He came to collect a debt. He left with a wife. Darius may be an ex-pirate and nameless bastard, but his word is his bond and damsels in distress are his weakness. In order to collect a large debt and rebuild his lost fortune, Darius takes Eliza Penfold as his wife. It’s supposed to be a marriage of convenience, not passion. But from their first encounter, she stirs his blood like no other and … like no other and Darius wonders if he can truly leave her behind.
Deceived into a marriage contract with a dangerous man, Eliza is forced to admit she and her siblings need protection. She needs to let go of her wounded pride and flawed schemes if she’s to survive. But when her protector is a vengeful pirate running a scheme of his own, she may be getting far more trouble than help.
They’re both hiding something and when one of England’s most notorious and vicious criminals comes to call, lives will be in danger and loyalties will be put to the ultimate test…
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‘The Slide into Ruin‘ is the second title in the ‘Daughters of Disgrace‘ series, and kept me flipping pages (and smiling) from beginning to the end… and maybe a bit beyond for this couple’s banter could be wicked or sweet depending on the moment. So, yeah, I was easily hooked once again by a book in this series.
Eliza and Darius are a couple that while they might seem on opposite sides of any argument or bantering moment, they each are dealing with what life had handed them in the only ways they knew how… at the time. Now, pushed into a marriage of perhaps inconvenience, they will have to find the way to co-exist, foil the bad guys, and maybe admit that falling in love isn’t as crazy of an idea as one might think.
I adored Eliza and her fierce protection of her family, at any cost. And it was so easy to fall a bit in love with Darius who wants to be seen as the big, bad pirate but he’s a protector of the weak (especially a lady in need of protection) whether he wants to admit to that or not it still remains true. Watching them banter, fight an attraction that seems destined, and face down the evil coming for them… all the while falling in love, was an emotional, at times an intense journey.
Most of what you’d really want to know before picking up ‘The Slide into Ruin‘ can be found in the Cover Description blurb. I don’t want to spoil the book for others with many details – except to say how much I enjoyed this couple and their story. If you love a good Historical Romance with dashes of danger, a stubborn couple, and having a front-row seat as two people who are so right for each other give into falling in love… and meaning it, then you’ll want to pick this one up – soon. I had such a good time in this story, and I’m betting that if you love a good Historical Romance then you will, too.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
The Slide into Ruin is the second book in the Daughters of Disgrace Series as well as the second book for me to read written by Bronwyn Stuart. This marriage of convenience story has so much wit, sass and winning characters. Life may have been just as complicated in the past as it is now but the author makes it seem so entertaining. Yes characters are in difficult situations and dire straits but still able to bring humor.
Please tell me this series is being made into movies or a TV series. Hot pirates or ex-pirate in this case. Damsels who refuse to sit by and just be rescue but contribute to any scheme being made with grit and zest for life. No wonder the hot hunks fall for them. Add in supporting character that are endearing, in this case it is Eliza’s siblings, you have a captivating story.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Slide into Ruin by Bronwyn Stuart
He came to collect a debt. He left with a wife.
Darius may be an ex-pirate and nameless , but his word is his bond and damsels in distress are his weakness. In order to collect a large debt and rebuild his lost fortune, Darius takes Eliza Penfold as his wife. It’s supposed to be a marriage of convenience, not passion. But from their first encounter, she stirs his blood like no other and Darius wonders if he can truly leave her behind.
Deceived into a marriage contract with a dangerous man, Eliza is forced to admit she and her siblings need protection. She needs to let go of her wounded pride and flawed schemes if she’s to survive. But when her protector is a vengeful pirate running a scheme of his own, she may be getting far more trouble than help.
They’re both hiding something and when one of England’s most notorious and vicious criminals comes to call, lives will be in danger and loyalties will be put to the ultimate test…
This is Eliza Penfold and Darius’s story.
“You’re not a he? You’re a she?” The fury in the blue-eyed gaze that met his burned red hot as the she in question finally lifted her hood. “What difference does that make? I still would have been dead.” Darius raised his hands in mock surrender. “In my defence, I thought you were a man and I wasn’t aiming right at you.” “But you did shoot at me. Are you in the habit of gunning a person down before you even
reveal your presence?” “I am indeed,” he said with a nod and a malicious spreading of his lips. Spending over a decade on ship as a pirate meant kill or be killed. Even a legitimate, above-board sailor didn’t tarry for tea and pleasantries before an attack.“And I did call for you to stop,” he felt the need to add. “Who are you?” she asked, pushing her hood all the way back to reveal a mess of silvery-blonde hair to go with those bright, bright blue eyes.
The ex-pirate known half the seas over only as Darius crashed through thick, snow-burdened foliage with several curses. Words that would blister the skin off a sailor had there been one around to hear. Not that there was. He cursed again. His coat fit like a second skin yet ice-cold water sought its way in to trickle down his back, adding yet more layers to his misery and frustration.
How did a man get lost on his own land? For two hours he’d been fighting his way through dense plantations, the thick pine beginning to feel as though it reached out to slowly strangle the life from him.
The Slide into Ruin by Bronwyn Stuart is a 3 star book.
“I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.”
Bronwyn ‘s Books with Tule:
The Road to Ruin
Daughters of Disgrace
The Slide into Ruin
Daughters of Disgrace