In the next Brethren installment, a clever spinster is matched with a traitor to the Crown.The death of her father leaves Miss Francesca Cornworthy …. alone, and with one last wish to fulfill—that she marry a safe, respectable gentleman. She sets herself on a course to honor that request. That is until she crosses paths with Mr. Lathan Holman—the very opposite type of gentleman her father … father wished her to wed.
After one mistake earned him the title of traitor, Lathan Holman has no interest in reentering society. Then he meets a quick-witted, sharp-mouthed spinster. His dark past clouds his present and future. He’d been certain he’d never laugh or smile again…but it isn’t long before, he finds himself doing both with Miss Francesca Cornworthy…and wanting more.
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The chemistry and passion built fast in this story. A very nicely written novella, great banter. Francesca and Lathan were great characters that leapt off the page and made you feel part of their story.
Everyone deserves a HEA. I love the characters and plot in this tale. Caldwell writes the best stories. They just draw you in and you imagine yourself living among these characters as friends. What’s better than that?
The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel by Christi Caldwell
Narrated by Tim Campbell
Tim Campbell’s sexy baritone makes listening to The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel a sensation for the ear, mind and heart. He brings the story to life and ignites the senses with his sultry voice but it’s the story that makes you believe in the possibilities.
Christi Caldwell has made a career of bringing unique character to life and making her readers fall in love with them. Miss. Francesca Cornworthy has lived a very sheltered life. When her father dies, she is left to fulfill one more wish for him, marry a man who will take care of her.
On her way to a house party to meet her new finance, Francesca becomes abandoned in a snowstorm. She takes shelter on an old estate with the disgruntled occupant.
Mr. Lanthan Holman only wants to regain his honor and prove he isn’t a traitor to the crown. He doesn’t want company and he surly doesn’t want to deal with Miss. Francesca Cornworthy.
The only thing her father wanted was for her to be safe and happy. Falling in love with a traitor is the opposite of what he’d hoped for her, but Francesca has to discover what makes her happy.
*******3.5 Stars*******
With all that has been going on in the world, I haven’t read a book in over a month. Then I received my library hold for The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel and I said why not and I”m so glad I did.
This was the perfect book to lose myself in. It was light and fluffy and I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading. Franny and Latham were a great match with excellent chemistry. Franny was the perfect quirky heroine that was a breath of fresh air in Latham’s lonely existence. She helped him see that there was more to life than his past and that he deserved to be cherished and loved.
The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel by Christi Caldwell
The Brethren Series Book Five
Miss Francesca Cornworthy has spent most of her life being who her father needed her to be. Now that he’s gone, she’s happily living in the small townhouse he left her. Until her godmother delivers a missive her father had left for her. It seems he wanted the best for her and set plans in motion for after he was gone. Only…a snowstorm has those plans taking a new path.
Mr. Lathan Holman is living in a dilapidated cottage alone. Feeling this life of guilt is all he has. After all, his poor decisions have led him here. Away from a family he disgraced. Away from everyone. Until a talkative stranger appears out of the storm and refuses to leave.
I really loved the story and the characters.
**Sexual content and language
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2014/08/christi-caldwell-book-list.html
The last book of this wonderful series involves the character Lathan Holman, who is introduced in book 2 THE LADY WHO LOVED HIM. Labeled a traitor and victim of impressment, Lathan lives a secluded life in the Kent countryside – until a carriage accident in the snow brings Miss Francesca Cornworthy to his door. Francesca is a spinster who recently lost her adored father and was on her way to a house party at her godmother, the Duchess of Sutton, to meet a potential husband her father chose. Her father wrote her a list of things she should do but through the odd meeting with Lathan, Francesca realizes that list should have been composed by her. Talkative and honest, she captures Lathan’s attention and attraction. Living like a hermit, punishing himself for one failure in believing a superior’s lies Lathan continues to punish himself. Francesca helps him to see his worth and believe in himself again – to realize he deserves to be happy and experience the joy of being together. Her constant antics both anger and attract Lathan who thinks the only goal he wants is to restore his job with Home Office. When it is finally offered to him by Leo, the Marquess of Tennyson (the same one who he unwittingly betrayed) Lathan realizes how empty his life would be without Francesca. Unlike the other books in this delightful series, there is no mystery – only two lonely souls – one very wounded and one on the outskirts of Society – who together discover the greatest gift of all – LOVE! Thank you, Ms. Caldwell, for a memorable, beautiful series!!
The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel is the fifth book in The Brethren series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. The Brethren are an elite group of men and women who work for the Home Office in England. This was another amazing book for the series and the author (as usual) does a wonderful job developing the characters and the plot. It was fast-paced and very engaging. I loved the characters and their witty banter. Their personalities and life experiences made them a perfect match.
Francesca Cornworthy’s father had passed away and he had left her with a bucket list of things to complete to make her smile. He also made known his wish that she marry the Marquess of St. James. Her godmother, the Duchess of Sutton, was having a house party and insisted Francesca attend and meet the marquess.
Lathan Holman had made some bad decisions and was known as a traitor for betraying his superior in the Home Office. His parents, the Earl and Countess of Maldavers had cut him off. He moved into a run-down cottage and worked on developing an encryption code so that Home Office might reinstate him.
On the way to her godmother’s house party, Francesca found herself stuck in a snowstorm and managed to find her way to Lathan’s cottage. He didn’t want to let her stay. She was too outspoken and tended to chatter constantly, but eventually, he found himself enjoying her company and started wanting more from his life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I like all this author’s works. Great characters, good stories.
The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel by Christi Caldwell is such a delight to read. It has all the feels and love. Our couple meet by chance do to a snowstorm. Miss Francesca Cornworthy’s father passed away and has left her with items he wants her to complete. One of them is to marry someone that is safe and respectable. Mr. Lathan Holman is just the opposite, having been tried for treason.
This story has so much to offer besides being witty and fun. There is also self loathing, redemption, forgiveness, and of course a beautiful journey to happily ever after. This story is worth a read..
What a story!!! I could not put the book down. Page after page filled with human tragedy, death, final wishes, complacent acceptance of what would never be until a snowstorm brought two people shunned by society and the ton for different reasons. The h was thirty a spinster and had given up on marriage and family. She was considered odd by her contemporaries. She thought differently, she spoke differently, acted differently, dressed differently; basically, she was kind of eccentric and not really accepted by the ton. But she was on the whole a happy content person. Until her godmother showed up one day at her door. A few months before the h lost her father. Months later her godmother came to give the final letter he wrote to her. He wanted to be sure she enjoyed life and was secure. He gave her a bucket list and setup an arranged marriage. On her way to her godmother’s house party to meet her suitor her carriage drove into a severe snow storm. Left to her own devices she struggled through the night and found an old home and sought entry. She did not know someone lived there. Her first encounter with the H was hysterical. Once they got past that. He let her stay on the condition she would leave on the morrow. Now the H’s story was tragic. He was fired from a job he loved because he trusted the wrong person and wanted recognition from his superiors. He was flayed by the newspapers and the gossip among the ton was so horrendous that even his parents turned their back to him. Cut him off. He removed himself from society and was living reclusively in the country in a dilapidated house. His demeanor mirrored his own loathing for the mistake he made that had made him lose the only thing of value in his life. His job. He needed redemption and he thought if he could make himself useful to his old employer maybe they would take him back. In the meantime, he became a shadow of his former self and was now surly, rude and uncaring. When the h stepped into his home, he told her to get out. She did not leave. Over several days they slowly got to know one another. He was taken aback by her compassion and acceptance of him just as he was and wanted nothing more. He in return talked to her about her father’s last wishes and gave her a different perspective on how to fulfill them. Then real life interrupted them and it seemed that all they were building between them was turning into ash. A truly emotionally moving story. I loved the characters and all their peculiarities. I loved how honest and open they were with each other. It was so easy to identify with their emotions and thoughts; very realistic. A must read. You will not be disappointed. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Two lost soul
The death of Francesca’s father six months before has kept her frozen in time, until a visit from her godmother. Traveling to her godmother’s country estate in a snowstorm, the coach becomes lodged in the snow. Left alone Francesca decides she must do something to save herself or die. In her search for shelter she comes across a cottage belonging to Lathan Holman whose one mistake labeled him a traitor to the Crown. In the short time they are together they form a strong bond. A bond formed by understanding and love. All they need to do is reach out and take what they want…each other.
This wonderful delight of a story from the genius pen of Christi Caldwell will bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart! Her characters always have such depth and distinct personalities that the reader becomes invested in their lives and feels like they have become friends. I loved Francesca, a 30 yr old orphaned spinster, still trying to fulfill her dead father’s wishes for her life, but spunky and outspoken, and a strong woman. She meets Lathan, when her carriage breaks an axle and she stumbles upon his cottage while wandering through the snow. He is broken and alone, after a mistake marks him as a traitor and the loss of his job for the crown. He tries to kick her out of his house but she is undaunted. She teaches him to stop living in the past and he teaches her to fulfill her dreams rather than her Father’s. Most enjoyable dialogue and banter with a sweet and charming romance! Loved every page of it!
“x80x9cIx80x99ve come to appreciate that mistakes are a mark of human nature. Ix80x99d not have you forget everything you did right for that one decision that was… wrong.x80x9d”
The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel is book five in The Brethren series by Christi Caldwell. This is a redemption story; a story of second chances. Miss Francesca Cornworthy has lived her life always to others wants and desires and never her own. As such she finds herself a little lost and in a standstill after her father dies. On her way to her godmotherx80x99s house and her potential future, she gets stranded in a snowstorm. Lathan Holman is an unintentional traitor and all he wants to do is redeem himself in the eyes of the Home Office. He no longer trusts his own judgement and doesnx80x99t know how to treat sweet, talkative Francesca. She ruffles his senses, yet he feels increasingly comfortable with her because she treats him with kindness and sincerity. In return Lathan confronts Francesca with the fact that shex80x99s still living by otherx80x99s wishes when she should be living for her own. I feel like Francesca and Lathan are so similar and only by being confronted by each other are they able to move forward. I feel like this storyline has been building up to the cameo by our favorite marquess and it doesnx80x99t disappoint. Increasingly it seems the Brethren series is about forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. If you like second chances then youx80x99ll like this.
Bookstagram: @hopeless.book.romantic
“Do Something you’ve never done before…” One of the many instructions her father had written for her to live life. Francesca had decided to make the journey to her godmother, the Duchess of Sutton’s house party, after the Duchess had visited her and given her a letter her father had written before his mind had started to go. She missed him so much, but even after his death it seemed he was still looking out for her. Even picking out the man he thought would make her a good match. A man that would take care of her. As much as she did not want to go, the duchess had sent her carriage and she was off to meet a potential bridegroom.
Unfortunately the weather was bad and the axle broke on the carriage and she was stranded until the driver could go find help. She decided she had to go find shelter or she would freeze to death and she was not ready to die.
Latham was miserable and alone. One stupid mistake and he was now guilty of treason and had lost his job with the home office, along with his family disowning him. Living in a rundown place suited him fine. But when he heard someone at the door and it seemed breaking in, he decided he did not want to die that day. When a woman fell into his kitchen looking frozen from the snow, then a pistol pointed at him, he went on the offense. That woman was Francesca, who was desperate to find help rather than freeze to death in the carriage.
Maybe I have said too much but I wanted to give you a taste and set up the story. This magnificent story that held so many emotions of these two amazing characters that Christi Caldwell created. I was there with them, feeling the cold, the despair, the lack of trust Latham had since being duped by trusting the wrong person. The almost broken man who had not had anything to smile about.
Then there was Franny. She was a spinster in her own mind, never having been courted or a marriage proposal.
The perfect tale of an unexpected coming together of two people and how they change each other and slowly build something that warmed my heart. Be prepared to not be able to put this one down once you begin the first page. Of course that goes without saying. This book is by Chrisi. Yes, that says it all!
The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel by Christi Caldwell is book 5 in The Brethren Series. This is the story of Lathan Holman and Francesca Cornworthy. I did feel this could be a standalone book if you wish to do so. Francesca’s father has past and he had a dying wish that she marry a respectable man. Which leads her to travel to a house party to start to fulfill that wish. But while on the drive the carriage ends up breaking down and this leaves her looking for shelter with none other than Lathan. Lathan has been labeled a traitor for a mistake so he had walked away from Society. So he wasn’t to welcoming to Francesca at first and of course sparks and words were flying betting the two.
This author’s writing is a story teller that takes you into the book. You feel and see everything…sometimes to much and a cry party is started. But then she turns you around and you are laughing and feeling those heart strings being pulled. Ms. Caldwell is a must read author.
There’s so much to like about this new book by Christi Caldwell!
Most books by this author are packed with many amazing characters, but this one is quite different in the simplicity of characters and setting. It has an ease and comfort about it that just soothes the reader, with stunning development of the hero and heroine. Two lonely people, not so very young, one searching for joy in her life and the other settling for his current situation and pretty much giving up on anything more. It’s pure joy watching the interaction between the two and the ease they find in sharing and supporting each other. A somewhat lighthearted gem, with a few tearful moments, but full of playful banter, laughs, and affection.
I can never get enough of this author’s work, whether it be a novella or one of her longer novels, and I was so pleased by the perfect length of this particular story. I was anxious and hopeful to see where Francesca and Lathan’s journey would end, and yet again was treated to a sweet outcome to this well crafted tale. I can tell you that this is a wonderful read you won’t want to miss. With this release, Christi Caldwell once again proves she always brings the reader something fresh and new.
I was fortunate to receive as an arc, as well as having pre-ordered for my kindle library. This is my honest review of “The Spinster Who Saved a Scoundrel”. A definite winner, which I’ll read many times over. Loved Francesca and Lathan. *sigh*
The death of her father leaves Miss Francesca Cornworthy alone, and his last wish was for her to marry a safe, respectable gentleman. She sets out to her godmother’s house party but bad weather & a broken carriage axle see her stranded. Then she crosses paths with Mr. Lathan Holman the very opposite type of gentleman her father wished her to wed. After one mistake earned him the title of traitor, Lathan Holman has no interest in re-entering society. Then he meets a quick-witted, sharp-mouthed spinster. His dark past clouds his present and future. He’d been certain he’d never laugh or smile again but it isn’t long before, he finds himself doing both with Miss Francesca Cornworthy and wanting more.
This is the fifth in the series & it could easily be read on its own. Another well written book that flows effortlessly as always it’s the strong characters that make this book a joy. I loved tortured Lathan & Francesca who was a breath of fresh air. From their first meeting the chemistry was apparent & the more time they spent together the more they tested each other. Francesca’s non stop talking eventually breaks down Lathan’s barriers. I loved how he changed from the dour, tortured man to laughing, smiling & looking forward rather than dwelling on the past. I also loved that not only was she older than him but that she was thirty & had never been courted.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
As an avid reader of Christi Caldwell, I have waited a long time for our heroine Francesca Cornworthy to get her happy ever after and Christi definitely did not disappoint it was worth the wait. I must point out you do not have to have read previous books to enjoy this story though you will want to after finishing this one. The story begins 6 months after Francesca’s beloved fathers passing, her godmother arrives determined to have her attend her annual Christmas house party, she also delivers a letter from her father written months before. Reluctantly she sets out for the party only to find herself stranded in a storm, setting out to find shelter she stumbles upon our hero’s doorstep Lathan Holman. After winning his freedom, still labeled a traitor he lives an isolated existence trying to win the favour of the Bretheren, the very organization he betrayed. A knock at his door upends his life in more ways than one. Two lonely people scarred by life find friendship, laughter and common ground. Ultimately they fall in love but each of them do not want to hold the other back from the life they desire. As you expect love finds a way and our hero & heroine find each other. Another fabulous story by Christi, as always she leaves you wanting more. Her characters are real, flawed and lovable. Although this is book 5 in the Bretheren series anyone can pick this up and enjoy. Cannot recommend it enough.
This was such a simple story that had profound results on the main characters, even though they never left the country cottage. On her way to her Godmother’s estate, Miss Francesca Cornworthy’s carriage experienced a broken axle & the driver took the horses & told her to wait inside while he went for help. Francesca waited in the carriage for a while but felt she needed to find shelter somewhere rather than succumbing to the weather sitting in the carriage. She finally finds her way to a cottage belonging to Mr. Lathan Holman, who is not too happy to see her & is just rude but finally allows her to stay the night.
Lathan is a third son of a duke, or as he saw it, now worth anything since there was already a heir & a spare. He was a clerk for the Home Office until one mistake found him accused of treason & even though he was cleared of the charges, he did not regain his position & that is all he can think of is getting his named cleared & to go back to work at the Home Office.
Francesca is a thirty year old spinster who is heading to her Godmother’s estate to meet the man her father had picked for her to marry. The letter he left for Francesca was his last wish for her to marry so he could rest in piece that she would have security for the rest of her life & he had picked the Marquess of St. James, a good man who needed a good wife, & had agreed to the union.
The forced interaction between two strangers was compelling & the insight they discovered about each other caused an eye-opening, earth shattering change in them as people & as an unexpected couple. I highly recommend this read to all historical romance readers – no balls, Ton or other glitz, just human interaction between a stranded couple.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
Every once in a while, you read a story that just hits all the right emotions. This is Francesca and Lathan’s story for me. Lathan made a mistake and it has cost him everything. Francesca didn’t meet the demands of the ton in looks and thought, and it cost her to suddenly find herself alone and lost. This story is so much bigger than it appears. It take place primarily in a little old cottage with none of the trappings of society. Two strangers suddenly find themselves together, and everything they’ve thought about themselves change. They talk, they listen, they discover. It’s really such a simple story that has such incredible dynamics. Two lives totally changed because of acceptance by another person and by love.
Ms. Caldwell has such an ability to delve into the souls of her characters and she did just that with Francesca and Lathan. You may find yourself thinking about what your future holds! I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. I honestly think it’s one of the very best I’ve ever read.