Skandalas Stounklife

Stonecliffe #3

by Candace Camp, Emilija Grigulaitė (Translator)

Ar gali tikra meilė klestėti aukštuomenės skandalo šešėlyje?

Po skandalo, kilusio jam nutraukus sužadėtuves, Natanas Danbridžas susitaiko su mintimi, kad jam lemta likti viengungiu... bet tada viename pokylyje pasirodo sumaniai pakeitusi išvaizdą jam labiausiai netinkama moteris. Veritė Koul, buvusi slaptoji agentė ir ramybės Stounklife drumstėja, Nataną žavi, bet kartu ir erzina.

Veritė gyvena Londone prisidengusi netikra pavarde ir vadovauja seklių agentūrai. Todėl kai prisistato nepažįstamas vyras ir pareiškia esąs teisėtas senojo Danbridžo įpėdinis, Natanas kreipiasi į Veritę, kad padėtų išaiškinti tiesą. Veritė sutinka, ji mėgsta atskleisti paslaptis... ypač tas, kurios susijusios su gražuoliu Natanu Danbridžu.

Natano šeimos paslaptys gali apversti jo gyvenimą aukštyn kojomis, Veritė yra vienintelis žmogus, kuriuo jis ryžtasi pasitikėti. Tačiau Veritė irgi turi paslapčių... ir tos paslaptys neleidžia jai savo gyvenimo susieti su tokiu padoriu džentelmenu kaip Natanas. Ūmai pasirodo priešas iš Veritės praeities. Ar juodu sugebės išsaugoti savo neįmanomą meilę, ar bus išskirti?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Adult, Audiobook

384 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2024

About the author

Candace Camp is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty books.

Her first novel, *Bonds of Love*, was published by Jove Publishing in 1978, under the pseudonym Lisa Gregory. Two pseudonyms (Kristin James and Sharon Stephens)and many books later, Candace writes under her own name Candace Camp and still loves creating stories.

Candace lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and is the mother of Young Adult author Anastasia Hopcus.

Reviews

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read one other book by this author and enjoyed it. This is the 3rd book of the series, and I am reading it as a standalone. The book starts off with a fun scene where Verity is a PI and Nathan runs into her working on a case. Nathan himself soon needs help and Verity is there for him. A well written Regency Romance/Mystery for the reader who wants to spend a weekend with a cozy book. A few twists that I didn't see coming makes this a 3.5*. Since it was the 3rd in the series, I did miss some of the back stories. Also, it is hard to write a book where the hero is a "nice guy" as Nathan is and Camp has done it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Candance Camp's way of giving you a beautiful historical romance along with an intriguing mystery. Seeing a relationship develop during the course of an investigation is always interesting to me and makes a book "unputdownable" for me.

In this third installment of the fantastic Stonecliffe series, we finally see Nathan, the good guy of the series, get his happily ever after. His partner in an investigation into his legitimacy is Verity, who joined the cast while posing as a maid in the previous book. Verity is a secret agent turned private investigator who has built a business in London since retiring from government work. She and Nathan were thrown together in the last book, but though knowing that story isn't essential to enjoying this one. There's a light grumpy vs. sunshine vibe to this one, with Nathan being a kind, affable society gentleman (though his estate isn't financially healthy) and Verity being the worldly, working woman who doesn't feel like she belongs in society unless she's undercover and playing a part. There's also a "he falls first" aspect to this one, which is understandable as Verity doesn't feel she can marry and assumes that Nathan would never have a woman below his rank as anything other than a mistress. The romantic part of the story manages to still be satisfying despite the class difference issue remaining unresolved for most of it..

The investigation in this story deals with the possibility that Nathan's father had a marriage prior to the one with Nathan's mother. A man claiming to be the rightful hair to the estate confronts Nathan and Verity on the street, but disappears soon after. They go on stakeouts and a long journey to the Scotland to discover the truth. There's a secondary storyline about Verity's past as well.

This book is chock full of intrigue and adventure along with the wonderful romance. What a delight! If you love a story with a little more to sink your teeth into than the average historical romance, this is for you.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐💫
3½ stars.




➕ What I liked :


Rather interesting main characters.

Interesting plot.

Strong heroine.

Good and caring hero.
(Cinnamon roll hero.)

Good romance/romantic build-up and chemistry.

OK steam.

Experienced heroine.

Mystery romance vibes.

Rather many twists to the plot/story/mystery.

Somewhat of a slow-burn.











➖ What I disliked:


The character description/visual appearance for the heroine was a little bit on the vague side.
(The little info there is suggests she is built a little bit on the curvy side and she is kind of petite/short...and there is some little info about her hair and eye color but not much more… she is just described in such a indistinct and vague way….)

The character description/visual appearance for the hero is a little better and more detailed… but also formulaic.
(The hero is tall... muscular… and very handsome.)

A little disjointed in some parts of the story.

Plot-holes.
(Some things the heroine should have known about and noticed as a detective and a former spy.
But also that the heroine posed as a available widow for some time and several men were interested in her… but nobody really asked around or was curious about her background or her identity?
And some other things as well…that were either nonsensical or just made no sense.)

The historical setting was a little vague...was it regency or not? … hard to tell sometimes.

The steam was mostly OK… but also a little sparse.


➖ 😒👎 The cover is not representative at all...except for the heroines hair color…. The heroine is described as being on the curvy side and she is also described as being petite/short ……. The cover shows a slender and tallish/taller woman on the cover …. Not at all like the heroine is described/portrayed in the book.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Stonecliff series. The characters are hilarious and very loveable. This book had some fun mysteries and a very satisfying end.

[Skaistė Girtienė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trečioji ir paskutinė dalis. Meilės romanas, vykstantis XIX a. Anglijoje. Dar kitokios intrigos, pavojai, paslaptys.

[Heather Moll · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the first scenes is a “pretend you’re making out with me” as Verity avoids being caught sneaking around and the attraction felt unearned. It never built in a believable way for me. The romance element was flat and forgettable, and the historical setting hardly regency. I nearly shut the book when they mentioned a couple leaving Scotland to elope to London. Nathan refers to matryoshka dolls but they came out in the 1890s. And when they never thought to check the church records I thought they were all idiots. Likable characters on their own but I couldn’t care about their relationship YMMV
I received an arc from NetGalley

[Katie King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first two books in this series, and was excited for Nathan and Verity to get their own book. A Scandal at Stonecliffe was just as well written as the other books in the series, and the mystery led to some twists that I definitely didn’t see coming.

While I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book, I found that I didn’t really like Nathan and Verity, especially since they seemed to create the majority of the hurdles in their relationship.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a cozy mystery and on occasion a romance novel.

In selecting this book, I was looking for a mystery with, maybe, a regency romance thread. Unfortunately, the book was much more a traditional romance novel than it was a mystery. I found the mystery engaging, the romance predictable, and because the latter took center stage in the middle 1/3 of the book, I grew uninterested in finishing the story. That, above all is why my rating is on the lower side. It just was not what I was expecting.

This was a lesson to me in really examining publishers, regardless of how they classify their books. Clearly this is romance first, not mystery first. If you are looking for regency romance with a side of mystery, this is the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Karen Lawsing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was supposed to be a Regency Romance, a genre that I generally enjoy. Didn’t see any humorous wordplay. Annabeth would have been with child, certainly not “pregnant”. For a successful former spy and current detective, she didn’t research her cases well. I am surprised she was still alive. It would have been easy for her to have verified the death of someone. She left too many loose strings. That said, the author’s characters were enjoyable. The intimate descriptions were too graphic for a Regency. Although, I surmised the bad guy 120 pages before his ultimate denouement. So a bit disappointing.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story. Nathan and Verity were secondary characters in the previous book, A Rogue at Stonecliffe . Nathan had the unenviable role of Annabeth's fiancé and lost out to that book's hero, Sloane. He spent several months traveling in Europe to get over his heartbreak. Nathan is a nice guy who gave up the woman he loved so she could marry the one she truly loved. Once he returns to London, he slowly gets accustomed to seeing Annabeth and Sloane. Life returns to normal until a man who claims to be his brother and the rightful heir confronts him. Nathan doesn't believe him but needs to be sure. He knows exactly who he needs to help him investigate.

Verity was previously Sloane's partner as they spied for the Crown during the war. After retiring, she set up a discreet private investigation firm that has become quite successful. She is content with her independence and living life on her own terms, even if she's a bit lonely at times. The secrets in Verity's past make her believe she has no chance of marriage.

Nathan and Verity knew each other in the previous book. They frequently butt heads, but under the antagonism are sparks of attraction. When Nathan encounters Verity at a Society function while she is working on a case, he unexpectedly finds himself helping her. I loved his internal conflict. He feels that what she is doing is dangerous and foolhardy, but he must also protect her. Matters between them become complicated when he asks for her help investigating the stranger's claim. Nathan won't sit back and let Verity investigate on her own, but he insists on being involved. I enjoyed watching them work together and how they balance her tendency to take chances with his resistance to taking risks. Their teamwork was very effective, and I loved seeing Nathan get into the spirit of the chase.

There is no shortage of action and dangerous situations to keep me invested in the mystery. Some things didn't make sense, leading to questions about who was really behind the claim. The twists and turns of this investigation kept me guessing to the end. I was glued to the pages during the final confrontation as the intensity of the danger peaked. There was also a secondary mystery as Verity's past returned to haunt her. The resolution of that was not what I expected and brought unexpected happiness to Verity.

I liked watching the development of the relationship between Nathan and Verity as they went from antagonists to partners to friends to more. I liked seeing how Nathan's growing feelings for Verity took him by surprise, opening his eyes to the differences between his former feelings for Annabeth and his feelings for Verity. I liked his persistence in pursuing her once he realized the depth of his feelings. I ached for Verity because of her belief that there was no chance they could be together. I loved the emotional scene as he overcame her insecurities, opening up the opportunity for the future they wanted. The epilogue was terrific.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Stonecliffe #3
Publication Date: 8/20/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 339

In the series' second book, we spent our time rooting for the hero and heroine – as we should have. However, I think most of us gave little thought to the man to whom the heroine was betrothed before she got her HEA with the hero. Did any of us wonder how broken his heart might have been? Did we care how much he might have loved the heroine? We all liked him, but did we wonder where his life would go? Probably not. This book, however, turns all of that on its head and shows us Nathan’s journey to finding love again. It is an exciting, well-written, engrossing story that will have you holding your breath, wringing your hands, frowning in exasperation, and smiling at the HEA.

Nathan Dunbridge spent months on the continent trying to mend his broken heart after his broken betrothal. He had truly loved Annabeth, but he knew he had to give her the freedom to marry the man she loved. Is his heart mended? Well, he can at least tolerate being in the same room with Annabeth and her husband for a while. He’s back into his role in society and living his normal life – until – a man marches up to him, proclaims himself to be his brother, and asserts he is their father’s rightful heir. Oh! My! Nathan doesn’t believe a word of it, but the man is quite adamant and Nathan knows the scandal would ruin them whether it was true or not – and it would break his sweet, caring mother’s heart. Nathan knows he has to get to the bottom of it, true or not, and he knows just the person to help.

Verity Cole has run a very discreet detective agency for the last couple of years. Before that, she was a very successful spy for the Crown. Verity has many secrets and never lets anyone get too close to her. Her life is one role after another, to the point where she’s not sure where the role ends and she begins. That all begins to change when Nathan asks her to help solve the mystery of his ‘brother’. Can she open up enough to let someone else into her life, her heart?

Verity and Nathan work together to solve the mystery of his brother and a few others as well. They work very well together but are opposites in most ways. Will that be a detriment or an asset? You’ll just have to read this fast-paced, exciting, romantic adventure to see how it all comes out. You’ll find betrayals, kidnappings, attempted murders, murders, past secrets, and longings for things that cannot be. The storyline will reach out and pull you in, and the characters will hold you till the end.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

After time abroad nursing his broken heart, Nathan Dunbridge is finally ready to return to society and at his first foray into the season he is surprised to see a familiar face – Verity Cole. After following her and getting involved with her latest case, he finds himself conflicted and decides to leave town for a bit to regain his bearings. But a disturbing revelation has him seeking out Verity once more. She affects him like no woman he has ever met, she aggravates him, intrigues him and makes him feel things that he has never felt for any woman, including his beloved Annabeth. But Verity has secrets and Nathan has nothing to offer unless they can find a way to clear his father’s name. Will Nathan clear his family name and finally win the girl or is his fate doomed to be a loveless solitary existence?

Spy turned detective, Miss Verity Cole leads an exciting, fulfilling life, even if it is a bit lonely. Her successful investigation business has enabled her to live independently and on her own terms, and as she has no plans to marry, life is good, and she is content or at least she was before Nathan Dunbridge reappeared! That man is too perfect and probably still in love with Annabeth Rutherford. She has no idea why he intrigues her so, he is handsome, but they have nothing in common and could never love her. But as they work together, she begins to fall for a man that can never be hers, because she has no future, thanks to her past. But she can’t seem to walk away and can’t seem to stop wanting what she can’t have.

This was a well-written, interesting story with likable characters who at first glance appear to be polar opposites. After reading the previous book, I wouldn’t have thought Nathan and Verity would be “couple material” yet they are perfect for each other, each bringing something to the relationship that the other needs and balancing each other. And while I felt that it was more mystery than romance, it was spicy enough to keep me reading and their connection developed into a believable soulmate type love. This book has a lot going on and has multiple twists and turns before the real villain is unmasked and served justice. Add in cameos from previous characters, a wonderful cast of secondary characters, a decent mystery as well as some steamyish love scenes, a few life and death moments, and finally a HEA with an epilogue that is more than just a romantic ending. This is the third book in the series, while it could be read as a standalone title, I would recommend reading the books in order for the best reader experience.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: opposites attract; MFC with a dark history; cinnamon roll MMC; MC's team up to solve mysteries; Big Secrets
Steam level:3
Part of a series, and best if previous entries read first.

I jumped into the series with this book, after having enjoyed books by this author in the past. One of the things I feel that Candace Camp does well is create believable emotional bonds between her MC's, and that's the case here. I liked the "push-pull" dynamic between Verity and Nathan, and their chemistry worked for me, with a nice dose of steam and genuinely humorous banter. Verity was fairly well fleshed out character-wise, even if the idea of her being a detective would have worked better for a more modern setting. I ended up liking Nathan more than I expected; there's more to him than just "golden retriever" energy.

I have to note that one reason that I don't recommend this as a standalone is that the reader is brought into the action and mutual attraction between the MC's immediately, with little exposition. I don't consider it "instalust" if a relationship was established previously, but If you prefer not to play catch up, it's probably better to start with the previous book.

Plotwise, there are actually three storylines going on at the same time. First, the return of a piece of jewelry to a client who was a victim of blackmail, which starts off the book, as the MC's wonder if they're being targeted by the blackmailer. Then there is a subplot regarding a man who claims to be the rightful heir to Nathan's estate. Finally, a situation pops up involving a traumatic situation in Verity's past. I felt that the author juggled each thread fairly well to a point, with a few creative twists. But, creativity can be tough to pull off in the HR genre. By the end, one storyline wraps up on a rather predictable note, another ends up being a bit of a MacGuffin, another is rather convoluted.

A couple other caveats: while I bought Verity as a tough, chameleon-like character, there were things that she should have known or at least looked into as an actual detective. Also, I had difficulty with her posing as an available widow for a period of time, with men of the Ton interested in her, yet no one had seemingly asked around about her identity or background. I get that she had some protection by Nathan's family, but still.

Overall: I would give the mystery aspect of this 3.5 stars and the romantic angle 4.5 stars, for an average of 4 stars.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this opportunity.

[Darlene Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Canary Street Press, and Candace Camp for this advance reader copy of the book. Below is my honest review.

A rare 5 star story. Although I'm a fan of the author not all books are 5 star worthy so I don't give them out often. There's a list of characters and their relationships in the prolog that was very helpful, I hadn't read the first two books in the series, so the author didn't have to backtrack very much. There wasn't a dull moment from the first page to the last. It's a friend to lovers' trope but they weren't really friends when the book starts. Their relationship goes through all the expected stages; acquaintances, partners, uneasy friendship, trusting friendship, lovers, and finally a lovely HEA. A truly enjoyable read.

Nathan Dunbridge is a Gentleman with a capitol G. He's easy to get along with, does his best to keep the peace, doesn't lose his temper, wonderful dancer, handsome, well dressed. The kicker is he stepped aside and let his fiancée ditch him and marry her true love, that's a true honorable Gentleman. He's been licking his wounds for about a year and now that he's in London again he gets back into the rhythm of town life. At a ball he runs into Verity Cole pretending to be a wealthy widow, she is a former spy and has become a private investigator. Verity is a complicated character, so many secrets, disguises and prickly personality that figuring out who she really is kept me reading. When she takes off to look around the house for a piece of jewelry Nathan tags along. It's the beginning of Verity taking a wrecking ball to his well-ordered life. There's a fake courtship, secrets, an identity discovery, murder plots, twist with two family dynamics, romance, and a little bit of sex. It put me in mind of an old 1940's movie, they made good mysteries back then. The characters are turned around in this story with Verity the hardened PI and Nathan as the romantic sidekick. A scandal at Stonecliffe is book 3 of 3 so the series is finished; wonder what's next.

#NetGalley #AScandalatSronecliffe #AStonecliffeNovel #CandaceCamp #CanaryStreetPress #historicalromance #historicalmystery #romance #mystery

[Madoka Kamimura Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candace Camp gives us another installment in the Stonecliffe series with Nathan and Verity. Nathan enlists Verity's help in finding the truth behind a claim by a man stating that he is the rightful heir instead of Nathan. Not wanting to burden his mother with this, Nathan and Verity set off to solve this mystery which involves them spending a lot of time together. Will all this time spent in each other's company allow them to give in to their attraction, or will their differences be too much to conquer?

Candace Camp brings us two characters who could not be more different from each other. Nathan is the man who you could always depend on to be a gentleman. Verity is a woman of intrigue and mystery who was a former spy and therefore must constantly think on her feet. When these two work together, will they find that they each bring something to their investigation? Will their differences be too much for the other to accept? What happens when Verity's past keeps intruding into the present? Follow along with Nathan and Verity as we watch them try to unravel this mystery and their feelings for each other. Along the way, we get to catch up with past friends from the previous books. You want to see what these two do next and how each step in their investigation brings them one step closer to the truth and to them not needing to work together anymore. You keep wanting to turn the page until you realize that you are near the end and that is when you want the story to be just a bit longer. I enjoyed reading about Nathan and Verity and look forward to more from this author.

I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for this privilege.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of Candace Camp's better offerings. The characters, Nathan and Verity, are a good 'opposites attract' couple- she's a former spy and enjoys taking risks, he's pretty risk-adverse and contained. But they bring out something in each other and Verity can always manage to bring out Nathan's inner risk-taker (despite his best judgement). I liked that he shows her, just by being him, that sometimes people are exactly who they say they are and can be there for you and on your side, something she's never had before.

The problem/mystery part of the story fell seriously flat for me and that feeling carried over to the whole plot. When someone shows up claiming to be Nathan's older half-brother, he goes to Verity to figure out the truth. Verity is a detective but the two pretty much flail around like they've never done any investigating before. Weird things keep popping up that make no sense for the mystery or the plot or the history (no one elopes from Scotland to England. There were actual reasons it went the other way around). Unlike most of Candace Camp's books, this book had little historical description to let you know what time period this book was actually supposed to be other than a reference to Verity having spied during the Napoleonic War. It was pretty generic. Things were annoyingly convoluted for no reason, then sped up to be obvious for everyone and magically resolved themselves.

Despite liking the independent Verity, I had a hard time connecting with the characters here or getting invested in the book. I like Candace Camp's earlier books, but can't say this was her best effort and wouldn't really recommend it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

[Sarah Abelson Eelkema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avail: Aug 20
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: 🔎💞Mystery-Romance Hybrid
Violence: 🔪
Spice: 🔥🔥

Synopsis: Book 3 in Regency-set series. Nathan turns to Verity—former spy & lady detective—to unmask an impostor trying to steal his inheritance. When the pair is attacked, it is unclear if their investigation has ruffled feathers or if Verity is being targeted by a former adversary.

Thoughts: If I threw all my favorites into a pot—mystery + period fiction + romance + spice—& stirred, a book like A Scandal at Stonecliffe would emerge. This novel uniquely gives the mystery & romance equal billing, rather than one dominating the storyline, & there are tropes aplenty from both genres to 💖. Long-lost brother or impostor? ☑ Protective MMC? ☑ Threat from the past? ☑ Friends-to-lovers? ☑ I could go on. The story upends typical gender dynamics: Nathan is inexperienced & perhaps a bit staid while Verity is the bold & adventurous one with an exciting past. After a slower start while characters are developed, the seemingly simple mystery grows more twisty. Threats from Verity’s youth further complicate matters: is the danger they face from a past foe or a result of their present investigation? While A Scandal at Stonecliffe—out Aug 20th—can be read as a stand-alone novel, you’ll definitely want to scoop of the first two: An Affair at Stonecliffe & A Rogue at Stonecliffe.

Thank you to Harlequin Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good guy doesn't always have to finish last and in this book Nathan gets his chance at love after his long time object of his affection marries another. Verity Cole, former spy and now investigator has a way of intriguing and irritating Nathan but he needs her to prove that the man that just showed up at his house to claim he is the actual legitimate heir is a fraud. But their investigation is not just hindered by the man's disappearance, the possible proof in faraway Scotland and a threat from Verity's past, but Verity is sure that she could never be a suitable mate for someone with a title. In spite of problems, sparks fly and true love may just be in the wings.

This is the third in a series which I have not read the previous ones. It is easy to understand without the others but it is also obvious that there are layers of emotional nuances that are missing by not reading them. I enjoyed Nathan and Verity's interactions but some of the mystery felt a little forced. Also, there were elements that did not ring true for the Regency period, but that may just be nit picking.

Overall, enjoyable. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Lana Birky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful, yet scandalous, romance that blends intrigue, humor, and passion. The story revolves around Verity Cole, a former spy and current investigator, and Nathan Dunbridge, a gentleman grappling with family secrets and a broken engagement.

After a scandalous broken engagement, Nathan Dunbridge resigns himself to a life of bachelorhood. However, his world is turned upside down when Verity Cole, a former spy and Stonecliffe’s resident troublemaker, appears in disguise at a society event. Living in London under an assumed name, Verity runs an investigation agency. When a stranger claims to be the rightful Dunbridge heir, Nathan enlists Verity’s help to uncover the truth. As they delve into the mystery, Nathan and Verity find themselves drawn to each other, despite the secrets and dangers that threaten to tear them apart.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 💜 𝐈 💜 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐃:
𝙀𝒏𝙜𝒂𝙜𝒊𝙣𝒈 𝑪𝙝𝒂𝙧𝒂𝙘𝒕𝙚𝒓𝙨: Verity’s wit & independence make her a standout heroine, while Nathan’s vulnerability & strength adds depth to his character.
𝙄𝒏𝙩𝒓𝙞𝒈𝙪𝒊𝙣𝒈 𝑷𝙡𝒐𝙩: The mystery of the Dunbridge heir keeps the reader hooked, with plenty of twists and turns.
𝑹𝙤𝒎𝙖𝒏𝙩𝒊𝙘 𝙏𝒆𝙣𝒔𝙞𝒐𝙣: The slow-burning romance between Verity & Nathan is both steamy & heartfelt, making their journey to love all the more satisfying.
𝙃𝒖𝙢𝒐𝙧 𝙖𝒏𝙙 𝘾𝒉𝙖𝒓𝙢: The author's writing is infused with humor and charm, making the story a delightful read from start to finish.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

This was such a fun read! It was drawn out a bit longer than I was expecting but the plot was well thought out and wrapped up perfectly. I really enjoyed the characters and their lighthearted teasing and flirtations. Their romance was sweet, well paced and fit naturally into their adventures and the overall story.

I also appreciated the different layers and histories of both of our MCs. It was great to see them work together as a pair but also uncover deeper family secrets that brought about their own insecurities in which they face and find comfort in each other. 🥹 but all within the excitement of an adventure as they take on a mystery!

This is the third book in the Stonecliffe standalone series. I read this as a standalone and didn’t have any difficulty jumping in to the world and meeting all the characters. What a great time!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the advanced copy & a chance to review!💛

[Margaret Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story from Candace Camp. The beginning was slow but as the plot thickened I couldn’t read fast enough to get to the end of the book to find out the answer to the mystery Verity and Nathan were trying to solve. A Scandal at Stonecliffe was different from the other HR stories which mainly features ton balls and aristocratic events. It was about a woman detective being hired by a friend to prove his legitimacy and therefore right to keep the property he inherited from his father. Verity was an independent woman in a time when it wasn’t acceptable for women to be so. Nathan was respected and accepted by the aristocracy even though he was a landholder with no money. Though each of them knew they couldn’t end up together because of their backgrounds, fate had other plans for them. A wonderful addition to the Stonecliffe series. Hoping Poppy gets a story next.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

[Tales Untangled · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Thriller
Spice Level: Sex on the page (too much for me)

*A SCANDAL AT STONECLIFFE* is a fun ride of a Regency Thriller, spy novel. Verity has worked as a spy and is still disguising herself within the ton. Nathan met Verity in less elite circumstances years ago.

This novel is part romance, part thriller, part mystery.

There were twists that I DID NOT see coming! I enjoyed that aspect of the novel immensely.

Spicy romance readers who love a bit of mystery and historical setting are going to eat up this book.

Happy reading!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you lose your fiancé to another what’s a guy gonna do? After several months away to the continent, Nathan returns home to have his mother and aunt moved into his home, so off to London he goes to see friends and relax but as to his friends being married or getting engaged he decides to re-enter society again.
So, when he sees a woman that he knows, but everyone else thinks she someone else, what’s a guy gonna do? Their interactions lead them to another mystery that they don’t realize what they know in their hearts.
Candace keeps you on your toes with the many twists and turns, with funny interactions between Nathan and Verity, to many secrets being unraveled. Her stories are to be treasured over and over.

[Sven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 of the series can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading one and two. Nathan is featured in both, and Verity is introduced in 2.

Nathan is a pretty amazing guy. Staunchly loyal, protective, and just nice. With his heart broken at the start of this book, another wrench is thrown in his life when his title is challenged. He engages Verity (a kick a** ex spy) to help solve the mystery.

More of a mystery with romance thrown in the book was well written, with its twists and turns. Felicity past life drama is resolved, and the hea was nicely done as well.

It's a great series. #netgalley #ascandalatstonecliffe

[J Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really adorable. A fun read with lots of intrigue, romance and mystery. And while the mystery and stakes fell a little flat by their resolution I can’t even be mad about it because I loved the characters so much and the dynamic between the two leads. I’d happily read a series with these two as the central characters. Verity Cole shines as the scrappy investigator that is confident and streetwise. And Nathan Dunbridge is the sweetest gentleman with a heart of gold. They make a wonderful investigative and romantic team. It’s a sweet, swoon-worthy and fun romance. It’s a quick read and I highly recommend.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone.
I loved the chemistry and interaction between Verity and Nathan so much. She is a strong woman, and he is such a cinnamon roll character that mesh together perfectly.
Verity, a private investigator has several investigations going on at the same time, one of which is for Nathan.
This is a wonderful story with a road trip, angst, lots of interesting secondary characters, humor and several surprise twists in the story.
I gave it 5-stars.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verity and Nathan

Verity Cole is a well known spy and trouble maker who is living under an assumed name in London.
Nathan Dunbridge, recently left at the altar, believes he has no luck with women. Trouble finds Nathan again in the form of an "imposter" who shows up saying hes the rightful Dunbridge heir!. Nathan enlist the help of Verity Cole...but as the two work closely together to unravel this mystery, Nathan is falling for Verity but family secrets are revealed that can upend his world..and Verity is keeping a few secrets of her own...
Really good read!

[Lori D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really began to enjoy historical mysteries and this fit the bill, although has the romance in addition.

Nathan has survived his broken engagement, but now he is being challenged on his rightful place as heir to the Dunbridge title. In comes Verity, running her own investigative agency.

Needless to say, the fun begins there but it is also interesting how the mystery plays out! Not to be missed!

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

When his family legacy is challenged, scandal-ridden Nathan seeks help from Verity, a former spy turned London detective. As they delve into a web of secrets and deceptions, their undeniable attraction grows, but their pasts threaten to tear them apart.

This mystery romance is full of twists. I love how strong and determined Nathan and Verity are, and how devoted to each other despite the differences between them. I’m really enjoying this series.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mischief that Nathan and Verity got into while trying to solve the mystery of Nathan’s lineage. The way they bickered I could tell they were perfect for one another and I found them both like-able. It made it lighthearted and fun throughout the mystery. The scandal was well thought out and I loved that their investigation had some twists to it. It had a good amount of action and a little spice, neither of which felt forced. I loved the ending and the way they were considerate of the reputations of others.

Thank you @estelareadsromance @candacecampauthor for the #gifted copy.