Name: The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne
ISBN: 9781539712756

Elisa Braden

The night that changes everything ... Life for Victoria Lacey should be perfect. And it is-perfectly boring. Agree to marry a lord who has yet to inspire a single, solitary tingle? Why, of course. Smile as though this is not the thousandth time he's mentioned hounds and hunting? It's all in a day's work for the oh-so-proper sister of the Duke of Blackmore. Surely no one would suspect her secret longing for heart-racing, head-spinning passion. Except, perhaps, a dark stranger ... on a terrace ... at a ball where she should definitely not be kissing a man she has only just met. The obsession that leads to ruin ... Hatred, not love, drives Lucien Wyatt, Viscount Atherbourne, to tempt the "Flower of Blackmore" into sin. Her brother has done unthinkable damage to Lucien's family, and he intends to exact revenge in the only way left to him: Ruining his enemy's sister, then stealing her from Blackmore by making her his own. The woman who will set fire to her husband's heart ... As Lucien carries out his ruthless plan, tutoring his new bride in the finer points of pleasure, her surrender leaves him breathless ... and soon a new obsession awakens-a scandalous fascination with his irresistible wife.

The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne

The night that changes everything… Life for Victoria Lacey should be perfect. And it is—perfectly boring. Agree to marry a lord who has yet to inspire a single, solitary tingle? Why, of course. Smile as though this is not the thousandth time he’s mentioned hounds and hunting? It’s all in a day’s work for the oh-so-proper sister of the Duke of Blackmore. Surely no one would suspect her secret longing for heart-racing, head-spinning passion. Except, perhaps, a dark stranger … on a terrace … at a ball where she should definitely not be kissing a man she has only just met. The obsession that leads to ruin… Hatred, not love, drives Lucien Wyatt, Viscount Atherbourne, to tempt the “Flower of Blackmore” into sin. Her brother has done unthinkable damage to Lucien’s family, and he intends to exact revenge in the only way left to him: Ruining his enemy’s sister, then stealing her from Blackmore by making her his own. The woman who will set fire to her husband’s heart As Lucien carries out his ruthless plan, tutoring his new bride in the finer points of pleasure, her surrender leaves him breathless … and soon a new obsession awakens—a scandalous fascination with his irresistible wife.

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne is the first book in the "Rescued From Ruin" and I immediately jumped into this one. I was very curious about this series after reading Colin's book last week. I did get quickly pulled into this one and I decided to go after this one in audio as it was available through my Hoopla. I found this story so much darker than Colin's book, its definitely a bit more edgier than I was expecting. The alpha is a bad boy alpha male and he is not someone to mess with he. He is controlling, possessive and demanding and out for revenge, so you put all that together and you just know the story is going to be wildin' However, this is the type of dark that I like to read in a historical romance. Its not a dark romance, but in comparison to the other books that I have read by this author previously, it definitely was edgier for sure. So don't expect a beta male in this one.

The Hero: Viscount Atherbourne, Lucien Wyatt

When Victoria and Lucien first meet, they end up at a ballroom and when there is a scandalous kiss caught by the Ton, they are both forced into a marriage of convenience. However, there is some truths that Lucien hasn't been honest about including his vendetta against her brother who killed his brother in a duel. He has been out for revenge and he is determined to take something away from the Lacey family and that is now his wife. Victoria knows with the scandal, she has little choice but to marry Lucien. Even though their beginning is super rocky due to the circusmtances. But as Lucien and Victoria try to make their marriage work and come up with some common ground, there are secrets that Lucien is keeping from Victoria, and when all is revealed, it will throw the Lacey family a curveball they won't be expecting.

I found this story to be so delightful, I am actually enjoying the narration for these so I think I will continue with them or do a combo. If you are worried about engagement, I recommend listening to them for the first 35-40% and then switching back to the ebook and then it will really work out for you better as I know for quite a few readers her writing can be hard to get into. But I promise once you are into it, you can't put these down, and I am saying this as someone that struggles getting into historical's lately.

I really am enjoying the writing style that Elisa Braden is implementing into her books! They are just so delightful. I really have been so fascinated in seeing this story come to the truth and there were so many aspects to the story that I truly loved seeing come into place.

The first that I want to discuss is the steam type in this book. This author delivers on the STEAM, so if you feel like historical's lack in steam, you can do no wrong with Elisa Braden, she definitely knows how to incorporate it just right. I had little issues with the steam at all. And if you are wanting more alpha action in your historical's, look no further than this installment, because yeah he is definitely an alpha male. I absolutely adored how much this is played on in the story and whew he definitely has a powerful charisma to his character. I absolutely adore revenge books when it comes to the hero doing the revenge, the author handled this aspect so well. The heroine was his match though. I loved her character and how she works with the hero. Yay for non toxic historical heroines and she was definitely not modern (celebration)!!

And what we see happens in the end when everything gets revealed, yeah it definitely added more understanding to Colin's character and I am curious to see what else he does in book 2 and 3 haha

The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne is a superb installment that had me sucked into the story so completely. Its a story that is true to the time, a heroine that is honest and true, and a scandalous hero to adore!

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne is the first book in the "Rescued From Ruin" and I immediately jumped into this one. I was very curious about this series after reading Colin's book last week. I did get quickly pulled into this one and I decided to go after this one in audio as it was available through my Hoopla. I found this story so much darker than Colin's book, its definitely a bit more edgier than I was expecting. The alpha is a bad boy alpha male and he is not someone to mess with he. He is controlling, possessive and demanding and out for revenge, so you put all that together and you just know the story is going to be wildin' However, this is the type of dark that I like to read in a historical romance. Its not a dark romance, but in comparison to the other books that I have read by this author previously, it definitely was edgier for sure. So don't expect a beta male in this one.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Viscount Atherbourne, Lucien Wyatt
-Alpha
-Rake/Rogue
-Revenge
-Dominating in the bedroom

The Heroine: Victoria Lacey
-Family's jewel
-Well Educated
-Independent
-Willful

Summary
When Victoria and Lucien first meet, they end up at a ballroom and when there is a scandalous kiss caught by the Ton, they are both forced into a marriage of convenience. However, there is some truths that Lucien hasn't been honest about including his vendetta against her brother who killed his brother in a duel. He has been out for revenge and he is determined to take something away from the Lacey family and that is now his wife. Victoria knows with the scandal, she has little choice but to marry Lucien. Even though their beginning is super rocky due to the circusmtances. But as Lucien and Victoria try to make their marriage work and come up with some common ground, there are secrets that Lucien is keeping from Victoria, and when all is revealed, it will throw the Lacey family a curveball they won't be expecting.

My Outlook
I found this story to be so delightful, I am actually enjoying the narration for these so I think I will continue with them or do a combo. If you are worried about engagement, I recommend listening to them for the first 35-40% and then switching back to the ebook and then it will really work out for you better as I know for quite a few readers her writing can be hard to get into. But I promise once you are into it, you can't put these down, and I am saying this as someone that struggles getting into historical's lately.

I really am enjoying the writing style that Elisa Braden is implementing into her books! They are just so delightful. I really have been so fascinated in seeing this story come to the truth and there were so many aspects to the story that I truly loved seeing come into place.

The first that I want to discuss is the steam type in this book. This author delivers on the STEAM, so if you feel like historical's lack in steam, you can do no wrong with Elisa Braden, she definitely knows how to incorporate it just right. I had little issues with the steam at all. And if you are wanting more alpha action in your historical's, look no further than this installment, because yeah he is definitely an alpha male. I absolutely adored how much this is played on in the story and whew he definitely has a powerful charisma to his character. I absolutely adore revenge books when it comes to the hero doing the revenge, the author handled this aspect so well. The heroine was his match though. I loved her character and how she works with the hero. Yay for non toxic historical heroines and she was definitely not modern (celebration)!!

And what we see happens in the end when everything gets revealed, yeah it definitely added more understanding to Colin's character and I am curious to see what else he does in book 2 and 3 haha

Overall View
The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne is a superb installment that had me sucked into the story so completely. Its a story that is true to the time, a heroine that is honest and true, and a scandalous hero to adore!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover: 3
Hero: 4.5
Heroine: 4.5
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 5