An Illicit Indiscretion

A Sinful Regency Christmas

by Bronwyn Scott

London, 1835. Dashiell Steen, heir to the Earl of Heathridge, is tired of boring dinner parties and matchmaking mamas. He craves one final adventure before he's forced to settle down–and finds it with a vivacious beauty escaping from a manor window! Elisabeth Becket's intelligence and rebellious sprit excite both his mind and his body, stirring a mutual attraction that neither can resist. But will their illicit encounter last when she discovers Dashiell is the unwanted suitor she was trying to escape?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Christmas, Novella, Holiday, Fiction

75 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Bronwyn Scott writes historical romances for Harlequin, Mills and Boon. She has 50 titles currently in print with them.

Bronwyn's 2018 release, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was RITA finalist.
Bronwyn's 2009 novel, The Viscount Claims His Bride was a RomCon finalist for best short historical, as was her 2011 release, A Thoroughly Compromised Lady.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the introduction written by Bronwyn Scott for 'An Illicit Indiscretion': "It's a Christmas story in that it's a tale of the things we associate with the season; hope and faith and love. Elisabeth gambles everything on her faith that the comet will be there and that her freedom is worth fighting for. Dashiell takes the biggest leap of faith of all in his search for love.

"Their story is set around the 1835 return of Halley's Comet..."

I really enjoyed this novella and highly recommend it.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dashiell is an Earl's heir, bored with live and looking for anything to shake up his staid, conventional lifestyle. So when he Elisabeth falls on him after climbing out of her window, he's intrigued. Even more so when he accompanies her to an observatory where he witnesses her passion for astronomy, for life and for him. This was a pretty cute story, with a plucky heroine and a sincere hero. I wasn't 100% sold on the accuracy of Elisabeth taking off for two nights and absolutely no one learning of her "ruination" but somewhat easy enough to overlook. I also kind of wish there'd been a bit more of a drawn out confrontation with Elisabeth's parents and in which Dashiell confesses his love. This is a worthwhile read for sure.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but enjoyable. 3.5☆

2nd reading: ditto 1st reading. 3.5☆

[Floriana Amoruso · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://labibliotecadellibraio.blogsp...
Letto e recensito da Patrizia
Lettura “sciapa”, breve, nulla di che, il classico romance Harmony. Un racconto breve, letto mentre mia figlia faceva l’allenamento di nuoto (questo la dice tutta sulla sua lunghezza). Per carità scritto abbastanza bene, ma troppe poche pagine per un’idea così carina. Siamo nel 1835, a Londra sta per arrivare la cometa e Elizabeth non se la vuole perdere per nulla al mondo.
Elizabeth Becket, figlia di un visconte tradizionalista, è intelligente, audace, temeraria per i tempi (se l'autrice avesse sviluppato maggiormente questa splendida donna sarebbe stato sicuramente un bel romanzo), amante dei libri, delle mappe celesti, con una vera passione per l’astronomia.
Fugge di casa per vedere la sua cometa, in un folle piano per esprimere la sua indipendenza, ma soprattutto per cercare di far capire alla famiglia quanto sia importante per lei l’astronomia, quanto sia ormai stufa di far tutto di nascosto come fosse una ladra.

"…per un breve momento avrebbe potuto sentirsi libera dai confini di una vita che soffocava buona parte della sua reale personalità".

Subito “atterrerà” su Dashiell Steen nipote povero di un visconte, costretto a un matrimonio con un buon partito per coprire i debiti della famiglia. Ovviamente lui è avvenente, carino, libertino e dal carattere deciso. Scatterà subito tra i due la scintilla della passione, in un attimo la lussuria prevarrà sino a trasformare quel fuoco in puro amore. Attraverso l’inseguimento della cometa, Dashiell diverrà l’uomo che si nascondeva dietro la facciata da latin lover. In un attimo sarà perduto...

"…stava osservando la passione fatta persona, una passione per la vita, una passione per qualcosa che costituiva la sua ragione di esistere. Era invidioso. Come doveva essere provare un tale livello di coinvolgimento per qualcosa?"

In poco più di mezz’ora la lettura finisce ed è un vero peccato, perché l’idea è proprio carina, i personaggi sono adorabili ma ahimè mancano pagine e pagine di storia.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Lovember 2021 for the prompt New to You Author, and I am thrilled that this was my pick. Not only did I really enjoy it, but the author is prolific, so now I have lots of books to look forward and enjoy!

I also love a historical with women characters that have vocations & interests and in this one it was... astronomy! Loved it! Great chemistry between the leads and really enjoyed the story.

[AprilGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful short novella, if you want something to lift your spirits after a heavy read then this might be just what you are looking for.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and it left me smiling.
Read as a Library eBook.

[EJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute and short. If you're looking for drama, there aren't much as the story just takes place for 2 days.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: A Sinful Regency Christmas

[❆ Crystal ❆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. 3.5 stars. I recommend.

[Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short story, but highly enjoyable.

[Harlequin Historical]

Miniseries: A Sinful Regency Christmas