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Scandalous #2.5
Скандален залог
Дъглас Бенет не може да откаже добър залог, особено когато е замесена красива жена. Негов приятел предлага дързък план за изобличаването на най-прочутата жена в Англия и Дъглас приема мигновено. Какво по-голямо събитие от разкриването на истинската самоличност на опасната лейди Констанс – авторката на прословутата еротична поредица „50 начина да съгрешиш”?
Маделин Уайлд е свикнала да бъде преследвана и ухажвана. Години наред тя пази репутацията си на недостъпна и мистериозна личност, при това не без основание – препитанието й се гради изцяло на нейната дискретност. Когато Дъглас използва собственото й очарование срещу нея, тя го отхвърля като поредния женкар. Но той я изненадва – вместо просто да я съблазни, той се превръща в неин приятел, довереник и… любовник. Дали наистина могат да живеят щастливо до края на дните си, или любовта им ще бъде най-големият скандал, който някога е разтърсвал Лондон?
Маделин Уайлд е свикнала да бъде преследвана и ухажвана. Години наред тя пази репутацията си на недостъпна и мистериозна личност, при това не без основание – препитанието й се гради изцяло на нейната дискретност. Когато Дъглас използва собственото й очарование срещу нея, тя го отхвърля като поредния женкар. Но той я изненадва – вместо просто да я съблазни, той се превръща в неин приятел, довереник и… любовник. Дали наистина могат да живеят щастливо до края на дните си, или любовта им ще бъде най-големият скандал, който някога е разтърсвал Лондон?
104 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2015
117 people are currently reading
1349 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Linden
57 books1,701 followersCaroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University and worked as a programmer in the financial services industry before realizing writing fiction is much more exciting than writing code. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Readers' Choice Award, the JNRW Golden Leaf, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA's RITA Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
April 23, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
All's Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden
Book 2.5 of the Scandal series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Official Summary:
Nothing wagered…
Douglas Bennet can't resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England, Douglas agrees at once. After all, it would be quite a coup to discover the true identity of Lady Constance, author of the infamous erotic serial scandalizing the ton, 50 Ways to Sin.
Nothing won…
Madeline Wilde is used to being pursued. For years she's cultivated a reputation for being unattainable and mysterious, and for good reason: her livelihood depends on discretion. When Douglas turns his legendary charm on her, she dismisses him as just another rake. But he surprises her—instead of merely trying to seduce her, he becomes her friend…her confidant…and her lover. But can it really lead to happily-ever-after…or are they about to become the biggest scandal London has ever seen?
What I Liked:
I really liked this novella! It's definitely a great addition to the series. Usually I don't bother with novellas because they're so short and not entirely necessary to read a series. Novellas in historical romance series are great though, because books in historical romance series are companion novels anyway, so no novel is necessary to read the next ones. So novellas are just short versions of a companion novel. And in this case, I really enjoyed the novella! It didn't even feel too abbreviated, which is great!
In this novella, we have Douglas Bennet - Joan's brother (remember Joan from Love and Other Scandals?), Tristan's best friend (Tristan and Joan got married at the end of Love and Other Scandals). Douglas likes to make wagers, to place a bet on everything. When he challenged to prove that the widow Madeline Wilde is Lady Constance from the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlets, Douglas accepts the challenge and immediately begins to try and woo Madeline into revealing herself. Madeline certainly has an air of mystery about her, and she seems to fit Lady Constance's profile. But as Douglas gets to know Madeline, he finds himself falling for her. While the rake and heir who claims he won't get married expose the one woman he falls in love with, as the scandalous Lady Constance?
I always liked Douglas - I felt bad for him in Love and Other Scandals. He's his family's heir (he'll be a viscount or earl or something, I forget), and he's unmarried, so his mother is always harassing him into going to balls and social functions to find a wife. He doesn't expect to fall for a widow who is possibly Lady Constance. But now that he has his eye on her, he can't help but wonder if she is just as wild as her pamphlets are. He's quite the rake himself, and he can't see himself settling down, but we all know it just takes the right woman for even the most rakish to fall.
Madeline is also quite a likable character. I don't think we've seen her in the previous books. She's very mysterious, and avoids the attention of everyone. Everyone except a bookstore owner who sells her work. Pamphlets? Newsletters? Articles? Books? What is Madeline publishing? You'll have to read the book to find out what Madeline's up to...
Madeline has every reason not to trust Douglas, and to push him away. She leads him on a merry chase, and refuses his attention as much as she can. But they fall for each other, and give in. The romance isn't my favorite romance story ever, but it was very sweet and endearing. Madeline and Douglas get their happy ending, despite several obstacles. You'll have to read the book to see how things work out with Lady Constance.
Overall, I really liked this novella! It's definitely worth reading. Douglas finally gets his own story, and hey - we get a little bit of insight into Lady Constance's mysteriousness. Not that I'm saying anything about her identity.
What I Did Not Like:
Of course I wanted this novella to be longer. But alas, it's a novella.
Would I Recommend It:
If you've read the other books in the series, definitely give this one a shot! The 50 Ways to Sin pamphlets are what ties this series together, so this novella would the potential reveal of Lady Constance's identity is pretty significant. And like I said - you should read this one to find out the reveal of certain identities!
Rating:
4 stars. Usually, I'm not one for novellas, but I'm glad I had the chance to read this one! The whole series - Love and Other Scandals, It Takes a Scandal, Love in the Time of Scandal - is one of my favorite historical romance series ever!
All's Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden
Book 2.5 of the Scandal series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Official Summary:
Nothing wagered…
Douglas Bennet can't resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England, Douglas agrees at once. After all, it would be quite a coup to discover the true identity of Lady Constance, author of the infamous erotic serial scandalizing the ton, 50 Ways to Sin.
Nothing won…
Madeline Wilde is used to being pursued. For years she's cultivated a reputation for being unattainable and mysterious, and for good reason: her livelihood depends on discretion. When Douglas turns his legendary charm on her, she dismisses him as just another rake. But he surprises her—instead of merely trying to seduce her, he becomes her friend…her confidant…and her lover. But can it really lead to happily-ever-after…or are they about to become the biggest scandal London has ever seen?
What I Liked:
I really liked this novella! It's definitely a great addition to the series. Usually I don't bother with novellas because they're so short and not entirely necessary to read a series. Novellas in historical romance series are great though, because books in historical romance series are companion novels anyway, so no novel is necessary to read the next ones. So novellas are just short versions of a companion novel. And in this case, I really enjoyed the novella! It didn't even feel too abbreviated, which is great!
In this novella, we have Douglas Bennet - Joan's brother (remember Joan from Love and Other Scandals?), Tristan's best friend (Tristan and Joan got married at the end of Love and Other Scandals). Douglas likes to make wagers, to place a bet on everything. When he challenged to prove that the widow Madeline Wilde is Lady Constance from the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlets, Douglas accepts the challenge and immediately begins to try and woo Madeline into revealing herself. Madeline certainly has an air of mystery about her, and she seems to fit Lady Constance's profile. But as Douglas gets to know Madeline, he finds himself falling for her. While the rake and heir who claims he won't get married expose the one woman he falls in love with, as the scandalous Lady Constance?
I always liked Douglas - I felt bad for him in Love and Other Scandals. He's his family's heir (he'll be a viscount or earl or something, I forget), and he's unmarried, so his mother is always harassing him into going to balls and social functions to find a wife. He doesn't expect to fall for a widow who is possibly Lady Constance. But now that he has his eye on her, he can't help but wonder if she is just as wild as her pamphlets are. He's quite the rake himself, and he can't see himself settling down, but we all know it just takes the right woman for even the most rakish to fall.
Madeline is also quite a likable character. I don't think we've seen her in the previous books. She's very mysterious, and avoids the attention of everyone. Everyone except a bookstore owner who sells her work. Pamphlets? Newsletters? Articles? Books? What is Madeline publishing? You'll have to read the book to find out what Madeline's up to...
Madeline has every reason not to trust Douglas, and to push him away. She leads him on a merry chase, and refuses his attention as much as she can. But they fall for each other, and give in. The romance isn't my favorite romance story ever, but it was very sweet and endearing. Madeline and Douglas get their happy ending, despite several obstacles. You'll have to read the book to see how things work out with Lady Constance.
Overall, I really liked this novella! It's definitely worth reading. Douglas finally gets his own story, and hey - we get a little bit of insight into Lady Constance's mysteriousness. Not that I'm saying anything about her identity.
What I Did Not Like:
Of course I wanted this novella to be longer. But alas, it's a novella.
Would I Recommend It:
If you've read the other books in the series, definitely give this one a shot! The 50 Ways to Sin pamphlets are what ties this series together, so this novella would the potential reveal of Lady Constance's identity is pretty significant. And like I said - you should read this one to find out the reveal of certain identities!
Rating:
4 stars. Usually, I'm not one for novellas, but I'm glad I had the chance to read this one! The whole series - Love and Other Scandals, It Takes a Scandal, Love in the Time of Scandal - is one of my favorite historical romance series ever!
June 29, 2022
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and the heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
I suggest you read book 1, Love and Other Scandals, simply because it’s AMAZING AND I LOVE IT. Also, this hero, Douglas, is friends with Tristan, from that book. But overall it’s not necessary and you could pick this up as on its own.
Basic plot:
Douglas can’t resist a good bet but he also knows not to bet more than he can lose. Starting with a bet to get the secretive widow Madeline to dance with him, it soon grows into much more.
Give this a try if you want:
- Secret writer plot – 50 Ways to Sin is a scandalous pamphlet published that everyone would love to know to author of
- Novella length (about 150 pages or so)
- Average novella steam – 1 full scene
Ages:
- Hero is 29, not sure about heroine but I would guess 20s
My thoughts:
So I don’t have a ton to say about this one but I did really enjoy it! It was a quick novella, that was sweet and felt complete. It had enough mystery going for it to keep me interested but was wrapped up quickly enough to not drag.
Our hero is a gambler but knows not the bet more he can risk. But he makes the ultimate bet with the heroine. He was gentlemanly, but persistent and I liked that. Some people may not like how he pursued her even when she seemed not interested. The heroine has a prickly exterior to deter suitors, but I loved how she fell for the hero. Overall a super pleasant way to pass the afternoon!
Content Warnings – didn’t note any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and the heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
I suggest you read book 1, Love and Other Scandals, simply because it’s AMAZING AND I LOVE IT. Also, this hero, Douglas, is friends with Tristan, from that book. But overall it’s not necessary and you could pick this up as on its own.
Basic plot:
Douglas can’t resist a good bet but he also knows not to bet more than he can lose. Starting with a bet to get the secretive widow Madeline to dance with him, it soon grows into much more.
Give this a try if you want:
- Secret writer plot – 50 Ways to Sin is a scandalous pamphlet published that everyone would love to know to author of
- Novella length (about 150 pages or so)
- Average novella steam – 1 full scene
Ages:
- Hero is 29, not sure about heroine but I would guess 20s
My thoughts:
So I don’t have a ton to say about this one but I did really enjoy it! It was a quick novella, that was sweet and felt complete. It had enough mystery going for it to keep me interested but was wrapped up quickly enough to not drag.
Our hero is a gambler but knows not the bet more he can risk. But he makes the ultimate bet with the heroine. He was gentlemanly, but persistent and I liked that. Some people may not like how he pursued her even when she seemed not interested. The heroine has a prickly exterior to deter suitors, but I loved how she fell for the hero. Overall a super pleasant way to pass the afternoon!
Content Warnings – didn’t note any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
May 27, 2022
I'm in a bizarro romance reading world where all these new 4/5-star books are 2-star books to me. So you say I should just shut up and go away? Back to the bizarro world I come from? But what if there are a few readers like me? I'd love to know I'm not all alone. (Please write. Please call. I'm all alone here.)
This Caroline Linden novella, for example. I should have known not to order it because I did not like the first two entries in her Scandal series. But it was only $1.99 and I thought maybe, just maybe, third time's the charm.
Charm, not so much. This is just plain silly. The hero is the brother of the heroine of Love and Other Scandals and best friend of the hero of that book. He's the heir to a baronetcy and pretty much spends his life living off his father and doing nothing except enjoy himself, with gambling, women and general party-boy activities. I found nothing appealing or redeeming about this guy. What he has going for him, I guess, is his good looks and that he's fun to be around.
And the heroine's life is confusing to me. She is the (I think) illegitimate daughter of a courtesan and she's invited to all the upper-class doings? Not only that, but when she's at a social gathering, she makes like a potted plant, doesn't mix with anyone, dance with anyone, barely converses with anyone. And she continues to receive invitations?
Premise of the story is based on a "stupid" wager. I say "stupid" because I am quoting "that stupid wager" from the book itself, although I certainly don't disagree. So what's the wager? Hero has to find proof that heroine is the author of 50 WAYS TO SIN, that scandalous reveal-all about the sexual escapades of members of the upper class.
Is she? Isn't she? Do I care? Eh, not much.
This Caroline Linden novella, for example. I should have known not to order it because I did not like the first two entries in her Scandal series. But it was only $1.99 and I thought maybe, just maybe, third time's the charm.
Charm, not so much. This is just plain silly. The hero is the brother of the heroine of Love and Other Scandals and best friend of the hero of that book. He's the heir to a baronetcy and pretty much spends his life living off his father and doing nothing except enjoy himself, with gambling, women and general party-boy activities. I found nothing appealing or redeeming about this guy. What he has going for him, I guess, is his good looks and that he's fun to be around.
And the heroine's life is confusing to me. She is the (I think) illegitimate daughter of a courtesan and she's invited to all the upper-class doings? Not only that, but when she's at a social gathering, she makes like a potted plant, doesn't mix with anyone, dance with anyone, barely converses with anyone. And she continues to receive invitations?
Premise of the story is based on a "stupid" wager. I say "stupid" because I am quoting "that stupid wager" from the book itself, although I certainly don't disagree. So what's the wager? Hero has to find proof that heroine is the author of 50 WAYS TO SIN, that scandalous reveal-all about the sexual escapades of members of the upper class.
Is she? Isn't she? Do I care? Eh, not much.
April 9, 2023
This novella is about Joan's brother, Douglas (from Love and Other Scandals) and Madeline (a mysterious widow).
This being a novella, it was somewhat rushed, but I really felt like the characters cared for each other. And the plot was interesting, even if it was somewhat low-stakes.
Douglas grew on me. I didn't like him much in Love and Other Scandals, but he matured a lot.
Madeline took some questionable relationship advice from her mother which caused some issues, but it doesn't last super long.
There was a Joan/Burke cameo, which was fun.
No epilogue.
This being a novella, it was somewhat rushed, but I really felt like the characters cared for each other. And the plot was interesting, even if it was somewhat low-stakes.
Douglas grew on me. I didn't like him much in Love and Other Scandals, but he matured a lot.
Madeline took some questionable relationship advice from her mother which caused some issues, but it doesn't last super long.
There was a Joan/Burke cameo, which was fun.
No epilogue.
May 9, 2022
Douglas Bennet agrees to a wager to determine if the beautiful, aloof Madeline Wilde is the true author of the scandalous erotica 50 Ways to Sin. Except it's not his purse strings that get tangled up with Mrs. Wilde: it's his heart strings, aww. They bicker, bone, and live happily ever after.
1. At some point, I will come back and read The Real Books in this series but for now I'm enjoying the brief jaunts into novella / short territory where things move quickly, we get resolution, and I can move on.
2. That said, this one was kind of disappointing: the wager was a poor framing device; we don't really get any establishing characterization; the developing relationship felt exceptionally slight and underdeveloped... Generally, disappointing.
1. At some point, I will come back and read The Real Books in this series but for now I'm enjoying the brief jaunts into novella / short territory where things move quickly, we get resolution, and I can move on.
2. That said, this one was kind of disappointing: the wager was a poor framing device; we don't really get any establishing characterization; the developing relationship felt exceptionally slight and underdeveloped... Generally, disappointing.
June 6, 2015
4.5 stars
All’s Fair in Love and Scandal is a novella in Caroline Linden’s current Scandalous series. It sits between books two and three, and features Douglas Bennet, the brother of Joan, who was the heroine of the first book,Love and Other Scandals.
In that story, Douglas was introduced as a bit of a jack-the-lad, a womaniser and gambler frequently to be found hell-raising with his best mate, Tristan Burke. When Tristan unexpectedly marries Joan, Douglas finds himself at a bit of a loose end and returns to town to find it bereft of his usual cronies.
Mrs. Madeleine Wilde is a widow who regularly attends society events but who nonetheless maintains a distance from the other attendees. She never dances or engages in much conversation, and has a reputation for being somewhat cold and aloof. Never one for attending balls and routs, Douglas has not encountered Madeleine before, but is immediately struck by her beauty and wants to bed her. Knowing of Douglas’ penchant for a wager, one of his cronies, William Spence, bets Douglas that he won’t be able to secure a dance with her – and he immediately takes the bet, sure his good-looks and charm will win him more than a dance that night.
But Madeleine is no simpering miss to be won over by a handsome form and winsome charm. She knows exactly who Douglas Bennet is and what he wants, and rebuffs him in no uncertain terms. Smarting at her rejection, Douglas is prepared to listen to another of his friend’s proposals – not a wager this time, but an offer. A disgruntled member of the ton has offered a reward to the person who can find evidence of the identity of the infamous Lady Constance, author of the series of erotic pamphlets, 50 Ways to Sin. Spence suspects Madeleine and offers to share the bounty with Douglas if he can provide the necessary evidence.
The stage is set for a rather reluctant courtship, but Douglas is so delightful, and so clearly careful not to do anything which makes her uncomfortable, that Madeleine finds it hard to maintain her resistance. The development of the relationship between the couple is truly charming, and their interactions are full of warmth and genuine humour.
Novellas are notoriously difficult to do well, as it takes a very skilled author to invest something of around one hundred pages with the same quality of character and plot development as would normally be found in a full-length novel. Fortunately, Ms Linden IS one such author, and I found this to be as well put-together as the full-length books in the series.
All’s Fair in Love and Scandal is a novella in Caroline Linden’s current Scandalous series. It sits between books two and three, and features Douglas Bennet, the brother of Joan, who was the heroine of the first book,Love and Other Scandals.
In that story, Douglas was introduced as a bit of a jack-the-lad, a womaniser and gambler frequently to be found hell-raising with his best mate, Tristan Burke. When Tristan unexpectedly marries Joan, Douglas finds himself at a bit of a loose end and returns to town to find it bereft of his usual cronies.
Mrs. Madeleine Wilde is a widow who regularly attends society events but who nonetheless maintains a distance from the other attendees. She never dances or engages in much conversation, and has a reputation for being somewhat cold and aloof. Never one for attending balls and routs, Douglas has not encountered Madeleine before, but is immediately struck by her beauty and wants to bed her. Knowing of Douglas’ penchant for a wager, one of his cronies, William Spence, bets Douglas that he won’t be able to secure a dance with her – and he immediately takes the bet, sure his good-looks and charm will win him more than a dance that night.
But Madeleine is no simpering miss to be won over by a handsome form and winsome charm. She knows exactly who Douglas Bennet is and what he wants, and rebuffs him in no uncertain terms. Smarting at her rejection, Douglas is prepared to listen to another of his friend’s proposals – not a wager this time, but an offer. A disgruntled member of the ton has offered a reward to the person who can find evidence of the identity of the infamous Lady Constance, author of the series of erotic pamphlets, 50 Ways to Sin. Spence suspects Madeleine and offers to share the bounty with Douglas if he can provide the necessary evidence.
The stage is set for a rather reluctant courtship, but Douglas is so delightful, and so clearly careful not to do anything which makes her uncomfortable, that Madeleine finds it hard to maintain her resistance. The development of the relationship between the couple is truly charming, and their interactions are full of warmth and genuine humour.
Novellas are notoriously difficult to do well, as it takes a very skilled author to invest something of around one hundred pages with the same quality of character and plot development as would normally be found in a full-length novel. Fortunately, Ms Linden IS one such author, and I found this to be as well put-together as the full-length books in the series.
May 26, 2019
Lovely novella with a charming rogue and a strong lady. I specially like that she is strong and ladylike and he is a rake all way through, but still a dashing, kind of honorable rake 🤪.
June 19, 2015
I have been enjoying this Scandals series and the theme of the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet. This story is about Douglas Bennet, brother of Joan Bennet (the heroine of the first book in this series).
Douglas is a charming gambler who has learned to never gamble more than he is willing to lose. When a wager sets him after Madeline Wilde, an aloof, mysterious widow, Douglas soon learns that this wager may cost him something he never thought he could lose--his heart.
For a 100 page story, it still felt like a slow burn. Douglas and Madeline become friends and truly enjoy each other's company before ever becoming physical. I enjoyed their banter and believed in their HEA. It was slow developing, sweet, and just plain romantic.
While this novella could be read stand alone, I would recommend reading the other books in the series to understand the backstory and enjoy people's reactions more. For instance, Joan's reaction when Douglas asks her about the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet is waaaay funnier if you have read her book! Plus, you get to see excerpts from the pamphlet in the other novels. My favorite scene in this novella was when Douglas reads the pamphlet for the first time:
If you have read the other books, you understand his reaction and it is wonderful. While I have enjoyed the other books in this series, I think this story has thus far been my favorite. It was not what I was expecting, but it was more than I could have hoped for. Wonderful read.
Douglas is a charming gambler who has learned to never gamble more than he is willing to lose. When a wager sets him after Madeline Wilde, an aloof, mysterious widow, Douglas soon learns that this wager may cost him something he never thought he could lose--his heart.
For a 100 page story, it still felt like a slow burn. Douglas and Madeline become friends and truly enjoy each other's company before ever becoming physical. I enjoyed their banter and believed in their HEA. It was slow developing, sweet, and just plain romantic.
While this novella could be read stand alone, I would recommend reading the other books in the series to understand the backstory and enjoy people's reactions more. For instance, Joan's reaction when Douglas asks her about the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet is waaaay funnier if you have read her book! Plus, you get to see excerpts from the pamphlet in the other novels. My favorite scene in this novella was when Douglas reads the pamphlet for the first time:
What the devil was this story? Douglas pushed open the door to his sitting room, propped one shoulder against the window frame as he opened the plain, prudish cover, and began to read.
By the end of the first page his eyebrows started to rise. By the end of the second, his mouth was hanging open. And when he reached the last page, he no longer cared about Spence's wager or the bounty on Lady Constance's head or what Burke was thinking to let Joan read this.
If Madeline Wilde had written this--even if every word sprang solely out of her imagination and not from her experience--he wanted to get to know her much, much better.
If you have read the other books, you understand his reaction and it is wonderful. While I have enjoyed the other books in this series, I think this story has thus far been my favorite. It was not what I was expecting, but it was more than I could have hoped for. Wonderful read.
January 3, 2022
3.5 Stars
All's Fair In Love and Scandal features a delightful romance between a widow and a man who wagers to uncover her secret identity.
Douglas Bennet has never been able to resist a good wager. When a friend bets him that he cannot get a dance with the widowed Mrs. Madeline Wilde, Douglas thinks he's about to win the easiest bet in the world. But after Madeline gives him a thorough dressing-down and walks away, he finds himself intrigued rather than angry. After learning Madeline may be the author of the erotic serial 50 Ways to Sin, and there is a 2,000 pound bounty on proof of her identity, Douglas strikes up a friendship with the lady. But when their friendship quickly becomes something more, Douglas realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for.
This was a fun story and I was intrigued by the idea that Madeline may be the author of the erotic serial that has been scandalizing everyone throughout this series. We quickly learn that all is not as it appears with Madeline's writing and I was curious to see how Douglas would react. I liked that it didn't take long for Douglas's intentions towards Madeline to become genuine as I feel like it would have been harder to forgive if the charade went on too long. I enjoyed the pair's friendship and I was happy when their relationship deepened into something more. I will say that there was a bit of unnecessary drama when Madeline was having doubts about if Douglas was genuine in his attentions, but thankfully it was resolved fairly quickly. We did get to see some of the characters from previous books in the series return, Douglas is the brother of the heroine in the first book Love and Other Scandals, which I was happy about.
Overall All's Fair In Love and Scandal was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to picking up the next full-length book in the series, Love in the Time of Scandal, soon.
All's Fair In Love and Scandal features a delightful romance between a widow and a man who wagers to uncover her secret identity.
Douglas Bennet has never been able to resist a good wager. When a friend bets him that he cannot get a dance with the widowed Mrs. Madeline Wilde, Douglas thinks he's about to win the easiest bet in the world. But after Madeline gives him a thorough dressing-down and walks away, he finds himself intrigued rather than angry. After learning Madeline may be the author of the erotic serial 50 Ways to Sin, and there is a 2,000 pound bounty on proof of her identity, Douglas strikes up a friendship with the lady. But when their friendship quickly becomes something more, Douglas realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for.
This was a fun story and I was intrigued by the idea that Madeline may be the author of the erotic serial that has been scandalizing everyone throughout this series. We quickly learn that all is not as it appears with Madeline's writing and I was curious to see how Douglas would react. I liked that it didn't take long for Douglas's intentions towards Madeline to become genuine as I feel like it would have been harder to forgive if the charade went on too long. I enjoyed the pair's friendship and I was happy when their relationship deepened into something more. I will say that there was a bit of unnecessary drama when Madeline was having doubts about if Douglas was genuine in his attentions, but thankfully it was resolved fairly quickly. We did get to see some of the characters from previous books in the series return, Douglas is the brother of the heroine in the first book Love and Other Scandals, which I was happy about.
Overall All's Fair In Love and Scandal was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to picking up the next full-length book in the series, Love in the Time of Scandal, soon.
October 18, 2022
3.5/5
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2022/1...
Me voilà de nouveau plonger dans l'un des tomes de la série Scandales. Cette fois, on fait la connaissance de Madeline Wilde dont la réputation de jeune femme froide et solitaire amène ses messieurs à parier sur elle. Qui sera capable de lui décrocher un mot, qui arrivera à danser avec elle ? et surtout, qui découvrira son secret. Face à elle, Douglas Bennett, le frère de l'héroïne du premier tome, Joan, qui ne comprends pas bien comment ses amis masculins se rangent si subitement...
Autant vous dire que ce tome nous amène à bien réfléchir ! Car depuis le premier volume, l'autrice prend un malin plaisir à disséminer des indices sur la fameuse Lady Constance, l'autrice d'un sulfureux papier sur les façons de pécher. Ne serait-ce pas la si secrète Madeline ? Tel est l'enjeux pour Douglas, qui est d'abord mis au défi d'inviter à danser Madeline lors d'une soirée. Elle qui, fait souvent tapisserie s'annonce tout particulièrement difficile à convaincre et encore plus quand on lui fait part des soupçons la concernant. Mais d'un défi à un autre, Douglas pourrait bien passer à côté de l'essentiel.
La relation entre ces deux-là débute comme un Ennemies-to-lovers. Il faut dire que Madeline a l'habitude d'être prise dans des défis et paris de ces messieurs. Elle ne mâche donc pas ses mots lorsqu'il est question de les envoyer sur les roses. Et c'est ce dont va se rendre compte Douglas. Pourtant, ce dernier ne relâchera pas ses efforts. Après tout, les paris, ça le connait... Très rapidement, leur histoire va prendre un tout autre tournant. Une sorte de jeu du chat et de la souris fondé sur une amitié naissante. Bien sur, avec une tension bien palpable qui ne manquera pas de gagner du terrain. J'ai franchement bien apprécié cette entrée en matière et cette lecture dans sa globalité puisque je l'ai trouvé meilleur que le précédent.
Toutefois, je dois dire que les sentiments amoureux arrivent un peu trop rapidement et brutalement pour être crédibles. Je trouve que ce changement s'opère d'un coup et ne m'a pas tellement convaincu. J'aurais aimé que cela soit plus progressif, à l'image de l'amitié qui nait entre eux. Ce qui fait que j'ai eu du mal à croire véritablement en leur amour l'un pour l'autre. Même si la romance reste très chouette.
En revanche, je dois dire que j'ai été vraiment happé par le côté mystère de Lady Constance et tous les secrets de Madeline. Je trouve que l'autrice a su, tirer son épingle du jeu et semer le doute dans l'esprit de ses personnages mais aussi dans le nôtre. J'ai quelques hypothèses mais je suis plutôt bien perdue, ce qui est vraiment bien joué.
Ce tome-ci est assez petit et c'est aussi sans doute pour cela que la partie émotions et sentiments me parait aussi rapide, j'avoue que je n'aurais pas dit non à plus de chapitres en compagnie de Douglas et Madeline. Ils sont attachants et ont beaucoup de potentiel. J'ai également beaucoup apprécié croiser les personnages des autres tomes. J'ai donc beaucoup apprécié suivre tout ce petit monde et plus particulièrement les héros de ce tome.
En conclusion, Caroline Linden continue de nous offrir des personnages qui ne manquent pas de piquant. Une fois encore, cela se lit très rapidement et c'est prenant. J'aurais aimé voir cette romance un peu plus étoffée mais cela reste un très bon moment de lecture.
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2022/1...
Me voilà de nouveau plonger dans l'un des tomes de la série Scandales. Cette fois, on fait la connaissance de Madeline Wilde dont la réputation de jeune femme froide et solitaire amène ses messieurs à parier sur elle. Qui sera capable de lui décrocher un mot, qui arrivera à danser avec elle ? et surtout, qui découvrira son secret. Face à elle, Douglas Bennett, le frère de l'héroïne du premier tome, Joan, qui ne comprends pas bien comment ses amis masculins se rangent si subitement...
Autant vous dire que ce tome nous amène à bien réfléchir ! Car depuis le premier volume, l'autrice prend un malin plaisir à disséminer des indices sur la fameuse Lady Constance, l'autrice d'un sulfureux papier sur les façons de pécher. Ne serait-ce pas la si secrète Madeline ? Tel est l'enjeux pour Douglas, qui est d'abord mis au défi d'inviter à danser Madeline lors d'une soirée. Elle qui, fait souvent tapisserie s'annonce tout particulièrement difficile à convaincre et encore plus quand on lui fait part des soupçons la concernant. Mais d'un défi à un autre, Douglas pourrait bien passer à côté de l'essentiel.
La relation entre ces deux-là débute comme un Ennemies-to-lovers. Il faut dire que Madeline a l'habitude d'être prise dans des défis et paris de ces messieurs. Elle ne mâche donc pas ses mots lorsqu'il est question de les envoyer sur les roses. Et c'est ce dont va se rendre compte Douglas. Pourtant, ce dernier ne relâchera pas ses efforts. Après tout, les paris, ça le connait... Très rapidement, leur histoire va prendre un tout autre tournant. Une sorte de jeu du chat et de la souris fondé sur une amitié naissante. Bien sur, avec une tension bien palpable qui ne manquera pas de gagner du terrain. J'ai franchement bien apprécié cette entrée en matière et cette lecture dans sa globalité puisque je l'ai trouvé meilleur que le précédent.
Toutefois, je dois dire que les sentiments amoureux arrivent un peu trop rapidement et brutalement pour être crédibles. Je trouve que ce changement s'opère d'un coup et ne m'a pas tellement convaincu. J'aurais aimé que cela soit plus progressif, à l'image de l'amitié qui nait entre eux. Ce qui fait que j'ai eu du mal à croire véritablement en leur amour l'un pour l'autre. Même si la romance reste très chouette.
En revanche, je dois dire que j'ai été vraiment happé par le côté mystère de Lady Constance et tous les secrets de Madeline. Je trouve que l'autrice a su, tirer son épingle du jeu et semer le doute dans l'esprit de ses personnages mais aussi dans le nôtre. J'ai quelques hypothèses mais je suis plutôt bien perdue, ce qui est vraiment bien joué.
Ce tome-ci est assez petit et c'est aussi sans doute pour cela que la partie émotions et sentiments me parait aussi rapide, j'avoue que je n'aurais pas dit non à plus de chapitres en compagnie de Douglas et Madeline. Ils sont attachants et ont beaucoup de potentiel. J'ai également beaucoup apprécié croiser les personnages des autres tomes. J'ai donc beaucoup apprécié suivre tout ce petit monde et plus particulièrement les héros de ce tome.
En conclusion, Caroline Linden continue de nous offrir des personnages qui ne manquent pas de piquant. Une fois encore, cela se lit très rapidement et c'est prenant. J'aurais aimé voir cette romance un peu plus étoffée mais cela reste un très bon moment de lecture.
March 28, 2017
I was really looking forward to reading Douglas and Madeline’s story after they were briefly mentioned in The Secret of My Seduction. A gossip writer widow falling under the charm of a rakish young lordling? It practically screamed catnip. Sadly though, my high expectations were quickly dashed.
Despite enjoying the playful banter between the leads as well as the hilarious antics of Madeline’s cat Mr. Nash and the cheeky housemaid Constance, it was definitely a struggle to finish this novella. The conflict just felt weak and I really didn’t understand most of the characters’ motivations. Maybe if Madeline’s writing career had been more at the forefront of things and Douglas had been less of a failwhale, MAYBE this could’ve worked better for me.
Despite enjoying the playful banter between the leads as well as the hilarious antics of Madeline’s cat Mr. Nash and the cheeky housemaid Constance, it was definitely a struggle to finish this novella. The conflict just felt weak and I really didn’t understand most of the characters’ motivations. Maybe if Madeline’s writing career had been more at the forefront of things and Douglas had been less of a failwhale, MAYBE this could’ve worked better for me.
June 26, 2016
3.75 Stars
All's Fair in Love and Scandal was a fun little story that focuses on Douglas, the brother of Joan and best friend of Tristan (heroine and hero of Love and Other Scandals). He was thrown off by the marriage of his sister and best friend and is feeling a bit lost in what to do with his time now. Douglas's biggest weakness is wagers as he has a compulsion to bet on almost anything. This includes whether the mysterious widow, Madeline Wilde, is really Lady Constance, writer of the scandalous "50 Ways to Sin" serial.
I wasn't sure whether I would like Douglas based on his characterization in Love and Other Scandals. He seemed, in that book, to be charming, but also immature. But, this story showed him in a new light and helped me see him as hero material. I enjoyed the depiction of his friendship with Tristan and how Tristan's new married status has made Douglas re-evaluate his choices. I delighted in the fact that Douglas charm was not a facade, but that he was just a genuinely nice person.
Madeline is suspicious of Douglas from the beginning and is very clear in her opinion of him. But, as she spends more time with him, she starts to ease up on her aloofness and finds herself confiding in him. I admired her intelligence and determination to support herself after her husband's death. I also liked that she kept Douglas on his toes, but also knew when to let the walls down.
I was impressed with how well-developed the romance was for such a short story. Madeline and Douglas start off as acquaintances and quickly become friends. They spend a lot of time together and it is during these moments that they realize there might be something more. I love a good slow burn love story so I enjoyed this one though I would have liked for the story to be a little longer so that the ending didn't feel as rushed.
I think All's Fair in Love and Scandal could be read as a stand-alone, but I think it would benefit readers to be caught up on the Scandalous series due to the Lady Constance element. The identity of Lady Constance is the tying feature of these books and the possibility of a reveal will be more tantalizing if one is familiar with the series. I am definitely ready to keep moving on with this series and then get caught up on the rest of Caroline Linden's backlist.
All's Fair in Love and Scandal was a fun little story that focuses on Douglas, the brother of Joan and best friend of Tristan (heroine and hero of Love and Other Scandals). He was thrown off by the marriage of his sister and best friend and is feeling a bit lost in what to do with his time now. Douglas's biggest weakness is wagers as he has a compulsion to bet on almost anything. This includes whether the mysterious widow, Madeline Wilde, is really Lady Constance, writer of the scandalous "50 Ways to Sin" serial.
I wasn't sure whether I would like Douglas based on his characterization in Love and Other Scandals. He seemed, in that book, to be charming, but also immature. But, this story showed him in a new light and helped me see him as hero material. I enjoyed the depiction of his friendship with Tristan and how Tristan's new married status has made Douglas re-evaluate his choices. I delighted in the fact that Douglas charm was not a facade, but that he was just a genuinely nice person.
Madeline is suspicious of Douglas from the beginning and is very clear in her opinion of him. But, as she spends more time with him, she starts to ease up on her aloofness and finds herself confiding in him. I admired her intelligence and determination to support herself after her husband's death. I also liked that she kept Douglas on his toes, but also knew when to let the walls down.
I was impressed with how well-developed the romance was for such a short story. Madeline and Douglas start off as acquaintances and quickly become friends. They spend a lot of time together and it is during these moments that they realize there might be something more. I love a good slow burn love story so I enjoyed this one though I would have liked for the story to be a little longer so that the ending didn't feel as rushed.
I think All's Fair in Love and Scandal could be read as a stand-alone, but I think it would benefit readers to be caught up on the Scandalous series due to the Lady Constance element. The identity of Lady Constance is the tying feature of these books and the possibility of a reveal will be more tantalizing if one is familiar with the series. I am definitely ready to keep moving on with this series and then get caught up on the rest of Caroline Linden's backlist.
November 30, 2015
(Nov) Somehow I missed this was a novella, so as I was reading on my Kindle and noticed I was all of a sudden 50% through, I was pretty surprised how fast I was reading this! Joke was on me - book was less than 150 pgs! Anyway, Madeline is a widow, Douglas a man-about-town nice enough guy. He's pretty well liked, and is a good guy, other than he tends to throw out the phrase "care to make a bet?" too often. Not a gambler who would risk losing all his funds, still someone who thinks nothing of making a bet on almost anything. At the beginning, a casual friend bets him he cannot get Widow Wilde to dance with him, as she says no to anyone who asks. A tiny bit of flirting later, she does in fact say no. Douglas pursues her because he finds her intriguing - and because he makes a bet to find out if she is in fact the author of the notorious book Fifty Ways To Sin. Douglas and Madeline become friends, but certain things lead Douglas to believe that Maddie is, in fact, the author. He does not want to publicly out her, but does not know what to do. Advice from her mom leads Madeline to make a bet of her own with Douglas - one that will either cause him to leave her side or out herself. It's actually a bit convoluted, her thought process here (Mom basically says "ooh, he's a gambler like your dad - so to find out if you can trust him make him go away and then see if he comes back") - I hate game playing. She wins the bet, he leaves, she makes him come back, they fall into bed, the first bet is over (turns out she is not the author!) and they live, I presume, HEA. It was fine enough, but there was too much deception for my taste. Also - I don't understand why Madeline's mother never married the Duke who may or may not be Madeline's father. Her husband is dead, they presumably live together - what's her deal? Doesn't really matter since I doubt we'll see these people again in future books in the series.
April 23, 2015
I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, but after this short one I can't wait to start the others!
While it follows the first two books I felt that I could still easily keep up and enjoy it so it can be read on its own as well.
The one sentence that made me want to read this was the fact that it's a mix betwen 50 shades and Jane Austen, from there I really couldn't wait to read it.
Steamy pamphlets called 50 ways to sin written by Lady Constance is making its way around London. Nobody knows who the author is other than that she must be part of society since her characters resemble people that they know.
Douglas Bennet is determined to out Lady Constance, he's sure it's Madeline Wilde. She's always there, but doesn't participate much and even refuses to dance. Douglas wagers that he can expose her and eager to win he spends more and more time with her, but before long they both can't deny the attraction between them.
I really enjoyed this book, I loved the setting it was in and the humor and it was very well written. Despite it not being long, the characters still had plenty of depth and the plot was well developed.
I'm eager to read more books in this universe and get more insight in he world.
Overall a great novella!
While it follows the first two books I felt that I could still easily keep up and enjoy it so it can be read on its own as well.
The one sentence that made me want to read this was the fact that it's a mix betwen 50 shades and Jane Austen, from there I really couldn't wait to read it.
Steamy pamphlets called 50 ways to sin written by Lady Constance is making its way around London. Nobody knows who the author is other than that she must be part of society since her characters resemble people that they know.
Douglas Bennet is determined to out Lady Constance, he's sure it's Madeline Wilde. She's always there, but doesn't participate much and even refuses to dance. Douglas wagers that he can expose her and eager to win he spends more and more time with her, but before long they both can't deny the attraction between them.
I really enjoyed this book, I loved the setting it was in and the humor and it was very well written. Despite it not being long, the characters still had plenty of depth and the plot was well developed.
I'm eager to read more books in this universe and get more insight in he world.
Overall a great novella!
April 24, 2015
I rarely give novellas 5 stars but Caroline Linden's usually deserve it. This was the perfect story for Douglas who is lonely with his best friend now married to his sister (see "Love and Other Scandals'). Douglas meets Madeline on a bet and the sparks fly from there. This book is easy to read in an evening and I couldn't out it down. Looking forward to the next one in the series, "Love In the Time of Scandal" coming in June.
August 25, 2016
2.5 stars
This was fine, I guess, but I thought it was pretty insubstantial and I honestly didn't care very much about the outcome or anything else. This read quickly though, so I'm not really complaining.
This was fine, I guess, but I thought it was pretty insubstantial and I honestly didn't care very much about the outcome or anything else. This read quickly though, so I'm not really complaining.
November 24, 2023
Caroline Linden is a fairly new author for me. Prior to the series, I had only read 4 other books by her. This is now my 9th book by her. I hadn't planned on reading more of her books because as someone that reads over 350 books a year, I found some of her books a bit too expensive. I had been searching around and her name popped up again so thought I would check her out. So glad I did. Book 1 in this series was so damn good and I couldn't put it down so now I must finish the whole series.
I enjoyed Douglas and Madeline. Cute read. Cute couple.
I enjoyed Douglas and Madeline. Cute read. Cute couple.
March 15, 2021
3.5/5 stars
I liked the relationship development in this a lot, but I wish we'd gotten more from Douglas' family and especially Joan and Tristan. The end of this also got very complicated with all of the wagers and counter-wagers.
I liked the relationship development in this a lot, but I wish we'd gotten more from Douglas' family and especially Joan and Tristan. The end of this also got very complicated with all of the wagers and counter-wagers.
April 21, 2018
I actually think this is the best story of the series so far. I wasn’t impressed with Douglas in the first book, but he more than made up for it here. My only wish is that we’d seen him family’s reaction to his pursuit of Madeline.
December 28, 2022
2.5
I didn't care for most of the book because I wasn't in the mood for this storyline. But I loved the angst when the hero went to say to the heroine, and the that came afterward.
I didn't care for most of the book because I wasn't in the mood for this storyline. But I loved the angst when the hero went to say to the heroine, and the that came afterward.
July 9, 2024
This was honestly kind of boring, the hero is the older brother of the heroine from the first book in the series and he immediately finds himself attracted to this mysterious woman he spies across the ballroom and then there's a wager and instead of trying to win the wager, he finds himself falling for this woman. It was fine, nothing memorable. Sometimes, I wish for novellas to be full length books but this one, the novella was fine bc honestly, the hero was kind of a bore.
May 26, 2015
This is a short novella that I read after ‘It Takes a Scandal’ and before ‘Love in the Time of Scandal’. This little gem continues and enhances the Scandals series.
The novella continues the theme of the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet which is written by “Lady Constance” and is a very salacious piece that’s entertaining men and women alike. The thing is, no one knows who the author is, but a lot of the male readers seem to recognize themselves as the protagonists of her tales.
Hero of this story is Douglas Bennet, whose sister Joan Bennet found her happily ever after in ‘Love and Other Scandals’ the first book in this series.
It doesn’t take much of persuasion to challenge Douglas Bennet to expose the identity of “Lady Constance”. He loves taking chances and this bet, at least to him, looks like a win-win, especially because it involves a beautiful widow, Madeline Wilde.
The heroine, Madeline, is a very proper widow. She’s a bit aloof and quiet, always present at the ballrooms, yet lurking in the background and never, ever dancing. It’s the challenge of luring her into dancing with him that brings both together. When she rebuffs him, he gets even more intrigued and suspicious of her identity as a pamphlet writer.
For me, the sign of a good author is writing a novella that has fleshed out characters, an intriguing plot and a sensual romance, all within only one hundred pages. This is why I called it a gem. Despite it being so short, you’ll be surprised at how well written it is.
The characters are fully developed and funny, while the story is fast paced and intriguing.
Douglas and Madeline’s romance was scorching hot, romantic and funny.
I think it stands on its own and you don’t have to necessarily have read the other two books preceding it. However, once you read this novella, you’ll be running to download the rest. I promise ;)
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
The novella continues the theme of the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet which is written by “Lady Constance” and is a very salacious piece that’s entertaining men and women alike. The thing is, no one knows who the author is, but a lot of the male readers seem to recognize themselves as the protagonists of her tales.
Hero of this story is Douglas Bennet, whose sister Joan Bennet found her happily ever after in ‘Love and Other Scandals’ the first book in this series.
It doesn’t take much of persuasion to challenge Douglas Bennet to expose the identity of “Lady Constance”. He loves taking chances and this bet, at least to him, looks like a win-win, especially because it involves a beautiful widow, Madeline Wilde.
The heroine, Madeline, is a very proper widow. She’s a bit aloof and quiet, always present at the ballrooms, yet lurking in the background and never, ever dancing. It’s the challenge of luring her into dancing with him that brings both together. When she rebuffs him, he gets even more intrigued and suspicious of her identity as a pamphlet writer.
For me, the sign of a good author is writing a novella that has fleshed out characters, an intriguing plot and a sensual romance, all within only one hundred pages. This is why I called it a gem. Despite it being so short, you’ll be surprised at how well written it is.
The characters are fully developed and funny, while the story is fast paced and intriguing.
Douglas and Madeline’s romance was scorching hot, romantic and funny.
I think it stands on its own and you don’t have to necessarily have read the other two books preceding it. However, once you read this novella, you’ll be running to download the rest. I promise ;)
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
May 23, 2015
In every installment of Caroline Linden’s Scandalous series, the naughty 50 Ways to Sin stories have captured the attention and imagination of the more daring ladies of the ton. Everyone is talking about them and no one knows the identity of the woman behind the bold serial. Now a wager has Douglas Bennet tasked with unmasking her. His target: the aloof widow, Madeline Wilde.
Douglas didn’t even know Madeline existed until a friend threw down the gauntlet, daring him to turn her head. But despite his title and charm, she remains unmoved. That, of course, only serves to intrigue him more. And once he learns she could be the author of those salacious stories, he’s only drawn in deeper.
I enjoyed this novella, largely because of the things it didn’t do. It didn’t take overly long to clue the readers in on Madeline’s big secret. It didn’t make Douglas into an opportunist. It was never about the money for him, and was barely even about the bet. It didn’t hang the secrets of the wager over his head and it didn’t serve as the catalyst for big drama in a reveal to shock the heroine at the end of the book. All those things could have easily happened in a story by another author. But that isn’t Linden’s style and it’s one of the reasons I enjoy her books. They don’t trod the obvious path.
I liked Madeline and the fact that she didn’t fight Douglas past a point that was realistic. I liked Douglas and the fact that he was willing to protect her secrets even when he didn’t really know what they were. And I liked that this story wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be.
Would recommend for historical romance readers looking for a short romantic read.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by Avon
Douglas didn’t even know Madeline existed until a friend threw down the gauntlet, daring him to turn her head. But despite his title and charm, she remains unmoved. That, of course, only serves to intrigue him more. And once he learns she could be the author of those salacious stories, he’s only drawn in deeper.
I enjoyed this novella, largely because of the things it didn’t do. It didn’t take overly long to clue the readers in on Madeline’s big secret. It didn’t make Douglas into an opportunist. It was never about the money for him, and was barely even about the bet. It didn’t hang the secrets of the wager over his head and it didn’t serve as the catalyst for big drama in a reveal to shock the heroine at the end of the book. All those things could have easily happened in a story by another author. But that isn’t Linden’s style and it’s one of the reasons I enjoy her books. They don’t trod the obvious path.
I liked Madeline and the fact that she didn’t fight Douglas past a point that was realistic. I liked Douglas and the fact that he was willing to protect her secrets even when he didn’t really know what they were. And I liked that this story wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be.
Would recommend for historical romance readers looking for a short romantic read.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by Avon
May 25, 2015
I should have a shelf for books that I'm enjoying, take a break from, and then have trouble getting back into. And this was only a break of an hour or so!
So yeah. The first part of this was fun! And I didn't realize this was the brother of the Love and Other Scandals heroine! Very awesome.
But I guess it dragged on a bit (and it's a novella!) and . . . I don't know. A bit too complicated at the end, with all the bets and such. Plus, it has a point-of-view character semi-concealing something from the reader, which almost always bothers me. (Actually, this happens more than once, considering the "plan" at the end.)
I was very intrigued by the heroine's mother and the duke, but I suppose they are far too old to get a historical romance!!! (I'd guess 50's. We can't have that now, can we!) (It would be awesome, though.)
(Oh, and it DID make me really want to re-read the first book. I loved that one.)
So yeah. The first part of this was fun! And I didn't realize this was the brother of the Love and Other Scandals heroine! Very awesome.
But I guess it dragged on a bit (and it's a novella!) and . . . I don't know. A bit too complicated at the end, with all the bets and such. Plus, it has a point-of-view character semi-concealing something from the reader, which almost always bothers me. (Actually, this happens more than once, considering the "plan" at the end.)
I was very intrigued by the heroine's mother and the duke, but I suppose they are far too old to get a historical romance!!! (I'd guess 50's. We can't have that now, can we!) (It would be awesome, though.)
(Oh, and it DID make me really want to re-read the first book. I loved that one.)
May 21, 2015
This was one of the better novellas I've read in this genre, in part because it was two likable characters with interesting histories who met, liked each other, and didn't have some absurd obstacle to overcome in the span of 130 or so pages. I was really engaged and really enjoyed their time together.
April 30, 2015
DNF. I hate to DNF a novella but I found myself able to walk away from reading this one for days and I've just decided to give it up. It was very hard to get into this book, mostly because I don't feel like I got to learn anything about either character.
May 16, 2017
DNF: Could not get into this book at all.
January 15, 2024
Heroine: Madeline Wilde, about 25. An author and a widow.
Hero: Douglas Bennet, 29. Heir to a baronet.
Date: about 1822 or 1823?
How they meet: Madeline and Douglas meet at a ball. Douglas approaches her on a bet that he can’t get her to dance with him. When he asks for a dance, she turns him down and lets him know she’s aware of his history as a rake and that she is sure the only reason he’s approaching her is on a bet about getting her into bed.
What happens: Douglas’s friend (with whom he made the bet) tells him that he suspects Madeline to be the author of some racy pamphlets that are being published. There is a bounty for unmasking the author and he proposes they work together to figure out if Madeline is in fact the author. Douglas lets himself be talked into it.
Verdict: I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I think part of the reason for that is that the heroine’s feelings were too much of a mystery as the story progressed. The hero is the typical rake/gambler/partier who never wishes to marry while the heroine is painted as cold. The risqué pamphlets could have been used to better effect in the story--there existence is a common thread in this series and they have yet to be used to their full advantage. This was a good story, just nothing all that special. Two books precede this in the series, but I think it reads fine as a standalone. The hero appears some in book 1 of the series.
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
Hero: Douglas Bennet, 29. Heir to a baronet.
Date: about 1822 or 1823?
How they meet: Madeline and Douglas meet at a ball. Douglas approaches her on a bet that he can’t get her to dance with him. When he asks for a dance, she turns him down and lets him know she’s aware of his history as a rake and that she is sure the only reason he’s approaching her is on a bet about getting her into bed.
What happens: Douglas’s friend (with whom he made the bet) tells him that he suspects Madeline to be the author of some racy pamphlets that are being published. There is a bounty for unmasking the author and he proposes they work together to figure out if Madeline is in fact the author. Douglas lets himself be talked into it.
Verdict: I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I think part of the reason for that is that the heroine’s feelings were too much of a mystery as the story progressed. The hero is the typical rake/gambler/partier who never wishes to marry while the heroine is painted as cold. The risqué pamphlets could have been used to better effect in the story--there existence is a common thread in this series and they have yet to be used to their full advantage. This was a good story, just nothing all that special. Two books precede this in the series, but I think it reads fine as a standalone. The hero appears some in book 1 of the series.
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
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