The true story of the Scarlet Pimpernel… and her life threatened. Daventry rescues her, and the two are forced to run for their lives. But when danger closes in, will the viscount stand at her side or save himself?
Is not the one you’ve been told.
Hugh Daventry visits France frequently to import wine for the family business. On his way out of the country, he stops at the comtesse’s house party out of obligation. But after meeting the raven-haired beauty, he tries to persuade her to leave France with him. When the peasants attack, he realizes he’s already too late, and now he must protect Angelette, whose sharp tongue is far from angelic. Too soon the couple is caught up in the rising revolution, dodging bloodthirsty mobs, hiding from soldiers, and embroiled in the attack of the Bastille. Hugh wants nothing but to leave tumultuous France for the calm of England. He knows Angelette is intelligent and resourceful—a survivor. But can Hugh survive without her?
more
The story starts in 1812 when Thomas Daventry returns to Daventry Hall from London needing to speak to his father Hugh after an interesting dinner party conversation with Sir Andrew Ffoulkes.
Hugh then tells his son of events from over twenty years ago.
Angelette, the recently widowed Comtesse d’Avignon, only invited Viscount Daventry to her country house party as a favour to her sister. When the handsome British lord arrives two days late he’s full of unnerving tales of unrest and violence in Paris. Angelette assumes it’s all exaggeration until her chateau is attacked and her life threatened. Daventry rescues her, and the two are forced to run for their lives.
Captivating, engrossing, enthralling or just plain WOW. I started reading late at night & read it in a sitting as I was drawn in from page one & breathless by the end. I loved Traitor in her Arms which was one of my top three reads of 2017 ( & is actually the second book in the series) so I’d been waiting for more books in the series & this long novella ticked all the boxes & more. The characters had depth & Hugh & Angelette came to life, the pace was fast paced & I found myself totally lost in the story. Now completely impatiently waiting for the next in the series.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Although TO RUIN A GENTLEMAN is officially the first book and prequel in Shana Galen’s new series, if you enjoyed TRAITOR IN HER ARMS, don’t even bother reading my review, and get TO RUIN A GENTLEMAN right away, you will not regret it.
What an extraordinary book! I usually dislike books that seem like history lessons, TO RUIN A GENTLEMAN is in many ways a history lesson about the taking of the Bastille and it is phenomenal; I adored it! Shana Galen has taken a slice of history and made it her own: vibrant and dynamic, her research is exemplary; the mood and the climate are recreated with astonishing historical accuracy and the characters are exceptional literary creations. I loved how Angelette truly represented the way of thinking of the French aristocracy, although she was half-English. I wished she had come to her senses more quickly, but one must understand how the French aristocracy was thinking, and this is how it must have been. The aristos did not want to believe what was really happening; and I loved seeing both points of view; it felt realistic.
Both Angelette and Hugh are tremendously well fleshed-out, very engaging, their romance is believable every step of the way, it progressed as it should have, and Hugh was simply a wonderful man. The sex scenes are splendid, they happen when they should, as they should, and are entirely credible – by themselves and in the context. The secondary characters are also fabulous, and Sir Percy Blakeney is an utter delight; his lines of dialogue nearly made me swoon! I could not help but picture my darling Leslie Howard from the old black and white movies!
Ms. Galen’s writing is outstanding, the prose utterly flawless, elegant; the dialogues impeccable; it was as if I had been imbibing the story, not simply reading it. I’m not quite sure what else to say, except that TO RUIN A GENTLEMAN is yet another masterpiece by Ms. Galen, and this series will one day be considered a classic. Positively sublime!
The cover is beautiful and what a story! I kept telling them to RUN! I learned a lot about the French Revolution in the first novel of The Scarlet Chronicles but learned even more seeing it through Thomas’ and Angelette’s eyes and experiences. Shana Galen draws you into the lives of the characters so you feel like you are there with them. I’m looking forward to more books in this series.
To Ruin a Gentleman is a prequel that starts off The Scarlet Chronicles – it is set in France just as the Revolution is starting, and explains the start of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Viscount Hugh Daventry is in France on business and stops off at widow Angelette, Comtesse d’Avignon’s house party as a favor to her sister to persuade her to escape to England. His stories of the unrest are answered with disbelief by all of the nobles at the party, until they experience the danger first hand. Angelette is still determined to help her friends and family in France, and Hugh can’t bring himself to leave her alone and in danger. I thought Angelette was foolish but very brave to stay in France with the danger all around for the aristocracy, and Hugh was obviously so smitten he couldn’t desert the woman he’s fallen for, which led to some hard decisions. During the story, there was quite a bit of suspense as to whether they would be taken by the mob or win free, and then we didn’t see all of their adventures during the unrest, but the conclusion made it very clear there was a happily ever after, which made me happy. I hope we hear more about Sir Percy Blakeney in future stories, as well as Angelette and Hugh, and I’d love to hear if Angelette’s friends, the French Vicomte and his pregnant wife, made it safely out of France.
What a way for an author to whet a reader’s appetite for a new series! This is an exciting tale of revolution, suspense, danger, and romance with an absolutely lovely twist! When you have an intriguing story, excellently written prose and tight plotting, you just have to have a winner – and this book has all of that. You quickly forget you are reading a novella because everything in the story is so full and robust. Goodness gracious, I can hardly wait for the next book – I’m waiting with bated breath.
Thomas Daventry has the dullest of parents. They never do anything exciting or fun. They just live quietly at their estate and are goofily in love with each other. They love him and his sisters too and have no problem showing it. However, being a boy of nineteen, he doesn’t really want much to do with sheep, fields and a drafty old pile – so he rarely visits home. When he hears an unbelievable tale from someone in London, he heads, hell-bent-for-leather, home to talk to his father and see what the real tale is.
Viscount Hugh Daventry is surprised and pleased to see his son – and begins to tell him the real story of The Scarlet Pimpernel. What an exciting tale it turns out to be. Hugh was traveling in France just as the revolution was beginning. He was setting up distribution systems to import French wines to England. Paris was already in turmoil with armed gangs burning and looting and Hugh knew it would quickly spread to the countryside. It was Hugh’s intention to honor a promise he’d made to a friend, Therese, Marquise de Beauvais. He’d promised to stop by her sisters’ home and persuade her to leave France and travel to England with him because it was not safe for any aristocrat to remain in France – not even an English one.
Comtesse d’Avignon (Angelette) has been widowed for eighteen months now and is just shedding her widow’s weeds. She loved her husband and mourned him, but it is now time to enter back into life. She’s decided to give a house party as a way of gently entering back into society and when an upstart Englishman appears and tries to persuade her that war is coming and that she should travel to England with him she is appalled. How dare he! Her servants would never betray her nor would the people in the village. She and her husband had always treated them fairly and honorably. She will admit that she has been secluded since her husband’s death and isn’t aware of any of the news, but she is positive the King will deal with whatever upstarts actually rise up and all will be well. That Englishman just needs to go on his way and leave her be!
When the worst happens and Angelette’s chateau is attacked and burned by a horde of people (some were her servants) bent on death and destruction, Hugh just barely managed to save Angelette. Their journey from that point forward is filled with danger and excitement – and, yes – romance. Angelette is determined to stay in France and help her fellow aristocrats and Hugh is determined to leave as soon as possible. How can two such disparate goals mesh into one? Will Hugh ever manage to get Angelette out of France? Will he stay and help Angelette. Well, you’ll just have to read the book to see.
This book really does whet your appetite for the next stories. However, it did leave me with a couple of questions, and I wonder if they’ll be addressed at all in upcoming books. Somehow, I don’t think so and I’d really like to know the story. What happened to Hugh’s valet? Did he manage to escape the attack? We never heard more of him. Then, what happened to the Vicomte de Merville and his pregnant wife? I really liked them and wouldn’t like to think that something bad happened. Arrangements were made for their escape, but did they actually make it? We MIGHT learn more of them in another book – I hope.
This was an excellent, suspenseful and exciting read and I certainly recommend it.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
This series is Galen’s telling of the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel. She has it a league of people in England and France who rescue the innocent trapped in Paris during the Reign of Terror. This story is how the League started. I find the series fascinating, original and ambitious. It is not for the faint hearted as the reader experiences some of the terrors during that violent period in history.
The book opens with the son of Viscount Daventry racing home because he’s stumbled on a mystery only his very boring father can explain. Boy is son Thomas in for a shock as he finds out his mother is the Scarlet Pimpernel his Dad & some friends were some of the original members of the league. What an original start of a story.
Hugh Daventry is a wine importer on a mission to rescue widow Comtesse Angelette d’Avignon from France. Her brother Marquise de Beauvasis in England is very worried about her safety. When he locates her she’s in the middle of a house party at her estate outside Paris. No one there realizes Paris is in violent chaos and they need to flee. Over and over again Hugh realizes Angelette will not leave even when faced with the violence. He finds he cannot leave her behind and stays. While on the way to Versailles they are captured by a citizen mob and taken to Paris. There they are rescued by Sir Percy Blakeney pretending to be a citizen commander. They lead him to her friends Viscomte de Merville & his wife are still in town as his wife is pregnant and having trouble traveling to the country giving them shelter. It seems Sir Percy has been helping people escape Paris and Angelette volunteers to help him. They end up forming the secret League of the Scarlet Pimpernel with her as the head and Percy willing to return to England to recruit help from his friends while escorting the Viscount & his wife as well as Baron Victor Eugene, second in command of the Bastille.
I really enjoyed this story and I have to say it was easier to read than the first she put out in this series. It’s been released out of order, the second release is really the first book. We experience the violence but not to the detail that the first story did for which I am grateful. There is no way to shy away from the bloody violence of this period in history. I found the characters to be genuine and I grew to appreciate Angelette’s cleverness and loyalty, Robert’s determination to keep her safe and Percy’s fun loving and adventurous spirit. Thank you Shana for the opportunity to review this story for you.
To Ruin a Gentleman introduction to the coming series set in revolutionary France. It follows widowed Comtesse Angelette and Viscount Hugh Daventry at the start of the French Revolution.
Great novella to introduce Shana’s new Revoluntionary France. The story of how Scarlet Pimpernel became to be.
Hugh, Angelette and Sir Percy worked together to save nobility after the Fall of The Bastille and beginning of French Revolution.
The League of Scarlet Pimpernel was formed to help rescue and transport nobility to safety.
Hugh used his contacts in wine and shipping industry, Angelette used her inhertiance and Sir Percy provided the forgers and survellience to support the cause.
We have all heard about the Scarlet Pimpernel. But this story starts with the beginning of the Scarlet Pimpernel. It will be different than you thought before.
It’s also a story of love at first sight. Never giving up on love. And maybe a really big thing in the story, remember, we never really really know our parents.
Singing: “Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?”
I have been intrigued by the French Revolution from the first of many times that I saw Les Miz (the play, which was so much better than the movie—but that’s a whole different review). I found myself singing the songs in my head as I quickly got involved in reading TO RUIN A GENTLEMAN, the novella that serves as the introduction to the new Scarlett Chronicles series by Shana Galen. In contrast to Les Miz, however, which tells the story from the viewpoint of the revolting peasants, TO RUIN A GENTLEMAN presents the viewpoint of the aristocracy. It is the fabulous story of the origin of the Scarlett Pimpernel and the rescue of members of the nobility who were being targeted for death by the insurgents.
English Viscount Hugh Daventry was in France for his family’s wine importing business. Before returning home, he attended a house party at the estate of recently widowed Angelette, the Comtesse d’Avignon, whose relatives asked him to bring her to London with him due to the dangerous situation that was developing in France. Angelette refused to believe that things were as bad as Daventry was describing, and she insisted that she would remain loyal to her late-husband’s family in France. Unfortunately, Daventry had been telling the truth, and Angelette soon found herself homeless when peasants burned her home to the ground.
What happens to Angelette and Daventry after they flee into the night to save their lives becomes part of a beautifully crafted, well-written story that is as complex as any novel even though it is a novella. The attention to historical detail is admirable, and the author did not shy away from even the very ugly parts of this time in history. Ms. Galen’s writing shows an uncommon passion for the French Revolution and she has definitely done her homework.
The characters are also complex and fully developed. Daventry is a man of honor who cannot leave Angelette, even though staying with her could mean the loss of his life. Angelette is a strong, intelligent woman who is determined to stand by her adopted country no matter what it may cost her. Their romance began in a very intense situation but was still authentic, realistic and timely. The secondary characters, most notably Sir Percy and the Viscomte de Merville and his wife, add interest and depth.
TO RUIN A GENTLEMAN is a page-turner with many twists and turns. It can easily be read in one sitting and you are going to want to do so. Another five-star read from Shana Galen! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
“There’s a life about to start when tomorrow comes!” Still singing……..
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and the views expressed are my honest opinions.
When young Thomas Daventry, son of Hugh, the Viscount Daventry hears some unbelievable gossip about his parents, he rushes home to Hampshire to confront his father. His asks his father about the Scarlet Pimpernel and learns a lot more than he was expecting!
Hugh Daventry, Viscount Daventry knew the day would come that his children would hear the rumors and demand answers, so when Thomas starts asking questions, Hugh decides it is time to tell him the truth – the whole truth!
His story begins in 1789, at the estate of Angelette, the widowed Cometesse d’Avignon. He arrives late to her house party and their first introduction is definitely not love at first sight. He tells her of the unrest in Paris and that her sister asked him to bring her to London. Angelette is sure Hugh is exaggerating and refuses to go. For his part, Hugh tried, if she doesn’t want to go, there is nothing he can do. He knows things are only going to get worse and hopes that she will reconsider, but he is leaving, with or without her.
His plans are altered when the unrest comes knocking down her door – literally. Hugh saves her from certain death and is sure that Angelette will see reason and leave with him for London. But Angelette argues that she can’t leave, her husband’s family and her friends need to be warned, she wants to go to warn the king of the unrest and Hugh grudging agrees to escort her.
Thus begins the adventure, Angelette is taken prisoner by a mob of peasants and Hugh must make a choice, rescue her or walk away. He knows that leaving is the smart thing to do, but he can’t seem to walk away from this maddening woman! He manages to free her from her captors, but she still refuses to leave. He agrees to take her to her friends in Paris, the Viscomte & Viscometesse d’Mervilles.
When they arrive, Angelette is stunned by the unrest and hostility in town, she knows that she was wrong to think that Hugh was a coward for wanting to leave, it is clear that their lives are in danger, but she still won’t leave when she thinks she can help her friends and family.
The story continues through the fall of Bastille and the horrific aftermath and introduces the reader to Sir Percy Blakeney, who manages to save Angelette and Hugh from certain death and brings danger to their doorstep.
When he finishes his story, Thomas is flabbergasted, he cannot believe that his BORING parents lived through such an adventure – he is not sure he knows the whole story and decides that he needs to visit more often and ask more questions.
This was a well written, amazing story, filled with intrigue, action, horrifying life or death moments, steamy love scenes, wonderful characters and an ending that must be read. I have said this before and I’m going to say it again – Ms. Galen is a wonderful author, her Regency books are great, but if you want to be blown away, read her French Revolution books, this is where her true talent lies, she will pull you back in time, your heart will race from the danger, you will cry from the horrific and often brutal scenes of what humans are capable of doing to each other, you will rejoice at the moments of lightness and fan yourself after reading the steamy love scenes. And while the subject matter is dark, Ms. Galen manages to keep the reader from falling into despair by giving her characters strong personalities and infusing them with hope and love.
This is the first book in the Scarlet Chronicles series, but it is not the first book she has written in this era – be sure to check out her “Sons of the Revolution” Series and the next book in this series!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me*
The origin story of the Scarlett Pimpernel is a white-knuckle page turner!!!
Shana Galen first introduced her version of the legend of the Scarlett Pimpernel in Traitor in Her Arms and now takes us back in time to how the league and legend was formed.
To Ruin a Gentleman is the perfect balance of historical romance, romantic suspense, and French history class! There is intrigue and danger from the first to last page with just enough action to keep you turning pages and just the right amount of sexual tension and sexy times to provide a break from the suspense.
I can’t wait for more tales of this version of the Scarlett Pimpernel!
Be prepared for a wonderful story time that hooks you from the start and surprises you in the end! I love that it starts with Hugh telling his son the story. You will fall right into the brutal story of the attacks and riots and be holding your breath afraid of what will happen next. They are a couple at odd from the start with him trying to save her while she is determined to stay. There are many times that you think the story will go one way and it takes a turn in another way. The ending to their story will totally surprise you and it’s sweet at the same time.
Angelette is very loyal and it’s almost to a fault. She didn’t understand what was coming until it was too late, but she was different than her friends. You won’t love her right away, but you will in the end with how she surprises you.
Hugh lost his heart quickly and didn’t even know it. I loved him right away because he kept trying to make people understand what was coming. No matter what he kept coming back to her.
Copy provided for an honest and voluntary review
3.5/5
This is a novella for the beginning of an historical romance series set during the French Revolution and revolving around the adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
I almost always have issues with novellas, simply because I always end up feeling shortchanged. It’s like a vicious circle, I want more development, more dialogue, more depth, but a novella by definition is short and condensed, hence no room for more.
While the story was well-written and sexy and a good precursor for the start of this series, I’m anxious for more development, more character depth…just simply more overall. And I’m confident, that knowing Ms. Galen’s writing, she will deliver that “more” in the subsequent books.
I received a complimentary copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are strictly my own.
What a magnificent start to this new series! The setting is unique because the the story is being told by a father to his son. Ángellette and Hugh are caught in France during the Bastille civil uprising. Hugh wants to leave and go back to England, but finds himself unable to leave the daring lady he has fallen in love with. They clash over battle of wills time and time again. They escape death together. Then they fall passionately into bed together. They realize that everything they do they do with passion and that could include a life of love, marriage and intrigue. This sets the stage for the stories of the other members of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
A great story. Period.
A wonderful book to start off a new series! I loved the suspense and the history. The characters are interesting and keep you reading. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series
I enjoyed this tale of love and triumph. Goes to show you don’t judge a book by its cover. The son finds this lesson out, in the story his Dad reveals. There is love, adventure, and sass. I volunteered to read an Arc for an honest review.
I never miss a Galen book! Great book! Great price!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. To Ruin a Gentleman is the prequel in The Scarlet Chronicles and the readers get to know how it all started.
When in France to meet his wine suppliers, Viscount Daventry attends the recently widowed Comtesse D’Avignon’s house party before leaving the French shores. Angelette had invited him only as a favour to her sister and is a bit miffed at Hugh for arriving late to her first house party following her husband’s death. Her dislike intensifies when he urges her to leave France with him following exaggerated stories of violence he described seeing in Paris. Her loyalty to her husband’s relatives, lands and friends disallow her to leave, had the tales been true.
However, when her chateau is attacked during a ball, Angelette finally realizes that what Hugh was saying was reality. It is thanks to Daventry that they make it out of the castle alive before it is destroyed. Hugh tries to convince the far-from-angelic Comtesse to journey with him to England, but she keeps on refusing. He does all in his power to ensure her safety, attempting to hide from bloodthirsty peasants and soldiers alike.
Ms. Galen cunningly wrote the story in retrospect. The story begins with Hugh’s son returning to his parents’ country home to confirm an absurd rumour – that his boring father was the Scarlet Pimpernel – as untrue. Up to the end of the book, the readers have no idea whether Angelette and Hugh ended up together. The story is well-written, with vivid descriptions of the rising revolution, making the readers feel as if they are in the middle of the book amidst the characters.
This is a must-read! The Scarlet Chronicles have become one of my favourite series amongst Shana Galen’s books. However, keep in mind that there is no uprising without any gore.
5 Stars! This was a great book!! It’s got romance, intrigue, mystery, danger, excitement & a bit of French History!! I found this book to be enlightening with the history of France I learned now! I’m not sure what was true & what was fictional but I loved reading it! Highly recommended- especially if you prefer historical romance!
*I received this book at no charge from the publisher.*