A spinster hatches a plan (with a smattering of blackmail)Miss Augusta Widmore has no time for proprieties. She must force her sister’s ne’er-do-well betrothed to the altar with all haste—or watch her sister bear the scandalous consequences. But with the blackguard resisting his duty, she needs leverage. And only one man can provide it.A giant holds all the cards (or so he thinks)Sebastian Reaver … he thinks)
Sebastian Reaver has no time for presumptuous women. He has a club to run. So, when a perfect nuisance invades his office, demands a fortune in markers, and refuses to leave until he relinquishes them to her, he knows just the thing to send her scurrying back to Hampshire: Exact a price this prim country spinster would never agree to pay.
A fiery battle begins (with both sides playing for keeps)
Ordinarily, Augusta would never agree to become the mistress of a notorious club owner—whether he’s a lowborn ruffian or the wealthiest man in London or the most intriguing, ill-tempered giant she’s ever encountered … or all three. Calling his bluff raises the stakes (and the heat), but retreat will mean ruin for Augusta. Now, Sebastian wants her total surrender, and he has a few tricks up his sleeve—soul-stealing kisses, unexpected honor, and electrifying persuasion for the woman he never saw coming.
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This is hands down one of the best books I have read this year – I LOVED this book! LOVED. IT.
Sebastian Reaver has been an ongoing secondary character for much of the series and we learned more about him in James and Viola’s book – but until you read this book, you do not really know Sebastian Reaver/Elijah Kilbrenner. Sebastian is the no nonsense, gruff, extremely large, ruthless owner of the gaming club “Reaver’s” he is also presumptive heir to James Kilbrenner, Earl of Tannenbrook and the dowager Lady Wallingham’s newest pet project. Both James and Lady W are trying to get Sebastian to accept his fate as heir and get him married and producing children. Sebastian has made it perfectly clear that they can go pound salt. Sebastian is perfectly content with his club, the club is everything to him, it is his passion, his life – if he is feeling a little restless, it will pass and he doesn’t need or want a wife.
Augusta Widmore is on a mission, her beloved sister’s betrothed has lost his fortune at Reaver’s and has cried off marrying Phoebe – this is unacceptable to Augusta and she will do anything to get him to the altar – even make a deal with the devil. Augusta is one of the best heroines I have read in a really long time. She is tenacious, persistence, managing , very amusing and has a soft heart. She sneaks into Reaver’s and attempts to get Glassington’s markers – she is planning on using them as leverage to blackmail him into marrying her sister. She makes it to Sebastian’s office – but he won’t listen to her and bodily removes her from the club. Days later she returns, disguised as a maid and again makes her way to Sebastian’s office. Sebastian is secretly thrilled that she has returned and this time he lets her state her case. She doesn’t want Sebastian to forgive the debt – she just wants to use them to force his hand – she doesn’t mention that she is not interested in marrying Glassington or that her sister is pregnant. Sebastian assumes the Augusta wants to marry Glassington and therefore makes an outrageous offer – be his mistress for 6 weeks and he will let her have the markers. He is bluffing, but assumes that she will go running at the prospect of being his mistress. He would be wrong. Augusta agrees and they haggle over the details – she will move into his house and he will furnish her with a new wardrobe. At the end of 6 weeks, he will give her the markers. A very stunned Sebastian agrees and then tries to bluff again – but Augusta neatly sidesteps him – again.
She returns to her lodging and tells her sister what has transpired – Phoebe is shocked and begs her to reconsider. But Augusta is determined to see Phoebe safely wed and won’t be swayed. When she leaves the lodging house, she is approached by Ash, the boy she used to help her get into Reaver’s – he has attached himself to her and wants to go with her to Sebastian’s house. At first she tells him no, but when she sees how thin he is, her soft heart gets the better of her and she agrees.
They arrive at Sebastian’s house and she is shocked to find it barely furnished and without a staff. When Sebastian arrives, she makes new demands and they haggle again. Sebastian is fascinated by her and she is more than a little intrigued by him. The chemistry between them is undeniable and the tension between them sizzles. Sebastian shows her the house and then returns to the club. He never planned to really have her be his mistress or live at his house – but she called his bluff and he couldn’t back down. So he will just have to stay away from her…
When he arrives back at the club, he learns from his partner Shaw that Augusta’s sister is there – she came to confront Sebastian, but became ill and Shaw put her in one of the rooms and called for a doctor. As first she refuses to see the doctor, but agrees when she learns he will not tell anyone about her condition. Sebastian brings Augusta to visit Phoebe, Augusta assures Phoebe that everything will be fine and then returns to Sebastian’s office. They share a passionate kiss and then he takes her shopping for furniture for his house. They are both dazed by the kiss and they both want more – but Sebastian still thinks Augusta is trying to marry Glassington. He decides that he wants Augusta for himself and asks his secretary and James for advice on how to woo her.
Augusta wants Sebastian and begins to plot how she can marry him. She also receives a visit from James, Viola and Lady Wallingham – at first she is ashamed, but they treat her with kindness and respect (well James and Viola do) and she puts Lady W in her place when the woman is less than complementary about Sebastian. Augusta sees the resemblance between James and Sebastian and assumes that Sebastian is a by-blow – but she doesn’t care – she loves him and wants him.
The two become closer and Sebastian learns more about her past and wants nothing more than to protect her. His attempts at wooing are extremely amusing and Augusta is charmed. Sebastian tells her that they will be attending a dinner party and at first Augusta refuses, but finally relents. At the party, Augusta learns the truth about Sebastian and she has her chance to confront Glassington. Upset by the encounter, she asks Sebastian to take her home. When they arrive home, Sebastian learns the truth about Augusta and Glassington from Shaw and sees the opportunity to force Augusta’s hand.
He tells her that he will make Glassington marry Phoebe, if Augusta marries him – tomorrow. They negotiate and Augusta agrees. They marry and finally make love and Sebastian knows that he loves her. It seems like these two will ease right into their HEA, but nothing in HR is that easy!
They will have to deal with a kidnapping, injuries, a sister bent on doing the right thing, a runaway and more advice from Lady Wallingham before they can settle into marital bliss. This book is almost unputdownable, it is well written, flows perfectly, has amusing moments, serious moments, a little heartache, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters as well as a secondary romance and a very satisfying HEA. It is the eighth book in the series, and it really could be read as a stand alone title with no problems, but for the best reading experience, I would recommend reading the series in order.
I just had a hard time relating to the characters
Enjoyed this book very much!
Great story
This is a very entertaining read with strong characters who are determined to help others even if it means sacrificing themselves. Good plot twists.
I’ve really enjoyed this whole series, they’ve all been wonderful books this one was no exception.
I had never read this author and was pleasantly surprised. I like spinster books and this book has a great one. The hero is also interesting. It was a hard book to put down. Well worth the time in pure entertainment value.
I enjoyed it so much that I purchased additional books in this series.
I love different takes on regency love stories. This was a fabulous book with characters you can love. It was witty and sexy. Highly recommend this story
I loved this story! A great story with wonderful characters. Romantic and steamy.
Fun to read book. Loved it.
If you’re looking for a romance novel that has more than two people making moon eyes at each other, this is a fast and saucy read. Well written and steamy.
Loved this book! I’ll read more by this author.
Augusta will do anything to protect and take care of her sister, even sneaking into a gaming hall. Persistent and focused she breaks down barriers that even Sebastian never saw coming. So, he makes a bargain, he’ll give her what she wants for a price. My kind of romance for a sunny afternoon.
Book 8 in the “Rescued from Ruin” series was a great read. I loved the characters from page one the Dowager Marchioness of Wallingham is so full of life, and she loves to tell all how they should comport themselves, she off course is always right. Augusta Widmore is a spinster who has given up on marriage, and instead lives her life thru her younger sister Phoebe, who thinks she is in love with a certain Earl, but he has a gambling problem and so we find Augusta at the gambling club he frequents to see if the owner will hold back his debts. Well Sebastian Reaver the owner and a giant of a man has other ideas, and quickly gets her thrown out. The fun starts from there for Sebastian is no gentleman, and Augusta is not one to give up, the twists and turns in the story keep you well interested I loved their journey to true love and their happy ever after. Phoebe also finds her true love and it’s not with the Earl, so we really have two stories going on in the book. I truly love all the books in this series and Elisa Braden has written another good read I know you will enjoy it also.
I liked the heroine for her bravery and love of her sister. Her sister showed her strength also in the end. I liked the ending where both found their true loves. Even though they still will face society’s problems, they will be able to overcome those with each others love.
Miss Augusta Widmore has a younger sister whom she has vowed she will protect. The two of them are all the other has in the world. In order to do so, she needs the assistance of gambling den owner, Sebastian Reaver, whether he wishes to give it or not. And you guessed it-Reaver wants no part of Augusta. But Augusta doesn’t give up easily, she is one determined spinster. A determined , pretty, curvaceous, nice smelling, spinster that Sebastian just can’t seem to ignore. So Sebastian makes Augusta an offer, he knows he really shouldn’t, but he just can’t help himself. He rationalizes it by telling himself he’s doing this to effect a particular outcome, but is he? Augusta finds herself drawn to Sebastian as well. She takes the offer – surprising Sebastian and even herself.
This was a terrific story! It was so full of longing, romance, and heat! It had some really funny moments and the additional characters and storylines involved were sweet and lovely as well.
I have read each book in this series and each one just gets better than the last, which is what makes me hope that there are more to come! Each book in the series can be easily read on its own, but I recommend the entire series for the pure enjoyment of it as well as the occasional reappearance of characters from previous books. This author is always on my preorder list as her work is vastly entertaining.