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Daughters of Fortune #3
Love with a Scandalous Lord
For as long as she can remember, Lydia Westland has dreamed of glittering London society. Finding herself at last in England, she is determined to make the most of this opportunity. Clutching her copy of ′Blunders in Behaviour Corrected′ she sets forth to find a suitably titled husband. But what she finds instead is Rhys Rhodes, a second son with a past that is anything but glittering. To Rhys, Lydia is everything he has lost - innocence, laughter, joy - and everything he cannot have.
384 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2003
124 people are currently reading
941 people want to read
About the author
Lorraine Heath
91 books4,383 followersAlso writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 14, 2017
Lydia Westland was ecstatic to finally be visiting England. She heard so many stories about her stepfather's homeland growing up. Now she wants to marry a titled gentleman and live in polite society. When she is introduced to her stepfather's half-brother, Rhys Rhodes, she is spellbound. Rhys has become the heir to the Duke of Harrington due to the untimely death of his reprobate brother. Rhys never expected to be in that position. The 'other lady,' i.e., Camilla is a disgusting horror show who makes me sick (who apparently gets her own book, why?) but hero seems to forgive her somehow, without her apologizing or anything (and without author giving us that scene but just saying it happened) and I am all for nice people but WTF! I was concerned that I wasn't going to be able to finish this book because Lydia was SO shallow. I continued trudging along, loving Rhys and his thoughts on Lydia. Once she stopped thinking about herself all the time, I liked her better. I felt that we had to wait too long in the book to find out Rhys' secret, and I must say that I was a bit icked out by it. I loved Rhys and Lydia. They were great together, since she wouldn't give up on him.
I could write many minor problems that this book had: the hero's refusal to trust the heroine with his past though he loved her, the use of too many cliches both in the plot but also in the writing style, the too good to be true hero and more. But in the end, I enjoyed it a lot because no other writer (with the possible exception of Hoyt) writes the tortured hero as well as Heath does. And I loved my tortured hero stories, especially when they're packed with lots of drama and angst in the surrounding plot. Heath certainly knows how to deliver that as well. I was not sure about how I felt about this book until the end. I loved the premise. I loved the hero, and eventually warmed up to the heroine (I was really irritated by her at the start but liked her OK by the end), but my problem was the opposite of one I usually get with romances, in which often people carry on and on about past events that don't matter like bona fide drama queens - in this one, I thought like the author and the characters viewed what happened to the hero as nowhere near as bad as it was. I mean, dude should have been in therapy forever, or, since they didn't have any in Victorian England, at least someone sympathetic to talk his issues out with and work through them. Not to mention that the author has his forgive people who he shouldn't and everyone move on like one big happy...bunch of people. Good book... With good, bad, and ugly of relationships between people.
I could write many minor problems that this book had: the hero's refusal to trust the heroine with his past though he loved her, the use of too many cliches both in the plot but also in the writing style, the too good to be true hero and more. But in the end, I enjoyed it a lot because no other writer (with the possible exception of Hoyt) writes the tortured hero as well as Heath does. And I loved my tortured hero stories, especially when they're packed with lots of drama and angst in the surrounding plot. Heath certainly knows how to deliver that as well. I was not sure about how I felt about this book until the end. I loved the premise. I loved the hero, and eventually warmed up to the heroine (I was really irritated by her at the start but liked her OK by the end), but my problem was the opposite of one I usually get with romances, in which often people carry on and on about past events that don't matter like bona fide drama queens - in this one, I thought like the author and the characters viewed what happened to the hero as nowhere near as bad as it was. I mean, dude should have been in therapy forever, or, since they didn't have any in Victorian England, at least someone sympathetic to talk his issues out with and work through them. Not to mention that the author has his forgive people who he shouldn't and everyone move on like one big happy...bunch of people. Good book... With good, bad, and ugly of relationships between people.
August 11, 2013
As some of you may have seen from my status updates, I definitely had mixed feelings about this book. I suppose it was another one of those 'boring first half, interesting second half' books. It took me two days to get half way and the only reason I stuck it out was because it was Lorraine Heath. I'm not particularly surprised that it got interesting in the end because she is a writer of great quality. I can't say I was too impressed by this one though - the first half was too boring for words and the heroine came across as slightly shallow and etiquette-obsessed.
Lydia and her family arrive in England from Texas after her stepfather learns that his father is ill. Lydia has been dreaming of the London glitter and glamour for all her life and is beyond excitement when she finally has the opportunity to experience it. Upon arriving in England she falls in love with the first man she meets, Rhys Rhodes, who is about to become a duke. After a fall out with his family, Rhys now possesses a dark and scandalous past that prevents him from marrying Lydia.
The first half of the book largely describes Lydia's excitement about all things British and her obsession with following the etiquette of aristocratic society. She quickly falls in love with Rhys and everything is sailing smoothly until he refuses to marry her. I was completely nodding off and waiting for the book to hurry up and finish when *BAM* things started getting VERY interesting. It was like the switch had been flicked on. There's nothing like a good bit of jealousy, drama and scandal to liven up any book. All I can say is, thank God this book turned out okay in the end. I think I've read the second book in this series as well and I would definitely not recommend it. This series is not Lorraine Heath's best, but I did like this book in the end.
