The Scarred Lady’s Broken Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (Scandals and Second Chances Book 3)
A tragic accident in the past cost her beloved fiancé. Now, with a broken heart, she seeks solace away from society. To heal, she must open her heart to a love that could mend everything… But is love enough to heal her scars?
Miss Bridget Kendall, a young lady haunted by the tragic loss of her fiancé, has resigned herself to a life of solitude and embroidery. With a scarred cheek and a broken heart, she believes that love and happiness are beyond her reach. But when she attends a summer house party at the grand Elderwood Manor, she finds herself drawn to a gentleman who understands her pain all too well.
The brooding heir to the Earl of Grenford, James Sandford, is a man tormented by guilt and grief. Blaming himself for his younger brother’s death, he has withdrawn from society, seeking solace in the management of his family’s estate. But when he meets Bridget, he finds a kindred spirit, a lady whose gentle touch and understanding heart threaten to break down the walls he has built around his own.
As the summer unfolds, Bridget and James find themselves drawn to each other, their connection growing stronger with each passing day. But when scandal strikes and the machinations of the ambitious threaten to tear them apart, they must fight for the love they have found. Will they find the courage to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way, or will they be forced to say goodbye to the one thing that makes them whole?
If you like the Regency and Victorian era, this novel is for you. The Scarred Lady’s Broken Heart is a captivating romance love story of approximately 65,000 words.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Get your copy today, free with Kindle Unlimited!
Customer Reviews
S***K
Wonderful story
Two people, shattered by tragedies, find each other when they least expect it. A thoroughly engaging story. Very hard to put down.May 8, 2025
J**************a
Happy ending!
Very heartwarming story of two people living thru their grief. I loved how James was able to sense Bridget ‘s pain. Also loved how he stood up to Lady Louisa’s plan to trap him in a loveless marriage. Great readMarch 22, 2025
d*****7
Greatest read
I liked the endingFebruary 24, 2025
J********g
Exceedingly boring.
For such a short novel this one definitely dragged on ad nauseam. The plot was uninspired and unoriginal. The characters were one dimensional and completely insipid, while the heroine was maudlin and taciturn. The side plot, which, I suppose, was meant to add action into an otherwise boring narrative, was ludicrous and needlessly melodramatic. Overall this book was a deplorable waste of time.February 18, 2025
J****n
Found Love
A wonderful read. I loved the characters and how they were revealed. It was a real page turner and I could not put it down. Thank you MarthaJanuary 29, 2025
K*t
kindred spirits
James and Bridget meet even though they are set up with other people. As time goes on, they keep meeting and enjoy each other’s company. But will they be fleeting or possibly each other’s other half? Must read.December 14, 2024
D****************r
Covers the hardships of grief
One woman withdrawn from society because of the death of her fiance and a man who blames himself for his own brother’s death. When these two meet, they break through their walls of grief to wanting to live again. Their love rises to the challenges of machinations of society. It is a wonderful story covering the grief that each one of us carries as we try to move on with the living.November 18, 2024
s**********r
Tragedy to Happiness
A delightful story that has a good story line and a good cast of characters. This story is well-written and error free. Keep up the good work, Martha.October 20, 2024
M**s
Great Story
I really enjoyed this story of Bridget and James. But I was really disappointed that I was unable to download the extended epilogue. I would have loved to have read what happened to this couple in the future. Still, the book was worth 5 starsOctober 18, 2024
K*************r
Tender and loving
Even in the mist of tragedy and guilt and a lost of hope the sparks of love and compassion can bring healing.October 9, 2024
P*t
Great Story !
Every story is so brilliantly written and enjoyable ! I read to relax and escape my busy day to day pressures, these are a perfect escape and wonderful way of seeing a different life and feeling good about the final conclusion! Believe enough to revert back to my normal life after this great life like tale. The characters are real and I feel for their situations and their ways of coping and ultimately successful ways of dealing with their lives ! Please keep writing these lovely books !! You are my life saver and these work far better than any chemical tranquilizer to enable me to cope with my stresses ! Well Done and THANK YOU Keep going !! Thanks & Best Wishes Pam LSeptember 24, 2024
K*************r
Sweet read…
Fairly predictable storyline but still a nice way to spend a couple of rainy afternoons. Two souls trying to recover from tragedies and finding each other.September 21, 2024
k***********n
Loved it
I loved this story. I could not put this book down. Two people that each endured tragedy in their lives before they found each other.September 20, 2024
S**************z
It was a great love story that love is in the br holder
Bridget had a scare on one side of her face and it had made her very self conscious . She meets James who she does not know who he is. He is interested in her. It is a long weekend And they do spend time together and she finds out he is a lord. But another Woman is interested in him and Bridget Leaves and goes back to her home. James goes to find her and proposed To ger and the wed and have a fanilySeptember 19, 2024
P******a
Interesting how looks are important
I liked the book, although I thought the characters were a bit droopy. No pulling yourself up by your book straps! But love conquers all (thankfully) and it worked outSeptember 19, 2024
L************y
Good book
I felt for both main characters who went through so much grief to finally come together at the end. My favorite character was Bridget father who understood what she was going through. Sometimes the characters would get a little whiny and really doing embroidery all the time geez!September 19, 2024
A*************r
The power to overcome
I think what I liked most about this book is that even though both people were struggling with traumatic events from their past, they took a chance on one another and found that the power of love gave them the courage to trust in each other and their love.September 18, 2024
R*********e
A masterpiece of sweet, clean romance!
Absolutely loved this sweet romance! Bridget and James had such sweet, loving moments together throughout the book! My heart was melting! Their love for each other was so beautiful and deep! They found solace in each other after both suffering tragedies. A meddling romantic rival tried to ruin things at the end but I loved how James refused to marry her! From beginning to end, it was hard to put this book down. This is definitely one of Martha Barwood’s best books! Between this book and A Convincing Arrangement with a Brute, I cannot decide which is my favorite! Highly recommend both!September 18, 2024
O*a
A great Read
This is a great story staged in the Victorian Era!September 17, 2024
r**e
Fantastic
Well written, full of drama, emotions, love, lies, PTSD, scandal, society, scars and lots of twists. Bridget is a young lady who lost her first love and now has a scar on her face because of a carriage accident. She backs off from society because of this and hides away. James is a young Earl who feels guilty due to a hunting accident that wasn’t really his fault. Both have lots of PTSD that they need to work thru. They both attend a house party where they are able to connect and share their pasts. Of coarse there are others who do not want them to be together and start some lies and gossip. Always glad that they get their happily ever after. Curl up and enjoy this story. Would recommend to others. I received this free story and leave an unbiased, honest review.September 17, 2024
H**********r
Good plot
I enjoyed the book. There are several errors, like using the wrong character name, or incorrect words but overall the book was good. It could use some proofreading.September 17, 2024
L**********k
This Book Is Worth Reading
When I first started reading this book I thought oh no, it sounds like another book I just read. But I promised to review the book so I read on and I am glad I did. The book is about a Lord and Lady who each have their emotional/physical scars from the past to overcome. They would much rather be alone and not bother with formalities of the Season as they call it. But of course their families who have legacies to pass on, insist on their attending a days long trip quite far from London to party and have fun. Luckily, the two meet. There are many trials and tribulations along the way. One of these involves another very forward and deceitful Lady who tries to force herself upon James. If you enjoy Regency stories I think you will enjoy this.September 17, 2024
B********a
Great novel
I very much enjoyed reading this story is very well written I really enjoyed reading this bookSeptember 16, 2024
J*d
Great read!
Can two broken people find love again? Miss Bridget Kendal lost the love of her life in a carriage accident which scared her physically as well as emotionally. She met James Sandford, the Earl of Grenford, who had withdrawn from society after the tragic death of his younger brother. This is a love story filled with emotion. The characters are real and very engaging. Definitely worth reading.September 16, 2024
M**V
Lost Love & Finding it Again? Perhaps!
Tragedy affects two people in different ways. Never able to open up or love again means one must face others eventually. And meeting each other brings opportunities to talk & face their fears. While facing their feelings for each other there is a deceitful person who will stop at nothing to break them up. And she may!September 16, 2024
B***y
Love can mend broken hearts
A Scarred Lady’s Broken Heart is a great book. The heroine is Bridget who lost her betrothed in a carriage accident. The hero is James who lost his brother in a hunting accident. Both are hurting – Bridget obtained a facial scar in the accident and James blames himself for his brother’s death. They met at a house party that neither wanted to attend. Their parents were eager for them to marry someone – Bridget’s father was very supportive and James’ father was more concerned about the earldom. Thus begins Bridget’s and James’ journey to their HEA. Along the way, (Spoiler Alerts)….. 1-James sees Bridget sitting alone in a garden alcove. He recognizes that she has experienced pain. 2-It becomes a game of hide & seek – where will James find Bridget next in the home housing the party? 3-A young lady inadvertently runs interference between Bridget and James. 4-Barriers break down as Bridget and James discuss their pasts. 5-James gets caught with the young lady (see #3). Will this interfere with James’ plans? 6-Are the HEA goals achieved? Ladies and gents – if one is a reader of Regency romance, this storyline is familiar. Ms. Barwood’s writing skills lift the ordinary to make it personal. The book is clean – no oven mitts are needed. Please have tissues at hand. Thank you, Ms. Barwood, for a great book.September 16, 2024
D******n
Two Troubled Souls
Miss Bridget Kendall and Lord James Sandford are two tortured souls that recognize one another and soothes each other’s troubled past. Bridget was scarred and lost her fiancé in a carriage accident and James lost his brother in a hunting accident. Invited to a house party James is drawn to the shy, withdrawn young lady and couldn’t help himself looking for her and wanting to be near her. She couldn’t understand why he would want anything to do with her but as he continued to talk to her, she let her heart go. He had finally decided to pop the question to her when a scheming family decided differently and created a scandal. Bridget left heartbroken and James was left with a delima. ARC ReviewSeptember 16, 2024
L******e
Bridgett And James Love Story
It’s a beautiful love story. The main characters were complex yet delightful. Past traumatic incidents, pain, and suffering had marred their lives. A house party and a chance meeting begin a lovely romance that is almost destroyed by a lie. Thankfully, the truth is revealed, and love wins. I enjoyed the wonderful ending. I highly recommend reading!September 16, 2024
B*****a
Well written
The characters were believable. I couldn’t put it down until I finished u.September 16, 2024
P*******.
Loved this book!
I loved everything about this book, the characters, the settings and the fact that it is a sweet, clean book. I will definitely look for more great books to read from this author.September 15, 2024
