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The Perfect Regency #1
The Perfect Debutante
Alternate cover edition can be found here
HEIR TO A DUKE, A DEBUTANTE AND AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE
It couldn't have been any more perfect...
Miss Louella Rose is Sweet, Beautiful. Refined. The answer to all her family's woes. But beneath her flawless complexion, behind her mesmerizing eyes, she hides a secret shame.
Stanton promised to marry the woman of his father’s choice by the age of thirty and that time has finally come. To his surprise and delight, the chosen lady is the perfect debutante, for him anyhow, and he couldn’t be happier... until he discovers the scars that make no sense – scars that shatter the illusion of perfection.
LIES, greed and blood lay waste to a most promising marriage. Can their love overcome the ravages of guilt and carry them through life’s imperfections?
HEIR TO A DUKE, A DEBUTANTE AND AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE
It couldn't have been any more perfect...
Miss Louella Rose is Sweet, Beautiful. Refined. The answer to all her family's woes. But beneath her flawless complexion, behind her mesmerizing eyes, she hides a secret shame.
Stanton promised to marry the woman of his father’s choice by the age of thirty and that time has finally come. To his surprise and delight, the chosen lady is the perfect debutante, for him anyhow, and he couldn’t be happier... until he discovers the scars that make no sense – scars that shatter the illusion of perfection.
LIES, greed and blood lay waste to a most promising marriage. Can their love overcome the ravages of guilt and carry them through life’s imperfections?
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2019
1263 people are currently reading
889 people want to read
About the author
Annabelle Anders
142 books1,321 followersMarried to the same man for over 25 years, I am a mother to three children and two Miniature Wiener dogs.
After owning a business and experiencing considerable success, my husband and I got caught in the financial crisis and lost everything in 2008; our business, our home, even our car.
At this point, I put my B.A. in Poly Sci to use and took work as a waitress and bartender (Insert irony). Unwilling to give up on a professional life, I simultaneously went back to college and obtained a degree in Energy Management.
And then the energy market dropped off.
And then my dog died.
I can only be grateful for this series of unfortunate events, for, with nothing to lose and completely demoralized, I sat down and began to write the romance novels which had until then, existed only my imagination.
After publishing over twenty novels now, with one having been nominated for RWA’s Distinguished ™RITA Award in 2019, I am happy to tell you that I have finally found my place in life.
Thank you so much for being a part of my journey!
To find out more about my books, and also to download a free novella, get all the info at my website!
www.annabelleanders.com
JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://www.annabelleanders.com/newsl...
FOLLOW ME ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Annabelle-Ande...
AND FACEBOOK: :https://www.facebook.com/Annabelle.An...
AND BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/annab...
After owning a business and experiencing considerable success, my husband and I got caught in the financial crisis and lost everything in 2008; our business, our home, even our car.
At this point, I put my B.A. in Poly Sci to use and took work as a waitress and bartender (Insert irony). Unwilling to give up on a professional life, I simultaneously went back to college and obtained a degree in Energy Management.
And then the energy market dropped off.
And then my dog died.
I can only be grateful for this series of unfortunate events, for, with nothing to lose and completely demoralized, I sat down and began to write the romance novels which had until then, existed only my imagination.
After publishing over twenty novels now, with one having been nominated for RWA’s Distinguished ™RITA Award in 2019, I am happy to tell you that I have finally found my place in life.
Thank you so much for being a part of my journey!
To find out more about my books, and also to download a free novella, get all the info at my website!
www.annabelleanders.com
JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://www.annabelleanders.com/newsl...
FOLLOW ME ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Annabelle-Ande...
AND FACEBOOK: :https://www.facebook.com/Annabelle.An...
AND BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/annab...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
December 2, 2020
Well my fellow readers pull up a chair, this review will be a good one. WOW! Where did this writer come from?! Annabelle Anders totally has blown away all of the books that I have recently read. I enjoyed reading this book so much that I couldn’t put it down. Cameron’s love for Louella is so strong.There where times in the book that had me scared to turn the page, but I soldiered on because I just had to know what was going to happen next. Louella is a sweet woman, who really beats herself up in this book as both her and Cameron find their love. Oh yes my fellow readers, read this book, it’s worth it.
February 20, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💋💋
A very powerful and emotional book ,by an author who has everything it takes to one of the best in the business.
This is such a hard story to read and write a review on , my emotions and feelings are all over the place ,I know it’s fictional, but this lady , our heroine, has such challenges in her life , her only recourse is to express them in a way even she can’t explain.
Her parents don’t and can’t understand, because she can’t tell them why ,they dismiss her feelings entirely.
Her husband tries but feels like he’s failing her .
In real life this issue must be terrifying for all involved.
I really can’t imagine dealing with it .
I congratulate Annabelle on such an amazing book that has brought something I’ve always overlooked ,and in someways failed to understand myself, to the fore.
I hope now it’s given me the tools to be more thoughtful and sympathetic to others who deal and cope with it .
In all a stunning story, one I won’t forget in a hurry .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋
A very powerful and emotional book ,by an author who has everything it takes to one of the best in the business.
This is such a hard story to read and write a review on , my emotions and feelings are all over the place ,I know it’s fictional, but this lady , our heroine, has such challenges in her life , her only recourse is to express them in a way even she can’t explain.
Her parents don’t and can’t understand, because she can’t tell them why ,they dismiss her feelings entirely.
Her husband tries but feels like he’s failing her .
In real life this issue must be terrifying for all involved.
I really can’t imagine dealing with it .
I congratulate Annabelle on such an amazing book that has brought something I’ve always overlooked ,and in someways failed to understand myself, to the fore.
I hope now it’s given me the tools to be more thoughtful and sympathetic to others who deal and cope with it .
In all a stunning story, one I won’t forget in a hurry .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
February 23, 2019
On 2-25-19 Annabelle Anders is offering up the first book in a new series, The Not So Saintly Sisters. In The Perfect Debutante the author has written a heart wrenching, yet informative, story of imperfection and compulsions. I urge you to keep an open mind, the story is worth it.
Our hero is Captian Lord Cameron Samuel Benjamin Denning, Marquess of Stanton. It's a mouthful and, I'm sure, hard to fit on a calling card. I found it interesting that his military rank came before his titular rank. Cameron is the first born, only son, and heir, of the Duke of Crawford. It's unusual for an heir, especially a dukes, to be allowed a commission. This tells us much about the relationship, and lack thereof, between pater and child. Now discharged from service, Cameron is home and ready to wed the lady his papa has picked out for him. Oh joy.
Miss Louella Rose Redfield is the lovely second daughter of Viscount Hallewell. The viscounts male heir has died and he needs to marry off Louella for cash, he's broke. No suprise here, it was done all the time. The viscount has something the Duke really, really wants, therefore the marriage.
Cameron and Louella grew up on neighboring estates and knew each other as kids. They did not part on good terms, which you will discover along the way. They meet again at a garden party and Cameron is impressed and attracted to this former tomboy. Louella holds a grudge for his teenage jackass behavior. The attraction throws them both for a loop and they decide to marry, and not just for duty.
I was taken with character of Olivia, Luella's older sister. I was happy to find out that she gets her own story in the late spring of 2019. I'll be looking for The Perfect Spinster. I must see if I'm right about the identity of the hero, hope I'm right, it'd be great.
The author asked for an honest opinion in return for an advanced readers copy of the book. It's a pleasure to share my thoughts with you. Each character finds comfort in the imperfections of the other. Being perfect's a heavy load on ones shoulders, a burden to bear even though you'd think otherwise. During this journey we deal with disfigurement, mental illness and addiction. Of course we also have attraction, lust, love, misunderstandings, a happy ending, all the usual emotions we look forward to. I indulged in a good cry too. It was totally worth it, you won't be sorry. Happy reading.
Our hero is Captian Lord Cameron Samuel Benjamin Denning, Marquess of Stanton. It's a mouthful and, I'm sure, hard to fit on a calling card. I found it interesting that his military rank came before his titular rank. Cameron is the first born, only son, and heir, of the Duke of Crawford. It's unusual for an heir, especially a dukes, to be allowed a commission. This tells us much about the relationship, and lack thereof, between pater and child. Now discharged from service, Cameron is home and ready to wed the lady his papa has picked out for him. Oh joy.
Miss Louella Rose Redfield is the lovely second daughter of Viscount Hallewell. The viscounts male heir has died and he needs to marry off Louella for cash, he's broke. No suprise here, it was done all the time. The viscount has something the Duke really, really wants, therefore the marriage.
Cameron and Louella grew up on neighboring estates and knew each other as kids. They did not part on good terms, which you will discover along the way. They meet again at a garden party and Cameron is impressed and attracted to this former tomboy. Louella holds a grudge for his teenage jackass behavior. The attraction throws them both for a loop and they decide to marry, and not just for duty.
I was taken with character of Olivia, Luella's older sister. I was happy to find out that she gets her own story in the late spring of 2019. I'll be looking for The Perfect Spinster. I must see if I'm right about the identity of the hero, hope I'm right, it'd be great.