Rate: 3 stars
Lydia and her family arrive in England from Texas after her stepfather learns that his father is ill. Lydia has been dreaming of the London glitter and glamour for all her life and is beyond excitement when she finally has the opportunity to experience it. Upon arriving in England she falls in love with the first man she meets, Rhys Rhodes, who is about to become a duke. After a fall out with his family, Rhys now possesses a dark and scandalous past that prevents him from marrying Lydia.
The first half of the book largely describes Lydia's excitement about all things British and her obsession with following the etiquette of aristocratic society. She quickly falls in love with Rhys and everything is sailing smoothly until he refuses to marry her. I was completely nodding off and waiting for the book to hurry up and finish when *BAM* things started getting VERY interesting. It was like the switch had been flicked on. There's nothing like a good bit of jealousy, drama and scandal to liven up any book. All I can say is, thank God this book turned out okay in the end. I think I've read the second book in this series as well and I would definitely not recommend it. This series is not Lorraine Heath's best, but I did like this book in the end.
Rate: 3 stars
July 23, 2022
Rhys Rhodes has always been the second son, but finds himself the heir to the Dukedom after his reprobate brother’s untimely death. And now his father’s health is failing. Rhys has always yearned for the love of a woman but knows he will never have it.
Lydia Westland grew up in Fortune, Texas but now finds herself in London with her family since her stepfather’s father is ill. Lydia has always been taken with the glitter and glamour of society life and London from the stories her stepfather has told her and is ready to find herself a suitably titled husband. Her stepfather is Grayson Rhodes, who was the hero in A Rogue in Texas, the first book in the Rogues in Texas series. The Rogues in Texas series followed 3 Englishmen whose father’s sent off their wayward sons from England to Texas to make their own way. This Daughters of Fortune series is a spin-off of that series, following the next generation of characters we met in Rogues in Texas.
After arriving in London, Lydia meets her stepfather’s half brother Rhys. Lydia desperately wants to fit in with society and after a few run-ins with Rhys, she asks him for help while she’s in London to fit in. Which Rhys and Lydia start to feel something for one another from the start and even share some kisses. He definitely is fighting the feels first. But after a fall out with his family, and his scandalous past (that we learn about later into the book), Rhys is “unable” to marry Lydia.
Unlike others I was actually enjoying the first half of this book and the heroine, but then we get some messiness/drama that involves the hero getting engaged to another woman (I believe she eventually gets her own book which is interesting lol). And yeah I just didn’t care for that bit of story and the reasons the hero couldn’t/shouldn’t marry the heroine. Not my fav in this series but it’s Lorraine Heath so it wasn’t awful either.
Lydia Westland grew up in Fortune, Texas but now finds herself in London with her family since her stepfather’s father is ill. Lydia has always been taken with the glitter and glamour of society life and London from the stories her stepfather has told her and is ready to find herself a suitably titled husband. Her stepfather is Grayson Rhodes, who was the hero in A Rogue in Texas, the first book in the Rogues in Texas series. The Rogues in Texas series followed 3 Englishmen whose father’s sent off their wayward sons from England to Texas to make their own way. This Daughters of Fortune series is a spin-off of that series, following the next generation of characters we met in Rogues in Texas.
After arriving in London, Lydia meets her stepfather’s half brother Rhys. Lydia desperately wants to fit in with society and after a few run-ins with Rhys, she asks him for help while she’s in London to fit in. Which Rhys and Lydia start to feel something for one another from the start and even share some kisses. He definitely is fighting the feels first. But after a fall out with his family, and his scandalous past (that we learn about later into the book), Rhys is “unable” to marry Lydia.
Unlike others I was actually enjoying the first half of this book and the heroine, but then we get some messiness/drama that involves the hero getting engaged to another woman (I believe she eventually gets her own book which is interesting lol). And yeah I just didn’t care for that bit of story and the reasons the hero couldn’t/shouldn’t marry the heroine. Not my fav in this series but it’s Lorraine Heath so it wasn’t awful either.
June 5, 2022
No being attracted to her ‘innocence’ when you’re basically her uncle. Okay?
Good, glad we had this talk.
In any romance, the uncle thing would be bad. But it was made worse here because reconnecting with his brother was a big part of our MMC’s storyline and they kept bringing up the uncle thing as an excuse to be alone together unchaperoned. Nonono…
But the thing that absolutely killed this book for me was him being attracted to her innocence. Not my favourite reason for a couple to get together—but I’ll allow it if he’s also innocent or he’s comfortable with his worldliness and there’s an opposites attract/culture clash element to the flirtation. But that’s not at all how it went down here. The hero hated himself for being the ‘other man’ in so many adulterous relationships and he was latching onto our heroine like an innocence vampire. Didn’t help that she was 20-going-on-12 and had the maturity of a young Anne of Green Gables. Like, did she even know how babies were made?
Also, another side note about the Lorraine Heath backlist reading order—as with the first book in this Daughters of Fortune series, I wish I had read the Rogues in Texas series first. It seems like the whole plot of A Rogue in Texas gets spoiled during a conversation in this book. Just one more reason to wipe it from my memory 😒
Good, glad we had this talk.
In any romance, the uncle thing would be bad. But it was made worse here because reconnecting with his brother was a big part of our MMC’s storyline and they kept bringing up the uncle thing as an excuse to be alone together unchaperoned. Nonono…
But the thing that absolutely killed this book for me was him being attracted to her innocence. Not my favourite reason for a couple to get together—but I’ll allow it if he’s also innocent or he’s comfortable with his worldliness and there’s an opposites attract/culture clash element to the flirtation. But that’s not at all how it went down here. The hero hated himself for being the ‘other man’ in so many adulterous relationships and he was latching onto our heroine like an innocence vampire. Didn’t help that she was 20-going-on-12 and had the maturity of a young Anne of Green Gables. Like, did she even know how babies were made?
Also, another side note about the Lorraine Heath backlist reading order—as with the first book in this Daughters of Fortune series, I wish I had read the Rogues in Texas series first. It seems like the whole plot of A Rogue in Texas gets spoiled during a conversation in this book. Just one more reason to wipe it from my memory 😒
January 8, 2015
I like Lorraine Heath, I really do. I like her quite a bit. But this book was just plain torturous and a pain to finish. The heroine came off as insipid and shallow, and well I didn't see love with Rhys and Lydia, just pure lust. So much for my guilty pleasure of American heroines with English men in HRs.
November 7, 2011
Lorraine Heath is a good romance writer, but this isn't one of her stronger books. I wouldn't say it's bad, or it's a waste of time because I did get into the story, it's just flawed.
She has a great premise for the hero of the story. No one can write a damaged hero like Heath. There is a twist at the end about the hero's past that I didn't see coming. Those are the strengths of the book.
The flaws are that both the heroine and hero come off as immature. The hero Ryhs won't reveal his past to the heroine, which propels the plot but comes off as untrusting.
This book shares the flaws of many of Heath's books: interesting characters and premises and back stories. But the dialogue is weak. Much as I hate to say it because I'm a fan, the dialogue come off as corny and unbelievable about a quarter of the time.
Rhys is a second son who was never supposed to be the heir. That went to his older brother who had a streak of cruelty in him. After his brother's wife killed herself because of circumstances I won't reveal, Rhys was cast out into the world with no money. For five years he wandered, doing some unsavory things for money.
When his brother dies after getting drunk and tripping into a pond, Rhys is the heir. The heroine is the step daughter of his half brother that is visiting. She is innocent to the ways of the ton and Rhys falls for her, but is unwilling to marry her because he knows once his secrets get out she will be ridiculed and cut off.
For all the books flaws, Rhys is an interesting hero. Three and a half stars.
She has a great premise for the hero of the story. No one can write a damaged hero like Heath. There is a twist at the end about the hero's past that I didn't see coming. Those are the strengths of the book.
The flaws are that both the heroine and hero come off as immature. The hero Ryhs won't reveal his past to the heroine, which propels the plot but comes off as untrusting.
This book shares the flaws of many of Heath's books: interesting characters and premises and back stories. But the dialogue is weak. Much as I hate to say it because I'm a fan, the dialogue come off as corny and unbelievable about a quarter of the time.
Rhys is a second son who was never supposed to be the heir. That went to his older brother who had a streak of cruelty in him. After his brother's wife killed herself because of circumstances I won't reveal, Rhys was cast out into the world with no money. For five years he wandered, doing some unsavory things for money.
When his brother dies after getting drunk and tripping into a pond, Rhys is the heir. The heroine is the step daughter of his half brother that is visiting. She is innocent to the ways of the ton and Rhys falls for her, but is unwilling to marry her because he knows once his secrets get out she will be ridiculed and cut off.
For all the books flaws, Rhys is an interesting hero. Three and a half stars.
March 4, 2015
I could write many minor problems that this book had: the hero's refusal to trust the heroine with his past though he loved her, the use of too many cliches both in the plot but also in the writing style, the too good to be true hero and more. But in the end, I enjoyed it a lot because no other writer (with the possible exception of Hoyt) writes the tortured hero as well as Heath does. And I loved my tortured hero stories, especially when they're packed with lots of drama and angst in the surrounding plot. Heath certainly knows how to deliver that as well.
I am sorry however that I didn't pick up As an Earl Desires before this one, as I originally considered. I had no idea these two books were connected, but having read this first I have no desire to read the other. The heroine of As an Earl Desires is the villain of this book. And when I say villain, she's ten times the villain St Vincent was. No chance of redeeming her for me I'm afraid, even though Heath tried to make her seem more of a victim in the final chapter.
I am sorry however that I didn't pick up As an Earl Desires before this one, as I originally considered. I had no idea these two books were connected, but having read this first I have no desire to read the other. The heroine of As an Earl Desires is the villain of this book. And when I say villain, she's ten times the villain St Vincent was. No chance of redeeming her for me I'm afraid, even though Heath tried to make her seem more of a victim in the final chapter.
May 22, 2016
Lydia Westland was ecstatic to finally be visiting England. She heard so many stories about her stepfather's homeland growing up. Now she wants to marry a titled gentleman and live in polite society. When she is introduced to her stepfather's half-brother, Rhys Rhodes, she is spellbound. Rhys has just become the Marquess of Blackhurst. He's not interested in marriage. He's not interested in taking his place in society. But Lydia fascinates Rhys as no other woman has ever done.
This is the third book in Heath's Daughters of Fortune series. I thought the first half of the book was very slow. Lydia and Rhys would find themselves together over and over again. He would kiss her then push her away for her own good. I thought the second half of the book when he is helping her enter society was more interesting. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
This is the third book in Heath's Daughters of Fortune series. I thought the first half of the book was very slow. Lydia and Rhys would find themselves together over and over again. He would kiss her then push her away for her own good. I thought the second half of the book when he is helping her enter society was more interesting. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
November 2, 2009
Somehow by the end off this highly implausible romance the characters stole my heart. Perhaps is was because of Lydia's temperament not to fall prey to allowing Rhys' ridiculous circumstances to destroy her happiness- of course Rhys was pretty charming himself.
September 23, 2020
DNF he’s literally her uncle !
July 20, 2018
Lidya bersuka cita saat diajak ayah tirinya, Grayson utk datang ke Inggris. Selama ini Lidya mengidamkan kehidupan di London. Dan gayung bersambut, ketika keluarga mereka diundang oleh Rhys, calon duke Blackhurst yang tampan, sekaligus saudara tiri Grayson.
Tidak butuh waktu lama Lidya memikat Rhys dgn kecantikannya. Sayangnya Rhys menyembunyikan masa lalunya, sehingga dia menolak menikahi Lidya. Sebenarnya di bagian ini saya merasa sangat menggelikan, tetapi lanjut baca. Lidya patah hati saat Rhys mengumumkan akan menikahi Camilla, Lady Sachse. Lady Sachse memegang rahasia kelam Rhys dan bertekad menggunakannya jika Rhys ingkar utk menikahinya. Sejujurnya, bukankah Lidya juga berambisi menjadi Duchess juga?
Seperti biasa, karakter heroine terlalu "dibesar-besarkan" oleh author. Karakter Lidya yg berusia 20 thn, masih murni, ber-etiket, berjiwa besar dan nyaris tidak punya kecacatan apapun. Justru penggambaran spt ini bikin saya ngantuk baca karya author. Tokoh Rhys malah digambarkan sbg hero yang muram tetapi di dalam hatinya sangat baik terhadap orang lain, takut masa lalunya terungkap, selalu merasa menjadi pewaris cadangan dan tidak dianggap apalagi dicintai oleh anggota keluarganya. Saya tahu maksud author memadankan Rhys yang mencari wanita yang mencintainya seutuhnya dgn Lidya yang punya rasa cinta yang sangat besar. Tetapi saya cuma merasakan segelintir empati yang ada dari Lidya kepada Rhys. Lidya jadi terlihat laksana Meghan Markle yang niat banget jadi Duchess dgn menikahi si pangeran bengal, Harry.
Konflik dan alur jadi terasa pasif dan tawar. Apalagi sejak dijelaskan profesi Rhys itu yg sebenarnya malah "dipermanis" seolah-olah Rhys ini konselor pernikahan para Lady yang bermasalah. Alamak!!!! Sudahlah, ini memang ciri khas author utk "mengecilkan" dosa nista si Rhys. Sungguh sulit saya terkesan dgn novel-novel author, apa daya sudah terlanjur beli banyak novel author.
Tidak butuh waktu lama Lidya memikat Rhys dgn kecantikannya. Sayangnya Rhys menyembunyikan masa lalunya, sehingga dia menolak menikahi Lidya. Sebenarnya di bagian ini saya merasa sangat menggelikan, tetapi lanjut baca. Lidya patah hati saat Rhys mengumumkan akan menikahi Camilla, Lady Sachse. Lady Sachse memegang rahasia kelam Rhys dan bertekad menggunakannya jika Rhys ingkar utk menikahinya. Sejujurnya, bukankah Lidya juga berambisi menjadi Duchess juga?
Seperti biasa, karakter heroine terlalu "dibesar-besarkan" oleh author. Karakter Lidya yg berusia 20 thn, masih murni, ber-etiket, berjiwa besar dan nyaris tidak punya kecacatan apapun. Justru penggambaran spt ini bikin saya ngantuk baca karya author. Tokoh Rhys malah digambarkan sbg hero yang muram tetapi di dalam hatinya sangat baik terhadap orang lain, takut masa lalunya terungkap, selalu merasa menjadi pewaris cadangan dan tidak dianggap apalagi dicintai oleh anggota keluarganya. Saya tahu maksud author memadankan Rhys yang mencari wanita yang mencintainya seutuhnya dgn Lidya yang punya rasa cinta yang sangat besar. Tetapi saya cuma merasakan segelintir empati yang ada dari Lidya kepada Rhys. Lidya jadi terlihat laksana Meghan Markle yang niat banget jadi Duchess dgn menikahi si pangeran bengal, Harry.
Konflik dan alur jadi terasa pasif dan tawar. Apalagi sejak dijelaskan profesi Rhys itu yg sebenarnya malah "dipermanis" seolah-olah Rhys ini konselor pernikahan para Lady yang bermasalah. Alamak!!!! Sudahlah, ini memang ciri khas author utk "mengecilkan" dosa nista si Rhys. Sungguh sulit saya terkesan dgn novel-novel author, apa daya sudah terlanjur beli banyak novel author.
November 2, 2025
It pains me to give LH books 1⭐, there are only 2 of her books so far that the relationship between the main characters gross me out no matter how the storyline tries to justify it
I dnf this as soon as I found out abt their connection. He is her uncle??🗿 HELLLOOOO???!!!😭😭😭💀💀
I dnf this as soon as I found out abt their connection. He is her uncle??🗿 HELLLOOOO???!!!😭😭😭💀💀
January 31, 2010
A hard book to rate. I had so many issues with it -- implausible plot, inconsistently characterized heroine, innocence-worshipping hero (which always gets on my nerves.) But I wound up being caught up in the plot twists, silly though they often were, and in the powerful emotions. Rhys starts out as a tortured hero cliche and winds up as someone very interesting. Despite numerous flaws, the story was thematically very satisfying.
I'm curious to see how Heath did at turning the selfish, coldhearted and somewhat repugnant villain of this story into the heroine of the next one in the series!
I'm curious to see how Heath did at turning the selfish, coldhearted and somewhat repugnant villain of this story into the heroine of the next one in the series!
July 19, 2013
I have loved so many of Heath's books that I was quite surprised at how poorly this one worked for me.
It was an audiobook so part of it might be the reader didn't work for me.
Perhaps if I had read it myself, or if there had been a different reader, I wouldn't have had as many problems with it.
But ultimately I found the hero's history unbelievable and thus, the story rather ridiculous.
Sorry.
It was an audiobook so part of it might be the reader didn't work for me.
Perhaps if I had read it myself, or if there had been a different reader, I wouldn't have had as many problems with it.
But ultimately I found the hero's history unbelievable and thus, the story rather ridiculous.
Sorry.
April 13, 2009
Yet another great book from Lorraine Heath! Not your average romance plot line; characters are vibrant and unique. Lorraine Heath is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
November 23, 2014
This book looks like a nice historical romance novel. I give the book 5 stars.
June 3, 2025
This is my 47th full-length Lorraine Heath historical romance out of the 48 she currently has published. I'm nearing the end of the line with my journey into her backlist and I am having all sorts of feelings about this project concluding so let's get to it.
Lydia Westland has always dreamed of leaving Fortune, Texas behind for England. Ever since her mother married her stepfather, Grayson Rhodes (see A Rogue in Texas for that story), Lydia has been fascinated by life and society in England. When Grayson's father, the Duke of Harrington, is on his deathbed, his younger half-brother Rhys sends for him. So Lydia and her younger siblings head to England with their parents. Rhys was the spare– he was never supposed to inherit the Dukedom. He has a sordid past due to a falling out with his family and he's trying to keep that information hidden. But when Lydia barrels into his life, he's thrown off. She is everything he wants but cannot have because of his shady history. However, the attraction is too strong, the circumstances are too heightened and the supervision is too low to keep them apart.
This book could technically be read as a standalone but I would not recommend it. You really should read A Rogue in Texas to understand Grayson's relationship with his family and why he was sent to Texas in the first place. You will also meet Lydia as a child and see the incidents that shaped what she's looking for in her husband. This book also heavily overlaps with books one and three of the Lost Lords series. The heroines of both novels feature prominently here and this book should be read before them.
Love With a Scandalous Lord pushes up against a number of Romance Rules without quite breaking them. Rhys is engaged in sex work to survive at the beginning of this novel. He was cut off from his family and didn't have a profession to fall back on so when he needed money his "friend," Lady Sachse, set him up in a house where he could entertain her friends. To say a man engaged in sex work in a historical romance is unusual would be an understatement. And it's basically unheard of for a man from the aristocracy to do so in a historical. Additionally, the hero ends up tied to someone else during the novel. They don't cross a line that would be unforgivable in romance but it's still highly unusual.
My favorite part of this book is how Lorraine plays with expectations. Lydia has spent her whole life believing that London society would be a glittering experience where she would dance all night and enjoy the beauty and splendor. But what she realizes is that without the right people around her, society is a dark place full of gossip and cruelty. Rhys firmly believes that his past is a deal breaker for Lydia and that a marriage of convenience would suit him best. But when secrets are revealed, his convenient fiancée bolts to save herself and it's only the woman who loves him who stands by his side. Both of our characters have the challenge their long held beliefs.
Lorraine does sometimes play with family trees in a way that can feel kind of icky to a modern reader (see Between the Devil and Desire, The Earl Takes All and Texas Legacy for examples of things that might give you the ick) so just be aware. Lydia and Rhys are not at all related, but Lydia considers Rhys's half-brother to be her father. It's Romance Rules here.
This was a lovely, quieter book by Lorraine that really digs into character. 4 stars.
Lydia Westland has always dreamed of leaving Fortune, Texas behind for England. Ever since her mother married her stepfather, Grayson Rhodes (see A Rogue in Texas for that story), Lydia has been fascinated by life and society in England. When Grayson's father, the Duke of Harrington, is on his deathbed, his younger half-brother Rhys sends for him. So Lydia and her younger siblings head to England with their parents. Rhys was the spare– he was never supposed to inherit the Dukedom. He has a sordid past due to a falling out with his family and he's trying to keep that information hidden. But when Lydia barrels into his life, he's thrown off. She is everything he wants but cannot have because of his shady history. However, the attraction is too strong, the circumstances are too heightened and the supervision is too low to keep them apart.
This book could technically be read as a standalone but I would not recommend it. You really should read A Rogue in Texas to understand Grayson's relationship with his family and why he was sent to Texas in the first place. You will also meet Lydia as a child and see the incidents that shaped what she's looking for in her husband. This book also heavily overlaps with books one and three of the Lost Lords series. The heroines of both novels feature prominently here and this book should be read before them.
Love With a Scandalous Lord pushes up against a number of Romance Rules without quite breaking them. Rhys is engaged in sex work to survive at the beginning of this novel. He was cut off from his family and didn't have a profession to fall back on so when he needed money his "friend," Lady Sachse, set him up in a house where he could entertain her friends. To say a man engaged in sex work in a historical romance is unusual would be an understatement. And it's basically unheard of for a man from the aristocracy to do so in a historical. Additionally, the hero ends up tied to someone else during the novel. They don't cross a line that would be unforgivable in romance but it's still highly unusual.
My favorite part of this book is how Lorraine plays with expectations. Lydia has spent her whole life believing that London society would be a glittering experience where she would dance all night and enjoy the beauty and splendor. But what she realizes is that without the right people around her, society is a dark place full of gossip and cruelty. Rhys firmly believes that his past is a deal breaker for Lydia and that a marriage of convenience would suit him best. But when secrets are revealed, his convenient fiancée bolts to save herself and it's only the woman who loves him who stands by his side. Both of our characters have the challenge their long held beliefs.
Lorraine does sometimes play with family trees in a way that can feel kind of icky to a modern reader (see Between the Devil and Desire, The Earl Takes All and Texas Legacy for examples of things that might give you the ick) so just be aware. Lydia and Rhys are not at all related, but Lydia considers Rhys's half-brother to be her father. It's Romance Rules here.
This was a lovely, quieter book by Lorraine that really digs into character. 4 stars.
October 12, 2017
Lydia Westland live on a farm in Texas. Ever since she was a little girl, she's fascinated by the nobility and the opulence of aristocracy and dreamed of going to England. The opportunity present itself when the father of her stepfather is dying. Her stepfather is the illegitimate son of a Duke who recognised his paternity but send Grayson to America years ago. Determined to make a good impression and put into practice what she learned in books and from a cousin will not be an easy task for Lydia. Not only because of her family who act with too much familiarity and the way they're used to live in America, but she can't hold back her own reaction and speak her mind. She'll realize it's not that fun to have so many rules to follow. But what's even harder will be to convince Rhys, the new Marquess of Blackhurst and the half-brother of her stepfather, that they are made for each other and love is worth the risk. But Rhys is too tormented by his secret past to be able to listen to reason or follow his heart's desire.
It's obvious that Lorraine Heath improved her craft over the years. I'm glad I wasn't introduced to her work with this book or I may have never read an other one after that. Before about the sixty last pages, I would probably have giving this book a 4 star or at least a 3. But at that point, it all became just a sordid affair and I just can't get over the fact that Rhys never did a thing to protect someone he knew was being treated more than badly. I don't care that it was in the past or that at that time it could be current and you're not supposed to interfer with other's people business, I expect more from a hero in a romance novel and for me, his inaction was unacceptable.
At first, it can be easy to misjudge Lydia as a shallow girl who only care about making a good impression and titles, but despite a little bit of naivety, she have a good heart and she really cared about Rhys's happiness and understood him like no other. It could have been a great romance of the tortured hero learning to loosen up thanks to the heroine, but Rhys was too stubborn for that and it became irritating to realize the guilts he carry and his single-mindesness take all the room and will never make space for any feelings he have for Lydia, except for the end. It's almost as if he wanted to stay unhappy.
I liked Lydia's family. Her complicity with her siblings and their affection for each others. Little Sabrina was cute and funny.
It's obvious that Lorraine Heath improved her craft over the years. I'm glad I wasn't introduced to her work with this book or I may have never read an other one after that. Before about the sixty last pages, I would probably have giving this book a 4 star or at least a 3. But at that point, it all became just a sordid affair and I just can't get over the fact that Rhys never did a thing to protect someone he knew was being treated more than badly. I don't care that it was in the past or that at that time it could be current and you're not supposed to interfer with other's people business, I expect more from a hero in a romance novel and for me, his inaction was unacceptable.
At first, it can be easy to misjudge Lydia as a shallow girl who only care about making a good impression and titles, but despite a little bit of naivety, she have a good heart and she really cared about Rhys's happiness and understood him like no other. It could have been a great romance of the tortured hero learning to loosen up thanks to the heroine, but Rhys was too stubborn for that and it became irritating to realize the guilts he carry and his single-mindesness take all the room and will never make space for any feelings he have for Lydia, except for the end. It's almost as if he wanted to stay unhappy.
I liked Lydia's family. Her complicity with her siblings and their affection for each others. Little Sabrina was cute and funny.
November 20, 2018
da www.sognipensieriparole.com
Giunti al terzo volume, la serie rallenta un po'.
In verità la prima parte è molto piacevole: interessante il ritorno dall'America del figlio illegittimo del Duca, cacciato anni prima per compiacere la moglie e l'erede; interessante anche il periodo di acclimatamento della famiglia di Grayson, abituata alla vita degli allevamenti e del ranch del Texas, a contatto con tradizioni nobiliari secolari, pregiudizi, etichette e ottusità varie.
Poi Rhys s'invaghisce della nipote acquisita in un battito di ciglia e una vita da libertino/gigolò viene bruciata sull'altare dell'amore eterno.
Lydia, che all'inizio, pareva una tosta ragazza texana, pragmatica e coraggiosa, si trasforma in una damina tutta pizzi e ritrosie.
In alcune scene riesce ad essere così ingenua che suo "zio", seppur prestante e desiderato da tutte le gentildonne del ton (il famigerato Rhys e il gioco della cioccolata...), sembra un vecchio satiro che insegue una ninfa innocente.
Dopo due romanzi deliziosi, una coppia meno ispirata.
Per dire, mi sono sembrati molto più interessanti Grayson e sua moglie (patrigno e madre di Lydia) e avrei voluto conoscere la loro storia.
Giunti al terzo volume, la serie rallenta un po'.
In verità la prima parte è molto piacevole: interessante il ritorno dall'America del figlio illegittimo del Duca, cacciato anni prima per compiacere la moglie e l'erede; interessante anche il periodo di acclimatamento della famiglia di Grayson, abituata alla vita degli allevamenti e del ranch del Texas, a contatto con tradizioni nobiliari secolari, pregiudizi, etichette e ottusità varie.
Poi Rhys s'invaghisce della nipote acquisita in un battito di ciglia e una vita da libertino/gigolò viene bruciata sull'altare dell'amore eterno.
Lydia, che all'inizio, pareva una tosta ragazza texana, pragmatica e coraggiosa, si trasforma in una damina tutta pizzi e ritrosie.
In alcune scene riesce ad essere così ingenua che suo "zio", seppur prestante e desiderato da tutte le gentildonne del ton (il famigerato Rhys e il gioco della cioccolata...), sembra un vecchio satiro che insegue una ninfa innocente.
Dopo due romanzi deliziosi, una coppia meno ispirata.
Per dire, mi sono sembrati molto più interessanti Grayson e sua moglie (patrigno e madre di Lydia) e avrei voluto conoscere la loro storia.
August 19, 2018
I loved this book. It's an old school bodice ripper that a friend of mine recommended to me. Riddled with emotion, humor, and conflict, it's the perfect Calgon-Take-Me-Away historical romance. Great for leisure weekend read, traveling, or for killing time in a waiting room.
January 16, 2016
I was not sure about how I felt about this book until the end. I loved the premise. Rhys has become the heir to the Duke of Harrington due to the untimely death of his reprobate brother. Rhys never expected to be in that position. He spent his time as a sort of gigolo. He gave married women the pleasure and sympathy they weren't receiving from their aristocratic husbands. Rhys was quite jaded about love.
His father, the Duke, becomes gravely ill and wants only to see his beloved son, Grayson Rhodes, whom he had sent to Texas many years ago. Grayson was a bastard. But his father had accepted and raised him in his household anyway, much to the anger of his stepmother. Grayson's mother was much loved by his father and he showed that love in the way he treated Grayson. Rhys sends for Grayson and his family even though his mother was adamantly against it. She causes more than one unfortunate scene.
Lydia is Grayson's stepdaughter. At 24, all she wants is to see and experience London society. Rhys agrees to help her. Naturally, they fall in love. But it just can't be because of Rhys's past. He knows he can never be accepted in society and has no desire to fall in love. It becomes a bit complicated.
I admit to having a hard time identifying with the way Lydia reacts in many situations. But she is nothing if not bold. All ends very well. LH gives us a memorable and heart-felt HEA. Loved it.
His father, the Duke, becomes gravely ill and wants only to see his beloved son, Grayson Rhodes, whom he had sent to Texas many years ago. Grayson was a bastard. But his father had accepted and raised him in his household anyway, much to the anger of his stepmother. Grayson's mother was much loved by his father and he showed that love in the way he treated Grayson. Rhys sends for Grayson and his family even though his mother was adamantly against it. She causes more than one unfortunate scene.
Lydia is Grayson's stepdaughter. At 24, all she wants is to see and experience London society. Rhys agrees to help her. Naturally, they fall in love. But it just can't be because of Rhys's past. He knows he can never be accepted in society and has no desire to fall in love. It becomes a bit complicated.
I admit to having a hard time identifying with the way Lydia reacts in many situations. But she is nothing if not bold. All ends very well. LH gives us a memorable and heart-felt HEA. Loved it.
August 3, 2013
3.5 stars but I am rounding it up.
I loved the hero, and eventually warmed up to the heroine (I was really irritated by her at the start but liked her OK by the end), but my problem was the opposite of one I usually get with romances, in which often people carry on and on about past events that don't matter like bona fide drama queens - in this one, I thought like the author and the characters viewed what happened to the hero as nowhere near as bad as it was. I mean, dude should have been in therapy forever, or, since they didn't have any in Victorian England, at least someone sympathetic to talk his issues out with and work through them. Not to mention that the author has his forgive people who he shouldn't and everyone move on like one big happy...bunch of people. I mean, the 'other lady,' i.e., Camilla is a disgusting horror show who makes me sick (who apparently gets her own book, why?) but hero seems to forgive her somehow, without her apologizing or anything (and without author giving us that scene but just saying it happened) and I am all for nice people but WTF! Basically, I love hero and like the heroine but I want the rest of the characters to die in a lake of fire.
I loved the hero, and eventually warmed up to the heroine (I was really irritated by her at the start but liked her OK by the end), but my problem was the opposite of one I usually get with romances, in which often people carry on and on about past events that don't matter like bona fide drama queens - in this one, I thought like the author and the characters viewed what happened to the hero as nowhere near as bad as it was. I mean, dude should have been in therapy forever, or, since they didn't have any in Victorian England, at least someone sympathetic to talk his issues out with and work through them. Not to mention that the author has his forgive people who he shouldn't and everyone move on like one big happy...bunch of people. I mean, the 'other lady,' i.e., Camilla is a disgusting horror show who makes me sick (who apparently gets her own book, why?) but hero seems to forgive her somehow, without her apologizing or anything (and without author giving us that scene but just saying it happened) and I am all for nice people but WTF! Basically, I love hero and like the heroine but I want the rest of the characters to die in a lake of fire.
November 7, 2013
Aduh buku ini juga bagus. Hahaha, Scandalous Lord disini bener-bener berskandal.
Awalnya agak gimana gitu dan lucu juga sih sama Lydia Westland yang hidup di Texas dan pengen banget menjalani kehidupan Season di London sehingga banyak membaca buku-buku tentang tata krama. Tapi dasar emang dasarnya perempuan Amerika ya, jadinya dia sering salah gitu kalo mau mempraktekan.
Dia pertama ketemu Rhys Rhodes itu pas ayah tirinya, yang merupakan saudara haram Rhys disuruh kembali ke London karena sang Duke yang sekarat ingin menemuinya. Akhirnya sekeluarga Lydia pergi deh ke London dan disambut oleh Rhys. Nah mumpung ada di London, Lydia ingin memanfaatkannya sebisa mungkin, setelah malu karena salah memanggil Rhys dengan gelar duke, akhirnya dia meminta Rhys untuk menjadi tutor.
Bagus banget deh. banyak surprise dimana-mana. ceritanya nggak monoton dan pasaran kaya historical romance biasa. surprisenya itu salah satunya sisi gelap dari Rhys dan masa lalunya yang benar-benar keeelaamm !
Awalnya agak gimana gitu dan lucu juga sih sama Lydia Westland yang hidup di Texas dan pengen banget menjalani kehidupan Season di London sehingga banyak membaca buku-buku tentang tata krama. Tapi dasar emang dasarnya perempuan Amerika ya, jadinya dia sering salah gitu kalo mau mempraktekan.
Dia pertama ketemu Rhys Rhodes itu pas ayah tirinya, yang merupakan saudara haram Rhys disuruh kembali ke London karena sang Duke yang sekarat ingin menemuinya. Akhirnya sekeluarga Lydia pergi deh ke London dan disambut oleh Rhys. Nah mumpung ada di London, Lydia ingin memanfaatkannya sebisa mungkin, setelah malu karena salah memanggil Rhys dengan gelar duke, akhirnya dia meminta Rhys untuk menjadi tutor.
Bagus banget deh. banyak surprise dimana-mana. ceritanya nggak monoton dan pasaran kaya historical romance biasa. surprisenya itu salah satunya sisi gelap dari Rhys dan masa lalunya yang benar-benar keeelaamm !
March 4, 2017
I agree with reviewers that the first half of this book was a bit boring. I found Lydia boring and immature, with her obsession with the rules of society and she felt even more childish when she would become mortified at her parents' Texas ways. It felt to me as though she were a child pretending to be a grown up for the first half of the book and that is a squicky feeling since the Hero was lusting after her. It took until about the 25% mark until I actually started to like her a little.
By 50% though, this book earned all of its stars. There was suspense and angst and secrets being revealed... I am interested to see how Lady Sachse is portrayed in her own book, As an Earl Desires. She seemed extremely villainous (and interestingly enough she is a voyeur!) so we'll see how this works out. Skim the first half of the book to save time.
By 50% though, this book earned all of its stars. There was suspense and angst and secrets being revealed... I am interested to see how Lady Sachse is portrayed in her own book, As an Earl Desires. She seemed extremely villainous (and interestingly enough she is a voyeur!) so we'll see how this works out. Skim the first half of the book to save time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2020
This is clearly an early work of LH and what makes me happy is that she becomes such a great writer-- after this. It is not often that I don't finish a LH novel but this I just couldn't even force myself to finish-- and for one reason... I just couldn't get past that fact that Grayson is Lydia's stepfather but has pretty much been her father nearly her whole life and then she falls in love and has a relationship with a man who, for all intents and purposes, is her uncle. If that were taken out of the mix I would have greatly enjoyed the characters (even if Lydia was mind-numbingly shallow...which I assumed would have lightened as changed as she developed more) and overall plot. But, alas, I just can't get past that one fact so called it DNF.
April 5, 2021
Very old fashioned historical romance writing style. Some story and plot themes that did not age well. Hero had absolutely NO charisma. I initially thought he could of been a strong character but unfortunately that did not transpire. He was spurned by his family and became a male escort is basically the theme of his story with some gross findings about his time "escorting" ladies that comes out in the book at the end.
Worst part of this book was the heroine, she was ghastly and didn't have any redeeming features at all. Don't bother with this one it's a real dud sorry to say.
Worst part of this book was the heroine, she was ghastly and didn't have any redeeming features at all. Don't bother with this one it's a real dud sorry to say.
August 6, 2023
If you want to enjoy this book, you’ll have to be able to get past the fact that this romance is between a mature adult man and his much younger niece. She is his brother’s adopted daughter, so they aren’t biologically related. But in my opinion, family is family. I have a niece and nephew who were adopted into my family, and the thought of something like this happening to either of them is absolutely appalling to me.
As far as the rest of the story, it was boring and depressive. It’s not one I would recommend even without the incest.
As far as the rest of the story, it was boring and depressive. It’s not one I would recommend even without the incest.
dnf
October 12, 2011Sorry Lorraine Heath, you know I still love you, but I just can't finish this book right now. Maybe it's me and my current state of mind, but the h is just way too immature for me to enjoy this story. It was nice to see Grayson from A Rogue in Texas again. I will try this again at another time.
February 8, 2022
This book started off slow and I’ll admit after book 2 in the series I didn’t have high hopes for a interesting story. But I was pleasantly surprised by a great plot,interesting character development and very intense sexual tension between Rhys and Lydia. It was engaging enough I didn’t want to put the sorry down highly enjoyable.
November 4, 2009
Confused because while this is #3 in daughters of fortune, the book that follows this is Lost Lords #3. Took me a bit to realize it. I enjoyed both of them immensely though.
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