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School for Brides #3
The Scarlet Bride
Notorious bad boy Simon Harrington, third in line for his uncle’s title, has finally conceded to settling down and finding a noble wife. Then he stumbles across a courtesan in peril on a dark London street, and his life takes an unexpected turn. Fearing for her safety, he brings the mysterious beauty to his cousin’s School for Brides, where compromised women are taught how to be suitable wives. But he finds it impossible simply to walk away.
A poor country squire’s daughter, Laura Precott was promised in marriage to the shadowy Earl of Westwick. Instead of making her his wife, however, he betrayed her and forced her to become his mistress. When she learned of his plan to sell her at auction, she fled for her life.
Simon knows he must forget his feelings for such an unsuitable woman or risk disgracing his family. But when Laura’s former lover turns out to have been murdered the very night of her escape, suspicion falls squarely on Laura. Now it is up to Simon to prove her innocence—even if it leads to his downfall…
A poor country squire’s daughter, Laura Precott was promised in marriage to the shadowy Earl of Westwick. Instead of making her his wife, however, he betrayed her and forced her to become his mistress. When she learned of his plan to sell her at auction, she fled for her life.
Simon knows he must forget his feelings for such an unsuitable woman or risk disgracing his family. But when Laura’s former lover turns out to have been murdered the very night of her escape, suspicion falls squarely on Laura. Now it is up to Simon to prove her innocence—even if it leads to his downfall…
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 5, 2012
8 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Ann Smith
19 books201 followersA fan of historical romance fiction, author Cheryl Ann Smith combines a love of history and all things English to create stories that link both passions.
She lives in Michigan with her family, two cats and a very hairy dog. She enjoys outdoor adventures and traveling, when she has the time, and hopes to make her first visit to England in the very near future.
She lives in Michigan with her family, two cats and a very hairy dog. She enjoys outdoor adventures and traveling, when she has the time, and hopes to make her first visit to England in the very near future.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 21, 2012
A compelling historical romance that explores the dark world of the "demi-monde" or the hidden universe of kept women, courtesans, mistresses, etc. The heroine is a woman who was lured into that world by the lies of a seemingly honorable earl who fixated on a young and beautiful woman, daughter of a dying squire, and who falsified a marriage with a sham ceremony at the bedside of her dying father. Fourteen months later she is rescued by a kind of "knight errant" who happens upon the screaming woman as she is being accosted by two hefty footmen. Taken to the "school for courtesans" who is being maintained by a duchess and the rescuer's cousin, she finds her tormentor has been murdered and the Bow Street Runners have decided she is the murderess. Now she and her "knight errant" are set on finding the real killer and in the interim, find that their own attachment to one another is growing. This is definitely a complication as Simon must find a reputable bride to insure a good marriage for his sister, and our heroine must get out from under the slur of murderess in order to find a way to support herself. It is a very erotic romance all mixed up in a very good murder mystery and complicated by the realities of social positioning and the habit of the Bow Street Runners to fixate on a suspect and seek no alternative. It is a fine piece of writing that will gladden the heart of a true lover of historical romance. It is the third novel in a series, but easily stands alone. A really good book!!
April 30, 2012
I really liked this book. The story kept me on the edge the whole way through. I thought that the interaction between Laura and Simon was funny and serious at the same time. I loved the different characters who were in the sub-plot. This mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I was never sure who was the bad guy or girl. Laura was a very tragic figure and her story was almost unbelievable, but she was so forthcoming that everyone she confided in was determined to protect her. I thought that the author had a very unusual theme for this story, but I really did get into it. I read this book in two days. I hated to put it down to do my chores, and I did stay up way too late to find out "whodunnit". I think you'll like it.
October 24, 2017
Loved the book, characters and the story! Simon rescues a woman who he finds out was running from her captive of more than a year. He brings her the Ms. Eva’s school to give her a place to stay. Laura is grateful of everything Simon has done for her. Laura’s alter ego Sabine is wanted in her captures murder even though she is innocent. When she has a feeling of being watched and stalked Simon asks his friend the Duke and Investigator Crawford to help weed out the killer. A thrilling read with a wonderful ending!
September 25, 2019
What a nice little murder-mystery this was!
While it holds all of the key elements of a historical romance novel (handsome lords, forbidden kisses, beautiful women in gorgeous gowns) it introduces a new dimension to the genre by adding the darker underbelly of that society, which is a clever and welcome change.
Do read this, if you enjoy the genre.
While it holds all of the key elements of a historical romance novel (handsome lords, forbidden kisses, beautiful women in gorgeous gowns) it introduces a new dimension to the genre by adding the darker underbelly of that society, which is a clever and welcome change.
Do read this, if you enjoy the genre.
November 16, 2012
Laura Prescott tidak menyangka kalau dia akan dikhianati oleh suaminya (Earl of Westwick), ketika seharusnya dia dinikahi tapi ternyata mendapati kalau dirinya hanya di jadikan courtesan sehingga dia pun memutuskan untuk kabur dari kediaman suaminya bukan karena kenyataan bahwa dia hny dijadikan courtesan tapi suaminya adalah lelaki brengsek, keji dan suka memindas Laura dan bahkan berencana utk memperdagangkan Laura (dilelang). (Pengen bgt gorok leher si Westwick sampai mati grrr)
Laura pun kabur dan diselamatkan oleh Simon Harrington yang ternyata sepupu Eva dan Noele (baca buku 1 dan buku 2 : The School for Brides and The Accidental Courtesan). Simon pun membawa Laura ke sekolah yg didirikan Eva.
Namun sejak melihat Laura, Simon mengalami dilema karena dia merasa dia tdk akan bs bersama wanita lain selama dia tertarik dgn Laura sementara itu dia hrs menikahi wanita bangsawan (lady Janette) krn tdk lama lagi dia akan mendptkan gelar (viscount yg akan dia dptkan kalau paman nya – ayah noele yg tdk pny ahli waris aka anak cowok dan tdk berniat mengklaim gelarnya meninggal) dan juga ingin adiknya – Brenna menikahi pria bangsawan . Laura yg masih trauma dgn mslh yg di hadapinya trus menghindari Simon tp tentu saja dia jg tdk mampu menolak Karisma Simon.
Kebersamaan mrk (Simon yg selalu mencari alasan utk bertemu Laura) membuat mereka dkt, sementara itu, Laura yg terpaksa harus bersembunyi dari kejaran Westwick msh harus mengalamai mslh lain saat Westwick dibunuh dan slh satu anting Laura ada disisi Westwick yg menyebabkan Laura menjadi tersangka pembunuhan tsb.
Lalu siapakah pembunuh Westwick? .
Simon pun bertekad utk menemukan pembunuh tsb agar hidup Laura bisa benar-benar terbebas dari bayang-bayang Westwick dan satu-satunya cara adalah mengadakan sebuah pesta agar Laura bs mengenali para pelelang (krn mnrt Laura pd saat pelelangan dirinya, ada bbrp org dr pembeli yg kemgknan adalah bangsawan) yg bs jd adalah pembunuh Westwick. Mrk mencurigain teman baik Westwick yaitu Henry yg membunuh Westwick krn dia jg mengincar Laura.
Berhslkah Simon mememukan tersangka tsb? Lalu bagaimana status hubungan Simon dan Laura karena Laura adalah seorg courtesan shg tdk memungkinkan bagi mereka utk menikah krn akan menimbulkan scandal?.
Overall, enjoy banget baca buku ini walau awal pertama kali mengetahui kalau Laura ini courtesan, kurang suka, mau nya si ceweknya msh Vi *haha
Dari segi misterinya jg dpt, takut banget waktu si pelaku mengancam Laura dan berharap Simon segera dtg menolong Laura.
Dari segi romance jg dpt, lmyn hot walaupun penggambaran bed scene nya ngak se hot author LK
Utk segi Karakter : Suka bgt sama si Simon, dia tu bad boy tp begitu melihat Laura (walo statusnya courtesan) lgsg memutuskan dia ngak bs lg dgn wanita lain selama dia merasa tertarik sama Laura bahkan sgt protektif dan jg care sama Laura.
Laura jg walau mengalami hal-hal yg menyakitkan dan trauma, namun tdk lgsg merasa hidupnya hancur bahkan dia menjadi pemberani saat menghadapi Henry.
Laura pun kabur dan diselamatkan oleh Simon Harrington yang ternyata sepupu Eva dan Noele (baca buku 1 dan buku 2 : The School for Brides and The Accidental Courtesan). Simon pun membawa Laura ke sekolah yg didirikan Eva.
Namun sejak melihat Laura, Simon mengalami dilema karena dia merasa dia tdk akan bs bersama wanita lain selama dia tertarik dgn Laura sementara itu dia hrs menikahi wanita bangsawan (lady Janette) krn tdk lama lagi dia akan mendptkan gelar (viscount yg akan dia dptkan kalau paman nya – ayah noele yg tdk pny ahli waris aka anak cowok dan tdk berniat mengklaim gelarnya meninggal) dan juga ingin adiknya – Brenna menikahi pria bangsawan . Laura yg masih trauma dgn mslh yg di hadapinya trus menghindari Simon tp tentu saja dia jg tdk mampu menolak Karisma Simon.
Kebersamaan mrk (Simon yg selalu mencari alasan utk bertemu Laura) membuat mereka dkt, sementara itu, Laura yg terpaksa harus bersembunyi dari kejaran Westwick msh harus mengalamai mslh lain saat Westwick dibunuh dan slh satu anting Laura ada disisi Westwick yg menyebabkan Laura menjadi tersangka pembunuhan tsb.
Lalu siapakah pembunuh Westwick? .
Simon pun bertekad utk menemukan pembunuh tsb agar hidup Laura bisa benar-benar terbebas dari bayang-bayang Westwick dan satu-satunya cara adalah mengadakan sebuah pesta agar Laura bs mengenali para pelelang (krn mnrt Laura pd saat pelelangan dirinya, ada bbrp org dr pembeli yg kemgknan adalah bangsawan) yg bs jd adalah pembunuh Westwick. Mrk mencurigain teman baik Westwick yaitu Henry yg membunuh Westwick krn dia jg mengincar Laura.
Berhslkah Simon mememukan tersangka tsb? Lalu bagaimana status hubungan Simon dan Laura karena Laura adalah seorg courtesan shg tdk memungkinkan bagi mereka utk menikah krn akan menimbulkan scandal?.
Overall, enjoy banget baca buku ini walau awal pertama kali mengetahui kalau Laura ini courtesan, kurang suka, mau nya si ceweknya msh Vi *haha
Dari segi misterinya jg dpt, takut banget waktu si pelaku mengancam Laura dan berharap Simon segera dtg menolong Laura.
Dari segi romance jg dpt, lmyn hot walaupun penggambaran bed scene nya ngak se hot author LK
Utk segi Karakter : Suka bgt sama si Simon, dia tu bad boy tp begitu melihat Laura (walo statusnya courtesan) lgsg memutuskan dia ngak bs lg dgn wanita lain selama dia merasa tertarik sama Laura bahkan sgt protektif dan jg care sama Laura.
Laura jg walau mengalami hal-hal yg menyakitkan dan trauma, namun tdk lgsg merasa hidupnya hancur bahkan dia menjadi pemberani saat menghadapi Henry.
August 15, 2012
My feeling for this book resemble the book itself. A little crazy, kind of all over the place, lol are you serious confusion, but generally positive.
I struggled with this one. I really, really did. It has taken me a week to read and not just because I'm busier now than I was a month ago. I kept leaving it and coming back.
This book has a courtesan as the heroine. A hero with a white knight complex who wants to marry a respectable lady, even though he is drawn to Laura. On top of that there's a murder mystery and all sorts. I just wasn't sure the story or Ms Smith knew what this was supposed to be.
I will say loudly though, that I want to give so many, many kudos to Cheryl Ann Smith for NOT making Laura a TSTL heroine. For all of her faults Laura is only ever caught by our villain's determination and cunning not by her idiocy.
At first I thought Laura feel victim to the magic penis syndrome, you know where having sex with the hero somehow magically fixes all the heroine's trauma. Then I realised she just didn't realise that a year of being held captive and raped should affect your life for more than a week. And I gotta say while it wasn't TSTL, a poor orphan girl who's been cut when there's a guy who murders with knives going around. Colour me shocked that she was a pawn absolutely shocked. (sarcasm alert)
And I know I wasn't supposed to but I sided with Simon about Brenna marrying, it's one thing to say no a awful husband but its another to just say no to marriage without looking for a suitable husband. And no going down to the dock or driving around in a coach looking for a pirate or a highwayman doesn't count.
If you've got nothing better to do this will take care of spare time in a pleasant manner. I will give "An Inconvenient Bride", book 4 and Brenna's story a go next year.
I struggled with this one. I really, really did. It has taken me a week to read and not just because I'm busier now than I was a month ago. I kept leaving it and coming back.
This book has a courtesan as the heroine. A hero with a white knight complex who wants to marry a respectable lady, even though he is drawn to Laura. On top of that there's a murder mystery and all sorts. I just wasn't sure the story or Ms Smith knew what this was supposed to be.
I will say loudly though, that I want to give so many, many kudos to Cheryl Ann Smith for NOT making Laura a TSTL heroine. For all of her faults Laura is only ever caught by our villain's determination and cunning not by her idiocy.
At first I thought Laura feel victim to the magic penis syndrome, you know where having sex with the hero somehow magically fixes all the heroine's trauma. Then I realised she just didn't realise that a year of being held captive and raped should affect your life for more than a week. And I gotta say while it wasn't TSTL, a poor orphan girl who's been cut when there's a guy who murders with knives going around. Colour me shocked that she was a pawn absolutely shocked. (sarcasm alert)
And I know I wasn't supposed to but I sided with Simon about Brenna marrying, it's one thing to say no a awful husband but its another to just say no to marriage without looking for a suitable husband. And no going down to the dock or driving around in a coach looking for a pirate or a highwayman doesn't count.
If you've got nothing better to do this will take care of spare time in a pleasant manner. I will give "An Inconvenient Bride", book 4 and Brenna's story a go next year.
August 8, 2012
A new to me author, Cheryl Ann Smith, and a new to me series, School for Brides, and I enjoyed both very much. I liked the murder mystery aspect of this story. I enjoyed Simon, our hero, a wastrel who’s trying to make something of his life who just can’t forget our heroine, Laura. I enjoyed how they connected and how they tried hard to find their way. I did have a few moments of confusion because I came in late to the series but it wasn’t too hard to jump right in and enjoy.
May 19, 2013
While, I have loved the first books in this series. I did not enjoy this one. It was very hard for me to get into. I had to put it down for a while and read something else. The story was a good one but for some reason I just did not love it.
March 3, 2016
I thought that this was going to be the typical man rescues woman from bad guy keeping her captive. The bad guy hunts down and recaptures the woman so that the hero has to rescue her again. Once again Cheryl Ann Smith has pleasantly surprised me! This was a great read.
July 25, 2012
Well worth the wait. The next book in the series is due January 2013. The Convenient Bride will be out then.
March 28, 2013
Best Ending EVER in all the books in the series so far. WOW!!!!
July 8, 2013
It is a romance novel, married women's eyes only for a couple of scenes. It is intriguing with a few twists and turns. I couldn't put it down.
October 20, 2013
OMG I deleted my own review !!!
will write a new one ..
will write a new one ..
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews