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Cameron Sisters #2
The Price of Indiscretion
Paperback. Pub Date :2005-07-26 384 English HarperCollins US New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathy Maxwell delivers another passionate romance that is sure to delight her dedicated fans and increase her readership.When three impoverished young ladies brought up in America decide to fulfill their late mothers dream of successful marriages and seasons. they concentrate their resources on sending the prettiest to London to make a brilliant match. But whom does she see but the man who had broken her heart years before Alexander Haddon is no longer the rough and tumble man she once fell for. but a wealthy gentleman whose passionate nature is only just hidden under a veneer of sophistication ...
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2005
85 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Maxwell
71 books2,188 followersCATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 19, 2017
I liked this one but not as much as the first one. I liked the hero and the heroine. It was a nice read but the push/pull drove me a little crazy because most of it was completely unnecessary. Both the hero and heroine cause unnecessary drama by playing childish games instead of clearly saying they want to be together. And had they pulled their heads out of their asses Miranda would have never had to snub the Duke and he wouldn't be trying to ruin her sisters, and friends lives. Still not a bad read and I never got bored.
September 6, 2013
A tedious read, but I found the male main character inexplicably hot. Tedious because nothing much happened and the reader had to slog through pages and pages of "does he love me or doesn't he love me? why doesn't he love me? he ran away again! he doesn't love me!" plus the male character's equivalent gripes. I found his racial issues interesting, but was disappointed the author did not write more on it.
July 28, 2022
I was intrigued in the first half of the book but then it lost me. I got tired of the back and forth between the main characters. I didn’t really like the no consent but also consent part between Alex and Miranda. It read kind of all over the place. Also found quite a few spelling/grammar errors. The book could of used a little more editing and same with the plot of the book. Didn’t necessarily dislike the book but didn’t love it either. Was going to read the next book because of Charlotte but most of the reviews aren’t great so I think I’m going to pass and stop here.
October 12, 2010
I felt pushed into the story. I think the author should have started with Miranda and Alex as kids when they first meet so I could get more of a feel for the couple.
The story picked up for me around chapter 7. Alex and Miranda definitely had a feistiness about them that was fun to read.
Ooh here we go, I love when Alex says "We are going on a raiding party". Sigh, men and their possessiveness.
Oh man all I have to say is never give a woman who feels scorned carte blanche over your money. She will get your attention!
Lady Overstreet was a hard character to like but when she gives Alex the dressing down he needed I felt myself softening towards her. She is truly one of those grey shaded characters. She had moments of pure ruthlessness but hard to blame a woman in those times trying to make her way in the world.
I started to get sick of Miranda's wishy washness. Her whole "I want to be with you Alex, wait I can't be with you, oh wait kiss me, no leave me alone, let's do it Alex (well she sort of said it like this). " Make up your freaking mind and roll with it.
I have to admit the scene where Miranda is at the Duke's party and he is about announce their engagement but Alex appears and her sisters tell her to run to him was awesome. I had a big smile on my face and wanted to yell "Go!" out loud while Charlotte created a distraction.
This book had flashes of being great but most the time I was annoyed with Miranda's inability to make a decision; I just found her annoying. I never felt I really knew Alex and at times didn't understand what he saw in Miranda, well other than her unbelievable beauty which was brought up over and over again. An ok book and I guess decent enough because I am going to read the second one in the series.
C
The story picked up for me around chapter 7. Alex and Miranda definitely had a feistiness about them that was fun to read.
Ooh here we go, I love when Alex says "We are going on a raiding party". Sigh, men and their possessiveness.
Oh man all I have to say is never give a woman who feels scorned carte blanche over your money. She will get your attention!
Lady Overstreet was a hard character to like but when she gives Alex the dressing down he needed I felt myself softening towards her. She is truly one of those grey shaded characters. She had moments of pure ruthlessness but hard to blame a woman in those times trying to make her way in the world.
I started to get sick of Miranda's wishy washness. Her whole "I want to be with you Alex, wait I can't be with you, oh wait kiss me, no leave me alone, let's do it Alex (well she sort of said it like this). " Make up your freaking mind and roll with it.
I have to admit the scene where Miranda is at the Duke's party and he is about announce their engagement but Alex appears and her sisters tell her to run to him was awesome. I had a big smile on my face and wanted to yell "Go!" out loud while Charlotte created a distraction.
This book had flashes of being great but most the time I was annoyed with Miranda's inability to make a decision; I just found her annoying. I never felt I really knew Alex and at times didn't understand what he saw in Miranda, well other than her unbelievable beauty which was brought up over and over again. An ok book and I guess decent enough because I am going to read the second one in the series.
C
July 5, 2011
Rare DNF (did not finish) book for me. I read the beginning and the end but felt no urge to read the middle. This is one of those cases where I should have followed my instincts. The second book in the series is the one that intrigues me but I had to start with the first book, much to my dismay.
Not sure what it was that didn't appeal unfortunately so I can't really tell others why they might want to stay away. I think part of it was the unlikelihood that a girl from America could snag a Duke. Okay so she looked like his dead wife and she is the granddaughter of an earl but she has no funds and I feel like that element was just introduced to pave the way for the second book.
Not sure what it was that didn't appeal unfortunately so I can't really tell others why they might want to stay away. I think part of it was the unlikelihood that a girl from America could snag a Duke. Okay so she looked like his dead wife and she is the granddaughter of an earl but she has no funds and I feel like that element was just introduced to pave the way for the second book.
May 16, 2010
Good solid Cathy Maxwell HR.
I wish we saw a little more depth to The Duke of Colster I really liked him just wished he got more page time. Looks like he may be the Hero in the next book.
I LOVED the pledge the H/H took when they were younger and how the repeated the words in Shawnee. Sweet ending!
I wish we saw a little more depth to The Duke of Colster I really liked him just wished he got more page time. Looks like he may be the Hero in the next book.
I LOVED the pledge the H/H took when they were younger and how the repeated the words in Shawnee. Sweet ending!
November 15, 2021
This book frustrated me on so many levels and yet I’m surprised i actually finished it. This shows that a small part of me enjoyed the book, only a small part anyway.
Here comes my many issues with this book.
Firstly, it starts off with Alex and Miranda already in love with each other. I’m fine with that as long as the author properly shows a scene of them falling in love and explains why they were in love. But no, we weren’t given that. We were just vaguely told they met when Miranda was 16 and her father objected to her loving Alex. They had a major misunderstanding and Alex left Miranda because she refused to go with him.
Secondly, i hated the push and pull thing happening. They become close, then get separated because of something then become close again then go further away again. I was annoyed. It probably would have killed Miranda and Alex to just sit down and be honest about their feelings. It would have saved a whole lot of time if they did that. For god’s sake.
Thirdly, while i liked Alex in the first book of this series, he disappointed me in his own book. He continuously ran from Miranda, using excuses to say why he ran when he could stood like a man and fought for Miranda.
It was bad of him to expect Miranda to drop everything she knew: her family, her home to go with him (when they were young) and yet he wasn’t willing to change anything of himself for her. That is no way to have a relationship. There needs to be compromises and sacrificing. It doesn’t make sense for Miranda to give up everything while he gives up nothing. He also acts like a spoilt grown man and throws a tantrum and runs away when things don’t go his way.
I did not like Miranda either. She allowed the duke to think she accepted his suit, despite having uncertainties in her heart about the duke’s pursuit of her and her loving Alex. To be honest, I didn’t blame the duke for being angry at her and everyone. If Miranda had just been honest from the start with the duke, she wouldn’t have pulled everyone down with her.
This book would have a whole lot better if there wasn’t so much miscommunications and whining on both Alex’s and Miranda’s parts and a proper falling in love bonding scene. I did not believe in their romance at all.
Here comes my many issues with this book.
Firstly, it starts off with Alex and Miranda already in love with each other. I’m fine with that as long as the author properly shows a scene of them falling in love and explains why they were in love. But no, we weren’t given that. We were just vaguely told they met when Miranda was 16 and her father objected to her loving Alex. They had a major misunderstanding and Alex left Miranda because she refused to go with him.
Secondly, i hated the push and pull thing happening. They become close, then get separated because of something then become close again then go further away again. I was annoyed. It probably would have killed Miranda and Alex to just sit down and be honest about their feelings. It would have saved a whole lot of time if they did that. For god’s sake.
Thirdly, while i liked Alex in the first book of this series, he disappointed me in his own book. He continuously ran from Miranda, using excuses to say why he ran when he could stood like a man and fought for Miranda.
It was bad of him to expect Miranda to drop everything she knew: her family, her home to go with him (when they were young) and yet he wasn’t willing to change anything of himself for her. That is no way to have a relationship. There needs to be compromises and sacrificing. It doesn’t make sense for Miranda to give up everything while he gives up nothing. He also acts like a spoilt grown man and throws a tantrum and runs away when things don’t go his way.
I did not like Miranda either. She allowed the duke to think she accepted his suit, despite having uncertainties in her heart about the duke’s pursuit of her and her loving Alex. To be honest, I didn’t blame the duke for being angry at her and everyone. If Miranda had just been honest from the start with the duke, she wouldn’t have pulled everyone down with her.
This book would have a whole lot better if there wasn’t so much miscommunications and whining on both Alex’s and Miranda’s parts and a proper falling in love bonding scene. I did not believe in their romance at all.
April 13, 2020
I hated Isabel and Michael in this book with a passion. She is such a f****** bitch in this book. She was literally blocking the heroine from going after Alex for her own selfish reasons. I wanted to bitch slap her and Michael wanted his carefree friend becauseit was an inconvenience to him that Alex was happy and in love.
This book is weird because both main characters are very unlikable at times, especially Miranda. Almost all main characters are unlikable in this book; Alex, miranda, isabel, Michael and lady overstreet, not to mention miranda's sisters who wanted to sell her to the highest bidder.
The only decent chatacter is the Duke and that's stretching it.
This book is weird because both main characters are very unlikable at times, especially Miranda. Almost all main characters are unlikable in this book; Alex, miranda, isabel, Michael and lady overstreet, not to mention miranda's sisters who wanted to sell her to the highest bidder.
The only decent chatacter is the Duke and that's stretching it.
June 6, 2009
If I never believed in true love before, after reading this book I so do now!
It was heartbreaking, it was sexy, it was so damn touching that I wanted to cry. The hero and heroine are almost annoying with their usual stubborn stereotypes: "We're not what's best for each other...blah blah!" Finally, they realize how empty their lives would be without each other!
I loved the ending! It was so romantic and so dashing! The heroine jilts a powerful duke in this book to be with her man. We meet the duke in the next book and he ends up marrying her sister! Ha! I love me some Cathy Maxwell!
It was heartbreaking, it was sexy, it was so damn touching that I wanted to cry. The hero and heroine are almost annoying with their usual stubborn stereotypes: "We're not what's best for each other...blah blah!" Finally, they realize how empty their lives would be without each other!
I loved the ending! It was so romantic and so dashing! The heroine jilts a powerful duke in this book to be with her man. We meet the duke in the next book and he ends up marrying her sister! Ha! I love me some Cathy Maxwell!
March 1, 2013
Sometimes a girl just needs to read very bad literature, to ease the soppy romantic side.
With a very small side of history next to it.
Alex is half-shawnee, half Brittish. Miranda has to marry a wealthy noblemen to ensure her sisters future. And they also have a history together!
Pull-push-pull-push-I need to marry someone with a title - I am too proud to say I love you - sex- etc
Pretty much sums it up.
With a very small side of history next to it.
Alex is half-shawnee, half Brittish. Miranda has to marry a wealthy noblemen to ensure her sisters future. And they also have a history together!
Pull-push-pull-push-I need to marry someone with a title - I am too proud to say I love you - sex- etc
Pretty much sums it up.
April 11, 2008
I stumbled across this author on the Chicago Public Library website, and have really enjoyed her work. Tight plotting, interesting characters, lots of lovin'. I take issue with the complete disregard of the consequences that screwing over a powerful peer would have on one's shipping business.
January 20, 2013
Reh. I spent half my time trying to figure out if parts were racist or not and the characters were rather, truly boring. Disliked. In fact I've disliked almost every Cathy Maxwell book I've ever read, except for one, and that was only a barely liked. I need to stop reading Cathy Maxwell...
August 8, 2016
Loved it. So enjoyable. Alex is wonderful!
February 16, 2017
I'm not sure how to feel about this.
March 12, 2025
Again I wished I would have enjoy this book but it was worse than the previous one. The endless will they/won’t they of the heroes was so frustrating that when they finally ended together I just didn’t care anymore. They were just antipatic who deserve only each other. They also lack enough development, as the story, to make them compelling and interesting. Compare to the level of details and history facts we can get in our histroms now this one sadly felt short.
Also the portrayed of Alex as half Shawnee didn’t age well at all, especially when they used the terms “savage” or “red skin” to talk about him. The book was published in 2005 and it shows. We can see that Maxwell tried to show his struggle between his Shawnee & British heritage, or the way the ton treated him because of his indigenous heritage, and maybe if written now it could have been different.
I’m still curious and hopeful for the 3rd book, about Miranda’ sister and the Duke. Also because it’s my favorite stepback of the three. 🤞
Also the portrayed of Alex as half Shawnee didn’t age well at all, especially when they used the terms “savage” or “red skin” to talk about him. The book was published in 2005 and it shows. We can see that Maxwell tried to show his struggle between his Shawnee & British heritage, or the way the ton treated him because of his indigenous heritage, and maybe if written now it could have been different.
I’m still curious and hopeful for the 3rd book, about Miranda’ sister and the Duke. Also because it’s my favorite stepback of the three. 🤞
Read
April 8, 2025Strangely, I found myself reading two different books about childhood friends / sweethearts who meet up again as adults. This one was a bit busy with different themes- racism, (the hero is half native American - or Indian), class issues - the heroine’s family seeks to regain their lost claim to nobility, family obligations, etc etc. There is a relatively shady character who plays a sort of match making agent, seeking to increase her commission and the sister who has to be the one to make the best match. Somehow the hero and heroine felt shallow and immature with lots of histrionics.. It let itself be read, but not a favorite, even if I am now very curious to know what happens to the sisters.
October 30, 2021
I had some great momentum starting this book until I had to stop reading for the night in the 50% range. When I picked it up the next day, that momentum was gone and I just didn’t enjoy it as much. I am curious about Charlotte’s book as the Duke seemed okay and then not so nice- sounds like an entertaining enemies-to-lovers.
May 9, 2017
Although the H/h have a HEA, I was disappointed that there was no resolution of Alex finding and confronting his father. I was also saddened with how they had to "run" in order to be together and leaving all their loved ones behind. The Duke of Colster had better redeem himself in the next book.
October 22, 2021
Second time reading this book since I’m revisiting this series. The only complaint I have is that the characters go back and forth about being with each other too much. I like the history between them though, it made for a good plot.
May 5, 2022
These two were ridiculous! Zero communication skills.
So prideful and stupid that I didn't care if they got together or not.
I'm glad someone finally pointed out to Alex that he was asking too much and not willing to compromise .
So prideful and stupid that I didn't care if they got together or not.
I'm glad someone finally pointed out to Alex that he was asking too much and not willing to compromise .
July 30, 2023
I feel like the way a native American character was handled in this was good, but idk, someone tell me if it wasn't (ignorant people referring to him as a savage aside, the characters think the ones who say that are ignorant so 🤷🏻♀️)
December 16, 2017
Really enjoyed this story. Probably my favorite of Maxwell.
May 29, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait to read the rest. This was my first Cathy Maxwell book and I loved it. At stages I felt like I was there, I just couldn't put it down.
December 6, 2020
Pretty Good
Read
April 27, 2022DNF
October 18, 2022
I was so annoyed throughout this book. Everyone was so selfish toward Miranda and Alex. I wanted to stomp my feet and punch every single side character in the face at one point or another.
July 1, 2024
Persuasion reimagined with more adventure.
July 19, 2024
This was good.
August 2, 2014
Miranda Cameron's mum was an earl's daughter who married for love—even tho that meant shunting off to America with a man who ended up a trader. Mum was killed by the Shawnee and Da croaked cuz he became a drunk, abusive bastid, so Miranda's two sisters are pushing her to go back to England and marry well. She's the beauty of the family and with her help the other two can find decent husbands and a life away from the Ohio valley, where everyone treats them like a drunk's daughters. Or worse.
See, Miranda had "an indiscretion."
Years ago she met and fell in love with Alex Haddon. He's the son of an English muckity who had a thang with a Shawnee woman. When Alex was older, his Da fell in love with a French woman and eloped, leaving Alex to find his way with his mother's people.
Miranda couldn't bring herself to become Shawnee, so she refused to run away with him. Alex went the English way and begged her father for her hand, only to be horsewhipped within an inch of his life. Everyone in the valley knows she hooked up with him, so the girls are pariahs.
Miranda and Alex haven't seen each other since, but of course, now that she's looking for a hubby, their paths cross again. Alex is now a wealthy ship's captain, but he won't take Miranda if she's only after his money. Miranda really does need a guy who has the dinero to bring her sisters out in English style, and it wouldn't hurt if he had influence to help overcome any questions about their heritage.
Lots of back-and-forth in this story. He will, she won't, she will, he won't. There was enough "you done me wrong" stuff in the story to keep me reading. Add in a vindictive suitor who lays the ground for the next book in the series, shake and pour. 3.5 stars.
See, Miranda had "an indiscretion."
Years ago she met and fell in love with Alex Haddon. He's the son of an English muckity who had a thang with a Shawnee woman. When Alex was older, his Da fell in love with a French woman and eloped, leaving Alex to find his way with his mother's people.
Miranda couldn't bring herself to become Shawnee, so she refused to run away with him. Alex went the English way and begged her father for her hand, only to be horsewhipped within an inch of his life. Everyone in the valley knows she hooked up with him, so the girls are pariahs.
Miranda and Alex haven't seen each other since, but of course, now that she's looking for a hubby, their paths cross again. Alex is now a wealthy ship's captain, but he won't take Miranda if she's only after his money. Miranda really does need a guy who has the dinero to bring her sisters out in English style, and it wouldn't hurt if he had influence to help overcome any questions about their heritage.
Lots of back-and-forth in this story. He will, she won't, she will, he won't. There was enough "you done me wrong" stuff in the story to keep me reading. Add in a vindictive suitor who lays the ground for the next book in the series, shake and pour. 3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews