Mistress of Scandal

Greentree Sisters #3

by Sara Bennett

Proper, reserved Francesca detests chaotic London and one of its most infamous inhabitants: her birth mother, the notorious courtesan Madame Aphrodite. Lovingly raised by the devoted Lady Greentree, she's content to remain in Yorkshire, far from the scandalous parent whose life and profession shock . . . yet intrigue her. But a dark, dangerous stranger she rescues on the moors is awakening a most improper desire—causing Francesca to question whether she is more her mother's daughter than she ever wished to be.

When Sebastian Thorne agrees to protect Aphrodite's estranged daughter from a dire threat emerging from her past, the fallen lord is unexpectedly seduced by Francesca's beauty. But a vigilante living on the shadowy edge of society has little hope to own such a prize—and unless he reclaims his abandoned title and lost honor, Sebastian will never get close enough to the bewitching lady to save her life . . . or win her passion.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Adult, Victorian

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sara Bennett writes with passion. She has been published by Avon HarperCollins in the USA, and also publishes independently. She recently wrote a series of Regency novellas about Second Chances called Mockingbird Square. The four novellas are Unforgettable, Enraptured, Surrender and Reckless. They're available at all eBook stores.

Currently she is writing a second series of Mockingbird Square. The first three novellas, Fascination, Seduction and Temptation are available, and Obsession is under way.

Sara also writes paranormal romance as Sara Mackenzie, steamy historical romance as Evie North, and Australian Women's Fiction as Kaye Dobbie.

Reviews

[Lori ◡̈ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish that I had read this story immediately after reading this first two in the series (that I enjoyed). This just seemed to be all over the place. The hero fell into immediate lust with our heroine, the heroine was in constant battle with herself to resist lust (so to not become just like her courtesan mother)... there were villains everywhere. It actually got to the point that I was reading each character as if they were the villainous spy trying to be found. At the end of the story, I realized a few of the characters were actually not spies, as I had assumed, so that irritated me in a sense as I was reading the story incorrectly in my head. The whole kidnapping plot, the characters involved, the reasoning behind it.... lame. I think it took away from the romance in this story actually. The romance just read like routine lust scenes, nothing to do with love. But... I actually finished the book, so one point for getting me to not DNF.

[Katie(babs) · Rating 1 out of 5]

The third and final book in this trilogy of sisters who were kidnapped as babies from their courtesan mother is such a disappointment. And this is coming from an author who has years of experience writing enjoyable historical romances. When you have constant eye rolling by the third chapter and throughout the book you know this was written on auto pilot.

The premise looks to be interesting as mother "Madame Aphrodite" pays our hero Sebastian to try and find the evil ones responsible for stealing her children years before. Sebastian is your typical angst filled man who lives on the dark side for some wrong he has done in the past. The horror! The total cliché!

Sebastian happily takes on the case and in the process almost dies by being left to drown in some bog. (They actually have marshy bogs in England that will kill you!) He is found and saved by the youngest daughter Francesca as she walks with her dog through the moors even though she is suppose to be some respectful young woman. What a coincidence this makes. Sebastian is over come by lust the minute he sees her! And Francesca, even though she doesn't want to act out any traits of her trashy mother, tries not to think these lust filled thoughts.

Even though by page 100 she and Sebastian have fallen in bed together.
Zany turmoil and constant villains surround these two over and over. And along the way they are overcome with passion and ecstasy while always in danger.

If only there were not clichés' and over the top actions by the villains and the two main characters, then maybe this book could have been redeemable. For a good chuckle, and not in good way perhaps this book is for you. Otherwise check out Bennett's earlier works for more substance and no eye rolling.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. All the pieces were here, but it was just missing that... something. I found myself skimming long sections of the book.

[~❤️Minnie❤️~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. It is yet again proof of why I love this genre so much. I didn't know it was the third book in a trilogy but that didn't matter. It stands alone by itself although I'll be definitively reading the first two books.

In this book, we have Miss Francesca Greentree, the youngest daughter of Aphrodite, a courtesan. When she was just but a child, Francesca and her two older sisters were kidnapped and it wasn't until many years later that they found out who their real mother was.

Then we have Mr. Sebastian Thorn who is running from the past because he didn't like the person he was back then.

Francesca’s real mother hires Mr. Thorn to figure out or I should say confirm her suspicion as to who kidnaped her daughters. He is warned that he will be in danger if he takes the job and so Sebastian meets Francesca after an attempt to end his life. The closer he gets to uncovering the truth the more danger he is in and by extension Francesca.

Ms. Bennett had me at the edge of my sit trying to figure out everything and as more and more details came out I just needed to keep reading to confirm I made the right assumptions. The dynamic between Aphrodite and Francesca was heart breaking and heart warming at the ame time. I loved how this story was presented and it was something a little different since this book makes reference to the fact that gas lighting was starting to make an appearance at the time.

Like I mentioned I can’t wait to read the first two books on this trilogy and I might have found another to go author for this genre.

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story. Not everyone has a courtesan for a mother, was stolen from said mother with 2 other sisters. They were meant to be killed but instead taken to a couple who raised them. Francesca is quite content living by the moors but Mrs Jardine wants her to have a happy marriage and future. Off to London they go.
This story has mystery, intrigue, secrets and much more.
I loved it.

[Zorka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imádom Sara Bennett regényeit. És ezzel is így voltam. Majdnem tökéletes volt. A romantika, erotika és humor egyvelege ismét levett a lábamról. Nagyon tetszett Fancesca és Sebastian kapcsolatának alakulása, és az is, hogy végre megtudhattuk pontosan mi is történt a három lánnyal annak idején. (Bár szerintem kiszámítható volt a dolog, nem okozott túl nagy meglepetést, ezért is a mínusz egy csillag.) Emellett pörgős, szórakoztató olvasmány volt ez a regény is. Kedves kikapcsolódás a freudi pszichoszexuális fejlődés és a jungi analitikus modell tanulása között. Mindenképp ajánlom azoknak, akik szeretik az ilyen stílusú könyveket, és nem akarnak nagy fordulatokat, csak egy kis könnyed kikapcsolódást. Remélem a jövőben is olvashatok majd Sara Bennett-től, mert én nagyon szeretem a fogalmazásmódját, és a történeteit is. :)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was heading towards a two star rating, but the final third of the book earned it the extra star.

This was a pretty formulaic historical romance, which I actually don't mind at all if the story engages me. This one didn't very much until that final third of the book. Not really any one thing I can put my finger on, I liked the two leads well enough as well as some of secondary characters. I don't know. I just never really felt all that invested in any of them.

I see that this is the third in a series...I'm not yet sure if I am going to read the previous two, though I kind of doubt it.

[Julie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the intrigue in this book. It was interesting all the way through. I think I figured out who the bad guy was about a dozen times only to rethink it and talk myself out of it. My first instinct was wrong so the author did a great job there. It then turned into a nagging suspicion that proved right. I liked being tricked very much. All too often I've seen romance writers try to incorporate intrigue and it goes horribly wrong. Then there are Francesca and Sebastian! I LOVE them! Great characters with a palpable chemistry. Really enjoyed their storu.

[Evelyn Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I thought it was going to be a story about one of the charater in the novel "A Seduction in Scarlet" since in this story ther name gets mention a lot however I was dead wrong Marcus was mention is this book for about 5 minutes if not less. tghe book follow basically the same passion, mistery, and action. I would like for the brothers to have been given more life by the writer. I will try one more of her books before a final adios.

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story reads like a rewriting of the "Who Shot JR?" season into a steamy, Victorian, "Who's Franchesca's Father?" whodunit that I actually quite enjoyed. Things came together a little too nicely in the end, though.

[Beth Streeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Good romance but a pretty quick read with a fairly lame story line.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Melissa Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

part 3

nice completion of the 3 sisters. a seduction in scarlet is the next book featuring many of the same characters

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا]