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Ruthless Rivals #3.7
A Scandal in July
A summer to remember. . .
Charming bachelor Rhys Davies has absolutely no intention of falling for anyone with the surname Montgomery. The rivalry between their two families is legendary, after all, and despite all three of his siblings succumbing to the fatal attractions of the enemy, Rhys is convinced he’s immune. Until one night, when he meets Lenore Montgomery—and promptly loses his wits.
A week he’ll never forget. . .
Lenore Montgomery has wrestled a giant water snake in Brazil, chased a panther with a shoe, and survived an unfortunate shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar, but none of those things has been as difficult as seducing Rhys Davies. The stubborn man’s been ignoring her all season, so when she hears they’ll both be attending a week-long family party at his country estate, she enlists the help of her meddling relatives to prove there’s nothing as irresistible as forbidden fruit. . . especially when it might lead to true love.
Charming bachelor Rhys Davies has absolutely no intention of falling for anyone with the surname Montgomery. The rivalry between their two families is legendary, after all, and despite all three of his siblings succumbing to the fatal attractions of the enemy, Rhys is convinced he’s immune. Until one night, when he meets Lenore Montgomery—and promptly loses his wits.
A week he’ll never forget. . .
Lenore Montgomery has wrestled a giant water snake in Brazil, chased a panther with a shoe, and survived an unfortunate shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar, but none of those things has been as difficult as seducing Rhys Davies. The stubborn man’s been ignoring her all season, so when she hears they’ll both be attending a week-long family party at his country estate, she enlists the help of her meddling relatives to prove there’s nothing as irresistible as forbidden fruit. . . especially when it might lead to true love.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2024
172 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 5, 2024
There was no scandal so the book was not aptly titled. This novella isn’t as interesting as her full length books so I skimmed through a few pages. We have another Davies-Montgomery pairing. The couples from her Ruthless Rivals series and two other novellas with the Montgomery cousins make appearances in this novella. That’s five couples so it could be overwhelming to someone new to these characters. I’ve read all the books and even I had a hard time remembering who married whom, except for Carys and Tristan (my fave couple).
It becomes even more confusing when the characters are given the wrong names. Most of the men were called Gryff at one point. Rhys was Gryff several times, Tristan was Gryff several times, etc. In fact, during the race to the island, Carys and Gryff are on the shore devising a plan to get to the island. I thought “Carys” was supposed to be “Maddie” (Gryff’s wife) and Gryff was Gryff because each team is a married couple and Gryff and Carys are siblings. The next chapter confirms that Carys was the correct name and that “Gryff” should have been “Tristan” (Carys’s husband). See? Very confusing. There were other typos but I only caught “her” when it was supposed to be “here.”
Edit: If your copy contains these errors, please reach out to the author and she will send you the final version of the novella. You can read her comment below.
This was a light read with no conflicts. Just two people falling in love at first sight and using forced proximity to make the other fall in love with them. I thought it was a creative idea to include a treasure/scavenger hunt on the properties of these two “rival” families. It could be a fun read. It just wasn’t fun for me. I subscribed to the author’s newsletter and I got to see a map of the properties and the places mentioned in the hunt, so that was pretty cool. I didn’t see a map provided in the Kindle ebook though.
It’s kind of disappointing that Rhys didn’t get a full-length book like his siblings (Gryff, Carys, & Morgan). Lenore is a Montgomery cousin so I’m guessing the novellas are reserved for them (Caro, Lucy, & Lenore) and their heroes, one of which happens to be Rhys. Oh, well.
It becomes even more confusing when the characters are given the wrong names. Most of the men were called Gryff at one point. Rhys was Gryff several times, Tristan was Gryff several times, etc. In fact, during the race to the island, Carys and Gryff are on the shore devising a plan to get to the island. I thought “Carys” was supposed to be “Maddie” (Gryff’s wife) and Gryff was Gryff because each team is a married couple and Gryff and Carys are siblings. The next chapter confirms that Carys was the correct name and that “Gryff” should have been “Tristan” (Carys’s husband). See? Very confusing. There were other typos but I only caught “her” when it was supposed to be “here.”
Edit: If your copy contains these errors, please reach out to the author and she will send you the final version of the novella. You can read her comment below.
This was a light read with no conflicts. Just two people falling in love at first sight and using forced proximity to make the other fall in love with them. I thought it was a creative idea to include a treasure/scavenger hunt on the properties of these two “rival” families. It could be a fun read. It just wasn’t fun for me. I subscribed to the author’s newsletter and I got to see a map of the properties and the places mentioned in the hunt, so that was pretty cool. I didn’t see a map provided in the Kindle ebook though.
It’s kind of disappointing that Rhys didn’t get a full-length book like his siblings (Gryff, Carys, & Morgan). Lenore is a Montgomery cousin so I’m guessing the novellas are reserved for them (Caro, Lucy, & Lenore) and their heroes, one of which happens to be Rhys. Oh, well.
October 19, 2025
There is nothing like a Kate Bateman tale to uplift the spirts, banish the doldrums and breath life and laughter into a boring reading list. I cherish each story for the jewel it is and wish that her pen had the wings of Pegasus in order to write these fantastic books faster.
Lenore Montgomery had led a rather adventurous life and after her rescue from a shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar she will never take the sheer pleasure of a bath for granted again. Now back in London for the Season she chances upon Rhys Davies teaching a lout how to be a gentleman and falls in love at first sight. Now all she has to do is get him to fall in love with her.
Outrageously handsome Rhys Davies, second son, former military, is happy with his carefree life. He knows he will eventually marry, but that is not in the near future and certainly not to a Montgomery. Then he comes face to face with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
Lenore has spent the whole season trying to attract Rhys attention, with no success. She had determined that the family country house party to celebrate the birthdays of Lenore's aunts, Prudance and Constance, is the last event at which she will try to capture his attention. A wild and competitive treasure hunt teams Rhys and Leanore for the challenge. Let the games begin.
Lenore Montgomery had led a rather adventurous life and after her rescue from a shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar she will never take the sheer pleasure of a bath for granted again. Now back in London for the Season she chances upon Rhys Davies teaching a lout how to be a gentleman and falls in love at first sight. Now all she has to do is get him to fall in love with her.
Outrageously handsome Rhys Davies, second son, former military, is happy with his carefree life. He knows he will eventually marry, but that is not in the near future and certainly not to a Montgomery. Then he comes face to face with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
Lenore has spent the whole season trying to attract Rhys attention, with no success. She had determined that the family country house party to celebrate the birthdays of Lenore's aunts, Prudance and Constance, is the last event at which she will try to capture his attention. A wild and competitive treasure hunt teams Rhys and Leanore for the challenge. Let the games begin.
July 10, 2024
This is my 15th books by Kate Bateman. I keep notes on all my authors and this is what I wrote about Kate. Really love her writing. Sex is hotly written. This is a series I've been reading, one book for each month with 12 different authors per month.
Super short read but I loved it. What a great couple, Lenore and Rhys. I liked the story and the families.
Still don't have power from the Hurricane but able to read at work because we have a generator. As most everyone else in the town has no power, not getting much email so therefore, I get to read. :)
Super short read but I loved it. What a great couple, Lenore and Rhys. I liked the story and the families.
Still don't have power from the Hurricane but able to read at work because we have a generator. As most everyone else in the town has no power, not getting much email so therefore, I get to read. :)
July 3, 2024
I agree with other reviewers where the editor didn’t catch some of the name changes that occurred. But the premise of this book was very sweet. Lenore wants to use this treasure hunt to convince Rhys to fall in love with her. I think this could have been done in this book but there didn’t seem to be enough character growth to make me believe they actually loved each other. Each location should have them getting to know each other more. They meet at a ball and instantly fall in love which like cool it’s a 100 pages but they don’t talk for like a year and then in an afternoon declare their love for one another? I did like the escapades with all the couples to complete the treasure hunt and the family rivalry stuff was so fun.
Want to read
August 22, 2023the cover would be better if an actual couple was on it, but I digress
July 15, 2024
3.5⭐️
New month, new Rake Review! The seventh book in the collection released last week, A Scandal in July by Kate Bateman and though I found the story, cute and entertaining, I didn’t find it stood It’s ground next to the rest of the rake review stories so far.
A scandal in July is a love letter for Kate Bateman’s readers of Ruthless Rivals series. Picking up Wright after her Drury lane and Desert Island Duke book, she has all the characters come together for a birthday house party for the much beloved great aunt Constance and Pru- all under the guys to match make the last Davies and Montgomery siblings that are unmarried. An elaborate treasure hunt is concocted to push Rhys and Lenore together.
Too bad, they both have been in love with each other since laying eyes on each other thus making this a little anticlimactic.
I’m not saying Insta love wasn’t right for this pairing, but I think the timeframe it took from there first connection to the house party and how quickly things involved at the house party just made it feel forced.
But that’s not saying that the story isn’t cute and a fun reunion for all of the Ruthless Rivals pairings.
In the end, this one doesn’t fit in well with the rest of the Rake Review titles. It feels more like a hasty addition at the end to included in the book series… but could my feelings also just be because I am so familiar with the Wicked Rivals series that it overtook the Rake Review side of things?
New month, new Rake Review! The seventh book in the collection released last week, A Scandal in July by Kate Bateman and though I found the story, cute and entertaining, I didn’t find it stood It’s ground next to the rest of the rake review stories so far.
A scandal in July is a love letter for Kate Bateman’s readers of Ruthless Rivals series. Picking up Wright after her Drury lane and Desert Island Duke book, she has all the characters come together for a birthday house party for the much beloved great aunt Constance and Pru- all under the guys to match make the last Davies and Montgomery siblings that are unmarried. An elaborate treasure hunt is concocted to push Rhys and Lenore together.
Too bad, they both have been in love with each other since laying eyes on each other thus making this a little anticlimactic.
I’m not saying Insta love wasn’t right for this pairing, but I think the timeframe it took from there first connection to the house party and how quickly things involved at the house party just made it feel forced.
But that’s not saying that the story isn’t cute and a fun reunion for all of the Ruthless Rivals pairings.
In the end, this one doesn’t fit in well with the rest of the Rake Review titles. It feels more like a hasty addition at the end to included in the book series… but could my feelings also just be because I am so familiar with the Wicked Rivals series that it overtook the Rake Review side of things?
July 10, 2024
Updated to add: I looked back over the other reviews I did on the “Rake Review” series and had the same comments on misused words and wrong character names. I’m thinking that whoever edited the books in this series (if it was the same editor) missed a lot of the same issues.
I really like this author but I must say that this isn’t my favorite book by her. It wasn’t as exciting as the other books I’ve read by her and I noticed a lot of inconsistencies in the story… using the wrong character’s name multiple times (it seems like several of the men’s/brothers’ names were mixed up at different points) and several misused words. The story was cute but it was not polished, which surprised me, as I’ve read at least four of her other books and never noticed anything glaring. I feel like the editor did not do their job! I will keep reading her books though—not every story is a hit with every reader!
I really like this author but I must say that this isn’t my favorite book by her. It wasn’t as exciting as the other books I’ve read by her and I noticed a lot of inconsistencies in the story… using the wrong character’s name multiple times (it seems like several of the men’s/brothers’ names were mixed up at different points) and several misused words. The story was cute but it was not polished, which surprised me, as I’ve read at least four of her other books and never noticed anything glaring. I feel like the editor did not do their job! I will keep reading her books though—not every story is a hit with every reader!
July 13, 2024
Maybe more like 3.5/5 stars
Not a favorite by Bateman, but still very enjoyable. I would have liked for this to have been longer.
Not a favorite by Bateman, but still very enjoyable. I would have liked for this to have been longer.
July 2, 2024
Lenore Montgomery had faced many challenges in her twenty-three years... None of those things had been as difficult as seducing Rhys Trevelyan Davies.
4.5 stars!
This was a light-hearted yet sexy historical romance where yet another Montgomery and Davies succumb to fate and find their happily ever after. Rhys and Lenore complimented each other wonderfully, and I loved watching as they both tried to seduce each other. The treasure hunting was so much fun as I loved seeing the previous couples together, happy and in love. I've really come to love this series and its characters, and I look forward to more from Kate🖤
Tropes: love-at-first-sight, she falls first/he falls harder, reluctant hero, adventuress heroine, hate-to-love-you, meddling matriarchs, warring families, treasure hunt, low angst, slow burn, steamy🔥
July 21, 2024
A stand alone novella in the Rake Review series that coincides with the Ruthless Rivals world, continuing the love and rivalry of the Davies and Montgomery families. This one is a fun, light-hearted, love at first site story, that involves the two MCs conspiring on how to seduce each other, while thinking that each is not attracted to the other. This involves the two devious matchmaking spinster aunts, the ferocious family rivalry mixed up now that people are coupled off, and a highly competitive scavenger hunt.
A great, fun, lighthearted read.
4 stars out of 5
A great, fun, lighthearted read.
4 stars out of 5
September 10, 2024
3.5 stars
I love how this series is all about couples who are super into each other! Rhys and Lenore were very cute and both gave “I’m gonna win you over” energy, which I found adorable.
Story-wise, it probably needed more tension (the treasure hunt competition wasn’t cutting it), but I did like seeing all the Davies-Montgomery couples again, so it kind felt like a series wrap up as well as a novella about Rhys and Lenore.
I love how this series is all about couples who are super into each other! Rhys and Lenore were very cute and both gave “I’m gonna win you over” energy, which I found adorable.
Story-wise, it probably needed more tension (the treasure hunt competition wasn’t cutting it), but I did like seeing all the Davies-Montgomery couples again, so it kind felt like a series wrap up as well as a novella about Rhys and Lenore.
September 24, 2024
Rating: 4.5 stars
How can I not love a Kate Bateman book? I think it might be impossible because I haven't found one yet. I loved this short story. I loved the love at first sight. I loved the forced proximity. I was actually super surprised by the slow burn, but I was still enjoying it. I loved how Rhys was trying to avoid his feelings for Lenore and Lenore knew exactly what she wanted. I do wish I would have had a little more from Rhys with his switch, but I completely understand that this was a short novella and enjoyed it anyways.
How can I not love a Kate Bateman book? I think it might be impossible because I haven't found one yet. I loved this short story. I loved the love at first sight. I loved the forced proximity. I was actually super surprised by the slow burn, but I was still enjoying it. I loved how Rhys was trying to avoid his feelings for Lenore and Lenore knew exactly what she wanted. I do wish I would have had a little more from Rhys with his switch, but I completely understand that this was a short novella and enjoyed it anyways.
July 3, 2024
Content warnings: mentions of war, confinement
There's not a lot to say about this because it's so freaking short, but I had a fantastic time reading this and I giggled to myself while kicking my feet multiple times, so do with that information what you will.
There's not a lot to say about this because it's so freaking short, but I had a fantastic time reading this and I giggled to myself while kicking my feet multiple times, so do with that information what you will.
December 27, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down.
It was a nice story, but I finished it wondering what scandal the title referred to. There were a lot of missing words, and in one of the chapters the characters are referred to with different names, and at some point I gave up trying to make sense of it. Otherwise it could have been a 4 star read.
It was a nice story, but I finished it wondering what scandal the title referred to. There were a lot of missing words, and in one of the chapters the characters are referred to with different names, and at some point I gave up trying to make sense of it. Otherwise it could have been a 4 star read.
July 5, 2024
I will read anything Kate Bateman writes, and I’ve been looking forward to her contribution to the Rake Review series, particularly as it’s connected to her Ruthless Rivals series (which I love). She did not disappoint. This story was lighthearted and fun, and I would have read it in one sitting if I’d been able to. It was lovely to revisit characters from the previous Ruthless Rivals books, but you don’t have to read them to read A Scandal in July.
September 4, 2024
A charming quick read about a fun house party and a love worth waiting for!
September 20, 2024
Didn’t realize this was a novella. Sadly it was totally pointless.
September 1, 2024
Abandoned
I usually enjoy Kate Bateman books but not feeling this one. There are too many books to waste time on persevering with one you aren’t feeling from the start. I got to almost 40% through and it was just words on a page. It didn’t draw me in at all. Very disappointing.
I usually enjoy Kate Bateman books but not feeling this one. There are too many books to waste time on persevering with one you aren’t feeling from the start. I got to almost 40% through and it was just words on a page. It didn’t draw me in at all. Very disappointing.
July 7, 2024
I really liked Kate Bateman’s other novella where the couple was shipwrecked on a desert island. This one had no character development and was very flat.
It had editing errors. I’m not the best at catching these but multiple times Rhys’ name was Gryff. Yes, it was a mistake even though both characters are in this story. It really took me out of the story.
I’ve read another review which pointed out additional errors with the ‘map’ for the treasure hunt. I could barely follow which couple was where. The premise was playful but the execution was not well-edited or tightened-up.
It had editing errors. I’m not the best at catching these but multiple times Rhys’ name was Gryff. Yes, it was a mistake even though both characters are in this story. It really took me out of the story.
I’ve read another review which pointed out additional errors with the ‘map’ for the treasure hunt. I could barely follow which couple was where. The premise was playful but the execution was not well-edited or tightened-up.
July 29, 2024
Yee-haw. Talk about a fun and crazy ride!!! The seventh installment of the Rake Review is here and it's ASMR for the literary soul. A Scandal in July is a delightful summer treasure for book lovers. Think “Mad Mad World” or “Rat Race” meets the Hatfields & McCoys of historical romance. It's pure mayhem. Every single character in this adventure-filled novella will have you grinning from ear to ear, especially Lenore and Rhys.
Rhys Davies is determined to avoid falling for anyone named Montgomery, given the infamous rivalry between their two families. Although his siblings all fell for Montgomerys, Rhys believes he's immune—until he meets Lenore Montgomery. Lenore, is as beautiful as she is “wild”. She's wrestled giant water snakes in Brazil, chased panthers with her shoes (unbelievable), and now she seeks to tame her wildest beast yet… the stubborn Rhys Davies. When they both attend a week-long family gathering at his estate, she and her meddling relatives embark on a playful scavenger hunt that will surely lead to…more.
It should be no surprise that our resident busy body, the Brazen Belle, had a mouthful to say about our dear Rhys.
But ya know what they say…you can't keep a good rogue down. Scandal in July is the perfect book to put a pep in your step and brighten a gloomy day. I do have one gripe. The title. It suggests a scandal is taking place. The only scandal I noticed was the length of the read. I wanted more of this delightful book and alas...its only a novella. At any rate... check it out if you haven't done so already.
Have you read it? What did you think?
Rhys Davies is determined to avoid falling for anyone named Montgomery, given the infamous rivalry between their two families. Although his siblings all fell for Montgomerys, Rhys believes he's immune—until he meets Lenore Montgomery. Lenore, is as beautiful as she is “wild”. She's wrestled giant water snakes in Brazil, chased panthers with her shoes (unbelievable), and now she seeks to tame her wildest beast yet… the stubborn Rhys Davies. When they both attend a week-long family gathering at his estate, she and her meddling relatives embark on a playful scavenger hunt that will surely lead to…more.
It should be no surprise that our resident busy body, the Brazen Belle, had a mouthful to say about our dear Rhys.
But ya know what they say…you can't keep a good rogue down. Scandal in July is the perfect book to put a pep in your step and brighten a gloomy day. I do have one gripe. The title. It suggests a scandal is taking place. The only scandal I noticed was the length of the read. I wanted more of this delightful book and alas...its only a novella. At any rate... check it out if you haven't done so already.
Have you read it? What did you think?
November 24, 2024
A quick and light read.
One thing to mention, I feel like this novella would be best appreciated after reading the previous books in another series it has connection to - Ruthless Rivals. A series, whose general plot revolves around members of two quarreling families, that are not quarreling so much anymore, because they are busy falling in love.
A Scandal in July's plot, however, promised to focus on the last two unmarried members of the Montgomery and the Davis families, trying desperately not to fall madly in love with each other, despite their families and the universe at large pushing them together.
Sadly, that wasn't actually the book's plot, as both the hero and the heroine very quickly admitted to themselves they are already in love. So, the source of potential tension and conflict in the story disappeared in the second chapter.
The majority of the book is just them having fun during a day of a family mischief.
The story is very light and zany, with a bunch of characters running around treasure hunting/capturing a flag. There is a certain screwball comedy feel to many scenes, and I think it really fits the summer/beach read vibe the book seemed to aim for. (Side note, another series with a similar feel and character dynamics, also featuring a boisterous family, is Erica Ridley’s The Wild Wynchesters.)
All of it was lighthearted fun but it lacked some tension to make the book more engaging.
Also, if the main characters talked with each other about their feelings at the very beginning, this book would be a short story. This unwillingness to communicate with each other felt a little forced.
3/5 stars
One thing to mention, I feel like this novella would be best appreciated after reading the previous books in another series it has connection to - Ruthless Rivals. A series, whose general plot revolves around members of two quarreling families, that are not quarreling so much anymore, because they are busy falling in love.
A Scandal in July's plot, however, promised to focus on the last two unmarried members of the Montgomery and the Davis families, trying desperately not to fall madly in love with each other, despite their families and the universe at large pushing them together.
Sadly, that wasn't actually the book's plot, as both the hero and the heroine very quickly admitted to themselves they are already in love. So, the source of potential tension and conflict in the story disappeared in the second chapter.
The majority of the book is just them having fun during a day of a family mischief.
The story is very light and zany, with a bunch of characters running around treasure hunting/capturing a flag. There is a certain screwball comedy feel to many scenes, and I think it really fits the summer/beach read vibe the book seemed to aim for. (Side note, another series with a similar feel and character dynamics, also featuring a boisterous family, is Erica Ridley’s The Wild Wynchesters.)
All of it was lighthearted fun but it lacked some tension to make the book more engaging.
Also, if the main characters talked with each other about their feelings at the very beginning, this book would be a short story. This unwillingness to communicate with each other felt a little forced.
3/5 stars
July 5, 2024
The two meddling Montgomery great aunts, Constance and Prudence,are at it again. As you know they helped cousin Maddie marryGryff Davies, the current Earl of Powys, then Maddie’s brother Tristan had fallen for the red-haired Davies hellion, Carys. Shortly after that, her other cousin, sensible mapmaker Harriet, had succumbed to the seductive pull of captain Morgan Davies.
Now it was the three youngest turn. The eldest Caro marry one of their fellow castaways, his old school friend Max Cavendish, the Duke of Hayworth, on board the ship. Which left the twins, Lucy and Lenore.
Lucy, one of the twins, married Will Arden, during their first marriage mart season. Lenore met her destiny but he refused to show any interest. So the aunts have agreed to help. Its their birthday celebration so they have devised a scavenger hunt , paired her with him, and now the rest was up to her.
Lenore Montgomery is smart, resourceful, and knows she wants Rhys Trevelyan Davies. She does everything she can think to get a reaction out of him. Rhys on the other hand does not want the Davies curse on him. As the second son, no title, and a military career, he does not have to worry about obligations. He wants someone that wants him not his connections.
So come join the scavenger hunt, find out who wins. See how the aunts help. Does Lenore get Rhys to fall in love with her? Does Rhys test Lenore? As competitive as they all are it is fun to see all the antics that go on.
This is a funny, fast read that will amaze you.
Now it was the three youngest turn. The eldest Caro marry one of their fellow castaways, his old school friend Max Cavendish, the Duke of Hayworth, on board the ship. Which left the twins, Lucy and Lenore.
Lucy, one of the twins, married Will Arden, during their first marriage mart season. Lenore met her destiny but he refused to show any interest. So the aunts have agreed to help. Its their birthday celebration so they have devised a scavenger hunt , paired her with him, and now the rest was up to her.
Lenore Montgomery is smart, resourceful, and knows she wants Rhys Trevelyan Davies. She does everything she can think to get a reaction out of him. Rhys on the other hand does not want the Davies curse on him. As the second son, no title, and a military career, he does not have to worry about obligations. He wants someone that wants him not his connections.
So come join the scavenger hunt, find out who wins. See how the aunts help. Does Lenore get Rhys to fall in love with her? Does Rhys test Lenore? As competitive as they all are it is fun to see all the antics that go on.
This is a funny, fast read that will amaze you.
September 7, 2024
Ruthless Rivals-fun scavenger hunt
3.5/5 A Scandal in July is the seventh installment in the multi-author series The Rake Review but also a part of the author’s Ruthless Rivals series (which this also appears to be the end for that series) occurring as 3.7 for it and occurs after the Phantom of Drury Lane novella as well. I’ve read all the previous books, minus 3.5, and it was nice to have the background from Ruthless Rivals but not completely necessary.
This was really fun to read and I enjoyed the adventurousness that the scavenger hunt added to the story. It fit really well with both the MC as they’ve led active lives with Rhys being in the military and Lenore spending a lot of her life traveling the world with her family. I also liked that while it was love at first sight for both MC that several months to almost a year goes by before there’s any change to their relationship.
But for me, the scavenger hunt overshadowed the romance. It was designed to bring them together and it did. I wish though there would’ve been an internal dialogue from Rhys from what had Rhys deciding to stop fighting his attraction to Lenore and start embracing it. There was moments throughout the scavenger hunt that helped build their connection but not enough for me in how quick declarations were made.
Overall, it was an easy read and a page turner, making me glad to see a HEA for Rhys and Lenore-I just wanted a bit more development.
There is one detailed encounter and a passionate kiss prior to their encounter.
3.5/5 A Scandal in July is the seventh installment in the multi-author series The Rake Review but also a part of the author’s Ruthless Rivals series (which this also appears to be the end for that series) occurring as 3.7 for it and occurs after the Phantom of Drury Lane novella as well. I’ve read all the previous books, minus 3.5, and it was nice to have the background from Ruthless Rivals but not completely necessary.
This was really fun to read and I enjoyed the adventurousness that the scavenger hunt added to the story. It fit really well with both the MC as they’ve led active lives with Rhys being in the military and Lenore spending a lot of her life traveling the world with her family. I also liked that while it was love at first sight for both MC that several months to almost a year goes by before there’s any change to their relationship.
But for me, the scavenger hunt overshadowed the romance. It was designed to bring them together and it did. I wish though there would’ve been an internal dialogue from Rhys from what had Rhys deciding to stop fighting his attraction to Lenore and start embracing it. There was moments throughout the scavenger hunt that helped build their connection but not enough for me in how quick declarations were made.
Overall, it was an easy read and a page turner, making me glad to see a HEA for Rhys and Lenore-I just wanted a bit more development.
There is one detailed encounter and a passionate kiss prior to their encounter.
July 7, 2024
First off do yourself a favorite and read this series in order. The books will be so much more enjoyable if you do. I have read thousands of regency romances and a lot of them were by Kate but never have I enjoyed a book more. I love that most of the book takes place during a treasure hunt not in ball room and the usual London setting. Rhys and Lenore families have had a rivalry that is legendary till their siblings started marrying each other! Rhys is determined not to be the next. Till he first see's Lenore at a ball in the garden is stuck speechless! She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and he has seen many and had affairs with same. Lenore had already meet two of the Davies brothers so she knew who Rhys was. She was not expecting her reaction or his both looked like they had just been stuck by lighting. Oh, my let the games begin. Rhys can't stop his feeling and Lenore can't seem to attract the one man she really wants no matter what she does. Time to bring in the the big guns, Aunts Constance and Prudence and a treasure hunt where they are paired together. So much fun waiting to see how these two are going to end up. The rivalry between the brothers, sisters is wonderful. Under handed and cute at the same time. It was a joy to read this book, it was just the uplifting fun story I really needed. Do not miss this one. I will be rereading it for sure. I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.
November 22, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
This is a cute novella about two characters from opposing families who find themselves inconveniently attracted to each other. When struck together at a house party, they team up on a scavenger hunt and realize they're also pretty compatible. Since I've read The Ruthless Rivals series, this was a nice addition to that, and it was fun revisiting characters from the main trilogy. That said, nothing seemed to really happen in the book, and I was kind of bored with the treasure hunt pretty quickly.
Both the characters were cute but I didn't feel like I got to see either of them develop into complex characters. While I knew these characters from their appearances in the Rivals series, it was very much surface-level character development in those. This is probably very much a victim of the novella format, but I wish there was still more time to go deeper with these characters. I'm also not a big fan of love-at-first-sight, especially in this instance when even after that initial spark, we don't spend enough time building this connection between our pair. Something Kate Bateman excels at in this book, though (and in others I've read from her) is describing her locations and scenery. She does an excellent job of setting the place and really making a reader feel like they're actually where the characters are.
This was a pretty low rating for me largely because I found myself a little bored with the plot and not invested enough in the characters to want to reach their HEA. And when I did get there, it was sort of lackluster.
This is a cute novella about two characters from opposing families who find themselves inconveniently attracted to each other. When struck together at a house party, they team up on a scavenger hunt and realize they're also pretty compatible. Since I've read The Ruthless Rivals series, this was a nice addition to that, and it was fun revisiting characters from the main trilogy. That said, nothing seemed to really happen in the book, and I was kind of bored with the treasure hunt pretty quickly.
Both the characters were cute but I didn't feel like I got to see either of them develop into complex characters. While I knew these characters from their appearances in the Rivals series, it was very much surface-level character development in those. This is probably very much a victim of the novella format, but I wish there was still more time to go deeper with these characters. I'm also not a big fan of love-at-first-sight, especially in this instance when even after that initial spark, we don't spend enough time building this connection between our pair. Something Kate Bateman excels at in this book, though (and in others I've read from her) is describing her locations and scenery. She does an excellent job of setting the place and really making a reader feel like they're actually where the characters are.
This was a pretty low rating for me largely because I found myself a little bored with the plot and not invested enough in the characters to want to reach their HEA. And when I did get there, it was sort of lackluster.
October 18, 2025
I laughed at the fact that everyone was like "we must force these two to be alone!" while having fun with the treasure hunt. First you think it's just Lenore and maybe the Aunts but then we find out everyone was in on it and it just made it that much funnier!
This book was fairly short, so thankfully we didn't have to live with the whole "I thought you were going to fall for someone else so I never made a move!" for too long. I did find it interesting that they were both in that boat, although Lenore was more in the "I'm just trying to force you to make a move" and Rhys was further in the "I'll let you go and it'll kill me" camp.
Rhys was interesting and I did find myself laughing at his intro. He's going on about how he'll never marry a Montgomery and then one look at Lenore and man was gone. During the hunt, I liked that he didn't have an issue with her being more active and he even made some suggestions that she do something because he knew he wouldn't fit (like the window in the boat house). His relationship with his siblings was hilarious and I'd honestly love to see like an anthology/novella of some of their past antics (his climbing the bell tower, locking Morgan in with Geoffrey, etc).
Lenore was great. She knew what she wanted and while I think she could have just gone up to Rhys and said something, I understand why she didn't. I did like the way she handled the treasure hunt and how she finally took that chance.
This book was fairly short, so thankfully we didn't have to live with the whole "I thought you were going to fall for someone else so I never made a move!" for too long. I did find it interesting that they were both in that boat, although Lenore was more in the "I'm just trying to force you to make a move" and Rhys was further in the "I'll let you go and it'll kill me" camp.
Rhys was interesting and I did find myself laughing at his intro. He's going on about how he'll never marry a Montgomery and then one look at Lenore and man was gone. During the hunt, I liked that he didn't have an issue with her being more active and he even made some suggestions that she do something because he knew he wouldn't fit (like the window in the boat house). His relationship with his siblings was hilarious and I'd honestly love to see like an anthology/novella of some of their past antics (his climbing the bell tower, locking Morgan in with Geoffrey, etc).
Lenore was great. She knew what she wanted and while I think she could have just gone up to Rhys and said something, I understand why she didn't. I did like the way she handled the treasure hunt and how she finally took that chance.
July 23, 2024
A LOT of plot for almost no romance. Which is a shame because I just LOVED Rhys in the first 3 novels and was very excited for his story -I was so looking forward to him falling in love against his will, but that's not at all what happens.
Lenore Montgomery (cousin of the original Montgomerys) takes one look at Rhys Davies and promptly lost her heart. And her wits. Rhys returns the favor falling in insta lust with the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. ... So what's the problem here? There is NO reason they shouldn't start flirting and getting to know each other immediately. Instead here is no on page interaction while he ignores her for several months. Oddly, during the flag competition there would be these asides like "Oh, Rhys is so clever and that's another reason why she loved him" ... it would have been better served if they didn't like each other to start with and she then fell in love with him for his personality. Meanwhile, its never clear why Rhys loved her.
Since I didn't care about the flag race and there was no tension or reason for their relationship not to work, there wasn't a strong reason to care about the story. The final insult, Rhys and Lenore don't even win! Lets repeat that: Rhys doesn't even get to be the star of his own book! Not a fan.
Lenore Montgomery (cousin of the original Montgomerys) takes one look at Rhys Davies and promptly lost her heart. And her wits. Rhys returns the favor falling in insta lust with the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. ... So what's the problem here? There is NO reason they shouldn't start flirting and getting to know each other immediately. Instead here is no on page interaction while he ignores her for several months. Oddly, during the flag competition there would be these asides like "Oh, Rhys is so clever and that's another reason why she loved him" ... it would have been better served if they didn't like each other to start with and she then fell in love with him for his personality. Meanwhile, its never clear why Rhys loved her.
Since I didn't care about the flag race and there was no tension or reason for their relationship not to work, there wasn't a strong reason to care about the story. The final insult, Rhys and Lenore don't even win! Lets repeat that: Rhys doesn't even get to be the star of his own book! Not a fan.
July 4, 2024
Also a part of the Ruthless Rivals series, this instalment of the Rake Review is a fun, fast and fresh love-at-first-sight enemies-to-lovers romance. Well, Lenore and Rhys are not actually enemies, it’s just their families who have been rivals for centuries.
Returning to Town after years of travelling the world, she walks in on him defending a young woman’s honour at a ball. Their eyes lock and the deal is sealed. She’s practical and realises right away a Davies man has her heart, and no one else ever will. He’s a bit more stubborn… and damned if he will follow in his siblings footsteps and fall for a Montgomery.
So, they spend a social season of playing cat-and-mouse.
In a final attempt at getting him alone and confessing her feelings, she conspires with her spinster aunties at their joined family country house party to be in his company as often as possible.
Little does she know he made his own arrangements with his family - if the woman is determined to throw over a duke, he may have a chance at winning her after all - and a couples scavenger hunt is all it takes for sparks to fly.
Naughty and playful, this was a humorous, fast-paced and very entertaining read with a nice dash of steam at the end. It’s obvious these two are made for each other and the hunt provides them with plenty of private moments to test their attraction and uncover each other’s hidden depths.
If you’re looking for something quick, fun and wonderful, this novella is the one for you!
Come to think of it, all of The rake Review novellas are exactly that, so read them all!
And after reading this, I’m definitely going to check out Kate Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals!
Returning to Town after years of travelling the world, she walks in on him defending a young woman’s honour at a ball. Their eyes lock and the deal is sealed. She’s practical and realises right away a Davies man has her heart, and no one else ever will. He’s a bit more stubborn… and damned if he will follow in his siblings footsteps and fall for a Montgomery.
So, they spend a social season of playing cat-and-mouse.
In a final attempt at getting him alone and confessing her feelings, she conspires with her spinster aunties at their joined family country house party to be in his company as often as possible.
Little does she know he made his own arrangements with his family - if the woman is determined to throw over a duke, he may have a chance at winning her after all - and a couples scavenger hunt is all it takes for sparks to fly.
Naughty and playful, this was a humorous, fast-paced and very entertaining read with a nice dash of steam at the end. It’s obvious these two are made for each other and the hunt provides them with plenty of private moments to test their attraction and uncover each other’s hidden depths.
If you’re looking for something quick, fun and wonderful, this novella is the one for you!
Come to think of it, all of The rake Review novellas are exactly that, so read them all!
And after reading this, I’m definitely going to check out Kate Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals!
July 3, 2024
Another Davies and Montgomery finally go after what they want in this delightfully fun romance.
Lenore was a remarkable and resourceful woman who lived a very interesting life. For all that she had set her sights on Rhys from the moment they met, she didn’t pursue him in an overly aggressive way. In fact, he had no idea how she felt about him. Granted, he did his best to stay out of her way, so that explained how he missed the signals. I thoroughly enjoyed their antics on the treasure hunt and how their families colluded to throw them together. Rhys and Lenore made falling in love seem effortless and exciting.
There were editing issues with the wrong characters’ names being used, which had me going back a few times to try to sort through it, but that didn’t take away too much from appreciating the story.
The Rake Review is a diverse and interesting series and I can recommend it if you like steamy historical romance.
July 2, 2024
This is a fun read to finish out the Ruthless Rivals series.
However it needs to be edited. The wrong brother's name ( Gryff) is used a few times and it is confusing.
There is also a scene that puts Carys with Gryff (island). She is his sister.
Then later Gryff morphs into Tristan. Then back.
Other than these typos, it is extremely charming.
However it needs to be edited. The wrong brother's name ( Gryff) is used a few times and it is confusing.
There is also a scene that puts Carys with Gryff (island). She is his sister.
Then later Gryff morphs into Tristan. Then back.
Other than these typos, it is extremely charming.
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