Lady Priscilla's Shameful Secret

Ladies in Disgrace #3

by Christine Merrill

Outspoken Lady Priscilla is the only woman in London brave enough not to simper at Robert Magson. As the Duke of Reighland, he needs a wife and this captivating woman would surely keep life interesting!Despite the obvious sexual attraction between them, Lady Priscilla doesn't wish to marry-ever-for she hides a shameful secret. Surely a duke deserves more than a ruined woman? But once Robert sets his sights on something beautiful, he will do anything in his power to claim it!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Harlequin, Historical Fiction, Harlequin Historical

366 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Christine Merrill has wanted to be an author for as long as she can remember. But one thing stood in her way: touch typing.

Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.

Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).

During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.

Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.

Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin

Reviews

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 - Finalmente il terzo volume si concentra su Priscilla, la sorella fuggitiva di Pru, ricondotta alla casa paterna e relegata a trascorrere i suoi giorni tra noia e vergogna. Stavolta è il padre che non ne può più e cerca di fidanzarla con la forza addirittura con un duca.
Anche qui bei personaggi: Pru, prigioniera del ruolo di svergognata, ma in realtà solo giovane e immatura; Robert, allevatore di bestiame divenuto erede di un titolo senza volerlo e bisognoso di istruzioni in società.
Un corteggiamento travagliato, ma avvincente.

[Cris · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first interaction between the hero & heroine was unique and promising. But I disliked the hero very quickly. (He's rather disappointed when he acknowledges to himself that "he could not exactly break [the heroine's] spirit with a rough bit and a whip." p. 39) Possibly the author intended to carry on the simile she'd established with the acquisitions of a wife as being similar to purchasing a horse. If so, she didn't succeed.

It's not the worst romance I've read. The writing itself is competent, the characters (including the hero & heroine) are distasteful and simplistic, and the climax was anti-climatic.

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could not be more frigid, blah and boring. Lady priscilla was the worst heroine I have ever read about. The only saving grace was His Grace Robert.
Priscilla was spoiled, self centered and shallow.
I keep imagining this book being told by robotic voices with no feelings or expressions.

[Karyn Gerrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book in a trilogy, a trilogy I certainly recommend. I preferred the first two books in this set, what garnered the 4 stars was the hero, Robert Magson, Duke of Reighland. A great bear of a man, he is not classically handsome, nor particularly poised, but he turns out to be swoonworthy and maybe too good for the heroine, who I was lukewarm about since book 2. When he goes into full "Duke" mode, I was cheering him on. Heartily recommend this trilogy, nicely done, Christine!

[Carolyn Raich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could have really enjoyed this book, if I hadn't read the previous book in the series. Pricilla's father went from being a duke in Drucilla's story to being an Earl in this one. I can understand how being an Earl worked well in this story but I found the change in status for the expediency of the story annoying. Good story and would have given it an extra star if not for the problems of continuity with the previous story.!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second novel I've read by the talented Christine Merrill, and once again it did not disappoint! With vibrant characters, witty dialogue and an engagingly fun plot, this regency romance is one not to be missed!

[Regiane Moreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

E chega ao fim da trilogia...

Sinceramente achei esse melhor que o segundo, mas ainda não alcançou o primeiro da série.
Lady Priscilla, para mim, seria a pessoa mais chata do mundo pelo que vi no segundo livro, quando ela fugiu com professor de dança. Achei fútil, vazia, mimada, mas no terceiro livro consegui entender o problema dela, o porquê de ela fazer tudo que fez. Era uma infeliz, revoltada, covarde, triste e ao mesmo tempo mimada. Ela ama a irmã e, no fundo, não se sentia bem com essa diferença de tratamento. Então ela me surpreendeu como personagem.
Robert Magson era um criador de cavalos que acabou herdando o título de Duque de Reighland, após a morte de pessoas muito queridas para ele. Um homem grande e forte que foi ridicularizado pelos amigos (sofreu bullying, vamos dizer assim) na época da escola, agrediu alguém quando menino e essa pessoa se feriu muito. Então jurou que nunca mais iria agredir ninguém, iria se controlar. Ao se ver com um ducado nas mãos e precisando se casar, apesar de ser um duque, seu passado ainda pesava em sua personalidade e ele se sentia inseguro.
O que eu gostei no livro foi a superação deles, a forma como ele a entendeu e conquistou, como se rendeu a ela e também a forma como ela se rendeu a ele. Essa mudança nos dois, esse crescimento dos dois me conquistou.
É um livro muito bom, não foi perfeito, mas muito bom e Christine Merrill se tornou uma das escritoras que continuarei lendo, (porque algumas eu cortei da minha lista...rs) mas, com certeza, lerei mais livros dela.
Indico essa trilogia muito gostosa, pelo menos na minha humilde opinião.

[Debs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A curious courtship...

He is a Duke, she is a nobleman daughter. The perfect match? He is a plain man, outspoken and a reluctant beneficiary of a title he never wanted.... She does not want to marry anyone let alone a man of her overbearing father's choice, but her family are determined to see her wed. The problem is that the man behind the title is convinced that she would be a good match for him, and he is not a man to give up. Her brutally honest revelations are enough to deter most men..- but the Duke of Reighland is a determined man.

[Sophia Peltier · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a mess. Changed the family name from one book to the next. The Duke of Benbridge suddenly became an Earl. I swear there was a brother in the first book on Drusilla the man suddenly none & a stepmother. Priscilla’s development wasn’t bad - just unrealistic. The hero was decent and as always trilogies are good to see references to previous characters. Although a better tie up to all three stories would’ve been nice.

[Priscilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terceiro volume da série Ladies in Disgrace.

Perdi o interesse quando a autora fez o personagem principal, Robert, comparar o trato de seu par romântico Priscilla com domar um cavalo pela violência.

Já mal suporto isso na comédia de Shakespeare, decididamente não quer ler isso num romance de banca.

[Rosalinda Cicio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dopo aver avuto la sfortuna di aver un padre tiranno, un primo uomo brutale, Lady Priscilla ha la fortuna di trovare un futuro marito intelligente, interessato a lei come persona e non per la sua bellezza, ma dovrà vedersela ancora con lei stessa e i fantasmi del passato che la tormentano.

[Sinead · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book for me didn’t live up to the rest of the series. It annoyed me that the Father went from being a Duke in the second book to an Earl in this one. Also the characters didn’t really work for me. I just didn’t find the chemistry.

[FOTINI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akward but beautiful written!!!

[Neelam Jha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf

[ChristineZ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the Duke, and Priscilla was okay...but over all it felt like a slog to get through. Nice foot massage scene!

[CozyCorner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. The Duke's frequent comparison of winning Priscilla to taming a horse, and his insistence that she get over her trauma to practically being raped made me roll my eyes.

[Anonymous · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF after 1 chapter.

[Aitana Gómez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha estado entretenido. No me mola que él se pase por los huevitos lo que ella diga al principio, pero, al final, la ha ayudado. Una pena que el libro se me haya desecho en las manos.

[Mara S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Não conhecia a autora e me surpreendi. É um bom romance de época. Não tem nada de novo, é um romance quadradinho com aqueles clichês que estamos acostumados e, pra mim, funcionou.

Tirei uma estrela porque me irritou bastante a dinâmica inicial do casal: Priscilla dizia que não queria nada com Robert, mas ele insistia. Muita coisa foi levada ao limite, mas, graças a Deus, não passou. Conforme os capítulos foram passando, essa questão melhora demais. Acho que vale a pena dar uma chance.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Priscilla doesn't intend to marry. She foolishly eloped the previous year with an unsuitable man, did not marry him, and was assaulted by him in the process. She did this in an attempt to escape her father. Now she attends few functions, as her father won't allow her to attend anything where her sister is present (see Book 2 - Lady Drusilla's Road to Ruin), and he and her stepmother are pressuring her to marry. Her father has encouraged the Duke of Reighland, as a way to get rid of Priscilla and make an alliance beneficial to himself, and won't allow Priscilla to refuse. Robert is looking for a wife that will help him settle in to his role as the Duke, and who won't bore him to death in the meantime. Priscilla is the only one who doesn't suck up to him - she is doing everything she can to discourage him. I loved the way that he doesn't let her scare him off with her attitude. When she finally realizes that he is the best she'll be able to do, she is honest with him about her past, which he appreciates. I thought the way that he realized that her problem with him could be solved with patience and gentle attention was fantastic. I loved the fact that they finally realized they could be happy together. When the nasty man returns to make trouble for Priscilla, she breaks off the engagement to Robert to protect him from her scandal. I thought the way that Robert got her to stand up to society was fantastic, and then his actions at the dinner were priceless. This was a terrific conclusion to the series.

