The Scoundrel and I

Falcon Club #4.5

by Katharine Ashe

A sexy, heartwarming novella from the author of RITA® Award Finalists My Lady, My Lord and How to Marry a Highlander…

Printer’s assistant Gabrielle Flood just made the worst mistake of her life.
Then handsome, dashing Captain Anthony Masinter came along…
And made it even worse.
And he’s the last man on earth who can help her fix it.

Sometimes a disaster is exactly what two people need to fall in love.

* * *

The Scoundrel & I is a standalone spin-off novella from Katharine Ashe’s acclaimed Falcon Club Series, with special BONUS MATERIAL: the complete correspondence of Lady Justice and Peregrine, including never-before-published letters. The publication celebration sale price is for a limited time only.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Novella, Historical, Regency Romance, Regency, Fiction

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2016

About the author

Katharine Ashe is the USA Today bestselling author of historical romances reviewers call “intensely lush” and “sensationally intelligent,” including two Amazon's Best Romances of the Year. A professor of history and popular culture, she writes fiction because she adores the grand adventures and breathtaking sensuality of historical romance. For more information, please visit her at http://www.katharineashe.com.

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I'll post my review on my blog! For now, just Goodreads.)


***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Scoundrel & I by Katharine Ashe
Publisher: Billet-Doux Books
Publication Date: August 7, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC sent by the author

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

A sexy, heartwarming novella from the USA Today bestselling author of RITA® Award Finalists My Lady, My Lord and How to Marry a Highlander...

Printer's assistant Gabrielle Flood just made the worst mistake of her life.

Then handsome, dashing Captain Anthony Masinter came along...

And made it even worse.

And he's the last man on earth who can help her fix it.

Sometimes a disaster is exactly what two people need to fall in love.

* * *

The Scoundrel & I is a standalone spin-off novella from Katharine Ashe's acclaimed Falcon Club Series, with special BONUS MATERIAL: the complete correspondence of Lady Justice and Peregrine, including never-before-published letters. The publication sale price of 99¢ is for a limited time only.

What I Liked:

This. THIS is the classic Katharine Ashe that I absolutely love. Her Prince Catchers series was SO good, and I enjoyed each one. I didn't love her latest novel, The Rogue, which surprised me! It had been one of my most anticipated adult romance novels of 2016. But this novella seemed more like classic Ashe! I was enthralled by this story.

Please note -- I received an electronic advanced reader's copy of this book from the author. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

Gabrielle Flood has done a terrible thing - she took the printing type set (whatever it's called) from her place of work without permission, and on her way home, she drops it when a horse and rider startled her. Now Elle is ruined, because her employer will let her go, because she was not supposed to touch the machine. She took it because her dying grandmother loves printing and the press, and it makes her happy to touch it. Elle doesn't expect to see the handsome stranger who nearly ran her over with his horse, but she does. Captain Anthony Masinter didn't know that he ruined Elle's life that night, and when he finds out, he is quick to try and help. Finding the missing pieces proves difficult, and so he gets creative. As the pair rush to find the pieces before the Brittle family get back.

I adored both Elle and Anthony! Elle is an intelligent woman who corrects Anthony's grammar all the time, which is cute (not annoying). She proofreads publications, including Lady Justice's publications, which are very popular. Elle is a no-nonsense type of woman, especially after having her heart broken by Jo Junior (one of Mr. Brittle's sons). She's closed off her heart to love. But she doesn't expect Captain Anthony Masinter to breeze into her life.

Anthony... oh Anthony. I think he's one of my favorite male protagonists of the adult romance novels I've read this year. Swoony does not cover how sigh-worthy he really is. Yes, he's handsome and he fills his Navy uniform really nicely and he's just nice to look at in general. What's more, he's incredibly honorable, determined, and a little stubborn. He wants to help Elle, even though it's pretty much her fault for taking the type setter in the first place. Anthony has a tough backstory, and he joined the Navy as a result, at age twelve. Twenty years later, he's back in England after he inherits property and a hefty amount of money.

