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Supposed Scandal #3
A Most Enticing Enigma
Secrets, scandals, and surprise, oh my!
Elena Stevenson has been living at her intended’s estate, Fenmore Park, for three years while he tours Europe. With permission to run the estate in his absence, she has taken the liberty of secretly becoming the actual estate manager as well, seeing to the business aspects and running of the farms and livestock and tenants. Her work has brought prosperity to the estate that has been unexpected, and she is well aware that her time in this role is limited. When word reaches her of her intended’s passing, Ellie waits anxiously for the future of Fenmore—and herself—to be determined.
West Howard, the new Lord Bickham, is pleased to be taking over his half-brother’s estate and is determined to bring the place back to the bounty and comforts he recalls as a boy. What he does not expect is the fiery woman living at Fenmore as lady of the manor. Her blunt opinions, involvement in estate manners, and infuriating habit of wearing breeches to the farms threatens to disrupt all of his plans, and the secret she holds makes her the most unusual—and fascinating—woman he has ever had the misfortune to meet.
Elena Stevenson has been living at her intended’s estate, Fenmore Park, for three years while he tours Europe. With permission to run the estate in his absence, she has taken the liberty of secretly becoming the actual estate manager as well, seeing to the business aspects and running of the farms and livestock and tenants. Her work has brought prosperity to the estate that has been unexpected, and she is well aware that her time in this role is limited. When word reaches her of her intended’s passing, Ellie waits anxiously for the future of Fenmore—and herself—to be determined.
West Howard, the new Lord Bickham, is pleased to be taking over his half-brother’s estate and is determined to bring the place back to the bounty and comforts he recalls as a boy. What he does not expect is the fiery woman living at Fenmore as lady of the manor. Her blunt opinions, involvement in estate manners, and infuriating habit of wearing breeches to the farms threatens to disrupt all of his plans, and the secret she holds makes her the most unusual—and fascinating—woman he has ever had the misfortune to meet.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2026
About the author
Rebecca Connolly
97 books1,354 followersI was born once upon a time, and I started making up stories right away. Eventually, I started writing them down, and never stopped! I have a day job, which gets in the way of my writing, but it pays the bills so I CAN write, so I guess that's okay! I am a bookworm, which I think is key to being a writer, and I am always looking for inspiration! I live in Indiana, am obsessed with hot chocolate, and I am on track to be the best aunt in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 6, 2026
Secrets, scandals, and a whole lot of sparks—this one absolutely delivered. I had such a great time reading this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and didn’t want to leave Fenmore Park when it was over.
Elena Stevenson is the kind of heroine I love: she's capable, clever, and unapologetically bold. The fact that she’s been quietly running the estate behind the scenes for several years already sets her apart, but it’s her confidence and sass that really make her shine. She doesn’t shrink, she doesn’t pretend, and she definitely doesn’t back down—especially not when West Howard shows up.
And speaking of West… the tension between these two? Top tier. This is enemies-to-love done right. Their clashing personalities create the most delicious friction, and the banter is sharp, witty, and genuinely fun. So many of their interactions felt like a verbal sparring match, and I was living for it. You can feel the push and pull and that slow shift into something deeper. I also loved the estate setting and the underlying stakes—there was more going on than just romance.
I also have to talk about Fred—because wow, what a turnaround. He irked me at first, but by the end, I absolutely loved him, especially his sibling-like relationship with Elena. It added such a warm dynamic to the story and gave Elena someone in her corner in a really meaningful way. All the relationships in this book made it unforgettable for me.
If you love enemies-to-lovers energy, strong, capable heroines, fantastic banter, found-family vibes in historical romance…then you need this on your shelf. This one easily earned all five stars from me. I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
Elena Stevenson is the kind of heroine I love: she's capable, clever, and unapologetically bold. The fact that she’s been quietly running the estate behind the scenes for several years already sets her apart, but it’s her confidence and sass that really make her shine. She doesn’t shrink, she doesn’t pretend, and she definitely doesn’t back down—especially not when West Howard shows up.
And speaking of West… the tension between these two? Top tier. This is enemies-to-love done right. Their clashing personalities create the most delicious friction, and the banter is sharp, witty, and genuinely fun. So many of their interactions felt like a verbal sparring match, and I was living for it. You can feel the push and pull and that slow shift into something deeper. I also loved the estate setting and the underlying stakes—there was more going on than just romance.
I also have to talk about Fred—because wow, what a turnaround. He irked me at first, but by the end, I absolutely loved him, especially his sibling-like relationship with Elena. It added such a warm dynamic to the story and gave Elena someone in her corner in a really meaningful way. All the relationships in this book made it unforgettable for me.
If you love enemies-to-lovers energy, strong, capable heroines, fantastic banter, found-family vibes in historical romance…then you need this on your shelf. This one easily earned all five stars from me. I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
April 21, 2026
Such a fantastic group of characters! From the beginning of the book, to the final pages, I just loved my time spent with them! Mysterious, completely open, witty, vulnerable, clever, great friends, adoration, emotional, lovely!!! So many more ways to describe them all but those were some of my favorites. Not only are the main characters wonderful, but the secondary ones as well. Especially cousin Fred. He's one of my favorites! I loved the breath of fresh air that he brought into the story with him, and how he helped West and Elena throughout their story. Especially in the awkward moments. Hahaha! Fred is someone we all need in our lives!
I love reading books where the characters have perceptions before they've even met and then we get to watch them navigate what they thought with what is reality and what they encounter and live. It's the best watching those preconceived notions be put to rest or changed! And that is exactly what happens in this book between West and Elena. And I LOVED it!!!
Sweet, gentle, underestimated Elena is just a dear. Man was my heart being tugged the more her story was revealed. But then she just kept showing up. Again, and again, and again. She kept doing the right thing even when it was hard. I just adore her character!
And then there's West. So sure of himself. So positive that he knows what is happening around him and how it all should be. But does he have a surprise waiting for him. And I loved Fred's presence and encouraging him to stop and take stock of what is really happening. There were so many great moments that West realized just how wrong he had been in thinking how everything was going to pan out. Hahaha! And I loved that Fred was there for those moments! Hahaha!
Seriously, I love Rebecca Connolly's writing style and her humor! She's fantastic! I love every time I get to pick up one of her books and be swept away by the beauty and emotions and wit of her stories!!! The journey that West and Elena go on with discovering more about each other, working together to save the estate, and their sweet love story blossoming, was wonderful!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I love reading books where the characters have perceptions before they've even met and then we get to watch them navigate what they thought with what is reality and what they encounter and live. It's the best watching those preconceived notions be put to rest or changed! And that is exactly what happens in this book between West and Elena. And I LOVED it!!!
Sweet, gentle, underestimated Elena is just a dear. Man was my heart being tugged the more her story was revealed. But then she just kept showing up. Again, and again, and again. She kept doing the right thing even when it was hard. I just adore her character!
And then there's West. So sure of himself. So positive that he knows what is happening around him and how it all should be. But does he have a surprise waiting for him. And I loved Fred's presence and encouraging him to stop and take stock of what is really happening. There were so many great moments that West realized just how wrong he had been in thinking how everything was going to pan out. Hahaha! And I loved that Fred was there for those moments! Hahaha!
Seriously, I love Rebecca Connolly's writing style and her humor! She's fantastic! I love every time I get to pick up one of her books and be swept away by the beauty and emotions and wit of her stories!!! The journey that West and Elena go on with discovering more about each other, working together to save the estate, and their sweet love story blossoming, was wonderful!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
April 25, 2026
[3.5 stars]
This has an interesting and compelling story, and I liked the clever and quirky dialogue. Despite a few slow sections, most of the book is engaging and easily held my attention.
That said, something felt off about it. It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly as there isn’t anything too glaring. I think it’s just a combination of the following smaller points that prevented everything from fully clicking.
> The writing felt like it was missing some transitional sentences. There were multiple points where we’d be in a scene and things would shift, like Connolly forgot to mention certain movements or actions that changed the scene around. It wasn’t hugely distracting, but enough that I found myself skimming back up to see if I’d missed something more than once.
> The emotions and reactions of characters often seemed artificial - squeals, gasps and cackles that seemed exaggerated and inappropriate for the circumstance. It tinted the book with a slightly corny air, especially the later half and ending.
> There was something lacking in the relationship development between the MCs. They didn’t have enough interactions or chemistry between them to back up their later ‘feelings’. Actually, it felt like there was more effort put into developing the FMC’s relationship with Fred (the cousin) than the MMC.
I don’t know. It’s an entertaining read and I’m sure many will love it, but it didn’t quite land with me.
Content:
There is no sex or violence. The words “hell” and “damn” are used a dozen times or so, but otherwise the language is clean. The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kissing. There is no real mention of faith or God.
This has an interesting and compelling story, and I liked the clever and quirky dialogue. Despite a few slow sections, most of the book is engaging and easily held my attention.
That said, something felt off about it. It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly as there isn’t anything too glaring. I think it’s just a combination of the following smaller points that prevented everything from fully clicking.
> The writing felt like it was missing some transitional sentences. There were multiple points where we’d be in a scene and things would shift, like Connolly forgot to mention certain movements or actions that changed the scene around. It wasn’t hugely distracting, but enough that I found myself skimming back up to see if I’d missed something more than once.
> The emotions and reactions of characters often seemed artificial - squeals, gasps and cackles that seemed exaggerated and inappropriate for the circumstance. It tinted the book with a slightly corny air, especially the later half and ending.
> There was something lacking in the relationship development between the MCs. They didn’t have enough interactions or chemistry between them to back up their later ‘feelings’. Actually, it felt like there was more effort put into developing the FMC’s relationship with Fred (the cousin) than the MMC.
I don’t know. It’s an entertaining read and I’m sure many will love it, but it didn’t quite land with me.
Content:
There is no sex or violence. The words “hell” and “damn” are used a dozen times or so, but otherwise the language is clean. The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kissing. There is no real mention of faith or God.
May 1, 2026
This is a sweet story. With characters that move you. I enjoyed the completely different storyline than I have ever read before. Connolly excels at creating new storylines. I love Connolly's books because there's a lot of spark and tension. That crackle between a couple that gives you butterflies. I felt that in this book but not until the very end. They were mostly at odds through the book and I just wanted more romance. It was very slow moving.
This is a proper romance with some sweet kisses 14 and up
This is a proper romance with some sweet kisses 14 and up
July 6, 2026
Elena is too much for me, and the story is complex but unbelievable. The heroine negotiates a marriage contract as an orphan with limited connections to society. She lives at her betrothed's grand house and ends up managing everything because he's never there, and because her father taught her more about estate management than most women would ever know. She doesn't mind living like a servant and using her dowry to benefit the property and its tenants. She pushes to be married to her fiancé by proxy, which I found interesting until I looked it up and discovered that Hardwicke's Marriage Act of 1753 required in-person signatures in the parish registry by both bride and groom, making the physical presence of both parties mandatory in England and Wales. And then Elena starts wearing pants to wander in the fields and talk to farmers, and I wondered if Connelly was aware of Regency era mores when she wrote this novel. I mean, the hero uses Elena's Christian name from the get go.The writing itself is good enough but tends toward redundancy and is overly flowery in ways that don't always make sense. The competition was a weak plot device, and the swearing is kind of odd. I think my expectations were heightened by so many five-star reviews.
May 10, 2026
A very satisfying book with interesting characters, strong female and happily ever after. The last chapter and epilogue were the best part of the whole book for me. I was hoping to see a love interest for cousin Fred mentioned in the epilogue but it didn't happen.
August 10, 2026
Way too much information about crop rotation.
October 11, 2026
This was an interesting premise but fell flat for me. I was 50% through the book and realizing that the main characters had only had a handful of conversations, he was mostly sulking and/or yelling at her, and she was weirdly holding secrets, avoiding him and just continuing to do her thing without him. I had a hard time liking either main character that much. It focused way too much on all the estate details and crop rotations and farming conversations. We get the point, she is intelligent!
There were several scenes that seemed like it was setting them up for some good interactions and then it would skip to the next day and we’d just get a summary of what happened. Too many inner thoughts and telling us what they did or thought but not actually giving us the specific interactions or dialogues. So it wasn’t really believable when they fell in love. And too much focused on physical traits (he fell in love with her because she was beautiful), we didn’t really get to see their friendship grow. And the continued miscommunications were so annoying. Like marriage would be the most obvious resolution to their problem but he refused to consider it for some unknown reason and she refused to consider it an option even though they were falling in love. Drives me crazy!
Odd handful of curse words. Odd scene with him watching her bathing in the lake (she had a dress on but the whole scene was weird and awkward, especially because up to this point they had been hating each other so it just felt extra creepy). And then this sentence. I’m sorry to repeat it but it is so spectacularly cringy that I can’t help myself. He was coming to the realization that she deserved a good husband that loved her and not one that would “ignore every majestic piece of her that came along with that child-producing aspect.” Gag! So many layers of cringe there and why the heck is that in a proper romance??
Ok sorry lots of criticism. I did like the epilogue, that was adorable.
There were several scenes that seemed like it was setting them up for some good interactions and then it would skip to the next day and we’d just get a summary of what happened. Too many inner thoughts and telling us what they did or thought but not actually giving us the specific interactions or dialogues. So it wasn’t really believable when they fell in love. And too much focused on physical traits (he fell in love with her because she was beautiful), we didn’t really get to see their friendship grow. And the continued miscommunications were so annoying. Like marriage would be the most obvious resolution to their problem but he refused to consider it for some unknown reason and she refused to consider it an option even though they were falling in love. Drives me crazy!
Odd handful of curse words. Odd scene with him watching her bathing in the lake (she had a dress on but the whole scene was weird and awkward, especially because up to this point they had been hating each other so it just felt extra creepy). And then this sentence. I’m sorry to repeat it but it is so spectacularly cringy that I can’t help myself. He was coming to the realization that she deserved a good husband that loved her and not one that would “ignore every majestic piece of her that came along with that child-producing aspect.” Gag! So many layers of cringe there and why the heck is that in a proper romance??
Ok sorry lots of criticism. I did like the epilogue, that was adorable.
July 19, 2026
I just did not love this, both characters irritated me. And the plot was okay.
April 23, 2026
A story of preconceived notions, understandings and misunderstandings. I loved the two main characters. Their interactions were not without intense feelings and often sparks, both negative and positive.
It was fun to see the growth arc of these characters as they came to know each other and themselves better. There was a lot of witty banter balanced by sweeter, soft moments. A clean read with a few bible swear words.
It was fun to see the growth arc of these characters as they came to know each other and themselves better. There was a lot of witty banter balanced by sweeter, soft moments. A clean read with a few bible swear words.
May 13, 2026
I always know when I pick up a Rebecca Connolly novel I’m going to be thoroughly entertained & A Most Enticing Enigma did just that. From the enemies to more vibes to the endearing characters, to the battle of wits & forced proximity, I adored this story!
Elena Stephenson is the kind of plucky, strong character I love. She’s brilliant, self sufficient, & hard working with a heart of gold. She’s secretly become the estate manager for Fenwick Park while her absentee fiancé is off gallivanting about Europe. The estate is in shambles & Elena’s stepped in & poured her heart & soul into revitalizing it one crop & tenant at a time. But, when her fiancé dies & his stepbrother comes to claim the estate, Elena must fight for the future & people she’s come to love.
West Howard didn’t expect to become Lord Bickham or inherit Fenwick Park which he loved as a boy. Determined to bring it back to its former glory, West & his cousin Fred set out to make the estate profitable once again. But, standing in his way is his stepbrother’s fiery fiancee who definitely has opinions on how things should be done. When he’s not totally puzzled by the woman, he can’t help but admire her. When his cousin suggests a contest of wills regarding the estate, he’s all too eager to compete especially when he’ll get to see more of Elena wandering about in men’s breeches. But, what happens when hidden secrets & the rules of propriety threaten everything?
I loved this story! I adored the setting & could easily imagine the beautiful landscape & smelling the fresh earth being turned over. The battle of wits & witty banter had me thoroughly entertained. I loved Elena’s determination & willingness to work to see her ideas put into place. I loved West’s willingness to listen to her thoughts & take her seriously. And Fred, he’s a favorite! I can’t wait to read more about him. He’s the gentle nudge behind the scenes guiding these two together.
A delightful, sweet kisses Regency that’s a perfect Spring read. Highly recommend! Can’t wait for more in the Supposed Scandal series. I received an advanced copy but also purchased in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.
Elena Stephenson is the kind of plucky, strong character I love. She’s brilliant, self sufficient, & hard working with a heart of gold. She’s secretly become the estate manager for Fenwick Park while her absentee fiancé is off gallivanting about Europe. The estate is in shambles & Elena’s stepped in & poured her heart & soul into revitalizing it one crop & tenant at a time. But, when her fiancé dies & his stepbrother comes to claim the estate, Elena must fight for the future & people she’s come to love.
West Howard didn’t expect to become Lord Bickham or inherit Fenwick Park which he loved as a boy. Determined to bring it back to its former glory, West & his cousin Fred set out to make the estate profitable once again. But, standing in his way is his stepbrother’s fiery fiancee who definitely has opinions on how things should be done. When he’s not totally puzzled by the woman, he can’t help but admire her. When his cousin suggests a contest of wills regarding the estate, he’s all too eager to compete especially when he’ll get to see more of Elena wandering about in men’s breeches. But, what happens when hidden secrets & the rules of propriety threaten everything?
I loved this story! I adored the setting & could easily imagine the beautiful landscape & smelling the fresh earth being turned over. The battle of wits & witty banter had me thoroughly entertained. I loved Elena’s determination & willingness to work to see her ideas put into place. I loved West’s willingness to listen to her thoughts & take her seriously. And Fred, he’s a favorite! I can’t wait to read more about him. He’s the gentle nudge behind the scenes guiding these two together.
A delightful, sweet kisses Regency that’s a perfect Spring read. Highly recommend! Can’t wait for more in the Supposed Scandal series. I received an advanced copy but also purchased in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was immediately drawn into this story from the first pages because of the personalities of both West and his cousin Fred. The story starts out with Fred informing West that his half brother has just died and as a result he is now the heir of the Fenmore Estate. A place that West has loved since childhood.
The banter between everyone in this book is entertaining and captivating, to say the least. Pair that with a story that has everyone with a stake at risk, made this book hard to put down and I read it within one day.
Elena is a beautiful human being whose only focus seems to be helping those in need, even if it puts her at risk. She had a proxy marriage with West's cousin and has been working tirelessly day and night for years to bring the estate out of ruin. This of course, is only possible because of her knowledge and appreciation for estate management and agriculture. But women aren't allowed in those roles, so she fabricated a fake person as the estate manager and has been pretending to be two people the entire time.
With West becoming the new Lord Bickham of the estate, he and his cousin quickly arrive to make their claim of his childhood dream. Only to find Elena there and no idea how to address the situation. All the secrets slowly are revealed, but the dynamic between West and Elena is tense for the first many parts. They both love the estate with their entire selves, but they always feel like they're competing or in the other's way. So this is an ongoing confusing situation for them both.
Especially because Elena has no claim to stay there, but her hard work and visions for the tenants and property is the only thing that kept the entire thing from complete collapse. West owes everything to her and her work, but he struggles to get past the whole 'it's a woman' doing all of this work.
All of this is what made the character development so wonderful to watch unfold. Everyone had hurdles to overcome and biases to deal with and it made everyone so much stronger in the end. I loved every moment of this story and watching Elena and West come to the happily ever after was a perfect treat for me!
The banter between everyone in this book is entertaining and captivating, to say the least. Pair that with a story that has everyone with a stake at risk, made this book hard to put down and I read it within one day.
Elena is a beautiful human being whose only focus seems to be helping those in need, even if it puts her at risk. She had a proxy marriage with West's cousin and has been working tirelessly day and night for years to bring the estate out of ruin. This of course, is only possible because of her knowledge and appreciation for estate management and agriculture. But women aren't allowed in those roles, so she fabricated a fake person as the estate manager and has been pretending to be two people the entire time.
With West becoming the new Lord Bickham of the estate, he and his cousin quickly arrive to make their claim of his childhood dream. Only to find Elena there and no idea how to address the situation. All the secrets slowly are revealed, but the dynamic between West and Elena is tense for the first many parts. They both love the estate with their entire selves, but they always feel like they're competing or in the other's way. So this is an ongoing confusing situation for them both.
Especially because Elena has no claim to stay there, but her hard work and visions for the tenants and property is the only thing that kept the entire thing from complete collapse. West owes everything to her and her work, but he struggles to get past the whole 'it's a woman' doing all of this work.
All of this is what made the character development so wonderful to watch unfold. Everyone had hurdles to overcome and biases to deal with and it made everyone so much stronger in the end. I loved every moment of this story and watching Elena and West come to the happily ever after was a perfect treat for me!
April 22, 2026
Connolly’s A Most Enticing Enigma is a cleverly written regency romance. Elena Williams has been living on and running her intended’s estate, Fenmore Park, for the last three years. She has used a hands-on approach to restore Fenmore after it was left for ruin. When her intended dies, West Howard, the new Lord Bickham moves to the estate. He was looking forward to living in his childhood home and was shocked to find that his half-brother left it in disrepair. West is unsure how to interact with Elena and her non-traditional ways. When it comes to light how much Elena has done for the estate, Lord Bickham starts to admire her. Although there were many reasons why they couldn’t be together, they were able to work it out. There was a fun ending with a touch of swoon.
This regency romance had a slightly different plot line. It was nice that I didn’t feel like I was reading the same plot with different names, which occasionally happens with this genre. Although Elena was doing many things that were nontraditional for her era (and mostly unbelievable), Connolly made it seem very plausible in the circumstances.
Contents:
• Clean, kisses only. It is so nice to be able to read a sweet book without worrying about inappropriate content.
• Mild/minimal swearing. Nothing that offended me enough to put the book down, but it still surprised me. I have read a few of Connolly’s books in the past and there has not been any swearing. Personally, I feel like it could have been left out and the book still be completely realistic.
Overall, this was a great read. I recommend it to Regency romance fans.
I received this book as an ARC via the author. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
This regency romance had a slightly different plot line. It was nice that I didn’t feel like I was reading the same plot with different names, which occasionally happens with this genre. Although Elena was doing many things that were nontraditional for her era (and mostly unbelievable), Connolly made it seem very plausible in the circumstances.
Contents:
• Clean, kisses only. It is so nice to be able to read a sweet book without worrying about inappropriate content.
• Mild/minimal swearing. Nothing that offended me enough to put the book down, but it still surprised me. I have read a few of Connolly’s books in the past and there has not been any swearing. Personally, I feel like it could have been left out and the book still be completely realistic.
Overall, this was a great read. I recommend it to Regency romance fans.
I received this book as an ARC via the author. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 22, 2026
A MOST Enticing ENIGMA
(SUPPOSED SCANDAL
SERIES, Book 3)
by: Rebecca Connolly
@author.rebecca.connolly
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Secrets, scandals, and surprise, oh my! …
-A MOST Enticing ENIGMA, is in fact, such a delightful charming story from beginning to ending. It is filled with just the right lovely balance of humor, heart, and depth! I thoroughly enjoyed such endearing, fearless, courageous characters full of such determination, warmth, goodness, and grit. The romance that bloomed despite obstacles, misunderstandings, struggles, and hard work had my full attention. Seeing dear characters rise such circumstances and choose what was right was heartwarming. There is such beauty and emotional depth weaved throughout West and Elena’s story and the humor sprinkled throughout was a delight. It was the goodness, the belonging, and the fight to make one’s home shine, together was what I loved most. Seeing what happens when you put two great forces come together for the better leads to such savory and sweet success. The sparks flying off the page were an extra bonus. This dear story is worth reading, absolutely!👌📚💯😍✨
•Content: supposed scandal scenerio, handful of biblical swear words used in exclamation, loss, grief, struggling estate, death of loved ones (off page; mentioned on page), no violence, kisses only! Clean.
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
#amostenticingenigma
#supposedscandalseries
#authorrebeccaconnolly
#allaboutthebestreads
(SUPPOSED SCANDAL
SERIES, Book 3)
by: Rebecca Connolly
@author.rebecca.connolly
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Secrets, scandals, and surprise, oh my! …
-A MOST Enticing ENIGMA, is in fact, such a delightful charming story from beginning to ending. It is filled with just the right lovely balance of humor, heart, and depth! I thoroughly enjoyed such endearing, fearless, courageous characters full of such determination, warmth, goodness, and grit. The romance that bloomed despite obstacles, misunderstandings, struggles, and hard work had my full attention. Seeing dear characters rise such circumstances and choose what was right was heartwarming. There is such beauty and emotional depth weaved throughout West and Elena’s story and the humor sprinkled throughout was a delight. It was the goodness, the belonging, and the fight to make one’s home shine, together was what I loved most. Seeing what happens when you put two great forces come together for the better leads to such savory and sweet success. The sparks flying off the page were an extra bonus. This dear story is worth reading, absolutely!👌📚💯😍✨
•Content: supposed scandal scenerio, handful of biblical swear words used in exclamation, loss, grief, struggling estate, death of loved ones (off page; mentioned on page), no violence, kisses only! Clean.
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
#amostenticingenigma
#supposedscandalseries
#authorrebeccaconnolly
#allaboutthebestreads
October 13, 2026
Look, I don’t have a problem with the miscommunication trope. In fact, if it’s well done, I adore it (probably more than I should). But the misunderstanding that popped up at the eleventh hour in this story was weaker than the drink selection at Almack’s. And, to add insult to injury, it set off an unnecessarily melodramatic, cliche-ridden climax to the novel. I couldn’t even just let go and try to embrace the more swoonworthy moments, because I kept tripping over romantic cliche phrases.
This makes me sad because I have really enjoyed a lot of this author’s books, and generally this one was going well prior to the ending. I liked the unusual premise and setup. The main characters’ antagonism towards each other right from the beginning didn’t make a ton of sense and felt immature at times. But it led to some very entertaining sassy comments. And Fred! Love him. He’s the reason I’m not rating this lower. I laughed out loud quite a few times, especially in the first half of the book.
Note: Not something I use for my rating here but I listened to the audiobook and the editing was terrible. At least a dozen times, there were either repeats of lines or obvious skips. Clearly, nobody did any quality control on that recording, which is pretty bad for a professionally produced audiobook that people are paying for. Particularly unfortunate because the narrator, Jessica Elisa Boyd, is one of my favorites.
This makes me sad because I have really enjoyed a lot of this author’s books, and generally this one was going well prior to the ending. I liked the unusual premise and setup. The main characters’ antagonism towards each other right from the beginning didn’t make a ton of sense and felt immature at times. But it led to some very entertaining sassy comments. And Fred! Love him. He’s the reason I’m not rating this lower. I laughed out loud quite a few times, especially in the first half of the book.
Note: Not something I use for my rating here but I listened to the audiobook and the editing was terrible. At least a dozen times, there were either repeats of lines or obvious skips. Clearly, nobody did any quality control on that recording, which is pretty bad for a professionally produced audiobook that people are paying for. Particularly unfortunate because the narrator, Jessica Elisa Boyd, is one of my favorites.
May 6, 2026
I was intrigued by this one by Rebecca Connolly from the start. I loved the original plot. There were some fun secrets in this one. That made me want to know how the story would end up from the very beginning.
I loved Elana's strength. She worked so hard to get herself to where she was, mistress of her fiancé's estate. But she didn't stop there, she had to work hard to make that estate be at least somewhat profitable. And to do that she was using her own dowry. That's when she found out that her fiancé had died. Elana had to wonder just what was next for her.
West was the man who inherited the estate. He would have been Elana's brother in law. I had to laugh at some of the situations he found Elana in. He was definitely a bit scandalized by some of the things she did, and he didn't understand why she was doing them. But the reader knew why, at least in part. And that made it even funnier.
These two start out as almost enemies at the beginning of the book. It was fun watching how they softened toward each other, and learned to understand and even love the other.
I love this book so much!
I loved Elana's strength. She worked so hard to get herself to where she was, mistress of her fiancé's estate. But she didn't stop there, she had to work hard to make that estate be at least somewhat profitable. And to do that she was using her own dowry. That's when she found out that her fiancé had died. Elana had to wonder just what was next for her.
West was the man who inherited the estate. He would have been Elana's brother in law. I had to laugh at some of the situations he found Elana in. He was definitely a bit scandalized by some of the things she did, and he didn't understand why she was doing them. But the reader knew why, at least in part. And that made it even funnier.
These two start out as almost enemies at the beginning of the book. It was fun watching how they softened toward each other, and learned to understand and even love the other.
I love this book so much!
May 6, 2026
When West Howard arrives at his newly inherited estate, Fenmore Park, he finds the estate being run by Elena Stevenson, his late half-brother's intended bride. Elena has been working to bring order and prosperity to the badly neglected place and has been secretly acting as the estate manager. West, the new Lord Bickham, isn’t sure what to do with this independent, capable, clever woman who wears trousers and boots to work in the fields.
I loved Elena’s spunk and sass and the way she stands up to West. It was entertaining to see their relationship change and grow. Their banter was fun and enjoyable. The story line is quite creative for a Regency romance. It is part of the Supposed Scandal series written by different authors but is a standalone story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
I loved Elena’s spunk and sass and the way she stands up to West. It was entertaining to see their relationship change and grow. Their banter was fun and enjoyable. The story line is quite creative for a Regency romance. It is part of the Supposed Scandal series written by different authors but is a standalone story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When we read a romance novel, unlike a mystery, we know very soon who will fall in love by the end. Both our leading lady (Elena) and the main male character (Weston), were anti-social introverts, characteristics near and dear to my heart. As the story commenced, pride and prejudice on the part of West, caused trepidation in the heart of Elena. He'd been elated to inherit this estate he'd been kicked out of at the age of 15. She'd been engaged the last 3 years to his half brother Leonard, who'd left her in charge of this crumbling estate. Leonard, known only by reputation, had perished on the continent. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Weston and Elena through secrets unveiled, witty dialogue, and getting to know West's cousin Fred, a law unto himself. I heartily recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is such a fun book. Elena is spunky, more herself in trousers than dresses, loves to be in the fields and knows how to get the most out of the land.
Weston is a new Baron and seeing how his beloved Fenmore was almost ruined by his half brother's neglect. He doesn't love being around people and has a need to understand everything. He has a fierce desire to see his beloved Fenmore back to is former glory.
Sparks fly between the two characters from the beginning. They clash immediately. I loved watching them see and accept each other for who they really are. I also absolutely loved Fred, Weston's cousin. He is the much needed comic relief.
Weston is a new Baron and seeing how his beloved Fenmore was almost ruined by his half brother's neglect. He doesn't love being around people and has a need to understand everything. He has a fierce desire to see his beloved Fenmore back to is former glory.
Sparks fly between the two characters from the beginning. They clash immediately. I loved watching them see and accept each other for who they really are. I also absolutely loved Fred, Weston's cousin. He is the much needed comic relief.
May 24, 2026
sweet, period romance.
Romance, sweet, period; series but stand alone read
Elena and West’s story isn’t quite traditional. Secrets and work that Elena has done for Fenimore, West’s childhood home, lost to him when his brother inherited it, but now his after his brother’s death. Elena is the companion West never knew he needed, determined, knowledgeable, working as hard as she can to make Fenimore a thriving, vibrant place.
Loved all the small moments, Fred’s humor, their interactions, and the setting, the estate in need of care and work, and the light that Elena brought to the house.
Fun read.
Romance, sweet, period; series but stand alone read
Elena and West’s story isn’t quite traditional. Secrets and work that Elena has done for Fenimore, West’s childhood home, lost to him when his brother inherited it, but now his after his brother’s death. Elena is the companion West never knew he needed, determined, knowledgeable, working as hard as she can to make Fenimore a thriving, vibrant place.
Loved all the small moments, Fred’s humor, their interactions, and the setting, the estate in need of care and work, and the light that Elena brought to the house.
Fun read.
July 25, 2026
Mixed feelings about this book.
I liked that the story had some meat to it and I liked the three-dimensional, imperfect main characters.
I started losing interest about 2/3 of the way in because it started being kind of repetitive. Elena kept being the strong, strong woman. West kept needing to come around to appreciate her strength. Elena knew how to manage the fields and estate - it was the main plot point in almost every chapter.
I liked West better because he was willing to change, but Elena just kept being that strong, strong woman who didn't want to bend at all for other people. I wished she'd softened up a bit.
I liked that the story had some meat to it and I liked the three-dimensional, imperfect main characters.
I started losing interest about 2/3 of the way in because it started being kind of repetitive. Elena kept being the strong, strong woman. West kept needing to come around to appreciate her strength. Elena knew how to manage the fields and estate - it was the main plot point in almost every chapter.
I liked West better because he was willing to change, but Elena just kept being that strong, strong woman who didn't want to bend at all for other people. I wished she'd softened up a bit.
July 30, 2026
really cute story, would’ve been a 5 star for me except for a couple things. first of all, I got tired of all the yelling/bellowing/roaring/barking from West (MMC). the first half of the book was full of that. but then randomly it stopped & he was all of a sudden this gentle guy with extreme patience? idk even though I didn’t like the temper in the first half, the change in temperament just came completely out of nowhere. also the end of the book was just… flat. idk I just felt like the story was building & building & building…. & then it was over. like I said, I really good book, but I think it had potential for just a little more.
September 7, 2026
"The ache in her muscles was the..."
"The ache in her muscles was the satisfaction of a good day."
"He needed a polite place to eat and drink and think of other things, not a place to indulge in morose thoughts and depressing prospects."
“...you can look towards the horizon instead of just at the step in front of you.”
“I will pay you to shut up.”
"And as for patience . . . surely that was highly overrated."
"Sparring with her was rather invigorating, when he was in the right frame of mind."
Enjoyable story with engaging adventures and memorable characters. I would've given it five stars if the cussing had been omitted.
"The ache in her muscles was the satisfaction of a good day."
"He needed a polite place to eat and drink and think of other things, not a place to indulge in morose thoughts and depressing prospects."
“...you can look towards the horizon instead of just at the step in front of you.”
“I will pay you to shut up.”
"And as for patience . . . surely that was highly overrated."
"Sparring with her was rather invigorating, when he was in the right frame of mind."
Enjoyable story with engaging adventures and memorable characters. I would've given it five stars if the cussing had been omitted.
October 7, 2026
This is a kisses only Regency romance that is part of the multi author series Supposed Scandal. The books can be read in any order and aren't related to each other other than each story contains some sort of perceived or possible scandalous situation.
I am a big Rebecca Connolly fan. I actually had gotten an advanced digital copy of this book but couldn't see the print to read it well on my Kindle. I patiently waited for the audiobook to be released. It was worth the wait!
The very talented Jessica Elisa Boyd narrates this story. She keeps my attention without distracting mannerisms. I felt she really gave life to West and Elena.
I am a big Rebecca Connolly fan. I actually had gotten an advanced digital copy of this book but couldn't see the print to read it well on my Kindle. I patiently waited for the audiobook to be released. It was worth the wait!
The very talented Jessica Elisa Boyd narrates this story. She keeps my attention without distracting mannerisms. I felt she really gave life to West and Elena.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A most enticing enigma indeed! So enjoyed watching the newly minted baron of Fenmore (West) try to solve the mystery of Elena. Elena was such a delight, no simpering miss here! West is so happy to finally be back home running the show (so he thinks) but little does he know who actually is running it all, wink, wink. The journey for these two characters is challenging but simply enjoyable! If you love regency romance with some secrets sprinkled in you will not be disappointed.
Thanks to the author for the arc read!!
Thanks to the author for the arc read!!
April 22, 2026
I love clean historical romances, and wasn’t disappointed in this one at all! In fact, every book of this author that I’ve read has been a treat, and I eagerly wait for her next one every time!
The emotional tension, the character growth, the misunderstandings and social traditions overcome, and the desires of hearts revealed made this story an experience that I want to repeat! I loved watching the main characters fall in love and choose each other! I received an ARC copy and this is my review.
The emotional tension, the character growth, the misunderstandings and social traditions overcome, and the desires of hearts revealed made this story an experience that I want to repeat! I loved watching the main characters fall in love and choose each other! I received an ARC copy and this is my review.
April 29, 2026
This! This is what Rebecca Connolly excels at. I've long been a fan, but have been disappointed in her latest books. This one restored my faith in her. West and Elena are fantastic characters. I love how Elena is real and doesn't hide who she really is. I love how accepting and honest West is. Their story takes the tine it needs to grow and mature without the reader feeling bored and impatient. The witty banter is on par with the authors writing, and the side characters are loveable. A great read, and I'm so glad!
June 11, 2026
The premise was unique. It seemed like the estate fell in disrepair rather quickly (within a few decades). It seemed like that would be something that would happen over several generations. The romance between the two characters was interesting and developed slowly throughout the book. The dialogue was entertaining and the story was easy-to-read. I love that the story involved also getting to know the community around the estate.
I received a free ebook to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
I received a free ebook to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
September 15, 2026
I’ve been reading far too many of these types of books. I think it is to escape the reality of 2026. However, I am so tired of repetitive books. This is the first book by this author, and aside from the main couple of Elena and West being too slow to realize they were both in love and how long it took west to ask her to marry him… Other than that, it was a really good book with a unique plot. I am dictating, so please ignore any mistakes in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization because I’m in a hurry and don’t have time to fix them! Bravo, RC!
September 21, 2026
It felt like they were not interacting very much together and the biggest focus of the story was the estate. Their relationship felt almost passive in reading it or just their thoughts more than seeing them interact. I am much more interested in conversations and interactions in a story and this didn’t feel like it had much of that.
Also it seemed like all of the issues would have been fixed easily by a marriage of convenience suggestion from the beginning.
The best redeeming quality was Fred.
Also it seemed like all of the issues would have been fixed easily by a marriage of convenience suggestion from the beginning.
The best redeeming quality was Fred.
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