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C Series #1
The Cad
Intimate StrangersBridget Cooke possesses the gifts London society genteel manners, intelligence, an exquisite figure. She lacks, however, a fortune. A companion to icy relatives, Bridget resigns herself to a life of solitude, especially because of the childhood scar that mars her lovely face. Little does she expect to receive the vigorous attentions of darkly handsome, rich widower Lord Ewen Sinclair, Regency England's most infamous rake.In a matter of days, the Sinclair whisks Bridget to the altar and into his passionate embrace. Dismissing the vicious rumors surrounding their hasty marriage, Bridget is sure of Ewen's love, even when he is mysteriously called away. But then a shocking secret from his past emerges, threatening her happiness. If Ewen is a cad and their wedding a lie, as the gossips say, then why does Bridget's very stubborn heart still believe his love is true?
368 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1998
18 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Edith Layton
80 books103 followersEdith Layton wrote her first novel when she was ten. She bought a marbleized notebook and set out to write a story that would fit between its covers. Now, an award-winning author with more than thirty novels and numerous novellas to her credit, her criteria have changed. The story has to fit the reader as well as between the covers.
Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.
Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton has enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she says, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."
Layton won an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award for the Historical genre in 2003 and a Reviewers' Choice award for her book The Conquest in 2001. Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee.
Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- is just one member of Layton's household menagerie.
Edith Layton passed away on June 1, 2009 from ovarian cancer.
Graduating from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in creative writing and theater, Edith worked for various media, including a radio station and a major motion picture company. She married and went to suburbia, where she was fruitful and multiplied to the tune of three children. Her eldest, Michael, is a social worker and artist in NYC. Adam is a writer and performer on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Daughter Susie is a professional writer, comedian and performer who works in television.
Publishers Weekly called Edith Layton "one of romance's most gifted writers." Layton has enthralled readers and critics with books that capture the spirit of historically distant places and peoples. "What I've found," she says, "is that life was very different in every era, but that love and love of life is always the same."
Layton won an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award for the Historical genre in 2003 and a Reviewers' Choice award for her book The Conquest in 2001. Amazon.com's top reviewer called Layton's Alas, My Love (April 2005, Avon Books), "a wonderful historical." And her recent release, Bride Enchanted, is a Romantic Times 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee.
Edith Layton lived on Long Island where she devoted time as a volunteer for the North Shore Animal League , the world's largest no-kill pet rescue and adoption organization. Her dog Daisy --adopted herself from a shelter-- is just one member of Layton's household menagerie.
Edith Layton passed away on June 1, 2009 from ovarian cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 14, 2018
Another lost promise!
From amazing to meh to whaat?
A masterclass in how to stretch a chapter or two worth of material ten times!
Intriguing and fresh characterisation, good story, timely development but then the author messes up what little she had, the h/H are strangely and unconvincingly separated, and then a completely irrational entry by a character just for a climactic ending which really wasn’t.
Won’t say much for the lovely first half as the second half washed it away nicely. So just a rant!
And those insolent servants so deserved a comeuppance but....!
From amazing to meh to whaat?
A masterclass in how to stretch a chapter or two worth of material ten times!
Intriguing and fresh characterisation, good story, timely development but then the author messes up what little she had, the h/H are strangely and unconvincingly separated, and then a completely irrational entry by a character just for a climactic ending which really wasn’t.
Won’t say much for the lovely first half as the second half washed it away nicely. So just a rant!
And those insolent servants so deserved a comeuppance but....!
October 5, 2010
Bridget Cooke is a poor relation when a chance meeting with rakish Lord Ewen Sinclair leads to a hasty marriage. After glorious honeymoon, Ewen is called away and Bridget is left to hints and rumors about Ewen's behavior and even about the truth of their marriage.
This is another one that started off great. I enjoyed it, but the separation was, well, tedious. It was obvious what was going on and it lasted too long -- they are apart for nearly half the book. I found myself skimming, where I had been engrossed up to that point. Also, there didn't seem to be any reason for Ewen not to have told Bridget he was doing something important (even without details), rather than
pretend he thought she'd be "bored" with him in London. And I don't see why the servants were so doubtful (before the shocking visitor, anyway), since Ewen had presumably introduced Bridget as his wife. (Why didn't we see them all turned off without a character after Ewen's return, BTW?)
This is another one that started off great. I enjoyed it, but the separation was, well, tedious. It was obvious what was going on and it lasted too long -- they are apart for nearly half the book. I found myself skimming, where I had been engrossed up to that point. Also, there didn't seem to be any reason for Ewen not to have told Bridget he was doing something important (even without details), rather than
pretend he thought she'd be "bored" with him in London. And I don't see why the servants were so doubtful (before the shocking visitor, anyway), since Ewen had presumably introduced Bridget as his wife. (Why didn't we see them all turned off without a character after Ewen's return, BTW?)
December 12, 2014
1.5* rounded up
This was... odd.
The prose was overly verbose, the plot overly complicated, the novel overly long, but I liked the two street urchins enough to finish reading.
This was... odd.
The prose was overly verbose, the plot overly complicated, the novel overly long, but I liked the two street urchins enough to finish reading.
May 25, 2015
I have never felt so much anxiety for a woman in a book. He wouldn't introduce her to his friends, or his family, he holed her up in a country house, he made promises, he rushed things, didn't go through proper channels, he left on "business", all those dire warning signs of shady men. It was just impossible to know what on earth was going on. Anyone looking in on the situation would say the woman was gullible. Hence the feeling of stress for her. Masterfully held up throughout the book, always pitched to new heights just as you think it will let up, that maybe it was all in the imagination. Nothing much really happened action wise in terms of story but it was well done.
They were apart a little too long in my opinion though. Settings were beautifully described. I actually liked her aunt a bit. She wasn't a caricature of a villain, just doing her best. I liked both the leads, though I wanted her to let up about the scar already. It's like a pimple that looms large in your mirror but most others stop thinking about it after noting its existence. Not a relaxing read but the tension was adroitly handled both between the leads and in terms of overall conflict. A bit Hitchcockian in the sense of making the mundane threatening.
They were apart a little too long in my opinion though. Settings were beautifully described. I actually liked her aunt a bit. She wasn't a caricature of a villain, just doing her best. I liked both the leads, though I wanted her to let up about the scar already. It's like a pimple that looms large in your mirror but most others stop thinking about it after noting its existence. Not a relaxing read but the tension was adroitly handled both between the leads and in terms of overall conflict. A bit Hitchcockian in the sense of making the mundane threatening.
September 29, 2014
3.5 stars
Ewan, Viscount Sinclair is in London the on the hunt for his wife. He is a widower and a Rake.
Bridget Cooke is a poor relation who has been passed from family member to family member and has been mainly a glorified, unpaid maid, nurse and now a companion to her beautiful cousin Cecily.
Sinclair and Bridget lock eyes across a crowded ballroom. A happening that is really not a good thing for Bridget because of who she is and because of what he is. But Sinclair is intrigued by her and pursues her.
The beginning of the book was fantastic. Bridget could have been this little beaten down creature because of her hopeless circumstances but she was not. In fact the little-bit-flirty, little-bit-contentious back-and-forth verbal sparring she and Sinclair engage in was great fun to read and showed how much spirit Bidget still had.
There is also the fact of Bridget's scar. She has a scar on her face that she is quite conscious of. From a modern perspective, it did not sound like it was that bad. I pictured it being like Tina Fey's only maybe a tick more noticeable. I like how most of the time Bridget doesn't think about it, but in one memorable scene we see how much the scar has deeply affected her. But Sinclair doesn't care about the scar (in the same scene we learn how much he doesn't mind the scar).
But the book takes a bit of an odd turn. Bridget and Sinclair marry hastily, but Layton is careful to make it seem as if on the one hand, there is something not quite on the up-and-up about the marriage but on the other hand, everything is as it seems. It is a balancing act between doubt and faith that she allows to play out. As a reader I was sure that Sinclair wasn't trying to be a Cad in truth, otherwise what kind of hero would he be? Except.... there were those doubts.
