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Ladies of Impropriety #3
A Lady Risks All
SEDUCING THE CAPTAIN It would be unwise to mistake me for an innocent debutante – for years I have graced the smoky gloom of many a billiards club and honed my skills at my father’s side. But now he has a new protégé – a Captain Greer Barrington – and while my father would see me attract the attentions of an eligible lord I, Mercedes Lockhart, have other ambitions… Even if that means seducing the Captain to earn back my father’s favour! I know I must avoid falling for Greer’s charming smile…but his sensual kisses could be worth the risk… Ladies of Impropriety Breaking society’s rules
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2013
5 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Bronwyn Scott
350 books170 followersBronwyn Scott writes historical romances for Harlequin, Mills and Boon. She has 50 titles currently in print with them.
Bronwyn's 2018 release, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was RITA finalist.
Bronwyn's 2009 novel, The Viscount Claims His Bride was a RomCon finalist for best short historical, as was her 2011 release, A Thoroughly Compromised Lady.
Bronwyn's 2018 release, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was RITA finalist.
Bronwyn's 2009 novel, The Viscount Claims His Bride was a RomCon finalist for best short historical, as was her 2011 release, A Thoroughly Compromised Lady.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 20, 2013
Mercedes is a woman on a mission. Though highly skilled at billiards she is refused entry to the Billiards halls because of her gender. When her father takes on a new protégé, he asks Mercedes to train him in the hopes he can become a champion...a title she wants for herself.
Greer is a skilled billiards player who lacks the subtlety and finesse to become a champion. Though from a titled family that looks down on billiards he finds himself drawn into the world of gambling and travelling from town to town.
Greer is uncomfortable with hustling folk in billiards halls in small towns, but if he walks away he may lose Mercedes who he has come to love.
I generally don't read historical romance. I've probably read about a dozen in my 40+ years. So cards on the table I don't know what the rules and conventions for the genre are. I don't know the underlying history that is the backdrop for these stories.
But Google is a wonderful thing. It tells me that this book is a Regency Romance (only just). It tells me that oral sex was indeed performed during the period (who would have thought a week ago I would be typing "the history of oral sex" into google?), and while the premise may be unlikely it's at least possible.
Likeable characters, a simple story well told. It's really all you need and this book delivers that.
Many Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
Greer is a skilled billiards player who lacks the subtlety and finesse to become a champion. Though from a titled family that looks down on billiards he finds himself drawn into the world of gambling and travelling from town to town.
Greer is uncomfortable with hustling folk in billiards halls in small towns, but if he walks away he may lose Mercedes who he has come to love.
I generally don't read historical romance. I've probably read about a dozen in my 40+ years. So cards on the table I don't know what the rules and conventions for the genre are. I don't know the underlying history that is the backdrop for these stories.
But Google is a wonderful thing. It tells me that this book is a Regency Romance (only just). It tells me that oral sex was indeed performed during the period (who would have thought a week ago I would be typing "the history of oral sex" into google?), and while the premise may be unlikely it's at least possible.
Likeable characters, a simple story well told. It's really all you need and this book delivers that.
Many Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
February 2, 2022
Mercedes Lockwood's passion is billiards - and she is a brilliant player. Yet she is always in her father's shadow, forced to follow his whims. When her father recruits a protégé, a position that should rightfully be hers, she expects to manipulate the man for her own benefit. What she doesn't expect is to fall for Captain Greer Barrington, a man much above her station.
I was intrigued by the premise of A Lady Risks All. Wallflower characters proliferate in historical romance, and while they have their charms, I enjoy stories about headstrong women that go against societal expectation to get what they want. In this respect, I was not disappointed at all. Mercedes is intelligent, calculating, and bold. While some might find her too cold initially, I really enjoyed the unusual perspective and her specific circumstances that made her jaded and distrustful of Greer's intentions.
Greer, the love interest, is presented as a foil to the villain of the story - Mercedes's father. Where the father is mercenary and without any scruples, Greer is honourable and a gentleman in all senses of the word. While I enjoyed the push and pull between Mercedes and Greer, I found him somewhat lacking. Despite his supposed "gentlemanliness", he was very quick to anger, and I didn't enjoy the angry sexual sparks between them. This is purely a preference thing, as I'm sure that readers who enjoy romantic interests to butt heads will enjoy these sections.
Scott is a competent writer, and A Lady Risks All's story is engaging and refreshing in its themes. The ending, to me, was somewhat unsatisfying. While all story threads are resolved, the relationship between Mercedes and her father felt rushed and incomplete. I appreciated that Mercedes's previous sexual experiences provide no problem for the hero. Overall, a good read, albeit flawed.
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Content warnings: deception, gambling, blackmail, difficult parental/familial relationships, sexism. Contains gender essentialist language.
I was intrigued by the premise of A Lady Risks All. Wallflower characters proliferate in historical romance, and while they have their charms, I enjoy stories about headstrong women that go against societal expectation to get what they want. In this respect, I was not disappointed at all. Mercedes is intelligent, calculating, and bold. While some might find her too cold initially, I really enjoyed the unusual perspective and her specific circumstances that made her jaded and distrustful of Greer's intentions.
Greer, the love interest, is presented as a foil to the villain of the story - Mercedes's father. Where the father is mercenary and without any scruples, Greer is honourable and a gentleman in all senses of the word. While I enjoyed the push and pull between Mercedes and Greer, I found him somewhat lacking. Despite his supposed "gentlemanliness", he was very quick to anger, and I didn't enjoy the angry sexual sparks between them. This is purely a preference thing, as I'm sure that readers who enjoy romantic interests to butt heads will enjoy these sections.
Scott is a competent writer, and A Lady Risks All's story is engaging and refreshing in its themes. The ending, to me, was somewhat unsatisfying. While all story threads are resolved, the relationship between Mercedes and her father felt rushed and incomplete. I appreciated that Mercedes's previous sexual experiences provide no problem for the hero. Overall, a good read, albeit flawed.
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Content warnings: deception, gambling, blackmail, difficult parental/familial relationships, sexism. Contains gender essentialist language.
Read
December 29, 2014"Scott delivers a story reminiscent of Virginia Henley's works with its naughty, bawdy overtones. Sexy, smart and delightfully sinful, this steamy tale features characters who know themselves well and will take extraordinary risks to succeed despite the odds. This is a wonderfully satisfying read." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 1/2 stars
Miniseries: Ladies of Impropriety
Category: Historical Romance
Miniseries: Ladies of Impropriety
Category: Historical Romance
August 27, 2025
this book was ok. i didn't get in to it as much as the last one. but the hero and heroine seem to work good together. wish we got to see the friendship between the heroine and the heroine of the last book. but we sew none of it. which i find sad. other wise a nice read
May 20, 2022
This is the 1st book I read by Bronwyn Scott. I'm sorry I stopped reading this story 📖 at chapter 6 because it didn't hold my interest.
October 16, 2024
liked it! a lot of great detail about billiards.
January 2, 2015
Good book, very different than the usual historical romance. Mercedes is the daughter of a billiards player. She has grown up learning to play and assisting her father with his activities. Because she is a woman she is not permitted to play in public though she would like nothing better. When her father takes on Greer as his protege - a spot she wanted - she is asked to help polish his skills. The more time they spend together the more their attraction grows and feelings start to develop. Mercedes is a very different heroine. She is skilled at a man's game and really wants to be able to compete with them. She has a dark past that causes her some trust issues when dealing with Greer. She is also very sensual and has no problem using that to get what she wants from Greer. She is also very intelligent and is able to use her skills and intelligence to further her own agenda while her father remains oblivious. She comes to love Greer very much but because of who she is she's certain that there is no chance of a future with him. I liked her courage in leaving her father and going with Greer, but I wish she had had a bit more gumption in standing up to his family.
Greer is a soldier who is trying to decide what to do with his future. He could go home and be the farm manager working for his brother who is their father's heir. But after seeing the world he knows that he would not be happy doing that. When Mercedes's father asks him to join them on a billiards tour and learn how to work the system, he goes along with it. He's looking forward to the adventure, but even more he's looking forward to spending more time with her. As a gentleman's son Greer has pretty strong moral values. He's not exactly comfortable with some of the schemes that his mentor runs, but he goes along with them. As he spends more time with Mercedes his feelings for her grow. He knows she is not the type of woman his family would approve of but he reaches the point where he just doesn't care. His biggest issue in getting Mercedes to consider a future with him is convincing her that he won't come to resent her. I liked Greer's care for Mercedes and how he really understood her. I did have a slight problem with the way he started compromising his values, but was glad to see him stand up to Mercedes's father at the end when he couldn't stand it any more. I loved seeing him stand up to his brother and tell him off. I also loved his support of Mercedes at the end and how he ended up happy with his choices.
Mercedes's father was well portrayed as the amoral conniver that he was. He was so focused on his own plans that he never saw what Mercedes was planning to do. I found his attitude toward her to be pretty bad. To have taught her so well then not allow her to use what she learned was not cool. I enjoyed seeing his shock when Greer and Mercedes walked away from him.
Greer is a soldier who is trying to decide what to do with his future. He could go home and be the farm manager working for his brother who is their father's heir. But after seeing the world he knows that he would not be happy doing that. When Mercedes's father asks him to join them on a billiards tour and learn how to work the system, he goes along with it. He's looking forward to the adventure, but even more he's looking forward to spending more time with her. As a gentleman's son Greer has pretty strong moral values. He's not exactly comfortable with some of the schemes that his mentor runs, but he goes along with them. As he spends more time with Mercedes his feelings for her grow. He knows she is not the type of woman his family would approve of but he reaches the point where he just doesn't care. His biggest issue in getting Mercedes to consider a future with him is convincing her that he won't come to resent her. I liked Greer's care for Mercedes and how he really understood her. I did have a slight problem with the way he started compromising his values, but was glad to see him stand up to Mercedes's father at the end when he couldn't stand it any more. I loved seeing him stand up to his brother and tell him off. I also loved his support of Mercedes at the end and how he ended up happy with his choices.
Mercedes's father was well portrayed as the amoral conniver that he was. He was so focused on his own plans that he never saw what Mercedes was planning to do. I found his attitude toward her to be pretty bad. To have taught her so well then not allow her to use what she learned was not cool. I enjoyed seeing his shock when Greer and Mercedes walked away from him.
August 20, 2013
This review also appears on Reading with Analysis.
When I saw A Lady Risks All on NetGalley, I waffled for a few weeks on whether to request it. I worried, based on the publisher’s blurb, that it would be told in the first person, and I’m not the biggest fan of that narrative format. Eventually my curiosity won out, and I actually loved the book, partly because it is, thankfully, told in a more standard third-person narrative. Also, it’s fantastic.
It’s about billiards, mostly, which isn’t a phrase I ever expected to write when talking about a romance novel. It’s also about a difficult father/daughter relationship and historical gender politics that gave men the freedom to be go-getters but fettered women to serve some purpose for their families — they could marry well, perhaps, or serve the household or, as in Mercedes’ case, use whatever technical skills they possess to further their families’ self-serving interests. It’s a story of a woman who is done with being defined by her usefulness to her father, a woman who wants to establish her own place in the world and start being useful to herself.
I’ve got to say, I applaud these types of stories. I may have mentioned here and there on this blog (read: in almost every freaking post) that I love how subversive the romance genre can be; this book is an excellent example of that subversion in practice. Mercedes is the very opposite of the innocent miss we (the cultural we) tend to associate with the genre: she’s experienced (if you know what I mean) and shrewdly intelligent, plays billiards better than both Greer and her father (which means better than anyone in the history of ever), and teaches Greer how to hustle. But while she’s lacking in the softness and innocence that tends to signify femininity in our culture, she’s all woman. In other words, she tolerates the limitations of her gender and class until the time is right to break free. (In other words, it’s possible that our culture has an inaccurately narrow view of feminine traits.)
Did I love everything about the book? No, not really. There was a wee bit too much billiards talk for me, and sometimes it seemed that the billiards story eclipsed the romance storyline. It’s more accurate to say that it felt more like Mercedes’ story than Mercedes and Greer’s story. Greer possessed a fine smolder, but he wasn’t quite a strong or vibrant enough character to contrast favorably with Mercedes, who is simply fantastic. Finally, the ending, while satisfying, was a bit abrupt.
But, you know what? I enjoyed the heck out of this story. Readers who are interested in billiards, gender politics and stories with strong heroines who triumph over all, and — of course — lovers of historical romance should check this one out and keep an eye on Bronwyn Scott. I imagine she’s got many more interesting stories in store for us.
When I saw A Lady Risks All on NetGalley, I waffled for a few weeks on whether to request it. I worried, based on the publisher’s blurb, that it would be told in the first person, and I’m not the biggest fan of that narrative format. Eventually my curiosity won out, and I actually loved the book, partly because it is, thankfully, told in a more standard third-person narrative. Also, it’s fantastic.
It’s about billiards, mostly, which isn’t a phrase I ever expected to write when talking about a romance novel. It’s also about a difficult father/daughter relationship and historical gender politics that gave men the freedom to be go-getters but fettered women to serve some purpose for their families — they could marry well, perhaps, or serve the household or, as in Mercedes’ case, use whatever technical skills they possess to further their families’ self-serving interests. It’s a story of a woman who is done with being defined by her usefulness to her father, a woman who wants to establish her own place in the world and start being useful to herself.
I’ve got to say, I applaud these types of stories. I may have mentioned here and there on this blog (read: in almost every freaking post) that I love how subversive the romance genre can be; this book is an excellent example of that subversion in practice. Mercedes is the very opposite of the innocent miss we (the cultural we) tend to associate with the genre: she’s experienced (if you know what I mean) and shrewdly intelligent, plays billiards better than both Greer and her father (which means better than anyone in the history of ever), and teaches Greer how to hustle. But while she’s lacking in the softness and innocence that tends to signify femininity in our culture, she’s all woman. In other words, she tolerates the limitations of her gender and class until the time is right to break free. (In other words, it’s possible that our culture has an inaccurately narrow view of feminine traits.)
Did I love everything about the book? No, not really. There was a wee bit too much billiards talk for me, and sometimes it seemed that the billiards story eclipsed the romance storyline. It’s more accurate to say that it felt more like Mercedes’ story than Mercedes and Greer’s story. Greer possessed a fine smolder, but he wasn’t quite a strong or vibrant enough character to contrast favorably with Mercedes, who is simply fantastic. Finally, the ending, while satisfying, was a bit abrupt.
But, you know what? I enjoyed the heck out of this story. Readers who are interested in billiards, gender politics and stories with strong heroines who triumph over all, and — of course — lovers of historical romance should check this one out and keep an eye on Bronwyn Scott. I imagine she’s got many more interesting stories in store for us.
May 14, 2013
A unique and wonderful historical romance! A Lady Risks All was a brilliant read, so incredibly good!
I loved that this book was different from any historical romance that I've read. As much as I love them, they can be a dime a dozen at times. In this book, neither the hero or heroine is titled. And the heroine is the daughter of a merchant who spent her life in pool halls and can play with the best of them. The setting isn't in gilded ballrooms, but in the less proper gaming halls and taverns. It wasn't your usual HR read, and that's what I really liked about it.
Mercedes was a great heroine. She might look and act proper, but a true lady she was not. She was involved in an affair years ago that ended badly. Her father taught her how to trick and swindle in the cradle. And she can play pool, or billiards, better than anyone. Though she is strong minded, she has been controlled by her father's iron will all her life. But, she rebels quietly anyway, following her own dreams. And, when she gets the chance to go her own way, she doesn't hesitate. She did have some trust issues, but they were understandable given her past. Overall, she was a wonderful character, very likable.
I adored Greer so much. This man was so perfect. He was a total gentleman, really and truly a gentleman. He has strong morals and distinctions between right and wrong that he won't compromise for anything. And I loved that, when he sees how Mercedes had little choice in her life to do what she wanted, he goes out of his way to make sure that, in everything they do, she had a choice. He was so sweet! Honestly, one of the best historical romance heroes I've ever read about.
The romance was perfectly done. The sexual tension between Mercedes and Greer was sizzling immediately. And it got very hot. They were so sweet together as well. I loved this couple. They were brilliant.
Mercedes' father was an interesting character. He was one of those characters that wasn't good or bad, so I wasn't sure where to place him. He loves his daughter, but he unabashedly manipulates her and other people. I liked the dimension in his character. He added an interesting aspect to the book.
The plot was fast-paced. There were a few surprises and secrets in store. I was totally hooked the entire way through, unable to put this book down. And the ending was amazing.
A Lady Risks All was a fantastic historical romance. Lovers of the genre, you must read this!
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Books for a copy!
I loved that this book was different from any historical romance that I've read. As much as I love them, they can be a dime a dozen at times. In this book, neither the hero or heroine is titled. And the heroine is the daughter of a merchant who spent her life in pool halls and can play with the best of them. The setting isn't in gilded ballrooms, but in the less proper gaming halls and taverns. It wasn't your usual HR read, and that's what I really liked about it.
Mercedes was a great heroine. She might look and act proper, but a true lady she was not. She was involved in an affair years ago that ended badly. Her father taught her how to trick and swindle in the cradle. And she can play pool, or billiards, better than anyone. Though she is strong minded, she has been controlled by her father's iron will all her life. But, she rebels quietly anyway, following her own dreams. And, when she gets the chance to go her own way, she doesn't hesitate. She did have some trust issues, but they were understandable given her past. Overall, she was a wonderful character, very likable.
I adored Greer so much. This man was so perfect. He was a total gentleman, really and truly a gentleman. He has strong morals and distinctions between right and wrong that he won't compromise for anything. And I loved that, when he sees how Mercedes had little choice in her life to do what she wanted, he goes out of his way to make sure that, in everything they do, she had a choice. He was so sweet! Honestly, one of the best historical romance heroes I've ever read about.
The romance was perfectly done. The sexual tension between Mercedes and Greer was sizzling immediately. And it got very hot. They were so sweet together as well. I loved this couple. They were brilliant.
Mercedes' father was an interesting character. He was one of those characters that wasn't good or bad, so I wasn't sure where to place him. He loves his daughter, but he unabashedly manipulates her and other people. I liked the dimension in his character. He added an interesting aspect to the book.
The plot was fast-paced. There were a few surprises and secrets in store. I was totally hooked the entire way through, unable to put this book down. And the ending was amazing.
A Lady Risks All was a fantastic historical romance. Lovers of the genre, you must read this!
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Books for a copy!
March 21, 2016
I liked the idea of the theme, which was something I haven't yet read before: about a female pool shark. Mercedes Lockhart has been raised by her father to play billiards, but when the time comes to play in the big leagues, her father becomes a sexist pig and decides to put a man--Greer Barrington--in her place to act as his protege. Of course, this is the Victorian period, and having a woman clear all the balls of the billiards table is "unthinkable".
The first part of the book was subtly written about the sexual chemistry between the two characters, and I found the build-up intriguing towards the middle of the story. But when it came time for the author to delve further into the emotional aspects of the romance, I found the story severely lacking in regards towards Mercedes' character. There was no inner voice written of Mercedes character, and, as a result, she came off sounding like an ice queen. Beyond her ambitions to play in billiards tournaments, there is very little written about her actual thoughts.
The first part of the book was subtly written about the sexual chemistry between the two characters, and I found the build-up intriguing towards the middle of the story. But when it came time for the author to delve further into the emotional aspects of the romance, I found the story severely lacking in regards towards Mercedes' character. There was no inner voice written of Mercedes character, and, as a result, she came off sounding like an ice queen. Beyond her ambitions to play in billiards tournaments, there is very little written about her actual thoughts.
July 2, 2013
"A Lady Risks All" is about Mercedes, a woman who can play billiards with the best of the men. During her time period, it was seen as unladylike to play billiards so she must play in secret or at least on the down low. She falls for a gentleman, Greer, but first her father wants her to get something from him but they fall for each other before too long.
Although this is a historical romance, you don't get a really good feel for the historical time period at all. I know that historical romance books often take a little more liberty with the historical aspect of their books but I wanted to understand a little more about the time in which Mercedes was living in.
The romance in this book was good. The romantic scenes were sufficiently spicy and more than satisfying. I read most of this book while being delayed trying to fly back home. This book made my delay seem like nothing! I will look forward to reading other Bronwyn Scott books in the future!
Although this is a historical romance, you don't get a really good feel for the historical time period at all. I know that historical romance books often take a little more liberty with the historical aspect of their books but I wanted to understand a little more about the time in which Mercedes was living in.
The romance in this book was good. The romantic scenes were sufficiently spicy and more than satisfying. I read most of this book while being delayed trying to fly back home. This book made my delay seem like nothing! I will look forward to reading other Bronwyn Scott books in the future!
September 9, 2013
A LADY RISKS ALL is definitely not your standard historical romance and Mercedes is far from your standard heroine. She knows exactly what she wants which is to play billiards. Anything else is just a way to accomplish her goals including kissing Greer. Or so she tells herself.
I really enjoyed reading about Mercedes and Greer's adventures. They are both very likable characters that are from opposites sides of the social spectrum. Mercedes was raised around pool sharks and swindlers, and knowing how to run a con is almost second nature for her. Greer is actually a Lord and honor is far more then just a word to him. The clashes between them were enjoyable and frequently amusing.
I do recommend A LADY RISKS ALL to any of my readers that enjoy a historical romance with a twist. I rate this book a 3.6.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
January 10, 2014
Read this because I'm normally a huge fan of Bronwyn Scott but this just didn't meet the mark. Her stories usually are full of fire and humour and keep you turning the pages. Sadly I found this one difficult to finish.
Merecedes is a heroine I don't particularly care for. She has backbone, ambition to play billiards professionally, is incredibly beautiful but lies outside of society. Greer is a officer in the army from an old family who wants to shake of the shackles of his restrictive family and make something of himself. He's taken on as a protégée of Mercedes father and travels the country with him and Merecedes learning how to "hustle" whilst Merecedes tries to use him to show her father she can play professionally despite being a woman.
The elements don't come together well, the plot gets convoluted, there is a secret twist but sadly it fails to be daring and exciting.
Merecedes is a heroine I don't particularly care for. She has backbone, ambition to play billiards professionally, is incredibly beautiful but lies outside of society. Greer is a officer in the army from an old family who wants to shake of the shackles of his restrictive family and make something of himself. He's taken on as a protégée of Mercedes father and travels the country with him and Merecedes learning how to "hustle" whilst Merecedes tries to use him to show her father she can play professionally despite being a woman.
The elements don't come together well, the plot gets convoluted, there is a secret twist but sadly it fails to be daring and exciting.
February 9, 2017
Mercedes Lockhart's game is pool. She loved it. She lived it. She breathed it.
While her father was the famous billiards player in England, it was unheard of for a woman to accomplish the same. Allen Lockhart was wealthy Yet not wealthy enough nor connected enough for the ton. But he was a shrewd businessman. He knew when to push. He knew when to hold. Even better Allen was at the height of success in his chosen career and he needed someone to follow in his footsteps since his daughter could not gain entry to some of the clubs. So after learning about a young gentleman living on military half pay, Allen knows he is the one. In more ways than one for the truth behind his interest is to have his daughter settled with a man who can tame her wild streak.
Harlequin
June 2013
9780373297450
-the bookworm
While her father was the famous billiards player in England, it was unheard of for a woman to accomplish the same. Allen Lockhart was wealthy Yet not wealthy enough nor connected enough for the ton. But he was a shrewd businessman. He knew when to push. He knew when to hold. Even better Allen was at the height of success in his chosen career and he needed someone to follow in his footsteps since his daughter could not gain entry to some of the clubs. So after learning about a young gentleman living on military half pay, Allen knows he is the one. In more ways than one for the truth behind his interest is to have his daughter settled with a man who can tame her wild streak.
Harlequin
June 2013
9780373297450
-the bookworm
August 5, 2013
Grade: C-
The first half of this story had me hooked — the author used the theme of “risk” in different ways to define not only the hero and heroine, but also the heroine’s loving-but-conniving father. The plot revolves around billiards, and the early-Victorian historical world-building was vivid and completely believable. Until…(sigh)…the hero, a younger son of a viscount, suddenly became styled a “Lord” and the heroine a potential “Lady.” I finished the book, but I lost faith in the story and the author. Fantastic cover, though
NOTE: This review was first published at DearAuthor.com. I read a review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The first half of this story had me hooked — the author used the theme of “risk” in different ways to define not only the hero and heroine, but also the heroine’s loving-but-conniving father. The plot revolves around billiards, and the early-Victorian historical world-building was vivid and completely believable. Until…(sigh)…the hero, a younger son of a viscount, suddenly became styled a “Lord” and the heroine a potential “Lady.” I finished the book, but I lost faith in the story and the author. Fantastic cover, though
NOTE: This review was first published at DearAuthor.com. I read a review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
August 11, 2013
Mercedes has been brought up on the billiards circuit by her father, a self-made man who with his business partner won enough playing for money to set up his own club in Brighton. Now he wants to attract more people to his upcoming billiards championship, both as competitors and as spectators. Taking on Greer as their aristocratic protege, Mercedes and her father travel England, setting up games and generating publicity for the championship and their prospective champion.
While drawn to Greer, Mercedes' real ambition is to play in the championship herself, and then use her winnings to set up her own billiards establishment.
A fun and rather different read, although I would have liked more detail of how the game at that point in its evolution compares to the modern game.
While drawn to Greer, Mercedes' real ambition is to play in the championship herself, and then use her winnings to set up her own billiards establishment.
A fun and rather different read, although I would have liked more detail of how the game at that point in its evolution compares to the modern game.
January 2, 2015
Absolutely fascinating look into the world of billiards and hustling in 1837 England. This is one of the most unique and interesting historical story worlds that I've read in a long time.
The heroine is strong and skilled, and maybe a little bit unscrupulous. Her background and personality were unusual and interesting. Her father is incredibly complex as a character.
For me, the hero seemed a bit bland for most of the book. I didn't dislike him, but he never seemed quite as fascinating as I would have liked him to be.
The middle third of the book dragged a bit for me, but the last third and the ending is absolutely fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to any historical romance reader.
Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book.
The heroine is strong and skilled, and maybe a little bit unscrupulous. Her background and personality were unusual and interesting. Her father is incredibly complex as a character.
For me, the hero seemed a bit bland for most of the book. I didn't dislike him, but he never seemed quite as fascinating as I would have liked him to be.
The middle third of the book dragged a bit for me, but the last third and the ending is absolutely fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to any historical romance reader.
Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book.
May 18, 2013
Una storia carina: un'eroina forte e testarda e un eroe dolce e premuroso. Un classico ma fa sempre effetto. Lei è la ricca figlia di un giocatore d'azzardo, lui il secondo figlio di un visconte impoverito. Su uno sfondo di sale da gioco e tavoli da biliardo, i due capiranno che devono affrontare il mondo a testa alta, al diavolo i pregiudizi, e combattere per quello che vogliono.
Voto: 3.5 stelle
Si ringrazia NetGalley per la gentile preview.
Voto: 3.5 stelle
Si ringrazia NetGalley per la gentile preview.
July 11, 2016
Super. Mercedes is a great heroine, and Greer is a perfect hero for her, but they both need to take huge risks in order to be together. There's real emotional honesty here. The story drew me in, the stakes felt real and I rooted for Mercedes and Greer to overcome their circumstances and pasts and get their happy ending.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Bronwyn Scott.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Bronwyn Scott.
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June 2, 2013Miniseries: Ladies of Impropriety
Category: Historical Romance
Category: Historical Romance
March 29, 2014
This was an okay novel, there was no big twist or major obstacles and the characters were a bit shallow for me to really get behind so I have rated lower than normal.
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May 19, 2014Greer (viscount 2nd son) Mercedes (billiards champ daughter
November 3, 2014
A Billiard playing beauty and a handsome second son what could be more fun
September 28, 2016
Billiards, and more billiards with a side order of romance.
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