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Scandals of Scarcliffe Hall #1-4
Scandals of Scarcliffe Hall: A Four Book Box Set
A reckless duke, a dashing earl, a brooding lord and an arrogant baron retire to Scarcliffe Hall for a summer of freedom, only to find that love awaits them where they least expect it.
These four captivating, clean Regency romances are brimming with action, wit and sweet romance!
The Earl's Secret Passion
Two warring families. One forbidden love.
Lady Cecily Balfour was always taught that the Hartley men are mad, bad and dangerous to know. When she meets Robert Hartley, Earl of Scarcliffe, she makes a few additions to that list:
Stubborn. Infuriating. Handsome. Charming. Tempting.
Society expects Cecily to make an advantageous match of her father’s choosing. What can she do now that her own choice is a man she is expressly forbidden to see?
The Earl of Scarcliffe enjoys hunting, drinking, billiards, and bachelordom. Love does not feature on his list of requirements. Especially for a woman with a stubborn streak a mile wide and a penchant for riding off on his favourite stallion. And if that same woman is a Balfour? Not a chance!
But Cecily just happens to have a pair of striking blue eyes, a taste for adventure and a rapier-sharp sense of humour…
Robert’s heart is in as much danger as his head will be in if they are caught together.
The Duke's Hidden Desire
A reckless duke meets his match in a determined young woman – and throws her future into jeopardy with one stolen kiss.
Miss Anna Hawkins, the daughter of a poor country doctor, knows the mysterious stranger who kissed her at the ball cannot really be the Duke of Beaumont. Dukes are virtuous and noble, and this man is arrogant, impudent… and dangerously seductive.
Beaumont cannot forget Anna Hawkins. It’s not only her sharp mind and delicate features. It’s not only the flame-red hair he longs to caress. It’s not even that she is the only woman in England to say no to a duke.
Anna is not afraid to chastise Beaumont for his lack of virtue, and he has never wanted anyone more.
But it takes more than a dukedom to win a woman’s heart.
The Lady He Longed For
A brooding lord encounters his widowed childhood sweetheart – and they uncover a secret that could change everything…
Lord Jonathan Hartley’s first love left him a broken man. Now that Isabella is back, widowed, wounded and more lovely than ever, the last thing he wants to do is revisit the past.
But Isabella has a way of digging up all the secrets he thought he had buried. His undimmed love for the tragic heiress is only one of them.
Isabella, the widowed Countess of Streatham, knows she belongs in Jonathan’s arms. But she is no longer the naïve debutante who believed in true love, and marriage brought her pain she vowed never to endure again.
Jonathan abandoned her once, and if he wants her forgiveness, she will make him fight for it.
Whether she falls in love again is quite a different question.
The Baron's Inconvenient Bride
In his haste to find a marriage of convenience, an arrogant baron proposes to his sworn enemy…
Lady Jemima Stanhope has a secret she cannot share, even with her husband. Especially with her husband. Because that husband is the incorrigible rake, Lord Northmere.
These four captivating, clean Regency romances are brimming with action, wit and sweet romance!
The Earl's Secret Passion
Two warring families. One forbidden love.
Lady Cecily Balfour was always taught that the Hartley men are mad, bad and dangerous to know. When she meets Robert Hartley, Earl of Scarcliffe, she makes a few additions to that list:
Stubborn. Infuriating. Handsome. Charming. Tempting.
Society expects Cecily to make an advantageous match of her father’s choosing. What can she do now that her own choice is a man she is expressly forbidden to see?
The Earl of Scarcliffe enjoys hunting, drinking, billiards, and bachelordom. Love does not feature on his list of requirements. Especially for a woman with a stubborn streak a mile wide and a penchant for riding off on his favourite stallion. And if that same woman is a Balfour? Not a chance!
But Cecily just happens to have a pair of striking blue eyes, a taste for adventure and a rapier-sharp sense of humour…
Robert’s heart is in as much danger as his head will be in if they are caught together.
The Duke's Hidden Desire
A reckless duke meets his match in a determined young woman – and throws her future into jeopardy with one stolen kiss.
Miss Anna Hawkins, the daughter of a poor country doctor, knows the mysterious stranger who kissed her at the ball cannot really be the Duke of Beaumont. Dukes are virtuous and noble, and this man is arrogant, impudent… and dangerously seductive.
Beaumont cannot forget Anna Hawkins. It’s not only her sharp mind and delicate features. It’s not only the flame-red hair he longs to caress. It’s not even that she is the only woman in England to say no to a duke.
Anna is not afraid to chastise Beaumont for his lack of virtue, and he has never wanted anyone more.
But it takes more than a dukedom to win a woman’s heart.
The Lady He Longed For
A brooding lord encounters his widowed childhood sweetheart – and they uncover a secret that could change everything…
Lord Jonathan Hartley’s first love left him a broken man. Now that Isabella is back, widowed, wounded and more lovely than ever, the last thing he wants to do is revisit the past.
But Isabella has a way of digging up all the secrets he thought he had buried. His undimmed love for the tragic heiress is only one of them.
Isabella, the widowed Countess of Streatham, knows she belongs in Jonathan’s arms. But she is no longer the naïve debutante who believed in true love, and marriage brought her pain she vowed never to endure again.
Jonathan abandoned her once, and if he wants her forgiveness, she will make him fight for it.
Whether she falls in love again is quite a different question.
The Baron's Inconvenient Bride
In his haste to find a marriage of convenience, an arrogant baron proposes to his sworn enemy…
Lady Jemima Stanhope has a secret she cannot share, even with her husband. Especially with her husband. Because that husband is the incorrigible rake, Lord Northmere.
- GenresHistorical Romance
880 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2019
178 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 2, 2019
I have read 3 of these books in this box set so far as Advance Reader Copies (ARC) and here are my reviews on them:
2. The Duke's Hidden Desire
Excellent!
What a great pleasure it was to read this book. I'm always very impressed when someone can tell a story that keeps me totally enthralled so that I really don't want to do anything else but read it.
This one had all the right ingredients in the correct mix - the characters, the plot or theme, the good guys and the bad ones and so on, but the best was the proposal which brought tears to my eyes. Honestly!
This is a book well worth reading!
3. The Lady He Longed For
Love Wins!
This story certainly had its moments with many emotional highs and lows, two great main characters and some really interesting supporting ones including a really nasty villain.
Gemma Blackwood is definitely able to capture the angst of romance and also how it almost doesn't happen. Yet she still manages to make it an interesting, emotional rollercoaster where love wins and as I absolutely love that kind of situation, am happy to recommend this book.
4. The Baron's Inconvenient Bride
Excellent Read!
In this story we have two people who are at each others throats whenever they meet and then one day he proposes to win a wager and the whole story does a turn-about ... And changes!
Two of the most headstrong and lovable characters are written about as they slowly realize that they are falling in love and they are supported by a mix of interesting characters.
I loved these characters, their individual personalities and how they eventually learn to trust each other, as well being entertained by the mystery, intrigue and caring which is written into this remarkable story.
I happily recommend these books as they are excellent reads.
2. The Duke's Hidden Desire
Excellent!
What a great pleasure it was to read this book. I'm always very impressed when someone can tell a story that keeps me totally enthralled so that I really don't want to do anything else but read it.
This one had all the right ingredients in the correct mix - the characters, the plot or theme, the good guys and the bad ones and so on, but the best was the proposal which brought tears to my eyes. Honestly!
This is a book well worth reading!
3. The Lady He Longed For
Love Wins!
This story certainly had its moments with many emotional highs and lows, two great main characters and some really interesting supporting ones including a really nasty villain.
Gemma Blackwood is definitely able to capture the angst of romance and also how it almost doesn't happen. Yet she still manages to make it an interesting, emotional rollercoaster where love wins and as I absolutely love that kind of situation, am happy to recommend this book.
4. The Baron's Inconvenient Bride
Excellent Read!
In this story we have two people who are at each others throats whenever they meet and then one day he proposes to win a wager and the whole story does a turn-about ... And changes!
Two of the most headstrong and lovable characters are written about as they slowly realize that they are falling in love and they are supported by a mix of interesting characters.
I loved these characters, their individual personalities and how they eventually learn to trust each other, as well being entertained by the mystery, intrigue and caring which is written into this remarkable story.
I happily recommend these books as they are excellent reads.
November 20, 2019
Clean read, don't let the title scare you
This author is new to me but I thoroughly enjoyed the way she presented this series. Four separate love stories but their timelines overlap so the previous characters don't just get shoved off to the side, you learn more about each of them in the books that follow. I would read more from her.
This author is new to me but I thoroughly enjoyed the way she presented this series. Four separate love stories but their timelines overlap so the previous characters don't just get shoved off to the side, you learn more about each of them in the books that follow. I would read more from her.
October 4, 2019
I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A thoroughly enjoyable regency series with Shakespearean influence.
A thoroughly enjoyable regency series with Shakespearean influence.
