The Truth About Cads and Dukes

Rescued from Ruin Series, Book 2

By: Elisa Braden

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

When a wager goes wrong....

Painfully shy Jane Huxley is the furthest thing from a diamond of the first water. Bookish, bespectacled, and, well, plain, she never expected to befriend a dissolute charmer like Colin Lacey, much less agree to help him retrieve a lost family heirloom. Fortunately, he is nothing like his cold, rigid older brother. Unfortunately, he is not above deception if it means winning a wager. And that puts Jane in a most precarious position.

A formidable duke will marry a plain Jane....

For Harrison Lacey, the Duke of Blackmore, protecting his family honor is not a choice, it is a necessity. So, when his cad of a brother humiliates the unwitting Lady Jane, Harrison must make it right, even if it means marrying the chit himself.

And a marriage of convenience will become so much more....

Her reputation hanging by a thread, Jane agrees to wed the arrogant Duke of Blackmore, although she's convinced it will result in frostbite. Only after lingering glances lead to devastating kisses does she begin to suspect the truth: Perhaps - just perhaps - her duke is not as cold as he appears.

Contains mature themes.

©2015 Elisa Braden (P)2017 Tantor

I love these characters and their journey to one a

I love these characters and their journey to one another. This is an at once , suspencful as well as humorfull compelling series. I very much look forward to the next instalments.

4.5 Stars!!

I'm not sure why I waited nearly three years before picking up the second book in the Rescued from Ruin series, since I absolutely loved the first book (The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne.) I won't be making that mistake again. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, as well. In fact, I find myself questioning many of the traditionally published HR's that I've recently read. As far as enjoyment, story retention, romantic tension, and the desire to keep turning pages, this book has them beat. I know that I had read the book blurb years ago, but I didn't re-read it before diving in and the author actually surprised me with its direction. Having previous experience with the author, I knew that I would enjoy the writing, but add two of my favorite tropes (marriage of convenience and enemies to lovers,) and I was in reader nirvana. The characterizations of Harrison and Jane were consistent and not always flattering, but they still won me over. I know that some readers will have issues with Harrison and his staid and brusque manner, but I loved his steadiness with all things except when it came to Jane's magnetic pull. With Jane's physical description in the story, I found it extremely intriguing and beautiful of those which drew Harrison to her. For example, her hands. The author's ability to describe the beauty and delight of Jane's delicate hands convinced me of why I have so thoroughly enjoyed her writing. It wasn't simply the typical physical descriptions we often read in romance and it has me excited to see what other surprises this author might have in future reads.

I spent equal time listening to the audio book when not reading and it was a fabulous production. Definitely, a narrator I will listen to again.

Sweet plain Jane, Pride & Prejudice, tribute

I love that this is about a curvy/plump/shy/wallflower. Jane gets in to some serious trouble, lead astray by a pretty face. However instead of the pretty face coming up to scratch, his more dour proper brother marries Jane instead. There is no love lost between Jane and Harrison, a tall blonde godlike Duke. However initial irritation turns into intrigue, then fixation then obsession and eventually love. Unfortunately it takes a while for Harrison to recognize these feelings and just when the two take several steps forward, they regress several more back again. This back and forth is complicated by Jane’s lack of confidence which causes her to read all of Harrison’s reactions in the worst possible way. In spite of this, Jane gains a lot of confidence as mostly on her own in spite of her new husband and calls out his feelings for her before he can admit them to himself. I loved seeing Jane grow yet still remain herself at her core. I did find Harrison’s struggles near the end a bit over the top and belabored. But over all loved this book!!!

Braden and Agliotta Are My FAVORITE Team!

I've listened and/or read all of Elisa Braden's books and am so glad when Mary Sarah Agliotta is her narrator.

And Sophie Darling's. I seek out MS for her Regency reads. Love them!

nice story but couldn’t get past the narration

I don’t agree with reviewers who’s are disparaging or disrespectful of the narrator. She has a lovely voice but it doesn’t suit this novel. Going into it, I was hopeful since there are other narrators that took some getting used to. However, this was one of the first novels I had to stop listening to.