Review: A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin (The Debutante Files #1) by Sophie Jordan

A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin
(The Debutante Files #1)

by Sophie Jordan

July 29, 2014

384 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

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.

 

Review

This was a total impulse read. I stumbled upon this book when I saw some raving reviews and ended up picking it up because why not?! My first try at this genre of romance (Regency Romance?) and I'm pretty sure I need more! The drama, the struggles and the romance were all addictive and unstoppable.

I had my reservations at first because A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin was a (love) story between stepsiblings. Knowing Declan and Rosalie didn't grow up together or even live together made it a lot easier for me to accept their budding romantic relationship. I enjoyed seeing them getting reacquainted as the memories of their limited childhood interaction also resurfaced.

Declan and Rosalie are both good people. She's a timid little thing, sometimes feisty but mostly proper and no thanks to her mother for any of it. Having had little contact with the outside world for the longest time, she was brave to venture out of her comfort zone. I want to high five Aurelia (Declan's cousin) for taking Rosalie to Sodom. She deserved a little excitement in her life. Declan, on the other hand, is mostly sweet but keeps a cool façade in place because of the dark memories he holds from his past. For reasons unknown, he hates Rosalie's mother, Melisande, so by relation, he didn't like Rosalie very much either. He wanted to be rid of her as soon as possible but he also couldn't deny the feelings he was developing for her. All of it combined make the story exceedingly juicy.

 

There was so much anguish as Declan refused to fall for Rosalie. It really was inevitable though. Especially once he finds out she's the one that's been occupying his thoughts. The way he identified her as his mystery lady was so intimate. That scene was intense as was the scene where we find out why Declan hated Melisande. The reason was shocking but not unimaginable and I will leave it at that.

 

If you've been wanting to try a Regency Romance, I suggest you give in to the temptation ;) because you'll not want to miss this series. It really does leave you wanting more! Now I've heard both good and bad things about the next book but really, I can't wait to find out for myself!