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Scoundrels of Summer
Every scoundrel meets his match…and loses his heart. Four sexy summer novellas from the award-winning authors of At the Duke’s Wedding. All stories previously published.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Susannah Grey is enjoying life as London’s most sought-after heiress until the rogue she was supposed to marry unexpectedly returns, intent on wooing her for real.
A Regency Romance inspired by the songs of Beyoncé.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
Lady Samantha Lennox is fleeing an arranged marriage when she finds herself lost, accosted, and almost drowned, only to be rescued by a handsome artist...who makes her start dreaming of happily-ever-after.
A Scandalous novella.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
The Duke and Duchess of Linton have lived apart ever since the first disastrous months of their marriage, until they accidentally visit the same property at the same time and the undeniable passion between them sparks back to life.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
Gabrielle Flood just made the worst mistake of her life. Dashing Captain Anthony Masinter came along…and made it even worse. He’s the last person on earth who can help her fix it, but disaster may be exactly what they need to fall in love.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Susannah Grey is enjoying life as London’s most sought-after heiress until the rogue she was supposed to marry unexpectedly returns, intent on wooing her for real.
A Regency Romance inspired by the songs of Beyoncé.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
Lady Samantha Lennox is fleeing an arranged marriage when she finds herself lost, accosted, and almost drowned, only to be rescued by a handsome artist...who makes her start dreaming of happily-ever-after.
A Scandalous novella.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
The Duke and Duchess of Linton have lived apart ever since the first disastrous months of their marriage, until they accidentally visit the same property at the same time and the undeniable passion between them sparks back to life.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
Gabrielle Flood just made the worst mistake of her life. Dashing Captain Anthony Masinter came along…and made it even worse. He’s the last person on earth who can help her fix it, but disaster may be exactly what they need to fall in love.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2017
51 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Neville
27 books515 followersMiranda Neville grew up in England, loving the books of Georgette Heyer and other Regency romances. She lived in Vermont with her daughter and an immensely talented cat, who made a book trailer for her novel, The Importance of Being Wicked. Her historical romances published by Avon include the popular Burgundy Club series, about Regency book collectors, and The Wild Quartet.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 11, 2018
Overall enjoyed this anthology. I've discovered two new author's I'd love to read more from.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Rating - 2/5
Comments - This was my least favorite of the novellas. First time reading Maya Rodale as well and I might not try again. Susannah and Damien (or Devil) as she calls him have been bethroed since she was in nappies - or whatever is used in this era. She's always been the annoying girl next door who's plain faced, bratty and has no sexual appeal to speak of. Well of course she doesn't you dingus she's 13. Anyway, Damien does not wish to marry her so he does what any sensible gentleman would he legit leaves the country for 9 years to go to Europe. Over there he goes forth and makes most of his priviledges by drinking, gambling and whoring away without a thought to the father who loved him terribly and the girl who's life is literally on the pause button while he's living it in up. Something something later he's back in England to do his dratted duty and marry the plain faced bratty wallflower and attempt to be a decent husband to her. Cause you know, he's changed now.
The reason I don't like this book is because it has the ugly duckling to beyonce trope. Susannah is now the most beautiful girl in the world and that leads to boners and Damien deciding that turning a new leaf and marrying the girl bound to him from birth isn't so terrible. It goes to tell us that if we're pretty everything will be fine. Ugh, no it won't. The romance is not believable because well this isn't romance. Damien had resigned himself to marrying a sad, ugly, ashen wallflower for the sake of duty but suddenly falls in love with her when he realizes she's hot. Perish the thought.
Not my cup of tea.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
Rating - 5/5
Comments - This novella is the reason I SO love this anthology. Caroline Linden has done it again. Samantha is to marry a cruel man because her equally cruel father deems it so. She runs away from home in a fit of anxiety and ends up falling into the river. Only to be rescued by a handsome son of a duke who also happens to be a painter. This entire novella had me grinning from ear to ear. It's brilliant just read it.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
Rating - 4/5
Comments - This is a second chance story and I greatlye enjoyed Miranda Neville's writing, so will be sure to check out books by her in the future. Althea and Linton, the Duke and Duchess of Linton have been estranged for 5 years. I love second chance romances and this one truly wasn't that bad, truth be told. I like that the reasoning for their estrangement and the differences between them were explored and spoken about, and they made sense. Linton married Althea when she was 18, and he was swept away by her beauty. She was not from a aristrocatic family and had no idea how to be a Duchess and failed miserably. Linton, raised to be a cold, stoic Duke didn't know how to help this awkward phase in their marraige, and eventually they just started living apart. I did not however like that so many of their problems after they start to gel better could have been solved by just communicating openly. But still, it was an enjoyable read.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
Rating - 3.5/5
Comment - I ended skimming through most of this book because there was just so much plot in it. Like so much plot. The characters were wonderful, the dialogues sharp, the romance tangible and the sexual tension delicious. But I just felt tremendously bored under the pressure to keep up with the plot that I simply didn't care for. Otherwise, quite enjoyable. I especially loved the H!
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Rating - 2/5
Comments - This was my least favorite of the novellas. First time reading Maya Rodale as well and I might not try again. Susannah and Damien (or Devil) as she calls him have been bethroed since she was in nappies - or whatever is used in this era. She's always been the annoying girl next door who's plain faced, bratty and has no sexual appeal to speak of. Well of course she doesn't you dingus she's 13. Anyway, Damien does not wish to marry her so he does what any sensible gentleman would he legit leaves the country for 9 years to go to Europe. Over there he goes forth and makes most of his priviledges by drinking, gambling and whoring away without a thought to the father who loved him terribly and the girl who's life is literally on the pause button while he's living it in up. Something something later he's back in England to do his dratted duty and marry the plain faced bratty wallflower and attempt to be a decent husband to her. Cause you know, he's changed now.
The reason I don't like this book is because it has the ugly duckling to beyonce trope. Susannah is now the most beautiful girl in the world and that leads to boners and Damien deciding that turning a new leaf and marrying the girl bound to him from birth isn't so terrible. It goes to tell us that if we're pretty everything will be fine. Ugh, no it won't. The romance is not believable because well this isn't romance. Damien had resigned himself to marrying a sad, ugly, ashen wallflower for the sake of duty but suddenly falls in love with her when he realizes she's hot. Perish the thought.
Not my cup of tea.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
Rating - 5/5
Comments - This novella is the reason I SO love this anthology. Caroline Linden has done it again. Samantha is to marry a cruel man because her equally cruel father deems it so. She runs away from home in a fit of anxiety and ends up falling into the river. Only to be rescued by a handsome son of a duke who also happens to be a painter. This entire novella had me grinning from ear to ear. It's brilliant just read it.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
Rating - 4/5
Comments - This is a second chance story and I greatlye enjoyed Miranda Neville's writing, so will be sure to check out books by her in the future. Althea and Linton, the Duke and Duchess of Linton have been estranged for 5 years. I love second chance romances and this one truly wasn't that bad, truth be told. I like that the reasoning for their estrangement and the differences between them were explored and spoken about, and they made sense. Linton married Althea when she was 18, and he was swept away by her beauty. She was not from a aristrocatic family and had no idea how to be a Duchess and failed miserably. Linton, raised to be a cold, stoic Duke didn't know how to help this awkward phase in their marraige, and eventually they just started living apart. I did not however like that so many of their problems after they start to gel better could have been solved by just communicating openly. But still, it was an enjoyable read.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
Rating - 3.5/5
Comment - I ended skimming through most of this book because there was just so much plot in it. Like so much plot. The characters were wonderful, the dialogues sharp, the romance tangible and the sexual tension delicious. But I just felt tremendously bored under the pressure to keep up with the plot that I simply didn't care for. Otherwise, quite enjoyable. I especially loved the H!
May 24, 2017
Scoundrels of Summer is a collection of four previously published novellas. It is currently available for the special price of $0.99, but this is only a limited release. If you have been wanting to try one or all of these authors, now is the time. These authors are all excellent and their work is rarely available for prices this cheap.
I had read two of the novellas previously and two I had not had the chance to read yet. I will review each individually.
The Scoundrel & I by Katharine Ashe
This novella is a loosely part of Ashe's Falcon Club series and was released just prior to The Earl. The main connection is that the heroine of this novella, Gabrielle, is a printer who releases a series of letters from Lady Justice to Peregrine (the two leads of The Earl). Gabrielle ends up losing the type and a nobleman, Tony, who accidentally helped cause the problem, wants to help her fix it. As in many books of Ashe's, I adored the hero and didn't care much for the heroine. Tony was kind, charming, and selfless, while Gabrielle was foolish and short-sighted. Gabrielle ends up mellowing in the end and she had some good qualities, but overall, Tony was the star of the show for me. There was a lot of action in this and it was, at times, harder to follow, but it can be read as a standalone if you haven't been following the Falcon CLub series. The letters won't be as exciting to see, but the romance between the leads and a secondary character in the form of the hero's sister (really liked her) are the main focus. This is a good introduction to Ashe's writing, which is often beautiful, but can be complex if you read when you're tired. (My original, longer review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) Rating: 4 stars
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
This was my favorite novella of the bunch. As always with Linden's books, I got sucked into the story and loved every sexy, romantic page! This novella was one she self-published while she was writing her excellent Scandals series. While this can be read as a stand-alone, you will understand the characters and enjoy the atmosphere of this story if you read it with the other Scandals books (which you should!), particularly after Book 2, It Takes a Scandal. This is the story of Samantha, a young woman who is terrified of her tyrannical father and runs away when he betroths her to a monster. Being a sheltered woman with no knowledge of the dangers of London, she quickly finds herself in trouble. George Churchill-Gray is the younger son of a duke, a very talented artist, and an all around lovely person. He sees her predicament and immediately offers her a place to stay as they sort things out. Samantha has always been a lover of art and she and Gray quickly find rapport and a routine that makes them both happy while also drawing them closer together in love. When Samantha's father finds her, Gray sets out to save her once again. There are lovely secondary characters here, including Mrs. Willis, Gray's land lady, and Gray's father, the duke (I wish we could get stories about this family!). An all-around lovely story that did not suffer one bit from a shorter page count. (My original, longer review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) Rating: 5 stars
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Rodale usually writes stories that have a modern spin. Often, I enjoy her writing style so much that the modern bent doesn't bother me, but in this case, I think she took it a bit far. Case and point: all chapter titles are Beyonce songs. I'm sorry, this wasn't appealing to me. I did read through it though and while Rodale's writing style is breezy and easy, this short novella included a lot of elements I don't usually care for. The heroine cross-dresses to sneak out for freedom and then while she is dressed up, she kisses a woman. I know in today's age, that is "acceptable" but I didn't find it sexy or romantic, I didn't believe a sheltered woman of the time would do that, there were enormous risks for that behavior, and the heroine deceived the other woman in order for her to have her "adventure" which I thought was manipulative and selfish. There is also a great misunderstanding with the hero that causes all sorts of drama. Susannah was not a heroine I could relate to. I thought her childhood was hard and I felt sorry for her, but her present attitude was all kinds of self-centered and I lost interest in her happy ending. The hero, Viscount Bedford, was more interesting, as he grew as a character by realizing his youthful mistakes, owning up to them, and doing what was right. The happy ending was nice, but there was too much in this plot that I didn't like to make it a true favorite. This was my least liked of the bunch. Rating: 3 stars
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
I have found that I don't often like Neville's longer works, but I am becoming a huge fan of her novellas. Her writing style is more somber than the other three authors, but that often means that the happily ever after is hard won and often that much more beautiful. This is a second-chance story and I felt it was very well executed. I could see the pain of misunderstanding that drew the characters apart, I could see the subtle shift in attitude that came as a result of spending time together for the first time in years, and I enjoyed watching as the two became a unit, taking on struggles together. This story had a sad note at the beginning, but the ending is lovely and I really liked the plot with Althea's twin brother and the oarsmen races. A nice read. Rating: 4.5 stars
My overall assessment of this anthology is that it is worth the small price tag. If you haven't read these authors before, this is a great way to get a sense of their writing style and find some new favorites. I really like all these authors and look forward to whenever they put out something new. Just remember these are previously published so check and make sure you haven't read them before buying.
I received a complimentary copy from the author to read and provide an honest review.
I had read two of the novellas previously and two I had not had the chance to read yet. I will review each individually.
The Scoundrel & I by Katharine Ashe
This novella is a loosely part of Ashe's Falcon Club series and was released just prior to The Earl. The main connection is that the heroine of this novella, Gabrielle, is a printer who releases a series of letters from Lady Justice to Peregrine (the two leads of The Earl). Gabrielle ends up losing the type and a nobleman, Tony, who accidentally helped cause the problem, wants to help her fix it. As in many books of Ashe's, I adored the hero and didn't care much for the heroine. Tony was kind, charming, and selfless, while Gabrielle was foolish and short-sighted. Gabrielle ends up mellowing in the end and she had some good qualities, but overall, Tony was the star of the show for me. There was a lot of action in this and it was, at times, harder to follow, but it can be read as a standalone if you haven't been following the Falcon CLub series. The letters won't be as exciting to see, but the romance between the leads and a secondary character in the form of the hero's sister (really liked her) are the main focus. This is a good introduction to Ashe's writing, which is often beautiful, but can be complex if you read when you're tired. (My original, longer review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) Rating: 4 stars
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
This was my favorite novella of the bunch. As always with Linden's books, I got sucked into the story and loved every sexy, romantic page! This novella was one she self-published while she was writing her excellent Scandals series. While this can be read as a stand-alone, you will understand the characters and enjoy the atmosphere of this story if you read it with the other Scandals books (which you should!), particularly after Book 2, It Takes a Scandal. This is the story of Samantha, a young woman who is terrified of her tyrannical father and runs away when he betroths her to a monster. Being a sheltered woman with no knowledge of the dangers of London, she quickly finds herself in trouble. George Churchill-Gray is the younger son of a duke, a very talented artist, and an all around lovely person. He sees her predicament and immediately offers her a place to stay as they sort things out. Samantha has always been a lover of art and she and Gray quickly find rapport and a routine that makes them both happy while also drawing them closer together in love. When Samantha's father finds her, Gray sets out to save her once again. There are lovely secondary characters here, including Mrs. Willis, Gray's land lady, and Gray's father, the duke (I wish we could get stories about this family!). An all-around lovely story that did not suffer one bit from a shorter page count. (My original, longer review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) Rating: 5 stars
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Rodale usually writes stories that have a modern spin. Often, I enjoy her writing style so much that the modern bent doesn't bother me, but in this case, I think she took it a bit far. Case and point: all chapter titles are Beyonce songs. I'm sorry, this wasn't appealing to me. I did read through it though and while Rodale's writing style is breezy and easy, this short novella included a lot of elements I don't usually care for. The heroine cross-dresses to sneak out for freedom and then while she is dressed up, she kisses a woman. I know in today's age, that is "acceptable" but I didn't find it sexy or romantic, I didn't believe a sheltered woman of the time would do that, there were enormous risks for that behavior, and the heroine deceived the other woman in order for her to have her "adventure" which I thought was manipulative and selfish. There is also a great misunderstanding with the hero that causes all sorts of drama. Susannah was not a heroine I could relate to. I thought her childhood was hard and I felt sorry for her, but her present attitude was all kinds of self-centered and I lost interest in her happy ending. The hero, Viscount Bedford, was more interesting, as he grew as a character by realizing his youthful mistakes, owning up to them, and doing what was right. The happy ending was nice, but there was too much in this plot that I didn't like to make it a true favorite. This was my least liked of the bunch. Rating: 3 stars
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
I have found that I don't often like Neville's longer works, but I am becoming a huge fan of her novellas. Her writing style is more somber than the other three authors, but that often means that the happily ever after is hard won and often that much more beautiful. This is a second-chance story and I felt it was very well executed. I could see the pain of misunderstanding that drew the characters apart, I could see the subtle shift in attitude that came as a result of spending time together for the first time in years, and I enjoyed watching as the two became a unit, taking on struggles together. This story had a sad note at the beginning, but the ending is lovely and I really liked the plot with Althea's twin brother and the oarsmen races. A nice read. Rating: 4.5 stars
My overall assessment of this anthology is that it is worth the small price tag. If you haven't read these authors before, this is a great way to get a sense of their writing style and find some new favorites. I really like all these authors and look forward to whenever they put out something new. Just remember these are previously published so check and make sure you haven't read them before buying.
I received a complimentary copy from the author to read and provide an honest review.
July 3, 2017
Ok so I got this because I love Caroline Linden and she promoted this anthology in her newsletter. I had never read anything by any of the other three authors when I bought it and I thought it would be fun to try some new authors. Unfortunately, this anthology didn't work for me :(
Maya Rodale: Seducing the Single Lady
I actually liked this one. You have to suspend your belief quite a bit. But I liked the idea of every chapter being inspired by a Beyoncé song, it was fun.
Basically, Susannah Grey and Damien Rhys Redmayne had been betrothed since their infancy. At 18, Damien panics, calls Susannah a "scrappy brat" in front of the town's biggest gossip, and flees the country. Due to a mix-up, he is presumed dead and Susannah decides to enjoy her freedom. At the beginning of the story, Damien comes back and decides he needs to be responsible now that he has inherited his father's title and wants to marry what the lonely, plain, girl he remembers. Little does he know Susannah looks nothing like the "scrappy brat" from his childhood, and is determined never again to belong to anyone... ~ 3 stars
Caroline Linden: A Study in Scandal
Part of Linden's Scandal series. I read this years ago, and I loved re-reading it. Samantha Lennox has recently confessed that, years ago, she stole money from her father to give to his nemesis because she felt her father had wronged him. Her tyrannical father decides to finally marry her off to a cruel, violent man as punishment, and she runs away. In London, her naivety promptly gets her into trouble, and George Churchill-Gray comes to her rescue.
This can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, but works better if you know the rest of the series IMO. I really liked Gray, a painter, and the way he slowly brings Samantha out of her shell. ~ 5 stars
Miranda Neville: Duchess of Scandal
I honestly couldn't have cared less about this story. Basically hero and heroine haven't spoken in five years because at the beginning of their marriage they were both stupid, and heaven forbid grown-ups just have a conversation. So instead they are estranged. They spend a few days in the same house by accident, she wants to be his mistress because suddenly she realizes she wants him after all, but doesn't feel like being a wife? I honestly didn't get it. ~ 1 star
Katharine Ashe: The Scoundrel & I
Didn't finish this one. Heroine steals something from the printer's office she works in for some reason, runs into the hero, the thingy breaks into pieces, he tries to fix it, she's upset... I didn't like the way the heroine looked down on what sounded like a damn sweet Captain of the Navy, forever correcting his grammar (every.single.time the man said "don't" or "ain't" she would correct him and at some point told him that his "blithe use of improper grammar is an abomination of the English language and good manners"). At that point I said goodbye to her, because I was really hoping the poor man would storm out, leave her to fix her own damn mess, and find someone else. ~ 1 star
Overall, this was okay for me. I have already read one book by Maya Rodale and liked it, and I guess if someone can recommend a good book by Ashe or Neville to me I might give them another try. Thoughts, guys?
Maya Rodale: Seducing the Single Lady
I actually liked this one. You have to suspend your belief quite a bit. But I liked the idea of every chapter being inspired by a Beyoncé song, it was fun.
Basically, Susannah Grey and Damien Rhys Redmayne had been betrothed since their infancy. At 18, Damien panics, calls Susannah a "scrappy brat" in front of the town's biggest gossip, and flees the country. Due to a mix-up, he is presumed dead and Susannah decides to enjoy her freedom. At the beginning of the story, Damien comes back and decides he needs to be responsible now that he has inherited his father's title and wants to marry what the lonely, plain, girl he remembers. Little does he know Susannah looks nothing like the "scrappy brat" from his childhood, and is determined never again to belong to anyone... ~ 3 stars
Caroline Linden: A Study in Scandal
Part of Linden's Scandal series. I read this years ago, and I loved re-reading it. Samantha Lennox has recently confessed that, years ago, she stole money from her father to give to his nemesis because she felt her father had wronged him. Her tyrannical father decides to finally marry her off to a cruel, violent man as punishment, and she runs away. In London, her naivety promptly gets her into trouble, and George Churchill-Gray comes to her rescue.
This can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, but works better if you know the rest of the series IMO. I really liked Gray, a painter, and the way he slowly brings Samantha out of her shell. ~ 5 stars
Miranda Neville: Duchess of Scandal
I honestly couldn't have cared less about this story. Basically hero and heroine haven't spoken in five years because at the beginning of their marriage they were both stupid, and heaven forbid grown-ups just have a conversation. So instead they are estranged. They spend a few days in the same house by accident, she wants to be his mistress because suddenly she realizes she wants him after all, but doesn't feel like being a wife? I honestly didn't get it. ~ 1 star
Katharine Ashe: The Scoundrel & I
Didn't finish this one. Heroine steals something from the printer's office she works in for some reason, runs into the hero, the thingy breaks into pieces, he tries to fix it, she's upset... I didn't like the way the heroine looked down on what sounded like a damn sweet Captain of the Navy, forever correcting his grammar (every.single.time the man said "don't" or "ain't" she would correct him and at some point told him that his "blithe use of improper grammar is an abomination of the English language and good manners"). At that point I said goodbye to her, because I was really hoping the poor man would storm out, leave her to fix her own damn mess, and find someone else. ~ 1 star
Overall, this was okay for me. I have already read one book by Maya Rodale and liked it, and I guess if someone can recommend a good book by Ashe or Neville to me I might give them another try. Thoughts, guys?
May 5, 2017
I love this book! The only one I had previously read was by Caroline Linden, it was even better the second time! I loved the stuffy Duke, marrying an eighteen year old, five years later they are still living apart! Misunderstanding, both too proud when they first married to give an inch. Absolutely loved the story of the Captain, and the shophgirl! Fantastic story, I was disappointed when it ended. Don't worry, there is a follow-up to it! Yay! Truly, altogether worth more than ninety nine cents! I highly recommend these stories! Buy while it's own sale, thrilled that I already own them. All are some of my favorite Author's! Thanks! Enjoy! carolintallahassee 👒
May 15, 2017
I have read all of these novellas individually and can highly recommend this anthology. Four wonderful romances by 4 of my "automatic buy" authors. Caroline, Katharine, Miranda and Maya are wonderful authors and I can easily recommend this book and all of the others they've written!
May 9, 2017
A STUDY IN SCANDAL by Caroline Linden
A STUDY IN SCANDAL is absolutely wonderful, full of suspense, exquisitely written, and features some of the most engaging characters I have ever read. Seven years ago, when she was barely sixteen, Lady Samantha Lennox made a grave mistake, and she has kept quiet since then, even though the guilt has been eating at her all this time. None of this would have happened were her father not such a terrifying man. Now, Sebastian Vane, the man she thought she loved at the time is getting married, and Samantha needs to rectify the situation. The whole family is scared of her father, the Earl of Stratford, and when Samantha confesses her mistake, the Earl reacts in a most surprising manner. But the worse was yet to come: as a punishment, the Earl is arranging a marriage for Samantha to a man who sounds even more horrid than her father, and the wedding is to happen within the month. What’s a girl to do? While on her way to see a friend, Samantha sees a coach going to London, and she hops in.
Caroline Linden accomplished what I thought impossible: right from the start, she describes the setting so precisely and the characters are so meticulously defined, that I immediately cared about Lady Samantha Lennox’s fate. What Samantha had done was wrong, it was done in good faith, but Sebastian’s life was ruined in the process. However had Samantha’s father not been such a tyrant, none of it would have happened. Seldom have I felt more for a fictional character; Ms. Linden conveys the emotions, the actions of the characters in such a way, that you cannot help but become involved, and to this extent, it is rare. Samantha’s disastrous outing and subsequent rescue by Lord George Churchill-Gray are clever, entirely believable and absolutely brilliant. The writing is smooth and elegant, the dialogues are perfectly in tune with the times, and the descriptions are so crisp and clear, I felt I was in London; the attention to historical detail is breathtaking. Ms. Linden’s understanding of artists and painting is also remarkable, and the romance is simply sublime. I adored Samantha and George, separately and together; they’re wonderfully complex characters, they feel genuine; and George is the type of hero I always hope for in a book, but seldom see. A STUDY IN SCANDAL is a work of art in itself; this is a book that spoke to my heart.
DUCHESS OF SCANDAL by Miranda Neville
DUCHESS OF SCANDAL by Miranda Neville is a rather dark story. The Duke of Linton married his wife Althea when she was but 18, because she was young, beautiful and suitable; he never really cared for her and they have been apart for most of their 5-year marriage. The Duke is a rather cold-hearted cad, to be honest, and theirs is a rather sad story. However events that happen at the boat race and the scavenger hunt make him realise the error of his ways, and Linton and Althea settle for a very unusual compromise. Ms. Neville is a master of character development and again she shines in the DUCHESS OF SCANDAL, her prose is as gorgeous as ever and she treats us to a few surprises.
THE SCOUNDREL AND I by Katharine Ashe
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!
SEDUCING THE SINGLE LADY by Maya Rodale
Damien Rhys Redmayne, Viscount Bedford, and Miss Susannah Grey were childhood nemeses. Susannah was not a very appealing girl, and Damien teased her relentlessly. Their parents had had them betrothed when infants, and when Damien was of age, he fled to the continent rather than marry Susannah. Susannah became an infamous wallflower until… she wasn’t. And Demon, er, Damien has changed too.
Susannah doesn’t want to get married anymore, or maybe she wants to, anyway she wants an adventure, which Damien provides, and what a scandalous outing it is! I would caution here that, if the reader is not inclined to read about same sex shenanigans, to skip this novella; it’s nothing shocking, but it’s there, and I must say I was a little taken aback. I must admit not knowing Beyoncé’s songs, and I don’t know how it ties in with the songs either. SEDUCING THE SINGLE LADY is typical Maya Rodale Regency: irreverent, flirty, sexy, light and fun, and featuring an independent woman, as expected from this author.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
A STUDY IN SCANDAL is absolutely wonderful, full of suspense, exquisitely written, and features some of the most engaging characters I have ever read. Seven years ago, when she was barely sixteen, Lady Samantha Lennox made a grave mistake, and she has kept quiet since then, even though the guilt has been eating at her all this time. None of this would have happened were her father not such a terrifying man. Now, Sebastian Vane, the man she thought she loved at the time is getting married, and Samantha needs to rectify the situation. The whole family is scared of her father, the Earl of Stratford, and when Samantha confesses her mistake, the Earl reacts in a most surprising manner. But the worse was yet to come: as a punishment, the Earl is arranging a marriage for Samantha to a man who sounds even more horrid than her father, and the wedding is to happen within the month. What’s a girl to do? While on her way to see a friend, Samantha sees a coach going to London, and she hops in.
Caroline Linden accomplished what I thought impossible: right from the start, she describes the setting so precisely and the characters are so meticulously defined, that I immediately cared about Lady Samantha Lennox’s fate. What Samantha had done was wrong, it was done in good faith, but Sebastian’s life was ruined in the process. However had Samantha’s father not been such a tyrant, none of it would have happened. Seldom have I felt more for a fictional character; Ms. Linden conveys the emotions, the actions of the characters in such a way, that you cannot help but become involved, and to this extent, it is rare. Samantha’s disastrous outing and subsequent rescue by Lord George Churchill-Gray are clever, entirely believable and absolutely brilliant. The writing is smooth and elegant, the dialogues are perfectly in tune with the times, and the descriptions are so crisp and clear, I felt I was in London; the attention to historical detail is breathtaking. Ms. Linden’s understanding of artists and painting is also remarkable, and the romance is simply sublime. I adored Samantha and George, separately and together; they’re wonderfully complex characters, they feel genuine; and George is the type of hero I always hope for in a book, but seldom see. A STUDY IN SCANDAL is a work of art in itself; this is a book that spoke to my heart.
DUCHESS OF SCANDAL by Miranda Neville
DUCHESS OF SCANDAL by Miranda Neville is a rather dark story. The Duke of Linton married his wife Althea when she was but 18, because she was young, beautiful and suitable; he never really cared for her and they have been apart for most of their 5-year marriage. The Duke is a rather cold-hearted cad, to be honest, and theirs is a rather sad story. However events that happen at the boat race and the scavenger hunt make him realise the error of his ways, and Linton and Althea settle for a very unusual compromise. Ms. Neville is a master of character development and again she shines in the DUCHESS OF SCANDAL, her prose is as gorgeous as ever and she treats us to a few surprises.
THE SCOUNDREL AND I by Katharine Ashe
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!
SEDUCING THE SINGLE LADY by Maya Rodale
Damien Rhys Redmayne, Viscount Bedford, and Miss Susannah Grey were childhood nemeses. Susannah was not a very appealing girl, and Damien teased her relentlessly. Their parents had had them betrothed when infants, and when Damien was of age, he fled to the continent rather than marry Susannah. Susannah became an infamous wallflower until… she wasn’t. And Demon, er, Damien has changed too.
Susannah doesn’t want to get married anymore, or maybe she wants to, anyway she wants an adventure, which Damien provides, and what a scandalous outing it is! I would caution here that, if the reader is not inclined to read about same sex shenanigans, to skip this novella; it’s nothing shocking, but it’s there, and I must say I was a little taken aback. I must admit not knowing Beyoncé’s songs, and I don’t know how it ties in with the songs either. SEDUCING THE SINGLE LADY is typical Maya Rodale Regency: irreverent, flirty, sexy, light and fun, and featuring an independent woman, as expected from this author.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
May 17, 2017
I'm a little annoyed because I had previously read the Caroline Linden and Katharine Ashe shorts before (and those authors were the reason I bought this collection). My fault for not checking goodreads before I bought this on sale. I really liked both of those upon re-read, especially Caroline Linden's (the best story in the bunch). I also found myself surprised by how much I really, really enjoyed Miranda Neville piece. It makes me want to give her writing another shot. And...I have come to the realization that I can never read anything by Maya Rodale again. I just flat out don't like her characters or her stories or her writing, and I think the story in this collection was my least favorite thing of hers I have ever read - I full stop hated it.
May 7, 2017
I was able to read a early release of Scoundrels of Summer.
Miranda: Duchess of Scandal
I loved story of Duke and Duchess of Linden. Linden was an arrogant Duke who saw a girl he liked and decided she was to be his Duchess. Althea knew she had to find a good match to take of herself and her twin brother, because her older half-brother washed his hands of them.
Althea and Linden rushed into marriage only to not really knowing each other. Arguments and estranged separate them, until they both ended staying at the house again. The old feelings were still there.
Althea and Linden worked together help Althea brother enter the Dukeries cup a rowing competition between houses. They ended rediscovering the passion and found love.
Maya: Seducing the Single Lady
Susannah and Damien were engaged at birth. They parents wanted the family houses to be connected and keep in tact. Only problem Damien and Susannah couldn't stand one other. They fought as children and youth adults.
Coming of age, Damien decided he wanted his freedom and sow his wild oats instead of marrying Susannah. He went to continent have his Grand tour.
While Susannah's world fall apart. Her parents died suddenly and send to her uncle to raised. Her uncle only cared the inheritance and was determined to marry her to someone he had control over to share the money.
Damien's father found out and brought Susannah into his home. She was treated like his daughter. Only thing she wanted was her freedom. Damien was thought to have been killed in Europe. Losing his son had caused Damien's father to died suddenly.
Susannah thought she was finally free to live the life she always wanted. She was enjoying her time in London. When Damien should show up very alive and determined to marry the girl both their families wanted to connect the two houses.
Damien remembered a skinny, wild haired girl who he loved to torture and tease. But what he found was Belle of Ball and the most sought after girl of the Season. He knew he was going to work hard to win both Susannah's love and trust to fulfill their destiny.
Caroline: A Study Of Scandal
Samantha Lennox grew up in home where her father's was law and you watched how you acted. Samantha fall in love with the boy next door. She was determined to win his love. When the opportunity to help Sebastian, she stole from her father thinking this was how she would finally be free and have love.
Samantha ended giving the money to Sebastian father thinking he would be helping Sebastian. But her father thought Sebastian stole the money and was out to ruin him instead
Samantha kept the secret for 7 years until she finally told the truth. Her father decided he was washing his hands of her. She was to marry a ruthless, dangerous Marquess of Dorre son who to her father thought could take his daughter in hand and keep under control.
Samantha ran away to London to get help from her brother. She ended lost and almost kidnapped. She ended thrown in River by the thugs who were going to sell her.
George Churchill-Gray was a struggling artist and fourth son of the Duke Rowland saw Samantha grabbed and taken by force. He heard and saw her being thrown in the river and saved her. George took Samantha back his rooms to help.
George and Samantha grew close while staying at his rooms. Samantha knew if she told the truth she would lose George. George painted Samantha as part of art project to be part of Royal Academy which he got two paintings submitted. Samantha knew if she told the truth she would lose George.
Samantha father Lord Stanford was determined to find his wayward daughter and have her married. He found her at George's room and took her home while George was gone.
George went his parents for helping Samantha and marry the girl he fall in love with. His father was able to help find Samantha so they could marry.
Katherine: Scoundrel and I
Gabrielle and Captain Anthony
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 stories.
Miranda: Duchess of Scandal
I loved story of Duke and Duchess of Linden. Linden was an arrogant Duke who saw a girl he liked and decided she was to be his Duchess. Althea knew she had to find a good match to take of herself and her twin brother, because her older half-brother washed his hands of them.
Althea and Linden rushed into marriage only to not really knowing each other. Arguments and estranged separate them, until they both ended staying at the house again. The old feelings were still there.
Althea and Linden worked together help Althea brother enter the Dukeries cup a rowing competition between houses. They ended rediscovering the passion and found love.
Maya: Seducing the Single Lady
Susannah and Damien were engaged at birth. They parents wanted the family houses to be connected and keep in tact. Only problem Damien and Susannah couldn't stand one other. They fought as children and youth adults.
Coming of age, Damien decided he wanted his freedom and sow his wild oats instead of marrying Susannah. He went to continent have his Grand tour.
While Susannah's world fall apart. Her parents died suddenly and send to her uncle to raised. Her uncle only cared the inheritance and was determined to marry her to someone he had control over to share the money.
Damien's father found out and brought Susannah into his home. She was treated like his daughter. Only thing she wanted was her freedom. Damien was thought to have been killed in Europe. Losing his son had caused Damien's father to died suddenly.
Susannah thought she was finally free to live the life she always wanted. She was enjoying her time in London. When Damien should show up very alive and determined to marry the girl both their families wanted to connect the two houses.
Damien remembered a skinny, wild haired girl who he loved to torture and tease. But what he found was Belle of Ball and the most sought after girl of the Season. He knew he was going to work hard to win both Susannah's love and trust to fulfill their destiny.
Caroline: A Study Of Scandal
Samantha Lennox grew up in home where her father's was law and you watched how you acted. Samantha fall in love with the boy next door. She was determined to win his love. When the opportunity to help Sebastian, she stole from her father thinking this was how she would finally be free and have love.
Samantha ended giving the money to Sebastian father thinking he would be helping Sebastian. But her father thought Sebastian stole the money and was out to ruin him instead
Samantha kept the secret for 7 years until she finally told the truth. Her father decided he was washing his hands of her. She was to marry a ruthless, dangerous Marquess of Dorre son who to her father thought could take his daughter in hand and keep under control.
Samantha ran away to London to get help from her brother. She ended lost and almost kidnapped. She ended thrown in River by the thugs who were going to sell her.
George Churchill-Gray was a struggling artist and fourth son of the Duke Rowland saw Samantha grabbed and taken by force. He heard and saw her being thrown in the river and saved her. George took Samantha back his rooms to help.
George and Samantha grew close while staying at his rooms. Samantha knew if she told the truth she would lose George. George painted Samantha as part of art project to be part of Royal Academy which he got two paintings submitted. Samantha knew if she told the truth she would lose George.
Samantha father Lord Stanford was determined to find his wayward daughter and have her married. He found her at George's room and took her home while George was gone.
George went his parents for helping Samantha and marry the girl he fall in love with. His father was able to help find Samantha so they could marry.
Katherine: Scoundrel and I
Gabrielle and Captain Anthony
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 stories.
May 16, 2017
Scoundrels of Summer is a great set of stories from four talented authors. These stories start with scandal, but end in, well you'll see.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Damien Rhys Redmayne, Viscount Bedford, and Miss Susannah Grey had been betrothed since childhood. She annoyed him and he called her a scrappy brat. It didn’t get much better, and then Damien left. He was gone for nine years and things had changed. He thought he would sail in and she would be thrilled to become his wife and give him heirs. He was in for a surprise. She no longer wanted to marry – anybody. He has changed as well. He regrets having hurt her so before he left, and when he get to know her again, he finds that he likes her and wants to marry her and make her happy. Susannah wants an adventure. Damien gives her just the adventure she wants. Will this be enough to bring the two of them together? Maybe. A good read.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
A Study in Scandal is a lovely story of a girl who runs to London to escape from a cruel father and a horrible arranged marriage. In London, Lady Samantha finds Lord George Grey who is an artist and the son of the Duke of Rowley. Lord Stratford eventually finds her intends to make things hard for her, and Grey. Grey appeals to his parents for assistance. The Duke warns his son that dealing with the Earl is difficult, but he will try. Is there anything they can do to help the couple? The main characters in this story are all strong in their own ways. Samantha and George are sweet and loving and want to take care of each other. The Duke of Rowley is the strong silent type. The Earl of Stratford is egotistical and rigid. The story is well done, short and paced perfectly. A Study in Scandal is a wonderful story and a great addition to this set.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
I enjoyed the Duchess of Scandal. It starts out a rather sad story of a marriage gone all wrong. The Duke of Linton is quite a bit older than his wife. She and her twin have had a rather difficult life, and she saw the marriage as a way for both of them to have a better life. The Duke and his wife have now been apart for five years. A mistake in scheduling brings them together for what turns out to be a few weeks. While spending time together and waiting for the big race and party in the “Dukeries,” they do something they should have done before. They talk and get to know each other. He also gets to know his brother-in-law. Will the time they spend together be enough to heal their marriage? Is it possible that even with all their differences, they can come to understand and love each other? Well developed, relatable characters and an enjoyable plot with a few surprises make this story one not to miss.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
Gabrielle Flood works in a printer’s shop and cares for her elderly grandmother. 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. She drops the tray of type and is unable to recover all of them. Captain Anthony Masinter has left the navy to run an estate he inherited from a great aunt. He did not see Elle that night and nearly ran her down. She later recognizes him and gives him a scathing set-down. He offers to help; she refuses, but he won’t take no for an answer. From here they work together, sort of, to find replacements for the missing type. Along the way, they might also fall in love. 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.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
Damien Rhys Redmayne, Viscount Bedford, and Miss Susannah Grey had been betrothed since childhood. She annoyed him and he called her a scrappy brat. It didn’t get much better, and then Damien left. He was gone for nine years and things had changed. He thought he would sail in and she would be thrilled to become his wife and give him heirs. He was in for a surprise. She no longer wanted to marry – anybody. He has changed as well. He regrets having hurt her so before he left, and when he get to know her again, he finds that he likes her and wants to marry her and make her happy. Susannah wants an adventure. Damien gives her just the adventure she wants. Will this be enough to bring the two of them together? Maybe. A good read.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
A Study in Scandal is a lovely story of a girl who runs to London to escape from a cruel father and a horrible arranged marriage. In London, Lady Samantha finds Lord George Grey who is an artist and the son of the Duke of Rowley. Lord Stratford eventually finds her intends to make things hard for her, and Grey. Grey appeals to his parents for assistance. The Duke warns his son that dealing with the Earl is difficult, but he will try. Is there anything they can do to help the couple? The main characters in this story are all strong in their own ways. Samantha and George are sweet and loving and want to take care of each other. The Duke of Rowley is the strong silent type. The Earl of Stratford is egotistical and rigid. The story is well done, short and paced perfectly. A Study in Scandal is a wonderful story and a great addition to this set.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
I enjoyed the Duchess of Scandal. It starts out a rather sad story of a marriage gone all wrong. The Duke of Linton is quite a bit older than his wife. She and her twin have had a rather difficult life, and she saw the marriage as a way for both of them to have a better life. The Duke and his wife have now been apart for five years. A mistake in scheduling brings them together for what turns out to be a few weeks. While spending time together and waiting for the big race and party in the “Dukeries,” they do something they should have done before. They talk and get to know each other. He also gets to know his brother-in-law. Will the time they spend together be enough to heal their marriage? Is it possible that even with all their differences, they can come to understand and love each other? Well developed, relatable characters and an enjoyable plot with a few surprises make this story one not to miss.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
Gabrielle Flood works in a printer’s shop and cares for her elderly grandmother. 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. She drops the tray of type and is unable to recover all of them. Captain Anthony Masinter has left the navy to run an estate he inherited from a great aunt. He did not see Elle that night and nearly ran her down. She later recognizes him and gives him a scathing set-down. He offers to help; she refuses, but he won’t take no for an answer. From here they work together, sort of, to find replacements for the missing type. Along the way, they might also fall in love. 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.
May 12, 2017
These four novellas were a delight to read!! Each one had wonderful characters and a wonderful story to tell. I had previously read two. The one by Ms. Linden and Ms. Neville. The second time around they were better.
Seducing the single lady by Maya Rodale--
I liked how our hero, Damien, gives Susannah a little of what we lived through the nine years he was away. It was also sweet of him to replace something he broke when they were children. Susannah enjoyed her single status but she realized that her life was meant to be with Damien.
A study in scandal by Caroline Linden--
I had previously read this novella. I loved this story. Gray was Samantha's knight in shining armor with paint. He was her champion from the first time they met. Gray and Samantha were a very sweet couple. I'm glad he was there for her at the end when she most needed him to protect her from her family.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville--
I had previously read this novella in another anthology. I believe Ben and Althea met and married at the wrong time. They both made wrong choices when it came to their marriage. Luckily fate intervened and were able to give their marriage a second chance.
The scoundrel and I by Katherine Ashe--
I loved this one too! Anthony, our hero, is a very kind hearted man who meant well but some of his intentions backfired. Elle, our heroine, was a very smart and sweet woman. She tried to do something nice for her grandmother but an incident occurred which lead to her meeting Anthony. It was entertaining to see them banter especially when she would correct his grammar and he didn't mind.
Overall they are four wonderful stories. I highly recommend them. Even though they are novellas the stories are well told and long enough to tell their story.
Seducing the single lady by Maya Rodale--
I liked how our hero, Damien, gives Susannah a little of what we lived through the nine years he was away. It was also sweet of him to replace something he broke when they were children. Susannah enjoyed her single status but she realized that her life was meant to be with Damien.
A study in scandal by Caroline Linden--
I had previously read this novella. I loved this story. Gray was Samantha's knight in shining armor with paint. He was her champion from the first time they met. Gray and Samantha were a very sweet couple. I'm glad he was there for her at the end when she most needed him to protect her from her family.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville--
I had previously read this novella in another anthology. I believe Ben and Althea met and married at the wrong time. They both made wrong choices when it came to their marriage. Luckily fate intervened and were able to give their marriage a second chance.
The scoundrel and I by Katherine Ashe--
I loved this one too! Anthony, our hero, is a very kind hearted man who meant well but some of his intentions backfired. Elle, our heroine, was a very smart and sweet woman. She tried to do something nice for her grandmother but an incident occurred which lead to her meeting Anthony. It was entertaining to see them banter especially when she would correct his grammar and he didn't mind.
Overall they are four wonderful stories. I highly recommend them. Even though they are novellas the stories are well told and long enough to tell their story.
May 31, 2017
This is an anthology of four short stories. Overall I enjoyed the stories, though some were better than others:
A Study In Scandal by Caroline Linden
Part of her Scandals series, this is the story of Samantha Lennox, and has been previously published. It stands alone well, though it is better if you are familiar with the back story. Delightful! 5 stars
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
I had not read anything by this author before, but the story did not suffer from the that. The plot was nicely contained in the shorter format, and the characters well developed. Also delightful, and I will be seeking out other books by this author! 5 stars
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
This felt like there was a LOT of backstory that was missing from not having read her other books, and the characters and plot line was confusing. I think this may have benefited from being a longer book, but it was enjoyable, and I wouldn't mind reading some of the other related books to figure out the back story. 3.5 stars
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
This one started out great, but then took am unusual plot twist part way through which distracted the rest of the story. I wish the story had been allowed to develop without that twist, because it started out so great. As it is, it was a bit disappointing. The Beyoncé song titles as the chapter titles felt forced and unnecessary to the story. 3 stars
I received an advance reading copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review.
A Study In Scandal by Caroline Linden
Part of her Scandals series, this is the story of Samantha Lennox, and has been previously published. It stands alone well, though it is better if you are familiar with the back story. Delightful! 5 stars
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville
I had not read anything by this author before, but the story did not suffer from the that. The plot was nicely contained in the shorter format, and the characters well developed. Also delightful, and I will be seeking out other books by this author! 5 stars
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe
This felt like there was a LOT of backstory that was missing from not having read her other books, and the characters and plot line was confusing. I think this may have benefited from being a longer book, but it was enjoyable, and I wouldn't mind reading some of the other related books to figure out the back story. 3.5 stars
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale
This one started out great, but then took am unusual plot twist part way through which distracted the rest of the story. I wish the story had been allowed to develop without that twist, because it started out so great. As it is, it was a bit disappointing. The Beyoncé song titles as the chapter titles felt forced and unnecessary to the story. 3 stars
I received an advance reading copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review.
July 10, 2020
I didn't enjoy any of the books in this anthology.
Seducing the Scoundrel by Maya Rodale- 2/5
As another reviewer mentioned, the hero in this book did a sudden about-face and promptly fell in love, when he realized the previously ugly heroine had become beautiful. Additionally, I felt like his intentions missed the mark. The heroine mentioned to him how stifled she felt by her family and society's expectations of her and she craved the same freedom he had had for 9 years. Instead of simply helping her along without the express intent of wooing her, he set aside to show her freedom for ONE MONTH, while still carrying on his wager. I didn't really believe that he cared about her happiness but rather, he was still serving his desire to be with her.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden -2/5
I was irritated by the heroine's lack of agency after she met the hero. She seemingly left her town with no money and vague plans of getting to London and meeting her brother. When she got to London, she had no solid plans of how she was going to escape her father and forge a life for herself. Instead, she just centred her life around the hero (who also seemingly had no independent income) without thought for what would happen after she had to leave his bachelor pad. Thus, I didn't buy their love. It seemed more like a convenient escape plan for the heroine than anything else.
The other two books didn't really leave much of an experience, except I remember being irritated by Miranda Neville's book because it seemed the hero had no respect for the heroine.
Seducing the Scoundrel by Maya Rodale- 2/5
As another reviewer mentioned, the hero in this book did a sudden about-face and promptly fell in love, when he realized the previously ugly heroine had become beautiful. Additionally, I felt like his intentions missed the mark. The heroine mentioned to him how stifled she felt by her family and society's expectations of her and she craved the same freedom he had had for 9 years. Instead of simply helping her along without the express intent of wooing her, he set aside to show her freedom for ONE MONTH, while still carrying on his wager. I didn't really believe that he cared about her happiness but rather, he was still serving his desire to be with her.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden -2/5
I was irritated by the heroine's lack of agency after she met the hero. She seemingly left her town with no money and vague plans of getting to London and meeting her brother. When she got to London, she had no solid plans of how she was going to escape her father and forge a life for herself. Instead, she just centred her life around the hero (who also seemingly had no independent income) without thought for what would happen after she had to leave his bachelor pad. Thus, I didn't buy their love. It seemed more like a convenient escape plan for the heroine than anything else.
The other two books didn't really leave much of an experience, except I remember being irritated by Miranda Neville's book because it seemed the hero had no respect for the heroine.
May 30, 2017
These are not new
I like these stories especially when I read them a while ago it was a little disappointing that they aren't new but they were great stories anyway I like all the authors
I like these stories especially when I read them a while ago it was a little disappointing that they aren't new but they were great stories anyway I like all the authors
May 26, 2017
I liked three out of four.
August 7, 2017
Short entertaining HR fix.
September 2, 2017
Just ok
April 14, 2018
Good set of novellas. I have read three of the four authors and so the characters in their stories were familiar. Maya Rodale is a new-to-me author though.
July 28, 2017
This was an uneven, but easy to read collection of stories. Heads up: these have all been published before, so you may have already read some or all of these.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale - dnf
Susannah Grey was engaged as a young child to Damien Rhys Redmayne. He never liked the idea of marriage to her, so he ended up running away, got into all sorts of scraps, and then supposedly died. Susannah had a Cinderella-style childhood, and after Damien's death, she's decided to enjoy herself except, Damien's back and plans on marrying her.
This story sounded really good, but it didn't work for me. I know I've dnf'd Rodale before, but I've also really liked some of her stories. What killed this one for me was that in order to win Susannah back, Damien helped her dress as a boy, so she could go on adventures. One of those adventures was Susannah having her first kiss with a random tavern maid. I'm not really a big fan of the hero or heroine kissing anyone else during the story, and especially in regards to a first kiss, if I'm going to see it, I want it to be between the hero and heroine not the heroine and a random woman.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden - 4 stars
After admitting to crime she committed years ago to her father, he decides to punish Samantha by arranging a marriage between her and a brutal man. She runs away to London, gets almost kidnapped, and is saved by George Churchill-Gray, the son of a duke and a dashing young artist.
I loved this story; it was probably my favorite of the collection. I've read some of the other books in this series, and also enjoyed those, but I'd say that you can easily read this without any of those. Samantha and Gray are both sweet characters, and Gray especially is a great hero. I loved the connection art gave them, and despite this being only a novella, Linden did a great job of creating a relationship between the two of them.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville - 4 stars
Years ago, the Duke of Linton and Althea wed. Within a few months, they realized their mistake and separated. They've avoided each other ever since, but then they accidentally end up staying at the same country estate and begin to wonder if maybe they could have something between them again.
I enjoyed this reunion story, and it was one where I could buy them coming back together. At the time they married, they were too different for one another, but Althea especially has done some growing, and they now have different views on life.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe - 4 stars
I read this story before and didn't feel like rereading it. I rated it 4 stars though, and I remember enjoying it. This is one of the few stories by Ashe that I have enjoyed. I seem to like her novellas, but not really care for her longer works.
Ultimately, I rated this anthology 3 stars. 3 4 stars and 1 dnf work out to that in my opinion.
Seducing the Single Lady by Maya Rodale - dnf
Susannah Grey was engaged as a young child to Damien Rhys Redmayne. He never liked the idea of marriage to her, so he ended up running away, got into all sorts of scraps, and then supposedly died. Susannah had a Cinderella-style childhood, and after Damien's death, she's decided to enjoy herself except, Damien's back and plans on marrying her.
This story sounded really good, but it didn't work for me. I know I've dnf'd Rodale before, but I've also really liked some of her stories. What killed this one for me was that in order to win Susannah back, Damien helped her dress as a boy, so she could go on adventures. One of those adventures was Susannah having her first kiss with a random tavern maid. I'm not really a big fan of the hero or heroine kissing anyone else during the story, and especially in regards to a first kiss, if I'm going to see it, I want it to be between the hero and heroine not the heroine and a random woman.
A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden - 4 stars
After admitting to crime she committed years ago to her father, he decides to punish Samantha by arranging a marriage between her and a brutal man. She runs away to London, gets almost kidnapped, and is saved by George Churchill-Gray, the son of a duke and a dashing young artist.
I loved this story; it was probably my favorite of the collection. I've read some of the other books in this series, and also enjoyed those, but I'd say that you can easily read this without any of those. Samantha and Gray are both sweet characters, and Gray especially is a great hero. I loved the connection art gave them, and despite this being only a novella, Linden did a great job of creating a relationship between the two of them.
Duchess of Scandal by Miranda Neville - 4 stars
Years ago, the Duke of Linton and Althea wed. Within a few months, they realized their mistake and separated. They've avoided each other ever since, but then they accidentally end up staying at the same country estate and begin to wonder if maybe they could have something between them again.
I enjoyed this reunion story, and it was one where I could buy them coming back together. At the time they married, they were too different for one another, but Althea especially has done some growing, and they now have different views on life.
The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe - 4 stars
I read this story before and didn't feel like rereading it. I rated it 4 stars though, and I remember enjoying it. This is one of the few stories by Ashe that I have enjoyed. I seem to like her novellas, but not really care for her longer works.
Ultimately, I rated this anthology 3 stars. 3 4 stars and 1 dnf work out to that in my opinion.
April 14, 2021
Seducing the Single Lady, Maya Rodale - my first Rodale! A much breezier style of writing and describing actions taking place. The hero and heroine weren't my favorite kind of people (and I don't listen to Beyonce, so the chapter titles were lost on me), so it was only an okay read.
A Study in Scandal, Caroline Linden - read this when it was first published separately and still enjoyed it this time.
Duchess of Scandal, Miranda Neville - read this in a different anthology, but didn't remember much about the plot. Liked it this time, and it was nice to see a romance set between and already-married couple. I think Althea could have stood up to her brother sooner, but that's a minor quibble.
The Scoundrel and I, Katherine Ashe - my first Ashe! Easily the stand-out story for me. Loved the characters, the setting, the romance, all of it. Historical can so easily get trapped in a ballroom, so I love any that take a chance on characters from a different class, or a different location. Ashe did a wonderful job of building the relationship and attraction between Elle and Tony and making it seem real and believable in such a short time frame.
[April 2021] re-read A Study in Scandal and Duchess of Scandal
A Study in Scandal, Caroline Linden - read this when it was first published separately and still enjoyed it this time.
Duchess of Scandal, Miranda Neville - read this in a different anthology, but didn't remember much about the plot. Liked it this time, and it was nice to see a romance set between and already-married couple. I think Althea could have stood up to her brother sooner, but that's a minor quibble.
The Scoundrel and I, Katherine Ashe - my first Ashe! Easily the stand-out story for me. Loved the characters, the setting, the romance, all of it. Historical can so easily get trapped in a ballroom, so I love any that take a chance on characters from a different class, or a different location. Ashe did a wonderful job of building the relationship and attraction between Elle and Tony and making it seem real and believable in such a short time frame.
[April 2021] re-read A Study in Scandal and Duchess of Scandal
April 12, 2018
Rating is for Duchess of Scandal.
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