I enjoyed this story, one in a series, The Traitor's Club. Hugh, the "hero", of the book, was at times, anything but heroic. His attitude and behavior were absurd, selfish and boorish. At first, I disliked him but was curious as to how the author would redeem him, assuming she did so. Thankfully, throughout the book, we were allowed the opportunity to watch Hugh grow into a loving, caring and considerate character. Nellie, the female lead, was an energetic, optimistic and thoroughly believable lady. She was extremely insecure about her physical appearance due to her three "failed" seasons and the fact that all of her sisters were beautiful. I liked Nellie and wanted only the best for her, and initially, that did not seem to be Hugh! However, Nellie and Hugh made a bargain and the story picked up from that point. I will not disclose the entire plot, so as not to spoil the book for anyone. I really enjoyed the author's unique twist on the way in which their relationship developed. There was some unnecessary angst, as found in so many romance novels, due to a serious lack of communication between the couple. Thankfully, Hugh and Nellie found their way to happiness.

I plan to read the rest of the series, as I enjoyed the two that I have read so far. Compared to Caleb's story, this one was so much more believable. Nellie did not suffer any bouts of TSTL moments, as did Caleb's romantic lead. Nellie was just your average woman hoping and dreaming to find the love of her life but had become too afraid to believe that any of her desires would come true. I would recommend the book to others.

This story is sweet, but loses its momentum towards the end.

I liked the business proposition that leads to the story of the MCs but towards the end of the book a lot of inconsistencies with the time the story is set in occurred.

Laura Landon is an author that I have been on the lookout for and was delighted to find The Traitor’s Club: Ford on NetGalley earlier this year. I enjoyed the story and was very excited to receive The Traitor’s Club: Hugh through NetGalley, as well. I was also delighted to meet Laura Landon when she and I both attended the Historical Romance Retreat, though I was unable to finish this book before the Retreat. Which is entirely my fault, since it is a very fast read and easily managed in one sitting.

And, honestly, I truly enjoyed this story! I normally have a problem with novellas, and this book is very short - only 120 pages. But, it worked. Unlike in Ford and Callie’s story, there was no mystery or adventure. Nellie and Hugh’s story was a retelling of the City Mouse / Country Mouse children’s tale. The romance is kept fairly PG, think “soaring through a golden darkness and into a silvery light. Higher and higher they climbed until pinpoints of light burst into crystal shards that shattered and fell like rose petals all around her.” Which, after having met Laura Landon in person, works for me, but would otherwise have been rather cringe worthy. I also cringed at Nellie’s lack of self worth and self esteem, as well as the use of childbirth to bring the couple closer. I read Historical Romance to escape and having pregnancy and birth such a large part of the story is a huge turn-off for me. But, with City Mouse/Country Mouse being such a familiar story, it isn’t any wonder that the reader is rooting for Nellie and Hugh to have their happily ever after.

I also liked that this book was set after the Crimean War and addressed the PTSD, lethargy, and feelings of uselessness of soldiers returning home from war. This is an important issue and I like that it is cropping up more and more in Romance novels.

In general, I liked this book and can recommend it as a rather clean novella and a fun way to pass a few hours. Just be aware that it may have some emotional triggers. I look forward to the next story in the series!

I always love a good Laura Landon book. This was excellent. Great storyline, great writing as usual.

Hugh Wythers is a second son who had no responsibilities so he joined the war. He was one of four soldiers who undertook difficult and dangerous missions during the Crimean War and let people believe they were traitors. His father cut off his funds and he gives him Red Oaks a thriving estate with a grand income from which he can make his living. For Hugh London is the only place to live he hates the country.
Lady Annalise Lyman is working on getting her last sister through the London season and married so she can return to country life. She’s long since given up being married herself and been running the family estate for her father. She’ll do anything to keep her sisters happy and she does. Owen inform Annalise of his predicament and she later comes to him with a pact that she would take care of his estate and he can live in town. He jumps at the prospect of getting what he wants. Annalise knows she can’t form an attachment to a husband who plans on leaving her and Hugh can’t wait to be back in London, is this really what either of them want? Will they come to realize what make them truly happy and find their HEA before its’s too late.
This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

The second story of The Traitor’s Club features Hugh Wythers. Since his return from the Crimean War, he has lived life to the fullest, at least the way he sees it - wine women, parties. When his father decides it’s time Hugh stopped this lifestyle, he cuts off his funds and gives him instead a successful estate. He expects Hugh to manage the estate and live off the proceeds. Hugh hates living in the country and has other ideas.

Roaring drunk and on the search for a wealthy bride, Hugh falls off the terrace right in front of Lady Annaliese Lyman. Nellie takes care of her sisters and father and manages his estate. She knows she isn’t a beauty, but it still stings when Hugh announces that she is plain. When Hugh comes to apologize to her, he tells her of his circumstances and his plan. Nellie didn’t give it much thought until she learned that her sister and brother-in-law would have to move far away for him to manage an estate. She devises a plan. She will talk Hugh into hiring her to manage his estate, so that her sister doesn’t have to move away. She and Hugh reach an agreement, not exactly the plan she had in mind, but it just might work out.

Hugh and Nellie’s story is heartwarming and humorous. The hero and heroine are great characters. Hugh is a charmer. Nellie may not be exactly what Hugh was looking for, but she is exactly what he needs. Her beauty is on the inside. She is kind and caring, willing to do what is best for those she loves. Their story is a relaxing read with a few surprises.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed it and the comments are my own.

This was a great little read i really liked both Hugh and Annalise and enjoyed getting to know them a super addition to the series and i enjoyed it,it was well written and had a great plot would recommend.

I have always liked this author and did like the fact that it was about Somene not traditionally beautiful. I was happy that he fell in love with her overall although their original intent was to live separately while she managed his estate. I would have liked her to have at least a few good features although he saw her as beautiful. I found it odd that she has such good looking sisters and she did not have much to recommend her physically. She could have filled during her pregnancy or somethin like that. I would have liked to know more detail why they were called traitors. Thanks for a good book.

A short, easy and enjoyable read, book 2 of "The Traitor's Club: Hugh" tells the story of a series of unrelated events that if they were taken individually, it would have not mattered in the grand scheme of things. But, because they followed one another, two of the unlikeliest people to be a couple found themselves married.

And they should have lived happily ever after… But, no, they did not. Hugh Wythers and Lady Annalise Lyman still found themselves in a quandary even after the I do's.

"The Traitor's Club: Hugh" is not your signature Laura Landon romance which are usually full of dramatic twists and turns. With Hugh and Annalise, Landon cleverly incorporated laugh out loud funny moments that more than just comic relief. Those moments are actually pivotal.

But don't worry. Hugh and Annalise will tug at your heartstrings like most of Laura Landon's protagonist. Even in this drama-comedy, Landon's writings make readers empathize with the lead characters, demonstrating once again her mastery of her craft.

I'll reiterate. "The Traitor's Club: Hugh" is a short, easy and enjoyable read. Read it during lunch or on your commute on the train. The book is Rated T for Teens due to some adult situations. The sex scenes in this book are implied and not graphic.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I would rate this book 3 1/3 stars which rounds down to 3. Hugh Wythers was one of four soliders that undertook difficult and dangerous missions during the Crimean War and let people believe they were traitors to help increase the success of said missions. After seeing the horrors of war, Hugh has decided to live his life to the fullest; fed up with his behavior, Hugh's father decides to cut off his funds and force him to live off the proceeds of a successful estate. Hating time spent in the country, Hugh plans to find a wealthy heiress who can fund his current lifestyle. After losing his second heiress, Hugh gets fall down drunk at a ball and lands near Lady Annaliese Lyman (Nellie). Nellie is the oldest of six sisters and unmarried despite her age; she's been running her father's estate since her mother's death. Having given up on marriage due to her lack of beauty, Nellie believes herself to be content with her life. Although Hugh insults her when he describes her as plain, Nellie see's his situation as a god send when she overhears her younger sister's family will be moving since Nellie is running the estate and there aren't other opportunities in the area for a land stewart. Nellie approaches Hugh and offers her skills as an estate manager, but he insists that they marry first. What follows is a sweet romance between two characters who slowly come to realize that Nellie is exactly what Hugh has been looking for. The main thing that lowered my score is the lack of in depth character development due to the length of the title. Anyone looking for a book to fill a few hours, should look no further than this book.

Lovely romance. Would like to read more from this author.

Overall I found the story to be good with only a few errors. Thanks

A most enticing and enjoyable book, Hugh and Nellie’s story is a tender loving one, they made foolish promises they thought they could have kept. Although Nellie tried her best to keep such promises, she was doomed to fail, she had no experience with that emotion called Love of the heart and that it respects no one. Hugh wanted to continue to do what he does best and Nellie just wanted to secure herself from being hurt, but love had a better solution. The storyline is great with equally awesome characters, that helped build this tale to an amazing and entertaining one, Laura Landon has done it again great job.

3.5 stars

This was a quick read for me and I enjoyed idea of the story.

Lady Annalise Lyman aka Nellie is a spinster, she hates London and would like nothing better than to retire to the country - which she plans to do just as soon as she marries off her youngest sister.

Lord Hugh Wythers is the second son of a Marquess and a rake - since his return from the war, he has spent his time pursuing all the delights London has to offer, that is until his father cuts him off - he tells Hugh that he is gifting him an estate and Hugh will have to live off the profits. Hugh hates the country and will do anything to stay in London. His initial plan is to marry an heiress and use her money to continue living the life he loves, but when he is turned down yet again, he gets rip roaring drunk and hatches a new plan - he will marry a plain woman. He explains his plan to his friends and then falls off the balcony, literally landing at the feet of Nellie. In a drunken haze, he kisses her and tells her she is perfect because she is homely.

The next day, after he sobers up and his friends tell him what a jerk he was, he calls on Nellie to apologize. While he doesn't consider her a candidate for the position of his wife - he is drawn to her kind and generous nature.

When Nellie learns that her sister may have to move far away because they don't want to take the management of her father's estate from her, Nellie reaches out to Hugh and offers her services as estate manager. Hugh agrees, but insists that they marry.

They marry and go to the estate - it has been agreed between them that Hugh will stay a short while and then return to London. Nellie makes him promise not to return. After a month together, Hugh leaves and at first is overjoyed to return to London. But as time passes, he misses Nellie and writes to her. Nellie has also missed Hugh, but can't bear the pain of his leaving her - unbeknownst to him, she conceived and she hasn't told him, nor has she read any of the letters he has sent.

Six months pass before Hugh returns and is shocked to learn that she is with child, he insists on staying until the child is born. Hugh doesn't want to return to London, but Nellie is insisting that he goes after the birth of their child.

I though the book was well written, but there are formal address issues (which might be corrected in the final published copy - but I am basing my review on what I read) Hugh is the second son of a marquess - he has an honorific title of Lord Hugh - NOT Lord Wythers. The love scenes are there, but they are muted and would be best described as lukewarm. Nellie is a strong heroine, but she suffers from low self-esteem because of her looks and Hugh comes across as very selfish and self-serving. But they are really both loyal and honorable people who stupidly think they are doing what is best for the other. I did like both of them and hoped that they would figure out how to compromise and have a happy marriage before it was too late.

This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a stand alone title.

Hugh Wythers is a second son so thinks he has no responsibility and since returning from the Crimea War he just lives each day to the most he can. Lady Annalise Lyman has a bunch of younger sisters she has seen through their debutante years and into marriage. Now she is working on the last one. When she is done she can return to the country. Hugh has been given the thriving estate of Red Oak and he has to make it his living from now on. He hates the country. Annalise comes to him with a pact that she would take care of his estate and he can live in town. He jumps at the prospect of getting what he wants. Is it really what he wants?

Great short romance, perfect for that time you need to escape and only have a short time to read. Loved the characters and made me want to read the others in the series.

This book was so sweet and Nellie and Hugh, our hero and our heroine are such wonderful characters, I really loved this book. From the first page on, it took me in and kept me glued to my reader. The only times I put my reader down was when I was searching for handkerchiefs or sniffing and grinning like a fool. Nellie or rather Lady Annalise is really sweet and I was very happy to see that Hugh is more considerate and more honorable than his reputation (and his lack of drunken charme) made me fear.

When Annalise is looking for the chance to help her brother and sister, she approaches Hugh who has some problems of his own to solve. Maybe her idea might be the solution to his problem as well?
You just have to love a woman like Nellie. She is so sweet and lovable, always ready to help and a hard worker and it makes me furious when she is insecure because she is not a beauty in the eyes of society. Seeing Hugh discover just how much of a gem she is and how beautiful she is at heart - I loved it.

Of course, I was upset when Nellie had this idea of protecting herself but I hoped (desperately) that everything would turn out well and that those two would find love and happiness.
And, well, let's just say that I started to reread the first book in the series the moment I finished this book and, well, then I reread Hugh's and Nellie's story as well, of course.
Well-written, well-plotted and absolutely charming - I loved reading this book and can definitely recommend it.

4.5 stars
Hugh Wythers recently returned from the Crimea, found his only delight in the midnight playgrounds of London. And why not? War had taught him to live every day to the fullest. However his father deeds him an estate which Hugh has to manage or not as his father cuts off his funds. Reeling from the predicament in which he found himself, he gets drunk & fell head over arse—literally—into the arms of the perfect wife. The homely, unmarriageable Lady Annalise Lyman who has been managing her father’s estate for years.
This was a quick read, I read it in one session mostly because I didn’t want to put it down. The characters have depth & I filled up when Nellie read her letters. Hugh thought being a wastrel was the way to live until he met Nellie. Nellie wasn’t a curvy beautiful debutante but a plain Jane who adored her family. A lovely read.