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The Dauntless Miss Wingrave
A brave young gentlewoman dares to defy an infuriatingly arrogant earl. Brave and beautiful Miss Emily Wingrave knows that it will not be easy to help her older widowed sister deal with the trustee of her late husband’s estate.
The trustee is none other than the willful, arrogant Earl of Meriden, and she is determined to stop him from meddling with her sister’s struggling family. But as Emily engages the provocative Earl in a battle of wits and wills, she learns just how well armed he His surprising charm and seductive techniques will make her worry that she might very well be the one who surrenders.
The trustee is none other than the willful, arrogant Earl of Meriden, and she is determined to stop him from meddling with her sister’s struggling family. But as Emily engages the provocative Earl in a battle of wits and wills, she learns just how well armed he His surprising charm and seductive techniques will make her worry that she might very well be the one who surrenders.
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First published August 1, 1989
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About the author
Amanda Scott
173 books383 followersAmanda Scott, USA Today Bestselling Author and winner of Romance Writers of America’s RITA/Golden Medallion (LORD ABBERLEY'S NEMESIS) and Romantic Times’ Awards for Best Regency Author and Best Sensual Regency (RAVENWOOD'S LADY), Lifetime Achievement (2007) and Best Scottish Historical (BORDER MOONLIGHT, 2008), began writing on a dare from her husband. She has sold every manuscript she has written.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 3, 2025
3.5 🌟 , actually.
It's a fun, light romance, with a whole lot of continual drama to keep our interest going.
The plot revolves around Jack Meridan, who has been named guardian to Emily Wingrave's sister's children. Oliver, Dolly, Giles, and Melanie are entirely spoilt and entitled, and after a tumultuous start, they join hands together to bring these kids to their senses and onto the right track. Obviously, there's history between them, which they work out along the way.
Jack is arrogant, misogynistic, and irritating who believes everyone needs to jump at his command, and Emily is also very arrogant, but who does introspect in hindsight, She's also very protective of the children and is always there by their side whenever Jack is outragously angry with them, and that's really commendable.
I liked that it's the daily mundane drama that's causing the mcs to get so much heartache and keeps them on their toes. Even though spanking has always been a very common punishment, and it still is, I really wished the author would have found a different tactic to deal with Melanie.
Overall, it's a decent read.
Recommended 👍
It's a fun, light romance, with a whole lot of continual drama to keep our interest going.
The plot revolves around Jack Meridan, who has been named guardian to Emily Wingrave's sister's children. Oliver, Dolly, Giles, and Melanie are entirely spoilt and entitled, and after a tumultuous start, they join hands together to bring these kids to their senses and onto the right track. Obviously, there's history between them, which they work out along the way.
Jack is arrogant, misogynistic, and irritating who believes everyone needs to jump at his command, and Emily is also very arrogant, but who does introspect in hindsight, She's also very protective of the children and is always there by their side whenever Jack is outragously angry with them, and that's really commendable.
I liked that it's the daily mundane drama that's causing the mcs to get so much heartache and keeps them on their toes. Even though spanking has always been a very common punishment, and it still is, I really wished the author would have found a different tactic to deal with Melanie.
Overall, it's a decent read.
Recommended 👍
January 3, 2015
I used to read quite a few Signet Regency romances. I picked this one up from my local library's Overdrive site and read it on my Kindle. It was typical of many of these. No sex. Love. Battle of wills. Quirky side characters.
I wasn't sure about it at first, but it did grow on me. I enjoyed the romance and the "bumblebroths". A good regency is like a cozy mystery in many ways. Comfortable and comforting. Best read in a comfortable armchair with a dog at your feet and a cup of tea or cocoa at your side.
The only thing that detracted it was that it was all from the pov of the female. I confess to like having it from both povs. Ah, well. I will definitely try another one by Amanda Scott.
I wasn't sure about it at first, but it did grow on me. I enjoyed the romance and the "bumblebroths". A good regency is like a cozy mystery in many ways. Comfortable and comforting. Best read in a comfortable armchair with a dog at your feet and a cup of tea or cocoa at your side.
The only thing that detracted it was that it was all from the pov of the female. I confess to like having it from both povs. Ah, well. I will definitely try another one by Amanda Scott.
January 21, 2014
The Dauntless Miss Wingrave, by Amanda Scott, is a enjoyable historical romance.
Miss Emily Wingrave is called upon by her older widowed sister Sabrina to visit Yorkshire to assist with her unruly children. Sabrina's deceased husband left his relentless cousin, Jack Meriden, in charge of the family estate much to Sabrina's dismay and she asks Emily to intervene.
Familiar with each other Emily and Jack begin with quarrels, that progress to power struggles, which result in full out battles that not only give us a lively, heated back and forth banter but a few scuffles between the two as well.
Light and funny with mystery and romance thrown in.
Miss Emily Wingrave is called upon by her older widowed sister Sabrina to visit Yorkshire to assist with her unruly children. Sabrina's deceased husband left his relentless cousin, Jack Meriden, in charge of the family estate much to Sabrina's dismay and she asks Emily to intervene.
Familiar with each other Emily and Jack begin with quarrels, that progress to power struggles, which result in full out battles that not only give us a lively, heated back and forth banter but a few scuffles between the two as well.
Light and funny with mystery and romance thrown in.
August 26, 2014
Boring. Too much talking.
February 11, 2025
Fun one great chemistry between the characters. And as always, anything narrated by Mary Jane Wells is automatically better for it.
April 1, 2024
Well, I made it almost through. There is a lot of good in the book. But there are parts that I absolutely cannot stomach. Our hero Jack is overbearing. The author takes this too far and doesn't redeem him. He makes fun of Emilia, degrades her, hit her twice ( once with a crop), throws her in a lake, shakes her and goads her to keep from talking by bleating at her like a goat. And then, he proposes. All of this, and he blames her for all of it. And that's the part of the book I can't stand. Mystery is fine. Romance is atrocious. And at the end, he STILL physically threatens her with a beating and they both laugh about it. No. I'm sorry.
June 21, 2023
Obnoxious Main Character!
This main character’s arrogant, know-it-all,pushy and haughty attitude was just too much to suffer through. I finished the story, but regret wasting my time. All the female characters were vapid and ridiculous. The male primary character was a pompous jerk. It got one star for the last couple of chapters. I doubt I’ll read anything else by this author, especially if they start off as unbearable as this.
This main character’s arrogant, know-it-all,pushy and haughty attitude was just too much to suffer through. I finished the story, but regret wasting my time. All the female characters were vapid and ridiculous. The male primary character was a pompous jerk. It got one star for the last couple of chapters. I doubt I’ll read anything else by this author, especially if they start off as unbearable as this.
December 31, 2024
I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more if not for the MANY allusions to woman beating. I don’t need that kind of historical accuracy in my romance novels, thanks.
The engagement came about because the vicar basically said, look bro, if you’re going to follow through on all these threats of violence, you need to marry this girl. I can’t condone you beating a woman who isn’t your wife. Wow, how romantic.
The engagement came about because the vicar basically said, look bro, if you’re going to follow through on all these threats of violence, you need to marry this girl. I can’t condone you beating a woman who isn’t your wife. Wow, how romantic.
August 16, 2018
Fun introduction to an author —bossy younger sister travels to her widowed sisters estate to mediate overbearing brother in law who’s in charge of finances, estate and children. Loved it.
August 18, 2022
A well written romance by a author new to me. I'm sure I will read more of her offerings.
November 1, 2023
I had such a good time with this book. It is enemies to lovers in a setting of a squabbling family. This is a hallmark/G rated book – but I didn’t leave the book feeling unsatisfied with the romance.
July 23, 2024
Super cute enemies to lovers story! Lots of intertwined storylines that come together in the end. Love the narrator's voice too! Listened on Audible.
January 2, 2025
The hero is the only one in this book with some sense. This was just too ridiculous.
July 14, 2025
It was published in 1989, which is obvious from the behaviour of the characters, particularly the main male character.
February 9, 2026
Two firebrands butting heads! Good book! A keeper!
October 12, 2019
written in the spirit of Georgette Heyer and Marion Chesney
August 15, 2013
In historical romances, the heroines have to be feisty, it seems. Ahead of their time, more outspoken than their peers, and always in need of a good spanking. Of course, anything else would be boring, but the titular Miss Wingrave does everything in her power to earn that spanking. In fact, I was ready to smack her myself.
Sorry, getting ahead of myself. That was uncalled for.
Where was I? Riiight, The Dauntless Miss Wingrave by Amanda Scott, first published in 1989. A Regency (I think; not really clear to me, possibly earlier) romance set in Yorkshire, where Emily Wingrave is headed to assist her much older sister, a widow, in bringing her children to heel. They’ve become unruly, or always were thanks to indifferent parenting, and the man the deceased spouse left in charge of their fortunes, cousin Jack Meriden, has been a tad brutal for sister Sabrina’s taste. She’s asked Emily to intervene.
Emily is familiar with Jack. He’s got a bit of a reputation in town, but then so does she, although hers is for her brutal temper and for being dropped like a hotcake by a suitor. His is more roguish, of course. Their previous encounter involved a dare and mistletoe. Emily was not impressed. She remains unimpressed, and they spar loudly and violently from the get-go.
Amidst all the arguments over how to best handle the children — which neither do well, and always with little regard for the thoughts and feelings of the children (I know; irrelevant, right?) — there’s a mystery to be solved involving missing jewels and a nine-year-old’s curious habit of borrowing large sums of money from shopkeepers. More things to argue about. Oh joy. Emily is the most argumentative heroine I’ve come across. Thoroughly unpleasant from one conversation to the next. And yet, somehow, Jack is enraptured, perhaps by the challenge. She, likewise, feels curiously tingly when he forcibly kisses her, against her better judgment. So you can see where this is headed. (Nowhere scandalous, I assure you. Ho hum.)
So some of the historical details were interesting. (I learned that “nuncheon” wasn’t a typo, but in fact “a light midmorning or midafternoon snack,” according to Merriam-Webster. How that differs from “luncheon,” I do not know.) The mystery was mildly intriguing. But I found liking Miss Wingrave — and therefore this book — a daunting task.
Lila
Thanks to Open Road Media for the ebook in exchange for a review.
Review also posted on my site: http://wp.me/p2MJls-dg
Sorry, getting ahead of myself. That was uncalled for.
Where was I? Riiight, The Dauntless Miss Wingrave by Amanda Scott, first published in 1989. A Regency (I think; not really clear to me, possibly earlier) romance set in Yorkshire, where Emily Wingrave is headed to assist her much older sister, a widow, in bringing her children to heel. They’ve become unruly, or always were thanks to indifferent parenting, and the man the deceased spouse left in charge of their fortunes, cousin Jack Meriden, has been a tad brutal for sister Sabrina’s taste. She’s asked Emily to intervene.
Emily is familiar with Jack. He’s got a bit of a reputation in town, but then so does she, although hers is for her brutal temper and for being dropped like a hotcake by a suitor. His is more roguish, of course. Their previous encounter involved a dare and mistletoe. Emily was not impressed. She remains unimpressed, and they spar loudly and violently from the get-go.
Amidst all the arguments over how to best handle the children — which neither do well, and always with little regard for the thoughts and feelings of the children (I know; irrelevant, right?) — there’s a mystery to be solved involving missing jewels and a nine-year-old’s curious habit of borrowing large sums of money from shopkeepers. More things to argue about. Oh joy. Emily is the most argumentative heroine I’ve come across. Thoroughly unpleasant from one conversation to the next. And yet, somehow, Jack is enraptured, perhaps by the challenge. She, likewise, feels curiously tingly when he forcibly kisses her, against her better judgment. So you can see where this is headed. (Nowhere scandalous, I assure you. Ho hum.)
So some of the historical details were interesting. (I learned that “nuncheon” wasn’t a typo, but in fact “a light midmorning or midafternoon snack,” according to Merriam-Webster. How that differs from “luncheon,” I do not know.) The mystery was mildly intriguing. But I found liking Miss Wingrave — and therefore this book — a daunting task.
Lila
Thanks to Open Road Media for the ebook in exchange for a review.
Review also posted on my site: http://wp.me/p2MJls-dg
February 27, 2014
3.5 stars. The story was fun. I enjoyed Emily because she was prickly and standoffish and haughty with a temper that she always regretted but wasn't particularly apologetic about. I enjoyed that this was a clean romance. And, though there was tons of chemistry between Emily and Jack, I don't know that I saw this book as a love story as much as I have other books like this because 90% of their interactions involved them bellowing/mad at each other. I wish we had been given a prologue of Emily and Jack's relationship in London, , as that foundation would have gone a long way toward establishing their past and making me more forgiving that Jack is calling Emily "Emmy Love" in their very first scene together.
The reason I rounded down is that I was a little weirded out by how physical Jack and Emily both were when they were mad. There was a lot of slapping and throwing wine and throwing in the lake and kicking out of chairs and threats to give someone a good spanking and...ok, a few instances of this would be fine (and Emily certainly took part in all of this), but the fact that almost every interaction involved something like this bugged me. I think this would have been less of an issue if this book had utilized alternating points of view (something I almost never wish for).
There were a lot of plots going on in the background, but I really liked that we had just enough of each to keep he book moving forward, that they weren't all neatly tied up at the end, and that it fit with Emily's main plot which was trying to create some order out of chaos.
Overall a cute read, and I'll definitely be checking out more of Amanda Scott's stuff.
The reason I rounded down is that I was a little weirded out by how physical Jack and Emily both were when they were mad. There was a lot of slapping and throwing wine and throwing in the lake and kicking out of chairs and threats to give someone a good spanking and...ok, a few instances of this would be fine (and Emily certainly took part in all of this), but the fact that almost every interaction involved something like this bugged me. I think this would have been less of an issue if this book had utilized alternating points of view (something I almost never wish for).
There were a lot of plots going on in the background, but I really liked that we had just enough of each to keep he book moving forward, that they weren't all neatly tied up at the end, and that it fit with Emily's main plot which was trying to create some order out of chaos.
Overall a cute read, and I'll definitely be checking out more of Amanda Scott's stuff.
September 11, 2013
Hott Synopsis:
Emily rushes to her sister, Sabrina’s, side as soon as she learns that Sabrina is in over her head. Sabrina’s husband died only six months before and he left her with a complete mess – three thoroughly selfish immature children, another who refuses to speak, and a guardian who refuses to help.
Only upon arriving does Emily learn that the guardian she must manage is the very man who has caused her months of frustration. Months ago after a drunken wager he, Jack, caught her under the mistletoe and Emily still hasn’t forgiven herself for missing the opportunity to smack him senseless.
It’s way past time for Jack to learn the error of his ways.
Hott Review:
Though the beginning almost made me put the book down I continued reading because I know Amanda Scott wouldn’t let me down – and she didn’t. I laughed so very hard while reading this. It was so light and fun – even with the arguing and mystery thrown in – that I finished it in just a few hours.
More…
Source: Open Road Media via Netgalley & then I bought it….
Grade: A
Steam: YA – just some smooching
Emily rushes to her sister, Sabrina’s, side as soon as she learns that Sabrina is in over her head. Sabrina’s husband died only six months before and he left her with a complete mess – three thoroughly selfish immature children, another who refuses to speak, and a guardian who refuses to help.
Only upon arriving does Emily learn that the guardian she must manage is the very man who has caused her months of frustration. Months ago after a drunken wager he, Jack, caught her under the mistletoe and Emily still hasn’t forgiven herself for missing the opportunity to smack him senseless.
It’s way past time for Jack to learn the error of his ways.
Hott Review:
Though the beginning almost made me put the book down I continued reading because I know Amanda Scott wouldn’t let me down – and she didn’t. I laughed so very hard while reading this. It was so light and fun – even with the arguing and mystery thrown in – that I finished it in just a few hours.
More…
Source: Open Road Media via Netgalley & then I bought it….
Grade: A
Steam: YA – just some smooching
August 29, 2013
I've only read one other book by this author. Compared to that one, this was better. But not by much. The Dauntless Miss Wingrave was just OK for me. The story was kind of boring. Not much happens.
The only character I liked was Jack. Emily was kind of a bitch. Jack is only trying to do the right thing by his family and reign them in a little, but Emily constantly flies off the handle. There were some amusing scenes resulting from their fights, so I did enjoy that. There is a little bit of a mystery, but it wasn't anything exciting. The book is fairly clean with only kissing. I'd say skip it unless you have nothing else to read.
The only character I liked was Jack. Emily was kind of a bitch. Jack is only trying to do the right thing by his family and reign them in a little, but Emily constantly flies off the handle. There were some amusing scenes resulting from their fights, so I did enjoy that. There is a little bit of a mystery, but it wasn't anything exciting. The book is fairly clean with only kissing. I'd say skip it unless you have nothing else to read.
July 21, 2013
It was a wholesome novel...not a wow.
July 22, 2013
boring
July 28, 2013
Plucky heroine, misunderstandings, tea, lovely clothing, duel, many more misunderstandings, happy ending. Yeah, regencies make such nice middle of the night reading.
August 6, 2013
It was so so! Only rated a 3 because it was the regency era I love with some good wit at times! Mostly just wanted to finish more then did I enjoy the story itself!
November 4, 2014
This book didn't hold my attention at all. It was difficult to get through and took me a while to finish.
August 4, 2014
An unpredictable mystery with a predictable love story.
March 13, 2016
Easy read. Strong heroine, fashioned after the formidable Sophie from Georgette Hayer.
January 22, 2017
Did not realize it was a romance novel, thought it was going to be a murder mystery. One star for glamorizing abusive relationships.
January 14, 2024
Finally this author provided a heroine who gave out more than she got.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews