Member Reviews
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Following the betrayal and later death of his wife, and newborn son, Augustus, the Earl of Hardwick, has spent the last few years in self exile abroad. Ready to come home, and hoping to find himself a faithful bride, Augustus reenters society, and immediately is drawn to Lady Beatrice Thorpe. For Beatrice, she is recovering from her ordeal in her debut season, and though her cousin, and guardian, has a tight rein on her, she would rather be protected than risk her heart once more. But there's something about Augustus that draws her to him, and she might be everything he's ever wanted. However, Augustus' demons are deeper than her expected, and he abandons her on their wedding night. Beatrice might have once been a naive young miss, but she's about to show Augustus that he's messed with the wrong woman.
This was much better than book 1. I had always felt a love for Beatrice, especially with how she had been prayed upon, and had looked for love and affection in the wrong place following her parents deaths. She deserved happiness so much, and the chance to have a family that she'd always wanted. Her and Augustus' romance was definitely a face one, and one that neither had been expecting. Augustus wanted to find a timid, and biddable wife, and though Beatrice may have appeared to be one on the outside, she soon proved she was anything but. I hated the separation, but it forged Beatrice into the Countess she was born to be, and it was fun to see Augustus on the backfoot.
I would like to thank netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of the book was very naive, but it improved in the second half.
Ruined by the Ton. Gah!! My fellow readers, what fantastic writing from the author in this book. Here is another writer who gives me a story that reads like a movie and I bloody love it. Oh my let me say this.
I am so drawn to Augustus character. I can see why Beatrice and other women are so drawn to the man. My gosh, his character was written so well for the story. I found myself sympathizing with him so much. I was cheering for him and Beatrice. Beatrice, character was a good one too. Her character I felt took a moment to shine in the book unlike her dear friend Henrietta. Talk about mama bear, Henrietta is fierce when she wants to be. She can reel Giles and Beatrice in within a second. Back to Beatrice though.
I have to say that I had wished for her character to have been older than nineteen. Perhaps is she was written with the age of twenty four or older. There were some scenes that I thought that a more mature older adult woman should be in. Or Beatrice character could be written in as a guesstimate for the readers to decipher for themselves. Besides the questioning age with Beatrice I thought the book was great.
It was entertaining. Very exciting. I was entertained by all the characters and their witty nature. The storyline has some endearing, heartfelt and words of wisdom to learn from. I give this book two snaps and a twist. Until next time my fellow readers.
Read on! I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This story started out slow for me but ended up being very good. I now have to go back and read book one because I felt like things will make more sense for me. Absolutely hate it the way Augustus treated Beatrice she had no control over what happened. I'm sure he hated her a bit because she wouldn't let things go but obviously cared alot for him and the estate.
I love when a book grabs you right from the start and takes you on a heart-stopping journey as in Ruined by the Ton. This Misfits by the Ton series have carry over of characters that take us through these love stories. Emily Royal has a way of weaving a story that you can’t put down and this book is no different. With great cast of characters that come off the pages and pull you into this emotional ride, sizzling passion, the plot is wonderfully crafted, with the main two characters treading a bumpy path full of twist and turns, trials and tribulations until each put their insecurities behind them.
Could Love Survive Without Trust?
He loved her, but his late wife betrayed him. Now, every behavior was suspect. His lack of trust might cause him to lose the best thing that has happened to him.
Augustus fell in love with Beatrice from the moment he saw her. However, his late wife's betrayal colored everything around him. He suspected Beatrice's behaviors, and when some vicious people from the ton decided to play their cruel games, they played right into his hands. He abandoned the love of his life, and she learned to survive without him. Could she ever forgive him? She risked her heart once, and he shattered it. What would it take to mend it once more? Could Augustus learn the art of trust? This is an emotional story that might have you reaching for the box of tissues. I could not stop turning the pages to see what Beatrice and Augustus would do next. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to lovers of historical romance with angst and steam.
I have such a love-hate relationship with this title. The author is skilled for sure: her writing is intriguing and I have already decided to try other titles by her, but this book was considerably more painful than it needed to be.
Romance books tend to follow the typical third act break-up and that is perfectly fine, that is their magic and where we see if an author truly shines. Does the third act break-up make sense? Did we fall in love with their story enough to hope they make it through? And finally, does their reunion give us hope and all the feels? The answer to all of this is kind of. The love interest is not a great person and our protagonist, Beatrice, is too forgiving. There are moments where we are given no understanding of Beatrice's behavior/decisions: she does things and there is no lead up to them, no insight of how or why she ended up making a choice, its frustrating. There are so many missing elements to her relationship with Augustus, conversations that don't happen but the story would've clearly benefited from it, AND it would've fit in nicely.
Even with all those flaws, Emily Royal writes a good romance book. I will pick up more of her titles and I am not opposed to recommending this one. If I could give 3.5 stars on this platform I would but I am not prepared to round it up to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.
This is the story of Beatrice Thorpe, the ward, and orphaned cousin, of Giles Thorpe, the MC from Tomboy of the Ton (book 1 of the series). She had made a terrible mistake in book 1 that almost ruined her reputation, but she was saved from more serious consequences by her friend, and now cousin in law, Henrietta. Regardless, the experience has caused Beatrice a great deal of emotional trauma, and to become less trusting of men and very withdrawn.
Augustus, the Earl of Hardwick, had withdrawn from Society and went on a prolonged sojourn to the Continent for a number of years following the death of his wife. He had fallen deeply in love with his betrothed and wed her, to unfortunately discover that he was duped. She not only did not return his regard, but also came to the marriage pregnant with another man's child, and with plans to continue to enjoy her affairs. Her reputation was also not a secret to others. Despite his heartbreak in finding out about her disregard for him and her marriage, Gus resolved to make the best of things and was willing to raise the child as his own. However, she died birthing the child, and he lost the child days after his birth. Augustus, embittered and heartbroken, ran away to Italy for years.
He returned after 5 years, thinking he would have to take some responsibility for his Earldom, and find a biddable wife that he can have a family with, but resolved not to risk his heart again.
He reconnects with his friends who advise him to find a malleable debutante whom he can mold into the biddable wife that he wants. He meets Beatrice at a ball, which she reluctantly attends at the behest of her cousins. She has no desire or joy in the usual social swirl and often sits on the sidelines quietly. But she and Augustus connect, despite both their bruised hearts and souls - and they fall in love in a matter of days.
Beatrice and Giles are honest with Augustus about her past and her elopement, and while Augustus is taken aback, he decides to trust Beatrice... but does he really? Things come to a peak for him just before the wedding when he comes upon a heartbreaking scene. Beatrice appears to be caught cavorting with a rake in the library. Augustus thinks he has been taken for a fool again. However, he still cares for Beatrice and resolves not to ruin her. He and Beatrice wed the next day, without clearing the air about what happened the night before. But when Beatrice thinks they are starting their wedded life together, she is given a sudden shock when Augustus makes plans to shuffle her off to his family estate, and he abandons her to leave for the Continent again, without giving her a chance to speak to him after their wedding night.
This story spans between two different times... the first is when they meet and he courts and marries her. The second is two years after he abandons her. Augustus returns to England after two years abroad and the realization that he cannot get his wife out of his mind and that he still cares for her, despite not trusting her and not knowing what she has been up to in England. He returns to find rumours of her being the notorious Merry Countess in the country and having elaborate entertainments and house parties. He questions what she has become, knowing that his holdings are not earning much, and she has only a stipend from him, and assumes she has taken on a rich lover. He is determined to find out more, and infiltrates one of her house parties and balls in disguise.
The story that follows is of a couple who both suffer from their emotional trauma and distrust from prior relationships, and who make each other suffer from their lack of trust in each other and failure to communicate. Beatrice is emotionally scarred also from his abandonment and carries a lot of bitterness against him. Quite understandably I felt, especially being so young, being taken away from her only friends and family, and abandoned on an estate with so little support and knowledge. She suffered and learned, and made a life and success of herself and the estate. As she has ended up climbing back onto her feet, her world is tossed wildly about again by the return of her husband.
I wanted to hate Augustus, as he abandoned his young wife, painting her with the same brush coloured by his history with his first wife, and it was not 100% clear to me what he got up to in Italy in his two years away. But Emily Royal did a fair job characterizing his emotions and his trauma from his prior marriage that built some compassion for him. However, he was the man and thus held the power and the purse strings, the older one, the experienced one... and he isolated her and ran off. She was the inexperienced innocent, powerless woman who was taken away from her family and abandoned on a run down estate and forced to find her own way, with no idea of what her future holds, and what her husband is doing. Then he returns, puts her world and her future into chaos again. They also both held some blame for mismanaging their communication and trust with each other, and how they treated each other when together. This was quite an emotional roller coaster of two people who desperately wanted to be loved, who did love each other, but who were stymied by their past and lack of trust and communication.
3.75 stars out of 5.
This is the second book of the series, Misfits of the Ton. I always enjoy picking up a book by Ms Royal because her writing is so creative and captivating. This story was little sadder and more depressing than I would have liked, but the writing was still well done. Augustus' lack of trust for his wife Beatrice had me feeling frustrated throughout the story and it took me quite a while to warm up to him. Mistrust and miscommunication lead them to a bad start, but Beatrice's strong will and spirit pulled her through her tough times.
Plenty of angst, drama, and strong characters made this an interesting read. The pair went through an awful lot before their story came to a happy conclusion, but they did eventually make it.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I couldn't finish this book. Too many miscommunications for me from the MMC- Augustus. I do like a good back and forth between and fighting and miscommunicating between the MCs, but this was too much and made reading the book exhausting. I get Augusts doesn't trust his new wife because of his other relationship, but at some point you gotta get past it. And I don't mean right at the end. Love the cover and idea of the book though.
Ruined by the Ton by Emily Royal is the second book in her Misfits of the Ton series. Beatrice had fallen in love and amazingly so had Gus (Augustus). They were to be married, until one evening, at a ball, the spiteful Juliette Howard had set her up to be discovered with a man, in a very compromising situation. Gus was already prone to insecurity because of his first wife who had married him pregnant with another man’s child and continued to see other men for the short time they were married. He had thought Beatrice different, but now he no longer believed. Their wedding was in two days. Would he show up? He did, and they were married. He came to her on their wedding night but in his inexperience, he didn’t recognize that she was a virgin. The next morning he put her in a carriage and sent her to his ramshackle country estate with a pittance of an allowance, and boarded a ship to the continent. That was how he dealt with a wife who cheated. He found, however, that he could not get her out of his mind and so two years later he returned. He entered the house and then, her bedchamber, only to have her pull a gun on him. She was surprised. She had never expected to see him again and no one else should approach her thus.
This was a different twist on an old plot. The wronged man takes revenge on his cheating wife. Except she hadn’t cheated. She had made the most of the life she had been given. She had brought his estate back and was beloved by the staff and the tenants. She threw a party every few months and invited people that the ton would never accept. She watched, she didn’t participate. She had in all ways been a good a faithful wife. He was awestruck. She was even more beautiful than she had been the day he married her. He wanted to make amends, and tried. It was only when he was mortally hurt that she realized the mistake she had made, spurning him. They were both terrific characters in a situation in which neither of them had any control. She hadn’t cheated and he hadn’t believed her. What was to be done? A terrific story by Royal and a good handling of an old plot. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Ruined by the Ton by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #EmilyRoyal #RuinedByTheTon
She ruined herself the first time. The second time she was ruined by the ton snobs. Looking for love and found it but it was spoiled by histories and preconceived notions. Wonderful book inspiring to not feel sorry for yourself, buck up and make the most of it.
Thank you for this wonderful book.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.
Read in January 1p 2023
I was really excited for this ARC, but what started strongly collapsed by the time we were back in the present timeline and was painful to read. I didn't understand the heroine, disliked the heros and hated her family for trying to force her to forgive him 'for children'.
Beatrice was abandoned by her husband because of his insecurities. He leaves her alone for years and upon returning half hearted attempts at her forgiveness. Mostly moping and looking contrite. He still doesn't trust her and accused her of cheating by the 3/4 mark of the story. What is there to salvage?
For her part, she has sex with him within minutes of him returning. Then she closes herself off completely. I don't understand her behavior, I don't understand the purpose of her elaborate masquerade parties - especially if she won't indulge herself completely. But no, she remains loyal and untouched for her husband. By 3/4 in the book she's saying things like 'I don't care what you do' and is completely apathetic.
I stopped reading because her cousin and his wife, apparently previous books h/H, arrive to chastise HER for not forgiving her husband, they tell her he's a good man and that she should bend if she wants children...? Where's the support for her? They know she was abandoned and are quick to forgive and force her to as well. 'ooh look at all the writing he did while traveling after abandoning you' and she feels guilty she hasn't asked him about his travels ??
To be honest I didn't understand much of any of there actions.
Thank you Netgally for the ARC
Talk about suspicion and mistrust. It seems Beatrice and Augustus will never work out their problems, even though they love each other. It's one painful episode after another.
Augustus leaves after they are married, which makes matters even worse. It takes a traumatic event to offer forgiveness. Not one of my favorite Royal books. Some steam.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I found the story really engaging and but the story line I disliked. For me the jealousy just dragged on too much with the resolution coming far too late at the the end. the middle part just annoyed me and I ended up skimming a lot of it which is a shame. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The struggles in the relationship between Lady Beatrice Thorpe and Augustus, the Earl of Hardwick, are well detailed in this book. I was hooked into the story based on the first chapter and also the subsequent reveal of how things went so wrong for this couple who seemed so in love. I found myself in disbelief over Augustus and his stance towards Beatrice and his inability to communicate his emotions. However, Beatrice’s confidence grows as a result of their differences, which was one possible element in it all.
An interesting read, particularly the story of how their relationship developed at the start.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 Stars
Kept on a tight rein by her guardian ever since a failed elopement, Lady Beatrice Thorpe has no intention of falling in love again then she meets a widower with kind eyes and a gentle touch. Augustus, the Earl of Hardwick, was widowed when his unfaithful wife died giving birth to her lover’s child. On his return from exile abroad, he re-enters London society in search of the perfect, biddable bride. Beatrice catches his eye with her air of innocence, and her sorrowful gaze touches his heart.
The second book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I’m a bit on the shelf with this one as there was much I liked but I couldn't warm to Augustus at all &I felt sorry & sad for Beatrice almost all the way through, my heart bled for her. I was almost shouting talk to each other at my kindle, if you enjoy a lack of communication trope & not moving forward then this is for you but whilst it was well written it didn’t leave me with a feel good feeling.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
In a sea of regency romance where things blur into one, Emily Royal has given us a memorable female MC dealing with some very real issues and a male MC being horrifyingly terrible because of his own trauma.
After Lady Beatrice's failed elopement, she's being watched by her guardian. He really doesn't need to; she's heartbroken by the predatory nature of the men in the ton and how they only want her dowry and the liberty to mess around with other women.
Augustus, the earl of Hardwick was cheated on so many times by his wife, the woman he loved, that he's a bit jaded and only wants a pliable woman to mould into shape.
Somehow, they actually like each other.
When a really horrifying event takes place, Augustus doesn't believe Beatrice and after their wedding, abandons her at his estate and travels all over Europe. Upon his return, Beatrice isn't the same woman.
* Spoiler Alert *
I don't really know how to talk about this book without spoilers, so read on at your own risk.
I like the book, and while I'm leaving it 4 stars, the start was cringe, The broken angel thing made me want to gag and I can't believe I read on past that! Their connection was instantaneous, because how could it not be in a regency romance.
When a man tries to assault Beatrice at a party, and is very nearly successful, instead of defending her and being on her side, Augustus can only think of his late wife and how she cheated on him with every other man and how Beatrice did technically almost elope. He marries her and leaves her at his dilapidated estate with a paltry allowance only to run off to Italy.
When Beatrice recovers and works to restore the estate and turn it into something, he returns. He vacillates between being an absolute boor and being incredibly mistrustful of her and calling the estate his own and forgetting her contributions to being fairly ashamed of his own behaviour. And yet he repeats this behaviour several times in the book; it's embarrassing and also just exhausting. I really appreciated that she was so done with it and stopped caring.
Where Emily Royal didn't do well is how she brought them back together. Augustus hadn't done enough to earn Beatrice's forgiveness and I don't appreciate her family and how they were all like he's so nice, why don't you talk to him about where he travelled to? That part of how the book went was kinda a let down for me.
However, given that Ruined by the Ton is the second book in the series, I do have hopes for the subsequent books being much better and I'm looking forward to them!
Ruined by the Ton by Emily Royal
Misfits of the Ton #2
Old fashioned historical romance filled with angst and drama, love and loss, with potential for happily ever after if the main characters would actually talk to one another instead of acting, reacting, and not being willing to trust themselves or their spouse.
The plot was well constructed, the prose perfection, and I enjoyed the story as it unfolded until the morning after the wedding. At that point I lost a great deal of respect for Augustus and believe he behaved in an immature manner that led to a difficult situation for him to fix later in the story. I was impressed by Beatrice’ strength, endurance, and capability as she grew while on her own.
There were plenty of characters in the ton that were easy to dislike and situations that I wished could have been avoided just as I wished that both Beatrice and Augustus had taken the time and made the effort to connect, communicate, trust, respect, and work on their relationship. Of course, if they had done what I wanted them to do, this story would never have been written.
I am glad that there was an eventual HEA for the couple but boy did they go through a lot to finally get there.
I have enjoyed previous books by this author more than this one, but it was more due to the characters and their situation, choices, etc. than it was to the writing of their story. I did not read the previous book in the series and found this book stood on its own without having read about Henrietta and Giles.
Did I enjoy this book: Yes and No
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
3.5 stars
This story has an interesting premise with intriguing characters. I like Augustus and Beatrice and found them fascinating characters. Beatrice is different and yet similar to the women of the Regency period – it’s what captured my attention and made me like her. I’m not a fan of a time jumps in stories, but outside of that I found this story easy to read.
I haven’t read the first book in the series and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. The couple from the first book are prominent in this story – which I love, as you get to see them in their HEA.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.