Summary 

Honor and her sisters are in dire circumstances. Her nemesis, is going to marry her brother, Augustine, and she has made threats toward Honor, her mother and her sisters. Their mother is suffering from memory loss, and with their step father sick and soon to die, they know that their lives are about to change, and that they must take action. So Honor comes up with a plan, she will convince George Easton, a scoundrel, to try to seduce her brothers fiancée. George Easton, is a third son, and despite his parentage, he is poor, and has devoted all of his funds toward a shipping endeavor, but if he loses that ship, he will lose everything, except what he makes at the gaming tables. Which is where he first meets Honor Cabot. Honor is unlike any other woman he has ever known, she is daring and beautiful and knows just how to get him to cooperate. He realizes that life will never be easy with her at the helm, but he also knows he can’t get her out of his mind. But George has nothing to give Honor, except his name and a few hundred pounds, will Honor be able to give up her life of parties and gowns and financial security to be with the man she loves..

The Hero 

George Easton, knows his place in society and it’s toward the bottom. He doesn’t have high standing, considering the fact that he has small funds, one town house, and supports himself at the gaming tables. George Easton is a bastard, and as such is only considered good for a few things…and that isn’t a place in high society. George Easton is a character I didn’t understand that much. I really liked him, and at first he seems very practical and determined, but he goes along with Honor’s illogical ploys, and it just didn’t fit with him…but I figure men act silly when a beautiful woman is involved and tend not to act like their logical selves. But what I did like about George was his drive to succeed, even when he makes reckless actions, his character is written in such a way that you just can’t help but like him.

The Heroine 

Honor is in a bad situation, and even though she is the least practical person, she is determined to do what it takes to protect her family from a woman that would kick them to Europe or the America’s…just to get them out-of-the-way. You see honor’s love and drive to protect those she loves…even in the most ridiculous ways that she goes about it. But even though she could seem very immature at times, and silly, I felt respect for her character. In the story we are put in her mind more, and we what drives her, and she does have good intentions, and despite everything I loved that about her. The way she loves her family and would do anything for them except get married. We see how she likes to do things the hard way…but a very entertaining way though.

Plot and Story Line 

Trouble With Honor is the first book…and what a fun romance this was. I had read mixed reviews and ratings about this one, but I like Julia London, and it was a cheap audio book, so I thought it would be good to give it a chance…and I did. At first I will admit the story seemed to drag a bit, but one aspect I have noticed about Julia London’s book you have to give them some time before you get into it and boy am I glad that I stuck with this one, because I adored this story and the narrator is just fabumous…I have listened to other books she has narrated and she is very talented is accents and in portraying the characterizations. There is one thing I just loved about this book…was how George and Honor clicked together. They fit perfectly especially in moments that they don’t realize it. One of my favorite aspects of this story was the way the romance develops because it was different. This pair first meets at the gaming tables, and there is some fiery sparks, but somehow those sparks don’t die despite their difference in positions. What was great about this pair, was how they work hand in hand in such a harmonious way, and especially the first half of the story they don’t see how well they do together. I love that it creeps up on them, and before they realize it…they fall hard for each other. What really got to me was the last part of the story (don’t worry I won’t reveal anything) but it got me emotionally involved, and I so wanted these two to find a way to be together…because they deserved it and they need each other. And they do fight for each other, and even if you have reservations about the heroine…by the end of the book your view changes drastically…it did for me anyway, I love how she fights for love and for what she really wants, and not bow to society’s dictates. This is a romance that slowly won my heart over, in a very dramatic way of course…but nonetheless it happened and I am so thrilled to have discovered this book and I can’t wait to listen to Grace’s story, especially when we get a little tease about her at the end.

The Cover

There are two covers for this book, the newer one matches the series so I put that one up, because I like the couple poses…and I love this one. I love her dress, it’s so pretty and elegant, and I love the pose here, with is hand on her neck—*shivers down the spine* how I love that.

Overall View 

The Trouble With Honor is a story that will surprise, shock and delight you from beginning to end. With its unique characters, delectable plot, sensational romance, a fun and entertaining story that will captivate you!! A LIVELY REGENCY ROMANCE!!

Desperate times call for daring measures as Honor Cabot, the eldest stepdaughter of the wealthy Earl of Beckington, awaits her family's ruin. Upon the earl's death she and her sisters stand to lose the luxury of their grand home—and their place on the pedestal of society—to their stepbrother and his social-climbing fiancée. Forced to act quickly, Honor makes a devil's bargain with the only rogue in London who can seduce her stepbrother's fiancée out of the Cabots' lives for good. 

An illegitimate son of a duke, George Easton was born of scandal and grows his fortune through dangerous risks. But now he and Honor are dabbling in a perilous dance of seduction that puts her reputation and his jaded heart on the line. And as unexpected desire threatens to change the rules of their secret game, the stakes may become too high even for a notorious gambler and a determined, free-spirited debutante to handle.

1/18/15 - 100 out of 384 pages.

I don't know if I can read any more of this book. I wish I could have been live streaming my consciousness while reading this on a flight. Granted I was/am sick and have a shorter limit for bullshit, but still. Honor is one of the most unlikable heroines I have ever read. 

She is a spoiled, selfish, manipulative, self-centered, scheming bitch. And I mean bitch as a descriptive word. Let's recap of what I have read in these 100 pages. 

Honor has three younger sisters, a step-brother, a ailing mother and ailing step-father. Honor is 24ish, likes to party, does not want to give up the freedom she has to marry. Fine. But the earl is dying and her step-brother (who she likes and likes her... he is not even evil in this scenario) is about to marry her former best friend of whom she had a falling out with. Said best friend, Monica,  is totally going to throw her family out on their asses for being freeloaders of the earls money (Honor thinks) if she doesnt break up her step-brother and former bff (whom actually both really like each other). She doesnt want to marry to save the family or do anything that will take away her freedom or her ability to spend money. 

The way Honor and Monica who supposedly grew up together as friends treat each other is ridiculous. And mostly on Honor's side. Monica commissioned a hat and couldn't afford it so Honor bought it knowing Monica wanted it and flaunted it around like a child. 

Her scheme, which is the plot, is to get George something, the unclaimed bastard of a duke, to pay attention to Monica and get the idea in her head that there are better fish in the sea than her step-brother. What. A. Bitch. 

We even get in Monica's head and find out she genuinely is a good person! Honor is the horrible stuck-up debutante villain in every other romance novel I have read, but here she is supposed to be the heroine? What? Her and George's (hell is his name even George?) romantic interactions are nothing special either. He comes to talk sense into her but then is swayed by her beauty or her eyes or some such nonsense. 

Urgh. I had to stop reading this on the plane... I honestly dont know if I'll try to start it again. It's that frustrating to me. I honestly dont care if Honor ends up happy... so why should I read about it. 

I have the second sister's book in an ARC and I hate reading things out of order, but I may have to make an exception. Grace (sister two) is infinitely better than Honor the few times she has been on screen. 

The Trouble With Honor was a an enjoyable tale that's worth betting on. Honor did. In order to save her and her family she must make a bet with a rogue. In a bet of seduction and manipulation, Honor attempts to buy her sisters family some time from the potential ruin they will meet when her stepbrother marries her nemesis. 
I understand the thought process behind Honor's decisions, but she is also a tad selfish. However, I can look at things from her perspective and see how Honor would have felt given her interactions with all people present. Also, while marrying to save your family was a big thing back in those days, it's not something many would willingly do. Particularly when there was such an importance on begating heirs. I get that some people still marry old codgers for money, but the thought still makes me cringe.
Despite a few personality bumps, I got to the end of the story having enjoyed myself and looking forward to the next book in the series.