Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Collections
Publication
HarperAudio (2014), Edition: Unabridged Audiobook, Cloud-based Audiofile, 8 hrs 7 mins
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML: The last woman on earth he would ever touch . . . Declan, the Duke of Banbury, has no interest in ushering Rosalie Hughes, his stepsister, into society.Dumped on him with nowhere else to go, he's determined to rid himself of the headstrong debutante by bestowing on her an obscenely large dowry . . . making her the most sought-after heiress of the Season. . . . is about to become the only one he wants But Rosalie isn't about to go along with Declan's plans. Surrounded by fortune hunters, how is she supposed to find a man who truly wants her? Taking control of her fate, Rosalie dons a disguise and sneaks into Sodom, a private club host to all manner of illicit activity�??and frequented by her infuriatingly handsome stepbrother. In a shadowed alcove, Declan can't resist the masked temptress who sets his blood afire . . . any more than Rosalie can deny her longing for a man who will send her into ruin.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
A Debutante's Guide to Ruin
4 Stars
Content Warning: This book contains tropes that some readers may find offensive, i.e.,references to child molestation, attempted rape, and a sexual relationship between step-siblings
Penniless and homeless, Rosalie Hughes has only one person to turn to, her
For me, the step-siblings-in-love trope was not an issue in this particular book as Rosalie and Declan are neither biologically related nor are they raised together as brother and sister. Both Rosalie and Declan are appealing characters. Although he starts out as a bit of a jerk, she handles his aloofness with aplomb, and their superficial familial connection grows into a strong emotional bond with intense attraction and chemistry.
The secret-keeping trope revolving around Rosalie's disguise, which has the potential to ruin a book, is handled well here without any unnecessary prevarication or undue angst. The secondary storyline revolving around Rosalie's despicable mother is very disturbing with some skin-crawling moments. The climax and resolution are, however, quite similar to one of Jordan's other works - Wicked in Your Arms.
In sum, this is an enjoyable read overall, and the hints at the love/hate relationship between Declan's cousin and his best friend has me looking forward to their story.
4 Stars
Content Warning: This book contains tropes that some readers may find offensive, i.e.,
Penniless and homeless, Rosalie Hughes has only one person to turn to, her
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step-brother, Declan whom she hasn't seen for over a decade. Declan, the Duke of Banbury, quickly decides that the easiest solution to Rosalie's situation is to marry her off as soon as possible. Of course, Rosalie has other ideas that include donning a disguise and infiltrating a notorious sex club of which Declan is a member . . .For me, the step-siblings-in-love trope was not an issue in this particular book as Rosalie and Declan are neither biologically related nor are they raised together as brother and sister. Both Rosalie and Declan are appealing characters. Although he starts out as a bit of a jerk, she handles his aloofness with aplomb, and their superficial familial connection grows into a strong emotional bond with intense attraction and chemistry.
The secret-keeping trope revolving around Rosalie's disguise, which has the potential to ruin a book, is handled well here without any unnecessary prevarication or undue angst. The secondary storyline revolving around Rosalie's despicable mother is very disturbing with some skin-crawling moments. The climax and resolution are, however, quite similar to one of Jordan's other works - Wicked in Your Arms.
In sum, this is an enjoyable read overall, and the hints at the love/hate relationship between Declan's cousin and his best friend has me looking forward to their story.
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LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Listened for Book Club (Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin by Sophie Jordan was emotional, fun, and delightful! I really enjoyed this and look forward to
Audio Thoughts
Narrated By Carmen Rose / Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
Carmen Rose did a pretty good job with A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin. I really did love her female voices and her male voices were good too. Her pacing and emotion were good too.
Part of Read It, Rate It, File It, Done reviews
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin by Sophie Jordan was emotional, fun, and delightful! I really enjoyed this and look forward to
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the rest of the series.Audio Thoughts
Narrated By Carmen Rose / Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
Carmen Rose did a pretty good job with A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin. I really did love her female voices and her male voices were good too. Her pacing and emotion were good too.
Part of Read It, Rate It, File It, Done reviews
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LibraryThing member bookworm2bookworm
This is the first story in the Debutante Files series from Sophie Jordan, and since I've read this author before, I fairly knew what to expect.
As her previous books, this was a fun and very entertaining story with couple of interesting and well rounded leads.
But what most of you will like is the
If you're in a mood for an easy, fun and hot romance, get it!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publishe
As her previous books, this was a fun and very entertaining story with couple of interesting and well rounded leads.
But what most of you will like is the
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chemistry between the two, which was scorching hot. I mean, WOW! This book should be on every author's list to be read just so they could learn how to write sensual scenes.If you're in a mood for an easy, fun and hot romance, get it!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publishe
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LibraryThing member WhiskeyintheJar
Had to jot a few thoughts down about it but there are some other really good reviews out there that should be read for a more comprehensive take.
I don't have a stepbrother or a brother, so I have no feel for that kind of relationship but I was never bothered by the fact that Declan and Rosalie were
I have never read a book by Sophie Jordan before but am definitely going to rectify this, she has got my number. This one started off dark and alluring and the way scenes are described, the way Declan runs his finger around the rim of the glass, put me right in the room with them. The heat and tension between Rosalie and Declan made me, trust me I had no choice in the matter, read this book in one sitting. I'm more of a tension, foreplay, push/pull person so I ate this story up with a freaking spoon. The bedroom scenes (and library scene ;) were on point too as they were descriptive and hot with the desperation, longing, wanting, and chemistry.
This story had me invested but there were a couple times when I was able to step back, think, and notice the few instances where there were some repetitive descriptive lines, Rosalie was a bit overly naïve innocent regency miss, and at about 60% through I stopped to think about how much time they really hadn't spent together. Declan and Rosalie work extremely well together in high tension, sexual situations but could they ever just, I don't know talk about the weather? Really though, who wants to read about that? There is also an abuse situation discussed that adds a little heft to the story but it’s never flushed out fully, so just a little. What I’m saying is this story is to be read for the sexual tension and not to change your life.
If you were at all hesitant about reading this because of the stepsibling relationship, I would say that it is enough of a nonentity that you should be fine. I was a big fan of this one and am putting most of the reason down to Ms. Jordan's writing style. I am also frothing at the mouth to read Max and Aurelia's story. Aurelia is Declan's sassy cousin and Camden is Declan’s stoic friend, they bicker a lot and I can already feel the sexual tension between the two. I have a feeling their book is going to be a read in one sitting too.
I don't have a stepbrother or a brother, so I have no feel for that kind of relationship but I was never bothered by the fact that Declan and Rosalie were
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stepsiblings. When the story starts they have been separated for 10 years and then we get a few reminiscent memories talked about throughout. I never got the ick factor; I was so into the overall story that the terms stepbrother and stepsister were barely a blip on my radar.I have never read a book by Sophie Jordan before but am definitely going to rectify this, she has got my number. This one started off dark and alluring and the way scenes are described, the way Declan runs his finger around the rim of the glass, put me right in the room with them. The heat and tension between Rosalie and Declan made me, trust me I had no choice in the matter, read this book in one sitting. I'm more of a tension, foreplay, push/pull person so I ate this story up with a freaking spoon. The bedroom scenes (and library scene ;) were on point too as they were descriptive and hot with the desperation, longing, wanting, and chemistry.
This story had me invested but there were a couple times when I was able to step back, think, and notice the few instances where there were some repetitive descriptive lines, Rosalie was a bit overly naïve innocent regency miss, and at about 60% through I stopped to think about how much time they really hadn't spent together. Declan and Rosalie work extremely well together in high tension, sexual situations but could they ever just, I don't know talk about the weather? Really though, who wants to read about that? There is also an abuse situation discussed that adds a little heft to the story but it’s never flushed out fully, so just a little. What I’m saying is this story is to be read for the sexual tension and not to change your life.
If you were at all hesitant about reading this because of the stepsibling relationship, I would say that it is enough of a nonentity that you should be fine. I was a big fan of this one and am putting most of the reason down to Ms. Jordan's writing style. I am also frothing at the mouth to read Max and Aurelia's story. Aurelia is Declan's sassy cousin and Camden is Declan’s stoic friend, they bicker a lot and I can already feel the sexual tension between the two. I have a feeling their book is going to be a read in one sitting too.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
Reading this romance, it felt much more in line with older romances I read from the 90s and early 00s, rather than its publication date of 2014. There's a lot more damsel in distress than I go in for these days and while usually things like cousin marriage doesn't phase me, I could not stop being a
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little weirded out by the fact that the romantic leads are step-siblings (why I'm not weirded out by the exact same dynamic in Clueless I honestly don't know. Paul Rudd makes everything ok, maybe?). The book isn't bad and Sophie Jordan's writing is good enough that I'd consider picking up another of her novels but I won't recommend this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts
Good chemistry.
LibraryThing member selsha
The step-sibling dynamic was surprisingly okay, to be honest. It reminded me a lot of "A Secret Love" by Stephanie Laurens, but here, they took it a step further by making them actual step-siblings. However, I had an issue with him using her childhood nickname. Unlike in Laurens' book, where the
The story didn't really hit its stride until about 60% of the way through.
Genteel-bred ladies... at a whorehouse? ...Mmmkay...
Initially, I found Rosalie and Declan insufferable, but Declan won me.
Look, it was cute and different. I just couldn’t see the ton accepting it. Personally, I think it would cause a scandal. So yeah, it definitely offered a unique twist.
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nicknames evolved, here they remained stuck in the past.The story didn't really hit its stride until about 60% of the way through.
Genteel-bred ladies... at a whorehouse? ...Mmmkay...
Initially, I found Rosalie and Declan insufferable, but Declan won me.
Look, it was cute and different. I just couldn’t see the ton accepting it. Personally, I think it would cause a scandal. So yeah, it definitely offered a unique twist.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014-07-29
ISBN
0062333755 / 9780062333759