The Beast's Ruined Bride

Rogues Gone Dirty #1

by Bella Moxie

When your fiancé's father takes advantage of you, and you don't know who to trust...

So you seek out your old childhood friend, who's gone on to become the most feared criminal in London.

Nervous, you knock on the door. And when he towers over you, caging you in against the doorframe, you tremble. But then his dark gaze rakes over you, and heat flares in his eyes as he growls, "Who did this to you?"

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Novella, Friends To Lovers, Regency, Historical Fiction

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2022

About the author

Bella Moxie is the author of the steamy regency romance series, Dukes Gone Dirty, as well as the offshoot novella series, Rogues Gone Dirty. Her books are spicy, but filled with sweet, satisfying, over-the-top love that not even the most alpha hero can resist.

Grab a free, steamy regency romance novella when you join Bella's newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gW_QWL

Reviews

[emtee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This story had potential but ended up being a disappointment for me. The stars are for Dane, and the smokin hot sizzle, which I really liked.

I enjoyed The Duke's Defiant Angel and was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I felt the writing needed more polish, the story needed an editor and even though it was only 100 pages I struggled to finish it. TDDA was a Dragonblade Flame title but I don’t think this one was, not sure if that had anything to do with it? I will probably still check out the second Dukes Gone Dirty book but I think I’ll pass on the rest of the Rogues series.

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers

Overall: 3.5 rounded ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I wanted to know both mains better and especially how they knew each other prior to the story starting)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (If you love over the top heroes that are very growly and protective)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: I don’t recall much
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix? Maybe plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium to fast
When mains are first on page together: it takes a little bit – 14% or end of chapter 2 (but this is a shorter story so this doesn’t actually feel this long)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I have been wanting to give Bella Moxie a try because I like her covers and am curious
Mains: Dane and Lillien – This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
This is the first in Moxie’s Rogues Gone Dirty series.

Basic plot:
Lillien is ruined and only one person can help her...

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance (didn’t catch a year, maybe Regency?)
- pregnancy
- LOTS of ‘who did this to you’ vibes
- ruined heroine
- unrequited longing from the hero
- protective hero
- shorter story
- higher steam – 3 scenes in a shorter page count

Ages:
- didn’t catch either

First line:
“The Beast has done it again!”

My thoughts:
I will say I don’t love the titles of this series. It is giving me harlequin vibes 😆

So this is my first Bella Moxie, who’s been on my list for awhile. I did like parts of it, but also found parts of it rather….dramatic? And over the top? The hero had a lot of things I personally love but it also went a touch far for me – he’s very growly and ‘mine’ but I actually wish I had the e-book just to search how many ‘mine’s are in the book because it felt excessive (if you have to e-book feel free to let me know 😆 )

This is a shorter story so not a ton of character development but something I did feel kind of thrown into in this story was how they knew each other? I loved the hero’s longing for the heroine but I really don’t know how he got there or how they knew each other prior to the book starting – she was engaged to his half brother (he’s a bastard) but was that it??

So, overall, I found things about this book cringe-y but also fun and I’m definitely reading more from this author hoping one will hit all my fave things!

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 4 stars
Favorite book: This by default!

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- off page rape of heroine resulting in pregnancy and confrontation with the rapist
Author content warnings? Didn’t catch any on audio (I always encourage you to check author’s websites, since Amazon penalizes authors for certain content warning words in their novels)


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: No – but she’s already pregnant and we all know STDs don’t exist in historical romance 😆
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? Yes, the heroine starts the story pregnant from another man
Chapter 8 (51%) – kisses and touches
Chapter 9 – 🔥oral for her
Chapter 10 (71%) – 🔥missionary
Chapter 13 (98%) – 🔥bj to her on top in the carriage
Total chapters: 13


Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs


Full break down on what my ratings above mean here:
Overall: How I felt about it everything considered!
Readability: How ‘readable’ was the book? Did I fly through it? Did I have to tell myself to pick it back up repeatedly? Were any passages confusing? (I will probably score like (1) is literally unreadable due to formatting/typing errors, etc (2) There were lots of errors that made it difficult to read OR It was extremely confusing and I had to reread passages to make sense of it OR I disliked it so much I had to bribe myself to keep reading (3) I didn’t really want to keep reading and would have preferred to abandon the read and start something else OR some minor continuity issues/confusion (4) I liked it fine, maybe a minor error or 2. I was happy to pick it up when I had time. (5) I never wanted to put this down. I thought about it when I wasn’t reading it. I hid in the bathroom from my kids to read. I threw inappropriate food at my children for dinner so I could read instead.)
Feels: Totally subjective to each person but did the book give me any tingles? Any butterflies? Did it rip my heart out (in a good way?)
Emotional depth: How well do I feel I know the characters at the end? How much did I feel their emotions throughout the story?
Sexual tension: Again, subjective, but how strong was the wanting and longing to me between the characters? A book might have strong sexual tension without a single touch.
Romance: Was there romance? Did romantic things happen? This can be actions/words/thoughts of the characters and again is subjective.
Sensuality: This is how the intimate scenes are written. Kisses and sexual scenes – how sensual were they? Were they on the mechanical side? Was there emotional pull tied in? Were the details explicit or flowery? These are subjective but generally (1) too short to get a good judgment (2) not all what I'm looking for - very vague or flowery prose (3) either not explicit enough or not enough emotional pull (too mechanical/physically descriptive without the emotions) (4) what I love in a scene (5) absolute perfection - perfect balance of emotional longing and explicit descriptions
Sex Scene Length: How long the bedroom scenes are (generally (1) is 1-3 sentences (2) is a few paragraphs to a page-ish (3) is about average, a few pages (4) more well developed scenes, quite a few pages with descriptions (5) the majority of the book takes place in the bedroom. This is always hard to tell for me on audio!
Steam Scale: Generally, each flame is a scene. If scenes are super close together I sometimes combine them. If a scene is super short or so vague I don’t know what’s happening, I don’t count it. There’s some levels of grey but generally the number of flames is how many sex scenes there are (I max out at 5 so I’ll put a + after if there’s more than that)


Find me
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Book Clubs
The Ton and the Tartans (Historical Romance)
Upturned Petticoats and Undone Cravats (Historical Romance with Steam Requirements)
A Love Less Ordinary (Science Fiction, Paranormal, Monster, Fantasy)
Modern Manuscripts (Contemporary Romance)
Words for the Wicked (Contemporary Romance with Steam Requirements)
Vintage Romance (Old School Romance – published 2000 and prior)

[Peppa]

I dnfed after 53% …idk I just didn’t felt this and the vibe felt off to me. I hoped I would enjoy it because I adored the previous book, but this one just wasn’t for me.

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more and spicier scenes. 😔 Ah, well. Now I know what to expect. Some parts dragged and I was getting bored and losing interest, that I didn't even realize the last chapter was a carriage scene. 😅

Summary:

The H/h grew up together as neighbors. He’s the bastard son of an Earl and she’s betrothed to the heir, his half brother. The Earl forced himself on her and now she’s pregnant. She runs away to Beast’s home in Vestry Lane when her father refuses to believe her and still wants her to marry her fiancé. I think Beast decides to marry her so she won’t be ruined.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood friends, Lillian and Dane haven't seen each other for ten years. When Lillian disappears, Dane is frantic. Lillian finds out Dane is on Vestry Lane and shows up at the door of King's establishment where he works. Lillian is in trouble. Dane is the only person she can truly trust to protect her. His has always loved her. He seeks revenge for the man who hurt her. He can only see her as "MINE." A short romance with a sweet protective hero.
Heat level 4
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book gifted by the author.

[eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. it is a short book, and for how short it was, it didn't blow me away. it was alright, short and spicy, nothing special.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much more than I expected.

I really enjoyed it.

Romance, danger, historical. Yes, please.

[Eliza Baum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the previous book in this series, things happened really fast in this short book. However, I found them more believable (if no less expectedly cheesy) because the hero and heroine knew each other previously and already had feelings for one another. It felt more like the last quarter of a novel rather than a full story itself, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

3.5 stars, rounded up for decent writing.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 56%

Never thought I'd DNF a novella but... Yeah.

This had a good premise. I was vibing with the whole dark and angsty hero quietly protecting the girl who was kind to him and who he considered to have his heart. Especially with the whole "not deserving" of her thoughts he had. (Which FYI were used as filler far more often than they needed to be. We got it. He didn't deserve her.)

But... Well I guess I should have took the title as a hint. I couldn't stick with the sexy vibes while reading how his woman was raped by his "father" and is pregnant with his baby. Awful, right? I felt for the girl. Even though it was all so vague up to the point I managed to read.

I just was NOT enjoying reading how the hero was talking about his erection and his sudden visuals of the heroine in sexual acts while she stood in front of him afraid and abused. Honestly! And rushing headlong into heated making out and almost sex which throws the heroine into a panic because of her assault? Heh, no.

I totally see what the author was TRYING to portray. I do. The execution didn't work for me. The author should have stuck to the serious, dark and avenging storyline first then wrapped with the sexual steamy stuff in the last half because of the heroines assault. Pacing wise it would have made more sense and allowed time to heal her wounds.

It just left me feeling squeamish reading his thoughts and then supposedly the heroine having sexual thoughts about the hero as well. Way too soon, far too fast and not sexy at all considering the subject matter.

Had this been a full length novel you bet everything would have the right amount of time to evolve and transition but this book for sure suffered for having been a novella BECAUSE it's supposed to be steamy and it was far too forced and not remotely romantic.

Points for the hero though because he was all growly and alpha and protective just the way I like em.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

So they haven’t seen each other in years. She gets raped, tracks him down and they immediately get frisky? It’s almost like she is preying on him. I keep trying to push my way through but it’s leaving a bad taste in in my mouth. Fine they both loved/crushed on each other long ago but people change. Even if they didn’t she just was raped! I guess it was months ago because she knows she’s pregnant but still.

[Bookfreak OHearn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed Malcom’s story and had such high hopes for this one. I could not get past Dane is going to raise his half brother as his own basically. I would have liked this story if she lost the baby in all honesty no matter how horrible that sounds.

I hope KING’s story is a redemption.

[Rosemary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been much better without rape, rape trauma, rape baby and the MMC not fantasizing about sex with the FMC while she’s having nightmares about rape and fearing men and sex.
Bleh

[Daughter of Paper and Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came here from the other series. It was sweet and it was shorter. I got a glimpse of Malcom and liked the main characters reasonably. It had some dark themes. the heroine was raped and is pregnant.


2.5 stars ⭐️⭐️💫

[Heather Blood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well…it wasn’t *bad*

The writing isn’t outright bad but the plot, story development, etc is all way too simplistic. No depth or nuance, the problems & solutions just come about easily & I guess the author just expects you to accept it all even when there are dozens of ways things would likely not stand up to scrutiny. It feels rather mindless & silly how things wrap up so smoothly with very little effort on anyone’s part & it’s rather ridiculous that there are no repercussions to anything/anyone. Might’ve rated it lower but so many books nowadays are written so poorly that even though this story is a bit too pat, it was at least not painful to read

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beast with a heart of gold!

I love the beauty and the beast trope, and this story is one of the best. Dane is the bastard son of an earl, and since he left home he's made quite a name for himself as the Beast - the head of security for the man known as King, who runs the seedier side of town. He kept tabs on the one lady he knew he could never have, so when she goes missing he's frantic with worry and pulls out all the stops to track her down.

Lillian is on the run after her father tries to marry her off to her attacker. She turns to the one man she knows will help - even though she hasn't seen him in a decade. Once she finds him, though, convincing him that he's the only one who can help is a bit tougher than she thought.

I loved the emotional interplay in this book. They both are in love with the other from the start, but neither has the confidence to believe their affections are returned. Their love story is so sweet and heartfelt, and I loved every bit of it.

There are complications, of course, which are quite neatly handled by both Dane and his brother, Malcolm. The events of this book takes place after those of The Duke's Defiant Angel but before those of The Fallen Earl's Sinful Salvation. Each of the three is a standalone romance, but all three books are best read in that order, as there are crossover characters and a shared timeline.

I highly recommend all three of these books, and am looking forward to reading more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beast/Dane and Lillian. He is Malcolm’s half brother and she was Malcom’s betrothed. Dane grew up with a cruel father that beat him. Lillian was a neighbor and would nurse go back to health. They grew up together and he left. Her father betrothed her to Malcom, the heir to the Earl. Lillian disappears one night. She was raped and impregnated by the Earl. Her father did not want to believe her and did nothing to protect her so she ran away. Having nowhere to go she searched for Dane and found him in a seedy part of town working as the enforcer for the King. He had always loved her and kept track of her after he left. He freaked out when she went missing but found her at his doorstep. He vows to kill his father after learning what he had done to her. Despite feeling like she deserved a better man he loved her and wanted to marry her and raise the baby as theirs. When they return to her father’s house to collect her things, her father tries to talk her out of marryDane and tells her the Earl would marry her. Malcom comes in and sees Dane and his fiancé and gets angry when he learns what his father had done. She and her dad leave the room to allow the brothers to talk but the Earl kidnaps her (she’s carrying his next heir). Malcom and Dane chase after them. Dane starts beating the crap out of his dad but she stops him. The Earl pulls a knife and attempts to kill Dane but Malcom intervenes and ends up killing his father instead.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beast's Ruined Bride by Bella Moxie is a short, but powerful novel. The Beast acts as the enforcer for a mobster named King. He also boxed, sometimes. His real name was Dance but that was in the past. He was the bastard son of the wife of an earl. The man had claimed him as his own and then made his life hell until her left. Lillian lived next door (as close as the homes of earls get) and treated his wounds, both physical and emotional. He loved her. She was too good for him so he let her become betrothed to his half-brother as everyone expected. Now, he had his life. Until one day she came looking for him. She was frightened. He took her to his home to be tended before he returned her to her rightful life. But, she wanted him

This was an explicit, but very warm novel. The Beast is never really a beast. Anyone who has seen the movie knows that. And Dane was loving and gentle but God forbid anyone mess with what was his. He father hadn't taken care of her, nor had is half-brother, Malcolm. Dane would correct that and love Lillian, even with all the baggage she brought. It was a moving story. I loved it!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Beast's Ruined Bride by Bella Moxie. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #bellamoxie #thebeastsruinedbride

[Judith Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is absolutely perfect!!! I’ve recently discovered this author and now is my new obsession!
Beast was born in the wrong side of the banquet and suffered a lot as a kid because of it. But there was also an angel that tended his physical and emotional wounds: the girl he left behind but never stop loving. Now she's a woman and has come to him for help, and he cannot deny her. Even if it means losing his heart, he'll make her his bride. And heaven help any man who tries to stop him.
I adored Beast with all my heart. He is a force of nature. He is sooo in love with Lillian…he’s a natural protector and has loved her since forever. Lillian is strong and resilient. I felt in total connection with her and her story. Together they are pure magic. The word ‘mine’ has a totally different meaning now for me. There are great sexy times, emotional dialogs and a bit of action.
I absolutely love this two and their world. Now I need King’s story!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read this entire story in one afternoon. I really liked that things got straight to the point without many chapters of brooding and endless introspection. Dane and Lillian had always cared deeply for one another and when they finally meet again as adults they realize that their feelings are more than friendship.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book which features Dane's friend King. These characters are reminding me of Kerrigan Byrne's "Victorian Rebels" which is one of my favorite series.

Thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy of this ebook. This is my honest review.

[Tobi4147 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dane, the “Beast” has made a name for himself. He also has made himself believe he doesn’t deserve happiness nor live. Lilian has no one to turn to but an old friend, someone who might not even remember or even care the way she did for him. After the tragedy, she is going to rush her heart and safety looking for him, the Beast. As soon as I had read a little about Malcom, Dane and Lilian in Bella Moxie’s previous books, I couldn’t wait to read Dane and Lilian’s story. Such a good story. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author. Her stories have good and interesting plots and premises. Her style is easy flowing and engaging. She has lots of potential if along with the sexy scenes, she'd add more depth to her stories.

My second book. I've enjoyed her "The Duke's Defiant Angel". I don't like rakes and rogues for heroes, but the heroes of these two books I've read, love wholeheartedly and passionately, once they recognize and accepted in their hearts their one true love.

Overall an interesting and engaging read.

[Lawanda Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second book from the series to read. The first one being the story of Dane's brother and his fate with true love. So, I had to read the first book. Was it good? Yes. I enjoyed the heat between Lillian and Dante. I also liked that they weren't just meeting. Instead, they had known each other since childhood. After having been abused by Dane's father, Lillian turns to the one man that she feels completely safe with, Dane. There were some gaps in the story, but in one of this length, it is to be expected.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lillian comes to his door on Vestry Lane, Dane knows immediately someone has hurt her badly. When he learns what happened to her, he determines to keep her safe and take revenge on the brute who hurt her. Dane is known as the Beast, but he is anything but with the woman he has loved since youth. Lillian feels safe with Dane. This is a quick, touching romance built on compassion and trust. Rachel Woods’s apt narration brings the story to life. I look forward to King’s story.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this audiobook.

[Martis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written book. I give it 1.5 stars.

The main female character kept calling the love interest a brute over and over. That did not seem very romantic to me.

Also, it was weird that they were in love with each other, even though they did not to each other for 10 years or even speak to each other. I know this was a novella, but I don’t think the love interest was really developed.

And to top it off, the main female was raped and pregnant and yeah, she still was like let’s get it on. I don’t know. I think the situation was not handled well now that I think about it one star

[Vilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lillian is ruined and shunned by her own father, she runs to her childhood friend, Dane, called the beast for his brutality and bruises.

Dane has always loved Lillian and as he cares for her, she develops love for him. As he defends her honor and teaches and coaches her through her fear, she grows to love him as more than her old friend.

When danger returns, the very same danger that ruined her, Dane defends her against his father. His father, the source of her ‘situation’, is removed from the equation so that Dane and Lillian can move forward into marriage.

[Smuttasticreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dane aka The Beast has loved Lillian since they were young and she showed him what true kindness was although he never felt like he would be good enough for her so when he left he never said a thing but when something happens to Lillian she goes to the only man she knows will protect her! This was the first book I have read written by Bella Moxie and I have to say it was absolutely amazing! I was hooked on this story from page one and I couldn’t read it fast enough!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook, loved the narration.

A beautiful tale of love, trust, and redemption.

After a horrific encounter with a dishonest man, Lillian disappears. She finds out her friend Dane is working on Vestry Lane and shows up looking for him. There, she finds that the Dane she knew is now the Beast, a hardened man, who has a found family of his own. But he hasn't forgotten her. He could never forget her

A short novella, with a possessive MMC

[Suzette Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long lost love found

This book centered on a young woman that was brutally treated by her future father in law, and her childhood love. She searched for him knowing he would save her. So that's what he does. Alot happens to them before happiness is able to find them. Wonderful old fashioned story

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than the previous book. The Malcolm character was still pretty one-dimensional, but there was a storyline that made sense, there was suspense, villains, a little romance, goodness, sensuality.

[Debbie Maude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed Regency romance

From the start of this novella it is full of action. The hero starts as an anti hero and changes with the love of his woman. Initially she is damaged goods but love conquers all. Great read.