Oh my God, this is one of the books where I truly wanted the main characters to not end up together.
He was literally the most obnoxious, self-centered, coward character I've ever seen!!
I don't care how much trauma or insecurities he has, doesn't give him a free pass to be a prick.
For her, she was a nice character, she was so endearing and wise, maybe my problem with her lies in how lenient she was with him, she gave one chance too many, the way she was desperate for his love was quite irritating.
The writing style in some parts was a little bit rushed, sometimes it felt so theatrical, like if it was happening in front of me in real life, I would really cringe.
So overall, this one was a miss for me.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

It began as a wager and led to the best outcome of their lives. Elizabeth is a spinster, very much on the shelf at almost 30. Brand is the selfish Rake charged with stealing a kiss on a bet. Although disliked in the beginning, Brand's transformation as the story progresses is both heartwrenching and inspiring. I found this third installment to be a great addition to the series.
Thank you Sandra Sookoo, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Oh wow. This is a new favourite historical romance. The hero’s character growth was absolutely amazing and heartbreaking. The last few chapters made my heart break and then put it back together. I don’t usually enjoy romances with a wager included, but the author did a really good job. And the characters are so well written and easy to fall in love with

Brand Storme is a known rake, and Elizabeth Hayhurst is the sister of a vicar who has very little freedom.
Brand accepts a wager from acquaintances to kiss Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a 29 year old virgin who has never been kissed. Brand initially thinks only of himself, even when he takes Elizabeth sailing which she has always dreamed of doing.
I loved how Brand changed throughout the story and Elizabeth grew strong enough to finally stand up to her brother. Love changed them both.
Great story!

The Rake’s Wager

Brand is a rake who seems to have no regard for women. Could love reform the cad? Sure, life has dealt him crippling blows, but that does not excuse his behavior. How much groveling will he have to do before Elizabeth forgives him? Perhaps, you cannot help but despise Brand for his wickedness and pity Elizabeth for her naivety, but there is something to be said for love and redemption. I admire a man who can change, and I respect a woman who has the strength to stand up for herself. We are all a product of our experiences, and it takes courage to break free of the chains that bind us. I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to those who like historical romance with flawed characters who must redeem themselves.

The Look of A Storme by Sandra Sookoo is the third book in a series about a trio of most unusual brothers. In this book, Brand, definitely the black sheep, has a reckoning with a woman who began as nothing more than a wager. Miss Elizabeth Hayhurst was the sister of a missionary, so, by definition, she was also a missionary. She was really not suited for it, at least, not by the definition her brother had. She wanted to wear pretty clothing and have fun. He did not. But, sadly, she was the brunt of the wager. It started off with just a kiss, but then progressed to him seducing her, and then to her falling in love. One might suspect that his best friend, John, knew what he was doing; that this was no simple wager. Would John turn out to be correct?

Brand was missing an eye and wore a patch over the empty socket. He believed women found him less attractive because of it, at least, women of his station. His betrothed had, hence he was no longer betrothed. Instead he was a rake, bedding mostly those for whom he could pay. He had confidence in himself, of that there was no doubt.. Sookoo has written an excellent character, one for whom the reader will want good things, and worry about the bad ones. Elizabeth is not as strong a character, but she is still well rounded and real. This is a love story. Granted, no one realizes they are falling in love, but oh, well! The plot was simple but executed masterfully. All in all, it was quite a good book. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Look of A Storme by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #sandrasookoo #thelookofastorme

Ipswich, England 1817

Two wounded souls try to find love, in this next addition to The Storme Brothers series!

He was the son who earned his moniker as a rake and done as he wanted growing up. That was before his father had issued an ultimatum.. straighten up or go in the Navy. Well, he'd done his duty and come out of it injured, but still seeking his vices. Away from his family.

She was the sister of a missionary, had only been in Ipswich to help her recover from her illness before they left for India. But she wanted to stay in Ipswich, although it did appear she could.

As these two come together because of a bet, there is no telling what will happen! Looking forward to the next in the series!

3.5 stars

Not my favourite. The writing is good but the premise of seducing the heroine for the hero to gain a sloop is a bit tacky,

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Captain Francis Storme, Brand to his friends is living the life he wants as a retired Navy officer and a Rake. As a third son no expectations were placed on him. He joined the Navy when his father despaired of his behavior. A war time injury cost him an eye and any value on the marriage mart. He has no need to reconnect with his family. That is how our hero sees himself.

Miss Elizabeth Hayhurst is the downtrodden sister of a missionary. Her domineering brother controls every aspect of her life and she can see no possible way to find a way to leave him. When the dashing Captain pays attention to her, she hopes he is the answer to her prayers.

A very enjoyable historical romance where we can all see that everything is going to blow up in our hero's face. He deserves it. Our sweet heroine has a lot more backbone than even she thinks. She will need it.

Great fun.

Brand Storme carries a lot of mistrust and pain. Living his life as a rake he has no heart to give to a lady. Elizabeth Hayhurst is the sister of a vicar who keeps Elizabeth under his thumb. An encounter with Brand leads to her first kiss. What she does not know is the kiss is part of a bet. When seduction is an extension to the bet, Brand thinks only of himself. Elizabeth is more entranced everyday and eventually becomes his conscious. Brand must let go of the past and open his heart to trust or lose Elizabeth. Brand is not always a likeable hero. He does some nice things for Elizabeth, but you wonder if he is sincere. She is very naive, but strong in her faith. To put her trust in Brand is his salvation.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

WONDERFUL!!! The Look of a Storme by Sandra Sookoo is book 3 in The Storme Brothers series and it is just wonderful. Though in a series this book can be read as a standalone. I just love the creativeness of this book and the sizzle between Brand and Elizabeth. Truly an original. I found this book easy yo read and it give a real feel to the regency era. Sandra is really such an amazing writer. This story has a women who is controlled by her brother, a retired captain in the Royal Navy who is a rake, a true friend, a wager for a kiss, getting to know one another, wanting a different life, a really evil brother, a mother wager, finding out the truth, changing on another for the good, heartbreak, leaving for India, going after her and falling in love. I am highly recommending you read this book. It really is that good!!

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

I've been invested in The Storme Brothers. I like the characters and the plot of all three books, but this book may have been my favorite. Captain Brand Storme, through a wager with his friends, meets and befriends Elizabeth. Brand is a rake with no plans of settling down. Elizabeth is the sister of a minister that wants more out of life than just doing God's work. He gives her adventure and she gives him the a chance at love.

This book needs a good editor, but not as much as the other two. There were a few inconsistent parts, but nothing too bad. I do feel the characters acted younger than the age than was stated. The book built up, but then ended quite quickly. I was hoping for more of a family reunion at the end.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for an honest review.

Captain Brand Storme is living a carefree life in Ipswich after having been discharged by the Royal Navy and having lost one eye in battle. He doesn’t want attachments, he doesn’t want to go back to London to his family and of course he doesn’t want to fall in love when there are too many women around who are willing to warm his bed. Especially when the one he once loved has been scared away by his looks… He owns a small ship and loves to sail to earn his living, but also for fun. But maybe a little wager can improve his coffers and help him buy a bigger ship...
Elizabeth is the sister of a missionary and a woman of the church. But she longs to have a little bit of freedom in her life, longs to sail, longs to, maybe, love…
Fate brings them together, of course, but it’s not fate we have to thank for this magnificent and emotional book, but the very talented Sandra Sookoo. I’ve loved her Storme Brothers series very very much and I’m sad that it’s now finished. All three Storme brothers are emotionally scarred men who find their happiness thanks to the love of wonderful, strong women and Sandra was able to superbly portrait their internal struggle with her ability to always find the right words. I’m looking forward to her next series, because this was definitely a five star book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Honourable Francis Hildebrand Storme known as Brand was in the Navy & left under a cloud but was allowed to keep his rank of Captain now the one eyed sailor uses his sloop to deliver goods out of Ipswich. Being the third son of an Earl means he’s never had expectations placed upon him, so he’s played the rake to the hilt. Miss Elizabeth Hayhurst is the sister of a missionary William. She’s lived in Ipswich all her life, but in a few weeks, she’ll be departing for India to keep house for her brother. When she receives an unexpected kiss from a dashing, Navy man while at the market, she is stunned. While Brand’s not used to women rebuking his overtures, Elizabeth isn’t accustomed to having a man desire her at first sight. Her lack of adventure and experience fires his imagination, while his worldliness and daring awakens her courage. They spend three glorious weeks together, both on land and on the sea, exploring, talking, and creating scandal. But then reality intrudes.
This is the third book in the series & is very easily read on its own. I really liked both Brand & Lizzie, both carried baggage but the more they got to know & like each other the more they were able to let go. Brand first pursued Lizzie for a wager but the wager became less & less important until it was revealed then things went pear shaped. A lovely read of Lizzie in particular finding freedom & become her own person. I loved how their relationship grew & changed it was moving, humorous & steamy. I absolutely loathed William & was glad he got his comeuppance.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Although an enjoyable romance, it took me a while to warm up to Brand. As is the case with his brothers, he did not escape the effects of his childhood. However, an unfortunate incident during the war has left him with something of a chip on his shoulder and only one eye. He is therefore pleasantly surprised when Elizabeth Hayhurst sees beyond his injuries to the man beneath the surface. Taking an unfortunate wager leads to heartache and misery, but it also brought Brand to a place where his life starts to make sense. Beneath the unflattering dresses, there is a woman longing to break free of the restrictions place on her by her zealous brother. In giving her a taste of freedom, Elizabeth falls for Brand, but as events unfold she loses all hope of ever finding love. For a while I despaired of the couple ever finding happiness but the novel does come to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this romance as a gift through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Brand and his buddies drunkenly wager that he can't kiss the missionaries sister and make her weak in the knees. Elizabeth is tired of her restrictive life living under her brothers thumb but doesn't know what to do about it, until some stranger pulls her into an empty fair stall and kisses her and she panics and runs away. After Brand loses the first bet his friends escalate the wagers and he finds himself in Elizabeth's company almost daily leading to feelings and stuff.
Elizabeth's brother is all kinds of toxic and is a religious zealot, but as a nice change of pace this doesn't totally ruin Lizzy's faith in god it only strengthens her belief that love and friendship is the true way to convert people.
I like how the author treated each of the sons reactions to their father's toxic masculinity in different ways, and how the first sexual encounters don't tend to be raging successes, and a few other small but important emotional reactions that just make everything more believable. While I don't love religion in books, the different aspects/viewpoints of this was done well.

The Look of a Storme by Sandra Sookoo is the third book in the Storme brothers series. This story centers around a controlling missionary’s sister named Miss Elizabeth Hayhurst and The Honorable Francis Hildebrand Storme (Brand) a rakish former Navy captain. The two meet after Brand’s friends bet him that he would be able to get a kiss from the originally unappealing and chaste Elizabeth.

I really enjoyed this book. Elizabeth goes on a tremendous journey to find herself. She suffered under her hypocritical brother’s abuse for years. Spending time with Brand helps her find the freedom to discover who she is. I like how their relationship helped her become her own person instead of just becoming his. The story was heartwarming, emotional, steamy, and even funny at times.

This is the first book that I read by Sookoo and I will definitely read more. I am very anxious to read the first two books in this series although this book does function very well as a standalone novel.

I was invited to read an ARC of The Look of a Storme, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley ##TheLookofaStorme

A thoroughly engaging romance by Sandra Sookoo. The Look of a Storme, book 3 in The Storme Brothers series gives you adventure and a wonderful journey in finding love. Brand and Elizabeth are interesting characters and both have scars and heartbreak from the war but they find something in each other, an enduring love that was wonderful to read.