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A Marriage Made in Scandal (Rescued from Ruin Book 9) Kindle Edition

by Elisa Braden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 1,756 ratings

Book 9 of 11: Rescued from Ruin

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Wanted: A countess for the most feared lord in London
With a family legacy tainted by murder and madness, Phineas Brand, the Earl of Holstoke, is having a devil of a time securing a proper wife—or even an improper one. Society misses faint at the sight of him. Matchmaking mamas scurry to avoid him. Only one woman is bold enough to keep drawing near, and she’s more scandalous than he is.

Caution: A lady’s brazen ways may lead to ruin
Lady Eugenia Huxley knows all about running aground in the marriage mart, thanks to a scandal involving a footman and too much drink. No matter. She’ll gladly pursue millinery over matrimony. But when her sister’s spurned suitor returns to London in search of a wife, she can’t resist offering him a bit of courtship advice, even if the chilly, brilliant, honorable Lord Holstoke does give her shivers—heated, head-to-toe shivers that are anything but fearful.

Danger: This match may be combustible
After a series of vicious murders brings suspicion to Holstoke’s door, Eugenia risks everything to be his alibi. The only rational remedy is to marry the minx before she generates another scandal. Yet, the dangers don’t end at the altar. A poisonous enemy coils ever closer, threatening the woman who awakens his soul. How far will he go to protect her? That may be the greatest danger of all.

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About the Author

Reading romance novels came easily to Elisa Braden. Shes been doing it since she was twelve. Writing them? That took a little longer. After graduating with degrees in creative writing and history, Elisa spent entirely too many years in real jobs, writing T-shirt copyand other peoples resumesand articles about giftware displays. But that was before she woke up and started dreaming about the very unreal job of being a romance novelist. Frankly, she figures better late than never. Elisa lives in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest, where youre constitutionally required to like the colors green and gray. Good thing she does. Other items on the like list include cute dogs, strong coffee, and epic movies. Of course, her favorite thing of all is hearing from readers who love her characters as much as she does.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07FYB13DZ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elisa Braden (August 3, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 3, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1274 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 342 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #73,195 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,205 in Victorian Historical Romance (Kindle Store)
- #1,765 in Regency Historical Romance
- #1,919 in Regency Romances

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4.5 1,756 ratings

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Elisa Braden

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Reading romance novels came easily to Elisa Braden. Writing them? That took a little longer. After graduating with degrees in creative writing and history, Elisa spent too many years in “real” jobs writing T-shirt copy ... and other people’s resumes ... and articles about giftware displays. But that was before she woke up and started dreaming about the very unreal job of being a romance novelist. Better late than never.

Elisa lives in the Pacific Northwest, where you're constitutionally required to like the colors green and gray. Good thing she does. Other items on the "like" list include cute dogs, strong coffee, and epic movies. Of course, her favorite thing of all is hearing from readers who love her characters as much as she does.

If you're one of those, get in touch on Facebook (@authorelisabraden) and Twitter (@trueelisabraden), visit her website (www.elisabraden.com), and - most importantly - be the first to hear about new releases, price specials, and fun bonuses by signing up for her email newsletter (bit.ly/ElisaBradenNewsletter). It's easy, quick, and FREE.

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4.5 out of 5

1,756 global ratings

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SusanF

This book is amazing!

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2018

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The shifts from the dark undercurrent of murder and mystery to the enticing dance between a cold, unpredictable, brilliant lord and a scandalous, bold and beautiful lady make this an adventure you won’t want to miss. Elisa Braden fans are familiar with Phineas Brand, the Earl of Holstoke, and Eugenia Huxley from previous books in the series, but their story can certainly be read as a stand alone.

His family history is riddled with dark memories and madness, and from a young age Phineas has built his life on practiced organization and control based on scientific and rational explanations. Due to past mistakes, and with shattered dreams of love and marriage, Eugenia is resolved to live a life of service, a bleak future away from scandal. When the Earl of Holstoke returns to London to secure a wife, Eugenia, being the headstrong miss she is, can’t resist offering her advice and assistance. Placing herself in yet another inappropriate situation, the honorable Holstoke offers marriage.

With evil and murder always threatening those he is determined to protect, Phineas will battle against present and past demons, while powerful feelings for his wife turn from argumentative and frustrating to desirous and protective. And it doesn’t take long before Eugenia is defenseless against the spell her husband has cast on her, body and soul. Can this strong, fearless, and loving woman help him break through the dark hold of his past and find a new hope for the future? And will the unanswered questions ever be revealed?

Well written storylines filled with humor, romance, murder and mystery, you’ll find it very hard to put this one down. Absolutely loved it!

I received an arc of this book for a fair and honest review. I highly recommend!

10 people found this helpful

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J. P.

Another fantastic read from a terrific series; love the grumpy/cheerful pairing!

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2020

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[ "Do not return for dinner. I will explain to Mama that you fell prey to an unfortunate ailment." She sniffed. "In deference to her fondness for you, I won't mention the ailment is your personality."

He nearly laughed. The urge was yet another contradiction—one should not feel amused by insults. But Eugenia Huxley was proving the exception to every rule. ]

I feel like I say this every time I write an Elisa Braden review, but it really is stunning to me that she's not more well known—she has such great romances!!! I've read the books in this series greatly out of order, but like most series like these, characters reappear so frequently, that it can be helpful to read them in order.

SUMMARY. Lady Eugenia Huxley (22), also known as the Huxley Harlot, has been banished from Polite Society. In spite of her father being the Earl of Berne and the fact that several of her sisters have married well (i.e. powerful men), the fact that she was caught doing something naughty at a ball with a footman was just too much, and nothing could be done to smooth it over or keep it quiet. She still lives at home, but spends her day working in a not-very-great milliner's store, eager to create the extravagant hats she's constantly thinking up. She is shocked one day when she runs into Phineas Brand, the Earl of Holstoke (33). Last time she saw him was six years ago, when one of her sisters (Maureen) was turning down his marriage proposal (or reneging on her acceptance? I don't know, haven't read that one yet) (Confessions of a Dangerous Lord, Book #6).

Phineas is in town because he's determined to try his hand at the marriage mart again. He has a younger sister, Hannah (22), and she's had a rough life (that's putting it LIGHTLY people!! The next book is her story), and she is super wary of basically everyone. He wants to show her what a healthy relationship looks like, and that it's possible to have love and a family, etc. (Super thin premise/excuse IMHO, but whatever; it's not too central, just serves to explain why they're back in London). I have not read Maureen's book, but apparently, Eugenia immediately took a liking to Phineas, and somewhat vice versa (Phineas is cold, remote, and not a big fan of displaying emotion); not in any inappropriate way—she was 16, he was 27, and he was pursuing her sister. In fact, the whole Huxley family took a shine to Phineas (something he finds perpetually confusing), and now that he's back in town and in society, he gets pulled into their orbit again.

Both Eugenia and Phineas have scandals attached to their names: Eugenia because of aforementioned footman incident, and Phineas because of (view spoiler) (in case you want to read the series in order and want to be surprised). This makes his efforts on the marriage mart quite difficult, of course, since he has debutantes fainting at his mere greeting.

The mystery subplot is tied to one that has appeared in other books in the series and is a big plot driver. Again, in case you read the series in order ... The basics: as mentioned in the above spoiler, Phineas's mother was a psychotic evil murdering witch, a lot of people in the series were affected by this, she's since been killed, but now women are turning up dead again in a similar manner to how she killed, and all fingers start pointing to Phineas.

MAIN CHARACTERS. I absolutely adored Eugenia and really drew me in. I'm a total shy-wallflower-heroine lover, so one might think she wouldn't really be my cup of tea—she's outgoing, brash, doesn't care what people think, etc.—but I found her fantastic. She's not like that just for the sake of being like that, which I think sometimes authors do (that whole show vs. tell thing), she's very three-dimensional and is someone whom I would totally want to be best friends with, even though we're very different.

I love her streak of independence, though she also has a strong sense of responsibility and feels a lot of guilt for the impact that the scandal had on her family, both internally and externally (her family is awesome). She wants to strike out on her own and eventually setup her own milliner shop, and so she's currently a "lowly assistant" in a pretty crappy store, but is determined to bear the mistreatment and creativity-stifling-environment for the sake of learning from the experience. She's super loyal and that loyalty immediately extends towards Phineas; even in the beginning of the book in "present day," it's not a romantic thing at the beginning, she just has an affinity and interest in him—she's a curious person and he's a big unknowable mystery.

Phineas is a fantastic stern / cold / remote hero, and I absolutely loved his pairing with Eugenia; they're perfect together. He's very similar in some ways, in that he also has a strong sense of responsibility and is super loyal and protective of people in his life ... which quickly includes Eugenia, though again, not out of any immediate conscious romantic/sexual interest. Personally, I like that that's not their motivator from the beginning, and it's what makes this a sort of "friends to lovers" story. He's very much shaped by his childhood and things having to do with the mystery, so I'll kind of just leave it at that.

CRITICISM. A couple things bugged me:
— Some parts of the story were very contrived (the reason he's back in London on the marriage mart again, as mentioned before; Eugenia getting fired from the milliner shop; the extreme action Eugenia takes to "protect" Phineas when suspicion falls on him; etc.)
— I really didn't understand the "blackness" thing going on with Phineas. I mean yes, I get it—it's the passionate and emotional side of him that he is always trying to repress, blah di blah—but the way it's described, the ongoing "battle" he has with it, and then the eye-rolling over-the-top-sweet scenes of Eugenia accepting him, helping him accept it, etc. Initially, I thought maybe it was going to be mental illness, which would have been a nice surprise, since that's almost never addressed by main characters in romances, but I quickly realized that wasn't it. I'm not even against this aspect of the story for itself, I actually think it's interesting and more fully develops his character, explaining why he seems so emotionally removed, but the way that it was presented and incorporated was not well done. You know those times when you're reading a romance book and it's an author who writes such flowery love scenes, that you're not actually sure what they're doing or where they are in the process? (Hahaha you know what I'm talking about!!!) It was like that, as if Braden's desire to present this aspect in such a poetic manner got the best of her and ended up making the entire thing incomprehensible.
— It got quite sappy for quite awhile at the end.

EMOTIONAL READ. It's interesting that one of my biggest annoyances was Braden's attempt to show greater depth and pain on Phineas's side, when what made the book emotional for me was the greater depth and pain on Eugenia's side. That didn't feel at all forced, and that's probably why it was so much more powerful. It is VERY rare for me to feel really emotional about a romance (beyond the giddiness, laughing, contentment, etc.), but that happened with this book. I felt a tug in my heart several times when Eugenia was confronted with her Big Mistake. There's a scene where her mother makes a small comment, telling her not to bring scandal to Phineas's name because he already has enough, and she feels so gutted and wow, I felt it too. The mother really loves her, she's not mean or neglectful, which makes this comment from her that much more powerful. The fact that Phineas previously pursued her sister is also a point of vulnerability and insecurity for Eugenia. There are several times where I totally felt Eugenia's pain; Braden did a really excellent job on that score.

BOTTOM LINE. Great leading characters, especially heroine; fantastic supporting cast; funny exchanges; super hot chemistry.

SERIES. I do recommend reading the series in order, though I honestly would say to skip two of the books; of course it's always completely subjective, but the fact that I'm saying skip them while also saying read the whole series in order ... well, that tells you something about how much I disliked them. The others though were GREAT, this one included!!
#0.5 — Ever Yours, Annabelle (TBR)
#1 — The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne (DNF)
#2 — The Truth About Cads and Dukes (4 stars)
#3 — Desperately Seeking a Scoundrel (TBR)
#4 — The Devil Is a Marquess (4-4.5 stars)
#5 — When a Girl Loves an Earl (TBR)
#5.5 — Twelve Nights as His Mistress (4 stars)
#6 — Confessions of a Dangerous Lord (TBR)
#7 — Anything but a Gentleman (2 stars)
#8 — A Marriage Made in Scandal , this book (4 stars)
#9 — A Kiss from a Rogue (4 stars)

4 people found this helpful

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She Who Shall Remain Nameless

Absolutely Divine!

Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2018

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This book was absolutely divine! I confess that I have already read this book twice in the past two days! I have only read books 7, 8, and 9 of the Rescued from Ruin series, but I do not feel that I missed out on anything. The story was very easy to understand on those books alone. The hero was swoon worthy to say the least! I absolutely adored Phineas! He was quiet and intelligent, but also extremely sexy! The only thing that I didn’t like is that Phineas was too preoccupied by Maureen for the first half of the book. She had rejected him SIX years ago! She was pregnant with her FIFTH child! Really, man....get some pride and get over it already! The heroine in this story was incredibly likable. She said what she meant and wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. There was a murder mystery involved, but it never took away from the romance like it did in book 7. Very entertaining read and well worth the time and money. I cannot wait for Hannah and Jonus’s Story!

2 people found this helpful

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JP Sheppard

SO,SO, SO GOOD!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2018

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If you have not yet experienced the magic of Elisa Braden’s Regency England, I am both sad and happy for you. Sad, that you’ve not had the joy, but happy now that you know you can!
Elisa is on a very short list of writers that I consider Diamonds of the First Writer, literally speaking. Her books are beautifully crafted, elegantly written, and combine the perfect amount of angst, pathos, adventure, and humor.
In her newest, “A Marriage Made in Scandal”, we catch up with the third Huxley daughter, Lady Eugenia. Genie is recovering from a “slight” (cough) scandal involving a footman and skirts up to there. Anyway, she is saved from a dreary future by Lord Phineas Brand, the Earl of Holstoke (whom faithful readers may remember as the suitor of Genie’s elder sister, Maureen). What ensues is a marvelous romp of murder, fashionable hats, steamy romance, and pithy observations by the Dowager Marchioness of Wallingham. PLEASE be kind to yourself and read this marvelous series!

18 people found this helpful

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Kim

Very good.

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024

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It always annoys me when the MMC assumes the FMC is more licentious than she is without asking. That said, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was more poetic than the other books in this series, and quite romantic.

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Winnie Robinson

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2020

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OMG! Without a doubt a 5 star read! I just finished it, and I could start all over again from the beginning, it was that good! It's the first book I have read by this author, but now I will defintely go back and read the whole series (and hope they are all equally as good as this one - although it has set the bar high).
The writing style in this book is what I love. Witty. The story itself is not light, but the style of the writing is wonderful and the two characters Ms. Braden has created in Genie and Phineas - could not complement each other more. And the way she developed the relationship and the blossoming of the love between the two of them was just amazing. I can't say enough good things about this book! I think it's a must read if you enjoy HR. (unless you want a clean read . . then you would need to look elsewhere.)

Naz

Most definitely on my re-read shelf! 5 stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 3, 2018

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A Marriage Made In Scandal is the 9th instalment in Elisa Braden’s Rescued from Ruin series and as always, what a fabulous addition it is.
I read this start to finish in record time because I just could not put it down. Absolutely loved it.
Although this can be read as a stand alone, if you have read Elisa’s previous books in the series – in particular ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Lord’ - we already know a fair bit about Phineas and Eugenia.
Theirs seems an unlikely pairing and I have been waiting for their story with bated breath and Elisa delivers a sensitive but action and emotion packed tale laced with humour.
Phineas Brand, the Earl of Holstoke, needs a bride. He is wading back into the Marriage Mart after 6 long years, but due to a combination of several scandals in his past and his own different nature, he is finding things are not easy.
Lady Eugenia Huxley [Genie] has had her own share of scandal after an ill advised decision involving a footman and too much drink. When she finds that Phineas is back, she can’t resist offering to help him – even as she herself is irresistibly and inexplicably drawn to him.
But suddenly there are a series of murders increasingly implicating Holstoke and old scandals are being reared again. Genie does all she can to protect him catapulting them into another potential scandal. Will a marriage made of necessity be their salvation? And will Phineas be able to protect his bride from the murderer?
Phineas Holstoke is a wonderful hero. He is brilliant, magnetic, caring, gentle, honourable. But Phineas is also a different type of hero. He struggles with emotion and often his analytical mind finds it difficult to understand the feelings Genie raises in him. He has suppressed his emotional side for so long he is genuinely perturbed by his reactions to her and believes there is something wrong with him. He is a brilliant brother and his relationship with Hannah – although sometimes awkward [as two people who are unused to love and affection] is rooted deep with love. I loved Phineas and really felt for him – especially as we find out more about how toxic his mother was and how lonely his upbringing.
In contrast, Genie is emotionally Phineas’ complete opposite. She is blunt, says what she thinks, is openly affectionate with all around her, and very impulsive. She has a kind heart and will do anything to help those in need regardless of how it will affect her. Her developing relationship with Hannah was portrayed really well. She has her own uncertainties and issues which are resolved with Phineas’ help. Phineas and Genie’s relationship is wonderful to watch as it develops.
In addition to Phineas and Genie, the story as ever with Elisa’s brilliant writing, has fully rounded secondary characters and we get immersed in their narrative as well. Our hearts ache for Hannah who has been through so much and finds it so difficult to accept and trust love. Hawthorn is a total bolt out of the blue and already so intriguing. My heart really felt for him and his seemingly hopeless passion/obsession with Hannah. I really hope we get their story soon.
I loved that we were able to revisit the lives of the Huxley’s and catch up with Maureen and Dunston [loved Dunston in this], Lady Wallingham, Reaver and Augusta in this as well as being given snippets of information on Jane and Harrison.
I very rarely am left with questions after reading any of Elisa’s books but the only thing I thought a bit unexplained is whether Genie’s family were aware of the truth behind her scandal three years ago. It doesn’t seem as though they do, but in such a close knit family it would seem out of sync that they wouldn’t. Why did Genie not fully explain herself?
The book has laugh out loud moments, genuine tension, mystery and scorching romance. There are so many nuances that I could talk about but it would make this review never- ending. I’ll let the reader discover for themselves. [Just have to mention that Phineas definitely reminded me of a more magnetic Sheldon [Big Bang Theory] and am I the only one that sees shades of a much more macho and dangerous version of Columbo in Hawthorn? lol]
In case its not apparent, I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend to all [as well as the rest of the series – each book is fantastic in it’s own right].
I was given an ARC by the author but I had already pre-ordered this for my collection as well.

3 people found this helpful

Judy

A thoroughly enjoyable read from beginning to end

Reviewed in Australia on August 5, 2018

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A Marriage Made in Scandal is an engrossing read, with characters whose behaviours allow you to get lost in the story. Genie and Phineas are both misfits who have given up on the idea of happiness in a marriage. Phineas's mother is the most evil woman in historical fiction, and he is tainted in society's eyes by her actions and his childhood was warped by her behaviour. Genie feels stifled and oppressed by the limitations of being a female of her time and class, and her rash reactions to this cause grief and guilt. The relationship between the hero and heroine is by turns funny and heartrending. The extras in the form of the well-researched information about fashions and gardens are entertaining and add to the overall enjoyment of the story and understanding of the characters. I read this book in one gulp, and I look forward to my planned, more leisurely re-read.

Zoomer

Another consistent, enjoyable story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2020

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From the Rescued from Ruin series comes another consistent stablemate. Most of the characters have already been introduced in earlier stories and this is an entertaining device for those who have followed the series thus far. If this is the first one you come across I think you may be a little bamboozled. Elisa Braden doesn't do clunky explanation which is great for those involved in the series arc however there is just enough background information to keep a newbie interested. The hero is one of the harder-to-like characters of the pack. Not that he isn't handsoe and dashing and great in the sack but because of his (slightly implausible) back story. The heroine too is one of my lesser favourites. HOWEVER - if you notice I have given this a four star rating as it is an excellent story with fleshed-out plot and characters and tons of historical accuracy. Elisa writes erotica beautifully and she dosn't disappoint in this tale. She is by far my favourite historical romance author and I await with batied breath for her next venture.

El

Finished in two days

Reviewed in Canada on August 6, 2018

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Loved book 9! Unusual hero and relatable heroine! Highly recommend for an enjoyable summer read. Looking forward to book 10!

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A Marriage Made in Scandal (Rescued from Ruin Book 9) Kindle Edition

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