His Scandal

His Trilogy #2

by Gayle Callen

Taming a Rogue

Lady Emmeline Prescott is shocked when Sir Alexander Thornton, the most incorrigible scoundrel in England, suddenly notices she even exists—and starts flirting with her! The dashing cad has a well-earned reputation for carousing that brings a blush to her cheeks, but more distressing still I is the unwanted desire he arouses in her!

To win a wager, Alex must win a kiss from an innocent maiden, But first he must get past the giggly girl's chaperone—her straitlaced older sister, Lady Emmeline. And to his dismay, it is the enchanting, levelheaded Emmeline who intoxicates him with her soft sensuality and eminently kissable lips. Yet such a conquest is unthinkable—unless Alex abandons his cherished reprobate ways...and surrenders to his heart's traitorous yearning for a true and passionate love.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Chick Lit, Drama

377 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 30, 2002

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Gayle Callen writes historical romances for Avon Books. Her twenty-second novel, The Wrong Bride, was published in November 2015.

Gayle’s novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. She was a nominee for RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane.

Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at http://www.gaylecallen.com

Reviews

[kris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sir Alexander Thornton just came off a few years of pretending to be his twin bro when he makes a wager he can kiss the hottie Lady Blythe Prescott. Except then her older (hotter) sister, Emmeline, gets his fires RAGIN' and he can't stop himself from inviting her to Bonerville, population: NICE. This results in LOVE(TM)???

1. This is allegedly set in the 1500s: it did not feel like that AT ALL beyond the goblets of wine and doublets. Other than that, it's Regency-esque with almost no tie to the bounds of historical fiction.

2. The writing is awkward.

3. The emotional ... development ("manipulation" might be a better word) was very much a mater of expediency. It never truly feels like two grown adults falling into love, but rather like horny high schoolers figuring things out under the bleachers behind yon olde time ballroom.

4. Emmeline's relationship with her sister was sweet?

5. I'm basically out of things to say: I can't really recommend this to anyone unless they're looking for that vaguely numbifying reading experience that keeps your brain just this side of awake. It's somewhat entertaining but marred by sloppy feelings and poorly characterized hornbots and no real intention for any of it.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: Original title is His Scandal (2002). The title of the Kindle version is Never a Bride (2021).

This one is hard to rate so I’ll settle for 2.5 and round it up to a 3 since I can see myself rereading a few passages in the future. The romance kind of involves a love triangle and a forbidden romance. The heroine Emmeline develops an attraction towards the hero Alex who is pursuing her younger sister Blythe to win a wager. Blythe likes the attention she is receiving from Alex but is not ready to settle on just one suitor. At the same time, Emmeline wants to protect her younger sister from Alex because she knows he isn't the marrying type. Alex can't help but desire Emmeline. At one point, it almost became a love square/rectangle but it was just a misunderstanding. There's a winemaker named Maxwell (I think) who's interested in Blythe but is nervous to speak to her whenever he's near her. Emmeline approves of this man for her sister and plays matchmaker. Meanwhile, Alex thinks that Maxwell is interested in Emmeline. At one point, when there was little to no progress with Maxwell and Blythe, I was beginning to think that Alex could be correct, that maybe Maxwell was interested in Emmeline all along, not Blythe.

Some of the interactions between the hero and heroine felt like filler. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed reading those scenes because I love seeing the main couple interact, especially when they're alone and especially when the hero is trying to seduce the heroine. One notable (non-filler) scene is where Alex and Emmeline are in a boat at a lake beneath a tree that I assume is a willow tree (imagine the song "Kiss the Girl" from Disney's The Little Mermaid). Alex begins describing his fantasies of Emmy to her, which I honestly believe kind of came out of nowhere, but I still enjoyed reading it. I think they're about to kiss and a frog jumps onto Emmy's chest and she screams and Alex falls into the muddy water. Thus, ruining the moment, which was disappointing.

This is the second time I read this author's work. This must be one of her earlier books because the writing and the structure were sometimes poor. The story is set in London during the 1500s (specifically 1589) but it wasn't always obvious due to little description of this era. Sometimes it read like a Regency and only when the words "knight," "sword," and "court" appeared did I remember that this story is set during the 1500s.

It's mentioned several times that Alex impersonated his twin brother for two years as the viscount in order for Spencer to spy in Spain. Alex feels inferior to his older brother (having no true purpose like most second sons) and that women only want titled men. Earlier in the book, he also thought that Emmeline only wanted to marry a titled man because Blythe mentioned to Alex that Emmy fell in love with her tutor but she couldn't marry him because he wasn't titled. Blythe forgot to explain that their father didn't approve of the match because he wasn't a titled gentleman. We do see this tutor later with his wife and kids at a country fair. Fortunately, he's a likable guy. At one point in the story, Alex pretends to be Spencer to kind of test if Emmeline can tell them apart. She fails the test and they never dig deeper into this. Why didn't she ask why he felt the need to test her? She drew her conclusion, but at least discuss it with Alex!

The subplot with the Langstons felt completely unnecessary. Two men (the Langston brothers) stole Alex's money bag, beat him up, kidnapped him and Emmeline, and wanted to force him to marry their sister Elizabeth because she claimed that Alex ruined her. Alex has an older twin brother Spencer (the hero of Book 1), whom they kidnapped (second attempt) thinking he was Alex, but he was able to escape just fine (maybe because he was a spy?). So what was the point of this kidnapping if we weren't going to see some action? Omg, I think it was to force Emmeline to realize that she was in love with Alex. Yes, I just confirmed it in the ebook. Like how would Spencer being kidnapped help Emmeline realize her feelings towards Alex??? It makes no sense! Then towards the end, I didn't approve of the way she went about getting Alex to marry her (basically, she lied just like Elizabeth did). It was so out of character for her.

It started off well, but then some events became fillers while some were unnecessary or surface-level. There is plenty of sexual tension and seduction, however, I think there is only one sex scene. I don't think I'll continue this series. I'd like to read her more recent books to see if her writing has improved.

[Leena Aluru · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the mcs. Both Alex and Emmiline are fantastic. Unfortunately, the story is quite lacklustre. It rambles a lot without dealing with any aspect deeply.
However, I'm looking forward to reading the third part to this trilogy.

Recommended: ✅ for Alex and Emmy only.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book first, long ago, and out of order. I enjoyed Alex's story as he is a careless rake who is bitter about being the second son and therefore less worthy in the eyes of the ton. After a wager with his friend he attempts to get a kiss from the beautiful Lady Blythe, but find himself in a battle of wits with her older sister Emmeline. Before he knows it, it's Emmeline he wants to kiss and not her sister. But she's not too happy to find out about the wager. I loved both the characters in this book, the plot, the romance - all of it comes together very nicely for a very enjoyable book!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Alexander Thornton is sorry the minute he makes a wager with his best friend as to who will kiss a maiden first. Alex’s chosen target is the lovely Lady Blythe, but her stern older sister Emmeline stands in his way. How can he get past this spinster chaperone, especially when she’s the one who captures his heart?

[Karyn Gerrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up for 2.26 on Amazon Kindle (temporary sale price) takes place in the late 1500's, time of Queen Elizabeth, though it felt more like a Regency in tone. Entertaining and moved at a fast clip, and Alex Thornton is a hot hero with many intriguing layers. Hey, I even liked the heroine for once! A very good read.

[Ebony Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great read.

[Juliana Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable light read; starts off prosaic and lacking spark but *quickly* improves!

[1588, England:] This book is the second in Gayle Callen's "His" series; Book 1 is His Betrothed, which features Viscount Spencer Thornton (the brother of this book's hero, Sir Alexander Thornton) and Book 3 is His Bride, whose hero is Sir Edmund Blackwell, Alex's best friend. I have not read the first book but was easily able to follow the plot, so it's not a problem if you read the series out of order.

I read His Scandal six years ago and didn't remember the book but thought I had liked it, so thought to reread it. I was at first somewhat disappointed: the story starts off without much of a bang and seems pretty prosaic, with the plot coming off as contrived (it - and Emmeline and Alex's relationship - being driven by the ridiculous wager between Alex and Edmund). The main characters are a pleasure and the book quickly improves though, so if you start off thinking the same thing, don't be discouraged - keep reading and you won't be disappointed!

Despite the often vapid and silly younger sister, most of the secondary characters are interesting and well-written and the chemistry between Emmy and Alex is sizzling. And of course, who doesn't enjoy a historical romance where the hero is a scandalous rake who can't help but fall under the spell of an older-sister heroine who is too often ignored ... until the hero finally sees her for the intelligent, unusual, beautiful, and wonderful woman she is? ::sigh::

MAIN CHARACTERS, Emmeline and Alexander:
Lady Emmeline Prescott has always been in her younger sister, Blythe's, shadow - though over time this has become as much by outside influence as by choice. Regarding her younger sister almost as a daughter (they are 7 years apart), Emmy has practically raised her and sees it as her duty to look after Blythe and help her find a suitable husband who will love and care for her. Around seven years ago she once fancied herself in love with a young man, but he was a tutor and her father forbade the match, not thinking him to be of a suitable station. Since then, Emmy has given up on ever finding her own HEA and has convinced herself that she will be content with being a beloved elder sister and the aunt to Blythe's children.

Emmy is a great heroine; she's strong and intelligent, kind and passionate, and definitely very easy to root for. She's suspicious of Alex's attraction to her, unbelieving that he could actually like anything about her - and once she admits that he desires her, she cannot imagine he feels anything other than lust. She finally realizes that they both need each other and can make each other happy and she - somewhat forcefully and surprisingly - takes matters into her own hands.

Preceding the story, Sir Alexander Thornton spent ~2 years pretending to be his elder identical twin brother, while Spencer was in Spain spying for Queen Elizabeth (they didn't want anyone to know he was gone, so Alex pretended to be Spencer and every now and then reverted back to himself so that no one suspected either twin was missing). The role he played as Viscount Thornton was far different from that of the Viscount's scandalous younger brother, but Alex found himself surprisingly at ease - and happy - managing estates, exploring new and innovative engineering techniques for the farms, and writing bills in the House of Lords. Once his brother returns, however, he is relegated to the scandalous younger brother role again: society fawns at the heroism and courage displayed by Viscount Thornton, but Alex is looked down upon and somewhat shunned for having misled everyone; people who used to court his favor and listen to his opinion now no longer care to have anything to do with him.

Alex is a much deeper character than we initially think; he plays the role of easy, charming, devil-may-care rogue who only cares about finding pleasure and scandal and nothing else, but we quickly see that though that is one side of his character, it is also a kind of mask he hides behind. His appreciation of Emmeline rings true and their relationship, though definitely involving flirting and *hot* chemistry, also evolves into a wonderful friendship. Their exchanges and sparring are great fun to read and Callen includes several laugh-out-loud moments. All in all, they are delightful characters and a perfect match - they both feel overshadowed by their siblings, underappreciated and undervalued, yet Emmy sees more in Alex than just a scandalous rake who seeks pleasure with little regard for anyone/anything else, and Alex sees more in Emmy than the rigid older sister of a young beauty who wants nothing to do with men and has given up on a life of her own.

COMMENTS (criticism and praise):
~ Great sexual tension and chemistry, as well as well-written dialogue and verbal sparring, between the hero and heroine
~ I like knowing characters' ages and we aren't told anyone's - the only thing we know is that Emmy is 7 years older than Blythe
~ Blythe, Emmy's sister, is a pretty flat and boring character for most of the book, though she starts to show promise towards the end; other than that, Callen has wonderful secondary characters (especially Maxwell, Edmund, and Spencer)

[Charity Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

His Scandal by Gayle Callen was an Amusing Tale of a Scoundrel and a Spinster.


Lady Emmeline Prescott, the "h", was on her way to being a true Spinster, until Sir Alex Thornton, the "H", started to pay attention to her little sister, Blythe.


Lady Emmeline had no choice but to thwart all of Alex's well laid plans, which made for some interesting situations.


Alex was a fun character, that kept things moving with his scandalous exploits, and his natural charm.


I am happy that everything worked itself out in the end.

[☽ Rhiannon ✭ Mistwalker ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was one thing I wasn't keen on towards the end: the heroine, upon realizing she loved the hero, commits to proving to the hero that they should marry. This sudden confidence in herself and their "relationship" felt at odds with the previously insecure, spinster heroine. Otherwise, a nice spinster/rake romance. (3.5 stars)

[Yana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,25 stars


The beginning (1st chapter) was slightly rocky but then it settle in an enjoyable even though predictable little story.

I like the chemistry between h/h and I ALWAYS appreciate when a heroine is not stupid and does not jump to an illogical conclusions so yeah - I really did like the heroine.

[Reg Ferns · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise is good and loosely based off of Sense and Sensibility but boy oh boy, the writer cannot write. Her research also seems sloppy and sometimes the environment seems medieval England and sometimes it seems like modern England. Most of the time it felt like a parody of a regency novel tbh.

[Yume · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 7th time I read this book. I think I was in my early 20’s back then it was called his sin.
This time I did the audiobook but it doesn’t compare to the book. In my mind he sounds different but the voice actress did a good job.

[Faith Hirschi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was giving bridgerton season 2 and so I just imagined him as Jonathon Bailey who would make any book swoon worthy. I personally liked the clunky pacing. I liked the sister and winemaker and his mother again.

[Shani · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.9*

[Miriam Meza · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending was... *chef kiss*

[K Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not normally read romance novels but was listed to read one for a book club. The storyline was interesting enough.

[Ramcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐

[Cynthia Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a Bride

I enjoyed this book. I didn't want to like Alex, but he redeemed his self. I liked Emily and was very surprised to find out why she really never married before.

[L-Mo]

9:45

[Janet Denise Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS, MEDIEVAL ROMANCE DRAMA

5 STARS for this Book 2 in (The Brides Trilogy) is a great read especially for the medieval genre! The descriptions of the men fighting & how the bear baiting was set up were pretty much on par with the times. The descriptions of the gardens & other areas decorated for celebration certainly fall equal to other descriptions for the 14th Century. Our characters are lovable & likable, Alex & his twin brother had been in the public eye & were well known of, Emeline was well known as the hovering watcher of her sister Blythe, popular with the men, she was beautiful with a charming personality & an attitude that seemed to be agreeable, on the marriage mart but Emmy always seemed to be right there at her elbow.
A book where 2 different sets of siblings are tied together, they are both loved by the other; yet, at times Alex, has wondered if both men were blended up as one inside of him. The younger of the men & the older of the sisters desperately needed something of their own, someone who loved them just for them, & we get to follow that journey between each other in this wonderful book.

RECOMMEND

[❀ ℓu-ℓu-ℓuna ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-Review: Sir Alexander Thornton where can I find a guy like you in our world today??? I mean, you've been a really really bad, bad boy! LOL.. Well this second book of Gayle Callen's His series is very, very cool!

The story goes...Alex Thornton is your average rake. Due to a wager he must get a kiss from a maiden. Not so hard but it IS difficult for her chaperone and sister is no other than the uptight miss, Lady Emmeline. Alex must win the wager, he must get the kiss and he must escape Emmeline...but through the game, his sights get set on not anymore a mere kiss from the little girl, but the heart of Lady Emmeline.

My thoughts...I simply love Alex Thornton who happens to be Spencer's (His Betrothed) TWIN! *spolier?* Yes. Alex poses as Spencer in his stead so Spencer could work as the spy. But Alex was a known rake and he ruins Spencer's good reputation, like everyone expects...Emmeline did. But as the story goes on, we see the highs and lows of society and how society in general could be asses especially when ranking in society is what matters (like who's the influential Duke, who's not, etc.)Emmeline is such a sweet sister and a kind woman for taking Spencer as he is...not for what he did, or what he's not. This series just keeps getting better and better!

[Rosemary Banks]

An excellent book that holds your attention. A surprise at the end about how the wedding happens.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex is a scandalous twin. For almost two years he masqueraded As his twin the Viscount and his words and work mattered. Then when Spencer returned he fell back into his evil ways!? Not really but no one took him seriously and many called him jealous and scandalous for doing so! How could he measure up!!? I hated how to win a bet he courted and danced attendant on a young girl but lusting after Em Aka Emmy! These two were like fire and gasoline. Neither could trust the other!
No gentlemen had ever even looked at Em except a lowly poet. This was not true but Em definitely considered herself a spinster and thought she would be content to be a maiden aunt! She was actually beautiful and intelligent also fun!
Her father was a selfish ass! But you will have to read to see how selfish!
It became so clear that Alex was so much more than his looks! But no one looked deeper until Em! These two souls belong together but it will take a scandal or two to make this happen! Lots of steam!!!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Callen's books. And normally I'm.amazingly forgiving when it comes to historicals. But I had to wonder. The book theoretically takes place in 1588, but it reads exactly like Callen's regencies. If I pretend it was 1829 instead of 1587 then this book gets a 4, just cuz I liked the story itself. But in context? WTH? Definity no 16th century setting or characters.

[penelopewanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, even I noticed the historical errors. Very light stuff.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

[Imania Margria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensual, romantic, and enticing

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! I loved the story and the tension throughout. Read it twice in one year!