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A Very Village Scandal #3
A Wedding To Stop A Scandal
Caught unchaperoned in a blizzard
Forced into a convenient marriage!
A Very Village Scandal story. The last words Rose Healy expects to say again are 'I do'—not after being jilted by her former betrothed. Until she finds herself in a seemingly compromising situation with Dr Sam Able, the handsome widower caring for her aunt. Now, a wedding is the only way to avoid a scandal! Rose has vowed never to trust a man again…can she vow to spend the rest of her life with Sam?
Forced into a convenient marriage!
A Very Village Scandal story. The last words Rose Healy expects to say again are 'I do'—not after being jilted by her former betrothed. Until she finds herself in a seemingly compromising situation with Dr Sam Able, the handsome widower caring for her aunt. Now, a wedding is the only way to avoid a scandal! Rose has vowed never to trust a man again…can she vow to spend the rest of her life with Sam?
336 pages, Paperback
Published December 21, 2023
36 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Heath
136 books1,193 followersWhen Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 15, 2023
Rose Healy is staying with her Aunt & Uncle & nursing a broken heart after being jilted. Dr Sam Able the local doctor has built a thriving practice as he’s thrown himself into his work after his wife Catherine died. The couple partner each other at whist nights & dance at the local assemblies but neither thought helping to deliver a foal & being caught in a blizzard would lead them to the alter. But they have a plan
The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own even though previous characters do appear. The pace is good & the characters have depth. I loved both Sam & Rose who were perfect for each other but both thought that they’d never love again. I loved their journey to a HEA it was entertaining, humorous& touching. The secondary characters were also well portrayed especially the wonderful Mrs Fitzherbert
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own even though previous characters do appear. The pace is good & the characters have depth. I loved both Sam & Rose who were perfect for each other but both thought that they’d never love again. I loved their journey to a HEA it was entertaining, humorous& touching. The secondary characters were also well portrayed especially the wonderful Mrs Fitzherbert
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
December 10, 2023
Would you rather live in the centre of London ton where there’s a scandal, or in a village where there’s still a scandal?
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I think life in the Whittleston-on-the-Water was much more entertaining than in my current area.
Rose and Sam have always enjoyed each other’s company but that’s about it. When a nasty fall befalls upon Rose’s aunt, she instinctively attempts to save her but it may turn to no avail as she and her aunt get injured. Calling the most Able Doctor, I found Sam charming, caring and attractive because he is a man of science. I thought Rose and Sam were permanent residents of the village but apparently their past makes them hide there.
The chemistry between Rose and Sam is palpable from the beginning, but both deny their feelings and swear off love because of their too painful pasts. To fool the villagers in a bet, they agree to become partners in crime, yet it backfires as they find themselves in a compromising situation. When Rose’s past and current scandal are in tatters, there’s really no alternative but to marry and they both agree to live without loving one another. Despite the emotional roller-coaster, I found the sarcasm more than entertaining. I have always admired Virginia Heath’s excellent writing and her choice of words.
To be frank, I couldn’t stop feeling sympathetic for Rose every time I read how Rose thinks and feels about herself. It’s so emotionally distracting. She doesn’t deserve it and I couldn’t wait to see Sam in distraught when she leaves him. Thus I kept on turning the pages to see him chase after Rose. I loved how the people in the village care for one another, it’s so heart-warming and wonderfully drawn, particularly the meddling old lady, Mrs Fitzherbert. She is my most favourite character!
The last instalment of A Very Village Scandal is absolutely wonderful with lively humor and tender-hearted villagers. The epilogue almost fooled me but it’s worth it! Thank you, Virginia Heath for the e-arc, which I volunteered to review.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I think life in the Whittleston-on-the-Water was much more entertaining than in my current area.
Rose and Sam have always enjoyed each other’s company but that’s about it. When a nasty fall befalls upon Rose’s aunt, she instinctively attempts to save her but it may turn to no avail as she and her aunt get injured. Calling the most Able Doctor, I found Sam charming, caring and attractive because he is a man of science. I thought Rose and Sam were permanent residents of the village but apparently their past makes them hide there.
The chemistry between Rose and Sam is palpable from the beginning, but both deny their feelings and swear off love because of their too painful pasts. To fool the villagers in a bet, they agree to become partners in crime, yet it backfires as they find themselves in a compromising situation. When Rose’s past and current scandal are in tatters, there’s really no alternative but to marry and they both agree to live without loving one another. Despite the emotional roller-coaster, I found the sarcasm more than entertaining. I have always admired Virginia Heath’s excellent writing and her choice of words.
To be frank, I couldn’t stop feeling sympathetic for Rose every time I read how Rose thinks and feels about herself. It’s so emotionally distracting. She doesn’t deserve it and I couldn’t wait to see Sam in distraught when she leaves him. Thus I kept on turning the pages to see him chase after Rose. I loved how the people in the village care for one another, it’s so heart-warming and wonderfully drawn, particularly the meddling old lady, Mrs Fitzherbert. She is my most favourite character!
The last instalment of A Very Village Scandal is absolutely wonderful with lively humor and tender-hearted villagers. The epilogue almost fooled me but it’s worth it! Thank you, Virginia Heath for the e-arc, which I volunteered to review.
December 13, 2023
Ms. Heath has once again given us two wonderful characters to fall in love with – Rose Healy and Dr. Sam Able – genuine, likeable, flawed, and deserving of a second chance at love and happiness. It was enjoyable to meet characters from the previous two books in the series (The Earl’s Inconvenient Houseguest, Book 1 and His Maddening Matchmaker, Book 2); they fit seamlessly into this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book....from Chapter 10 onward that is. For me, this was when Rose and Sam’s story really began; from this point forward was pure Virginia Heath – delightfully rich romantic comedy, a wonderfully developed hero and heroine, familiar characters that seamlessly fit into the story; the type of romance I’ve come to expect from her. Chapters One through Nine read like backstory/filler which threw off their pacing while the one-too-many “meet-cutes” felt like the author was trying too hard to set up the plot (though the blizzard scene was a hoot and reminiscent of the mud slide scene in the movie, Romancing the Stone which is one of my favorite rom-coms). Steamy? Overall, another enjoyable installment in the A Very Village Scandal series. Do I recommend A Wedding to Stop a Scandal? Oh, yes! Steamy? Oh, yes!
I received a free copy of this e-book via BookFunnel and the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book....from Chapter 10 onward that is. For me, this was when Rose and Sam’s story really began; from this point forward was pure Virginia Heath – delightfully rich romantic comedy, a wonderfully developed hero and heroine, familiar characters that seamlessly fit into the story; the type of romance I’ve come to expect from her. Chapters One through Nine read like backstory/filler which threw off their pacing while the one-too-many “meet-cutes” felt like the author was trying too hard to set up the plot (though the blizzard scene was a hoot and reminiscent of the mud slide scene in the movie, Romancing the Stone which is one of my favorite rom-coms). Steamy? Overall, another enjoyable installment in the A Very Village Scandal series. Do I recommend A Wedding to Stop a Scandal? Oh, yes! Steamy? Oh, yes!
I received a free copy of this e-book via BookFunnel and the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 3, 2024
Rose Healy and Dr. Sam Able try to get in on the bets their fellow townsfolk have made as to whether they will end up together. Unfortunately, in their playacting to fool the townspeople for their amusement, they find themselves in a compromising position. Rose, having been humiliatingly jilted by her former fiance,' doesn't know if she wants to withstand another scandal, but she would rather do that than to trap Sam into a marriage he doesn't want.
Sam's heart was broken when his wife died, and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Living with a husk of a heart ever since, he has thrown himself into caring for the townspeople in Whittleston, on a steady diet of toast. Although he never had any intention of marrying again, he finds himself standing at the altar with Rose Healy after they are compromised.
When they are married, Rose tries to throw herself into the marriage to get Sam's heart to uncurl, but she fears it may never happen, even though it's obvious she is good for him. He no longer just eats toast, and she also helps him with his patients.
Can Sam's heart thaw out, and can he give Rose the chance that she deserves?
There were several humorous spots in this book, especially the one on page 100. It was an enjoyable read.
Sam's heart was broken when his wife died, and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Living with a husk of a heart ever since, he has thrown himself into caring for the townspeople in Whittleston, on a steady diet of toast. Although he never had any intention of marrying again, he finds himself standing at the altar with Rose Healy after they are compromised.
When they are married, Rose tries to throw herself into the marriage to get Sam's heart to uncurl, but she fears it may never happen, even though it's obvious she is good for him. He no longer just eats toast, and she also helps him with his patients.
Can Sam's heart thaw out, and can he give Rose the chance that she deserves?
There were several humorous spots in this book, especially the one on page 100. It was an enjoyable read.
December 27, 2023
A marriage of inconvenience
Rose and Sam have both sworn off of love. Rose was jilted by a man who not only ran off with her best friend to Gretna but then made it seen like it was more than her fault. Escaping from Suffolk to Essex, Rose encounters Dr Sam Able, the local doctor who lost his forever love to Typhus. Together, they fall into an easy friendship that borders on attraction. An attraction that ends in a rushed marriage due to an urgent call to an unborn foal in the wrong position, a snowstorm and an unfortunate sequence of events. This was a real friends to lovers story, with some substantial barriers that had to be overcome before Sam and Rose realise they were meant for each other. A five star read
Rose and Sam have both sworn off of love. Rose was jilted by a man who not only ran off with her best friend to Gretna but then made it seen like it was more than her fault. Escaping from Suffolk to Essex, Rose encounters Dr Sam Able, the local doctor who lost his forever love to Typhus. Together, they fall into an easy friendship that borders on attraction. An attraction that ends in a rushed marriage due to an urgent call to an unborn foal in the wrong position, a snowstorm and an unfortunate sequence of events. This was a real friends to lovers story, with some substantial barriers that had to be overcome before Sam and Rose realise they were meant for each other. A five star read
January 2, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Two emotionally damaged people meet in a small village & discover they enjoy talking during social events. Keeps the matchmakers away & gives both a chance to enjoy events but not worry about being set up. Sam and Rose are nice characters who take awhile to realize that time has blunted the hurt, not forgotten but bearable. They're caught in a compromising situation & eventually have to marry. Realizing they're good together leads to love but heard heads almost screw it up. A lovely HEA & surprise ending.
#VirginiaHeath #AWedingToStopAScandal #AVeryVillageScandal #Mills&Boon #historicalromance #romance
Two emotionally damaged people meet in a small village & discover they enjoy talking during social events. Keeps the matchmakers away & gives both a chance to enjoy events but not worry about being set up. Sam and Rose are nice characters who take awhile to realize that time has blunted the hurt, not forgotten but bearable. They're caught in a compromising situation & eventually have to marry. Realizing they're good together leads to love but heard heads almost screw it up. A lovely HEA & surprise ending.
#VirginiaHeath #AWedingToStopAScandal #AVeryVillageScandal #Mills&Boon #historicalromance #romance
November 24, 2024
A Wedding To Stop A Scandal by Virginia Heath. A cosy romcom with a great couple that can be read as a standalone, or as part of the series.
My rating: 3.5 stars
Rose and Sam are a great pair, well matched with a shared sense of humohr. Both characters were strong and independent. Yes, the book is a bit cheesy and cliche at times but was an enjoyable read.
The forced proximity aspect of this worked well, but the characters needed to communicate! I liked the fake marriage trope as well but they could have sorted their differences out sooner! Then we could have had more of them being happy and in love and explore their family dynamic.
I did enjoy this book but felt the ending was a bit rushed. This is the first book I have read by Virginia Heath and I will be reading more.
My rating: 3.5 stars
Rose and Sam are a great pair, well matched with a shared sense of humohr. Both characters were strong and independent. Yes, the book is a bit cheesy and cliche at times but was an enjoyable read.
The forced proximity aspect of this worked well, but the characters needed to communicate! I liked the fake marriage trope as well but they could have sorted their differences out sooner! Then we could have had more of them being happy and in love and explore their family dynamic.
I did enjoy this book but felt the ending was a bit rushed. This is the first book I have read by Virginia Heath and I will be reading more.
January 21, 2024
Rose and Sam develop a friendship based on their mutual desire to never get married to anyone, as a way to avoid matchmakers in town. Misunderstandings lead to their marriage, whoops. This is charming and delightful and fun--I love Virginia Heath's style and writing. I loved Rose and Sam developing their feelings without really realizing it, until of course they do and its disastrous. I was initially wary about there being a secondary character who is an adult male with an intellectual disability, but was pleasantly surprised that he had agency, a personality, and people who liked him just as he was. That's sadly rare for disabled characters.
February 24, 2024
Lots I liked about Rose and Sam's story, and bits in Not so keen on.
Why did Rose's mother give her the wedding night talk when everyone thought she'd already been ruined?
Her brother is mentioned as being home on leave, her parents turn up after the scandal, but we're told they left with her brother. But he was never mentioned as being in the village at all. Why mentioning at all as he has no part in the plot. As a farmers son he may have been called up to serve in the Peninsular war,but it's now over Waterloo is in the past so he'd have mustered out to work on his father's farm.
As I said issues
Why did Rose's mother give her the wedding night talk when everyone thought she'd already been ruined?
Her brother is mentioned as being home on leave, her parents turn up after the scandal, but we're told they left with her brother. But he was never mentioned as being in the village at all. Why mentioning at all as he has no part in the plot. As a farmers son he may have been called up to serve in the Peninsular war,but it's now over Waterloo is in the past so he'd have mustered out to work on his father's farm.
As I said issues
December 27, 2023
This is a fresh take on a marriage of convenience. Rose and Sam are each nursing broken hearts. She was jilted, he was widowed. Both have sworn off love. Recognising the usefulness of this in a society determined to match-make, they join together at soirees to dance and play cards. An unfortunate incident witnessed by neighbours leads to hurried nuptials. They decide upon a date to go their separate ways, but after a night of unplanned passion, Rose realises she has more to consider. A pleasure to read.
January 28, 2024
i really really enjoyed this book. i really liked the hero and heroine. they are really good friends that turned in to a wonderfully marriage. the twist at the very end was great too. as i LOVED that old woman. brillant
October 27, 2025
Trečioji serijos dalis, kuri leidžia pasinerti į jau pažinto kaimelio ir jo gyventojų gyvenimus. Smagu skaityti ir apie paprastus žmones ir jų meilę, ne tik apie aristokratus. Šį kartą paliečiamos emocinių gilių žaizdų pasekmės ir nenoras įsileisti naujo žmogaus į savo širdį.
January 11, 2024
The setup was preposterous, but I enjoyed the rest of the story.
Read
February 22, 2024Ok this one was approaching the hilarity of fake fiancé.
June 20, 2024
Great ending to the series! Very poignant. Loved Rose! Wasn’t sure Dr. Able was going to get there but he eventually did.
December 30, 2023
Wonderful story of Rose Healy and Dr. Sam Able, caught in a compromising situation and forced to marry. Loved these characters, felt for their tragedies, and rooted for them to find their HEA. Also enjoyed returning to Whittleston on the Water and some familiar characters, but can be read as a standalone.
Read
December 2, 2023Historical Fiction, Sagas, Regency Romance
Miniseries
A Very Village Scandal (Book #3)
Miniseries
A Very Village Scandal (Book #3)
September 15, 2025
A Wedding To Stop A Scandal by Virginia Heath is another delightful gem in the A Very Village Scandal series. I’ve always adored Heath’s storytelling, and this third installment might just be my favorite yet.
Rose Healy and Dr. Sam Able are two beautifully written characters, each carrying the weight of past heartbreaks. Their reluctant journey toward love—sparked by a snowstorm and a scandalous misunderstanding—is both tender and emotionally satisfying. Heath masterfully balances humor, heartache, and hope, crafting a romance that feels earned and deeply human.
The “forced marriage” trope is handled with charm and nuance, and the chemistry between Rose and Sam is undeniable. I especially loved how their shared grief made their connection feel more authentic. Watching them slowly lower their defenses and learn to trust again was incredibly moving.
It was also a treat to revisit familiar faces from earlier books in the series—Heath’s village world is so cozy and vivid, it feels like coming home. If you enjoy Regency romance with emotional depth, sparkling dialogue, and characters you genuinely root for, this one’s a must-read.
Highly recommend for fans of heartfelt historical romance.
Rose Healy and Dr. Sam Able are two beautifully written characters, each carrying the weight of past heartbreaks. Their reluctant journey toward love—sparked by a snowstorm and a scandalous misunderstanding—is both tender and emotionally satisfying. Heath masterfully balances humor, heartache, and hope, crafting a romance that feels earned and deeply human.
The “forced marriage” trope is handled with charm and nuance, and the chemistry between Rose and Sam is undeniable. I especially loved how their shared grief made their connection feel more authentic. Watching them slowly lower their defenses and learn to trust again was incredibly moving.
It was also a treat to revisit familiar faces from earlier books in the series—Heath’s village world is so cozy and vivid, it feels like coming home. If you enjoy Regency romance with emotional depth, sparkling dialogue, and characters you genuinely root for, this one’s a must-read.
Highly recommend for fans of heartfelt historical romance.
December 22, 2023
My favorite trope, marriage of convenience or forced marriage, to be precise, and so well-crafted in this lovely book by the extremely talented Virginia Heath! I love this author’s wit, which is reflected in her characters and in their clever banter. I loved both characters, but especially Rose, who’s smart, compassionate, but most of all honest with herself and with others. I loved that she dealt with all her problems head-on and wanted to clear all misunderstandings immediately. I felt for Sam, but I was also irritated by him and his callousness toward Rose. He was so lost in his grief that didn’t look around and saw others’ problems, even if he pretended to. A wonderful read and the small town vibes are a perfect complement to the love story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 14, 2025
A Wedding to Stop a Scandal is a story about exactly that - a wedding to stop a scandal. Rose and Sam - the esteemed local physician - are caught in a compromising situation which leads to the pair of them reluctantly making their way to the altar. I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable and its characters were delightful. It was lovely to meet characters from the earlier books in the series too, though this book can very much be read as a standalone. There's emotion, humour and a huge feel good factor in this book that had me wanting to stay with it for much longer than it took me to read it.
December 12, 2023
Rose has been in Whittleston-on-the-Water for the last few months while avoiding the fallout of being jilted. She and Sam, the village doctor and a widower, have become friends as they avoided the local matchmakers. They were friendly enough that the village is betting on when they will get married. They find that very funny -- until they get caught in a blizzard together. Now they have to get married, but neither of them want that, do they?
Rose is a great character. She is competent and kind and honest. Sam is those things, too, but he is also confused about how to let go of his grief. They make a great team. The epilogue was terrific.
Rose is a great character. She is competent and kind and honest. Sam is those things, too, but he is also confused about how to let go of his grief. They make a great team. The epilogue was terrific.
December 19, 2023
This was such a wonderful story about two people who planned to outsmart their village matchmakers and ended up in a compromising position which they later had to remedy by getting married. LOL
I'm usually not a fan of friends to lovers trope but this one really worked for me. These two had such great chemistry and banter with each other that everyone around them saw the romance blooming except for them.
The only fault I found in it was that the ending/groveling at the end seemed a little too rushed, but I still enjoyed it.
Thank you to the publisher/author for ARC given for review. All opinions are my own.
I'm usually not a fan of friends to lovers trope but this one really worked for me. These two had such great chemistry and banter with each other that everyone around them saw the romance blooming except for them.
The only fault I found in it was that the ending/groveling at the end seemed a little too rushed, but I still enjoyed it.
Thank you to the publisher/author for ARC given for review. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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