Love Only Me

Scandal Meets Love #1

by Amanda Mariel

Born a noble woman, raised a hellion, Lady Narissa moves with ease between London's elite and its seedier occupants. Never quite accepting her role as an earls daughter she started a secret female only gaming hell catering to the ladies of the ton. She is determined to protect her legacy at all costs.

Seth Blakley, Duke of Blackmore, has his hands full with his spirited sister. His only desire is to see her properly wed before she gets herself irrevocably ruined. He never could have imagined what he’d be walking into when he followed her into Lady Narissa’s gaming hell.

Seth is captivated by Lady Narissa and determined to learn more about the headstrong, unconventional beauty. Never mind that all she wishes is for him to be gone and his memory of her club forgotten. Passion pulls the two together as they discover that love is more important than the obligations and loyalties that threaten to keep them apart.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Amazon, Regency Romance, Regency, Novella

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2018

About the author

Amanda Mariel, an accomplished wordsmith, holds dual master's degrees in liberal arts and education, specializing in the captivating realms of history and literature. Beyond her academic pursuits, she embraces the joyful chaos of motherhood, tending to both her cherished teenagers and her trio of adored fur babies. Among them, a noble Bernese Mountain Dog named Blaze, and two cats of distinct character, Ezra and Puff, share their home.

A USA Today Bestselling luminary, Amanda Mariel conjures vivid tapestries of eras long past, drawing inspiration from the languid cadence of days gone by. With pen poised and imagination unfurled, she traverses the annals of time, weaving tales that illuminate historical landscapes with finesse and flair. Her creative spirit finds respite in reading, traversing new horizons through travel, and capturing moments through the lenses of both her camera and artistic endeavors. Yet, it is in the embrace of family that she finds her truest sanctuary.

To delve deeper into Amanda's captivating world visit www.amandamariel.com. While there, an invitation to join her newsletter promises a gateway to the latest from Amanda Mariel's literary treasury, and an opportunity to claim a complimentary eBook.

Amanda's passion extends to her readers, welcoming their voices and stories into her narrative realm. Engage with her through email at amanda@amandamariel.com, or connect via her social Media channels.

Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorAmandaMarie1
Twitter: twitter.com/AmandaMarieAuth
BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/amanda-mariel
Instagram: instagram.com/authoramandamariel
TikTok: tiktok.com/@amandamarielromance

Amidst the prose and parchment, Amanda Mariel etches a profound connection, bridging eras, hearts, and minds, creating a legacy that resonates through the corridors of time.

Reviews

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Narissa, an Earl’s daughter who easily slips between high society and owner of a women’s only gaming hall. I rather liked Narissa. Her father taught her to gamble and ride race horses. This is how she first encounters Seth when while riding she bests his horse and wins.

Both characters were strong and unique. Together they created delicious tension and exchanged witty barbs and banter.

A hater to lovers clean romance complicated by Seth’s younger sister who wants to join the Fortuna’s Parlor Ladies’ club. (Narissa’s gaming hall). Seth is a scoundrel, admonishing Lady Narissa’s behavior one moment, then asking her to repeat it for his own benefit. Which made me laugh.

At around four hours, Aiden Black did a delightful job narrating both the voice of Seth and Narissa. He captures their banter and chemistry. Listening enhanced and strengthened this novella, and I enjoyed the telling of it. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/20/2021)! 🎁

[Mak ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wonderful: 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Hot: 🔥

Seth Blakley, Duke of Blackmore and Lady Narissa...
Não vou negar que senti falta de mais emoção.. Porém a história é ótima...
O eBook é curtinho, então pode se ler em um finalzinho de tarde para matar o tempo..
Eu adorei o foco, principal, pelo fato de que elas não são Lady comuns.. Ela segue bem longe do padrão de Lady o que torna tudo muito divertido...
Happy reading, and until the next reading... 😘😘

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Race to the Finish💘

Hoyden , Narissa, owns a women's only gaming parlor and some race horses, from her father's legacy. She races the horses herself. At the track, she sees, Seth, a Duke and rival race horse owner. A kind of love 💘/ Hate😠 relationship develops between the two.

The book needed some professional editing, there were some grammatical mistakes, but not so many as to be distracting.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline on this story kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed both the hero and the heroine and thought that Ms. Mariel had developed their characters nicely. And I was fascinated with the heroine’s grasp of survival. It’s a book I may very well read again. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written love story with delightful characters. I enjoyed the unconventional and unique lifestyles. The romance that blossomed despite differences was delightful and very romantic. I highly recommend reading!

[ImyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. 5 stars

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry that I did not waste my time with rewriting my reviews for each book. The summation for When a Rogue Falls applies to all the books. Just dig through for this book’s review.
When a Rogue Falls - This collection consists of the previously published stories from nine authors. All are new to me, except for Aubrey Wynne; her book is the reason why I chose this collection. Although I have a couple of collections with these authors’ books, I never was interested in reading their books. The review conditions required that I read all the books. I received an Epub file, which made my reading experience a nightmare, until I found Calibre. Some of these books came with an overview, which I appreciate knowing what the story is about before I read it.

This will be the last collection of these authors that I will review/read. The dialog is too modern for the times, which spoils the reading for me, along with the amateur ways used to show the woman in question is independent. A bit simplistic and Hollywood in the styles, too. I will stick with Ms. Wynne, except for her Legacy Series since books two and three were unsatisfactory.

Every one of these books needs editing. What is the deal with using lowercase for titles and names (so common nowadays) – disrespect and intolerance? Doesn’t anyone know the difference between woman and women (or man vs. men), singular vs. plural, or possessive vs. plural? Authors, may I recommend Dame Barbara Cartland for reference material; not an author I cared to read even in childhood, but she knew her stuff. In case this matters to some, she’s the step-grandmother to Princess Di. 3*

Caroline Linden, The Secret of My Seduction – I was unable to finish this story. It had a good beginning and the characters were interesting, but once the sex started I became bored and quit reading. 3*

Erica Monroe, Stealing the Rogue's Heart – There is a glossary of older terms that are not all commonly used today. I liked the storylines, the characters and dialog. Although there was a little bit of today’s theme of men not telling her what to do, the story is actually realistic. There is some vulgar language and I skipped the sex scenes. 4*

Katherine Bone, The Pirate's Debt – I could not get into this story. I felt like I missed a previous book and what I was reading confused me. 3*

Aileen Fish, That Miscreant Marquess – This is a nice, clean, simplistic story with good characters. The storylines were OK, but the romance bit from his end happened on the next page after he said he wasn’t interested in her. That didn’t flow smoothly with all the denials and wham love, and her acting like he belonged to her at a certain point. 3*

Christina McKnight, Adeline – I found this to be an interesting and intriguing version of Beauty and the Beast, and enjoyable reading. The storylines are interesting and the support characters are my type of conspirators and caring people. The two main characters, both damaged in their own way, kept me immersed in the pages, even though there were some silly thoughts. Good descriptions. Good dialog, considering, but still too modern as with the servants’ behaviors. 4*

Dawn Brower, A Lady Hoyden's Secret – I was interesting in where the story was going but with chapter two when the switch flipped I started getting bored with the same old formula. Then a bit later, same chapter, the vulgar language began with the fantasies. There was not enough story to get me interested in these characters, nor did I feel any sexual tension between them; just sneakiness. He ignores her for decades and now he’s hot for her; yeah, right; maybe further into the story. 2*

Aubrey Wynne, Rhapsody and Rebellion #3 - I enjoy the stories by Ms. Wynne, but this one is just OK. Good storylines well told but the dialog is not authentic. This is a quickly read romance set in England during the early 1800s. The characters are good and likeable, well almost all of them, and there's plenty of love and caring mixed with a touch of suspense. This story is not on the same level as some of her previous books. Some research would have helped this story immensely, and the author would have learned that God and the Bible were important to these characters and would not have used lowercase as is so popular nowadays with the “modern” folk. I contacted the author to review her books and received this copy through Booksprout. Needs minor editing. 3*

Amanda Mariel, Love Only Me – There seems to be lots of confusion for this author concerning possessive vs. plural, to the point of annoyance for the reader. BUT … this is an interesting story with good characters and good dialog, better than the rest. Although I skimmed, I did finish this one. 4*

Lauren Smith, His Wicked Embrace – Did not make it far into the story before boredom set in. There was nothing that interested me about the characters or the storylines. 3*

I found this book on Booksprout. 3*

[Jamie Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unbelievable Heroine, But Outrageous Series Enjoyable

Audiobook Review:
If you like to read outrageous Regency series, this Scandal Meets Love one certainly fills the bill. It's hard to imagine a true Regency gentlewoman running a women-only gaming hell. But that's what the heroine of this book does. For some reason, society allows her more latitude than typical for an unmarried gentlewoman. She has spirit, for certain, and that's what appeals to the hero. He can't quite believe the shenanigans she gets up to … and it brings out his protective side as well as his interests in other … things! I loved how he would at turns chastise her for her behavior but then want her to act so for his benefit or amusement. LOL! The narrator is male, which makes it a little more fun and swoony, but he seems to be Australian, which doesn’t quite work for a Regency. He does his best to mask this, but it certainly comes out on occasion. As this is a relatively quick read (or quick listen), it doesn’t have much room for development of either plot or character. Still, if you're in the mood for an outrageous quick-read Regency romp—without expecting it to reflect the times or have much to its characterization or plot—you may enjoy this book.

I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* rounded up to 4*.

Love Only Me is a Regency era romantic novella by Amanda Mariel. It is also the first book in the series, Scandal Meets Love. I've been enjoying Mariel's books because they are steamy, romantic and just so, so easy to consume (and enjoy).

This particular novella follows the scandalous noblewoman, Lady Narissa. She is an earl's daughter who has learnt to skirt the propriety - her father was a bit of a ne'er-do-well and passed on his love of gambling and horses. Narissa is a smart lady however, and she uses the vices to maintain her lifestyle and to simply enjoy herself. Then there is the Duke of Blackmoor, Seth, the polar opposite of Narissa. Seth is having trouble with his sister, who seems to tempt scandal herself. Seth also wants to have perfect control of his world and the people in it. So when Seth and Narissa meet in a rather scandalous setting, they clash immediately.

This is a classic enemies to lovers book. Seth and Narissa have intense chemistry. I enjoyed it a lot, although I found the whole realisation to being in love was a tad abrupt, especially for Seth.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading a Christmas novella, I stumbled into a regency romance series. This is the first book in a series that features women who defy the ton, believing they should have many of the rights that gentlemen enjoy. Lady Narissa has established a club for ladies above a modiste's shop that has a secret entrance. She also has other unlikely interests such as fencing and training and racing horses. Learning the horse trade from her father, she continues to race after his death with the intent on winning the Epsom in his honor. Her inheritance is what allowed her to establish Fortuna's, a club for women.

Winning an earlier race brought her to the attention of Seth, the Duke of Blackmore. He is surprised to find a female jockey and seeks to hire her to race one of his horses in the Epsom. She turns him down considering her own intentions, even refusing to be bought when he offers her a goodly some of money. Thus begins the chase of the Duke for Narissa, who further riles him when he discovers she runs a ladies' club which his young sister Hannah has been frequenting. This is an entertaining beginning to an interesting series with surprising women who are not afraid to thwart the conventions of the time.

[Charlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first in a series and it is a novella, not what I expected. The storyline is short and simple.

Lady Narissa isn't a typical or conventional woman of the ton. She was raised by her gambler father and owns her own female gaming hall as well as some spectacular horseflesh that she trains and rides. It was her and her late father's dream to race at Epsom.

Enter Seth, Duke of Blackmore, who wants her to ride for him so he can win. Winning is the end all to him. She refuses. So how to get her to do what he wants?

Enter his sister, who is going to become a member at her gaming hall. He follows, forces Narissa's hand with blackmail, and she has to train and ride for him.

All of a sudden everything starts wrapping up nice and neat. Even though she has to ride for him, she can't go through with her plan. And they suddenly love each other beyond the depths of their bring and have to be married that night.

So many things not quite right with the time period. No complications in the storyline. No character development. No depth or subplot. The title also doesn't really match the story.

[Rose Seals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another WOW by this author. Very well written, full of drama, romance, love, chemistry, society, intrigue, secrets, action, blackmail, twists and turns. Enjoyed the characters in this story , both having much to offer the readers. Lady Narissa is a woman , who doesn't follow or care about society's rules but does stay hidden so they don't know about her and what she does. She loves to train and race horses plus owns her own gambling hall just for women. Having learned from her father and making the most of what she learned. Seth is a Duke whose sister goes to this gambling hall and he tries to stop her behaviors. It's there he meets Narissa and gives her a choice - to train and ride his horses of have society find out the truth about her. Has lots of back and forth emotions and hard feelings between them. Yet feelings evolve for them and both find that there is love for them to enjoy. Good book to curl up with but would have liked a little more in the ending. Would recommend to others.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Narissa, daughter of the late Earl of Haddington, raced horses and owned a gaming hell for women. She was smart, beautiful and didn’t care what Society thought of her. She met Seth, the Duke of Blakemore, at the Newmarket races where he made her an offer she refused. They met again at Tattersalls where he came out the winner. Meanwhile, Seth’s younger sister Hannah had been sneaking out at night and returning in the wee hours of the morning. Following her one night led him to another encounter with Narissa, which ended up with him blackmailing her. Despite the discord, they were drawn to each other, and neither pride, nor deceit could deter the feelings that developed. This is a quick, exciting story that vibrates with passion. It is filled with confused emotions, unladylike behavior and wonderful added details. A delightful and fun read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story kicks off the series, Scandal Meets Love, and what an exceptional start! Although born a noble woman, Narissa is not content with her position as an earl's daughter, and in addition to attending balls and soirees, she also runs a gaming hall that caters to the ladies of the ton. Seth, the Duke of Blackmore, finds himself entering said gaming hall when he follows his sister. Although Seth is captivated by Narissa's spirited nature, they immediately clash upon their initial meeting. Their enemies to lovers relationship ultimately culminates into something more. The tension and chemistry between them is strong which made for some pretty witty and interesting dialogue. The characters were strong and uniquely written and I enjoyed following their story. I am looking forward to continuing the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Star-Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true delight! Lady Narissa Goodwin is not the average lady of the ton because not only is she a jockey owning her own horse but she also operates her own gaming hell. At first she’s a sore in the side of Seth Blakey the Duke of Blackmore but he soon can’t help falling for the beautifully, daring hellion. And Narissa may think she’s infuriated with the stubborn blackmailing Duke but he’s so handsome and she can’t fight the attraction. Yet they both will have to make amends to each other before this delightful romance can work itself out.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book and the horse racing and gaming hell made it very interesting to read. Well written, perfect pacing and one of my favorites from Amanda Mariel.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Yoglaxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bueno, pues aquí nos encontramos una rareza en el mundo del género romántico de época.

Ella es una lady de alta alcurnia, pero criada de forma varonil por un padre al que poco le importaban las habladurías, así que a ella también le dan igual. Amazona cuando no se veía con buenos ojos a una mujer q se dedicara a ello, es dueña de un salón de juegos femenino y secreto.

Él es muy tozudo y orgulloso, detesta perder y hará todo lo posible por cobrarse venganza. Una mujer jinete se atrevió a ganarle en una carrera por la que perdió bastante dinero y dejó su orgullo por los suelos... ¿Se adivina quién fue esa amazona?

El libro es bueno, pero no llega a estar a la altura para dejarlo entre mis favoritos. Cuatro merecidísimas estrellitas.

[Tiffany P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, relatively clean, but not chaste love story of Narissa and Seth. They started out as antagonizing enemies that couldn’t deny how drawn they were to one another. After spending time together, they both realized that there were things more important than their pride and their own selfish needs. Once they realized their love, they found a way to work together and get their HEA.

This was a short novella so most of their interactions were when they were antagonizing one another. The romantic feelings didn’t really come until the very end. I am not particularly fond of the combative relationships that last for most of the book, but I still always enjoy a happy ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hellion Meets Duke
Clarissa is a delightful hellion; Seth is a prideful and stubborn duke. Their first encounter was anything but smooth. He wanted her to ride his prized horse because she was the best jockey he’d ever seen. She refused, and the battle of wills began. However, beneath the banter and stubborn pride, something tender begins to bloom. Will love win out, or will their tempers get in the way?
This is a lovely novella—light, fast-paced, and full of charm. Clarissa’s fire and Seth’s slow softening made their romance especially fun to watch unfold. I recommend it to anyone looking for a historical romance you can enjoy in a single sitting. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a boring story. It is the verbal and emotional duel between the H and h. Both characters were strong able bodied, independent and intelligent. The h was raised in an unconventional way which added to her mystic and uniqueness. The H, a duke, wealthy, handsome, determined and singularly focused knew the h was in his way. It was fun to watch the consternation between the two when they fought their attraction to each other. A delightful read and I do recommend it. I read this story as part of a box set Scandal Meets Love: Volume One. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Seth and Narissa’s story. Lady Narissa dances on the edge of London's elite and its shadows. As the secret founder of an exclusive gaming hell for the ladies of the ton, she defies society’s rules and guards her hidden world fiercely. Determined to protect her legacy at any cost, she’s vowed to let no man disrupt her carefully constructed life. Seth Blakley, the Duke of Blackmore, is consumed with the task of managing his spirited sister's debut, desperate to see her properly wed before scandal ensues. His pursuit of her leads him into the heart of Lady Narissa’s clandestine empire. But instead of outrage, he finds himself mesmerized by the headstrong, unconventional beauty who rules the tables. Narissa wants nothing more to do with Seth and for him to forget her club but the duke is relentless. As their worlds collide, an irresistible passion flares between them, challenging everything they’ve ever known. An entertaining read. And am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Shuvai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Narissa is no ordinary noblewoman—she’s a card shark, a secret jockey, and the founder of Fortuna’s Parlor, a daring gambling den for women. When her competitive streak collides with the prideful Duke of Blackmore, sparks fly in a fast-paced tale of snarky banter, sizzling chemistry, and a battle of wills. With clever twists, strong female friendships, and a romance that simmers rather than scorches, this story delivers charm, wit, and a satisfying surprise ending. A delightful read that celebrates passion, ingenuity, and the thrill of chasing one’s dreams.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narissa was brought up by father that taught her to game and ride racehorses she wasn't your normal lady of her times Seth wasn't impressed when she rode her horse to victory against his horse. So began a love hate relationship between these two characters that definitely aren't the norm for their times Will this scoundrel of a duke realize that she is the perfect woman for him. A quick fun story that was a great read though could do with a better edit

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has two sides to her, she tries to keep them apart but it may not last long. She runs a club for women to gamble just like the men do at their own clubs. He is trying to rein his young sister in and so follows when she goes out. He finds himself at her gambling club. He sees something in her that he wants. Her two sides will clash but how? Will all she had worked for be ruined? Can she find and keep love? Follow her story

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Only Me by Amanda Mariel and Dawn Brower is a historical romance that I listened to on audio narrated Aiden Black.

Amanda and Dawn did an amazing job on this storyline. You can’t help but fall in love with Narissa and Seth. I cannot wait to dive into the next book in the series Find Me Love.

Aiden did a great job on the narration. I look forward to listening to more of his work in the future.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves slow burn romance or historical romance.

[☘KathyD☘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun story with an unexpected heroine! Lady Narissa is a strong, independent woman who relies on no man to help her make her way. Raised by her father, she is very comfortable in the man’s world of horse racing and is an accomplished rider/jockey. The Duke of Blackmore is a typical man at this point in history. He is truly scandalized that a *gasp* woman dares to jockey and is infuriated when she brushes him off. These two go round for round until they inevitably fall in love. The ending was a bit rushed and I would have loved to have more meat in this book, but all-in-all a good read!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy other Amanda Mariel stories an looked forward to this book. It was an interesting story, with good characters. I felt it was a little predictable but still very enjoyable. This is a clean story with a HEA ending. The first thing I noticed was the narration, which grated on my nerves until I got used to it. The narration is a bit stiff, and does not flow like normal speech, even for books set in this era. Do not let the narration take away from enjoying the story.
I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Isabel Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun to read. It was engaging and easy to read. The plot is interesting and moves at a decent pace. There are a mixture of settings that help to create a vivid world around the characters.
I really liked the characters. I love the quirky female friendships and their willingness to push boundaries. I loved the all female club as well and hope to future to it in other books in the future.
A really enjoyable read and I will be reading more by this author in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michaela (Reading in the Heartland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narissa was definitely an interesting heroine, much unexpected in the regency times. I love that I get to learn a lot more about this Fortuna's Parlor which pops its head up in so many stories. The high gambling and horse racing presence in this book was fascinating. Wonderful characters and a good storyline.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Goldstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't live up to the promise of the premise

I was intrigued by the premise of a Lady running a gambling hell for women, unfortunately not much of the story focused on the club. The plot was rushed and I have no idea who the hero was as a person or what his motivations were. Also, there were several glaring typos: modest instead of modiste, campaign flute instead of champagne flute.