke of Blacktower, known to the ton as "The Beast," has a secret. He has vowed never to marry and ensured his fearsome reputation would dissuade any hopeful lady or their scheming mama. Now, his hand has been forced, and his fury is unleashed. But Lady Augusta is not the manipulative young lady he believed, and suddenly, he finds himself tempted by his own bride.
The Duke of Blacktower, known to the ton as "The Beast," has a secret. He has vowed never to marry and ensured his fearsome reputation would dissuade any hopeful lady or their scheming mama. Now, his hand has been forced, and his fury is unleashed. But Lady Augusta is not the manipulative young lady he believed, and suddenly, he finds himself tempted by his own bride.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
December 1, 2021
2.5 stars
The Duke wasn't as "beastly" as the title promised me and I am miffed. :(
After all the "I SHALL NEVER MARRY, I SHALL DIE A RAKE, YOU SHALL NEVER HAVE AN HEIR, DADDY!!" crap he pulled in the Prologue (which had me reallllly excited because imagine all the angst) he pretty much unbuttoned his pants and was inside his bride on their wedding night before you could say whoppee doo.
For someone who had vowed on his beloved Aunt Martha that he would never marry, Dukey found himself in a compromising position (that anyone with half a brain could have avoided), with the heroine (that entire scene was a joke) and went timidly to the altar. Bah.
All in all, this did not deliver.
The Duke wasn't as "beastly" as the title promised me and I am miffed. :(
After all the "I SHALL NEVER MARRY, I SHALL DIE A RAKE, YOU SHALL NEVER HAVE AN HEIR, DADDY!!" crap he pulled in the Prologue (which had me reallllly excited because imagine all the angst) he pretty much unbuttoned his pants and was inside his bride on their wedding night before you could say whoppee doo.
For someone who had vowed on his beloved Aunt Martha that he would never marry, Dukey found himself in a compromising position (that anyone with half a brain could have avoided), with the heroine (that entire scene was a joke) and went timidly to the altar. Bah.
All in all, this did not deliver.
did-not-finish
December 7, 2020I’m at 40% and H/h have only had 2 brief interactions. Painfully slow and boring.
February 8, 2021
The main characters spend hardly any time together, yet miraculously know a lot about each other. Author tells us what the H thinks of h with little characterisation of the h, she doesn’t actually speak to the H enough for him to form whatever thoughts he has about her personality.
January 21, 2023
2.5 stars
November 5, 2023
First of all, this book has my favorite trope, widower! So mind you, my rate is very much inflated due to it.
That being said, this book had a good storyline. Nothing very different but the title has absolutely nothing to do with the book, very misleading. The hero has a great heart but was misjudged and manipulated people to think the worst of him so then he could be emotionally closed off. I think he was a bit overdramatic, and it was like he wanted to suffer every day. He kept remind himself of his grief for way too long and he let it go in such a cheesy way that I was embarrassed by it hehehe
Overall a good read. Nothing special. Simple book.
That being said, this book had a good storyline. Nothing very different but the title has absolutely nothing to do with the book, very misleading. The hero has a great heart but was misjudged and manipulated people to think the worst of him so then he could be emotionally closed off. I think he was a bit overdramatic, and it was like he wanted to suffer every day. He kept remind himself of his grief for way too long and he let it go in such a cheesy way that I was embarrassed by it hehehe
Overall a good read. Nothing special. Simple book.
Read
November 28, 2022Can’t. Not In The mood for a man whore, even a reformed one
December 19, 2022
A Rake and an Accountant walk into a ball...
This was a cute story. Lady Augusta was quite good with numbers and she had to be since her Father was a horrible human being that drank and wenched away his money so his daughters lived in penury. Such that Augusta had to escape a ball when her dress suddenly decided to fall off due to too many re-sewings. and who does she run into, but a duke who has sworn never to love again. They are forced to marry and then this man becomes distressingly bipolar! One minute he's happy, then he remembers his first wife, who is dead, and pulls away from the perfect Lady Augusta. I got a little annoyed at the end, but of course he.... I can't tell you! You have to read for yourself! It was quite worth it.
This was a cute story. Lady Augusta was quite good with numbers and she had to be since her Father was a horrible human being that drank and wenched away his money so his daughters lived in penury. Such that Augusta had to escape a ball when her dress suddenly decided to fall off due to too many re-sewings. and who does she run into, but a duke who has sworn never to love again. They are forced to marry and then this man becomes distressingly bipolar! One minute he's happy, then he remembers his first wife, who is dead, and pulls away from the perfect Lady Augusta. I got a little annoyed at the end, but of course he.... I can't tell you! You have to read for yourself! It was quite worth it.
July 27, 2022
I found this book to be a bit ridiculous.
August 18, 2023
A Duke with a secret. A Lady in close poverty. They are caught in what looks like a compromising situation. So a marriage of convenience is necessary. 3.5 stars ⭐️
June 1, 2021
This was such a fun read - I loved Augusta and Adam. Poor Augusta! Life was not easy for her but I loved how Adam really saw her. I also loved that he supported her, even when he was working to never fall in love with her. The steamy scenes were hot, the Hero was a total cinnamin roll hiding inside a beastly exterior, and the heroine was the strong, persevering kind of woman I love to read about!
October 26, 2020
Nothing exceptional but okay.
December 16, 2021
Lady Augusta Penworthy is in dire straits. Her father has spent every last coin, and she and her sisters cannot even afford coal. One chance encounter and a torn gown change everything. While one might think a sudden marriage to a wealthy lord would be a relief, if that marriage is to to the Duke of Blacktower, one would be vastly mistaken. For no young lady wishes to be the beast’s bride.
The Duke of Blacktower, known to the ton as "The Beast," has a secret. He has vowed never to marry and ensured his fearsome reputation would dissuade any hopeful lady or their scheming mama. Now, his hand has been forced, and his fury is unleashed. But Lady Augusta is not the manipulative young lady he believed, and suddenly, he finds himself tempted by his own bride.
He wants to never be in the marriage trap but it finds him nevertheless.
She can't even afford coal to heat her home.
Eva Devon writes a wonderful story.
February 24, 2022
A typically average historical romance novel. Not bad, but also not overly good.
January 13, 2021
Parts of this book were excellent and some sections were very lack-luster. It didn't flow as well as it could have and the H/h's thoughts were continually repeated. Regarding that, there was a lot of internal narration, which unfortunately made my mind wander. Both the H/h spent a lot of time on their own pursuits, or with friends and were hardly together except for the nights which were pretty steamy and well written. I usually like this author's work, but I didn't love this story.
PS Comment:- Augusta and her sisters were discussing Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Pride and Prejudice (1813), unfortunately the date above chapter one said this story is set in 1805...
PS Comment:- Augusta and her sisters were discussing Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Pride and Prejudice (1813), unfortunately the date above chapter one said this story is set in 1805...
January 22, 2021
Not very original and not very well written. I feel like the author being given a dictionary and being forced to throw out her thesaurus would have helped a bit. How many of you masticate your toast in the morning? And then there was this one: “She had been hard on her sisters, demanding even, when faced with their father’s pulchritude.” Their father’s beauty was clearly very hard on them, LOL. I’m not at all sure what word the author was going for there.
I finished it and I didn’t hate it, but that’s about the best I can say about it.
I finished it and I didn’t hate it, but that’s about the best I can say about it.
November 27, 2021
Terrific Historical Romance
This is terrific Historical and it has a bit of 🔥 to it since it is not one of of the “clean” variety of historical romances. There is tragedy in the past of the H and this keeps him sad on the inside until he is found in a compromising position with the h and then he feels that must marry her. There is a HEA that is quite nice at the end.
This is terrific Historical and it has a bit of 🔥 to it since it is not one of of the “clean” variety of historical romances. There is tragedy in the past of the H and this keeps him sad on the inside until he is found in a compromising position with the h and then he feels that must marry her. There is a HEA that is quite nice at the end.
January 25, 2021
Pretty average historical romance.
Read
May 6, 2023DNF at 43%
*sigh* The author's writing does not excite or make me feel anything for the story or the characters. I am bored and do not care about what happens next. Why can't I find a decent historical romance?
*sigh* The author's writing does not excite or make me feel anything for the story or the characters. I am bored and do not care about what happens next. Why can't I find a decent historical romance?
August 28, 2021
What's really in a name
Beast aka Adam has a fearsome reputation as a Beast! He's arrogant pleasured women and very rich! Augusta is a badly dressed spinster who has taken charge of her fathers meager household! Determined that at least her sisters marry well she wears a patched gown and as it quietly rips she races to the repairing room running smack dap into Adam! While they argue her dress continues to quietly fall apart! Adam defends her and this debacle is witnessed by the biggest gossip and tattle monger in London! Adam maybe a rake but he has honor! Augusta confessed the wardrobe malfunction but she is still ruined and Adam is reluctant to allow her misfortune to over shadow her life and her sisters! Her father maybe an Earl but he is a loathsome toad! A forced marriage between a rake and a parsimonious spinster can't possibly end well!? Can it???
Beast aka Adam has a fearsome reputation as a Beast! He's arrogant pleasured women and very rich! Augusta is a badly dressed spinster who has taken charge of her fathers meager household! Determined that at least her sisters marry well she wears a patched gown and as it quietly rips she races to the repairing room running smack dap into Adam! While they argue her dress continues to quietly fall apart! Adam defends her and this debacle is witnessed by the biggest gossip and tattle monger in London! Adam maybe a rake but he has honor! Augusta confessed the wardrobe malfunction but she is still ruined and Adam is reluctant to allow her misfortune to over shadow her life and her sisters! Her father maybe an Earl but he is a loathsome toad! A forced marriage between a rake and a parsimonious spinster can't possibly end well!? Can it???
November 26, 2020
BEASTLY!
Yes, the book is predictable. That's the whole idea. The important part is how things get from A to X, not that they do.
The beauty of this book is the interplay of characters. There is, to put it in the trite old way CHEMISTRY between them.
And mild humor. A touch of passion. Some more humor. A bit of pain.
In the end, triumph.
That's all that counts, and all's fair in love.
Yes, the book is predictable. That's the whole idea. The important part is how things get from A to X, not that they do.
The beauty of this book is the interplay of characters. There is, to put it in the trite old way CHEMISTRY between them.
And mild humor. A touch of passion. Some more humor. A bit of pain.
In the end, triumph.
That's all that counts, and all's fair in love.
February 26, 2021
Readable
I liked the story, and was engaged enough to finish the book. Sadly this is so overwritten I was able to skip over innumerable passages and not lose the plot! All those extraneous passages could have been better employed. For example Honouria, the aunt just disappears. After they marry they have no social life but Augusta is supposed to be getting established in society.
Worth reading to while away an hour or two.
I liked the story, and was engaged enough to finish the book. Sadly this is so overwritten I was able to skip over innumerable passages and not lose the plot! All those extraneous passages could have been better employed. For example Honouria, the aunt just disappears. After they marry they have no social life but Augusta is supposed to be getting established in society.
Worth reading to while away an hour or two.
did-not-finish
November 24, 2021DNF at 35%. I read my first book by this author a little while ago and it was one of my top reads recently. However, I’m finding other of her books are just not up to par. There’s just something about the writing in this one that feels underdeveloped and boring. I really wish I knew why so I could do a better job at reviewing this.
Read
December 6, 2021Yet another Duke
Yet another impoverished Heroine
Yet another money grabbing, gambling father
H & H Caught in a compromising situation = marriage
Said Duke’s young wife died in childbirth along with the child, so poor traumatised Hero has sworn never to marry again.
The writing had more of a contemporary feel to it than that of a historical.
Yet another impoverished Heroine
Yet another money grabbing, gambling father
H & H Caught in a compromising situation = marriage
Said Duke’s young wife died in childbirth along with the child, so poor traumatised Hero has sworn never to marry again.
The writing had more of a contemporary feel to it than that of a historical.
November 27, 2025
3.5 stars!
I usually don't write reviews for Historical romance titles, but I wanted to applaud this title for it's sweet romance coupled with a more realistic view on how people carry their past trauma into their future.
I really liked Adam and his desire to keep painful but important memories alive, but his wife, Augusta, steels the show! ^_^
She's the eldest child to an incompetent father, a sister that appears waay to strict to her sisters, and a young girl who learned that life means sacrifice, that duty and rigid control of self is the only way to survive , that you should always put someone else before your own good. T_T
I'm truly happy that this side of her didn't disappear after marriage, on the contrary >..
I love couples that communicate! :D
The plot or the themes weren't so great, and the story suffered for lack of properly timing events...several times the characters speak about events like they happened long ago, when in truth, it was only yesterday the event in question. 0_0
Overall, a fine story with some great communication, predictable plot and character paths and timeline issues.
Do i recommend it? yes, i do. ^^
It's a great cozy read when you want a romance where people , despite having secrets and/or issues, still want to connect to each other!
I usually don't write reviews for Historical romance titles, but I wanted to applaud this title for it's sweet romance coupled with a more realistic view on how people carry their past trauma into their future.
I really liked Adam and his desire to keep painful but important memories alive, but his wife, Augusta, steels the show! ^_^
She's the eldest child to an incompetent father, a sister that appears waay to strict to her sisters, and a young girl who learned that life means sacrifice, that duty and rigid control of self is the only way to survive , that you should always put someone else before your own good. T_T
I'm truly happy that this side of her didn't disappear after marriage, on the contrary >..
I love couples that communicate! :D
The plot or the themes weren't so great, and the story suffered for lack of properly timing events...several times the characters speak about events like they happened long ago, when in truth, it was only yesterday the event in question. 0_0
Overall, a fine story with some great communication, predictable plot and character paths and timeline issues.
Do i recommend it? yes, i do. ^^
It's a great cozy read when you want a romance where people , despite having secrets and/or issues, still want to connect to each other!
January 2, 2024
2 stars
Such a disappointment, it started with such potential and then became so basic. Other than the weak writing, the “beacon of virtue” that the FMC was portrayed as in the beginning, ironically, was sustained through the remainder of the novel, even though she was to have been softened by love. His obsession with his past, and her acceptance of it totally destroyed whatever joy I could’ve gotten from the story.
Such a disappointment, it started with such potential and then became so basic. Other than the weak writing, the “beacon of virtue” that the FMC was portrayed as in the beginning, ironically, was sustained through the remainder of the novel, even though she was to have been softened by love. His obsession with his past, and her acceptance of it totally destroyed whatever joy I could’ve gotten from the story.
August 14, 2025
What a terrible end to my regency era
March 30, 2023
cute, not my favourite
February 14, 2021
Not enough angst for me, but a many will like it
This is a very sweet and predictable story.
The drama is there but it’s not too heavy.
There are several sex scenes all well done and classy.
This is well written with only a few typos.
The plot is well orchestrated. The dialogue got a little sappy for me toward the end.
The blurb lead me to believe that Adam was going to think that he was trapped by a conniving spinster. Maybe I miss read it.
Both people find that they admire each other almost right away so no misunderstandings occur.
They are both wonderful, honest people who bring old hurts to a quick marriage and they all get sorted as the story develops. Pretty quickly actually. The only mystery is how long will it take till they talk it out.
The secondary characters are ok but nothing amazing.
It was a happy ending for all and not a waste of time, but not exactly riveting either.
This is a very sweet and predictable story.
The drama is there but it’s not too heavy.
There are several sex scenes all well done and classy.
This is well written with only a few typos.
The plot is well orchestrated. The dialogue got a little sappy for me toward the end.
The blurb lead me to believe that Adam was going to think that he was trapped by a conniving spinster. Maybe I miss read it.
Both people find that they admire each other almost right away so no misunderstandings occur.
They are both wonderful, honest people who bring old hurts to a quick marriage and they all get sorted as the story develops. Pretty quickly actually. The only mystery is how long will it take till they talk it out.
The secondary characters are ok but nothing amazing.
It was a happy ending for all and not a waste of time, but not exactly riveting either.
August 2, 2021
This is an enjoyable book about Adam and Augusta. Augusta is a spinster who is trying to hold her family together as her father (an Earl) spends all their money. She gets caught in a "compromising situation" with Adam (who is a Duke of course) - and they marry. Adam has been married before to a village girl who died along with their baby - and due to his father's manipulations, Adam was not there and blames himself. He had vowed never to marry again. No one except his father and aunt knew about the previous marriage - so needless to say Augusta and Adam are faced with some challenges. While a typical formulaic romance novel - my problem with the book was timing. It seemed like attitudes changed and everything else happened within ridiculously short time frames (i.e. like a day or two). The author could have made it much more realistic by just adding more time between events. Otherwise it was a decent read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews