HEIR TO A DUKE, A DEBUTANTE AND AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE It couldn’t have been any more perfect…Miss Louella Rose is Sweet, Beautiful. Refined. The answer to all her family’s woes. But beneath her flawless complexion, behind her mesmerizing eyes, she hides a secret shame.STANTON promised to marry the woman of his father’s choice by the age of thirty and that time has finally come. To his surprise … To his surprise and delight, the chosen lady is the perfect debutante, for him anyhow, and he couldn’t be happier… until he discovers the scars that make no sense – scars that shatter the illusion of perfection.
LIES, greed and blood lay waste to a most promising marriage. Can their love overcome the ravages of guilt and carry them through life’s imperfections?
Historical romance unlike any others…
The Perfect Regency Series
Book 1: The Perfect Debutante
Book 2: The Perfect Spinster
Book 3: The Perfect Christmas
Book 4: The Perfect Arrangement
more
This is a beautifully written book full of emotion and understanding. If you don’t like the idea of cutting and self harm, this book is not for you, but if you want to get a better understanding of the emotions behind this sad condition then you will enjoy this book. Ms Anders has portrayed the suffering and reason behind this condition and helped me to get a better understanding while writing a lovely love story full of understanding and acceptance that, in this story leads to healing. I enjoyed the hero and heroine who both had their faults. Although their feelings for each other grew very quickly, it is only a story after all, they had me in tears at times. The other characters were also lovely and there where no bad guys which was a nice change. There was a lot of sex but this reviewer skipped it as usual and it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book. I hope and look forward to Olivia getting her own story which I am sure will again be full of pain but also fun and understanding. I received this book as an ARC and was more than happy to do this review.
Cameron and Louella. Now this is a story I didn’t expect to find and will always stick with me because there are so few stories that touch on this important concept in mental heath. Cameron is missing a couple of fingers from the war, and Louella is covered in self-inflicted scars, but both of them are far more damaged inside than out.
Before you read on, let me say this much – do not read this if you have a history of cutting or other self-harm. It absolutely will trigger you because it goes into the mindset of the person experiencing the event – from the circumstances that trigger it, to the release afterward, the mindset behind it, and the addictive urges. It does not treat cutting positively, but it addresses it in great detail.
They quickly get attached to each other, despite their rocky start and not so friendly backgrounds as children. Both are willing to do their duty to their family in this arranged marriage between neighbors, and try to give each other a fair shot at a genuine marriage. It works like a charm and they both think the other is perfect – except each has a secret shame about themselves that they don’t want to disclose.
Was this the sweetest, most whirlwind love story I’d ever read? No. But it was very real feeling and emotionally raw. The pain the characters went through made their need for each other, and their understanding, hit the mark perfectly.
The Perfect Debutante is book one in The Perfect Regency Series by Annabelle Anders. This book is well written. The author tackles the difficult topic of cutting. She does give a warning in the Foreword of the book about it. Although it is an awful habit, she handles this delicate topic with sensitivity. Louella Rose Redfield is a likable heroine. She is a complicated character with many layers, but once those layers are peeled back, a relatable woman is revealed. There are several steamy scenes, but Anders writes those masterfully. I look forward to the next book in this series.
I don’t know how to describe this book other than the fact that Annabelle delivered a powerful story she delivers a message about self harm which is something that’s widely misunderstood along with depression and yet makes an incredible story.. I really don’t know how to describe it other then I’m speechless and this book deserves an award or something..
Absolutely riveting
Well, let me just start by saying I loved this book & it took me on emotional “highs & lows” throughout the whole story. Captain Cameron Samuel Benjamin Denning, Marquess of Stanton has returned home after 10 yrs in the Navy to fulfill his promise to his father to marry prior to his 30th birthday to a bride of his father had picked for him. His bride-to-be is the youngest daughter of Viscount Hallewell, Miss Louella Rose Redfield. They have been neighbors growing up & Louella never forgot how mean Cameron was to her sister.
It didn’t take long for their arranged marriage to become an attraction they both felt & Louella discovered that Cameron had changed & he was so sorry for teasing her sister, Olivia & apologized to her. He soon finds that Louella would make the perfect marchioness & eventually duchess but the perfect debutante has her own secrets – she is a cutter. Cameron has his own demons with the hate for his father for so many things he did to him as he was growing up & now he must find a way to help Louella after marrying her & he discovers her secret. Will they both overcome their problems & find true happiness?
Annabelle Anders has given readers an emotional “real” problem with characters that will make your heart ache & then burst with happiness. I highly recommend this book to all historical romance readers.
The Perfect Debutant by Annabelle Anders. This book was so much more than I could ever had imagined! The author masterfully created deeply flawed characters with dark secrets and a rollercoaster of in-depth emotions that are hard to understand, let alone conquer. The steamy romance is at times raw and emotional which lends strength to the depth of the storyline.
Beautifully written with a touching ending. I loved this story and I recommend it to everyone.
Trigger Warning: It is recommended that anyone with cutting compulsions NOT read, THE PERFECT DEBUTANTE.
Louella Rose is seen has the perfect debutante and the answer to her parents’ money worries. Her parents will arrange a marriage for a price for their beautiful daughter, and shove they first daughter aside due to imperfections. The man they chose was Captain Lord Stanton (Cameron), who was not kind to Olivia, Louella’s sister when they were younger. However, Louella is hiding a huge secret from society, by hiding her “cutting” behind ribbons and lace. What will Cameron think of her when he discovers this secret?
Captain Lord Stanton (Cameron) left many years ago but with a promise to his father that upon his return home he would marry the bride chosen for him. The bride that was chosen was Louella Rose, but not only for her beauty, but because her parents had a gold mine and his father could only see dollar signs. Cameron is fighting his own demons, trying hard not to become like his father.
I found this book to be a very emotional read and was beautifully written, even with the cutting that Louella can’t seem to stop. Cameron and Louella do experience the a wide range of emotions, why learning about one another – especially on their wedding night!
They learn to deal with each other’s regrets, guilt, anguish, learning to understand the “why” of Louella’s cutting, and both are hoping for the chance to be loved as the person they are, not who people think they are. We all need to be loved for who we are…..imperfections and all.
I’m looking forward to reading the next story!
What an amazing way to start a new series!! The Perfect Debutante by Annabelle Anders is book 1 in The Not So Saintly Sisters series. Annabelle’s writing keeps getting better and better and this one was so sad yet truly amazing. I learned a lot from reading this book, that we all have flaws and if you love someone you will accept them for who they are and what they do as we ourselves are flawed as well. Kudos to you Annabelle for reminding me of the need to accept things we cannot change. The characters of coarse are lovable and the descriptions are very visual. This story has an arranged marriage, sister love, death, an accident, grieving, anger, kindness, secrets, misunderstandings, being courted, acceptance and yes love!! I highly Recommend This Book!!!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
On 2-25-19 Annabelle Anders is offering up the first book in a new series, The Not So Saintly Sisters. In The Perfect Debutante the author has written a heart wrenching, yet informative, story of imperfection and compulsions. I urge you to keep an open mind, the story is worth it.
Our hero is Captian Lord Cameron Samuel Benjamin Denning, Marquess of Stanton. It’s a mouthful and, I’m sure, hard to fit on a calling card. I found it interesting that his military rank came before his titular rank. Cameron is the first born, only son, and heir, of the Duke of Crawford. It’s unusual for an heir, especially a dukes, to be allowed a commission. This tells us much about the relationship, and lack thereof, between pater and child. Now discharged from service, Cameron is home and ready to wed the lady his papa has picked out for him. Oh joy.
Miss Louella Rose Redfield is the lovely second daughter of Viscount Hallewell. The viscounts male heir has died and he needs to marry off Louella for cash, he’s broke. No suprise here, it was done all the time. The viscount has something the Duke really, really wants, therefore the marriage.
Cameron and Louella grew up on neighboring estates and knew each other as kids. They did not part on good terms, which you will discover along the way. They meet again at a garden party and Cameron is impressed and attracted to this former tomboy. Louella holds a grudge for his teenage jackass behavior. The attraction throws them both for a loop and they decide to marry, and not just for duty.
I was taken with character of Olivia, Luella’s older sister. I was happy to find out that she gets her own story in the late spring of 2019. I’ll be looking for The Perfect Spinster. I must see if I’m right about the identity of the hero, hope I’m right, it’d be great.
The author asked for an honest opinion in return for an advanced readers copy of the book. It’s a pleasure to share my thoughts with you. Each character finds comfort in the imperfections of the other. Being perfect’s a heavy load on ones shoulders, a burden to bear even though you’d think otherwise. During this journey we deal with disfigurement, mental illness and addiction. Of course we also have attraction, lust, love, misunderstandings, a happy ending, all the usual emotions we look forward to. I indulged in a good cry too. It was totally worth it, you won’t be sorry. Happy reading.
“Sometimes, the battles we cannot see are the most difficult of all”…..a line in this story, says it all. Although this is an historical romance, Ms Anders has added the reality of “cutting” that afflicts so many young people. I had heard of “cutting” but never really read up on it or know anyone who does it so this story really opened my eyes to it. Louella Rose, who is beautiful and deemed “perfect” is forced into a marriage of convenience to Cameron Denning, the Marquess of Stanton. Although they hit it off right away, she very much worries about her secret and what his reaction will be when he sees all of her scars, inflicted by her own hand. Like so many other mental illnesses, it’s very hard for someone else to understand what drives someone to hurt themselves. Cameron also has his own troubles and everything seems to be driving them apart. Even though very heartbreaking at times, I loved this story and you can’t help but fall in love with Louella and Cameron as they struggle to find their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This was a difficult book in that the female lead-Louella- was a cutter. Having known someone who did this, the book revisited that anguish and difficulties understanding the why. However, Annabel did a beautiful job explaining the situation as Louella came to understand her conflict and overcome it. The love story between Louella and Cameron progressed at a natural pace. The perfect imperfections. I loved this story and highly recommend. Not your usual HEA-something unexpected and original.
I was given an ARC of this book.
A moving story that could have ended so much worse. Lovely characters who are flawed but trying to be better. Sad,and happy together makes a great story. Looking forward to reading more for this author!
This was another good book by Annabelle Anders. The story was a bit unusual, but still good.
04/05/2021 I was not sure whether or not I would like “The Perfect Debutante” (nook) since it dealt with cutting. In spite of the intense subject, I found the story compelling. The love between Cameron and Louella is beautiful, full of heartwrenching emotion but it ends with a wonderful HEA.
Covered a very sensitive topic well
Tackles the issue of cutting — an eye opener — against the backdrop of proper English society and young poeple overcoming their insecurities and enjoying their attraction to eachother.
Wonderfully narrated the possible grim realities of life through a fantastic story!
Enjoyed this book until the last page. Entertaining and wonderful characters. Thank you
While I cannot claim to understand cutting, I do understand depression and the hopelessness and worthlessness that can torment you for years. I think the author handled this very well and I learned a lot.
Cameron and Louella were adorable!