[Tonileg · Rating 4 out of 5]

So let's pretend that we are living about two hundred years ago and we're a well born young lady in London noble society....
What do you do when you have to hide the fact that you are no longer a chaste virgin, but your nasty mean father is in the midst of marring you off to the highest born title that he can arrange?
Well you try to sabotage the courtship with rude frank talk, but unfortunately and unbeknown to Lady Priscilla, the new Duke likes that kind of challenge so she only attracts him like bees to honey.
This was a good and original start to a historical English high society romance and the writing was inviting and rich with little details about the characters without slapping us in the face with the typical tropes like 'virginal behavior' or 'rake' or 'evil parent' and etc...
I liked the author's style so I will be looking for more from Christine Merrill because this was a fun but emotional read to distract me from the upcoming holiday season and all the presents, knitting, cooking and socializing that will be attacking the house and my life all too soon!
Second chances with building character, strength and self confidence at a time when women were owned by their fathers, then their husbands and had nothing of their own. Great story with a lots of respect for her sexual trauma by a loving kind but hugely burly man.
281 pages and bought used for 2$ at a used book store in Hilo town

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable Regency. Everybody loves a hero who believes he has flaws, yet still acts with honour and dignity. I would like to have met Robert, Duke of Reighland, myself! If you've a few hours to spare you will be drawn into the tale of the disgraced noblewoman, Priscilla, who finds true love with a man who has just been elevated to the highest ranks of the 'ton'. Robert's recent elevation to Dukedom means he can overlook the ostracism of the 'fallen woman' that was a part of the Regency scene thought the road to matrimony has some trials and tribulations.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was in a two pact with the book I previously read "Society's most Scandalous Rake" and it was by far the better of the two- in fact, comparing them may have made me rate this one higher than I might have because I really did not enjoy the one before.

I really liked the back story to the main character, Priscilla. It seemed like a trap many young girls may have fallen into at the time. So a much better regency romance, and I would recommend this one to others.

[Mem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiled girl ruins herself with an ill advised plan of making her father send her sister and herself to one of his estates. Of course this does not go as planned, her sister marries and Priscilla is returned to their father. Now she is the center of gossip and her value on the marriage is gone. Her father's political savvy attracts a suitor. Twists and turns some expected others not, enjoyable read. I will look for more by this authou.

[Aspoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an okay read. I really enjoyed the authors "Inconvenient Wife" better. This book got a little long in the tooth for me...I mean it really should have ended by Chapter 13. It seem like the ending was rushed. The hero was off and on...one minute he was being such a sexy gentleman and just like a light switch he was being a rude jerk...I couldn't understand it...I like the book but I wouldn't read it again. And in a day or two I'll completely forget about it...

[Karla Hodde · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I haven't read a Harlequin Historical in a long time. I had this in my TBR pile and was intrigued by the title. I was captivated from the first chapter and read the book in one sitting. I like the romance, and the hurtles each of the characters had to overcome. This is a book I did not want to end. Since I started with the third book of the series, now I need to find books one and two. Definite recommend.

[Katy Budget Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karla says: For some reason, I haven't read a Harlequin Historical in a long time. I had this in my TBR pile and was intrigued by the title. I was captivated from the first chapter and read the book in one sitting. I like the romance, and the hurtles each of the characters had to overcome. This is a book I did not want to end. Since I started with the third book of the series, now I need to find books one and two. Definite recommend..

[Mymyworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christine Merrill a encore une fois su m’embarquer dans l’aventure avec une héroïne qui, à la base, n’avait pas mon adhésion. Le duo que Priscilla forme avec Robert est délicieux. Au delà de l’histoire qui présente quelques longueurs, c’est cette tentation de chaque instant qui les anime et qui devient de plus en plus pressante qui est absolument enivrante.

Ma chronique : http://songedunenuitdete.com/2014/02/...

[Countess Of · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine is snippy and bitchy and has made enough mistakes to be believable. The hero is alpha and strong but has his own demons from the past. The beauty of this story is the way the hero forces the heroine to become a stronger person rather than just sweeping her up in his arms and doing it for her. Good go-to-bed read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the humor in this series. I really think that I love the guys in this book in reverse order, as their personalities. I was glad to see that Priscilla grew up. As I said Robert was my fave. I think they were well suited. I enjoyed reading this series.