Lord Mark Dawnton is a genius. Everyone says so. Not only can he think circles around most of his peers, but he has also a skill for maneuvering through his father, the Duke of Wardington’s, marriage schemes.
Mark’s plan: Dodge women of good breeding. Dodge marriage. The plan had done the Duke of Wardington’s youngest son well for years... that is until the day Mark was presented with a new challenge.
He must instruct a lady in the ways of science and present her to His Majesty by the end of the season as a great mind. It's a challenge that he can't refuse... but when he meets his lovely student, Mark finds he's up for another challenge entirely.
A Woman on the Run from Herself...
Lady June Haywood is ready to take on any challenge that will get her in Society's good graces once again. Scandals from her past have made life hard for her, so she's willing to do whatever it takes redeem her reputation. Anything but marriage.
With June's secret past, the last thing she needs in her life is another man, but Mark is like no man she's ever encountered and very quickly, lessons in chemistry and psychology turn toward anatomy. Namely, hers. He doesn't wish to marry and neither does she, but what will happen when their actions give flame to new scandal?
This book was over run with characters. The main characters were worth hanging on for. Their story was strong and I liked his family, which with the arriving cousins from the country made a lot. I also liked her brother Lewis, and her ladies maid, who was, but wasn't ton. I know, that should have its own story. The book was a tangle of inter woven stories, with in the main story. It was very distracting. I just kept reading and stopped trying to figure out who was who, in the plot. Through all this mis - mash there is also fires being set, over a letter. The book begins with a horrible family death, then does not go back, and explain it till the end. I would only recommend this book to someone who can ignore all the buzzing bees of what seemed unimportant comings, and goings, and stick to the main characters. It was a three for me, and I'm generous, but I liked the last half of the book,and the ending.
I don't understand, the description is really not what happens in the book. And we barely get any time with the main MCs because the POVs are split between so many secondary superfluous characters I just did not care about. Why am I reading so much about a romance/relationship between two other characters and not the main characters? Frustrating, did not enjoy any of this tbh.
This is not a standalone novel. Or if it is, it's even worse than it seems. The story is so hard to follow with as many POVs that are going on. There are too many storylines for anything to be covered well, and the author doesn't try to cover any of them well anyway. We are told everything. While the main love story of the plot is severely lacking in depth, the mystery is even worse. The typos, missed words and misspellings are distracting. I think there was a missed opportunity in using June's photographic memory. Not enough evidence to suggest Mark was a genius. The prologue is super confusing to the story. And then there's the mention of Freud.
This is a standalone novel however it's better you read the first book so you have the background of characters that will be in this story/or other books in this series, which a LOT OF THEM so you can follow the story better. See my review on the first book.
I skipped book 2 and 3 as I don't care to read a book with too many characters nor short stories as book 1 & 2 but it turned up this is pretty much the same. Since I like to see June's & Mark's story so here I am. I skipped all the pages for characters that I don't want to follow so pretty much it became a short story.
Book 4 - Lord Mark Dawnton & Lady June Haywood Year of 1827 - London Lord Mark Dawnton, the Duke of Wardington's youngest son, is genius, only interest in his books, science and trying his best to avoid his father's scheme to marry him off. The College gives him a task so they can earn their first charter by tutoring a female, to see if a woman can be educated. Lady June is the first female they chose.
Lady June Haywood, a lady who wishes to redeem herself, she will do anything to be accepted back into Society's good graces, except marriage. and also to help her brother not to marry the horrid lady that he picked that he thinks by marrying her June's reputation can be redeemed. The first meeting not what they expected it then after that first meeting both of them try their best to beat each other POV.
Will give their story a 4.5 star however I have to rated based on the whole book which so many plots, characters, which I couldn't keep up because of that I gave this book 3.5 stars.
Next book from the series that I read is book #8 How to Make a Marquess, story of June's brother, Lewis Haywood.
Books in order - Wardington Park Series
1. To Love a Lord of London 2. The Regards of a Rogue 2.5 The Lords of Love 3. Gaining the Gentleman 4. The Skills of a Scoundrel 5. A Gentleman's Game 6. The Gentleman's Game of Love 7. The Gentleman's Law on Love 8. How to Make a Marquess 9. How to Design a Duke 10. How to Keep a Knight
Skills of a Scoundrel by Eleanor Meyers is a fascinating read. This historical romance intrigues readers from page one. I was hooked in immediately. The characters set the pacing in a fast but entertaining way. Never was there a moment for dullness. I felt the emotions coming forth from the characters as if they were my own. The heat and intimidating circumstances felt right. Women struggling to reach out into the world of academics...and here we meet one fine lady brave enough to step into it. Scandal following the blue-eyed beauty everywhere she goes. Not because she did something wrong but due to a friend under her watch. Imagine how cruel society is back then compared to now...gossip could ruin a soul and their family's name forever. Consequences come into play, and it was exciting to watch the lead female character turn down a prominent man not once once, not twice but three times in one night. Oh, a man's ego...has set him even more determined to win lady June Harwood's hand. She's all he thinks about no matter what he's doing. A woman who loves learning as much as a man is one to behold...and to never let go. However, danger is ahead and the past may just keep all well-thought plans away...
Skills of a Scoundrel is highly engaging to read. The book was easy to follow along and the characters were enchanting. Eleanor Meyers has once more brought a new favorite to my hands. The emotional attachment is great. The suspense was perfect. I was constantly on my toes waiting the final outcome. Eleanor Meyers' writing is superb. She creates fresh fiction that captivates and engages readers to follow along. Never knowing where they will be led. Overall, I highly recommend this brilliant piece of literature to all.
Once again Eleanor Meyers has brought the Duke of Wardington into my life and I enjoyed the visit so much. He is always plotting and seems bound and determined to get his way. This time with his younger son Mark. What I liked about Mark was his determination to fight any feelings he had about Lady June simply because he did not want to be work by his father.
I loved the scientific twist to the story, I was so involved in the way Lady Jane Haywood was portrayed. Her brain was so intricate to the story and made it even more special. I really like the way Ms. Meyers writes and brings out the most in her characters. She makes them spring to life with words and actions and this was certainly the case in this book.
Has potential but still needs work, its not finished
(I am Toms wife, this is my review) For me the book was hard to get into, then once I hit chapter 5, it got better. I became interested in June and Mark. I was truly excited to read about the much anticipated wedding, a little was mentioned at the begging of the Epliude, but after that nothing. So that very disappointing for me. Plus there are a lot of grammar and spelling issues. However my rank of two stars is due to the book never really finishing to me. There was great build up, then not really anything but the mention of their wedding. As I said though this book has great potential. Personally for me if less was put in the other stuff, the book would be even better.
I believe this was my first time reading this author and it will likely be my last. While I enjoy this genre, I think I will stick to the more popular authors such as Jo Beverly and Elizabeth Hoyt.
This book had potential and good characters but you never really got to know them. The plot was elementary with no real surprises to set it apart. Also, the book had so many characters that it was difficult keeping track of them all. Just really wasn't that enjoyable and it felt like half the kindle book was blank pages between really short chapters to make the book appear longer.
I loved this book and couldn't put it down! I was sad that I didn't realize it was a part of a series, but now that I know that I can discover my other favorite characters from this book and read their story, I'm definitely going to! The story behind the characters was great, the other characters from previous stories were introduced enough that I was not lost, and I feel in love with everyone! The book was well written and I couldn't put it down! Can't wait to read the beginning stories as well as the ones that come after!
This wasn't a terrible book, but it was confusing if you haven't read any of the previous books in the series. I found myself distracted by too many different things going on at the same time. At least twice in the book there was a note that you could look at a family tree to find connections between the characters, but that was too much work for me, since I like this genre for a quick and easy read. I liked the story line between the main characters, and would probably would have given this book more stars if I had read the first books in the series before reading it.
A great cast of characters make this book an excellent story. So many intertwined plots of deceit, secrets and matchmaking make the storyline simply superb. Thank you for the family links, as we would be lost to some of the family interactions. Reading of June and Marks' romance, you forget the book started with Anne and Colins' family. How desperate June must have felt to have an abortion in this era. Thank you for an engaging and interesting story, Danny and Debbie Scott.
Although I really like both Mark and June, and their interplay about marriage and science, there were way too many other storylines and characters.
I forgot to focus on the fire setters because there was so much else going on. Even with the family listings at the beginning, the names got all mixed up.
This way of introducing people so you read another book didn't work. I especially disliked the epilogue, usually about a happy ending, instead being about the frustrating "end" of the relationship between the Duke and Abigail.
This one was really tough to get through. There were many, many proofreading errors. And the plot was convoluted. So much so that at multiple times - in between chapters there was a note suggesting you refer to the family tree if you were having trouble making the connections about who everyone was.
The Skills of A Scoundrel (Wardington Park, Book 4)
The love story of Mark and June. Mark must show that a woman can be taught science and mathematics. June is chose to learn this thinks. Can she do it or will she fall for Mark? Fire are being set in many ton's home can there be someone to rune the season? Great story.
The writing is immersive overall, but the cast is large and can be hard to tract thoroughly. Most likely because my unobservent self came in on book 4 instead of book one. 🤦♂️ In the end though, it is a standard paper back romance novel; so an easy and feel good read set in the high society of early 1800 England. I'll read it again on another lazy rainy weekend.
I only gave it two stars because I liked the characters... It jumped too much, the chapters seemed to end abruptly, it needs a better editor, and the plot was a little lackluster.
Whoops. This was book four? Part way through I figured it wasn't the first but wouldn't have guessed fourth. Oh well. It was enjoyable fluff. Predictable, enjoyable, free kindle-prime fluff. Just wanted I wanted and needed.
Hard time keeping up.BUt then it started to flow.enjoyable read.NOrmal romantic story line,great read for an evening entertainment.Will follow up on next story line.
I enjoy her series and keeping the families all straight is a part of the fun. She continues to put out good m material and I will continue reading her books
Eleanor Meyers is possibly the best author of the romance genre. Her characters are well rounded. The plots are action packed and her romances are clean.
Another brilliant instalment in this series. I love Mark and his story. The background plot is really good too which adds another dimension to Eleanor’s stories. Loved it!