The romance is SO wonderful! I loved seeing these two fall for each. With this being a novella, you'd think the romance would seem fast and instant. But Ashe crafts the romance beautifully, taking these two from a terrible start to a swoony end. There are bumps in the road, especially with Anthony's honor getting in the way, but I liked how things worked out. These two have great chemistry, and share some steamy moments (though there is only one sex scene). They also have a lot of fun together, with several great adventures and a lot of cute scenes. There is a tiny bit of drama and heartbreak at the climax of the book, but it's handled well and there isn't unnecessary drama associated with it.

Aaaaand, I *love* that Elle fights for Anthony! She is the one that messes up and creates that small drama at the climax, and she is the one that fixes things and fights for her man. I love seeing this! I love when a woman messes up, she takes responsibility and makes it right and fights. Good for her!

I haven't read any of Ashe's Falcon Club books, but I think fans of that series will love this book especially, because there are Lady Justice and Peregrine mentions all over this book! Including letters and such.

I feel like I can't express just how much I adored this book! The romance was great, and I really liked Anthony, and I liked Elle a lot too. In Ashe's last book, I struggled to like the heroine. But in this book, I liked Elle and I loved Anthony. Ashe writes wonderful historical romance stories with strong heroines and swoony, respectful alpha heroes, and this novella does not disappoint.

What I Did Not Like:

More steamy scenes? Not a dislike, but more of a wish! Ashe's books are pretty steamy, and this one is, but I would have loved more than one sex scene!

Would I Recommend It:

While this is a novella, it's pretty lengthy! The story feels very complete and the relationships and characters are well-developed and well-written. And I loved the romance! So much that I want to reread this story and experience it all over again.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. I'm not sure I'd rate this 5 stars (it doesn't quite *feel* like 5 stars to me, and I usually reserve that rating for all-time favorites), but I think this book is better than 4 stars. This story was much more like I'm used to from Ashe, and I loved it!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scoundrel & I by Katharine Ashe is a 2016 Billet-Doux books publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This pleasant and touching novella is a spin off to the popular Falcon Club series.


Gabriella, or Elle, works as a printer’s assistant, while also caring for her gravely ill grandmother. She once made a huge mistake by giving her heart to a man, and vows to never make that error again. But, on the heels of that monumental blunder, she finds herself in another horrible bind, and Captain Anthony Masinter is partly to blame.

Determined to set things right for her, despite his own rather delicate situation, the two embark on a special mission and soon find themselves falling hopelessly in love. But, due to class distinctions, and other unbreakable barriers, it looks as though the lovers are destined for heartbreak…


Elle’s work, as it so happens, is tied in with the delightfully wicked correspondence between Lady Justice and Peregrine.

Several posts by each party are recorded here and are as titillating as ever, but this story is all about Tony and Elle.

The banter between the couple is priceless with Elle continually correcting Tony’s grammar and his sheepish, but charming responses. Tony is my kind of guy, a man’s man, a ‘what you see is what you get’ sort of guy who does not put on airs. He is honorable to a fault, protective and sweet, which is makes him swoon worthy and very, very sexy.

Elle is a woman down on her luck, but never imagined her misfortune would lead to true love. Elle is smart, savvy, and selfless, so it was wonderful to see her finally have her happily ever after. I predict Elle will go far, all on her own writing her stories someday.

I enjoyed this short story, which has a slight ‘Cinderella’ tone to it, which I always enjoy. This novella is a nice compliment to the Falcon Club series and makes a nice segue into the next full length novel which at long last will tell the story of Lady Justice and Peregrine.

Overall, this is another wonderful and heartwarming romance from one of the best historical authors out there.

As a bonus, the complete correspondence between Lady Justice and Peregrine are included at the back of the book, including never before published letters, which will certainly have you frothing at the mouth in anticipation of “The Earl”, coming in October!

4 stars

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little story, with an absolutely delightful hero - warm, caring, effective, and funny. The story is kept simple, but within the constrictions of the novella form, Ashe manages to give us the fascinating background of a print shop (I'd have loved to have seen more of this in action - maybe it features in the longer novels in this series), and a rounded pair of MCs, each facing very real challenges.

The plot springs from the MCs' first meeting when Tony unwittingly puts Elle in a position where she could lose her job as a printer's assistant; subsequently, through a series of slightly bizarre machinations, he tries to make amends. At the same time, through a misplaced sense of guilt, and his own notions of honour, he is looking for a way to support a friend's widow.

There were, inevitably, some things that didn't completely convince: "you shall go to the ball, Cinders" only really works in pantomime; there were a couple of sketchy secondary characters whose inconsistent actions felt clunky; Elle's insistence on grammatically correct English at all times became a little wearing; and the final HEA was delayed by some manufactured conflict coming in from left-field.

But overall, this is a well-written, cheerful story, and Tony is a joy.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scoundrel & I is a sweet little novella that serves as an appetizer for the main event, The Earl, which comes out later this year. It took a little while to get going, but once the hero, Tony, began making regular appearances, I was into it.

Gabrielle Flood is an overworked, underpaid printer's assistant for the publisher that releases the letters from Lady Justice and the correspondence from Lord Peregrine. Gabrielle loves their constant banter and she wants to share that joy in the form of type with her sick grandmother. However, when she sneaks the type home, an impatient nobleman bumps into her (our hero) and causes her to drop the type. Lost type means lost job and potential jail time if she cannot replace it before her employer notices.

Gabrielle is heartbroken and when she sees the man again, she loses her mind and yells at him. Well, the man is no longer distracted as he was the night he almost ran her over and he is desperate to help. They make an unlikely team and start exploring solutions to Gabrielle's problem and in the course of their interactions, begin to fall for each other.

Now, the plot is quite a bit more complicated than this. There are a lot of active threads, characters, and hidden stumbling blocks. This novella packed more action than many full length novels! Like The Rogue, I will be honest and say I didn't care much for the heroine. She made a foolish choice (several really) and would often jump to conclusions and become a bit of a harpy. She mellowed a bit by the end, but I did have a hard time connecting with her. As for the hero, Tony, I ADORED him. He has a secret and bit by bit throughout the story, you begin to understand why he speaks and acts the way he does. He is romantic, charming, and thoroughly selfless in so many ways. Just like Saint in The Rogue, Tony was worth reading about. I didn't always jive with the plot or the heroine, but I really loved Tony. (As a side note, I found his half-sister, a dressmaker, to be very interesting also. A story about her could be fun!)

Throughout this novella, there are references to Lady Justice and at one point, she plays a key role in the plot. Plus, included at the end is a series of letters capturing the correspondence between Lady Justice and Peregrine. I enjoyed the tie in to the active series and am now looking forward to the conclusion of the Falcon Club which will come with The Earl in October 2016.

Overall, this was a nice story with a Cinderella-like feel. It was fun to revisit Lady Justice in time for the arrival of The Earl, and after a slow start, I really enjoyed the story's pace. The ending was not what I would've wanted, but I think it is a nice HEA for the characters and their personalities.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabrielle Flood is being daring. While her employers at Brittle & Sons, Printers, are away on holiday in Bristol, Gabrielle “borrows” the printing type from her workplace to bring to her flat and show her gravely ill grandmother, for whom it will be the grandest joy. No one will ever know. Unfortunately, on her way home with her treasure, an unfortunate accident happens, which for Gabrielle means certain ruination. She will lose her job, and she and her beloved grandmother, who already barely have enough to live on, will be destitute. What Gabrielle couldn’t know is that the handsome scoundrel, who inadvertently caused her misfortune, is definitely not as bad as she had first thought…

What an indescribable delight joy it is to experience the wondrous Katharine Ashe at her most elegant, her wittiest, her absolute best! Said scoundrel is Captain Anthony Masinter, one of the most beautiful characters ever created by Ms. Ashe. He is dashing, honest, honourable, and utterly irresistible! Gabrielle is very straightforward, a stickler for proper speech, which leads to some of the most splendid and amusing exchanges as she corrects Anthony’s grammar. The author did some serious research into printing, and I devoured every word. Katharine Ashe is a brilliant writer, and her prose in THE SCOUNDREL AND I is simply dazzling: so rich, luminous, eloquent, as well as delightfully clever. I read a good part of the book with a silly smile on my face, which is saying a lot as just before I had finished a book that had left me feeling angry, which illustrate how wonderful THE SCOUNDREL AND I truly is; being able to convey such feelings of happiness to a reader is a precious gift from an author. But not everything is all laughs; one character has a devastating secret, and it made this magnificent story even grander! This is going to be hard to describe, but it’s another quality to this amazing book: I had an impression of movement throughout, there is an airiness to the story, a lightness to the characters and the romance that is wonderfully pleasant. Anthony and Gabrielle complete each other magnificently, and the romance is absolutely divine! I felt their chemistry, their respect for each other, their connection, and their backstories are enthralling. I loved THE SCOUNDREL AND I as much as one can love a book!

THE SCOUNDREL AND I is a long novella, and if all that beauty, wit, glorious writing weren’t enough, Katharine Ashe treats us to the most stupendous exchange of letters between of Lady Justice and Peregrine of the Falcon Club Series, and that alone would qualify as reason enough to read this astounding book!



I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those rare novellas that satisfies - feels like I just read a full-length novel.

Will write a review if I can find the time!

[Jaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a different take on the first meeting in that the hero, Captain Anthony Masinter doesn't realize he has met the woman that will change his life and all Gabrielle Flood knows is that a stupid, careless man has cost her the job she loves and the means to help take care of her elderly grandmother.

Anthony Masinter, formerly of Her Majesty's Navy is weighed down with guilt over the death of his First Officer and is determined to offer himself on the altar of matrimony to take care of the widow and children.
He joined the Navy to get away from the family that made him feel insignificant and dumb. He hid his most shameful secret all his life.

Gabrielle has been the sole support of her grandmother by working in a print shop. She works hard and doesn't have much to show for it. But she will do everything she can to make her grandmother's last days as happy as she can. Running in Anthony Masinter puts her whole world in jeopardy and she has to find a way to correct her error before her employer returns from his holiday. When Anthony finds out what he has set in motion he will not rest until he can make sure that Gabrielle is safe and secure.

Gabrielle wants nothing to do with him but Anthony will not take no for an answer and the sparks start to fly.
This is a lovely novella that tells the an orginal story that will lift your spirits and make you smile. Anthony has never met anyone like Gabrielle and even though she knows his darkest secret she still cannot seem to stay away from him.

Katharine crafts a wonderful novella that anyone who loves a divine Historical Romance will enjoy.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of a girl who works in a printer’s office, Gabrielle Flood, who has a chance meeting with Captain Anthony Masinter, recently discharged from the Royal Navy. What is nice about this story is that they are not of the aristocracy, though they do brush alongside it. It is a refreshing change from all the stories of Dukes out there.

Katharine Ashe nicely builds a slow seduction of Elle by Tony. She resists him but he is persistent. There is also a joint commitment to solve a problem of Elle’s which is quite an adventure and gives the story some meat, again, beyond the typical regency romances of balls and house parties.

An overall enjoyable story with a special treat of reading all the letters exchanged by Peregrine and Lady Justice which is a nice serve up to Ashe’s next novel, The Earl, which I am looking forward to reading!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scoundrel & I is spin-off novella from Katharine Ashe’s acclaimed Falcon Club Series, which was amazing to read them all. I love her characters and plots. Gabrielle who works at a printing press has just stolen something from work that she should not have and she runs right into Captain Anthony. what will happen between these two??? this was a great short story and can't wait for Katharine Ashe's next book.

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable story by Katharine Ashe, featuring some characters from previous books. Slightly longer than a regular novella, it read like a short novel. I absolutely love the character of Captain Anthony Masinter! He really made the story. I have only read one other novella with some of these characters, not the books, but this introduction makes me want to read the others. I think this can be enjoyed as a stand alone. I rarely give a five star rating to a novella, because I am always wanting a longer story. However, I think this selection met that criteria.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very sweet novella and surprisingly felt more like a complete novel than a novella.

Tony and Gabrielle are very likeable characters and both carry scars/secrets from the past.

Tony is a captain in the navy and has just resigned his commission, he inherited a property from a distant relative and has decided to set down roots and start a family - his chosen bride is the widow of his first mate. Tony feels incredible guilt over his death and feels that he can only make things right by marrying the widow and caring for her and her children.

Gabrielle is a proof reader for the publishing company that prints the Lady Justice letters. She lives with her grandmother. Her grandmother is not doing well and Gabrielle wants to bring home a surprise for her. She carefully wraps up the typeset for the new Lady Justice letter and begins to go home. On the way a careless rider almost runs her down and she drops the typeset. 53 pieces of the type are lost and Gabrielle is frantic, she is convinced that her employer will not only fire her, but also have her arrested for theft.

The mystery rider is none other than Tony and when their paths cross again, Gabrielle lets him know exactly what she thinks of him. She is beyond angry and Tony is sincerely sorry for the trouble he caused. He insists that he will help her fix this and comes up with several plans.

The quest for the missing typeset is at times hilarious and as much as Gabrielle fights it, she has come to care for Tony. Tony is enchanted by the feisty printer and would like nothing more than to get to know her better.

When secrets are revealed, hearts are broken and a HEA seems impossible, but Ms. Ashe is a master at plot twists and in the end, two people find the love of a lifetime.

I wish I had read "Kisses, She Wrote" before I read this book, but I didn't have a problem following this story without reading that first - but I am definitely going to go back and read that novella! I loved the letter compilation at the end of this novella between Lady Justice and Peregrine - it was a perfect refresher for the upcoming book "The Earl"

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading stories, where the heroine, like me, has a job and is on the bookish side. A personal plus for me is that this story has an old fashioned printing press. My father’s friend, had such a printing press and when I was young, showed me how to use the press with setting the type and making my own broadsheet aka the printed page. He told me the metal type was sometimes fragile and to treat it with care. But that’s enough about me, this is about our hero and heroine, Gabrielle Flood and Royal Navy Captain Anthony Masinter.

In Katharine Ashe's latest novella, Scoundrel and I, Gabrielle, known as Elle, to her friends, works for the London firm of Brittle & Sons Printers. When her bosses go on holiday, Elle borrows some of the type home, but on the way she is almost run over by a horse and drops the bag of type. The man’s horse tramples over the type in his haste to stop and ruins it. Elle is sure her bosses are going to fire her, when they get back from their vacation. The man makes sure her person is all right before he leaves, and while she is all right, her parcel is not.

Tony Masinter is on a mission. His friend, John Park, has died and he feels it is his fault. He feels obligated to marry John’s widow to honor his John’s last wishes. In haste, he almost runs into a lady in the street. When he finds out about Elle’s situation, he tries to help her. He introduces her to his “cousin”, who helps her in society.

Elle doesn’t know about Mrs. Park and soon falls for the handsome sailor. She thinks even if he is a scoundrel, he’s a mesmerizing one. Tony thinks of her as someone, who he could have as a mistress, but soon finds out that while she may be poor, but she is still a lady. Soon, he finds himself falling for Elle. Will he stay true to his promise to his friend or to a promise of his heart and court Elle in earnest? Read Katharine Ashe’s “The Scoundrel and I” to find out.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katharine Ashe is an elegant, witty writer. Fans of Katharine Ashe will recognize that this novella is part of her Falcon Club/Devil's Duke series, and events occur prior to the onset of her next novel, THE EARL. You will be delighted by cameos of favorites from the series, including further exchanges between Lady Justice and Peregrine. Although you can read this novella as a stand-alone (and be won over by the quality of Katharine Ashe's writing), those of us who have followed the series will get the added joy of revisiting old friends and watching Lady J and Peregrine's relationship progress.

Calling THE SCOUNDREL & I a novella is almost misleading; where other authors typically publish 99-120 pages, this charmer is a full 190 pages. The story is complete, the characters well-rounded, the dialogue engaging and the hero and heroine completely endearing, flawed and yet perfect in their relationship.

No spoilers here! Others have described the setting, and the synopsis of the plot. I will simply say that when we meet Gabrielle, she is in dire straits, lonely, disillusioned and yet determined to bring joy to her grandmother, who is in rapidly declining health. An accidental and disastrous encounter with Captain Anthony Masinter brings her to almost certain ruin. Anthony is a deeply private, outwardly successful war hero who hides a deep and painful secret that he's struggled to bury and overcome, and is honorable to the core. Determined to help Gabrielle recover from his blunder, he endears himself to both Gabrielle and the reader as he inserts himself into Gabrielle's life, and heart. I honestly loved Gabrielle and Anthony, and I am so glad to see their heartwarming story published.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and wholeheartedly recommend it to all! I now anxiously await final book of the series, THE EARL. But I’ll also be sad to see it end!

[Kaetrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scoundrel & I by Katharine Ashe – B Elyssa Patrick was singing the praises of this novella and, as it was only 99c, I snapped it up. While I didn’t love it quite as much as Elyssa did, I did enjoy my time spent with Gabriella (Elle) Flood and Captain Anthony Masinter. The Scoundrel & I is a spinoff novella (from the author’s Falcon Club series) but stands alone well. I expect there will be quite a few readers using this book as a gateway in fact.

Elle works in a printer’s and has been left “in charge” when the owner and his family go on two week’s holiday. And, by “in charge” I mean she is in the shop for reasons which are not made clear, as she’s not allowed to do any actual printing herself. Nonetheless, she resolves to take home the print “chase” for the latest women’s rights pamphlet from Lady Justice so her blind and ailing grandmother can read the type with her fingers. (The backstory doled out along the way explains how this is relevant). Unfortunately, on the way home, Elle is startled by a rider and drops the chase, losing 53 pieces of type and destining her for unemployment at best and prison at worst.

Anthony, when he realises a couple of days later what he has done, resolves to help Elle to restore the type before her employer returns from holiday. Thus restored, no-one need ever know she took the chase out of the shop at all. Used to captaining a ship, Anthony does tend to take charge, even if Elle is not at all keen on having his help – at least, not at first.

It is clear to the modern reader that Anthony has a learning disability (probably dyslexia) and it is something he is ashamed of. Very few people know of his difficulty with reading and writing and he deliberately uses bad grammar when speaking to cover up any inadvertent mistakes. Elle, is of course, very literate and she is constantly pulling him up on his grammar – something which becomes very like foreplay.

Read the rest: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2016/0...

[Karen Ampoorter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scoundrel and I

The first thing i thought when i saw the book was: what a gorgeous cover, a beautiful positioned couple, amazing dress, emotion and misschief. Then i started reading the cover and i was hooked.
Very important: This is a novella that doesn't feel like a novella. Well developped characters, great prose that sucks you right into the story. It's a spin off of the Falcon club serie but you can read it seperately.
I just loved it because it gives you a taste of the next novel about Peregrine and Lady Justice.

How the mighty have fallen ;-)
What do we have in store for you: Anthony Masinter, a determined bachelor, a naval war hero with his imperfections whom only make him so much more and Gabrielle Woods, a young willful woman, a printer shop assistant, who mistrust men due to an youthful indiscretion.
They meet under the worst circumstances. He offers her help which she first refuses and later has to accept.
He proves to her that you can become so much more than you are and she's so afraid to feel. He offers her everything and she dicards him...like a scoundrel. Too afraid to trust and love. In an ultimate effort, she trows caution to the wind and tries to win over her scoundrel.

*I received an arc for a honest review but i also bought this book because i really fell in love with Captain Anthony and Elle

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katharine Ashe puts more story into a novella than some authors do a full length novel. This is a wonderful read and a gorgeous cover! It is part of the Falcon Club/Devil’s Duke series. It can be read as a standalone, but you might enjoy it more if you know about Lady Justice’s letters for the rights of the poor and women.

The heroine, Gabrielle Flood, works for very low pay at the print shop that publishes Lady J’s letters. She also takes cares of her sick grandmother. When her employers take a vacation, she takes some type home for her grandmother to feel the letters. However, disaster strikes when an aristocrat in a hurry runs her down and she loses some of the letters.

Captain Anthony Masinter has no plans to marry but feels obligated to take care of his deceased first lieutenant’s widow and children. When he meets Elle again after knocking her down he is determined to help her keep her job and in doing so, falls in love with her. But he has a responsibility to the widow. What is he to do?

I don’t write plot spoilers so this is a limited review of all that happens in this book. I believe you’ll fall in love with Tony and Elle. I enjoyed it immensely and hope you will try it.

[Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scoundrel and I is a provocative and uplifting novella from Katharine Ashe. It is a standalone spin-off novella from the acclaimed Falcon Club Series. It has special *bonus material* at the end of the novella; the whole correspondence of Peregrine and Lady Justice. It even contains never-before published letters between the two. I loved this novella and the story of Gabrielle & Tony. It is fun, romantic, sexy, the start of the next novel about Peregrine and Lady Justice coming this October, "The Earl".
Gabrielle is a printer's assistant at the print shop of Brittle & Sons, Printers. Anthony (Tony) is a Captain, just recently returned from the sea.
Gabrielle has made the worst mistake of her life, and the attractive, daring Captain has come along and made it worse. Gabrielle feels Tony is the last man on earth who could ever help her with fixing it, but he is actually the perfect one to help her. Could their once in a lifetime love come from such an unfortunate misadventure? I really enjoyed their story and the banter between the two, and the way they open up to each other.

[Anna Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katharine Ashe may have written my favorite novella, ever! The Scoundrel and I made me laugh and cry. The protagonist, Gabrielle, is a print mistress. She is poor, takes care of her blind grandmother and is smart, but not a member of the ton. She is almost ran over Captain Anthony. He is a member of the Navy and the Ton and stands for everything "Elle" finds repulsive in men. Elle is the reason I love, love, love this novella. She is smart, sassy, and quite humorous. Life has dealt her numerous hard blows, but she is still a wonderful girl. She finds the Captain to be a scoundrel, but one that tries to rectify the wrong he has done her. By working together, their romance blooms. The Captain makes himself swoonworthy by his wonderful personality, chivalry, and kindness. He also has a special problem that is not usually touched on in historical novels. The novella was a breath of fresh air, and I truly encourage you to read it as soon as possible. I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's a very different Regency romance. Although not part of the ton, this couple is caught up in its rules.
Captain Anthony Masinter has served his country well. He is retiring from the sea after living most of his life on a ship. He was a younger son with what we would call dyslexia today. His father was disgusted and threw him on a ship when he was just a youngster. Turns out, there is a lot of free time and men willing to teach him on board. He excelled at all his rising ranks until his retirement.
Gabrielle Flood has typesetting in her blood. She is employed at a printing shop. While the owners are on holiday in Bath she sneaks out a rack of type to show her blind grandmother.
That night the two literally ran into each other. The book shows the expected love story. Unfortunately, besides the attraction there are miscommunication. It grows into a lovely love story with enough plot turns to keep me up until I finished it.
All in all a great read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, witty novella The Scoundrel and I is as engaging and touching as Katharine Ashe’s other novels. This novella is a spinoff from her Falcon Club series and is essentially an opening to the upcoming The Earl, Peregrine and Lady Justice’s story (!!!!) which will be released this fall.

The Scoundrel and I is the journey of Tony and Elle and like Katharine’s other stories; their happy ending is a hard fought one. Life has a tendency to throw roadblocks in our way and this does not change for Elle and Tony.

One of the things I love the most able Katharine’s books is how much emotion is contained within the pages of each of her stories and she does not disappoint with The Scoundrel and I.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story.
Falcon Club series is one of my favorite series to have a character who works at the print shop where Lady Justice and Peregrines story is published is amazing.

I love how Captain Anthony meet Gabrielle. The twists are great.
Gabrielle being a clerk at the print shop and wanting to share Lady Justice story with her Grandmother was so sweet and sad. Knowing Gabrielle's grandparents were in the printing business in America before coming to take care of her and raise her was a wonderful twist.
I love how Katharine included all of the previous stories into the book. I love when others characters from you love previous books are intertwined the main characters.

Thank Katharine for a wonderful story.

[Misty Sow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turning story line with intriguing characters who are witty and amazing in their own persona…integrity of the first degree and huge hearts. A reader’s delight in the small nuances threaded throughout the book. I loved it and look forward to where this story might pick back up. Adventurous and compelling at the same time; it is challenging to put down once I started…this is one of those “just one more page…just one more chapter…wow, I finished the whole book…oh, I have an hour before I need to get ready for the day, better get some sleep now—oh but it was so worth it.” Katharine Ashe did an amazing creative journey on this one. I highly recommend it.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scoundrel and I is a great short read that introduces you to a great couple that you root for from the beginning.

The humor in the story was a nice touch to the more serious parts of the story. You would cry then laugh, then cry, then cheer. And in addition to the great love story of Elle and Anthony you get more of Lady Justice and Peregrine’s letters.

The writing is what we come to love from Katharine. It is a great addition to her Falcon Club series.

[Chumchum_88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun short story

- I liked how the hero and heroine were bickering when they first met "Officially"

- I liked the selflessness of the hero who was always willing to help, really really liked the hero

-liked the half sister

Overall, *thumbs up*

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mini-review for the All About Romance blog to come early next week.
This novella is pure magic. Romantic, swoon-worthy and... too short!

[Mmeguillotine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terrible (in fact, the author writes truly beautiful lines), but it felt overly familiar and forgettable at the same time. A nice but non-memorable novella.

[Nicole Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for free and planned to read it as a joke, but was shocked to love it!! I’ve never read this genre before. It was the perfect length for the story that it was, it was delightfully entertaining, and the dialogue and descriptive tone of the narrative completely immersed me. The yearning!

My only problem with this tale was the consistent repetition of “you should leave” and “I should go” and “you shouldn’t be here” and “no, I cannot!” The tortured, noble restraint—while necessary for a romantic plot that requires yearning—was a little overdramatic for my taste at times. But, because the narrative was a short one, it did little to affect my overall enjoyment of the work. I will be searching for more Katharine Ashe books going forward!

[Mak ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍😍

Gabrielle Flood e Captain Anthony Masinter

Foi muito lindo... Um pequeno acidente que leva ao melhor acontecimento da vida de duas pessoas.. Elle pensa que sua vida estava perdida quando um pequeno acidente aconteceu, mas um herói, não,, um capitão.. Sim, Tony foi o responsável pelo ocorrido e tomou a responsabilidade como um bom cavaleiro, e faz tudo ao seu alcance para ajudar Elle, mas isso leva a mais,, muito mais...

🤭🤭

Justamente essa mais, foi o que tornou a story incrível, perfect, maravilhosa... Tudo é muito prazeroso, e deixa um desejo de saber o que mais se passou na vida deles...

#BoaLeitura #GoodReading

🎀😘

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabrielle Flood works in a printer’s shop and cares for her elderly grandmother, who when she was younger also worked as a typesetter in a print shop in America. Captain Anthony Masinter has left the navy to run an estate he inherited from a great aunt. Elle wants to do something special for her grandmother, so when the shop owner goes out of town, she borrows some of the type to take home. On the way, she is frightened by a horse and rider moving rapidly down the dark street. She drops the tray of type and is unable to recover all of them. A few days later she recognizes Anthony as the man who nearly ran her down and gives him a scathing set-down. Anthony wants to make amends. She refuses. He won’t take no for an answer. Here is where the fun starts. The two of them embark on an energetic quest to find and replace the missing type, and to fall head over heals in love with each other. It was wonderful, and then it wasn’t. A betrayal and a tragedy threaten to deny these two their happily ever after. Is there any way to put things back on track? Anthony is certainly going to try. This story has a fast paced, lively plot that hold your attention from start to finish. The characters are strong, determined, and likeable, except for that one nasty piece of work from the print shop. A good story, read and enjoy.

[Pat Loop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katharine Ashe just made it to go to status. Delightful story with strong funny heroine. Well developed characters and good flow to story.