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Beauty and the Scarred Hero
The scars of major Reynolds. Major Nicholas Reynolds returns from the Battle of Waterloo a hero. Once, his rakish good looks ensured he had his pick of beauties, but now his battle-scarred face exiles him from high society. Lady Isabella Knox is horrified by the cruel gossip surrounding Nicholas, but intrigued by the man whose steely glance makes her blush on the outside...and burn deep onthe inside. A few stolen kisses later this beauty knows she's lost her head -- and her heart-- to the most notorious gentleman of the ton...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 21, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 12, 2019
I was quietly and happily lapping up the sweet, simple slowness of this book - till the author did what she does best - self-combust! Same happened in her My Lady Thief.
My inner ratings-meter was steadily hovering between a 4 and a 5 despite the slow (damn slow!) feel of a traditional regency (quite a feat for a newer author) but it badly crashed to a Say-Whaaaaat! 2 at the idiotic let down of the last act.
But I love this Beauty and the Beast tale with a twist.
Here Beauty is responsible for the some of the maligning of the beast. She tries to make amends but Beast wants his pound of flesh. He wants revenge and is looking for his slanderer while the slanderer sneaks in and homes right under his heart. All sweet and sigh-worthy till the big showdown between the h/H ratchets up the angst. Slow-burn, yes but riveting stuff.
The author should have wrapped it on the high here.
But she wanted to crash-land, so crash-land she does.
A/N: There's a re-told version. Maybe the ending's done better there.
My inner ratings-meter was steadily hovering between a 4 and a 5 despite the slow (damn slow!) feel of a traditional regency (quite a feat for a newer author) but it badly crashed to a Say-Whaaaaat! 2 at the idiotic let down of the last act.
But I love this Beauty and the Beast tale with a twist.
Here Beauty is responsible for the some of the maligning of the beast. She tries to make amends but Beast wants his pound of flesh. He wants revenge and is looking for his slanderer while the slanderer sneaks in and homes right under his heart. All sweet and sigh-worthy till the big showdown between the h/H ratchets up the angst. Slow-burn, yes but riveting stuff.
The author should have wrapped it on the high here.
But she wanted to crash-land, so crash-land she does.
A/N: There's a re-told version. Maybe the ending's done better there.
May 31, 2016
This started out so promising.
Isabella the H, a mature heroine at 29 - yeah, yeah I know, rescues a blithering 17 year old idiot at an inn. Blithering idiot is running away from an arranged marriage gruff, heart of stone grandfather has arranged with a scarred high born soldier aka The Ogre. The idjit is running from an arranged marriage with the H. Isabella takes her home until she can find her aunt or someone to take her.
Isabella makes the mistake about using the term "ogre" in front of a gossip and all hell breaks loose for our scarred hero at a ball. Once Isabella hears how the term has taken off especially after she meets the upstanding, stalwart H, she feels terrible and wants to make amends. Being the daughter and sister of Dukes she is something of a catch, and she has the H squire her to balls etc to increase his star quota. In the meantime, the H wants to find out who labeled him this name and take retribution.
Due to skimming, I lost a little in the plot, but I was fully prepared to go back. However, an incident occurred that made me drop this from a 4 star to a minimal 2 star.
It all ends with a HEA, but there were so many plotlines dropped.
What happened to the H's nephew?
How was the relationship and his bossy, gross older brother resolved?
Good idea, but too many story lines that never got resolved. If this was the beginning of a series, the questions could be viewed differently.
Isabella the H, a mature heroine at 29 - yeah, yeah I know, rescues a blithering 17 year old idiot at an inn. Blithering idiot is running away from an arranged marriage gruff, heart of stone grandfather has arranged with a scarred high born soldier aka The Ogre. The idjit is running from an arranged marriage with the H. Isabella takes her home until she can find her aunt or someone to take her.
Isabella makes the mistake about using the term "ogre" in front of a gossip and all hell breaks loose for our scarred hero at a ball. Once Isabella hears how the term has taken off especially after she meets the upstanding, stalwart H, she feels terrible and wants to make amends. Being the daughter and sister of Dukes she is something of a catch, and she has the H squire her to balls etc to increase his star quota. In the meantime, the H wants to find out who labeled him this name and take retribution.
Due to skimming, I lost a little in the plot, but I was fully prepared to go back. However, an incident occurred that made me drop this from a 4 star to a minimal 2 star.
It all ends with a HEA, but there were so many plotlines dropped.
What happened to the H's nephew?
How was the relationship and his bossy, gross older brother resolved?
Good idea, but too many story lines that never got resolved. If this was the beginning of a series, the questions could be viewed differently.
Read
March 1, 2010Oh man, Major Nicholas is definitely hero material. I instantly fell in love with the character. Lady Isabella is perfect for him. She is a strong heroine who won't take nothing from him or anyone else. :) Their romance kept me up late into the night. The story is obviously about a man wounded in battle, in this case Waterloo, and a woman brave enough to face him and the cruel gossip of the Ton. Passions of all sorts run high in this tale, all very sigh worthy. ;)
June 9, 2015
How do you rate a book that was at least 3.5 stars read and then 85% into the story the hero did such a stupid, dishonorable, completely out of character thing that left you in total disbelieve? And the way the heroine reacted to it... you lost some respect for her as well. Oh why, why the author did this? It ruined the whole story for me.
November 9, 2013
First, let me say, I hate Emily May for making me feel so utterly inadequate. I suck and she deserves to be far more widely read and enjoyed.
That said through gritted teeth with spittle flying, I must also admit, I LOVE her fluent writing, her crisp and very convincing character portrayals and the interesting jeopardy her heroines face. I wish it wasn't the same plot again, with a hero, here Major Nicholas Reynolds, seeking to unmask the identity of the heroine, a female who has crossed him somehow. But in this case, as with The Spinster's Secret and another title, the heroine, Lady Isabella Knox, has a really good reason to hide her identity and has the strength of character to want nevertheless seek to undo the harm she's done inadvertently to the scarred, abandoned Major at the same time.
By chance, she's sheltering a runaway girl of good breeding who has defied her rigid grandfather, the Colonel, and fled rather than marry the Major, to whom she was affianced out of the schoolroom. In the meantime, a slip of Lady Isabella's tongue brands the Major 'an ogre' and his horrific scar serves as a focal point for missish girls and matron's disapprobation. He is not just humiliated, his hopes to marry anyone, much less a quiet, biddable young lady, are quashed by this cruel epithet. That is, until Lady Isabella advises him to face down his snickering detractors and join her in a harmless but meaningful flirt. As a duke's eldest daughter who has spurned all suitors to date, she means to resuscitate his prospects in the Marriage Mart by setting the example and letting him be seen as a desirable partner to one of Society's most desirable and elusive women.
But he's determined to find his former fiancee' benefactress and open a can of Regency-era whoop-ass on the interfering female. SO, Lady Isabella has to walk a fine line, fearing all the while she allows him to escort her around Town, that he will discover her perfidy. And he is a seriously dangerous, and very annoyed, man.
I was on the edge of my seat reading and waiting for the Major to find out who's who and see what happens next. And having just finished I can honestly say I was surprised by some developments, not just the big reveal. This was great fun to read! Still, it's 4.5 on the Emily May scale with Spinster's Secret an easy 5.
That said through gritted teeth with spittle flying, I must also admit, I LOVE her fluent writing, her crisp and very convincing character portrayals and the interesting jeopardy her heroines face. I wish it wasn't the same plot again, with a hero, here Major Nicholas Reynolds, seeking to unmask the identity of the heroine, a female who has crossed him somehow. But in this case, as with The Spinster's Secret and another title, the heroine, Lady Isabella Knox, has a really good reason to hide her identity and has the strength of character to want nevertheless seek to undo the harm she's done inadvertently to the scarred, abandoned Major at the same time.
By chance, she's sheltering a runaway girl of good breeding who has defied her rigid grandfather, the Colonel, and fled rather than marry the Major, to whom she was affianced out of the schoolroom. In the meantime, a slip of Lady Isabella's tongue brands the Major 'an ogre' and his horrific scar serves as a focal point for missish girls and matron's disapprobation. He is not just humiliated, his hopes to marry anyone, much less a quiet, biddable young lady, are quashed by this cruel epithet. That is, until Lady Isabella advises him to face down his snickering detractors and join her in a harmless but meaningful flirt. As a duke's eldest daughter who has spurned all suitors to date, she means to resuscitate his prospects in the Marriage Mart by setting the example and letting him be seen as a desirable partner to one of Society's most desirable and elusive women.
But he's determined to find his former fiancee' benefactress and open a can of Regency-era whoop-ass on the interfering female. SO, Lady Isabella has to walk a fine line, fearing all the while she allows him to escort her around Town, that he will discover her perfidy. And he is a seriously dangerous, and very annoyed, man.
I was on the edge of my seat reading and waiting for the Major to find out who's who and see what happens next. And having just finished I can honestly say I was surprised by some developments, not just the big reveal. This was great fun to read! Still, it's 4.5 on the Emily May scale with Spinster's Secret an easy 5.
April 10, 2014
2011
Quite good for a category regency. I always like it when the hero and heroine are a bit older and people with experience. I've also got a thing for military men in historical romances, so that was an extra positive.
Both Nicholas and Isabella were very good people. I loved seeing them become friends and slowly fall in love. I liked that when the final obstacle came into play (by which I was totally miffed and a bit pissy), they both did what was right - their duty. Oh how I love those typical regency obstacles to love.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading this, and I recommend it to readers in need of a quick regency fix.
2014
Upon rereading this I really, really loved this one. I think that it was because I saw the big hurdle coming at the end this time, that I was slightly less pissed about the situation, and all the great moments carried me through it more easily this time.
There's a conversation in a phaeton, where the two of them very, very subtle ask the important questions whether they'd be the right person for each other that's just so moving and perfect and subtle and argh. I just don't know that many regency categories where I both love the hero and heroine equally.
So upped it to 4 stars, because it deserves it.
Quite good for a category regency. I always like it when the hero and heroine are a bit older and people with experience. I've also got a thing for military men in historical romances, so that was an extra positive.
Both Nicholas and Isabella were very good people. I loved seeing them become friends and slowly fall in love. I liked that when the final obstacle came into play (by which I was totally miffed and a bit pissy), they both did what was right - their duty. Oh how I love those typical regency obstacles to love.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading this, and I recommend it to readers in need of a quick regency fix.
2014
Upon rereading this I really, really loved this one. I think that it was because I saw the big hurdle coming at the end this time, that I was slightly less pissed about the situation, and all the great moments carried me through it more easily this time.
There's a conversation in a phaeton, where the two of them very, very subtle ask the important questions whether they'd be the right person for each other that's just so moving and perfect and subtle and argh. I just don't know that many regency categories where I both love the hero and heroine equally.
So upped it to 4 stars, because it deserves it.
Did not finish
February 4, 2020Eh..no.
I'm not even sure why I had this on my wishlist but not even 10 pages in I had to stop. The flat world building and wooden characters with the heroine "my child" "my dear"ing everything made her sound like a fairy godmother. Or Mother Abbess. Why is your heroine talking like a nun? It was weird. Plus there are no transition breaks between paragraphs.
I'm not even sure why I had this on my wishlist but not even 10 pages in I had to stop. The flat world building and wooden characters with the heroine "my child" "my dear"ing everything made her sound like a fairy godmother. Or Mother Abbess. Why is your heroine talking like a nun? It was weird. Plus there are no transition breaks between paragraphs.
December 27, 2010
I was disappointed with The Earl's Dilemma, but I had already bought this during a sale, so I thought I'd give it a try. This was a much better book by Emily May. There's less repetition and exclamation points. Characters are fully realized. There were some plot points that I thought could have been expanded, didn't detract too much from the story.
I love a good beauty and the beast story, and this one delivered for me. Nicholas comes back from the war scarred and just wants to marry a young bride who won't give him any trouble. Isabella accidentally starts some gossip about Nicholas, and tries to atone by helping him find a bride.
I liked Isabella's self awareness. She's social and enjoys the ton, but isn't shallow. She's secure in herself and in her station as a Duke's sister. She enjoys her life and sees no reason to marry. Nicholas was a great tortured hero. He's self-conscious of his scar and just wants to quickly find a bride so he can escape from London. A young bride who he can mold. The complete opposite of Isabella.
I loved watching the two of them get to know each other and fall in love. The two of them fit together wonderfully. Neither of them acted like an idiot to further the plot. Their reactions were totally in-character and appropriate. The ending was a bit too dramatically convenient for my taste, but the resolution still made me go, "awww".
This was such a wonderful book. I plan on buying her next one, The Unmasking of a Lady, as soon as my wallet recovers from the holidays.
I love a good beauty and the beast story, and this one delivered for me. Nicholas comes back from the war scarred and just wants to marry a young bride who won't give him any trouble. Isabella accidentally starts some gossip about Nicholas, and tries to atone by helping him find a bride.
I liked Isabella's self awareness. She's social and enjoys the ton, but isn't shallow. She's secure in herself and in her station as a Duke's sister. She enjoys her life and sees no reason to marry. Nicholas was a great tortured hero. He's self-conscious of his scar and just wants to quickly find a bride so he can escape from London. A young bride who he can mold. The complete opposite of Isabella.
I loved watching the two of them get to know each other and fall in love. The two of them fit together wonderfully. Neither of them acted like an idiot to further the plot. Their reactions were totally in-character and appropriate. The ending was a bit too dramatically convenient for my taste, but the resolution still made me go, "awww".
This was such a wonderful book. I plan on buying her next one, The Unmasking of a Lady, as soon as my wallet recovers from the holidays.
January 1, 2024
They are both principled people who hold themselves to high standards. The h causes unkind gossip about the H. While they fall in love, she kept secrets and hurt them both. Love this author.
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August 22, 2015
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
Beauty and the Scarred Hero by Emily May was, for the most part, another good read. I’m a sucker for scarred hero, no wonder I wanted to check this one out! I enjoyed this story mostly and had not been for some frustrating moments, I think I would’ve loved this one even better.
This book, again, featured another wonderful h, Lady Isabella Knox; spinster, a little whimsical, a daughter and a sister to the Dukes of Middlebury. It’s because she’s the sister of the current duke isn’t the only reason why at 28, Isabella is still on the peak of her popularity. She is also a tall, blonde beauty, or as Nicholas would call her over and over again; a goddess. She loves the Season and whatever London brings at the time of one and the London loves her right back! Isabella is also a rescuer of weak things- be it a dog, or, in this case, a human being.
As she was returning from her sojourn in the country where she got acquainted with her newest nephew (from her Duke brother), Isabella finds this young girl who has run away from her home to escape an unwanted marriage, at the doorstep of the inn she was staying in. When the innkeeper denies giving the girl a place for the night, Isabella can’t help but step in. One thing led to another and she finds herself saddled with the weepy girl, without a clue about what to do with her. Even though, her loyal lady’s maid, Patridge, gave Isabella a look of disapproval, she thought once she figures out what to do she’ll take care of Harriet’s problem. The girl says she has an aunt somewhere and if she can get to her, problem solved! But what Isabella didn’t count on was the kind of ‘trouble’ she’d be getting into soon enough, no thanks to a slip of her tongue regarding the girl’s much older fiancé.
Isabella learns from Harriet that she’s an orphan. Her autocratic grandfather wanted her to marry this older man, ordered most likely. Harriet had no liking for either man, and so she thought running away was the only option for her. Major Nicholas Reynolds, according to Harriet, was an ‘ogre’. Isabella feels instantly protective of her and ends up giving Harriet a room in her London townhouse until she can contact with her aunt, all the while keeping it a complete secret from anyone outside so that there’s no additional trouble. Unfortunately, easier said than done. When she attends to a party thrown by her close friend, Augusta or Gussie, who couldn’t help gushing over her cousin, Isabella soon learns it was the same Major Nicholas and her mouth somehow got ahead of her and she ends up with a ‘The Ogre?!’. Gussie though comes to the instant support of Nicholas but the damage was done. Some gossipy biddy already had heard Isabella and in moments, it was around the ball. When Nicholas, very reluctantly, attends the ball later just because it was thrown by his favorite cousin and hears word ‘ogre’, he knew this was going to be a very unpleasant night.
Nicholas has been a soldier since his early 20s. The second son of an Earl, this was what he chose thinking of all the glories his profession would bring. Unfortunately, in the past 13 yrs. or so his illusions have been shattered completely. He’d learned that there’s more mud, blood and lice than glory in this profession, not to mention the disfigurement to the ones who weren’t ‘lucky’ enough to die after an ordeal. Nicholas has recently sold his commission and has been taking care of his country estate inherited from his maternal grandmother in hopes of marrying and making a family of his own. But his one shortcoming, a half burnt face, is making things difficult. Nicholas is a proud man. Being in military has shaped his life and thinking process. So where people saw an ugly, reddish scar tissue on the half of his face, Nicholas is only reminded of how lucky he’d been that fateful day and the men who died in that fire. Nicholas was the sole survivor, still bearing the survivor’s guilt. But most people don’t know that, and they don’t care either.
Nicholas is looking for a young bride whom he can mould to his liking; another ‘thing’ he picked up in his days as an officer who has trained plenty of young soldiers. He wanted peace and quiet; a marriage without passion. Falling in love hasn’t even crossed his mind, just a family of his own with a wife who won’t make too much fuss was all. Sadly, easier said than done. The one chit he’d decided upon, a colonel’s granddaughter, has ran away making him the laughingstock of the Ton. Not that he cared for the Ton either and had any intensions of attending any balls or parties, had it not been for his quest of a biddable bride. But now, their snickers have gotten out of hand, thanks to a woman who has given Harriet shelter; from him. Who has also given him a sobriquet; The Ogre. Nicholas was so mad about this humiliation that he vows to find the woman and teach her a lesson. He confides as much to Lady Isabella on one of their outings, leaving her rather worried.
Now you may ask how the hell Nicholas ended up going out with Isabella! Well, this is how: the ball where she made the blunder, Isabella was introduced to Nicholas soon thereafter by Gussie. She didn’t like him at first, knowing whatever she did from Harriet’s POV. The scar must’ve bothered Harriet a lot since her reaction to Nicholas was quite severe. Even if it was a mistake, the damage to his reputation was also severe. Isabella was feeling extremely guilty and a need to fix it. Even though no one told Nicholas whose slip of tongue it was, she still felt it was her duty to smooth things over, which is how Isabella comes up with a plan; more precisely, a rescue plan. Typical Isabella, even though she knew she’s going to get in bigger trouble once all is revealed. It wasn’t surprising Nicholas noticed Isabella’s beauty on spot, everyone with a pair of eyes did. She was aware of her allure, but I loved that she never tried to use it to get her way. She was the type who took their beauty in stride, comfortable in their skin.
Isabella had noticed Nicholas’s interest and proposes that they start spending time together. Then the Ton would be speculating more about their supposed courtship rather than wasting time on his new sobriquet. After all, courting a Duke’s sister would be an adventurous opportunity for Nicholas. It’d also smooth his way in the marriage market, even if they never take it to the official stage. Nicholas saw the point, and though he thought the cause maybe a waste of time, he couldn’t deny himself the pleasure of the companionship of a beautiful woman. Even if for a month as his fake would-be fiancée.
And so they start their regular outings, balls, soirees, rides at Hyde Park to be seen together as much as possible. And the more they spend time together, the more attached Isabella and Nicholas begin to become, to each-other. To Isabella, the scar on Nicholas’s face began to lose its grotesque power each day, leaving only the man inside, someone she comes to respect. She discovers a good, capable man. An honest man, even if a bit misguided in his quest for a bride. She doesn’t forget to point it out to Nicholas either, who had already started falling under the spell of Isabella’s carefree and whimsical nature. He begins noticing her wit and intelligence, enjoying every moment they spend together; be it riding beside her in the Hyde Park or rescuing drowning kittens from a roadside canal. The development of their relationship was slow but it was wonderful to watch them fall for each-other even before they knew what had hit them! The way they’d secretly crave each-other’s company a bit more, until it turned into a secret yearning to be something more than just friends. But Isabella knew she’s ‘too old’ for Nicholas’ choice of a bride, while he knew she had no interest in marrying. Isabella had always boasted of her independent life and how much she preferred it to becoming a chattel to a man, so Nicholas thought he didn’t even stand a chance.
But their attraction was so palpable that at one point Nicholas broaches this subject to Isabella; why doesn’t she want to get married? Does she, for that matter, have any idea about the pleasures of a marriage bed? Of how good it can be between a suitable couple? Of course she hadn’t. Isabella was engaged once (I think) but it went nowhere. Then the fortune hunters who wanted nothing but her dowry, if not her physical beauty, completely put her off. But Nicholas she knew wasn’t a fortune hunter by any means. He’s an older, experienced man who has known living without the luxuries of life. Isabella trusted him. And for Nicholas that was the only weapon to make her feel what’s been happening between them. A kiss was all it took for Isabella’s brain to scramble, her thought process to take a different turn. It felt so good with Nicholas that she couldn’t begin to imagine what she has been missing out for so long. They both chalked it off as mere lust, but was that all? That’s the question both dreaded asking. Isabella more, because she had her secret still tucked away in her townhouse. And because she knew once Nicholas is aware of it, it’ll ruin the beautiful thing that has bloomed between them. But Isabella also knew that she had to come clean if they were to go anywhere from here.
From the first kiss, it turns into hundreds of other kisses, most of them stolen here and there, the excitement and the secret pleasure of being held in each-other’s arms. Isabella and Nicholas couldn’t get enough of each-other! Well, Nicholas is a handsome man with the physique of that of a military man, which Isabella had always admired. He was also, if one of his commanders they met later in a ball was correct, used to be quite the ladies man before his accident. Everyone liked him there was no doubt of it. Though Isabella had found Nicholas cold and aloof at first, now she knew better. Even though he has become a recluse of sort, and for good reasons, there was no denying she was falling for him, and hard. If their kisses proved anything, Nicholas was as mad about her as she was for him. But where is it going to lead them to? Harriet’s aunt still hasn’t replied to her queries. Time was passing by and Isabella had no idea what to do with her if her aunt never replies. And for once, she was also annoyed with the ever weepy girl (she cried at the drop of a hat, at every single thing!) and kept wondering how had the silly girl ever thought of Nicholas an ogre! Goes to show just how immature Harriet was. Isabella regretted her slip now more than ever, even though by then Nicholas had taken the insults in stride, learning to ignore them, all because he couldn’t see anything but Isabella by his side.
But then, things turn rather bad. While the question hung in the air between them, Nicholas comes to a decision. Even though he wanted it to be only something physical, he begins realizing that he wanted Isabella more than just a passing affair. He enjoyed her company so very much, he couldn’t imagine being without her. At the same time, Isabella also decides that it’s time she comes clean before their relationship goes any further. Unfortunately, she was the one who got to state her case first... and, you can only imagine. The shock of it was a bit too much for Nicholas. He acts very rash, with cold and cutting remarks to Isabella. He felt that Isabella did that on purpose, to make fun of him, though she kept trying to convince him that it was an accident. I can only surmise that for Nicholas, the humiliation of the years after his accident simply caught up with him. This time it hurt too deep because he was in love with her. And so, he leaves Isabella all weepy and remorseful, even leaving London without notice to drown himself in despair. She, on the other hand, spends the days that passed all hurt, knowing it’s all over for them even before it had began. Isabella tries her best to return to her old carefree self, but damage was done to her too. This time it was her heart. No matter what she did, nothing helped from the misery of knowing she’d never see Nicholas again.
Frankly, I understood Nicholas’ shock and his subsequent reaction but to leave that way and then spend the next 3 weeks in an inn, drinking himself to stupor, was a bit too much. So unlike the strong man that I’ve come to associate him with! It took him that long to come to his senses, to finally rouse himself from his drunken stupor and revisit Isabella’s words to see that her remorse was genuine. This time, Nicholas knew he has to beg for her forgiveness, work hard to convince her that he what he did was wrong, and that he needs another chance. Which Isabella gives him without much of a fight. I didn’t want any fight between them either. Then Nicholas asks for her hand, which was, of course, returned with a ‘yes’ and they end up celebrating this new start of their lives by making love. I thought all was good and this might be the end of all of their trouble.
Very regrettably, that wasn’t the case for it seemed that the worst was yet to come! In the midst of their happiness, Harriet, as usual, dumps cold water (or salty water if you count her ever weepy self, gosh that girl was not only immature, but absolutely intolerable!) by deciding suddenly that she wants to ‘keep’ her words to the Major. Yep, NOW she’ll marry him! It comes right after when they find out that her aunt has remarried and left for America. Seeing no other option she’d decided Nicholas could be her guardian of sort. But what surprised the hell outta me was Nicholas’s ‘duty first, have to honor my words’ decision, which was not only unexpected but also, not at all honorable in the lights of the fact that he’d already slept with Isabella, even if I don’t count in the fact of their shared feelings. I mean HOW COULD HE just stand there and said ‘alright’ to Harriet?! And HOW COULD Isabella have agreed to that decision so meekly for that matter? The whole thing was so out of character for both that I was left completely astonished!
And I simply wanted to beat some sense into that weepy idiot!
This was the part that completely flabbergasted me. Just when I was imagining a sigh-worthy HEA, this is what the author had to throw in to kill the fun? In fact, I was so pissed that the last couple of pages until this mess was sorted out was rather a blur. If the rest of the story hadn’t been so enjoyable, I wouldn’t have rated it 4 stars. Not even close.
Beauty and the Scarred Hero by Emily May was, for the most part, another good read. I’m a sucker for scarred hero, no wonder I wanted to check this one out! I enjoyed this story mostly and had not been for some frustrating moments, I think I would’ve loved this one even better.
This book, again, featured another wonderful h, Lady Isabella Knox; spinster, a little whimsical, a daughter and a sister to the Dukes of Middlebury. It’s because she’s the sister of the current duke isn’t the only reason why at 28, Isabella is still on the peak of her popularity. She is also a tall, blonde beauty, or as Nicholas would call her over and over again; a goddess. She loves the Season and whatever London brings at the time of one and the London loves her right back! Isabella is also a rescuer of weak things- be it a dog, or, in this case, a human being.
As she was returning from her sojourn in the country where she got acquainted with her newest nephew (from her Duke brother), Isabella finds this young girl who has run away from her home to escape an unwanted marriage, at the doorstep of the inn she was staying in. When the innkeeper denies giving the girl a place for the night, Isabella can’t help but step in. One thing led to another and she finds herself saddled with the weepy girl, without a clue about what to do with her. Even though, her loyal lady’s maid, Patridge, gave Isabella a look of disapproval, she thought once she figures out what to do she’ll take care of Harriet’s problem. The girl says she has an aunt somewhere and if she can get to her, problem solved! But what Isabella didn’t count on was the kind of ‘trouble’ she’d be getting into soon enough, no thanks to a slip of her tongue regarding the girl’s much older fiancé.
Isabella learns from Harriet that she’s an orphan. Her autocratic grandfather wanted her to marry this older man, ordered most likely. Harriet had no liking for either man, and so she thought running away was the only option for her. Major Nicholas Reynolds, according to Harriet, was an ‘ogre’. Isabella feels instantly protective of her and ends up giving Harriet a room in her London townhouse until she can contact with her aunt, all the while keeping it a complete secret from anyone outside so that there’s no additional trouble. Unfortunately, easier said than done. When she attends to a party thrown by her close friend, Augusta or Gussie, who couldn’t help gushing over her cousin, Isabella soon learns it was the same Major Nicholas and her mouth somehow got ahead of her and she ends up with a ‘The Ogre?!’. Gussie though comes to the instant support of Nicholas but the damage was done. Some gossipy biddy already had heard Isabella and in moments, it was around the ball. When Nicholas, very reluctantly, attends the ball later just because it was thrown by his favorite cousin and hears word ‘ogre’, he knew this was going to be a very unpleasant night.
Nicholas has been a soldier since his early 20s. The second son of an Earl, this was what he chose thinking of all the glories his profession would bring. Unfortunately, in the past 13 yrs. or so his illusions have been shattered completely. He’d learned that there’s more mud, blood and lice than glory in this profession, not to mention the disfigurement to the ones who weren’t ‘lucky’ enough to die after an ordeal. Nicholas has recently sold his commission and has been taking care of his country estate inherited from his maternal grandmother in hopes of marrying and making a family of his own. But his one shortcoming, a half burnt face, is making things difficult. Nicholas is a proud man. Being in military has shaped his life and thinking process. So where people saw an ugly, reddish scar tissue on the half of his face, Nicholas is only reminded of how lucky he’d been that fateful day and the men who died in that fire. Nicholas was the sole survivor, still bearing the survivor’s guilt. But most people don’t know that, and they don’t care either.
Nicholas is looking for a young bride whom he can mould to his liking; another ‘thing’ he picked up in his days as an officer who has trained plenty of young soldiers. He wanted peace and quiet; a marriage without passion. Falling in love hasn’t even crossed his mind, just a family of his own with a wife who won’t make too much fuss was all. Sadly, easier said than done. The one chit he’d decided upon, a colonel’s granddaughter, has ran away making him the laughingstock of the Ton. Not that he cared for the Ton either and had any intensions of attending any balls or parties, had it not been for his quest of a biddable bride. But now, their snickers have gotten out of hand, thanks to a woman who has given Harriet shelter; from him. Who has also given him a sobriquet; The Ogre. Nicholas was so mad about this humiliation that he vows to find the woman and teach her a lesson. He confides as much to Lady Isabella on one of their outings, leaving her rather worried.
Now you may ask how the hell Nicholas ended up going out with Isabella! Well, this is how: the ball where she made the blunder, Isabella was introduced to Nicholas soon thereafter by Gussie. She didn’t like him at first, knowing whatever she did from Harriet’s POV. The scar must’ve bothered Harriet a lot since her reaction to Nicholas was quite severe. Even if it was a mistake, the damage to his reputation was also severe. Isabella was feeling extremely guilty and a need to fix it. Even though no one told Nicholas whose slip of tongue it was, she still felt it was her duty to smooth things over, which is how Isabella comes up with a plan; more precisely, a rescue plan. Typical Isabella, even though she knew she’s going to get in bigger trouble once all is revealed. It wasn’t surprising Nicholas noticed Isabella’s beauty on spot, everyone with a pair of eyes did. She was aware of her allure, but I loved that she never tried to use it to get her way. She was the type who took their beauty in stride, comfortable in their skin.
Isabella had noticed Nicholas’s interest and proposes that they start spending time together. Then the Ton would be speculating more about their supposed courtship rather than wasting time on his new sobriquet. After all, courting a Duke’s sister would be an adventurous opportunity for Nicholas. It’d also smooth his way in the marriage market, even if they never take it to the official stage. Nicholas saw the point, and though he thought the cause maybe a waste of time, he couldn’t deny himself the pleasure of the companionship of a beautiful woman. Even if for a month as his fake would-be fiancée.
And so they start their regular outings, balls, soirees, rides at Hyde Park to be seen together as much as possible. And the more they spend time together, the more attached Isabella and Nicholas begin to become, to each-other. To Isabella, the scar on Nicholas’s face began to lose its grotesque power each day, leaving only the man inside, someone she comes to respect. She discovers a good, capable man. An honest man, even if a bit misguided in his quest for a bride. She doesn’t forget to point it out to Nicholas either, who had already started falling under the spell of Isabella’s carefree and whimsical nature. He begins noticing her wit and intelligence, enjoying every moment they spend together; be it riding beside her in the Hyde Park or rescuing drowning kittens from a roadside canal. The development of their relationship was slow but it was wonderful to watch them fall for each-other even before they knew what had hit them! The way they’d secretly crave each-other’s company a bit more, until it turned into a secret yearning to be something more than just friends. But Isabella knew she’s ‘too old’ for Nicholas’ choice of a bride, while he knew she had no interest in marrying. Isabella had always boasted of her independent life and how much she preferred it to becoming a chattel to a man, so Nicholas thought he didn’t even stand a chance.
But their attraction was so palpable that at one point Nicholas broaches this subject to Isabella; why doesn’t she want to get married? Does she, for that matter, have any idea about the pleasures of a marriage bed? Of how good it can be between a suitable couple? Of course she hadn’t. Isabella was engaged once (I think) but it went nowhere. Then the fortune hunters who wanted nothing but her dowry, if not her physical beauty, completely put her off. But Nicholas she knew wasn’t a fortune hunter by any means. He’s an older, experienced man who has known living without the luxuries of life. Isabella trusted him. And for Nicholas that was the only weapon to make her feel what’s been happening between them. A kiss was all it took for Isabella’s brain to scramble, her thought process to take a different turn. It felt so good with Nicholas that she couldn’t begin to imagine what she has been missing out for so long. They both chalked it off as mere lust, but was that all? That’s the question both dreaded asking. Isabella more, because she had her secret still tucked away in her townhouse. And because she knew once Nicholas is aware of it, it’ll ruin the beautiful thing that has bloomed between them. But Isabella also knew that she had to come clean if they were to go anywhere from here.
From the first kiss, it turns into hundreds of other kisses, most of them stolen here and there, the excitement and the secret pleasure of being held in each-other’s arms. Isabella and Nicholas couldn’t get enough of each-other! Well, Nicholas is a handsome man with the physique of that of a military man, which Isabella had always admired. He was also, if one of his commanders they met later in a ball was correct, used to be quite the ladies man before his accident. Everyone liked him there was no doubt of it. Though Isabella had found Nicholas cold and aloof at first, now she knew better. Even though he has become a recluse of sort, and for good reasons, there was no denying she was falling for him, and hard. If their kisses proved anything, Nicholas was as mad about her as she was for him. But where is it going to lead them to? Harriet’s aunt still hasn’t replied to her queries. Time was passing by and Isabella had no idea what to do with her if her aunt never replies. And for once, she was also annoyed with the ever weepy girl (she cried at the drop of a hat, at every single thing!) and kept wondering how had the silly girl ever thought of Nicholas an ogre! Goes to show just how immature Harriet was. Isabella regretted her slip now more than ever, even though by then Nicholas had taken the insults in stride, learning to ignore them, all because he couldn’t see anything but Isabella by his side.
But then, things turn rather bad. While the question hung in the air between them, Nicholas comes to a decision. Even though he wanted it to be only something physical, he begins realizing that he wanted Isabella more than just a passing affair. He enjoyed her company so very much, he couldn’t imagine being without her. At the same time, Isabella also decides that it’s time she comes clean before their relationship goes any further. Unfortunately, she was the one who got to state her case first... and, you can only imagine. The shock of it was a bit too much for Nicholas. He acts very rash, with cold and cutting remarks to Isabella. He felt that Isabella did that on purpose, to make fun of him, though she kept trying to convince him that it was an accident. I can only surmise that for Nicholas, the humiliation of the years after his accident simply caught up with him. This time it hurt too deep because he was in love with her. And so, he leaves Isabella all weepy and remorseful, even leaving London without notice to drown himself in despair. She, on the other hand, spends the days that passed all hurt, knowing it’s all over for them even before it had began. Isabella tries her best to return to her old carefree self, but damage was done to her too. This time it was her heart. No matter what she did, nothing helped from the misery of knowing she’d never see Nicholas again.
Frankly, I understood Nicholas’ shock and his subsequent reaction but to leave that way and then spend the next 3 weeks in an inn, drinking himself to stupor, was a bit too much. So unlike the strong man that I’ve come to associate him with! It took him that long to come to his senses, to finally rouse himself from his drunken stupor and revisit Isabella’s words to see that her remorse was genuine. This time, Nicholas knew he has to beg for her forgiveness, work hard to convince her that he what he did was wrong, and that he needs another chance. Which Isabella gives him without much of a fight. I didn’t want any fight between them either. Then Nicholas asks for her hand, which was, of course, returned with a ‘yes’ and they end up celebrating this new start of their lives by making love. I thought all was good and this might be the end of all of their trouble.
Very regrettably, that wasn’t the case for it seemed that the worst was yet to come! In the midst of their happiness, Harriet, as usual, dumps cold water (or salty water if you count her ever weepy self, gosh that girl was not only immature, but absolutely intolerable!) by deciding suddenly that she wants to ‘keep’ her words to the Major. Yep, NOW she’ll marry him! It comes right after when they find out that her aunt has remarried and left for America. Seeing no other option she’d decided Nicholas could be her guardian of sort. But what surprised the hell outta me was Nicholas’s ‘duty first, have to honor my words’ decision, which was not only unexpected but also, not at all honorable in the lights of the fact that he’d already slept with Isabella, even if I don’t count in the fact of their shared feelings. I mean HOW COULD HE just stand there and said ‘alright’ to Harriet?! And HOW COULD Isabella have agreed to that decision so meekly for that matter? The whole thing was so out of character for both that I was left completely astonished!
And I simply wanted to beat some sense into that weepy idiot!
This was the part that completely flabbergasted me. Just when I was imagining a sigh-worthy HEA, this is what the author had to throw in to kill the fun? In fact, I was so pissed that the last couple of pages until this mess was sorted out was rather a blur. If the rest of the story hadn’t been so enjoyable, I wouldn’t have rated it 4 stars. Not even close.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
Let me start with this was a GREAT book, I was reading through it thinking "This is gonna be one of my favorites" and then I reached the last part.
Not to repeat other reviews the last obstacle was pure NONSENSE. We used to make stories when we were wee kids, we would have come up with something less idiotic than that. But really, this obstacle is not stupid its just nonsense, it defines the word.
nonsense: spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense.
That.
-2 stars for this crap. I'm sorry but the ending makes or breaks a book.
Not to repeat other reviews the last obstacle was pure NONSENSE. We used to make stories when we were wee kids, we would have come up with something less idiotic than that. But really, this obstacle is not stupid its just nonsense, it defines the word.
nonsense: spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense.
That.
-2 stars for this crap. I'm sorry but the ending makes or breaks a book.
May 23, 2012
Could have been a 4 star read if not for the stupid 'duty first' stunt the author pulled in the end.
September 11, 2016
I found this book because it was on a Beauty and the Beast list. I LOOOVE that trope, but sometimes I think it will be the reason my Nook meets with an untimely end.
Plot: Weak.
Story: BORING.
Conflict: Ridiculous.
Characters: Immature.
Tone: Preachy.
Romance: Tepid.
Hero: Bland.
Heroine: JFC! Can you be a bigger Sue?
I could do an in depth dissertation on why this story didn't work for me, but I think I'd end up sounding like a rage monster on steroids. Really, I can take the Hulk on.
I think my biggest problem is that I hated the heroine. She was supposed to be 29ish? but read like an immature, overly pampered Emma w/o charm or witty story/dialog. It was also sooo preachy over a lie of omission and misunderstanding that was the major conflict... it made no sense. I kept checking to see if I had accidentally stumbled into an inspirational romance. Heck, that's an insult to IR because most aren't this preachy.
The only good thing was the hero's scar. Not the hero, mind you, just his scar. It deserved a better story.
Plot: Weak.
Story: BORING.
Conflict: Ridiculous.
Characters: Immature.
Tone: Preachy.
Romance: Tepid.
Hero: Bland.
Heroine: JFC! Can you be a bigger Sue?
I could do an in depth dissertation on why this story didn't work for me, but I think I'd end up sounding like a rage monster on steroids. Really, I can take the Hulk on.
I think my biggest problem is that I hated the heroine. She was supposed to be 29ish? but read like an immature, overly pampered Emma w/o charm or witty story/dialog. It was also sooo preachy over a lie of omission and misunderstanding that was the major conflict... it made no sense. I kept checking to see if I had accidentally stumbled into an inspirational romance. Heck, that's an insult to IR because most aren't this preachy.
The only good thing was the hero's scar. Not the hero, mind you, just his scar. It deserved a better story.
January 28, 2017
This book was a nice reading. Quite clean, but not bad. Nicholas is to marry Harriet but she jilts him an Isabella rescues and shelters her without knowing him. Unintentionally, she starts the rumour that he's an ogre, and when she gets to meet him, she soon regrets it and feels guilty about it so she decides, to stop London from their ogre gossiping, for about to weeks they'll pretend he's her beau. It's very nice to read how they slowly fall in love, even if she doesn't want to marry and he's got in his mind his idea of a bride, and Isabella doesn't fit in it. At some point I shed some tears.
August 6, 2012
Oh, Emily May, I just love your books. Sometimes category historicals can feel the same, but this is not the case here. Love sneaks up on the hero and heroine of this story, neither of whom are seeking it, and the hero, who originally comes across as one-sided, keeps surprising the reader and the heroine in believeable ways until he's a multi-layered, desirable man. There's also an unexpected plot twist towards the end, which keeps us on our toes a little longer.
I read this in one sitting and can only selfishly hope that Ms May foregoes her fantasy novels to prioritise writing more regency historicals.
I read this in one sitting and can only selfishly hope that Ms May foregoes her fantasy novels to prioritise writing more regency historicals.
November 10, 2016
Beauty attempts to redeem the beast
A very young, immature, frightened girl runs away from a marriage arraigned by her Grandfather to a terrible old scary and scarred military man. Lady Isabella rescues her and is shocked to find at a ball that her sister in law is related to this terrible Ogre! In fact she's introduced to him a few minutes later. He's her age, commanding, very fit, and would be handsome except for a scar on his face. In the meantime the ton is laughing at the Ogre abandoned by his betrothed. Lady Isabella to the rescue again. Lovely Regency Romance with unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommended.
A very young, immature, frightened girl runs away from a marriage arraigned by her Grandfather to a terrible old scary and scarred military man. Lady Isabella rescues her and is shocked to find at a ball that her sister in law is related to this terrible Ogre! In fact she's introduced to him a few minutes later. He's her age, commanding, very fit, and would be handsome except for a scar on his face. In the meantime the ton is laughing at the Ogre abandoned by his betrothed. Lady Isabella to the rescue again. Lovely Regency Romance with unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommended.
January 23, 2013
This was a very good read. I adored Nicholas and Isabella. They were both grown ups, with real feelings, misunderstanding, but most importantly a kindness and honour to them that made their growing love worth reading about. I adored how Isabella took on the insulting ton in defence of Nicholas, but in such a way as to not seem as though she were doing anything at all. And I admired the way he took on the ton by asking them to laugh with him, instead of at him. Clever.
December 28, 2021
***UPDATE*** just reread this and want to say the H was a proper wuss when he decided he was going to marry Harriet after all. He was also very inconsiderate of the hs feelings kissing her all the time while plotting to marry another woman.
Awwwhh I liked this is was pleasant easy bedtime reading. Loved both characters I just wanted an epilogue at the end Harriet needed a good old fashioned Harlequin slap to stop all the moaning and crying jeez grow a pair woman!
Awwwhh I liked this is was pleasant easy bedtime reading. Loved both characters I just wanted an epilogue at the end Harriet needed a good old fashioned Harlequin slap to stop all the moaning and crying jeez grow a pair woman!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Emily May's beauty and the beast story - I will read her again. Nicholas is a delight of a hero - brooding, a military man with a hard surface and a hard past. I fell for him very easily. Isabella, described by herself as an eccentric, is equally hard not to like. The whispers of the Ton angle of this story is fabulous. A very enjoyable historical read.
November 24, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this story. I love the characters, the language, the setting, the plot and the story in itself. The ending was a bit long and seemed to go on for a bit too long.
On second thought (and second read) I concluded that I really didn't mind, since it was also a chance to enjoy the story for longer.
On second thought (and second read) I concluded that I really didn't mind, since it was also a chance to enjoy the story for longer.
March 9, 2011
Wonderful story and the problems they had to overcome were realistic. This one made me cry. Loved both the hero and the heroine, and it was lovely that they were both mature adults.
March 10, 2011
Above average Regency romance. Characters have depth and more complex reactions.
September 7, 2016
Best historical mills and boon I have read in years!
August 11, 2016
Very enjoyable read, despite the plot twist toward the end. Lack of an epilogue is bothersome.
September 6, 2013
Its been a long time since I read a historic romance. It was a refreshing change. The book was fast paced and I really enjoyed the time period of the book.
January 6, 2018
Now available as Lady Isabella’s ogre. Fantastic read.
August 13, 2018
4 stars for my first Mills and Boons
I confess I am slightly irritated that this was more the romantic build kind of Mills and Boons than the heated lusty passion kind. I loved the historical setting, I loved the prose and the characters. I loved how cheesy it was and loved all the times I rolled my eyes! My only neg if I have to find one is that I had to wait for way too long for the sex scene which was the whole reason I read this book, and TBH, the little drama at the end seemed like it was forced... but all in all, it was a fantastic read.
10/10 will buy a couple more of these and read on days I need to connect with the little 16 year old Keeruh who believed in the undefeatable power of love.
I confess I am slightly irritated that this was more the romantic build kind of Mills and Boons than the heated lusty passion kind. I loved the historical setting, I loved the prose and the characters. I loved how cheesy it was and loved all the times I rolled my eyes! My only neg if I have to find one is that I had to wait for way too long for the sex scene which was the whole reason I read this book, and TBH, the little drama at the end seemed like it was forced... but all in all, it was a fantastic read.
10/10 will buy a couple more of these and read on days I need to connect with the little 16 year old Keeruh who believed in the undefeatable power of love.
March 10, 2023
4.5 stars
Found I'd read it sometime before. Fairly clean, mainly kisses till near the end. Both Nicholas and Isabella are very morally correct which is what leads to some upset towards the end.
Nice story
Just realises why I knew the story...it was obviously reissued under a new title: Lady Isabella's Ogre
Found I'd read it sometime before. Fairly clean, mainly kisses till near the end. Both Nicholas and Isabella are very morally correct which is what leads to some upset towards the end.
Nice story
Just realises why I knew the story...it was obviously reissued under a new title: Lady Isabella's Ogre
April 15, 2020
I'm between I liked it and I really liked it. It was a really good story, but Isabelle keeps quiet about something and the reader knows it will cause trouble. About the end is a little twist where you want to shake the person causing it although the behaviour is explained.
April 7, 2021
I really liked this book.
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