October 5, 2019
The Earl’s Secret Passion
4.5 Stars
The Hartley & Balfour families have been sworn enemies for generations. They have estates bordering each other. Scarcliffe Hall is now the seat of Robert Hartley Earl of Scarcliffe & in the summer of 1820 he’s staying there with his brother & two friends. One afternoon there’s a thunderstorm when Lady Cecily Balfour is out walking & she tries to take shelter in a hut but it’s locked, Robert sees her & takes her to the Hall. They are immediately attracted to each other but there is the feud. After a masquerade ball Robert & Cecily have to face the fact they’ve fallen in love but swear not to marry until they can get to the truth about the feud & the two differing stories each family believes.
A very enjoyable read that I read in an afternoon, there’s the mystery surrounding the feud, highwaymen & of course romance. The pace of the story is very good. The characters are well fleshed & likeable, the end of the book was left open for two of Robert’s companions to have their stories
The Duke’s Hidden Delight
4.5 Stars
This is the second book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own some events from the first book do overlap. Four friends from Eton had repaired to Scarcliffe Hall for the summer vowing to forsake female company, as soon as I read that in a book I know all four are going to fail to keep their vow. Anna Hawkins visits Scarcliffe Hall along with her doctor father to tend to the Marquis of Lilistone who’s suffering from gout. Whilst her father is blooding the Marquis she wanders into a room wanting to look at the Masquerade ball, which is happening. She’s disturbed by a gondolier who steals a kiss, the next day he pays a morning call & claims to be the Duke of Beaumont which Anna is loathe to believe. Anna is betrothed to Gilbert Jackson who has promised build a mill to bring employment to the village but she is marrying him more for the villagers sake than her own.
I was captivated from the start, the story was very well paced & held me engrossed from start to finish. Well drawn characters most of whom were very likeable, I particularly loved how Beaumont fell hook, line & sinker for Anna & how he matured & changed for the better. Anna also was attracted to him but felt she should still marry Jackson. There were plenty of light hearted moments which had me smiling. I wished Beaumont had asked Anna to call him Ben or Benjamin as it would have been lovely & very personal for his soul mate to call him by his Christian name. I look forward to Hart & Northmere's stories
The Lady he Longed for
4.5 Stars
Lord Jonathan Hartley’s spending the summer with his brother & two friends on one of their family’s estates, Scarcliffe Hall. His brother Robert has fallen in love & become engaged to the neighbouring Duke's daughter Cecily, who should visit but Isabella widowed Countess of Streatham. Isabella & Jonathan fell in love as teenagers but then parted under a cloud leaving both of them heart broken. No way is either of them revisiting the past but both of them are still in love.
A lovely book of second chances. This is the third book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own events from the previous two books do overlap. Jonathan & Isabella both fight their feelings for each other but as they are constantly thrown together these feelings grow. They parted under misunderstandings & machinations of the villain. I loved both Jonathan & Isabella who were definitely meant to be together & his proposal was SO lovely. My only quibble was that I wanted the villains to suffer far more but I suppose there are bears in Canada! I was drawn into the book from the start & engrossed until the end & read it in two sittings & am really looking forward to Northmere's story for which there was a teaser.
The Baron’s Inconvenient Bride
Ralph Morton, Baron Northmere is spending the summer with his three best friends at Scarcliffe Hall, all four want a summer of relaxing, hunting & fishing with no women. Now that summer is drawing to a close three of the friends are married or engaged & Ralph finds that he must find a wife. His friends tease him to practice a proposal on his arch enemy Lady Jemima Stanhope ward to the Duke of Loxwell, they wager that he won’t go through with it.
Jemima has a secret she cannot share but needs her independence to go to London so when Northmere proposes she accepts & so begins a marriage of convenience
This is the fourth book in this highly entertaining series, it could be read on its own but events do overlap & to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading the whole series. So course Ralph & Jemima have featured in earlier books he’s the very well dressed, always last to arrive suave bachelor, she's an intelligent young woman trying to come to terms with losing her brother Bernard. Whenever the two meet sparks fly, they annoy each other & argue at each meeting. I loved the teasing between the four friends & how Ralph’s proposal back fired but the fun & games really started after the wedding.
“I do not care what you call me” - the names Ralph does call her had me laughing out loud.
I love enemies to lovers, which I think is my favourite trope & this story is a lovely example. The verbal sparring between Ralph & Jemima is brilliant & very entertaining. Another well written book from the author, the pace is good & the characters well portrayed. I particularly liked Daisy & would love for there to be a spin off series about her & the Balfour siblings.
4.5 Stars
The Hartley & Balfour families have been sworn enemies for generations. They have estates bordering each other. Scarcliffe Hall is now the seat of Robert Hartley Earl of Scarcliffe & in the summer of 1820 he’s staying there with his brother & two friends. One afternoon there’s a thunderstorm when Lady Cecily Balfour is out walking & she tries to take shelter in a hut but it’s locked, Robert sees her & takes her to the Hall. They are immediately attracted to each other but there is the feud. After a masquerade ball Robert & Cecily have to face the fact they’ve fallen in love but swear not to marry until they can get to the truth about the feud & the two differing stories each family believes.
A very enjoyable read that I read in an afternoon, there’s the mystery surrounding the feud, highwaymen & of course romance. The pace of the story is very good. The characters are well fleshed & likeable, the end of the book was left open for two of Robert’s companions to have their stories
The Duke’s Hidden Delight
4.5 Stars
This is the second book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own some events from the first book do overlap. Four friends from Eton had repaired to Scarcliffe Hall for the summer vowing to forsake female company, as soon as I read that in a book I know all four are going to fail to keep their vow. Anna Hawkins visits Scarcliffe Hall along with her doctor father to tend to the Marquis of Lilistone who’s suffering from gout. Whilst her father is blooding the Marquis she wanders into a room wanting to look at the Masquerade ball, which is happening. She’s disturbed by a gondolier who steals a kiss, the next day he pays a morning call & claims to be the Duke of Beaumont which Anna is loathe to believe. Anna is betrothed to Gilbert Jackson who has promised build a mill to bring employment to the village but she is marrying him more for the villagers sake than her own.
I was captivated from the start, the story was very well paced & held me engrossed from start to finish. Well drawn characters most of whom were very likeable, I particularly loved how Beaumont fell hook, line & sinker for Anna & how he matured & changed for the better. Anna also was attracted to him but felt she should still marry Jackson. There were plenty of light hearted moments which had me smiling. I wished Beaumont had asked Anna to call him Ben or Benjamin as it would have been lovely & very personal for his soul mate to call him by his Christian name. I look forward to Hart & Northmere's stories
The Lady he Longed for
4.5 Stars
Lord Jonathan Hartley’s spending the summer with his brother & two friends on one of their family’s estates, Scarcliffe Hall. His brother Robert has fallen in love & become engaged to the neighbouring Duke's daughter Cecily, who should visit but Isabella widowed Countess of Streatham. Isabella & Jonathan fell in love as teenagers but then parted under a cloud leaving both of them heart broken. No way is either of them revisiting the past but both of them are still in love.
A lovely book of second chances. This is the third book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own events from the previous two books do overlap. Jonathan & Isabella both fight their feelings for each other but as they are constantly thrown together these feelings grow. They parted under misunderstandings & machinations of the villain. I loved both Jonathan & Isabella who were definitely meant to be together & his proposal was SO lovely. My only quibble was that I wanted the villains to suffer far more but I suppose there are bears in Canada! I was drawn into the book from the start & engrossed until the end & read it in two sittings & am really looking forward to Northmere's story for which there was a teaser.
The Baron’s Inconvenient Bride
Ralph Morton, Baron Northmere is spending the summer with his three best friends at Scarcliffe Hall, all four want a summer of relaxing, hunting & fishing with no women. Now that summer is drawing to a close three of the friends are married or engaged & Ralph finds that he must find a wife. His friends tease him to practice a proposal on his arch enemy Lady Jemima Stanhope ward to the Duke of Loxwell, they wager that he won’t go through with it.
Jemima has a secret she cannot share but needs her independence to go to London so when Northmere proposes she accepts & so begins a marriage of convenience
This is the fourth book in this highly entertaining series, it could be read on its own but events do overlap & to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading the whole series. So course Ralph & Jemima have featured in earlier books he’s the very well dressed, always last to arrive suave bachelor, she's an intelligent young woman trying to come to terms with losing her brother Bernard. Whenever the two meet sparks fly, they annoy each other & argue at each meeting. I loved the teasing between the four friends & how Ralph’s proposal back fired but the fun & games really started after the wedding.
“I do not care what you call me” - the names Ralph does call her had me laughing out loud.
I love enemies to lovers, which I think is my favourite trope & this story is a lovely example. The verbal sparring between Ralph & Jemima is brilliant & very entertaining. Another well written book from the author, the pace is good & the characters well portrayed. I particularly liked Daisy & would love for there to be a spin off series about her & the Balfour siblings.
May 26, 2022
👍👍
This novel had a lot of good moments, a lot of sweet moments; BUT it also had lot of just okay moments that really didn't bring the same warm smile to my face as the other moments had. However, even though there were times when it would lull and I would begin to ponder about choosing another novel, something would grab my attention again- just enough to reel me back in to stick by the side of this author. In the end, though, I'm glad I finished reading this novel.
This novel had a lot of good moments, a lot of sweet moments; BUT it also had lot of just okay moments that really didn't bring the same warm smile to my face as the other moments had. However, even though there were times when it would lull and I would begin to ponder about choosing another novel, something would grab my attention again- just enough to reel me back in to stick by the side of this author. In the end, though, I'm glad I finished reading this novel.
September 4, 2020
Loved these stories! Each story was built around different characters but they were events occurring simultaneous. I love the way they were woven together. And there was a common villein thread throughout. Well done!
September 15, 2020
Close to 3.5
November 5, 2019
Good
I found this a good book.
The Earl's Secret Passion, Cecily is a strong character. She is forced to shelter in her family's enemy's property in a thunderstorm and then is forced to acknowledge her feelings for Robert the eldest Hartley who she has been told to hate all her life. Can their love overcome both their families feud?
The Duke's Hidden Desire, Anna is a strong and down to earth lady. She has a good head on her shoulders and is not afraid to give stern words to the Duke of Beaumont about his treatment of all the people beneath him in status.
The Lady He Longed For, Isabella is a really great character. She was a beautiful young lady and had multiple suitors. One suitor was jealous of her many suitors he attempted to scheme his way into her affections which lasted the entire book and gave multiple plot twists. Her first love Jonathan is her hero. He is weak in the beginning not believing Isabella but he never forgot her and they renew their acquaintance in the run up to a friend's wedding.
The Baron's Inconvenient Bride, Jemima is a great character. She stands up for her family both her blood relatives and her newly acquired married ones. Everyone loves her spirit. Ralph is a good strong partner for Jemima and rises to all the challenges that occur during the book.
I found this a good book.
The Earl's Secret Passion, Cecily is a strong character. She is forced to shelter in her family's enemy's property in a thunderstorm and then is forced to acknowledge her feelings for Robert the eldest Hartley who she has been told to hate all her life. Can their love overcome both their families feud?
The Duke's Hidden Desire, Anna is a strong and down to earth lady. She has a good head on her shoulders and is not afraid to give stern words to the Duke of Beaumont about his treatment of all the people beneath him in status.
The Lady He Longed For, Isabella is a really great character. She was a beautiful young lady and had multiple suitors. One suitor was jealous of her many suitors he attempted to scheme his way into her affections which lasted the entire book and gave multiple plot twists. Her first love Jonathan is her hero. He is weak in the beginning not believing Isabella but he never forgot her and they renew their acquaintance in the run up to a friend's wedding.
The Baron's Inconvenient Bride, Jemima is a great character. She stands up for her family both her blood relatives and her newly acquired married ones. Everyone loves her spirit. Ralph is a good strong partner for Jemima and rises to all the challenges that occur during the book.
December 27, 2019
The four stories in this collection center around 4 very eligible young men (2 brothers and their friends) who are trying to enjoy a bachelor summer in the country. As can be expected in this genre, one after the other they fall in love. I'm nearly done with the third and so far in each story there is some conflict from outside of the relationship threatening their HEA.
The writing is very good with dialog, action and intelligent main characters. Very engaging stories.
The writing is very good with dialog, action and intelligent main characters. Very engaging stories.
December 24, 2019
Gemma Blackwood is now officially my favourite Regency author!
This series of is cleverly witty, well written and an absolute joy to read! Flirtatious, sassy and clean romance through and through.
I guarantee you will fall in love with each of the main characters, and that you won’t want to put this box set down once you’ve started.
Looking forward to the Balfour series next!
This series of is cleverly witty, well written and an absolute joy to read! Flirtatious, sassy and clean romance through and through.
I guarantee you will fall in love with each of the main characters, and that you won’t want to put this box set down once you’ve started.
Looking forward to the Balfour series next!
October 2, 2019
This box set is marvelous and the storyline great. The writing was expressive, the characters engaging, and the plot entertaining.
November 9, 2019
Review is for the 4 box set
Great reading. The characters are well developed and likeable. Plenty of mystery and depth in each book. Will look for more books by this author.
Great reading. The characters are well developed and likeable. Plenty of mystery and depth in each book. Will look for more books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews