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The Masqueraders #1
The Footman
Lady Elinor wants nothing to do with love. Her arranged marriage--and one glorious but ill-fated kiss with a handsome footman--cured her of any romantic notions she'd ever entertained. Now a widow, all Elinor plans to do is rebuild her life--without a man in it. She certainly has no intention of falling for the charming and entirely too tempting American who seems so determined to win her favor ...
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He'll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it.
But it's not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions--and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they're willing to pay?
Praise for The
"Spencer's brilliant and original tale of the high seas bursts with wonderfully real protagonists, plenty of action, and passionate romance."
★ Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW
"Fans of Amanda Quick's early historicals will find much to savor."
★ Booklist STARRED REVIEW
"Sexy, witty, and fiercely entertaining."
★ Kirkus STARRED REVIEW
"[A] suavely sophisticated hero with sex appeal to spare, and a cascade of lushly detailed love scenes give Spencer's dazzling debut its deliciously fun retro flavor."
★ Booklist STARRED REVIEW Praise for A FIGURE OF LOVE, Book 2 in THE ACADEMY OF LOVE "A consistently entertaining read. Serena's past provides an exciting twist that will satisfy readers looking for something a little different in the historical romance genre." Kirkus Reviews "An offbeat story that offers unexpected twists on a familiar setup." Kirkus Reviews
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He'll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it.
But it's not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions--and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they're willing to pay?
Praise for The
"Spencer's brilliant and original tale of the high seas bursts with wonderfully real protagonists, plenty of action, and passionate romance."
★ Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW
"Fans of Amanda Quick's early historicals will find much to savor."
★ Booklist STARRED REVIEW
"Sexy, witty, and fiercely entertaining."
★ Kirkus STARRED REVIEW
"[A] suavely sophisticated hero with sex appeal to spare, and a cascade of lushly detailed love scenes give Spencer's dazzling debut its deliciously fun retro flavor."
★ Booklist STARRED REVIEW Praise for A FIGURE OF LOVE, Book 2 in THE ACADEMY OF LOVE "A consistently entertaining read. Serena's past provides an exciting twist that will satisfy readers looking for something a little different in the historical romance genre." Kirkus Reviews "An offbeat story that offers unexpected twists on a familiar setup." Kirkus Reviews
468 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2020
382 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
S.M. LaViolette
37 books623 followersWho is S.M. LaViolette?
S.M. (that’s short for Shantal Marie) writes super spicy historical romance and historical erotic romance. S.M. likes to write about heroes and heroines who don't fit the mold--that means heroes who aren't always dukes and heroines who aren't always virgins.
People have described S.M.'s style as dark, angsty, and dryly witty.
S.M. also writes historical romance under the pen name Minerva Spencer, and historical mystery under S.M. Goodwin.
S.M. has been a criminal prosecutor, college history teacher, B&B operator, dock worker, ice cream manufacturer, reader for the blind, motel maid, and bounty hunter.
Okay, so the part about being a bounty hunter is a lie.
S.M. does, however, know how to hypnotize a Dungeness crab, sew her own Regency Era clothing, knit a frog hat, juggle, rebuild a 1959 American Rambler, and gain control of Asia (and hold on to it) in the game of RISK.
S.M. (that’s short for Shantal Marie) writes super spicy historical romance and historical erotic romance. S.M. likes to write about heroes and heroines who don't fit the mold--that means heroes who aren't always dukes and heroines who aren't always virgins.
People have described S.M.'s style as dark, angsty, and dryly witty.
S.M. also writes historical romance under the pen name Minerva Spencer, and historical mystery under S.M. Goodwin.
S.M. has been a criminal prosecutor, college history teacher, B&B operator, dock worker, ice cream manufacturer, reader for the blind, motel maid, and bounty hunter.
Okay, so the part about being a bounty hunter is a lie.
S.M. does, however, know how to hypnotize a Dungeness crab, sew her own Regency Era clothing, knit a frog hat, juggle, rebuild a 1959 American Rambler, and gain control of Asia (and hold on to it) in the game of RISK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
May 14, 2020
*4.5 stars*
I'm a huge, huge Minerva Spencer/S.M. LaViolette fan, and I read everything she writes. She delivered another riveting romance with The Footman that was nearly impossible to put down.
The Footman doesn't pull any punches. If you don't like your main character doing some very morally questionable behavior and having to redeem himself with chapters of intense grovelling, then this book might not be for you. I happen to like those scenes where a character royally screws up and then has to beg for forgiveness. Bring on the grovel-porn! The male main character was relentless in his quest for revenge, and I found it all to be an intensely compelling read.
I loved the female MC, though it was painful to read what she had gone through in her life. I admired her so much, and I lauded her desire to be a physician and help others, despite her physical limitations. She was so interesting and so strong.
Though this book reached 350 pages, it absolutely flew by. I couldn't stop reading, and I would have read all night to finish it. It takes a very skilled author to craft a long book that is also well-paced. Though the plot edged on too-complicated at times, it still reined it in enough to be a cohesive and thoroughly satisfying read.
My only qualm is that I still felt a bit suspicious of Stephen, even at the end. He screwed up so epically that I still questioned his moral compass. However, I thought the romance was lovely and, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a red-headed MC. I'm weak! But he really has a lifetime of begging ahead of him...
A must-read for fans of S.M. LaViolette, I can't wait to read more in this series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I'm a huge, huge Minerva Spencer/S.M. LaViolette fan, and I read everything she writes. She delivered another riveting romance with The Footman that was nearly impossible to put down.
The Footman doesn't pull any punches. If you don't like your main character doing some very morally questionable behavior and having to redeem himself with chapters of intense grovelling, then this book might not be for you. I happen to like those scenes where a character royally screws up and then has to beg for forgiveness. Bring on the grovel-porn! The male main character was relentless in his quest for revenge, and I found it all to be an intensely compelling read.
I loved the female MC, though it was painful to read what she had gone through in her life. I admired her so much, and I lauded her desire to be a physician and help others, despite her physical limitations. She was so interesting and so strong.
Though this book reached 350 pages, it absolutely flew by. I couldn't stop reading, and I would have read all night to finish it. It takes a very skilled author to craft a long book that is also well-paced. Though the plot edged on too-complicated at times, it still reined it in enough to be a cohesive and thoroughly satisfying read.
My only qualm is that I still felt a bit suspicious of Stephen, even at the end. He screwed up so epically that I still questioned his moral compass. However, I thought the romance was lovely and, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a red-headed MC. I'm weak! But he really has a lifetime of begging ahead of him...
A must-read for fans of S.M. LaViolette, I can't wait to read more in this series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
July 25, 2022
This book is a saw tooth of a read....either I LOVED it or it was blah, so I ended up giving it a 3*. A dual timeline of events made it an interesting read but also you needed to keep track of what was happening and where. The story of revenge spans over 15 years and many events. I really enjoy this author and she writes under 3 names, and I look forward to each style.
March 14, 2023
I don't know how they fell in love. One moment, they were having tea together. The next, she was in love with him! I’ll be honest though; I zoned out for a few chapters. The last 30% just dragged on for too long.
On the bright side, this book wasn't as dark or didn't contain content that made me uncomfortable like her other books under this pen name.
On the bright side, this book wasn't as dark or didn't contain content that made me uncomfortable like her other books under this pen name.
September 19, 2025
I was on verge of tears for pretty much half of the book. The chemistry and their connection in general seeped through the pages.
Yes it was a bit cruel, not bit, a lot for both heroine and hero so maybe that’s why the tears.
When our MC first meet they are both 16/15 years old and their lives after that will never be the same.
Both suffered terribly and their unknowingness of each other’s pain, made it emotional for me.
Storyline was amazing as well. Kept me stuck to the pages throughout all my errands and work.
Yes it was a bit cruel, not bit, a lot for both heroine and hero so maybe that’s why the tears.
When our MC first meet they are both 16/15 years old and their lives after that will never be the same.
Both suffered terribly and their unknowingness of each other’s pain, made it emotional for me.
Storyline was amazing as well. Kept me stuck to the pages throughout all my errands and work.
March 22, 2020
The Footman
The Masqueraders Series #1
Minerva Spence as S.M. LaViolette
https://www.facebook.com/MinervaSpenc...
Release date 04/07/2020
Publisher Crooked Sixpence Press
Blurb :
Lady Elinor wants nothing to do with love. Her arranged marriage—and one glorious but ill-fated kiss with a handsome footman—cured her of any romantic notions she’d ever entertained. Now a widow, all Elinor plans to do is rebuild her life—without a man in it. She certainly has no intention of falling for the charming and entirely too tempting American who seems so determined to win her favor …
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He’ll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it.
But it’s not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions—and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they’re willing to pay?
TRIGGER WARNING*** MISCARRIAGE, ABUSE.
My review :
Will his revenge have the perfect savor when he get to know the woman he wants to extract it from ...
It is revenge tale and as it is, it is full of angst and hurt.
But Mrs Minerva Spencer or S.M LaViolette make the words flow and the pages turn themselves. The action flawlessly continues, until the arc is fully resolved.
While for the first half, it alternates present and flashback chapters, revealing what went through the characters prior their actual encounter, it then moves forward until they fix everything between them.
It is no easy read when You read about the abuses and pains the heroes went through, nor even if I knew what was coming, to witness Elinor’s humiliation and then Stephen’s groveling and he has a lot to do, it was heart-wrenching.
I am in awe of the author’s talent, usually when a story deals with topics unsettling me, I need to stop from time to time my reading. But here, no need, the narrative follows naturally, why I needed to know what would come after, page after page, Harper after chapter.
Impossible to put it down, the life infused in the characters make them so real, I wanted to follow them step by step.
Elinor, whatever her mistakes, paid a dear price, but never she let the abuses she suffered change her. She always chooses the path letting her help others, those she thought suffered more than herself.
Stephen let hate and thirst of revenge lead him, and while it fueled his soul, it also drove him to the road of success.
There shows the brilliance of Mrs Spencer as while i knew where the story would go, I didn’t know how she would mend the road for them, as outside the blows stricken by Stephen, Elinor fights also her own ghosts.
Why my 5 stars rating, as I can’t give more, Mrs Spencer with her unusual but incredibly strong protagonists shows one more time the wide range of her ability.
I was granted an advance copy by the author and prior to it I preordered my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
The Masqueraders Series #1
Minerva Spence as S.M. LaViolette
https://www.facebook.com/MinervaSpenc...
Release date 04/07/2020
Publisher Crooked Sixpence Press
Blurb :
Lady Elinor wants nothing to do with love. Her arranged marriage—and one glorious but ill-fated kiss with a handsome footman—cured her of any romantic notions she’d ever entertained. Now a widow, all Elinor plans to do is rebuild her life—without a man in it. She certainly has no intention of falling for the charming and entirely too tempting American who seems so determined to win her favor …
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He’ll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it.
But it’s not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions—and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they’re willing to pay?
TRIGGER WARNING*** MISCARRIAGE, ABUSE.
My review :
Will his revenge have the perfect savor when he get to know the woman he wants to extract it from ...
It is revenge tale and as it is, it is full of angst and hurt.
But Mrs Minerva Spencer or S.M LaViolette make the words flow and the pages turn themselves. The action flawlessly continues, until the arc is fully resolved.
While for the first half, it alternates present and flashback chapters, revealing what went through the characters prior their actual encounter, it then moves forward until they fix everything between them.
It is no easy read when You read about the abuses and pains the heroes went through, nor even if I knew what was coming, to witness Elinor’s humiliation and then Stephen’s groveling and he has a lot to do, it was heart-wrenching.
I am in awe of the author’s talent, usually when a story deals with topics unsettling me, I need to stop from time to time my reading. But here, no need, the narrative follows naturally, why I needed to know what would come after, page after page, Harper after chapter.
Impossible to put it down, the life infused in the characters make them so real, I wanted to follow them step by step.
Elinor, whatever her mistakes, paid a dear price, but never she let the abuses she suffered change her. She always chooses the path letting her help others, those she thought suffered more than herself.
Stephen let hate and thirst of revenge lead him, and while it fueled his soul, it also drove him to the road of success.
There shows the brilliance of Mrs Spencer as while i knew where the story would go, I didn’t know how she would mend the road for them, as outside the blows stricken by Stephen, Elinor fights also her own ghosts.
Why my 5 stars rating, as I can’t give more, Mrs Spencer with her unusual but incredibly strong protagonists shows one more time the wide range of her ability.
I was granted an advance copy by the author and prior to it I preordered my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
February 14, 2024
4.2 stars
I am very impressed by this one. Skillfully and professionally written and narrated. The premise of the book was very original for a contemporarily written Historical Romance, and the whole storyline was well handled.
How my heart ached for the horrors the h, Elinor went through! I admired the way she never allowed herself to be broken no matter what, while maintaining at all times her dignity. I also empathised with the H, Stephen/ Iain and his drive for revenge. Though of course, he was way off course when he failed to see Elinor as another victim of this hypocritical high society.
There were strong feels to the angst between them. However, I believe it could have been more heart wrenching if pushed a little bit further. For instance, when Stephen came forward to reveal his black plans for all whom he considered as culprits, puzzlingly, he did not go the final step of explaining to them why he was doing all this. So much that Elinor did not understand for quite some time why he acted like he did. And when she did, though still hurt, she understood his reasons and saved him. Hence, there was not much highly dramatic emotional outburst to really make the angst soar.
I loved her cold determination to forgive but not yield to his supplications in the grovel part. While I liked how Stephen humbled himself to plead for forgiveness, I think there was an emotional layer still missing. I wanted to see much more of his tormented realisation that he really loved her, how he felt when his uncle unfolded the truths about Elinor's life and how he was in the throes of despair that he lost her. I wanted him to tell her how torn he was at each step of the execution of his revenge against her. I also wanted Elinor to explain to him the context of her impulsive, loaded with consequences, first kiss, as well as how she felt guilty for all that happened. Instead, the denouement of their dramatic story was more reserved, more mature. Which was well done for sure, but lacked those final sparks imho to push the story higher.
On more trivial matters, I also wanted to know how the real villains (those still alive) fared in the end, and what was the stand of Elinor and Stephen in society after the scandal that was splashed in all the papers. The ending unfortunately remained silent on all these loose ends.
I would still recommend this book because it was so well written and because it demarks itself so distinctly from the majority of books in the genre. I will certainly continue this series and possibly read more from this author.
P.S. I can no longer read books with timelines that change from chapter to chapter. I can handle the odd flashback scene, but whole alternate chapters no. So, as seems now to be my default mode, I read all past chapters first. It did not detract me from the story flow at all. If you are like me, the reading order would thus be: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 21, 18, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-36, Epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2021
'Lady Elinor wants nothing to do with love. Her arranged marriage—and one glorious but ill-fated kiss with a handsome footman—cured her of any romantic notions she’d ever entertained. Now a widow, all Elinor plans to do is rebuild her life—without a man in it. She certainly has no intention of falling for the charming and entirely too tempting American who seems so determined to win her favor …
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He’ll do whatever it takes to extract a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it.
But it’s not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions—and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they’re willing to pay?'
_____________________
The Footman is the first book in the new series, The Masqueraders by S.M. LaViolette and is a story of dark vengance plotted over several years.
I have read one other book by this author, under a different name and I was kind of ambivalent to it, so I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book, but I got fully pulled into the story and couldn't put it down. I stayed up far later than was reponsible when I had work the next day, but I felt no guilt. I just had to keep reading.
This story has several dark spots and if you are not interested in reading a book like that, then definitely give this one a miss. But if you are okay with books with dark themes, then you should give this book a read becauseit is such a compelling story.
There were times in this book when I was so cross with Stephen for continuing with his revenge plot, even after thing had changed. I don't think I could have ever trusted him, but I really enjoyed the story and so I make my peace with it. I plan to read the next in the series when it comes out.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He’ll do whatever it takes to extract a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it.
But it’s not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions—and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they’re willing to pay?'
_____________________
The Footman is the first book in the new series, The Masqueraders by S.M. LaViolette and is a story of dark vengance plotted over several years.
I have read one other book by this author, under a different name and I was kind of ambivalent to it, so I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book, but I got fully pulled into the story and couldn't put it down. I stayed up far later than was reponsible when I had work the next day, but I felt no guilt. I just had to keep reading.
This story has several dark spots and if you are not interested in reading a book like that, then definitely give this one a miss. But if you are okay with books with dark themes, then you should give this book a read becauseit is such a compelling story.
There were times in this book when I was so cross with Stephen for continuing with his revenge plot, even after thing had changed. I don't think I could have ever trusted him, but I really enjoyed the story and so I make my peace with it. I plan to read the next in the series when it comes out.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
July 5, 2021
Revenge trope isn't exactly a favourite of mine, but I do read it from time to time. This one was pretty good for the trope. The story did show that revenge never pays. I did feel that the author tried to draw out the story by having the heroine, Lady Elinor refusing the hero's (Stephen/Iain) hand (in marriage or otherwise) one too many times (3 to 4 times if memory serves me correctly). Looking at her past experience in marriage (she was abused by her late husband), it was understandable but, yeah I still felt it went on a bit too long. Style of writing has been good as always the plot was complicated enough to keep me interested. A soild 4 stars.
April 29, 2020
Ms. Spencer, ops, Ms. LaViolette just loves the vengance trope!
Still lovely read!
Still lovely read!
March 27, 2020
Nothing gets your pulse racing quite like a deliciously plotted revenge. Revenge is a powerful motivator. Especially when the character is justified in seeking it. I think I especially like this trope because it usually has a darker element and provides insta-conflict. Will the character give up his quest or give in to the rage that has carried him this far? Minerva Spencer’s The Footman is a beautifully written story of two broken hearts learning to let go of fear and anger and begin again with each other.
This story evokes so much emotion. I ached for all that Elinor and Stephen had endured in life. Both characters were so strong yet so vulnerable. Stephen had carried that rage inside him for so long. There was such a reservoir of anger and hate in him. Yet, when he finally met Elinor again, he found that his memory of her was nothing like the reality before him. That unnerved him. The more time he spent with her, the more she fascinated him. He was beginning not to think of her as a task. Anger and resolve were no longer what burned in him. It was harder to generate the wrath that had once come so easily. But he’d come so far and waited too long to alter his plans.
Elinor was no longer the arrogant fifteen year old girl she’d been. She’d suffered through years of marriage to a cruel and abusive man. But where Stephen had reacted to his situation in anger, Elinor had known anger served no purpose. She’d seen first- hand what anger did to a man. Instead, she’d done what she had to do to survive. Yet while she’d let go of anger, she’d held on to fear. The fear of being under any man’s power ever again. Try as she might to resist Stephen’s charms, she found herself anticipating any chance to be around him. But the scars life had left on her, both physically and emotionally, held her back from being able to trust.
Both these characters were valid in their feelings. Both had suffered so much alone. The feelings they had for each other frightened and confused them. They’d spent so much of their lives not being able to trust anyone. I loved how Minerva Spencer alternated chapters between the past and present. It gave me more empathy for Elinor and Stephen and what they had been through in their lives. There’s such depth of emotion and wisdom driving this plot that readers will be hooked from the beginning to the end.
This book is the first in Minerva Spencer’s The Masqueraders series. If the rest of the books in this series are anything like this one, it will be phenomenal. There were several secondary characters introduced in this book that I’m hoping to see more of. Fans of Minerva Spencer will be thrilled with this one. And if you’re new to her books, The Footman is the perfect introduction to her writing genius. She will quickly become one of your “must buy” authors.
This story evokes so much emotion. I ached for all that Elinor and Stephen had endured in life. Both characters were so strong yet so vulnerable. Stephen had carried that rage inside him for so long. There was such a reservoir of anger and hate in him. Yet, when he finally met Elinor again, he found that his memory of her was nothing like the reality before him. That unnerved him. The more time he spent with her, the more she fascinated him. He was beginning not to think of her as a task. Anger and resolve were no longer what burned in him. It was harder to generate the wrath that had once come so easily. But he’d come so far and waited too long to alter his plans.
Elinor was no longer the arrogant fifteen year old girl she’d been. She’d suffered through years of marriage to a cruel and abusive man. But where Stephen had reacted to his situation in anger, Elinor had known anger served no purpose. She’d seen first- hand what anger did to a man. Instead, she’d done what she had to do to survive. Yet while she’d let go of anger, she’d held on to fear. The fear of being under any man’s power ever again. Try as she might to resist Stephen’s charms, she found herself anticipating any chance to be around him. But the scars life had left on her, both physically and emotionally, held her back from being able to trust.
Both these characters were valid in their feelings. Both had suffered so much alone. The feelings they had for each other frightened and confused them. They’d spent so much of their lives not being able to trust anyone. I loved how Minerva Spencer alternated chapters between the past and present. It gave me more empathy for Elinor and Stephen and what they had been through in their lives. There’s such depth of emotion and wisdom driving this plot that readers will be hooked from the beginning to the end.
This book is the first in Minerva Spencer’s The Masqueraders series. If the rest of the books in this series are anything like this one, it will be phenomenal. There were several secondary characters introduced in this book that I’m hoping to see more of. Fans of Minerva Spencer will be thrilled with this one. And if you’re new to her books, The Footman is the perfect introduction to her writing genius. She will quickly become one of your “must buy” authors.
May 14, 2023
I didn’t like it. It was far too long and I think would have benefited from some sharp editing. Despite the length, the denouement, the resolution of the romance was both abrupt, too short and distinctly unsatisfying.
The plot was so ridiculously over the top that I found myself unable to lose myself in the book because I kept thinking - “wtf - that is so unreal!”
I couldn’t believe that after only 15 years - she didn’t recognise Iain/Stephen.
I couldn’t buy his revenge motivation, she wasn’t the one who beat him so badly and had him taken away for rape.
£1,000 pa is not impoverished. It was a very substantial sum of money - equivalent to £90,000 today.
I disliked Elinor, the heroine and wasn’t too impressed by the hero and there was never the slightest sense of them falling in love. In lust, yes but love - no.
Elinor’s thoughts and actions seemed to be arranged for the plotting rather than representing any kind of reality.
Anyway, I’m clearly in a minority. It seems that many readers adore this author and her style of historical fiction. But it’s simply not my cup of tea.
The plot was so ridiculously over the top that I found myself unable to lose myself in the book because I kept thinking - “wtf - that is so unreal!”
I couldn’t believe that after only 15 years - she didn’t recognise Iain/Stephen.
I couldn’t buy his revenge motivation, she wasn’t the one who beat him so badly and had him taken away for rape.
£1,000 pa is not impoverished. It was a very substantial sum of money - equivalent to £90,000 today.
I disliked Elinor, the heroine and wasn’t too impressed by the hero and there was never the slightest sense of them falling in love. In lust, yes but love - no.
Elinor’s thoughts and actions seemed to be arranged for the plotting rather than representing any kind of reality.
Anyway, I’m clearly in a minority. It seems that many readers adore this author and her style of historical fiction. But it’s simply not my cup of tea.
April 26, 2020
This was such a phenomenal read! The writing was wonderful and this book had all the feels! That first chapter is a punch to the emotional gut I tell you! The story is told in the present and then chapters presented for each in the past, but it was well done and easy to follow. I loved our h/h and felt each and every blow. I must say that Stephan did his grovel redemption very, very well. But I didn't think that her dad and her brother suffered near enough. Please say that the next one in the series is going to be about John Fielding, I am seeing a giant Heath Ledger in my head the Joker style. There are several intriguing characters to choose from though, we have that new "boy" that was just hired to ride postilian. The we got the pretty doctor that just found out his brother died and he now has to assumed a broke viscountcy. Another win for Ms. LaViolette, please keep up the awesome work!
***Trigger warnings for physical and mental abuse.
***Trigger warnings for physical and mental abuse.
May 15, 2020
It's been a while since I've read a book where there is ZERO chemistry between the h/H. Very odd read. I was completely perplexed that these two people fell in love with each other.
October 20, 2024
The audacity of this man child.
January 5, 2022
I read another book earlier in 2001 by this author under the pen name Minerva Spencer.I quite enjoyed that book so I thought I’d give her another try with this book since it’s on KU.
The prologue has 15 year old Iain on his first day on the job as a footman being pestered by Lady Elinor. Her betrothal is about to be announced to a much older and real nasty piece of work, the Earl of Trentham. She hasn’t even had a season and it’s strictly a business deal. She kisses Iain and is seen by the Earl and he beats Iain almost to death and then has his arrested for rape. Elinor is subject to a humiliating examination to determine her virginity.
The book then starts 15 years later. Elinor is now a young widow. Thankfully the sadistic man she married has died though the new heir is a spendthrift and very resentful of Elinor. A rich young man from America is very interested in purchasing the property even though it will mean Elinor is homeless. When Elinor first sees him she finds him extremely handsome and he seems interested in her even though she is fairly plain. But Elinor has determined never to marry again after the horror that was her marriage. Still Stephen, the rich American is persistent.
Alas, I didn’t really care for this book. I didn’t like Stephen at all. I didn’t like his reasons for what he was doing in trying to obtain the property. It was really the previous Earl he should have dealt with but now that he had died, Stephen’s focus is all wrong and the wrong people will pay. What was even worse is the dénouement of the whole story takes place off page and is only referred to later. What was with that decision? It really ticked me off and it went from a book I found disappointing to one that quite annoyed me.
I see other readers enjoyed this one more than I did so there is that. I’m glad I got my copy on KU. And I do have more books in the TBR pile by Minerva Spencer and I’m still looking forward to those ones so it’s not a complete waste.
The prologue has 15 year old Iain on his first day on the job as a footman being pestered by Lady Elinor. Her betrothal is about to be announced to a much older and real nasty piece of work, the Earl of Trentham. She hasn’t even had a season and it’s strictly a business deal. She kisses Iain and is seen by the Earl and he beats Iain almost to death and then has his arrested for rape. Elinor is subject to a humiliating examination to determine her virginity.
The book then starts 15 years later. Elinor is now a young widow. Thankfully the sadistic man she married has died though the new heir is a spendthrift and very resentful of Elinor. A rich young man from America is very interested in purchasing the property even though it will mean Elinor is homeless. When Elinor first sees him she finds him extremely handsome and he seems interested in her even though she is fairly plain. But Elinor has determined never to marry again after the horror that was her marriage. Still Stephen, the rich American is persistent.
Alas, I didn’t really care for this book. I didn’t like Stephen at all. I didn’t like his reasons for what he was doing in trying to obtain the property. It was really the previous Earl he should have dealt with but now that he had died, Stephen’s focus is all wrong and the wrong people will pay. What was even worse is the dénouement of the whole story takes place off page and is only referred to later. What was with that decision? It really ticked me off and it went from a book I found disappointing to one that quite annoyed me.
I see other readers enjoyed this one more than I did so there is that. I’m glad I got my copy on KU. And I do have more books in the TBR pile by Minerva Spencer and I’m still looking forward to those ones so it’s not a complete waste.
November 25, 2022
3 Stars
Started off well, but dragged like a bitch. A lot of hurtful behaviour made it boring. The plot had promise.
Started off well, but dragged like a bitch. A lot of hurtful behaviour made it boring. The plot had promise.
November 5, 2021
2.5 stars
The story: Stephen (or Iain) had his life ruined when the lord's daughter kissed him, a footman. She was 15, he was 14 and he was accused of rape and thrown in jail. He escaped, made his fortune in America and is now back to exact his revenge on everyone - including Elinor. Elinor made a mistake by kissing the footman but she suffered greatly as a wife to a cruel man. Now a handsome American has come to probably put her out of her home but she is drawn to him and he seems to be drawn to her, too.
I don't know what it was but this book just didn't keep my attention. The setup was great and the story was intriguing but I kept being surprised by the character's inner monologues because they seemed to develop feelings out of the blue.
It was also a little surprising that she didn't recognize him, especially since he has really red hair. I would think that would be very memorable.
The story: Stephen (or Iain) had his life ruined when the lord's daughter kissed him, a footman. She was 15, he was 14 and he was accused of rape and thrown in jail. He escaped, made his fortune in America and is now back to exact his revenge on everyone - including Elinor. Elinor made a mistake by kissing the footman but she suffered greatly as a wife to a cruel man. Now a handsome American has come to probably put her out of her home but she is drawn to him and he seems to be drawn to her, too.
I don't know what it was but this book just didn't keep my attention. The setup was great and the story was intriguing but I kept being surprised by the character's inner monologues because they seemed to develop feelings out of the blue.
It was also a little surprising that she didn't recognize him, especially since he has really red hair. I would think that would be very memorable.
October 29, 2022
Enjoyed this revenge story. Of course the hero finds out that revenge doesn't pay. I like the whole premise of this series where at least one of the couple is not an aristocrat but rather working class or below.
This one had more emotional impact than some of this author's novels. I did think she did the reader a disservice having the hero find out about her abuse and scars off the page from someone else. That was a major plot point in the book and we were all waiting to see his reaction when he discovered her previous abuse and we never go to read that scene. I liked that she truly tried to get away from him after his betrayal instead of forgiving him instantly. I do feel like he groveled sufficiently before she forgave him.
This one had more emotional impact than some of this author's novels. I did think she did the reader a disservice having the hero find out about her abuse and scars off the page from someone else. That was a major plot point in the book and we were all waiting to see his reaction when he discovered her previous abuse and we never go to read that scene. I liked that she truly tried to get away from him after his betrayal instead of forgiving him instantly. I do feel like he groveled sufficiently before she forgave him.
Read
May 8, 2020A lot to like. And The Footman has the most groveling that I've ever seen in a romance novel. But it also has a feverish plot and so many characters that the whole thing ends up unnecessarily messy. S.M. LaViolette/Minerva Spencer has come up with an interesting story; and then gone overboard. Get an editor. ... [Edit: Just noticed, weeks later, that I spelled Footman wrong. Need an editor myself.]
[Second Edit on the same day - I love the covers LaViolette has on these books. And I'm not someone that pays that much attention to them.]
[Second Edit on the same day - I love the covers LaViolette has on these books. And I'm not someone that pays that much attention to them.]
December 8, 2023
Loved the book!!!
December 29, 2023
This author!
I love how this author tells a story. She is great at weaving a romance through past trauma and even current tragedy. This book had be engaged and feeling sadness and frustration for both main characters. And the story is so full! I love it! You learn and see so much about the characters. Many times, books are so short and to the point that you miss out on so much.
Stephen was so wrapped up in grief and revenge, that he let it control his life for 15 years. He had good in him, but it just got overshadowed by hate. It’s such a life lesson!
And poor Elinor! My goodness the awful life she had. But she didn’t become bitter but instead she served others.
I highly recommend!
I love how this author tells a story. She is great at weaving a romance through past trauma and even current tragedy. This book had be engaged and feeling sadness and frustration for both main characters. And the story is so full! I love it! You learn and see so much about the characters. Many times, books are so short and to the point that you miss out on so much.
Stephen was so wrapped up in grief and revenge, that he let it control his life for 15 years. He had good in him, but it just got overshadowed by hate. It’s such a life lesson!
And poor Elinor! My goodness the awful life she had. But she didn’t become bitter but instead she served others.
I highly recommend!
November 13, 2022
I have such mixed feelings about this novel. On the one hand, its storyline did keep me fairly engaged and I appreciated the use of two timelines. This worked well for developing the characters and piecing together the plot's backstory. I also appreciated that this story featured a heroine with a disability, but that, while she does have some insecurities about it, it doesn't wholly define her character. There is some outdated language used in discussions about the heroine's limp, but I think the author was attempting to stay true to the time.
With that said, there were just so many things that didn't work for me in this story. For one, the sex scenes were very centered around the hero's "possession" of the heroine. Yes, this makes sense given Stephen's motivations, and I'm aware that this will meet some readers' preferences, but they weren't enjoyable for me to read. Plus, given that the heroine .
Since this is a revenge romance, I expected the protagonists to make morally grey and questionable decisions, but I felt that Elinor, as the heroine, was punished majorly throughout the novel in order to convince the readers that she was ultimately redeemed in the end. Specifically, I'm thinking about .
One major thing about the ending that I found annoying was .
There is a lot going on in this book, so some of the plot elements and points do suffer as a result. At times, it felt messy, but it was continually an engaging read. While there were many things I didn't like about it, I think some other readers will really enjoy it. Just be mindful of the trigger warnings if you're feeling sensitive to certain content.
With that said, there were just so many things that didn't work for me in this story. For one, the sex scenes were very centered around the hero's "possession" of the heroine. Yes, this makes sense given Stephen's motivations, and I'm aware that this will meet some readers' preferences, but they weren't enjoyable for me to read. Plus, given that the heroine .
Since this is a revenge romance, I expected the protagonists to make morally grey and questionable decisions, but I felt that Elinor, as the heroine, was punished majorly throughout the novel in order to convince the readers that she was ultimately redeemed in the end. Specifically, I'm thinking about .
One major thing about the ending that I found annoying was .
There is a lot going on in this book, so some of the plot elements and points do suffer as a result. At times, it felt messy, but it was continually an engaging read. While there were many things I didn't like about it, I think some other readers will really enjoy it. Just be mindful of the trigger warnings if you're feeling sensitive to certain content.
June 16, 2020
I gave The Footman an A at All About Romance.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading The Footman, and truthfully, I had my doubts after the first chapter. A young and handsome footman, on his first day of work, is unable to curb his tongue after the daughter of the house, Lady Elinor Yarmouth, accidentally barrels into him and then insults him. Later that evening, at her engagement ball, Lady Elinor impulsively kisses the footman because she’s frustrated with her life and upcoming arranged marriage… Friends, I struggled with this premise right out of the gate. (Honestly, it’s ridiculous). Fortunately, LaViolette (aka Minerva Spencer) somehow transforms this opening chapter into a story I couldn’t put down and didn’t want to end. Vengeance, redemption, and a second chance romance combine in this addictive and entertaining romance.
Iain Vale, the bastard son of a Scottish laird and a whore, was a young, poor, inexperienced footman in a wealthy London household. He’s in the wrong place at the wrong time when Lady Elinor Yarmouth spots him yawning at her engagement ball, and before he realizes what she’s about, she’s kissing him. When her fiancé spots them, he nearly beats Iain to death before having him arrested and charged with rape. He barely survives his time in jail (a stranger defends him from an attack by fellow inmates), before his uncle helps him escape by bribing a pair of guards. Filthy and starving, with a bounty on his head, he boards a ship bound for America. Fifteen years later, he’s returned to England as Stephen Worth, a wealthy banker from Boston, and he wants revenge on the people who casually ruined his life. His first stop is Blackfriars, home to Lady Elinor Trentham.
After that impulsive kiss, Lady Elinor watched helplessly as her fiancé, Edward Atwood, Earl of Trentham, nearly beat the innocent man to death and then coldly renegotiated his marriage contract with her father. Alternately referring to her as a whore and a slut, he informs her he’s cancelled the wedding at St. George’s Church, and instead arranged for a special license.
When Charles introduces Elinor to Stephen Worth, explaining that the handsome stranger is interested in purchasing the estate, Elinor tries to quell her panic:
Although Stephen pursues Elinor and his revenge with a vengeance, he can’t help his growing affection for her. The widow is nothing like the impulsive, reckless girl he remembers, and he craves opportunities to spend time with her. Despite her denials, he senses the attraction is mutual, and redoubles his efforts even though she pushes him away. Beloved by the locals, sharp, and lovely, Elinor is a siren he can’t resist, even as he has his employee (John Fielding – the boy who saved his life in prison) proceed with her ruination. (Ahem). When Elinor refuses Stephen’s impulsive offer of marriage, he vows to stay away and returns to London. But then she turns up in London a few days later and asks for his help, and Stephen is powerless to refuse.
LaViolette makes it extremely difficult to dislike Stephen – he’s charming and generous and gentle and besotted and bewildered by his feelings for Elinor, but we know he’s up to no good! Revenge has been his close friend for so long, Stephen can’t conceive of his future without it. He pursues Elinor to eventually ruin her, and behind the scenes he schemes – with John Fielding doing much of his dirty work – to financially destroy her father, Viscount Yarmouth, and his heir (Elinor’s brother). Friends, he’s ruthless and relentless. He’s also totally unmoored by his feelings for Elinor, and too scared by those feelings to change course. Honestly, I have to admire LaViolette’s commitment to this morally questionable character; it takes confidence to believe you can redeem a character whose moral compass is so far out of whack. Fortunately, although I won’t spoil the second half of this story, I can promise you his is a satisfying (groveling, oh so much groveling) redemption story.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Elinor hasn’t let the circumstances of her past define her future, and she’s turned adversities into opportunities. Rather than wallow in self-pity over her physical impairment (a crippled foot which causes her to limp) or regrets over the painful injuries she sustained while married, she uses them as motivation to become a physician in order to care for others. She’s unfailingly generous and kind and good – even to her husband’s bastard son whom she discovered living on the estate whilst she was still married. Elinor deserves love and kindness and respect – and instead, she gets Stephen. He threatens her home, her livelihood, and her heart, and she still struggles to resist his relentless charm offensive. Reader, she suspects he’s up to something and falls for him anyway. Even after he proves her right, she…. ha! I’m not going to tell you. But it’s lovely and swoony and everything good that Elinor so richly deserves.
Told in dual PoVs, The Footman unfolds amid flashbacks to that ill-fated kiss, and the events that shape the current story. The pacing is excellent, and I was glued to it from start to finish. LaViolette saves a major plot revelation and surprise twist for late in the second half, and both are perfectly timed for maximum impact as the story winds its way to a lovely, swoony epilogue. Two secondary characters, Beth, Elinor’s long-suffering, matchmaking maid, and the enigmatic John Fielding (who I hope features in a future story), make memorable appearances, and also add a nice bit of levity.
The Footman is a sexy, steamy ode to the redemptive power of love. I enjoyed almost every bit of it, and I can’t wait for the next Masqueraders novel. Highly recommended.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading The Footman, and truthfully, I had my doubts after the first chapter. A young and handsome footman, on his first day of work, is unable to curb his tongue after the daughter of the house, Lady Elinor Yarmouth, accidentally barrels into him and then insults him. Later that evening, at her engagement ball, Lady Elinor impulsively kisses the footman because she’s frustrated with her life and upcoming arranged marriage… Friends, I struggled with this premise right out of the gate. (Honestly, it’s ridiculous). Fortunately, LaViolette (aka Minerva Spencer) somehow transforms this opening chapter into a story I couldn’t put down and didn’t want to end. Vengeance, redemption, and a second chance romance combine in this addictive and entertaining romance.
Iain Vale, the bastard son of a Scottish laird and a whore, was a young, poor, inexperienced footman in a wealthy London household. He’s in the wrong place at the wrong time when Lady Elinor Yarmouth spots him yawning at her engagement ball, and before he realizes what she’s about, she’s kissing him. When her fiancé spots them, he nearly beats Iain to death before having him arrested and charged with rape. He barely survives his time in jail (a stranger defends him from an attack by fellow inmates), before his uncle helps him escape by bribing a pair of guards. Filthy and starving, with a bounty on his head, he boards a ship bound for America. Fifteen years later, he’s returned to England as Stephen Worth, a wealthy banker from Boston, and he wants revenge on the people who casually ruined his life. His first stop is Blackfriars, home to Lady Elinor Trentham.
After that impulsive kiss, Lady Elinor watched helplessly as her fiancé, Edward Atwood, Earl of Trentham, nearly beat the innocent man to death and then coldly renegotiated his marriage contract with her father. Alternately referring to her as a whore and a slut, he informs her he’s cancelled the wedding at St. George’s Church, and instead arranged for a special license.
“We shall spend one night in Trentham House before you are removed to Blackfriars, where I will return every month until you are breeding.” His eyes flickered over her and he made no effort to hide his distaste.The marriage, an agony marked by vicious abuse, rape, and multiple miscarriages, cured her of any romantic notions. Now a widow living in the Dower House, Elinor is mostly free to live as she chooses with little interference from Charles Atwood, the loathsome, venal Fifth Earl of Trentham. And despite her meagre jointure and reduced circumstances, she’s determined never to marry again. Instead, after treating her own injuries for so many years, she’s studying to become a physician under the tutelage of the local doctor.
When Charles introduces Elinor to Stephen Worth, explaining that the handsome stranger is interested in purchasing the estate, Elinor tries to quell her panic:
… the land was in bad enough condition, but the house itself would require a monstrous amount of money to repair and operate.But it soon becomes clear that Mr. Worth is interested in Blackfriars – and her; he keeps showing up wherever she is. Elinor doesn’t have time for his games or his flirting or her own attraction to him (which she valiantly tries to suppress), and she avoids him whenever possible. His attentions confuse her – why would such a handsome, wealthy, eligible bachelor pursue a poor, lame widow? And despite her best intentions to ignore him, she’s flattered by his attentions. But Elinor rebuffs him, anyway. She senses there’s more to Stephen than meets the eye, and she’ll never let another man control her ever again.
Although Stephen pursues Elinor and his revenge with a vengeance, he can’t help his growing affection for her. The widow is nothing like the impulsive, reckless girl he remembers, and he craves opportunities to spend time with her. Despite her denials, he senses the attraction is mutual, and redoubles his efforts even though she pushes him away. Beloved by the locals, sharp, and lovely, Elinor is a siren he can’t resist, even as he has his employee (John Fielding – the boy who saved his life in prison) proceed with her ruination. (Ahem). When Elinor refuses Stephen’s impulsive offer of marriage, he vows to stay away and returns to London. But then she turns up in London a few days later and asks for his help, and Stephen is powerless to refuse.
LaViolette makes it extremely difficult to dislike Stephen – he’s charming and generous and gentle and besotted and bewildered by his feelings for Elinor, but we know he’s up to no good! Revenge has been his close friend for so long, Stephen can’t conceive of his future without it. He pursues Elinor to eventually ruin her, and behind the scenes he schemes – with John Fielding doing much of his dirty work – to financially destroy her father, Viscount Yarmouth, and his heir (Elinor’s brother). Friends, he’s ruthless and relentless. He’s also totally unmoored by his feelings for Elinor, and too scared by those feelings to change course. Honestly, I have to admire LaViolette’s commitment to this morally questionable character; it takes confidence to believe you can redeem a character whose moral compass is so far out of whack. Fortunately, although I won’t spoil the second half of this story, I can promise you his is a satisfying (groveling, oh so much groveling) redemption story.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Elinor hasn’t let the circumstances of her past define her future, and she’s turned adversities into opportunities. Rather than wallow in self-pity over her physical impairment (a crippled foot which causes her to limp) or regrets over the painful injuries she sustained while married, she uses them as motivation to become a physician in order to care for others. She’s unfailingly generous and kind and good – even to her husband’s bastard son whom she discovered living on the estate whilst she was still married. Elinor deserves love and kindness and respect – and instead, she gets Stephen. He threatens her home, her livelihood, and her heart, and she still struggles to resist his relentless charm offensive. Reader, she suspects he’s up to something and falls for him anyway. Even after he proves her right, she…. ha! I’m not going to tell you. But it’s lovely and swoony and everything good that Elinor so richly deserves.
Told in dual PoVs, The Footman unfolds amid flashbacks to that ill-fated kiss, and the events that shape the current story. The pacing is excellent, and I was glued to it from start to finish. LaViolette saves a major plot revelation and surprise twist for late in the second half, and both are perfectly timed for maximum impact as the story winds its way to a lovely, swoony epilogue. Two secondary characters, Beth, Elinor’s long-suffering, matchmaking maid, and the enigmatic John Fielding (who I hope features in a future story), make memorable appearances, and also add a nice bit of levity.
The Footman is a sexy, steamy ode to the redemptive power of love. I enjoyed almost every bit of it, and I can’t wait for the next Masqueraders novel. Highly recommended.
December 4, 2022
Now the first thing I have to say is that when reading the first few chapters it really reminded me of Again The Magic by Lisa Kleypas. As the story goes on it does veer away from it.
.
What happened to Stephen was horrible. And I really did understand his desire for revenge and vengeance. I don’t think that his plans were unjustified considering what had happened to him.
.
In the first couple of pages I didn’t actually like Elinor. I thought she was just selfish and spoilt. Then when you learn her story and find out the things she endured in her marriage it was just utterly horrible and heartbreaking!
.
I would say as a whole the book is a slow burn and the first half did feel like I was just waiting and waiting for the things I was expecting to pick up, to happen. Also one thing that was frustrating was the tension and build up to any of the 🌶 scenes was great but it felt like they were then cut off.
This author is one of my all time favourites and her Victorian Decadence series is one of the best series I have ever read. Maybe I just wasn’t expecting such tame intimacy. But one thing I think that she does amazingly is incorporate very dark and heavy subjects into her books. And that’s a very difficult skill to achieve yet she does so very well!
.
What happened to Stephen was horrible. And I really did understand his desire for revenge and vengeance. I don’t think that his plans were unjustified considering what had happened to him.
.
In the first couple of pages I didn’t actually like Elinor. I thought she was just selfish and spoilt. Then when you learn her story and find out the things she endured in her marriage it was just utterly horrible and heartbreaking!
.
I would say as a whole the book is a slow burn and the first half did feel like I was just waiting and waiting for the things I was expecting to pick up, to happen. Also one thing that was frustrating was the tension and build up to any of the 🌶 scenes was great but it felt like they were then cut off.
This author is one of my all time favourites and her Victorian Decadence series is one of the best series I have ever read. Maybe I just wasn’t expecting such tame intimacy. But one thing I think that she does amazingly is incorporate very dark and heavy subjects into her books. And that’s a very difficult skill to achieve yet she does so very well!
March 11, 2024
This was an interesting concept, but the execution wasn't great. It has a lot of tropes I wasn't interested in. The biggest one is billionaire romance. He's so rich that literally nothing stands in his way. He literally pays someone 10k for some information. And he has so much power and influence. He's just entirely outsized. And yet he's still so micro focused on revenge, and the delivery of it to be humiliating. Just... Why? Why do this? And then there's the insta-love aspect. From both sides. Doesn't make any sense.
But it's the ending that most frustrates me. She makes all the wrong choices. All of them. And even when it works out, she continues to make all the wrong choices. And ultimately at the end, I was really hoping she WOULDN'T marry him. And instead we spend another couple hours watching as LaViolette tries to un-do an entire books worth of character building so she can make the worst choice: marry him. But why? She had such a good thing going. She's a countess, she can be a doctor and a mistress and rich and be looked up to.
This makes no sense. Such a disappointing ending. The book could have been saved.
Also, his character is entirely unredeemed. It doesn't matter how many good acts this man does to try to balance out the bad, he simply isn't a good person.
But it's the ending that most frustrates me. She makes all the wrong choices. All of them. And even when it works out, she continues to make all the wrong choices. And ultimately at the end, I was really hoping she WOULDN'T marry him. And instead we spend another couple hours watching as LaViolette tries to un-do an entire books worth of character building so she can make the worst choice: marry him. But why? She had such a good thing going. She's a countess, she can be a doctor and a mistress and rich and be looked up to.
This makes no sense. Such a disappointing ending. The book could have been saved.
Also, his character is entirely unredeemed. It doesn't matter how many good acts this man does to try to balance out the bad, he simply isn't a good person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
While this book isn’t a total waste, it’s a fairly superficial treatment of some serious, traumatic subjects, with far more emphasis on sex than on the emotional work these people would have to do in order to sustain a relationship. This author has writing talent and imagination, and I find her work entertaining enough to read but it’s romance junk food. I always end up hungry for more.
September 28, 2020
The Footman, by S.M. LaViolettle. Well, this was a true romance story, stripped from the bottom and build backup. This story had my emotions going this way and that way. At times I was screaming at Elinor to stop being a dummy and accept Stephan back. Actually it should be Elinor asking for Stephan to forgive her.
What’s that saying? What goes around comes around. Well Elinor, the good Lord was looking out for you. While reading Stephans and Elinor’s introduction after their tragic meeting, its like you could feel the anger and the suffering that they went through by the telling of their story. At points I questioned, would they be able to survive from the pure torture?
What would they be like if they did? Would they be bitter and hate the world? As I continue to read the romance story, I could see S.M.’s talent really shining through the telling of this heartbreaking love story. One moment in the story your like, yeah the hero will come and save the day and then the next moment your saying, what a prick he is. At the same time your yelling at Elinor to, “wake up”.
Stop sulking and woman up! I liked that Stephen had John at his back. For all what these two had endured, they needed each other as two brothers would need one another. Elinor had Beth. Beth being their for Elinor, was truly Elinor’s blessing.
If Beth wasn’t their to help light a fire under Elinors girdle, who knows how things would have turned out. Let’s discuss how Stephan and Elinor meet shall we. The romantic couple meet at a young age during a betrothal dinner. Young Elinor has set her site on the young Stephan whose minding his own business. Well someone just couldn’t help herself, and decides that she needs a little taste of the footman.
What’s this we have here?, said would be future groom. Before you know it two people are in the throws of fisticuffs. Blood is flying everywhere. Frantic screams and cursing slurs are just part of the horrific attack.
And when you thought that was the end of it, oh no you diehard readers. To save face and value from the ton, someone is accused of a heinous crime and thrown in jail. The betrothed wedding must go on, they say. Years of hate, torture, crimes, and the strong will to survive just to seek revenge, collides Stephen and Elinor together years later. Stephen had one mission, destroy the people who destroyed him.
Elinor, suffering instilled in her to become a doctor, to help the weak and helpless. Stephan is swept off his feet by Elinor. Elinor is a bit weary of Stephen, but she’s willing to give him a chance after Beth nearly had to forcibly push her over that self doubt cliff. Before you know it, Stephan and Elinor come together in the throws of passion. Then the challenges of being in love really happens.
I recommend this book book with two snaps and a, can everyone just choose one name and stick with it? Until next time my fellow readers... read on! I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
What’s that saying? What goes around comes around. Well Elinor, the good Lord was looking out for you. While reading Stephans and Elinor’s introduction after their tragic meeting, its like you could feel the anger and the suffering that they went through by the telling of their story. At points I questioned, would they be able to survive from the pure torture?
What would they be like if they did? Would they be bitter and hate the world? As I continue to read the romance story, I could see S.M.’s talent really shining through the telling of this heartbreaking love story. One moment in the story your like, yeah the hero will come and save the day and then the next moment your saying, what a prick he is. At the same time your yelling at Elinor to, “wake up”.
Stop sulking and woman up! I liked that Stephen had John at his back. For all what these two had endured, they needed each other as two brothers would need one another. Elinor had Beth. Beth being their for Elinor, was truly Elinor’s blessing.
If Beth wasn’t their to help light a fire under Elinors girdle, who knows how things would have turned out. Let’s discuss how Stephan and Elinor meet shall we. The romantic couple meet at a young age during a betrothal dinner. Young Elinor has set her site on the young Stephan whose minding his own business. Well someone just couldn’t help herself, and decides that she needs a little taste of the footman.
What’s this we have here?, said would be future groom. Before you know it two people are in the throws of fisticuffs. Blood is flying everywhere. Frantic screams and cursing slurs are just part of the horrific attack.
And when you thought that was the end of it, oh no you diehard readers. To save face and value from the ton, someone is accused of a heinous crime and thrown in jail. The betrothed wedding must go on, they say. Years of hate, torture, crimes, and the strong will to survive just to seek revenge, collides Stephen and Elinor together years later. Stephen had one mission, destroy the people who destroyed him.
Elinor, suffering instilled in her to become a doctor, to help the weak and helpless. Stephan is swept off his feet by Elinor. Elinor is a bit weary of Stephen, but she’s willing to give him a chance after Beth nearly had to forcibly push her over that self doubt cliff. Before you know it, Stephan and Elinor come together in the throws of passion. Then the challenges of being in love really happens.
I recommend this book book with two snaps and a, can everyone just choose one name and stick with it? Until next time my fellow readers... read on! I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
April 5, 2020
Lady Elinor wants nothing to do with love. Her arranged marriage—and one glorious but ill-fated kiss with a handsome footman—cured her of any romantic notions she’d ever entertained. Now a widow, all Elinor plans to do is rebuild her life—without a man in it. She certainly has no intention of falling for the charming and entirely too tempting American who seems so determined to win her favour …
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He’ll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it. But it’s not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions—and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge.
A page turning read that grabbed me from the first page & final let go with the epilogue. I don’t usually like flashbacks but in this story they worked. I loved Stephen & how he’d literally pulled himself up by his boot straps, I also loved Elinor who had also suffered & could totally understand why she didn’t want to remarry. Together they were electric. There were revelations, which surprised me but also endeared me to some characters even more. The characters were very well portrayed with plenty of depth, the secondary characters were also well fleshed & I hope John & Jago have their stories too. A well written lovely romance that warmed my heart
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He’ll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it. But it’s not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions—and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge.
A page turning read that grabbed me from the first page & final let go with the epilogue. I don’t usually like flashbacks but in this story they worked. I loved Stephen & how he’d literally pulled himself up by his boot straps, I also loved Elinor who had also suffered & could totally understand why she didn’t want to remarry. Together they were electric. There were revelations, which surprised me but also endeared me to some characters even more. The characters were very well portrayed with plenty of depth, the secondary characters were also well fleshed & I hope John & Jago have their stories too. A well written lovely romance that warmed my heart
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
April 26, 2025
Excellent. The dark side of Minerva Spencer is a really good place to spend some time. I have enjoyed all her books but this one is particularly well done. This is not the first RR I’ve read with a revenge/enemies to lovers trope but it’s definitely the best. It is based on some very adult themes but the focus is on overcoming the past and learning to trust and forgive. The characters, the plot, the pacing, and the resolution are all extremely well done. I hope the next two books in the series are as good, but I’m certain they will be. I don’t think Miss Spencer could write a bad book. The audiobook is very well done. Highly recommended.
April 30, 2020
The Footman (The Masqueraders Book 1) by Minerva Spencer S.M. LaViolette
This book took me down the proverbial rabbit hole and reminded me of one of my favorite classic story, but sooooooo much more! The raw emotion of each of the characters drew me into their plights.
What I loved most about this story was when I found out what the heroine had done behind the scenes after that fateful incident that affected and caused so many people years of pain, hate, and planned vengeance! Very intelligent and witty plotting. The book also sets up future stories of some of the characters that I will be watching for. Happy Reading♥️
Content: Adult, Rated
Some reader’s may be offended by the very steamy and strong explicit sex scene descriptions and words.
5 out of 5 flames! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This book took me down the proverbial rabbit hole and reminded me of one of my favorite classic story, but sooooooo much more! The raw emotion of each of the characters drew me into their plights.
What I loved most about this story was when I found out what the heroine had done behind the scenes after that fateful incident that affected and caused so many people years of pain, hate, and planned vengeance! Very intelligent and witty plotting. The book also sets up future stories of some of the characters that I will be watching for. Happy Reading♥️
Content: Adult, Rated
Some reader’s may be offended by the very steamy and strong explicit sex scene descriptions and words.
5 out of 5 flames! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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