Hence my tenseness.
The story was well written but I can't say I loved the second part of it unabashedly. Like I said, I was tense. So I was more interested into getting to the end of find out what the heck was going on than in enjoying the intervening story. Also, there was a point when Bridget was very isolated, in the midst of people who just weren't treating her well and with very few allies. It was not a fun part to read.
The ending was rather wild. Did not see that coming! But I was satisfied.
Ewan, Viscount Sinclair is in London the on the hunt for his wife. He is a widower and a Rake.
Bridget Cooke is a poor relation who has been passed from family member to family member and has been mainly a glorified, unpaid maid, nurse and now a companion to her beautiful cousin Cecily.
Sinclair and Bridget lock eyes across a crowded ballroom. A happening that is really not a good thing for Bridget because of who she is and because of what he is. But Sinclair is intrigued by her and pursues her.
The beginning of the book was fantastic. Bridget could have been this little beaten down creature because of her hopeless circumstances but she was not. In fact the little-bit-flirty, little-bit-contentious back-and-forth verbal sparring she and Sinclair engage in was great fun to read and showed how much spirit Bidget still had.
There is also the fact of Bridget's scar. She has a scar on her face that she is quite conscious of. From a modern perspective, it did not sound like it was that bad. I pictured it being like Tina Fey's only maybe a tick more noticeable. I like how most of the time Bridget doesn't think about it, but in one memorable scene we see how much the scar has deeply affected her. But Sinclair doesn't care about the scar (in the same scene we learn how much he doesn't mind the scar).
But the book takes a bit of an odd turn. Bridget and Sinclair marry hastily, but Layton is careful to make it seem as if on the one hand, there is something not quite on the up-and-up about the marriage but on the other hand, everything is as it seems. It is a balancing act between doubt and faith that she allows to play out. As a reader I was sure that Sinclair wasn't trying to be a Cad in truth, otherwise what kind of hero would he be? Except.... there were those doubts.
Hence my tenseness.
The story was well written but I can't say I loved the second part of it unabashedly. Like I said, I was tense. So I was more interested into getting to the end of find out what the heck was going on than in enjoying the intervening story. Also, there was a point when Bridget was very isolated, in the midst of people who just weren't treating her well and with very few allies. It was not a fun part to read.
The ending was rather wild. Did not see that coming! But I was satisfied.
April 13, 2009
I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book, then it got odd and more complicated than it needed to be.
July 5, 2013
It was not bad, though the latter part seemed a bit contrived, and I think 100 pages could have been cut out and not lost the heart of the story.
January 10, 2021
Could have been tightened up some. I enjoyed.
November 9, 2010
I've heard so many good things about this book that, in my mind, it was up there with favourites like Lord of Scoundrels or Heartless. Unfortunately, after having read it, I thought it was an ok read but not an outstanding one. In fact, with a title like The Cad, I was expecting a far tougher hero than the one I got.
But there is much to like in The Cad. First we have an original heroine. A lot of heroines have imaginary or common flaws, but this one actually has a scar on her face that makes people notice her and stare. The hero is a rake, usually interested in beautiful (and so perfect) women he finds himself attracted to Bridget and decides to pursue her. As she doesn't go about in society he has to pretend to court her cousin, who she is chaperoning, so that he can be close to her and get to know her better.
His main interest his to make her his mistress but Bridget´s strength of character eventually leads him to propose marriage and convince her to accept. To do so Bridget has to cut her ties with her family and, in a way, be at his mercy. Bridget is a fragile character in what concerns her looks, it's heart wrenching to see her so happy when a couple of actresses teach her to use make up to disguise her scar. She feels whole for the first time... and beautiful. And although Ewen was right that she did not need it to be beautiful to him that way he said it was painful to read.
Their wedding is attended by only a small group of people, and no one of Bridget's family, and there an aura of mystery surrounding it. The need for a quick wedding is explained by Ewen with the need to visit his ailing father. After wards they travel to his country home for some days honeymooning and although Bridget feels very happy and secure eventually Ewen is called to town and they are separated.
While they are separated Bridget keeps her faith in Ewen but eventually we start seeing that all is not well. First Bridget and Ewen have taken under their wing a young girl and her sister comes to collect her because she doesn't want her spending time with a courtesan, eventually she tells Bridget she doesn't believe that Ewen really married her. Then Ewen's cousin arrives with his courtesan and friends in tow and at first mistake Bridget for a mistress instead of a wife. Then a lady arrives claiming that she is Ewen's true wife and Bridget is just someone he duped to be able to bed her. By this time we already know that Ewen is involved in a mission for the Foreign Office and that he would very much to return to Bridget but his boss doesn't let him.
So, I think the biggest flaw of this book is that, after a great start, everything is set to make us believe that Ewen is not an honourable man, that indeed he is duping Bridget and playing her for a fool, and in the end the truth is far from that. I think too much attention is given to his first marriage and Bridget ends up going through some painful situations because of that. It is hard to believe that her servants would behave the way they did towards her and the complicated plot surrounding Ewen's first wife seemed a bit too much to be believable. I loved Ewen and Bridget when they were together but the time they spent apart and the kind of misunderstandings that came out of it were almost too much to bear.
I did like Gilly and Betsy very much, I think I've read somewhere that they have their own books and I am quite curious to discover their stories...
Grade: 4/5 just because I usually like Layton so much.
But there is much to like in The Cad. First we have an original heroine. A lot of heroines have imaginary or common flaws, but this one actually has a scar on her face that makes people notice her and stare. The hero is a rake, usually interested in beautiful (and so perfect) women he finds himself attracted to Bridget and decides to pursue her. As she doesn't go about in society he has to pretend to court her cousin, who she is chaperoning, so that he can be close to her and get to know her better.
His main interest his to make her his mistress but Bridget´s strength of character eventually leads him to propose marriage and convince her to accept. To do so Bridget has to cut her ties with her family and, in a way, be at his mercy. Bridget is a fragile character in what concerns her looks, it's heart wrenching to see her so happy when a couple of actresses teach her to use make up to disguise her scar. She feels whole for the first time... and beautiful. And although Ewen was right that she did not need it to be beautiful to him that way he said it was painful to read.
Their wedding is attended by only a small group of people, and no one of Bridget's family, and there an aura of mystery surrounding it. The need for a quick wedding is explained by Ewen with the need to visit his ailing father. After wards they travel to his country home for some days honeymooning and although Bridget feels very happy and secure eventually Ewen is called to town and they are separated.
While they are separated Bridget keeps her faith in Ewen but eventually we start seeing that all is not well. First Bridget and Ewen have taken under their wing a young girl and her sister comes to collect her because she doesn't want her spending time with a courtesan, eventually she tells Bridget she doesn't believe that Ewen really married her. Then Ewen's cousin arrives with his courtesan and friends in tow and at first mistake Bridget for a mistress instead of a wife. Then a lady arrives claiming that she is Ewen's true wife and Bridget is just someone he duped to be able to bed her. By this time we already know that Ewen is involved in a mission for the Foreign Office and that he would very much to return to Bridget but his boss doesn't let him.
So, I think the biggest flaw of this book is that, after a great start, everything is set to make us believe that Ewen is not an honourable man, that indeed he is duping Bridget and playing her for a fool, and in the end the truth is far from that. I think too much attention is given to his first marriage and Bridget ends up going through some painful situations because of that. It is hard to believe that her servants would behave the way they did towards her and the complicated plot surrounding Ewen's first wife seemed a bit too much to be believable. I loved Ewen and Bridget when they were together but the time they spent apart and the kind of misunderstandings that came out of it were almost too much to bear.
I did like Gilly and Betsy very much, I think I've read somewhere that they have their own books and I am quite curious to discover their stories...
Grade: 4/5 just because I usually like Layton so much.
November 5, 2013
The sexual tension in this regency romance is almost palpable, which was unusual and wonderful. Just about all historical romance novels attempt to portray physical romantic attraction, but few are actually successful. The romance and the sexual attraction is so believable in this novel because of the wonderful dialogue and the characterization of the hero and heroine, particularly Lord Ewen Sinclair. a romantic hero who has it all; naughtiness, wit, determination, humor, and honor. His skillfully written dialogue had me swooning along with the heroine, and resulted in a very satisfying love story. In addition, the book was replete with an interesting and distinct cast of secondary characters, that appear in the sequels to this book. Looking forward to reading the next books in Edith Layton's 'C' series!
January 24, 2011
Aneca's review echoes my thoughts and feelings about this book pretty closely, but I couldn't give it more than 2 stars because the character of the villainess was completely unbelievable. I also found the Gilly character a lot more annoying than likeable, especially in the scene where Gilly rips into Bridget for being Ewen's mistress instead of his wife. Gilly should have really grovelled at the end, but nothing like that happened. The whole build-up to the final scene with the villainess was far too contrived, IMHO, so I couldn't feel the intended effect of Ewen's confession. The confession was also too convoluted, probably to keep the suspense going, but it didn't work for me at all.
November 22, 2019
Far fetched, overwrought and quite a bit too long.
June 8, 2023
Nice historical fiction, and unusual one.
The heroine is a spinster lady unmarried and forced to be a companion to her younger evil cousin since her face is scarred.
The hero is a notorious rake who is looking for a bride and of course her cousin wants him.
But he seems to be more interested in the heroine, first proposing her to be his mistress then proposing marriage.
He isn’t bothered by her scar at all, she’s anyway a very beautiful woman and her scar in only shallow and doesn’t alter her traits, but since we’re in 1800 there was no way to hide it without looking like a promiscuous woman.
They get married and he has to leave her soon after because hey, he’s a cad only on the outside, he’s actually a spy and on a very dangerous mission.
In the meantime his dead wife comes up, and goes to his house trying to get rid of his new wife.
I must admit that this heroine, besides being a lil short of self esteem because of her scar, is anyway very sensible and doesn’t trust this woman, deciding to stay until the hero is back.
The mystery is solved and the woman who was actually his ex wife but no more after they annulled the marriage, is thrown out without many regards.
All is well in the end, and I was quite content because this hero is a very nice and strong man, outside a rake, but actually a very brave alpha male, without being cruel or mean.
And no, he never cheated on his wife and never had ows.
The heroine is a spinster lady unmarried and forced to be a companion to her younger evil cousin since her face is scarred.
The hero is a notorious rake who is looking for a bride and of course her cousin wants him.
But he seems to be more interested in the heroine, first proposing her to be his mistress then proposing marriage.
He isn’t bothered by her scar at all, she’s anyway a very beautiful woman and her scar in only shallow and doesn’t alter her traits, but since we’re in 1800 there was no way to hide it without looking like a promiscuous woman.
They get married and he has to leave her soon after because hey, he’s a cad only on the outside, he’s actually a spy and on a very dangerous mission.
In the meantime his dead wife comes up, and goes to his house trying to get rid of his new wife.
I must admit that this heroine, besides being a lil short of self esteem because of her scar, is anyway very sensible and doesn’t trust this woman, deciding to stay until the hero is back.
The mystery is solved and the woman who was actually his ex wife but no more after they annulled the marriage, is thrown out without many regards.
All is well in the end, and I was quite content because this hero is a very nice and strong man, outside a rake, but actually a very brave alpha male, without being cruel or mean.
And no, he never cheated on his wife and never had ows.
October 16, 2021
Bridget Cooke is a pass-around relative that was a staple of early English families. Generally, the young woman was unmarried, without a male relative to care for her, without a dowery or other means of support. It was a demeaning position for the young woman involved because there was little Christian charity (the gentry saw it differently; they saw themselves keeping the relative out of the workhouse or worse).
Bridget has been taking care of members of the family for several years. This posting is better because she finally gets to see London and all its amusements. However, she must remain as a piece of the wallpaper, unnoticed and inconspicuous. However, Brigid is not inconspicuous because she has a 2-inch scar across her cheek. She catches the eye of Lord Ewan Sinclair.
And then the most unusual story begins. To be honest, I never knew where this story was headed; it wasn't meandering, it just didn't seem that I could figure out what was the goal. When it all fell into place, aah, Ewan Sinclair was a bit of a cad. This was definitely a unique story. Overall score = VG+.
Cad
** 1. The Cad (1998)
2. The Choice (1999)
3. The Challenge (2000)
4. The Chance (2000)
5. The Conquest (2001)
6. To Wed a Stranger (2003)
7. ToTempt a Bride (2003
Bridget has been taking care of members of the family for several years. This posting is better because she finally gets to see London and all its amusements. However, she must remain as a piece of the wallpaper, unnoticed and inconspicuous. However, Brigid is not inconspicuous because she has a 2-inch scar across her cheek. She catches the eye of Lord Ewan Sinclair.
And then the most unusual story begins. To be honest, I never knew where this story was headed; it wasn't meandering, it just didn't seem that I could figure out what was the goal. When it all fell into place, aah, Ewan Sinclair was a bit of a cad. This was definitely a unique story. Overall score = VG+.
Cad
** 1. The Cad (1998)
2. The Choice (1999)
3. The Challenge (2000)
4. The Chance (2000)
5. The Conquest (2001)
6. To Wed a Stranger (2003)
7. ToTempt a Bride (2003
September 5, 2024
Reserving final judgment till finishing this, but I have to gush a little. Because at first, I was getting annoyed at MMC's like awkward little things that just added to FMC's discomfort and embarrassment, and then I got REALLY mad when she had some makeup on to cover up her scar and he implied she wasn't actually innocent, and then we got to the first sex scene, and he was just so hilariously saying the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time, she's awkward and confused and innocent, and they're just misunderstanding each other, and it's actually so realistic. Like, yes, they have The Lust, but they're still just new at this whole thing (well, he's new at being w/ a virgin, she's new entirely) and it's awkward, and I just love that it's written this way instead of everything fading into a cloud of consummational bliss.
I realize that some of his hoof-in-mouth problem is not just cause it's funny and real, but also important to the plot, but I'm actually loving it. I went from beginning to not like him to kinda liking the real him who is not nearly as smooth as he thought he was lol.
OK, carrying on, because it's only like 1/3 through and I'm pretty sure this isn't the HEA yet.
I realize that some of his hoof-in-mouth problem is not just cause it's funny and real, but also important to the plot, but I'm actually loving it. I went from beginning to not like him to kinda liking the real him who is not nearly as smooth as he thought he was lol.
OK, carrying on, because it's only like 1/3 through and I'm pretty sure this isn't the HEA yet.
August 6, 2023
DNF. I read the series out of order and had just finished "The Choice". I absolutely looooved that book so decided to start with the first book in the series and had high expectations. I stopped at Chapter 5 because I just couldn't understand the hero's attraction to the heroine, Bridget. She is a poor companion to her cousin who is a typical young woman of the Season. The author starts off the book with the hero and heroine having instant visual attraction from across the ballroom. However, Bridget has a scar on her face that she is very self-conscious about and keeps harping about to the hero and questioning why he likes her to the point that it gets really annoying. Also, the author reveals Bridget's inner thoughts about her cousin and aunt to be pretty uncharitable and petty. For a poor relation and companion, Bridget seemed a bit uppity and entitled, imo. I couldn't go much further in the book because I just didn't like the main character of the book. I'm off to read the 3rd book in the series instead and hope it's better or just as good as "The Choice"!
May 4, 2021
I spent most of the book worrying, and it seemed to be more about sex than love. Although I really enjoyed Bridget, Gilly, and Betsy, I did not enjoy most of the male characters, who seemed to have few redeeming qualities until nearly the end. I have to say that this is a hard way to start a series. What kept me going mostly was that I read the series out of order (The Conquest first) so I knew from the get-go the final ending, although not the means of it. Still, I couldn't put it down until I reached the end, and perhaps that says it all.
February 2, 2024
A very good book but I felt it unnecessary to keep repeating the facial scar of the main female character. The fact that she felt very self conscious about her face and wanted to hide her scar but the Hero, whose face is described as perfect, would not accept her efforts to feel better about herself. Mind you all the other adult characters who saw her face commented on the scar, the Hero did not seem to care that she was uncomfortable about her face.
March 14, 2024
After their hasty marriage and the MMC leaving the FMC alone at his country estate it was hard to figure out if he was a "cad" or not. Plenty of doubt was thrown in, given his reputation as an easily bored rake, the fact that he never introduced her to his family, and that he left for London alone shortly after their honeymoon, saying she'd be bored if she came with him. Things did become clear much later, almost at the end of the book.
January 16, 2019
Enjoyed this more the first time I read it. This a good read to me though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
Great start, interesting middle and then it goes down hill to end on top again.
In the end I wanted the servants punished. It didn’t happen, although the butler said he was mistaken and sorry.
In the end I wanted the servants punished. It didn’t happen, although the butler said he was mistaken and sorry.
May 16, 2025
3.5 *I did skim a bit towards the end* stars rounding up. An enjoyable & entertaining read.
July 10, 2025
I adored this book.
August 10, 2025
I found the first part of this novel very compelling
February 24, 2017
Holy crap. 4 1/2 only because it got a little convoluted at the end and the two leads spent too much time apart - they had such fantastic dialogue I wanted more of it.
I was amazed by this book. I'd read one of Layton's books (the one with the rakish duke and a wager) which I thought was okay. But THIS. This was awesome.
I was so stressed out for Bridget I was up half the night wondering how on earth she could earn her HEA. I had all sorts of convoluted scenarios in my mind. Everything fast just enough doubt on what Ewen was doing/saying/writing. Just enough. I knew he was the Hero so it must be okay but it was a stressful ride.
I loved the differentiation between rake and cad. The whole idea that a rake sleeps around but only with women who know he score vs a cad who will practice any deception to get what he wants. Ewen owns his rakishness. He admits it and is very upfront about it. Not at all devious about it. He was great.
And there is sex in this. PG-13.
I have Lord of Dishonour on my TBR list and have high hopes for it.
I was amazed by this book. I'd read one of Layton's books (the one with the rakish duke and a wager) which I thought was okay. But THIS. This was awesome.
I was so stressed out for Bridget I was up half the night wondering how on earth she could earn her HEA. I had all sorts of convoluted scenarios in my mind. Everything fast just enough doubt on what Ewen was doing/saying/writing. Just enough. I knew he was the Hero so it must be okay but it was a stressful ride.
I loved the differentiation between rake and cad. The whole idea that a rake sleeps around but only with women who know he score vs a cad who will practice any deception to get what he wants. Ewen owns his rakishness. He admits it and is very upfront about it. Not at all devious about it. He was great.
And there is sex in this. PG-13.
I have Lord of Dishonour on my TBR list and have high hopes for it.
December 28, 2014
A wonderfully written romance between an unlikely pair: Bridget Cooke, a lady's companion with no wealth or connections, and Viscount Ewan Sinclair, a dashing soldier and self-confessed rake. I loved the interplay between these two well-rounded people from the first. I laughed and sighed along with them, and most of all I rooted for their happiness. Bridget's point of view is particularly touching and engaging, and Ewan was wonderful. Highly recommended.
December 16, 2021
This book had a very good start, but then it somehow lost its magic & at the end the only thing that kept me going was Ewen's marriage mistery. Another big letdown was that for a big part of the second half of the book Ewen & Bridget were separated, although I really appreciated the fact that Bridget had faith in her husband and didn't run like I expected her to do.
February 8, 2013
A really great read! Plenty of drama to keep the story interesting. Very well paced and nice narrative. A really sweet story at points and at other parts gut wrenching. Can't wait for more of the series!
January 9, 2014
A rake marries a scarred women, quickly and without much ceremony. But after a couple of weeks he leaves her in the country while he goes back to London on what he claims is urgent business. Until the last we are not sure whether her faith in him is entirely justified.
June 25, 2011
More of a 3.5 than a 4. There were a few moments in the book which were just a tad too sucarylly(?!) sweet and cliched. Other than those moments, though I really enjoyed this light read.
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