The author asked for an honest opinion in return for an advanced readers copy of the book. It's a pleasure to share my thoughts with you. Each character finds comfort in the imperfections of the other. Being perfect's a heavy load on ones shoulders, a burden to bear even though you'd think otherwise. During this journey we deal with disfigurement, mental illness and addiction. Of course we also have attraction, lust, love, misunderstandings, a happy ending, all the usual emotions we look forward to. I indulged in a good cry too. It was totally worth it, you won't be sorry. Happy reading.
July 20, 2019
This book is on sale for 99¢ all week long...
Book 2 Releases July 31st.
“I’m to visit the youngest daughter tomorrow?” he asked. “And she is agreeable? How old is she now?”
He certainly wouldn’t force the poor girl to marry him if she was unwilling. He would make his offer, formally, dispassionately, but… pleasantly.
He would not insist, however, and by God, he wouldn’t beg.
“She’s ten and nine. A most suitable age. We’ll visit their townhouse together. For tea,” his stepmother responded to his first question.
“Of course, she’s agreeable. Damned fool girl she’d be if she wasn’t,” his father answered his second question.
A social climber, then.
“Tomorrow, then? At tea,” he asked as though announcing his own execution.
“She’s a lovely girl.” The duchess patted Cam’s father on the shoulder. “We’ll allow the two of you a few moments alone, so that you can be certain you’ll get on well together.”
Well then.
Damn.
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M7L6L1V
Book 2 Releases July 31st.
“I’m to visit the youngest daughter tomorrow?” he asked. “And she is agreeable? How old is she now?”
He certainly wouldn’t force the poor girl to marry him if she was unwilling. He would make his offer, formally, dispassionately, but… pleasantly.
He would not insist, however, and by God, he wouldn’t beg.
“She’s ten and nine. A most suitable age. We’ll visit their townhouse together. For tea,” his stepmother responded to his first question.
“Of course, she’s agreeable. Damned fool girl she’d be if she wasn’t,” his father answered his second question.
A social climber, then.
“Tomorrow, then? At tea,” he asked as though announcing his own execution.
“She’s a lovely girl.” The duchess patted Cam’s father on the shoulder. “We’ll allow the two of you a few moments alone, so that you can be certain you’ll get on well together.”
Well then.
Damn.
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M7L6L1V
December 1, 2019
I enjoyed this so much but why does the cover look like that? So embarrassing 😔
February 18, 2019
"Sometimes, the battles we cannot see are the most difficult of all".....a line in this story, says it all. Although this is an historical romance, Ms Anders has added the reality of "cutting" that afflicts so many young people. I had heard of "cutting" but never really read up on it or know anyone who does it so this story really opened my eyes to it. Louella Rose, who is beautiful and deemed "perfect" is forced into a marriage of convenience to Cameron Denning, the Marquess of Stanton. Although they hit it off right away, she very much worries about her secret and what his reaction will be when he sees all of her scars, inflicted by her own hand. Like so many other mental illnesses, it's very hard for someone else to understand what drives someone to hurt themselves. Cameron also has his own troubles and everything seems to be driving them apart. Even though very heartbreaking at times, I loved this story and you can't help but fall in love with Louella and Cameron as they struggle to find their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 22, 2019
Once again Annabelle Anders has gone above and beyond with her latest novel. A gripping tale of heart wrenching emotions that will leave the reader in an mess! Louella Rose is the perfect flawless debutante but she has a secret that if found will make her a pariah her scars run deep.....her shame even deeper!
She’s to marry Cameron Denning the Marquess of Stanton the marriage is by no means a love match it’s a marriage of convenience. Of course she’s duty bound and can’t imagine what her new husband will say. He’s fighting his own internal demons but nothing like Louella.
A long journey to a very difficult but much deserved HEA that deals with a very serious and complex issue. Louella needs help but with everyone turning a blind eye will her husband do the same or does he have what it takes to reach for their HEA!
I applaud Annabelle Anders for an exceptional story I was touched to my very soul! I highly recommend!!!
I received a complimentary copy from the author. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
She’s to marry Cameron Denning the Marquess of Stanton the marriage is by no means a love match it’s a marriage of convenience. Of course she’s duty bound and can’t imagine what her new husband will say. He’s fighting his own internal demons but nothing like Louella.
A long journey to a very difficult but much deserved HEA that deals with a very serious and complex issue. Louella needs help but with everyone turning a blind eye will her husband do the same or does he have what it takes to reach for their HEA!
I applaud Annabelle Anders for an exceptional story I was touched to my very soul! I highly recommend!!!
I received a complimentary copy from the author. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
February 21, 2019
Difficult subject handled beautifully!
This was a difficult book in that the female lead-Louella- was a cutter. Having known someone who did this, the book revisited that anguish and difficulties understanding the why. However, Annabel did a beautiful job explaining the situation as Louella came to understand her conflict and overcome it. The love story between Louella and Cameron progressed at a natural pace. The perfect imperfections. I loved this story and highly recommend. Not your usual HEA-something unexpected and original. I was given an ARC of this book.
This was a difficult book in that the female lead-Louella- was a cutter. Having known someone who did this, the book revisited that anguish and difficulties understanding the why. However, Annabel did a beautiful job explaining the situation as Louella came to understand her conflict and overcome it. The love story between Louella and Cameron progressed at a natural pace. The perfect imperfections. I loved this story and highly recommend. Not your usual HEA-something unexpected and original. I was given an ARC of this book.
February 21, 2019
A subject I knew very little about
But this author brings to the for front. Why do some parents not see perfection is hard to
achieve. What toll it puts on children. This was so well done. How accepting who you love for how they are. Highly recommend all her books.
But this author brings to the for front. Why do some parents not see perfection is hard to
achieve. What toll it puts on children. This was so well done. How accepting who you love for how they are. Highly recommend all her books.
February 16, 2024
I’ve got a bone to pick with romance authors describing make outs with phrase like, “his tongue sliding along her teeth-“ or “stroking the roof of her mouth.” SJM is guilty of it too! In every single one of her series. Why, just WHY.
Serious question- are y’all out here licking the roof of your partners mouth? Are they licking your teeth? I need answers.
The book was a fine regency palate cleanser, I read it in a day, but it I won’t reread it.
Serious question- are y’all out here licking the roof of your partners mouth? Are they licking your teeth? I need answers.
The book was a fine regency palate cleanser, I read it in a day, but it I won’t reread it.
February 26, 2019
Louella Rose is perfect. Beautiful. Refined. The answer to all her family's woes. No one knows that beneath her flawless complexion, behind her mesmerizing eyes, she hides her pain in shame.
Lord Stanton promised to marry the woman of his father’s choice by the age of thirty and that time has finally come. To his surprise and delight, the chosen lady is the perfect debutante, for him anyhow, and he couldn’t be happier... until he discovers the scars that make no sense – scars that shatter the illusion of perfection.
This book contains a well known problem with teens in this time. I'm not sure if it was prevalent in the times of this book but it is written into the plot successfully.
This well written book by Annabelle Anders portrays a pain that was not physical but was made so by the act of cutting.
This engrossing historical romance makes you wonder just how long this phenomenon of cutting has existed.
I gave this well written romance 4.95 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development.
The hero and heroine have a past from childhood but they were not friends.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Lord Stanton promised to marry the woman of his father’s choice by the age of thirty and that time has finally come. To his surprise and delight, the chosen lady is the perfect debutante, for him anyhow, and he couldn’t be happier... until he discovers the scars that make no sense – scars that shatter the illusion of perfection.
This book contains a well known problem with teens in this time. I'm not sure if it was prevalent in the times of this book but it is written into the plot successfully.
This well written book by Annabelle Anders portrays a pain that was not physical but was made so by the act of cutting.
This engrossing historical romance makes you wonder just how long this phenomenon of cutting has existed.
I gave this well written romance 4.95 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development.
The hero and heroine have a past from childhood but they were not friends.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Read
July 31, 2022DNF @23 %. Bored.
February 21, 2019
Unique historical romance. I love how this author wove a serious subject into such beautiful romance. Intensely Enjoyable. A book I will not forget.
July 24, 2019
The Perfect Debutant by Annabelle Anders. This book was so much more than I could ever had imagined! The author masterfully created deeply flawed characters with dark secrets and a rollercoaster of in-depth emotions that are hard to understand, let alone conquer. The steamy romance is at times raw and emotional which lends strength to the depth of the storyline.
Beautifully written with a touching ending. I loved this story and I recommend it to everyone.
Beautifully written with a touching ending. I loved this story and I recommend it to everyone.
March 3, 2019
3.5. It's cool to see these issues being addressed, especially in this genre.
May 8, 2019
This story was a bittersweet tale of a woman who felt the only way to deal with her inner battles was to “cut.” But through the story, with the love and support of a good man, the bonds are broken and she can begin to heal. It challenges us all to look inside ourselves and take a deeper look.
January 1, 2022
I really wasted to like this book—I did! I thought, if the author can pull off this intense and I mean intense love letter to self harm, it could be very powerful.
I’m a therapist and I’ve said it before and I will say it again, there needs to be trigger warnings for content that can be harmful to readers. I went into the book really into the writing the style the outlook the story even but it was constantly thrown in the readers face what this gal was doing. I understand that her coping mechanism for almost every inconvenience in her life was to harm herself, but it didn’t get very deep so that we understand her motivations outside of stress and anxiety. We only see a fraction of the depth and despair that someone would feel enough to turn to self harm.
I got about 55% of the way in and had to stop because the characters in the book were aware of what she was doing but no one showed any empathy or concern outside of maybe her new husband but even then it felt like he was coddling a child and not his forever partner which was really strange in and of itself.
The writing style is impeccable the storytelling is strong I would definitely read something else from this author however the self harm was so intense and maybe it’s because I’m reading it during a pandemic and I want to turn towards books that have a happy ending and sunshine and rainbows—I can totally see that being an issue especially because I am a therapist doing therapy in the middle of a pandemic and my coping strategy is books at this point.
If this book ever gets reformatted or updated or edited or anything I really hope that the author either move the dear reader letter before the story or inserts a trigger warning and that is the reason that I have given a one star because this “darkness“ is potentially triggering for some readers.
I’m a therapist and I’ve said it before and I will say it again, there needs to be trigger warnings for content that can be harmful to readers. I went into the book really into the writing the style the outlook the story even but it was constantly thrown in the readers face what this gal was doing. I understand that her coping mechanism for almost every inconvenience in her life was to harm herself, but it didn’t get very deep so that we understand her motivations outside of stress and anxiety. We only see a fraction of the depth and despair that someone would feel enough to turn to self harm.
I got about 55% of the way in and had to stop because the characters in the book were aware of what she was doing but no one showed any empathy or concern outside of maybe her new husband but even then it felt like he was coddling a child and not his forever partner which was really strange in and of itself.
The writing style is impeccable the storytelling is strong I would definitely read something else from this author however the self harm was so intense and maybe it’s because I’m reading it during a pandemic and I want to turn towards books that have a happy ending and sunshine and rainbows—I can totally see that being an issue especially because I am a therapist doing therapy in the middle of a pandemic and my coping strategy is books at this point.
If this book ever gets reformatted or updated or edited or anything I really hope that the author either move the dear reader letter before the story or inserts a trigger warning and that is the reason that I have given a one star because this “darkness“ is potentially triggering for some readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2019
Sometimes a person may find a flaw within themselves that no one else sees. They will twist that flaw until they can no longer breathe until they seek a release. Such is the case with Louella in this story who has a history of cutting herself to release her anxiety.
Before reading this book I never understood why anyone would do such a thing, to inflict pain upon themselves instead of reaching out to others but this author has taken a delicate subject (after much research, I am sure) and offers knowledge and understanding in such a way that you cannot help but love the character, regardless of her personal infliction. I mean, we all have flaws...it's just that some are more apparent than others. And this is not the first time this author has taken a delicate subject matter, one not openly spoken of, and shed new light on my own opinions. Annabelle Anders has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Not only will you have a heartwarming story, but you come away understanding her characters with such depth, you'd swear they were part of your life.
The Duke-to-be (Cameron) marries the Perfect Debutante (Louella) and in those vows are the words 'for better or for worse'. Does that not mean that when you marry, you are united with the whole of a person....flaws and all? You'll have to read the book to see how he reacts to her cutting and then how they handle it together.
I have to admit that at times I myself became angry with Louella, wanting her to stop. Thinking that if those worries were gone, she would not have the urge to cut anymore. It showed me what families must go through when a loved one is struggling with this practice.
I was offered an ARC and am offering my review in gratitude.
Before reading this book I never understood why anyone would do such a thing, to inflict pain upon themselves instead of reaching out to others but this author has taken a delicate subject (after much research, I am sure) and offers knowledge and understanding in such a way that you cannot help but love the character, regardless of her personal infliction. I mean, we all have flaws...it's just that some are more apparent than others. And this is not the first time this author has taken a delicate subject matter, one not openly spoken of, and shed new light on my own opinions. Annabelle Anders has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Not only will you have a heartwarming story, but you come away understanding her characters with such depth, you'd swear they were part of your life.
The Duke-to-be (Cameron) marries the Perfect Debutante (Louella) and in those vows are the words 'for better or for worse'. Does that not mean that when you marry, you are united with the whole of a person....flaws and all? You'll have to read the book to see how he reacts to her cutting and then how they handle it together.
I have to admit that at times I myself became angry with Louella, wanting her to stop. Thinking that if those worries were gone, she would not have the urge to cut anymore. It showed me what families must go through when a loved one is struggling with this practice.
I was offered an ARC and am offering my review in gratitude.
March 27, 2022
Not your average gown and ball story. Nice character arc.
Imagine self-harming prevalent among the repressive London elites. The story's tone hides societal, physical, and negative emotional flaws.
Spoiler Alert:
A family close to destitution arranges a marriage with the neighboring son.
For years Louella mutilates her body to escape the guilt/pain of causing her brother's demise. Louella’s parents fail to explain the truth to a young girl. They fear their daughter’s secret might land her in an asylum; they sweep the issue under the rug. During the courtship, Louella struggles to divulge her secret to her betrothed. I thought the author did a good job showing Louella’s emotions and reaction when she would self-cut.
Duke of Crawford, Cameron’s father also near financial ruins, wants property rights to Louella’s family enriched soil.
Cameron knows his father only values three sequential things:
the Dukedom
funds (more like greed)
and last the family
Camerons’ afraid of becoming precisely like his treacherous father —-manipulative and controlling. Cameron, who commits to Honor and Duty, agrees to the marriage. Yet he wants a woman who desires to marry him, not just in name. Cameron knows he must confront challenges as the heir and confront his weaknesses. I enjoyed the altercation between father and son.
I had some anxiety about Cameron’s reaction to Louella’s secret. How would he deal with that dark moment when he sees her for the first time self-harming? Will he become an enabler? Will he leave her? I wonder whether he would commence the marriage (if he known her secret) during courtship. Would he have kept "the promise" made to his father? The story contains trust issues.
Free ebook on Amazon.
Annabelle Anders's books are entertaining. I look forward to Olivia’s (Louella’s sister) imperfect story.
Imagine self-harming prevalent among the repressive London elites. The story's tone hides societal, physical, and negative emotional flaws.
Spoiler Alert:
A family close to destitution arranges a marriage with the neighboring son.
For years Louella mutilates her body to escape the guilt/pain of causing her brother's demise. Louella’s parents fail to explain the truth to a young girl. They fear their daughter’s secret might land her in an asylum; they sweep the issue under the rug. During the courtship, Louella struggles to divulge her secret to her betrothed. I thought the author did a good job showing Louella’s emotions and reaction when she would self-cut.
Duke of Crawford, Cameron’s father also near financial ruins, wants property rights to Louella’s family enriched soil.
Cameron knows his father only values three sequential things:
the Dukedom
funds (more like greed)
and last the family
Camerons’ afraid of becoming precisely like his treacherous father —-manipulative and controlling. Cameron, who commits to Honor and Duty, agrees to the marriage. Yet he wants a woman who desires to marry him, not just in name. Cameron knows he must confront challenges as the heir and confront his weaknesses. I enjoyed the altercation between father and son.
I had some anxiety about Cameron’s reaction to Louella’s secret. How would he deal with that dark moment when he sees her for the first time self-harming? Will he become an enabler? Will he leave her? I wonder whether he would commence the marriage (if he known her secret) during courtship. Would he have kept "the promise" made to his father? The story contains trust issues.
Free ebook on Amazon.
Annabelle Anders's books are entertaining. I look forward to Olivia’s (Louella’s sister) imperfect story.
January 5, 2022
DNF around 50% but skimmed to the end.
Urgh. So let's get this over with. This book has a heroine who self harms. There's a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. I didn't listen to it and I got triggered. Unlike what other reviewers here have said, I did not think that the concept of self harm was written or handled properly.
As a person with some history with SH let me tell some of the thoughts that I had while reading this. I'm just going to hide the next part under spoilers because it might be triggering for some. So a TRIGGERWARNING!
On top of this I can't stand age gaps in relationships. And I know you're thinking: Meg why the heck are you reading historical romance then? And honestly. I don't know. Though in this book the girl was 19 and the dude 30, so not that big of a gap when it comes to HR books, but i still found it gross. And I think what made it worse was that it was mentioned way too many times that the hero met the heroine when he was 20 and she was 9 years old. I say yiiikes... When thinking about the heroine the hero would several times think/mention, as if trying to convince himself and the reader, that she wasn't a child anymore. She had blossomed in to a beautiful woman and other gross shit pervy old dudes say. Besides that he kept on referring to her as a girl, or his little wife and then he'd remark in awe how she was so young etc. You get the idea. it's nasty.
Everybody says that older women (+25 *eye roll*) were not wanted and that age gaps were a thing back then but so was syphilis, unhappy marriages, ugly people, women never having an orgasm from intercourse and especially women not enjoying their first, second or 30th time having sex. So my point is, if we're already bending the truth so much, why not have more heroines who are a more palatable age and have more life experience.
And then in this books comments people complain that the heroine acted like a child... and well yeah! That's because she was a sheltered 19 year old!
The hero idealized the heroine so much that this book would have been better as a drama, where the guy believes in this perfect infantilized girl who later turns out to be troubled. Then the marriage and everybody could suffer and the ending could have been sad and horrible.
The age gap bs applies to every other HR book out there as well. This was just one of the places I came to complain about it.
I felt nothing for the characters except maybe a little bad for Olivia, but I hated how she was a typical superpositive bff to the MC.
Otherwise for a nonnative reader this book was written pretty nicely. It was an easy read. There were not many difficult words or sentence structures, but neither was the book written like historical gossip girl or some such... And for that reason alone I rate this book 2 stars instead of 1.
ps. I don't know how gossip girl was written cuz I haven't read it nor watched it, I just thought saying that sounded nice.
Urgh. So let's get this over with. This book has a heroine who self harms. There's a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. I didn't listen to it and I got triggered. Unlike what other reviewers here have said, I did not think that the concept of self harm was written or handled properly.
As a person with some history with SH let me tell some of the thoughts that I had while reading this. I'm just going to hide the next part under spoilers because it might be triggering for some. So a TRIGGERWARNING!
On top of this I can't stand age gaps in relationships. And I know you're thinking: Meg why the heck are you reading historical romance then? And honestly. I don't know. Though in this book the girl was 19 and the dude 30, so not that big of a gap when it comes to HR books, but i still found it gross. And I think what made it worse was that it was mentioned way too many times that the hero met the heroine when he was 20 and she was 9 years old. I say yiiikes... When thinking about the heroine the hero would several times think/mention, as if trying to convince himself and the reader, that she wasn't a child anymore. She had blossomed in to a beautiful woman and other gross shit pervy old dudes say. Besides that he kept on referring to her as a girl, or his little wife and then he'd remark in awe how she was so young etc. You get the idea. it's nasty.
Everybody says that older women (+25 *eye roll*) were not wanted and that age gaps were a thing back then but so was syphilis, unhappy marriages, ugly people, women never having an orgasm from intercourse and especially women not enjoying their first, second or 30th time having sex. So my point is, if we're already bending the truth so much, why not have more heroines who are a more palatable age and have more life experience.
And then in this books comments people complain that the heroine acted like a child... and well yeah! That's because she was a sheltered 19 year old!
The hero idealized the heroine so much that this book would have been better as a drama, where the guy believes in this perfect infantilized girl who later turns out to be troubled. Then the marriage and everybody could suffer and the ending could have been sad and horrible.
The age gap bs applies to every other HR book out there as well. This was just one of the places I came to complain about it.
I felt nothing for the characters except maybe a little bad for Olivia, but I hated how she was a typical superpositive bff to the MC.
Otherwise for a nonnative reader this book was written pretty nicely. It was an easy read. There were not many difficult words or sentence structures, but neither was the book written like historical gossip girl or some such... And for that reason alone I rate this book 2 stars instead of 1.
ps. I don't know how gossip girl was written cuz I haven't read it nor watched it, I just thought saying that sounded nice.
August 17, 2019
Well, let me just start by saying I loved this book & it took me on emotional "highs & lows" throughout the whole story. Captain Cameron Samuel Benjamin Denning, Marquess of Stanton has returned home after 10 yrs in the Navy to fulfill his promise to his father to marry prior to his 30th birthday to a bride of his father had picked for him. His bride-to-be is the youngest daughter of Viscount Hallewell, Miss Louella Rose Redfield. They have been neighbors growing up & Louella never forgot how mean Cameron was to her sister.
It didn't take long for their arranged marriage to become an attraction they both felt & Louella discovered that Cameron had changed & he was so sorry for teasing her sister, Olivia & apologized to her. He soon finds that Louella would make the perfect marchioness & eventually duchess but the perfect debutante has her own secrets - she is a cutter. Cameron has his own demons with the hate for his father for so many things he did to him as he was growing up & now he must find a way to help Louella after marrying her & he discovers her secret. Will they both overcome their problems & find true happiness?
Annabelle Anders has given readers an emotional "real" problem with characters that will make your heart ache & then burst with happiness. I highly recommend this book to all historical romance readers.
It didn't take long for their arranged marriage to become an attraction they both felt & Louella discovered that Cameron had changed & he was so sorry for teasing her sister, Olivia & apologized to her. He soon finds that Louella would make the perfect marchioness & eventually duchess but the perfect debutante has her own secrets - she is a cutter. Cameron has his own demons with the hate for his father for so many things he did to him as he was growing up & now he must find a way to help Louella after marrying her & he discovers her secret. Will they both overcome their problems & find true happiness?
Annabelle Anders has given readers an emotional "real" problem with characters that will make your heart ache & then burst with happiness. I highly recommend this book to all historical romance readers.
February 22, 2019
Louella Rose is the perfect debutante. Beautiful. Refined. The answer to all her family's woes. No one knows that beneath her flawless complexion, behind her mesmerizing eyes, she hides her pain in shame.
Cameron promised to marry the woman of his father's choice by the age of thirty and that time has finally come. To his surprise and delight, the chosen lady is the perfect debutante, for him anyhow, and he couldn't be happier until he discovers the scars that make no sense - scars that shatter the illusion of perfection.
I highly applaud the author for writing a book where the heroine cuts herself, it’s handled with huge sensitivity, however it made for a very emotional read. I found Louella at the very start to be a feather brain but that opinion changed immediately after her rescue from the boat. I loved Cameron from the start but when they arrived in London & he brought Louella a gift I was totally in pieces & I fell for him all over again. The story flows effortlessly & is a lovely love story of shame and guilt but most of all of understanding. My heart bled for Louella but then rejoiced when she spoke to Luke. I only hope Olivia's story isn't as heart wrenching.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Cameron promised to marry the woman of his father's choice by the age of thirty and that time has finally come. To his surprise and delight, the chosen lady is the perfect debutante, for him anyhow, and he couldn't be happier until he discovers the scars that make no sense - scars that shatter the illusion of perfection.
I highly applaud the author for writing a book where the heroine cuts herself, it’s handled with huge sensitivity, however it made for a very emotional read. I found Louella at the very start to be a feather brain but that opinion changed immediately after her rescue from the boat. I loved Cameron from the start but when they arrived in London & he brought Louella a gift I was totally in pieces & I fell for him all over again. The story flows effortlessly & is a lovely love story of shame and guilt but most of all of understanding. My heart bled for Louella but then rejoiced when she spoke to Luke. I only hope Olivia's story isn't as heart wrenching.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
February 25, 2019
What an amazing way to start a new series!! The Perfect Debutante by Annabelle Anders is book 1 in The Not So Saintly Sisters series. Annabelle’s writing keeps getting better and better and this one was so sad yet truly amazing. I learned a lot from reading this book, that we all have flaws and if you love someone you will accept them for who they are and what they do as we ourselves are flawed as well. Kudos to you Annabelle for reminding me of the need to accept things we cannot change. The characters of coarse are lovable and the descriptions are very visual. This story has an arranged marriage, sister love, death, an accident, grieving, anger, kindness, secrets, misunderstandings, being courted, acceptance and yes love!! I highly Recommend This Book!!!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
November 19, 2019
Intriguing and well-written, The Perfect Debutante is another installment in The Not So Saintly Sisters Series. The author did an excellent job addressing a sensitive subject with the female protagonist, Louella, making her a very human, sympathetic character (and relatable to some). The story was endearing and clever and I look forward to reading additional installments in the future.
July 23, 2022
When I read the trigger warning on this book--that the heroine engaged in the practice of "cutting," I wasn't sure I wanted to read it. I'm so glad I did. It masterfully described this mental illness from the perspective of the person who did it and the perspective of the person who was trying to understand her (and in the process trying to cope with his own issues). Perfection is a heavy burden to bear. And the closest we can come to it on earth is our imperfect love for one another.
December 31, 2022
Rated 3.5
Read
March 3, 2023Cutter heroine
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Beautifully written.
Beautifully written.
July 13, 2019
The Perfect Romance
This story has such an emotional depth and thoughtfulness...the insecurities, the failures are so raw, they make the characters so vulnerable...and then there is hope and the joy in finding the way back to home after getting lost in a dense forest.
Wonderful storyline, splendid characters...superb writing! A book not to be missed!
This story has such an emotional depth and thoughtfulness...the insecurities, the failures are so raw, they make the characters so vulnerable...and then there is hope and the joy in finding the way back to home after getting lost in a dense forest.
Wonderful storyline, splendid characters...superb writing! A book not to be missed!
July 13, 2019
This book touched my heart. The issue of cutting is one I have heard of but not dealt with personally. The insight is amazing. The depth to the characters was incredible. The story did bring me to tears at times but I thought it was well written and moving. I can't wait to see how she handles the next book about her sister.
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